12
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to the DC Comics/DCAU characters represented. I do own original characters and plot lines. All all of DC Comics rights are wholly aren't by Time Warner and Warner Brothers Animation and no infringement is intended.
Multiple Earths
Earth Prime: Justice League Unlimited
Earth-2: Justice Lords
Earth-3: Crime Syndicate
Earth-4: Justice Guild
Earth-5: Superboy
Earth-6: World's Finest: Power Girl/Huntress
Earth-7: JLA
Earth-8: JSA
Earth-9: Freedom Fighters
Earth-10:
Earth-11:
Earth-12:
Earth-13: Stormwatch/WildCATs
Earth-14:
Earth-15:
Earth-16: Young Justice
Earth-17:
Earth-18:
Earth-19: Dark Knight Returns
Earth-20:
Earth-21:Captain Thunder
Earth-22:
Earth-23: Max Lord rules
Earth-24:
Earth-25:
Earth-26:
Earth-27: Supreme's universe
Earth-28:
Earth-29:
Earth-30: Golden Age JSA
Earth-31:
Earth-32: Vandal Savage rules
Earth-33:
Earth-34:
Earth-35: ARGUS/Team 7
Earth-36:
Earth-37:
Earth-38:
Earth-39: Kingdom Come
Earth-40:
Earth-41:
Earth-42:
Earth-43: Blackhawk Initiative
Earth-44:
Earth-45:
Earth-46: League of Shadows
Earth-47:
Earth-48:
Earth-49:
Earth-50: Injustice Gods
Earth-51:
Earth-52: Donna Troy's universe
Aztek awoke face down in the dirt. He remembered the Key opening a portal and then a gut wrenching pain tore through his body and he blacked out. He pushed off the ground and took a look around. The wide vistas contained the burnt out husks of armored vehicles and corpses were strewn across the horizon. Wherever he was, it wasn't Manhattan.
Carrion birds littered the area, already consuming the dead. Whatever had happened here had happened more than just a few days ago. But smoke still rose from a few vehicles where their diesel fuel tanks were still burning. He investigated a few tanks and then jeeps before he found a half torched Mexican flag.
Fear gripped Curt Falconer's heart for the first time in quite awhile. The JLU had just gotten word of Vandal Savage assuming command of a so-called World Army. Had the immortal bastard launched a campaign to conquer the world by force? And if so, what the hell was he using as armaments? The tanks and other vehicles displayed signs of melting metal rather than explosive penetration.
Aztek retrieved his signal device and found it was comms down. Activating its search capacity it took some time before it locked onto a compatible communications satellite. And even then it shifted the hand held comm unit to a different bandwidth than Aztek was used to. But it showed evidence of another signal device being operational in Vancouver BC.
Aztek started flying north. As he travelled the horizon north of him began to fill with smoke. His heart broke upon seeing the gutted ruins of Mexico City. People cowered and ran from his sight as he soared by overhead. All Aztek could figure was Savage and Luthor were working hand in hand and the Legion of Doom and its component parts had ravaged this area. He swore he'd feed Luthor Vandal Savage's liver and vice versa.
Mr. Terrific watched as the blip on his signal device's screen grew closer. It had first appeared down south of Mexico City and had steadily moved northward. But the fact that the devices were both locked onto a civilian satellite meant that the ID trackers were disabled from the display. Mr. Terrific had no idea of who or what was coming at him.
Before he'd "arrived" in Vancouver, Mr. Terrific had been shot by Gizmo in Fawcett City. Apparently Gizmo's weapons operated on a similar, of far more painful, version of Mr. Terrific's own T-Spheres. He still had two operational spheres after he'd cannibalized a third to repair the others.
Mr. Terrific had seen signs of human life but they were always people who hastened their evacuation whenever he was spotted. He'd tapped into military satellites and scanned the surrounding forests. Heat blooms from human bodies and camp fires littered the forested areas of the entire province of British Columbia.
But the signs of the battle that had devastated downtown Vancouver indicated it had been over for more than month. Which meant he'd have to have been out cold at least that long or longer. Since the human body couldn't survive that long without hydration, it meant that he'd likely been catapulted through time as well as space.
From what Mr. Terrific could gather from the satellite transmission availability nearly all of Earth's orbiting satellites had been destroyed and the remainder were unreliable. Still, he had a fairly secure lock on his incoming fellow JLer. If the other's speed stayed constant, they'd be in Vancouver in twenty minutes.
Aztek spotted Mr. Terrific near the harbor and he landed, "You wouldn't believe it. San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle all look like this."
"I can't believe Luthor could accomplish this," Mr. Terrific shared, "What about the Justice League?"
"After you vanished from Fawcett City we were summoned to New York City to deal with Vandal Savage. Savage had taken over a self styled 'World Army'. Maybe they joined forces and went on a campaign to conquer the world?" Aztek wondered.
"Savage, maybe. But Luthor knows there are easier ways then door to door fighting in the streets. And eventually members of your army would balk at attacking their fellow citizens," Mr. Terrific thought aloud.
"But the Romans used to separate soldiers from their country so that they never served to brutalize their own people," Aztek replied, "Savage survived all of that. Maybe he was a student as well."
"But you had to have noticed they employed energy weapons of a higher caliber than could be found with any army," Mr. Terrific pointed out.
"Yes, I've been wondering where they came from," Aztek admitted.
"Maybe they weren't of terrestrial origin," Mr. Terrific hazarded a guess.
An energy bolt shot between the two men. They looked up to see a mechanized giant with Bedlam's face. Surrounding him was a contingent of parademons.
"So it is Darkseid," Aztek said grimly, "He's invaded again."
"No, you're mistaken. This is our first and last invasion. Earth has fallen to our forces. Now we're just cleaning the rabble up," Bedlam boasted.
"Then I take it we're no longer on Earth Prime," Mr. Terrific deduced.
"Excellent, maybe your half as smart as advertised. We can put you to use serving the Master," Bedlam chuckled.
A streak punched a hole through Bedlam's casing and then tore through the parademon patrol. Supergirl came next but she wore an odd ensemble of black and white clothing with an altered red "S" affixed to the white tunic she wore. Using her heat vision she slashed her way through the parademons. Within moments she was joined by none other than Galatea who was also oddly garbed.
After the enemy had all been destroyed the clone and her progenitor landed near Mr. Terrific and Aztek. Supergirl spoke first, "We'd heard you were dead! How did you survive?"
"You might not believe the answer," Mr. Terrific warned her.
"The General and his elite force are approaching," Galatea warned them, "We need to take this up back at base camp."
"Take a T-Sphere. Depress the red center of it when you get there and then we'll teleport in after you," Mr. Terrific instructed.
"Thank Rao you're still alive. The Resistance needs both of you," Supergirl gushed before she and Galatea streaked over eastward.
The signal came less than a minute later. Mr. Terrific warned Aztek, "Get ready. You're about to see a completely different world."
And then they vanished.
Five minutes later Lord Superman, General of Darkseid's invasion force, and other Justice Lords arrived. Lady Wonder Woman reported in from their headquarters, "Bedlam states he found Mr. Terrific and Aztek still alive. Back from the dead it seemed."
"Only Batman continues to come back from the dead however many times we kill him," Lord Superman grated.
"He also mentioned that the supposedly resurrected pair referred to being from 'Earth Prime'," Lady Hawkgirl informed him over the comm link.
"Did he say who attacked him?" Lord Superman wondered.
"Your former protégé and her clone," Lady Wonder Woman stated.
"I'm well aware of Kara's loyalties and her activities," Lord Superman reminded her, "As for that abomination they cloned from her; I will personally grind her flesh into pig slop."
From beside him, Lord Martian Manhunter spoke, "Nevertheless, they created her before we traveled to that 'Earth Prime' and were stripped of our abilities. The rebellion had begun even back then."
"But thanks to Darkseid we have our powers back and we continue to rule this world. All we have to do is persevere a little longer and the rebellion will be crushed and we will live in a paradise that no longer resists us," Lord Superman elaborated, "Our foot soldiers have worn down the world's so-called armies that sprang up while we were powerless to stop them. The foot soldiers have been crushed now it's time to do the same to the leaders."
"The sooner the better," Lord Green Lantern advised.
"Don't worry, I already put orders to that effect even before we set out on this errand," Lord Superman said cunningly.
Carol Ferris approached the Zamaron High Priestess, "I can't believe you let Dela Pheron lead the entire Star Sapphire Corps in a war against the Green Lanterns."
"Not all, Carol Ferris. The strongest Star Sapphires are here by your side as is your wont," The Zamaron priestess replied, "Fatality, Miss Bloss, Miri Raim, Race, Arven, and Maewen are your strong right arm that can stem Dela's tide. If you choose to oppose her."
"Waitasec!" Carol blurted, "You don't care how this plays out just as long as I become the Sapphire Queen again."
"Not quite," the High Priestess corrected Carol, "Should you fail to win the star sapphire's loyalty, then Dela's campaign may gain us access to the Guardians of the Universe which has been our goal for centuries now."
"And you accuse the Guardians of being heartless and manipulative," Carol scathingly retorted.
"Have a care, Carol Ferris," the Zamaron cautioned, "Love guides our actions even as it guides yours. You were unwise to reject the star sapphire. It quickly claimed one who openly craved it. But Dela Pheron is not the very reincarnation of the Lost Queen. In a very real sense this conflict is of your doing."
"Where is Dela now?" Carol wanted to know.
"She is marching on Oa one sector at a time," the priestess told her, "By banding skirmishing forces the Star Sapphires have overwhelmed individual Green Lanterns in over fifty Sectors. Even now, Dela is marshaling her sisters for a direct campaign aimed at Oa. The Green Lanterns seem unable to resist our spectrum."
"So they're using their rings to seduce the Lanterns. What happens when Sinestro's corps intervenes, or the Red Lanterns?" Carol had to ask, "The Green Light of Will can overcome our Light of Love. And Fear and Rage are no better."
"Then I suggest you reclaim your birthright before the Guardians react," the Zamaron urged her.
"How would they react?" Carol asked warily.
"Given past experience, the Guardians would choose to obliterate this world and the skeletons of the Lost Lovers that power our central battery," the priestess described, "Our rings would be neutralized once their charges wore off. Only the star sapphire itself would retain its might."
"I'll become your queen again, damn you. But it isn't for you or your sister Zamarons. It's for the Star Sapphires themselves. Including Dela," Carol declared.
"Your boundless love is both your blessing and your curse, Carol Ferris. The star sapphire chose well," the Zamaron proclaimed.
"Spare me," Carol stormed out and went headlong to where her sister Sapphires were attempting to eavesdrop.
"I suppose you overheard?" she dryly asked.
"We heard parts," Race admitted, "Where is Dela and how can we stop her?"
"The High Priestess didn't actually share that information but her scrying stone was displaying Korugar. So if Dela isn't there yet she soon will be," Carol informed them, "But this will test Sinestro's reborn loyalties to the Guardians. He may reject them once again."
"But Guy Gardner has his yellow power ring," Arven pointed out.
"That ring was forged by Sinestro's own hand," Fatality reminded them all, "If he chooses to wield it once more it will abandon Guy Gardner and return to him."
"I'd abandon Guy for less," Miri Raim grumbled.
"Dela did choose him for her consort," Maewen said philosophically.
"And what's that say about her?" Miss Bloss had to wonder.
"Let's not go there," Carol begged, "Right now we have a war to stop."
"Who are these madmen?" Izaya, Highfather of New Genesis asked his military chieftain, Commander Gideon.
"Unknown, Highfather. They savagely beat back our forces yet they do not fire upon our warriors as they retreat. Neither to they withdraw nor do they communicate with us," Gideon explained.
"Soon they will orbit New Genesis in overwhelming force and occupy Supertown itself," Gideon forecast, "And they have only made a singular demand."
"Hand over the Lady Maxima," Highfather sighed, "Can we continue to protect her?"
"Not on this world," Gideon said direly.
"Magnar is wounded and Orion has been ordered back to defend our world," Highfather assessed, "Have he and Lightray to assume a defensive posture but not to interfere with our invaders."
"Highfather?" Gideon was perplexed.
"If they see us cooperating they won't be prepared for our sleight of hand," Izaya decided, "Have my son and Barda reported in?"
"Yes, Highfather," Gideon was curious as to where these questions were leading.
"Have them gather the Lady Maxima and depart for Earth," Izaya commanded, "But not Earth Prime. Have them select any other Earth amongst the remaining universes."
"Yes, Highfather," Gideon bowed.
"And Gideon, remind Scott time is of the essence," Izaya urged.
"And if our invaders reject this happenstance?" Gideon wondered.
"Then the New Gods of Supertown will die keeping faith with Lady Maxima," Highfather declared.
Hours later a landing craft landed before Izaya's palace. A single passenger exited the craft. Izaya was only partially surprised that she was as human in appearance as the New Gods themselves. The girl openly flaunted her synthetic legs and right arm. Her right eye appeared natural except for the fact that her pupil was red while her natural eye was a crystal blue. Her auburn hair was wild and free.
"I am here to take custody of Maxima," the young woman announced.
"On whose authority?" Highfather asked.
"The Supreme Court of Almerac," the girl proclaimed, "Maxima was indicted in absentia. Now she must face her accusers."
"And you are?" Izaya asked.
"Kalea-El, Maxima's only daughter," she answered.
"You would do this to your own mother?" Izaya was slightly horrified.
"I'm serving a legal warrant for Maxima," Kalea deflected the question, "Is she here or do we have to search door to door, dwelling to dwelling?"
"Maxima left us," Izaya admitted, "Even I don't know where she went."
"The answer is obvious," Kalea snorted, "She's seeking refuge with my father once again. He'll be less than thrilled to see me but see me he shall."
"Maxima spoke of you but she never revealed who your father is," Izaya admitted.
"You probably know him as Superman and you probably know him better than I do," Kalea said matter-of-factly.
Highfather watched as Kalea boarded her craft and the pilot lifted it off and the ship left the planet. The citizens of New Genesis watched in horror as a boom tube large enough to convey a fleet opened near the planet and the Almeracians were transported by it.
Highfather's eyes narrowed, "The foolish girl is in league with Darkseid. More's the pity."
Highfather summoned Orion and Lightray, "I can only spare two agents. Orion, you will consult Mother Box and determine which Earth Scott and Barda took Maxima. Lightray, you will travel to Earth and inform the Justice League that Maxima's daughter wants to capture her and take her home."
The bowed and hurried off. Avia, Highfather's queen, queried her husband, "And the rest of us shall stay here?"
"Avia, dear, our defenses are broken. Even with Darkseid stretched thin for his mad scheme he may muster a force and break the treaty in order to threaten us," Highfather warned her.
Avia nodded, "Your counsel is sound."
On the Watchtower's command deck, Sue was incredulous as she spoke with Gwen Cormaugh, "How can Mr. Terrific and Aztek still be missing? It's been three weeks since we spoiled Vandal Savage's plan."
"Yet according to witnesses both Gizmo and the Key employed weapons that caused those men to disappear. And according to Batwing Gizmo himself vanished after attempting to use it on Batwing. Fortunately the weapon didn't vanish but was fried," Gwen reported to Sue from STAR Labs Metropolis.
"I know the ISA is still looking but can't STAR Labs hurry up?" Sue was getting impatient.
"Sue, these things take time. Mr. Terrific doesn't even register on photo surveillance or other typical tracking measure. The ISA has brought the DEO into this as support. That's doubled our eyes and that's the problem. This is a visual search that has to be physically undertaken. And frankly we don't have as many bodies as we truly need. Both agencies have other cases and matters to handle," Gwen reminded her.
"I've taken the liberty of dispatching the Atom and Plastic Man to Metropolis. Atom can help on the technical side while Plas and Penny can take a team to Manhattan and search again. If NYC is a bust, they can try Fawcett City," Sue informed Gwen.
"As your official ISA liaison I have to tell you you'll be stepping on toes by doing this," Gwen warned her.
"That's why I chose Plastic Man; he's a former Agency and ISA agent. So's Penny. And Penny is driving everyone crazy while she's grounded owing to her pregnancy. So please, use them!" Sue pleaded.
"Okay, Plas and Penny being former agents will buy them some goodwill," Gwen admitted, "Now, to totally get off topic, how's the wedding going?"
"Sir Justin and Tessa have kept the guest list very short and everyone's sworn to secrecy as to where the wedding will be held," Sue complained, "And it seems Tessa's family still doesn't know he's the Shining Knight."
"Have they listened to him talk?" Gwen was incredulous.
"They think he's eccentric," Sue explained, "Personally I think they're all in denial. Which considering how the League took losses facing down the Legion of Doom and Lex Luthor, I don't blame them."
"Can I ask why you haven't announced that Wonder Woman quit the League?" Gwen had to know.
"Max thought it was best to downplay her absence. Batman left without creating a furor. I don't think Diana's departure would go unnoticed," Sue explained.
"Any word from Superman on that front?" Gwen wanted to know.
"No, and I don't expect one any time soon. He lost his wife and his daughter in one fell swoop," Sue reminded Gwen.
"Maybe he'll finally reconcile with his other daughter," Gwen said hopefully.
Sue shuddered, "God, I hope not. I have to go; Hula Hula is waving his arms like a goony bird trying to fly."
"What an image," Gwen laughed before signing off.
"What is it, Hula Hula?" Sue asked.
"We have incoming," he told her.
She stepped off the command dais and went to the monitor section, "What's coming?"
"Pull up the Mars track," Hula Hula instructed and an image of deep space appeared.
Floating in Mars' orbital track sat nearly ninety-nine warships. Sue was immediately alarmed, "Who are they and how many are there?"
"They're Almeracian battleships and there are ninety-nine of them," Hula Hula supplied the answer.
"That's an odd number," Sue realized.
"Show her the Moon," Hula Hula instructed.
The Moon appeared on screen and between its face and the Earth floated another Almeracian battleship. Hula Hula pointed at it, "There's number one hundred."
"Did they launch a support craft?" Sue stared at the screen.
"Ten minutes ago," Hula Hula confirmed it, "They'll reach Earth and enter the atmosphere in twenty more minutes."
"Contact Superman," Sue grimly ordered, "Tell him Kalea is back."
"Are you sure it's her?" Hula Hula had to wonder.
"The bitch said she'd be back and this is her kind of play," Sue reasoned it out, "After you've alerted Superman; get everyone else prepared for a potential invasion."
"Should we evacuate the station?" Hula Hula wondered.
"We wouldn't even get a quarter of the personnel off before they could outright destroy us," Sue said wearily.
"So, that's a 'no'?" Hula inquired.
"What do you think?" Sue dryly retorted.
"Do we have a location yet?" Superman asked Sue through his signal device.
"The envoy is landing at the UN," Sue told him.
"You're kidding, right?" Superman inquired.
"About which part?" Sue was curious.
"Well, both parts actually," Clark admitted.
"They've sent someone to meet with you," Sue repeated, "And their fleet has taken up a very nonaggressive posture."
"You're certain they're from Almerac?" Superman couldn't quite believe it, "Because they don't do nonaggressive."
"Sorry to disappoint," Sue quipped, "You've got about three minutes to get to the UN."
Clark arrived and marveled on how fast the reconstruction was going. The UN would be able to meet in their own facilities in two more months. He heard a sonic boom and watched a single spacecraft decelerate and come to a floating stop one hundred feet in front of him.
He was amazed to discover it was an unarmed dignitary's yacht. And he was even more surprised when Kalea stepped out of the ship despite Sue's warnings. Except for her habitual dagger she was unarmed. Not that she needed any while on Earth.
"Hello father," Kalea said with a modicum of respect.
"Wait a minute, you captured me, tortured me, and tried to kill me and now you're polite?" Clark couldn't believe his ears.
"You vanquished me and my forces the last time I visited this backwards rock," Kalea replied nonchalantly, "That earns you a modicum of respect in our society."
"What are you doing here?" Superman had to ask, "The last time I saw you, you were being permanently exiled."
"I caught a ride off of the planet," Kalea shrugged, "What matters is I've found my life's purpose."
"I've heard your life's purpose is named Marcus," Clark retorted.
"Don't be so provincial," Kalea chided him, "Marcus and I are together and we share a common cause but we are equals not rivals."
Clark gaped, wondering who replaced his daughter, "But why are you here?"
"So, straight to business and we're done with the chit chat?" Kalea asked, "Trust me I understand. Mother filled you with some stories of my liberation and of the rebellion that swept over the Kyneeran Empire. We're a democracy now and you should be proud of that."
"Why do I suspect there's more to it than that?" Clark wondered.
"Mother fled here. In turn you introduced her to those pathetic New Gods on New Genesis. From there she fled back here," Kalea explained.
"And that's why you're here?" Superman didn't like where this was leading.
"I have a warrant for Maxima's arrest," Kalea shared, "A Special Prosecutor presented finding to a jury and she was indicted and an arrest warrant was subsequently issued."
"Yet you escaped scrutiny," Clark accused.
"Hardly," Kalea laughed, "I stood before my peers and had to defend myself to them. Fortunately, I was exonerated on account of my being termed a public hero."
"Maxima won't surrender just to face down a witch trial," Superman warned her.
"She'll be able to defend herself. But the evidence must be weighed. If she refuses to come the court will condemn her in absentia since her absence will be admission of guilt," Kalea said to him, "So help her and tell me where she is."
"I don't know," Clark admitted, "I thought she was on New Genesis."
Kalea studied a display on her wrist, "Damn, according to this you're actually telling the truth."
"How would it know?" Clark inquired.
"Your physiological data was stored and studied by our analysts. So this is a pretty effective lie detector. At least where you're concerned," Kalea admitted, "What other Earth would the New Gods send Maxima?"
"I don't know what you're talking about?" Clark confessed.
"Recall the Justice Lords and their parallel universe?" Kalea chided him, "There are a total of fifty-two universes still intact. Which one would Maxima flee to?"
"I have no idea," Superman was still slightly perplexed.
Kalea checked her display again, "Shit, you're still telling the truth."
Kalea turned on her heel and Superman heard her say, "Now we do it the hard way."
The yacht lifted off and shot out of the atmosphere. Superman signaled Sue, "We have a problem."
"You don't know the half of it," Sue warned him, "Lightray is here and he has a story you need to hear."
"I'm coming in," Superman said gravely.