Jack froze when he heard the explosion. There was dead silence for a few moments. The only sound was the rain. Then, he felt it. The same thing he felt whenever a life ended…

That same tremor in the force. And…

His eyes widened. "No..." He whispered.

He looked to the little girl holding on to him. Did...she just lose…

He took a deep breath. He didn't want to believe it, but-

Then, it happened again. Another tremor.

He froze.

And began running towards the direction of the explosion.

"No...no! NO!" He whispered.

Thunder and lightning made themselves apparent now, and the storm was growing more intense with each passing second.

Unknown to Jack, or well, anyone.. Drew spent some time with Bebe, just long enough to say his goodbyes.. After that, he set his plan into motion, and just before Jack arrived, used his Replicator and some of his DNA to create a deceased clone of himself..

Drew took off his Batsuit, leaving him only in his undergarments. He wouldn't need the Batsuit anymore where he was going.. Drew took a final look at Bebe, and not wanting to waste anytime, he ran off into the darkness..

Drew planned to stop by his house one final time.. Just to write a final 'note' of his wishes after 'death'.. He will have set it up to where it looked like it was written before he set off to search for his family.

He had to fake his death.. If he wanted to truly join the League Of Assassins, and accept Ra's Al Ghul's offer, he would need to. No one needed to stand in his way, in his conquest to endure intense training, and with it, purge the world of evil.. Just as Ra's had once promised..

The only thing that would hurt Drew upon accepting this offer would be leaving his two daughters behind..

But he was doing this for them! He would cleanse this unique and beautiful planet of evil for them! For everyone..

So that they could live in a world of love and prosperous peace..

Drew set it up to where the deceased clone had the Batsuit on, and interlocked Bebe's hand with his. He wanted it to look like the two of them had gone out together..

As he withdrew from sight, he heard the sounds of approaching footsteps, before they halted, and there was silence.

Jack was rooted to where he stood, utterly and completely shocked. He didn't need any confirmation. He didn't need a doctor. He knew

Kenzi's voice caught him off guard.

"Mama?.. Dada?.."

Those two words were like knives to his very soul. He...had no idea what to do. He closed his eyes, while trying to keep Kenzi sheltered from the rain. He...didn't know what to say. She was so young. How...could he tell her this?!

Drew was sprinting at a mad pace, trying to keep himself hidden from sight. He did not need to be caught! It would only cause problems!

Drew stopped in an alleyway, taking deep breaths before he would resume running again.

"I see you have decided to accept my most gracious offer.." A voice spoke behind him. Drew widened his eyes and immediately sent a backwards kick in the direction of the voice. He was not about to let this person get a good look at him!

The kick was immediately caught, and Drew was caught off guard when he was flipped directly onto his back, and onto the cold, wet concrete. A sword was held at his neck, as he finally looked up to see who the voice actually belonged to.

"Ra's Al Ghul?.." Drew questioned wide eyed with a gasp.

Ra's chuckled, before he pulled the sword away.

"In the flesh.." He offered Drew his hand, to which Drew reluctantly accepted it. Once Drew was on his feet, Ra's added, "You will need to be smarter than that.. You panicked, and attacked out of fear.. Out of desperation.."

Drew immediately attempted to protest, but Ra's rose his voice slightly to shut that down.

"You may not believe it, but it's true, Detective!"

Drew flinched slightly, taken aback by the sudden change in tone. He now stood there, and listened. Ra's Al Ghul sighed, before finishing,

"There is great potential in you.. More than I have seen in perhaps anyone! You are young, you are strong, and most importantly, you never concede.. All very noble qualities indeed! And just what this clan needs.."

Drew looked down, completely silent. However, the words had actually boosted his morale only slightly. Bebe's death was still very fresh on his mind.. As well as his entire family!

Ra's sensed this right away, and to that, he responded more softly,

"I know you have lost a lot today.. And I understand what you are going through. I once lost my beloved as well.." Ra's looked up into the sky, as Drew looked up at him. "Long ago.."

Drew stood there in silence for a good several seconds, before he held back tears. He wasn't about to cry in front of him.

"I- I am sor-" Drew began, before Ra's cut him off, immediately switching back to his serious demeanor.

"No! It is fine.. Do not feel sorry! Do not feel sad.. For by the time you have become one of us, emotions will mean very little.." Ra's stood more defined now, and looked ready to teach already.

Drew widened his eyes, before they narrowed.

"What do you mean 'emotions won't matter'?.." Drew questioned, genuinely confused.

"Because," Ra's seriously began. "emotions get in the way of true victory! Hard discipline will be required for you to become a top tier member of the League Of Assassins.. Our missions will be tough, but necessary! You will need to be willing to end a battle by any means necessary!"

Ra's paused briefly as Drew began to absorb his words. He then finished,

"And if emotion causes you to possess second thoughts, how else will the mission at hand be completed?.. How else will we truly cleanse the Earth of all evil? Sometimes, Drew, no.. All the time, we must cast our petty feelings aside, and do what is best for the sake of all!"

Drew was truly stunned! What Ra's just said.. It actually.. made a whole lot of sense..

I mean, if he began to feel sorry for those who had done wrong, that only made him more vulnerable for defeat or even death..

And if there was one thing that Drew hated more than anything, it was failure!

He had failed Bebe!

He had failed his family!

He had failed everyone..

And because of that, a burning feeling plagued Drew's chest. It was a fiery, intense pain that never seemed to end! It was guilt at its very core..

Bebe.. She had suffered a brutal, terrifying death..

She must have been so scared.. So alone.. And in so much pain!

Bebe must have been wondering where Drew was! She must have been thinking about how she would never get to say goodbye or that she loved her family ever again..

And that shook Drew to his very core!

Drew would miss them greatly.. But who else could he blame but himself?...

Drew hoped with everything, that at the very least, joining The League Of Assassins and fulfilling his self-admitted obligation to the Earth, would seal at least part of the void of hopelessness and sorrow that now filled his heart..

Maybe one day.. he could be at peace again.. At peace with himself.

"I.." Drew began, before taking a deep breath and giving a respectful bow to Ra's. "I will remember that, Ra's.. I vow to pledge my allegiance to The League Of Assassins.. I will take on any training or obstacle that you throw at me.. And with that newfound knowledge, I will do what is right.. I vow to aid every innocent being, and purge the evil that remains.."

Ra's Al Ghul gave Drew a grin, before he finally said,

"Excellent.." There was another brief pause, before Ra's added, "You may rise.."

Drew did so, as Ra's held a sword out to him. Drew stared at the sword for a brief moment, before he looked up at Ra's.

"You will need this sword where we're going.." He then looked Drew up and down. "As well as a change of wardrobe.."

Drew cocked a brow at that.

"Well.. Where are we going?"

"Oh trust me.." Ra's began. "You think this small village in Colorado is cold? Just you wait until we reach our temple to the far East.."

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Jack was rooted to the spot still, before finally, his senses came back to him. Kenzi was struggling in Jack's arms, reaching out to her two parents. All she wanted at this moment was to be held by one of them, it seemed.. It was evident that Kenzi had no idea what was going on, and was very confused..

"Kenzi..." Jack said softly, trying to figure out how to explain this to her.

He took a deep breath. "Kenzi, you know your parents loved you. But..."

He hesitated, and Kenzi cut him off,

"Why they sleeping? Why Mama and Dada no wake up?.."

He closed his eyes. "Your...mom and dad..."

"Your parents love you. They loved you more than anything else. But...they can't be with you. They...won't wake up."

Kenzi's face immediately changed to that of sadness and upset. Even at so young an age, hearing that her parents wouldn't wake up was a devastating thought.

"W- Why not?.." Kenzi cried.

"I...don't know, Kenzi..." He said honestly. "But I do know that they will always love you, no matter what."

"B- But I made a drawing for Mama, Dada, and Sissy!" Kenzi whined, still crying and was very confused. "Can I give it to them?"

"They know you drew it for them. They'll...always be with you. Even if you can't see them. Whenever you feel sad or hurt or scared, just know that your mom and dad and sister are going to watch over you, and your dad will make anything bad go away. Your mom will always love you, and..." He stopped.

"They will watch over you, and they'll be in your heart. And your sister is still here. And she'll be there for you, because she loves you."

Kenzi seemed to absorb the words, but still continued to look down at her deceased parents with tears.

"I- I just want them to wake up!" Kenzi exclaimed with obvious anguish beginning to grow.

"Sweetheart, if they could, they would." Jack said. "I know they would."

He took a deep breath. He couldn't keep Kenzi out here any longer. He didn't want her to get sick. Wrapping her up in his coat, he looked at them one last time. "They love you. Don't ever forget that."

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Caesarius, Carandial, Wendy, Stan, Kenny, Adia, Liu Kang, Raiden, Kung Lao, Johnny Cage, Sonya Blade, and Kylie, all waited at Jack's house.

"I...hope Uncle Drew and Aunt Bebe are okay..." Kylie said softly. "Dad's been gone for hours."

"And Kenzi.." Adia trembled in anxiety and fear. They were all her family! She had already lost her godmother, Nzuri.. She was not ready to lose the rest of them as well!

Raiden and the Earthrealm warriors looked down at Adia, as did everyone else present. Liu Kang bent down and softly reassured her,

"I am confident they are fine.. In the event of a bleak situation, however, we will all be here to guide you.. We will allow nothing to happen to you or your loved ones, so long as we have anything to say about it.."

Adia closed her eyes shut, evident fear still lingering on her muzzle. However, she took a deep breath, and forced a small smile to Liu Kang.

"Thank you, Liu Kang.." Adia gratefully responded. "I- I know you guys will.."

Caesarius took a deep breath. "Whatever happens, we have to stick together...All of us."

"For Kyle, Amelia, Simba, Nzuri's memory, and for Bebe's sake." He added.

Wendy teared up a bit at that. Her best friend...was out there still…

Carandial wrapped her in a comforting embrace, trying to keep her calm.

Through the storm, they heard someone walk up onto the porch, and the door began to open. But when it opened, the others saw only an utterly broken Jack and a very tearful Kenzi.

Everyone in the room's morale immediately fell..

Adia rushed over to Kenzi, looking up at her and giving her a comforting nuzzle.

"It's okay.. Sissy's here." Adia tried to reassure, before she then asked, "What's wrong, baby?.."

Through her tears, Kenzi hesitated, before she managed to choke out,

"M- Mama and D- Dada are asleep!.."

Adia's eyes immediately widened. She took a small step back, as if being knocked backwards by this news.

"No.." Adia said in a whisper. "No, th- they can't be!" Adia now rose her voice, the reality of the situation now beginning to take hold. Adia began to form tears of her own, as she slumped down the the floor, planting her face down and crying.

The Earthrealmers immediately rushed over to Adia's side, kneeling down to her level. Liu Kang put a comforting hand on Adia's shoulder, as Kung Lao began to rub her back, trying to keep her as comfortable as possible.

"I know, Adia.. I know.." Kung Lao softly said.

"I.. I am sorry for your loss.." Raiden genuinely, yet softly told Adia. "Your father was a great man with a pure heart.. He was a true warrior. And your mother.. No one could ever be as caring and as thoughtful as she once was.. They both held great love and respect for you two.. I could sense it."

"Oh you poor things.." Sonya sorrowfully said with a sigh. She literally felt for them both! Even Johnny looked on with pity and sadness at the situation. Seeing children lose their parents.. That was no joking matter..

There was another loud whimper as Kylie broke down as well, followed almost immediately by Wendy. "Bebe...no!" She whimpered.

Jack looked down, before he walked to sit beside Kylie, Stan and Kenny. "Stan, can you...hold Kenzi for a moment?" He asked.

"Of.. Of course, dude.." Stan sorrowfully said now, taking Kenzi from Jack. He hugged Kenzi tight, yet comfortingly, as she cried into his shoulder. Stan couldn't help but shed some as well.. It was truly a domino effect for all that knew them..

Stan and Kenny couldn't believe it! They.. they lost their best friend. They lost two good friends! They were both so young and had so much to live for! So much to experience..

But it would unfortunately never come to pass..

Kenny took the hat that he currently had on his head, before he tossed it roughly to the ground.

"Dammit!" He exclaimed, before he covered his eyes with both of his hands. He was obviously very distraught as well, but he didn't want it to be seen in full view..

Jack held onto Kylie, who was now sobbing onto his shoulder. She really loved Drew. And to lose him…

Caesarius looked down, before he closed his eyes as a single tear fell.

Carandial was so close to breaking down himself, as he held Wendy close.

It...was too much.

For all of them.

Then, suddenly, the power went out for a moment, and darkness filled the room, as the TV turned on, with static playing. Before a distorted voice began to speak. It was incomprehensible at first.

Jack stood up, starting to sense pure darkness from whoever was sending this message.

"Here we go again.." Johnny Cage spoke, this time with no humor behind it. He was dead serious at this point.

"My name...is Emperor Palpatine." The voice spoke. It sounded hoarse, raspy, but also commanding. It sounded like the voice of someone who was pure evil.

"My people have journeyed across an ocean of stars to reach you. They come with one request. When they arrive, you will have a choice..."

Jack clenched his fist. Carandial narrowed his eyes while Caesarius seemed ready to lose it.

The Earthrealm warriors and Raiden all looked at the figure on the screen with cold scowls. They said nothing, but their expressions were enough to say that if they had the chance, they would inflict murder upon this guy..

"Resist or serve. And if you resist, submit or die."

With that, the message ended, and the power returned. Jack looked at the screen, trembling in utter rage.

"Carandial, Kenny?" He asked bluntly.

Carandial looked at Jack, while Kenny did the same.

"Ready the fleet. That bastard's coming and I'm going to meet him head on. This is going to end!" Jack growled.

"Jack.." Raiden began, approaching him.

Jack turned, and looked at Raiden, awaiting what he had to say.

"Allow us to defend the Earth in your absence.. As God of Thunder, it is my duty to make sure Earthrealm is well protected.." Raiden spoke.

"Very well." Jack said. "We're going to stand and fight near the moon. We'll trap them, and we'll end this. Caesarius, send Alex a message. Tell him to get everyone ready."

He looked to the others in the room. "I am not asking anyone to fight. If you so choose, you can stay here. If you are underage, then you are staying here."

Jack looked around to the others. "Everyone," he said softly. "I think if we lose this fight...then we lose everything."

"We won't lose.." Sonya Blade spoke with a newfound ferocity. As a member of the Special Forces, she always held that confidence and determination of a soldier.. Of a warrior..

Jack took a deep breath, before he turned on his communicator. However, he changed the setting so that anyone who had a phone or TV or computer or communicator could hear him.

"Our enemies have sent us a message," he said, taking a deep breath. It had been set to translate into every language on Earth. "That they can take whatever they want."

Carandial looked at Jack, waiting for him to continue. Everyone was silent.

"They're not gonna take shit!" Stan exclaimed out of nowhere. It seemed he too had attained some fire within him. Even through all that anger, he still held Kenzi softly, and kept her as comfortable as possible.

Adia had risen from the ground a good while ago.. She chose to stand there in silence, however, and stand besides Stan and her sister. The Earthrealmers stood close by, just in case Adia or Kenzi might need anything.

If there was one thing that they cared a lot about, it was children.. They weren't about to let them go about this hell alone, and they vowed to themselves that they were gonna be there for them!

Jack nodded firmly to Stan, after his exclamation.

"We're going to send them a message! We face an enemy bent on all our deaths. I ask everyone who wants to fight for their freedom, for their children's children, their homes, their planet!" G

He took a deep breath. "We fight now as equals, brothers, sisters, and we will show these tyrants that this. IS. OUR. HOME!"

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The Imperial Fleet had assembled. The most powerful armada Earth had ever seen, it consisted of hundreds of ships, while armies in the millions were assembled on the surface…

The fleet was divided into three groups, the center under Grant, the left flank under Kenny and the right flank under Lee. Carandial and Thrawn coordinated the entire battle.

The fleet waited just beyond the orbit of the moon. Jack stood on the bridge of the Kyle, alongside Kenny and Alex.

"You guys ready for this?" Jack asked the two.

"You know it." Kenny smirked. "These fuckers aren't gonna know what hit 'em!"

"They shall know what it means to enrage gentle people," Alex declared as he engaged his suit.

Finally, as expected, the enemy fleet arrived just out of firing range. It was a massive fleet, outnumbering the already vast Terran armada by a significant margin. However, they had no Star Dreadnoughts yet. The Terrans had two.

Jack narrowed his eyes, before a transmission was received.

"Send it through.." Kenny confirmed, awaiting for whoever this was that was calling to appear on the screen.

The comm screen turned on, and…

Jack narrowed his eyes. Thanos, Davy Jones, and Lex Luthor.

"Greetings, insignificant rats. I, Thanos, and my associates herald your premature demise. I hope you enjoy the remaining minutes of your wretched lives," the purple Titan declared with a voice of malevolence.

"Now, our orders are to give these wretches a chance for peace." Davy Jones interjected.

Lex Luthor sighed, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose.

"So incompetent.." He commented in a whisper. In his mind, he truly felt intellectually superior in every way to them, and felt if they were going to complete their obligations, he would have to do the talking himself..

Lex Luthor regained his composure and cleared his throat, beginning to talk in that 'businessman' negotiator type of voice,

"Now listen.. I'm aware that our two parties have.." There was a brief pause. "gotten off on the wrong foot. But we are willing to give you one final chance.. We will negotiate our terms, and if accepted, war will be averted.." He finished with his hands clasped together, and a grin on his face.

It was one of those expressions that you couldn't really tell if he was genuine, or if he was up to something..

Jack narrowed his eyes. "What would those terms be?" He asked. He already had an idea what they were.

Lex Luthor could only chuckle, responding,

"Oh, Emperor Anderson.. Such venomous ferocity.. It isn't healthy to hold a grudge, you know.."

"I grow impatient." Jack shot back.

"The terms are simple.." Lex Luthor began, his expression unaffected. "Firstly, the Empire must reduce its military forces by 90%.. In wake of this reduction, peacekeepers of the Dark State shall be stationed on each continent on Earth.. Spread out accordingly.. Our third term is that any and all Dark State member shall have free access to Earth, to roam as he pleases.. No one likes to feel like an outcast, Anderson.."

There was another brief pause, as Lex Luthor finished,

"The final, and perhaps most important term that we request, is that the Empire bow down to the true, and only worthy leader that this reality has to offer.."

Lex Luthor then looked up, thinking to himself,

'Besides maybe, myself, in all due time..'

There was silence for a few moments. Alex simply smiled.

"Worthiness is subjective. What I wonder is why you name yourselves the 'Dark State'. Is it that you acknowledge that you know not love, and that you care not that your deeds are callous, beyond logic and defy universal definitions of decency? That matters not. What does matter is that we will not accept your terms. We shall not idly stand by and allow for you to wreak havoc and desolation to innocent people who care not for universal domination or total authority. If you came here thinking you had any hope of success, then I pity you. You will find that we will not give up our freedom, our prosperity and our benevolence at the whim of a group of twats. It is a universal truth that love is a greater and more natural power than hatred. Your hatred is not natural, but you are beyond salvation, and that is why you must be destroyed, either now or whenever your destiny expires. You will lose, always," he said rather casually.

Davy Jones narrowed his eyes in anger, while Thanos chuckled.

"Your words will not save you from your fate. It is also the law of the universe that there cannot be a beginning without an end. There are beings that exist not only beyond the universe but outside of your comprehension. This universe does not forgive weakness, it does not forgive decency, it does not allow for insignificant species such as yours to thrive. That is why you will lose, always," he claimed.

"Turn this off, and move the fleet into firing range." Jack ordered.

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For the people of South Park, and the entire world, the scene they saw was…

Even without the cameras that were sending images of the battle to the homes of every family with a TV, they could see the explosions, the flashes around the moon.

Jack had gotten into one of the fighters, while Alex had donned his suit to join him, leaving Kenny in charge of coordinating the left flank.

An enemy Star Destroyer was moving towards the Kyle, but by the larger Terran Dreadnought was large enough to hold its ground. Kenny watched as it approached, before his expression immediately turned serious.

"I already have a plan.." However, before he began giving orders all willy nilly, he decided to check with the other commanders. "Grant, Lee, Carandial, Thrawn. What is your current status?"

"We're holding the line as best we can on the right." Lee replied.

"The Center requires support. Their main attack is being focused there." Grant reported.

"McCormick," Thrawn began. "Send a third of your ships to reinforce Grant immediately."

"But Thrawn," Kenny began to protest. "I think I have a plan. But I need most of my ships to-" Kenny was immediately cut off by Thrawn.

"We have to maintain formation or else the enemy will break our lines. Send what ships you can to Grant. That's an order."

"Thrawn, perhaps-" Carandial began.

"The entire front needs to be protected. McCormick, send a quarter of your ships to Grant. Lee, send a quarter to Grant's aid as well. McCormick, what is your plan?" Thrawn asked. It sounded like he didn't like asking that question, but he was open to options.

Kenny seemed to notice it in his tone of voice. He gave a frustrated sigh, before he decided to just follow his command. He knew he wasn't going to win this.

"Just.. nevermind.." Kenny sighed. "Sending reinforcements now."

The ships began to move to aid Grant's beleaguered center, and slowly, Grant's fleet began to gain back it's lost ground. Then, Kenny saw an opportunity. The enemy had an exposed flank. If he could get around it, then he could drive the entire enemy fleet into retreat.

"Oh man!" Kenny exclaimed in slight excitement. "Well.. I guess part of the plan ended up running its course anyways! Maybe, just maybe.." Kenny began to quickly study the opening, and gave his order when he thought the time was right,

"Men!" Kenny began. "Bust your way in there! You see that weak spot in their flank? I want you to bust through aggressively and fuck shit up! Once inside, pick your shots."

With that, the Kyle rushed forward, it's Star Destroyers following. As it pushed in, it gunned down several enemy Star Destroyers, and soon, it looked like they were breaking through.

Kenny turned, and saw Grant, Lee and Carandial's ships joined the attack. At least half the fleet was pushing forward. The others were hanging back, seemingly hesitant.

"Follow Admiral McCormick's order." Thrawn said, confirming Kenny's attack.

Kenny gave a relieved, yet grateful smile.

"Yes!" Kenny exclaimed, before he regained his composure, clearing his throat. "Uh, I mean.. You heard him, men! Keep going! We have 'em on the ropes!"

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Alex blasted through an enemy star destroyer, as the fighters of both sides clashed in a vicious melee. Between the mammoth Star Destroyers were thousands of the nimble strikecraft, and a few Avengers here and there.

Jack's fighter was nearby.

"Lock onto 'em." Jack said.

His radar brought up an image of their target. "Alex, you see our target?"

"Yep," Alex strained as he threw an enemy fighter towards another, and they both crashed into an enemy Star Destroyer.

"Kenny, you copy?" Jack asked.

"Yep. What's up?" Kenny responded after a few seconds.

"We're clearing a path for you. You think you and your Star Destroyers will be able to exploit our breakthrough?" He asked with a slight grin, awaiting his friend's answer.

"Fuck yeah, we will!" Kenny laughed over the communicator. "We're practically on the brink of victory."

Jack grinned. "Alex, throw that Star Destroyer on the left into the one on the right. You think you can do that for me?" He asked.

"Of course, Jack," Alex confirmed before he flew straight towards the left Star Destroyer, willing away from his path with his telekinesis the hundreds of lasers that flew otherwise directly towards him.

He then increased his thrust before he impacted with the Star Destroyer, and then flying beneath it to alter its trajectory towards the right Destroyer.

It required less effort than before, so was executed quicker than the previous manoeuvre.

The two crashed into each other in a spectacular explosion.

"YEAH!" Jack yelled. "Alright guys, let's finish this!"

As they pushed forward, the Kyle gunned down several more enemy ships, and it looked like the enemy was about to break when-

A massive fleet dropped out of hyperspace. It was almost as large as the entire enemy force that arrived first.

Within seconds, it opened fire and began to reinforce the existing enemy fleet.

"Luthor?" Vader asked, sending a transmission to Lex.

"I read you, Vader.." Lex Luthor responded. "Go on.."

"We are moving in. I have my orders from Darkseid and the Emperor. We are to trap Anderson's ship, and capture him. The rest are to be destroyed."

"Then get it done.." Lex Luthor said. "The further we delay, the better a chance of possible escape.."

Initially, the Terrans fought hard to try and hold their gains, but slowly, it became clear that they were outgunned. One by one, their ships began to fall under the guns of a reinvigorated Galactic Empire and Dark State assault.

Thrawn stood on the bridge of his ship, coordinating the battle. "McCormick, plug that gap!" He ordered. They needed to stabilize their forces just enough to allow them to retreat.

"Oh, shit!" Kenny exclaimed, as if being taken aback by what he was witnessing, though he intended to not say it over the communicator. "Uh.. right! Doing that now!"

As Kenny did so, Thrawn noticed a dark shadow loom overhead. It was another Star Destroyer.

Vader looked to Thrawn's ship. It was badly damaged…

He turned to his second in command, and nodded.

A storm of laser fire from Vader's ship, as well as another Imperial ship, the one Lex Luthor, Thanos and Davy Jones were on, began to burn into Thrawn's Star Destroyer. As his ship began to crumble under the weight of the bombardment, the Grand Admiral closed his eyes.

There was dead silence as the commander of the entire Navy died in battle, his ship breaking apart.

Alex was astonished. How could that have happened with such swift brutality? He would not allow for Thrawn's death to be in vain. He was brought back to his senses when he began to take stray fire.

"NO!" Kenny exclaimed with widened eyes. "Goddammit, no!"

He looked around in a panic, before he looked at the destruction of Thrawn's ship once more. For the first time of his military career, he began to feel something he never thought he would..

Fear.

But.. not just that, even. He also felt failure and extreme guilt.. He was the one who came up with the idea to burst through that weakness in their flank so aggressively..

It was he who inspired the others to follow suit. It was he who left them trapped like sitting ducks..

Kenny felt ultimately responsible for all of this.. Their undisputed greatest and most brilliant military commander, and now he was gone..

However, there was only one thing Kenny could think left to do..

"Retreat!" Kenny commanded to everyone. He knew they were all in a state of shock, but he knew full well that if they stayed, they would all die.. "Godammit, I said retreat! Get out while you still can!"

They continued to fall back in droves, until…

Carandial's ship stopped and began to founder. It had suffered extensive damage, so…

If Thrawn's death forced the retreat, then this turned it into a rout. The Terran fleet scattered as order broke down, the Terran ships fleeing for their lives. Most escaped, but a few weren't so lucky.

Through all of this, Kenny heard one bright spot in this.

"Kenny!" Carandial's voice shouted. "I managed to get out in time. Jack and I are joining the rest of the fleet now."

Kenny simply sat there for several seconds, a mix of relief and guilt. Carandial could have very well been a victim as well.. Hell, several more men died because of him!

"Kenny?" Carandial asked once more.

"O- Okay.." Kenny finally responded. "We'll meet back on Earth.. Kenny out."

With that, Kenny hung up, sighing and holding his head in his hands. It was going to be a long ride back to Earth..

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As the fleet withdrew to Earth's surface and the planetary shield was activated, as well as the ground to space missiles that would prevent large ships from entering the atmosphere became operational, Admiral Robert E. Lee rested against the wall near one of the empty mess halls of the Command Center.

The mood was somber. It was quiet. It was as if all the spirit in the world had been sucked out. The news of the defeat was no doubt spreading…

Lee took a deep breath as he held a small bottle of water in his hand. He never was much of a drinker. There was the sound of someone walking down the hall. Turning, the older gentleman saw Kenny enter the mess hall, and briefly stop when he saw him.

Kenny quickly looked away from Lee, unable to make eye contact with him. The guilt that Kenny was facing was only increasing with every seconds that went by, and it was clearly starting to get to him. He cast full blame upon himself, and himself alone.

Kenny said nothing as he began to quickly walk his way towards where the kitchen was.

"Kenny-" Lee said softly.

"No.." Kenny quickly spoke, putting his hand up. "It's my fault.. Don't even try to tell me it isn't! Thrawn died.. Our men died! Carandial and the rest of us nearly met the same fate! And why!? Because I fucked up!"

There was brief silence.

"I gave the order to those men, and you guys followed suit! It nearly cost us everything!" Kenny took a few deep breaths, as his emotional rant continued, "I should have never accepted this role as Admiral.. I should have never rejoined the military.. I did so out of rage and out of revenge for those I loved.. What was I thinking?..."

Kenny finished by sitting down at a nearby table and covering his face with his two hands. Saying Kenny was distraught and ashamed in himself would be a massive understatement.

Lee took a deep breath, before placing a hand on his shoulder. "There will be another day, my friend. The spirit of our army is still very good, whatever we may feel. The men love and respect you."

Lee took a deep breath. "Did Jack ever tell you about what...my past self did in the Civil War?"

Kenny uncovered his face to show that he was listening, but still said nothing.

"It was during the Battle of Gettysburg. I...had a lapse of judgement, and ordered an attack much the same way you have done, and we were forced to retreat afterwards...But still, even after that, the Army fought on. I had offered my resignation to the army for the debacle, but they refused. They would fight under no-one else but me, for reasons I can't understand. Your men, they will fight with you in the same way. I cannot stop you, but we need brave men like you. You accepted responsibility for this defeat, a trait most in your position don't have. That is why we need you." Lee took a deep breath.

"We are in no more immediate danger for now. We can continue to fight another day."

Kenny's demeanor began to soften slightly, and he sat back up, but he still didn't seem fully convinced in himself and his leadership capabilities.

"And what if I fuck up again?.." Kenny asked Lee. "What if next time, I do something that costs us all our lives? I can't risk that.."

"I can't guarantee you won't, but we all believe in you. We all need you right now." Lee looked at him. "I am gathering what forces I can to defend the planet, and I want you to be part of it."

Kenny looked down with a sigh. His expression alone, as it had been since the accident, still showed that same level of guilt. His confidence had faded, and the initial anger he felt about Kyle and her family's disappearance, as well as Drew and Bebe's deaths, while still there, had mostly faded as well.

But on the other end, as Lee said, the Empire needed him.. He was in one of the most important rankings that the military could have, and his role as a leader was greatly needed to inspire the millions of men fighting for the Empire!

There were some things in life that you wanted to do, and there were also things that you needed to do.. Being an admiral was a duty, an obligation, a need! There was no time to wallow in pity much longer!

Kenny decided then and there that he had a responsibility, and he would fulfill it..

"Okay.." Kenny said to Lee, trying to regain his composure the best he could. "I- I'll try.. I'll do what needs to be done."

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Jack and the others examined the note Drew had left. Apparently, he had planned ahead. These were his last wishes before he died…

"To Adia and Kenzi, my daughters.." The note began. "I leave behind for each of you half of my life savings, in the event that I don't rescue your mother from this psychopath's clutches.. The $25,000 that was left from my fight with Mark Hunt, the $1 million dollars I was paid for defeating Jon Jones, and also an extra $5,000 or so that I made as a carpenter temporarily. That should equal up to around $1,030,000 total, which is about $515,000 for each of you.. This money is for your needs of everyday life, and is yours to do with as you please. Should I rescue you, Bebe, my beloved, I leave it all to you to care for our children.."

The note continued on, going into more detail,

"In the event that Bebe and I should both perish, Adia is old enough now that she can choose her own destiny.. She could stay with Jack, with Alex, even with Liu Kang, Kung Lao, and the Shaolin! I notice she has attained quite an interest in it.. Kenzi, on the other hand, is to either stay with her Grandmother or with a trusted friend.. Either option is one I wouldn't dispute, though while she may be more comfortable at her Grandma's, she may be safer at Jack, Stan, or Kenny's.. Make of this as you will. Just see to it that Kenzi and Adia, as sisters, see each other often.. The last thing I want is for them to be separated, especially in a time where they need each other the most..."

With that, the note ended with one final message,

"To my family, my friends, my acquaintances.. I was Batman. Yes, it's true.. I only chose such a path to keep peace and goodness alive in this vastly changing, evil-filled world.. I hope to one day purge the world of such evil, so that one day my children shall be able to freely roam this planet without the fear of getting shot, stabbed, or bombed.. Without getting raped, kidnapped, or mugged.. Without having anything happen to them.. To give everyone ELSE that same peaceful and tranquil feeling.. Of course, if you're seeing this message, then I have failed in my task.. However, I am confident that my conquest and the meaning behind it shall live on, inspire, and eventually, will persevere! One step at a time…

I love you all.

Drew"

Adia, as well as everyone else who was close to Drew, sat there in silence as they finished reading his final requests. Jack, Kylie, Alex, and even Raiden and the Earthrealm warriors.. They were all present..

Adia had tears stream down her face, thinking back to just how much she missed her mother and father.. Liu Kang put a gentle hand on her back, trying his best to console her.

Kylie looked down, holding Kenzi gently.

"I miss Mommy and Daddy.." Kenzi now spoke, holding that same level of sadness. Her speech had rapidly advanced, and she was growing a whole lot every single day. As each day went by, she grew more mature, and it was beginning to show..

"We all do..." Kylie whispered.

She really did miss Drew and Bebe. And her sister, and her brother, and her mother…

Jack took a deep breath. "Raiden? Liu Kang?"

Liu Kang and Raiden both looked over at him.

"Yes, Jack? What is it?" Raiden calmly asked. Even Raiden appeared bummed out about this whole thing, especially considering all the potential and good that he saw within Drew..

"You're okay with caring for Adia? She obviously likes you guys."

"Of course we will.." Liu Kang simply answered with a grin. He then looked down at Adia, who was still trying to recover and get this out of her mind. "That is.. if that's what Adia wants.."

Adia looked up at Liu Kang, and then to Kung Lao.. She finally forced a grin after a few seconds, and said to the Shaolin,

"I would love that.. a lot…" There was a brief pause, before she added more strongly, "My.. My Mom and Dad would have been happy to see me do this! They would have been happy for me to train as a Shaolin. To help defend the Earthrealm, and to be among the most honorable of warriors.. Just like my Dad did.. I want to follow in his footsteps. I want to continue what he started.."

Liu Kang and Kung Lao had to smile at that. Even Raiden, Johnny Cage, and Sonya Blade couldn't resist. While much tragedy had taken away so much, it didn't take away their hope.

"And we all will.." Johnny Cage smiled genuinely, losing the cocky attitude for once. "Even though I'm not a Shaolin, I now understand what Raiden saw in me.. He saw that I had potential, had goodness, and that I was willing to protect this place with my life." Johnny then pointed to Adia. "Just like your Dad.."

Adia beamed at that. Her smile was now genuine, and she almost appeared rejuvenated! She had found her purpose in life, and she was determined!

"As Protector of Earthrealm," Raiden began to speak to everybody. "I am confident in saying that I am most relieved and even grateful, that Adia has decided to make such a major choice in defending Earthrealm.. It will require perhaps years of training, but eventually, I am confident that you will become one of Earthrealm's greatest defenders and warriors…"

Adia's smile was still plastered on her face, and she gave a bow of respect to Raiden.

"Thank you.." There was a slight pause. "Lord Raiden.." She repeated what Liu Kang and Kung Lao often referred to him as. Raiden slightly grinned, before he gave her a nod that said she could be at ease once more.

As soon as she did so, Adia couldn't help but remember something else very important!

"Wait.." Adia began. "W- What about Kenzi? Will she stay at Grandma's? With you?" She questioned Jack.

Jack took a deep breath. "I promised your dad I will protect her." He said. "And you as well. Wherever you may go."

Adia absorbed those words and smiled slightly, giving Jack a nod.

"Just so you know," Adia began to tell Jack. "Kenzi usually always likes to stay at Grandma's on weekends. It was… kind of a tradition." She chuckled slightly at the end.

Jack nodded. "Of course."

He looked at Kylie and Kenzi. "If you want, you can spend tonight until Sunday at your Grandma's." He said. "I think she'll be happy to see you."

It was Wednesday, so that gave Kenzi double the time there.

Kenzi couldn't help but beam at that. She looked almost way too excited to go. It had of course been a long while since she had been there, anyways..

This, in turn, made Adia happy. To see Kenzi smile, it really made things feel way better.. Adia never went to her Grandma's as often as Kenzi did, but Bebe's mother still loved Adia just the same. Adia then decided that perhaps she might go visit, just for the hell of it.. After all, she was among the last of her 'real' family left! Besides Kenzi, her Grandma was currently the only one left..

Jack smiled a bit. It was nice to see Kenzi and Adia a bit happier. They all needed that.

"Just remember," Liu Kang spoke to Adia. "the Wu Shi Academy's door is always open for you.. Whenever you need a bed to sleep in or food to eat, it will be there.. In the beginning, and especially the height of your training, you may even eventually call it 'home'.."

Adia grinned in understanding, giving a slight bow that the Shaolin always did as a show of gratitude or respect.

Liu Kang then turned to Kenzi and Kylie, saying to them with a friendly grin,

"That goes for you two as well.. Should tragedy ever strike, and you ever find yourself alone with nowhere else to turn to, Elder Gods forbid, then you are always welcome inside the Wu Shi Academy.. No child will be left on the streets to starve, or to sleep on cold, hard pavement.."

"And that is a promise.." Kung Lao quickly added, giving a slight bow in unison with Liu Kang. "As a Shaolin, our word is binding.."

Jack nodded in thanks. Kylie was silent for a few moments, before nodding. She was still nervous. All this shit weighed very heavily on her. She was still only eight years old. She didn't understand all of this, and all she knew was that people she loved were getting hurt.

It was a scary time, especially for the kids.

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It had been six weeks…

Six weeks since Kyle, Amelia and Simba disappeared. Six weeks since Bebe and Drew were lost to the Joker. Six weeks since their home had come under siege by a foe bent on their destruction.

The Dark State had launched several new attacks on Earth in the last few months. The shield had prevented a direct invasion or bombardment, but that didn't mean they were content to wait over the planet's surface. They had launched three large scale invasions of Imperial territory since the Battle of Luna. The first, an invasion of New York State, had been beaten back with heavy Imperial losses, but the invasions of the Middle East and China had succeeded. After brutal quagmires at Shanghai and Damascus, the Dark State had gained a foothold on Earth.

Jack was pacing around in the War Rooms. Carandial, Caesarius, Lee, Grant, Rommel and Kenny were all there, looking over the various plans. Kenny had been practically dragged here by the other Admirals, because the trauma of the previous battle was still strong.

"Is there any potential way we could drive them out from Earth entirely?" Jack asked.

"No. The enemy blockade is too strong, and we can spare no troops for campaigns outside Earth." Caesarius replied.

"Dammit..." Jack muttered, still pacing.

"Whatever happened to that Batman guy?" Kenny decided to speak. "It just seems like he just.. disappeared.."

Kenny was perhaps one of the few close friends of Drew that wasn't at his house to discover in his final note that he was actually Batman. He had been too busy focusing on the war effort to have been informed.

Jack froze. "We don't...know...No-one does..."

Caesarius looked at Jack, remembering the events of that fateful night.

He still remembered all that had happened, and in all honesty, he was among those who wished for Batman to remain…

Kenny sighed, rubbing his head in slight pain. He had a serious headache, due to all the stress and guilt he was currently feeling.

"What of The Avengers?" Kenny then questioned. "Isn't that their job? Y'know.. to be heroes?"

"They're out with Alex in China." Carandial brought up. "They left yesterday on their own accord."

Kenny simply threw his hands up in frustration, sighing in annoyance.

"Well then in that case, I got nothin'.." Kenny said in that same frustrated tone.

Jack was about to reply, before the door slammed open, and a very angry-looking Stan burst into the room, looking like he was out for blood.

"What the fuck is your problem!?.." Stan exclaimed, taking everyone in the room aback. His exclamation was directed towards Jack. Kenny had already stood up out of his seat and began to approach Stan so that things wouldn't get too out of control.

Jack looked at Stan for a moment, regarding him with both annoyance and frustration. "Elaborate. What exactly is my 'problem', Stan?"

Stan tried stomping up to Jack, but Kenny held him back from doing so, as well as the others in the room rising to their feet.

"Take a look outside!" Stan exclaimed, pointing towards the door. "South Park may not have been perfect, but at least we were all still alive before you got here! There are people dying in this town every.. day! Do you know how horrible that is!? Within a year or two South Park could be a ghost town!" He then aggressively pointed Jack's direction.

"You.. Y- You're the reason for this! You're letting those fuckers invade us and aren't acting quick enough! Kyle and your family are still captured and yet we still have no leads! What the fuck, dude!"

Jack was silent for a moment. "Stan, I'm doing everything-"

"No," Stan cut off. "Clearly you haven't! Otherwise things would be back to normal right now! Things would be okay.." It was silent for a bit, before Stan's anger turned itself into sadness. A couple stray tears streamed down his face, which caused Kenny to stand up and comfort his friend.

"Please, Jack.." Stan spoke more pleading, completely the opposite of his pissed off tone just seconds earlier. He seemed to know in his mind that he himself couldn't do much, and as much as he didn't like it, had to rely on the Imperials. "Please.. Kyle must be found! Her family must be found! Soon!.." He then gained some of that confidence back, raising the volume of his voice as he finished,

"These Dark State assholes are destroying our town! Not only that, but the whole world is suffering! People are fucking dying, dude! Do you know what drove me to come here in the first place? Do you want to know what broke me?.."

Jack looked at Stan, motioning for him to continue.

"I was in town.. I was headed for the church.." Stan shook his head. "Normally I'm not the religious type, but I just didn't fucking know where else to turn.." Kenny remained by Stan, placing a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder as he continued to explain. "I walked past that Japanese restaurant, y'know, the one that's shut down now?.. Anyways, as I'm walking past there, I see some smoke in the distance.."

Silence reigned for a few seconds, Stan letting it happen to add to the suspense and severity of what was to come.

"See normally I wouldn't be so concerned. Our fire department is a fairly good one, and we've had a few fires here and there. Not a big deal, right?.."

Almost immediately, tears began to return to Stan's face, as well as a boiling expression. Stan then continued,

"I make it to the source of the smoke, and I see the firefighters have already put out the fire.. They were talking among each other outside, and I saw even a couple police officers were talking to them as well.. I overheard one of the cops say that the building had been blown up!" Everyone in the room's eyes widened.

"That's right! That building blew up! It was confirmed to be a terrorist act! According to them, it was another one of those Joker followers!" Stan shook his head once again, taking a few deep breaths. "But no.. That's not what broke me.. Do you want to know what broke me?.." Stan asked no one in particular.

"What?" Carandial asked, dreading the answer.

Stan looked at Carandial, and then back to the group in general.

"I saw two bodies.. Both trapped under the ash and the rubble. One was dead, and the other was still fighting for her life! It was a little girl who I had never seen before. She must have been new here, herself.. I'll never forget the- the screaming and the crying! Her legs were being crushed underneath a beam of wood, and there was too much rubble to get her out in time! She eventually stopped screaming altogether.. Despite the firefighters working desperately to get her out, she finally.. stopped breathing.."

Stan's expression was now fired up, and he appeared to be drawing to a close,

"The second body? It- It was…" Stan took another deep breath, gritting his teeth in absolute despair, as if sickened by the very memory he was forced to carry with him. "Bebe's mom.."

No one spoke for a good while. They were all just so taken aback, and so entranced by Stan's story, just taking it all in. They were just completely speechless..

Stan didn't like the silence this time, and he pointed to the side, beginning to yell,

"Drew, my best friend's daughters are now without a fucking grandma! Kenzi loved going over there from what Drew and Bebe have told me! Every weekend, that little girl would light up when she heard her name! And now-" Stan took emotional, angered breaths and finally finished, "-Now she's gone.. Kenzi lost both of her parents, and now this.. This is going to kill her and Adia when they find out.."

Jack looked down.

"I know."

He looked out the window. "Stan?" He asked.

Stan said nothing, only waiting for Jack to say what he had to say. Kenny wrapped Stan in an embrace, which Stan returned, feeling very sorry for what Stan had to witness, and especially what Adia and Kenzi would go through.. Kenny didn't say much, so as to not interrupt what Jack would say. All Kenny did was whisper one thing into Stan's ear,

"I'm sorry, brother.. We're gonna make this right.."

"Yesterday, we lost two thousand men in China. We were here trying to figure out just what we could do to try to even the odds. We are doing everything we can. Every person here is. But we're outnumbered and outgunned. We are suffering because of that. It's not their fault, they don't deserve what's happening, and the worst part is I can't do anything more to help them."

He looked away. "You're right. I'm not protecting them...Because I can't..."

He slammed his hand on the desk.

"I lost the person I love and two of my children because of this..."

Jack fell to his knees. "The war is over...We lost..."

"Not just yet.." Stan of all people said, taking everyone by surprise.

Jack looked up.

Stan looked directly at Jack, before he said,

"Jack.. Mind if we clear the room? I would rather we talk about this alone.. One on one. It is of most importance."

Jack looked at the others, and motioned for them to leave. Kenny gave one final look to Stan, but trusted him.. With that, Kenny followed the already leaving military leaders out of the room, leaving just Stan and Jack.

Jack looked at Stan, waiting for him to say something. Stan took a deep breath, before he asked,

"I take it you saw the note?.. Y'know.. The one that Drew left? The one saying his final wishes and the one that confessed that he was Batman?.."

Jack nodded.

"I wanna propose one thing, and it's probably gonna hurt.. After that, if you'll still give me the light of day at all, I made a discovery that could probably win us this war!" Stan continued.

Jack perked up. "Go on..."

He was a bit excited, but he was also apprehensive.

"In light of all of what has just happened, with Kenzi's grandma now gone.." Stan paused briefly, before he bluntly just came out and said it, "I wanna take care of Kenzi.. I owe it to Drew for all he's done for me. I owe it to Bebe for dealing with my shit over the years.. I owe it to them all."

Jack looked at him for a moment.

"You better take damn good care of that girl!" He said.

"That little girl is as much family to me as Simba, Kylie and Amelia. Promise me you will do everything you can to be there for her. Don't...fail where I did..."

"Believe me, Jack.." Stan began. "I will not let myself fuck up! No one is gonna hurt her, and I'm gonna give her a good life! I.. made a promise to Drew and Bebe at the church earlier today.. I promised them that I would raise her to be happy, and to make sure that she gets everything she needs in life.."

Jack looked at him, still concerned. "Very well...I have a request as well..."

"Anything…" Stan replied.

"If something happens to me in this war. If..." Jack took a deep breath. "If I can't find Kyle...Will you please take care of Kylie?"

Stan would have been taken aback by the thought of this happening to Jack, but honestly, he wouldn't be surprised of this happening to anyone in today's world..

"You bet your ass I will.. dude." Stan grinned at the end, genuinely promising Jack that he would in that circumstance.

Jack nodded.

"What will help us win this war?" He asked Stan seriously. "I am out of ideas..."

Stan's only response was reaching into his coat pocket, and tossing a folder filled with papers on top of the table.

Jack hesitantly picked up the papers, and pulled out a file. For a split second, he couldn't believe what he was seeing! But there it was, right in front of his eyes!

"That, my friend, is courtesy of Drew.. Or should I say 'Batman'.." Stan smirked. "While at his house, after I read the note, I saw his drawer half open. It was as if he wanted someone to look inside.. Once I did, this is what I found!"

Stan's expression had changed completely now. It was one of hope.

"That, my friend, is detailed biographies and blueprints on each member of the Dark State, and how to neutralize them!"

Jack looked at him for a moment.

Then, he began to grin.

"Caesarius?" He asked on his communicator.

"Jack?"

Jack looked at Stan. "Ready the military! And send these files to every commander in the military!"

Stan's expression was of determination! He looked up towards the direction of the sky with a warm grin, as if thanking Drew for all that he has done, both in life and in death..

'Thank you for everything, my friend.. If there IS a Heaven like you claim-" Stan then felt a tear come to his eye. '-Then I'll see you on the other side one day..'

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"All commanders report in."

"Admiral Caesarius standing by."

"Admiral Carandial standing by."

"Admiral Grant standing by."

"Admiral Lee standing by."

"Admiral Rommel standing by."

It was now his turn. Kenny had been given responsibility for the North American Force as it had been called. The Empire had quietly amassed it's military in seven main forces; Caesarius for Europe, Carandial for the Pacific, Grant for Africa, and Lee for Asia. Jack was in command of the South American Force. Rommel was in command of the Atlantic Force.

"Admiral McCormick standing by."

"Very well. My orders to all commanders. Attack. Give them hell!" Jack ordered.

With that, the Imperial Navy moved up towards the shield. Kenny looked out the window to see over fifty Star Destroyers and three smaller Dreadnoughts around the Kyle. Hundreds of smaller ships were swarming around them. It was a truly impressive sight.

The sky darkened. They were nearing the edge of the shield…

"Kenny?" Jack asked on the communicator.

"Copy.." Kenny responded, already keeping his watch over the North American sector.

"For Kyle, Drew, Bebe, her mother, Thrawn, Anakin, and all the others..." Was all Jack said. There was determination in his voice.

"Any word on Alex's location?" Carandial asked Jack, wondering when they would join in the war effort.

"Oi! I'm right here!" Alex called as he and the Avengers joined with Kenny's fleet.

"Let's give 'em hell." Iron-Man mused.

The fleet moved closer, and finally, through the energy shield that was at the top of the atmosphere, they saw it. The enemy fleet was swarming to meet them.

The blue hue of the energy shield covered the Kyle for a brief moment, and then, the vastness of space filled their vision. They were beyond the shield.

"By your command, Admiral." Thonaloc said, awaiting the order to engage.

"I appreciate the respect." Kenny began to tell Thonaloc. "But no need to listen for any command of mine! Show those fuckers they're messing with the wrong Empire!"

For a split second, the communicators filled with the cheers of the entire fleet. Thonaloc's battlegroup led the charge, and as the first shots were fired, the fight for their freedom began…

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Kylie, Stan, Wendy, Kenzi, Stan's family, Token, Craig, Tweek, Butters, PC Principal, and Mr. Mackey were gathered around the TV of Stan's living room, watching the footage that was coming in of the battle. While they couldn't see most of the actual fighting, with most of the ships just mere dots in the sky aside from the dreadnoughts, they could see the explosions!

It was something to behold, that was for sure…

"Come on, dad..." Kylie said, eyes glued to the TV.

"Can we turn on the football game now, Sharon?" Randy pleaded, huffing in slight frustration.

"No, Randy!" Sharon shot back, evidently peeved with him.

"Oh come on!" Randy crossed his arms, before taking a large drink of his beer. "If my team loses I'm blaming you."

"If my team loses we all die!" Kylie exclaimed.

Randy looked at her blankly, before he responded,

"Well jeez, that's a bit extreme don't you think?.. It's just football.."

"We're at war-" Kylie stopped, before just shaking her head and looking at the TV.

She then whispered to Stan. "He still hasn't changed I see..."

"Welcome to my world.." Stan simply responded, watching the coverage closely.

The fighting seemed to continue for a little while, before a sudden news report came in.

"Uh, yes, we are getting this!" The midget in a bikini said. "Looks like the Empire, led by an 'Admirable McCormick' has destroyed a lot of those giant flying pizza slices! Our consultants believe that we're winning this fight!"

Everyone in the room couldn't help but cheer, but Stan simply cocked a brow.

"'Admirable McCormick'?" Stan asked aloud, almost in a chuckle. "Well, butchering military terms aside, at least he wasn't completely wrong.."

Then, suddenly, the screen lit up for a moment, and was nearly consumed by light!

"Oh hamburgers!" Butters exclaimed in surprise.

As the light faded, another report came in.

"WHAT?! Are you serious?!" The Midget exclaimed.

"Uh, well, looks like the enemy army is in retreat! Apparently, they have lost over a hundred ships!"

Kylie jumped out of her seat for a bit, while Wendy had to sigh in relief. "Thank god..."

"Oh!" Randy exclaimed, perking up. "Is your show finally over now?"

"SHUT UP, R-TARD!" Kylie yelled.

"I'm not an R-TARD you retar-" Randy began to counter.

"Hey!" PC Principal yelled out. "I will have you know that that is a micro-agression! It violates individual rights in Section 137-B, Article 16 of the-"

"TREATY OF SHUT THE FUCK UP, 2000-GET FUCKING LAID!" Kylie shouted at him.

"Someone's on their period.." Randy muttered. His only response was a hard smack to the back of his head, courtesy of his wife Sharon. "Ow!" Randy exclaimed, rubbing his head.

He saw Sharon's obviously angered expression, and could tell that she wasn't having any of his immaturity today.

"Love you, Hon.." Randy tried to smooth over the tension, but Sharon merely rolled her eyes. "Sh- Sharon?.. So… No footba-"

"I swear.. to Christ, Randy.." Sharon began, before Randy held up his hands in surrender.

"Okay, okay fine.. You win.." Randy said. There was a bit of silence, before he twiddled his thumbs and added, "So.. I guess checking the score is out of the questi-"

Randy was smacked in the face once again, this time knocking him unconscious.

Kylie looked at Stan with an amused expression,

"I can see where you get it from, Stanley..."

Stan shook his head with a smirk, now having Kenzi sitting on his lap and on the couch with him.

"I sure hope not.. My Dad is just-" He looked over to see Randy groaning on the ground, somehow yelling in his unconscious state,

"N- No, please! Not the strap-on! Not again!"

Stan evidently cringed, clenching his teeth.

"Uh.. yeah." Stan simply finished, focusing his attention back on Kenzi. Kenzi had just gotten to his house a few hours ago, and needless to say, she was fairly nervous initially. She was definitely comfortable with Stan and even Kenny, though, simply because her Dad would bring her by often, and she was around them a lot.

It would still take some getting used to, but Kenzi's first day of living with Stan was working out better than anyone had originally anticipated. Kenzi and Adia both still didn't know that their Grandma had passed away, but they would be informed soon enough.. The right time would just need to come first.

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For another two hours the brutal battle raged in the air. All over the world people could see the explosions. Then, it seemed to slow down. The world stood still for a few minutes… The footage was eerily still…

Kylie narrowed her eyes, wondering what was going on, before there was a knock on the door.

Stan handed Kenzi off to his Mom, before he approached the door and opened it.

Jack, Kenny and Carandial were there waiting for him.

Stan's eyes widened slightly, noticing now that everyone had begun to crowd towards the door. Stan looked back to the trio's direction,

"Did you..?" Stan cut himself off, simply waiting to tell what had actually happened.

"They're gone." Jack said.

"We drove them not just from Earth, but from the entire solar system."

Kylie's eyes widened. "So...the war is over?" She asked.

"For now? Yes.." Kenny announced with a relieved grin. This caused everyone in the living room to cheer, before Kenny added on, "But.. That's not to say that they couldn't launch another attack in the future. But should that attack ever come, we'll be ready for 'em!.."

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Okay

The mood on the Death Star was tense to say the least.

"Until this battle-station is fully operational, we are vulnerable! These Terrans are too well equipped! They're more dangerous than you realize."

Motti narrowed his eyes at his fellow Galactic Empire Commander.

"Dangerous to your starfleet, commander. Not to this Empire, and especially not to our liege..."

"This was an utterly embarrassing washout!" Deathstroke spoke up, referring to the earlier battle they had just lost to the Terran Empire. "As a former soldier myself, you wouldn't even be fit to scrub down the mess hall!"

"I agree with Slade." Davy Jones snapped.

"This was a failure, and one we cannot afford! We must strike back-"

"All in due time..." Brian Anderson mused.

"Silence." Zillum snapped.

"Your spawn won't go down easily..."

"Perhaps if you all had followed my contingency plans the way I had written them, then maybe we would have shown better defense.. Maybe we wouldn't have had our forces completely demolished!" Lex Luthor yelled out now, shaking his head. "Fools.." He muttered to himself just under his breath.

"Our losses will be replaced."

Everyone turned to see Tarkin, Vader, and Palpatine step into the room.

"I have ordered our forces on the defensive. And," Tarkin looked to Palpatine.

"We have dissolved the Senate. Our regional lords now are free to deal with rebels and dissent in any manner they wish." The Galactic Emperor replied.

"We shall return soon enough, and the Jedi and his empire will be crushed." Vader added.

"Yes.." Everyone heard a booming voice speak from the shadows. You could tell he was speaking in a lower voice, and yet it still echoed throughout the room. "In time we shall return.."

The figure finally stepped into the room, the ground shaking with each step he made. Everyone in the room froze, keeping their gaze directly upon him. Even Zillum was noticeably taken aback. The figure in question was 8 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 1,815 pounds exactly. His build was simply perfectly chiseled and his strength looked to be impeccable!

The God's name shook the part of the universe he came from, and even a few others to its core.. His name.. was Darkseid.

Darkseid's piercing red eyes laid upon each member present, none of them moving a muscle and waiting for him to speak.

"Well then.." Darkseid began. "Would anyone like to explain to me what happened?.."

There was silence, before Vader spoke.

"The enemy outsmarted our commanders," Vader looked to Lex Luthor, Thanos and Davy Jones. "And we paid the price, my master."

"They outsmarted us.." Darkseid repeated, his voice still echoing throughout the room. He simply remained silent, allowing everyone to take this in. "And why have they outsmarted us!? Am I mistaken in saying that we are supposed to be the most fierce and devastating force of darkness in the entire universe!? Did we not just take down one of the most powerful Empires throughout the galaxies in Cyrannus!?"

Everyone remained silent as Darkseid yelled. No one dared to cut him off..

"Well.. did we not!?" Darkseid asked once again, appearing to grow angry that no one was answering.

"We did.. yes." Deathstroke spoke up. "I still remember that day greatly.. It was perhaps our greatest victory."

"So then why have our forces been defeated by the likes of humans on the planet Earth!?" Darkseid demanded. "A couple of you are humans, yes.. And humans are perhaps among the most dangerous of species.. But at the same time, they are weak.. Most of their societies crumble when they see a mere few of their kind die. Entire wars start over something so insignificant as a few worthless lives.." Darkseid paused once again before finishing,

"Humans are easily influenced and are no challenge for the might of this legion.. But yet somehow, you couldn't even dispose of them properly.."

"That boy is no pushover." Zillum finally spoke. "He, his court jester, and the Batman, they will not bow easily. But there is a way to break them. At least, when it comes to Anderson..."

Darkseid merely chuckled wickedly, his mouth not even opening. A small smirk appeared to form on his face, before he said,

"Continue.."

Zillum nodded, before he turned to the door. "Show yourself, Operator."

A tall, slender, faceless figure materialized in the room, with several tentacles protruding from it's back. Each tentacle held someone.

"My son's whore?" Brian asked, starting to smirk.

Slenderman placed Kyle on the ground. She looked around, utterly terrified, before her eyes locked on Darkseid.

"Don't be shy.. Stand up!" Darkseid demanded Kyle, his eyes glowing bright red. He was preparing his Omega Beam, using it as a threat. It was a beam so powerful, it has killed even the most fearsome of Darkseid's previous challengers with one blast.

Kyle stood to her feet. "Please..."

"Did I say that you could speak!?" Darkseid yelled out, shaking the room.

There was a sudden sound of crying. Kyle turned, and saw Amelia sobbing. Simba looked between Kyle and Amelia, afraid out of his mind.

"Cease your crying insolent child!" Darkseid yelled directly at Amelia. "One more sound and I shall make an example out of you!.."

Amelia tried to quiet down, but could only tremble in terror.

Darkseid stomped directly up to Kyle, looking directly into Kyle's emerald green eyes with his terrifying red ones.

"How was your stay with our.. Operator?" Darkseid wickedly questioned.

Kyle looked away. "Why?" She asked. "Why us? Why my family? Why my home?"

Darkseid grabbed Kyle's head, jerking it to where she was looking directly into his eyes.

"Look at me! Do not turn your head away!" He then gripped tighter, causing an obvious pain in Kyle's head. "I will ask the questions around here! Do you understand!?"

Kyle nodded tearfully.

Darkseid let go of her head, causing her to fall towards the ground. However, she immediately stood back up, looking directly at Darkseid as he had said.

"If you must know, however," Darkseid began. "This 'Jack' appears to think that he is some sort of supreme ruler.. I am here to say that he is completely mistaken! There is only one even remotely close to an Empire that is true ruler, and that is the Dark State!" Kyle still couldn't help but cry and tremble as she was forced to look into this being's eyes. "When you see Anderson again, you will tell him that I am the supreme ruler! That I am in complete control! I.. am God!"

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Crackle!

The sounds of a small campfire were dominantly heard all throughout the surrounding area. Right beside it sat Drew, as well as a Takin carcass. A Takin looked very similarly to a Bison, and was very common around the area.

Drew had followed Ra's and travelled with him to where this 'League Of Assassins' supposedly was.. They ended up in the East Asian country of Bhutan, way out in the Himalayan Mountains! It was freezing cold, and Drew didn't exactly pack himself a winter coat.

The worst part? Ra's at one point during their travels in the icy mountains, just straight up abandoned him! Drew looked away for one second, and the next moment? He was gone!

Ra's had left him alone out here in this frozen hellscape, to fend for himself!

Right now, Drew was wearing the fur of a Snow Leopard that he happened to encounter on his second day stuck out here. All Drew had to defend himself was the sword that Ra's had given to him back in South Park, and at that point, Drew figured he didn't mind the outcome. He was either going to die trying to get its fur and be rid of this living hell he called a life, or he was going to slaughter the leopard and provide himself with some warmth.

Needless to say, the clash did not go the leopard's way..

Every day, Drew would hunt for any food he could out here, having nothing but that sword as a weapon. It wasn't exactly ethical for hunting, but he had no choice.. He would be forced to sneak up on the animals, and once close enough, lunge in for the kill!

He did this for over a solid month! At this point in time, Drew was beginning to wonder just what the point of this was.. Sure, he was surviving, but at what cost? He had lost basically everything he once loved, and now he was lost out in the frozen Himalayan wilderness halfway across the world!

Drew was almost at his breaking point..

Crunch..

Drew's eyes immediately shot open.

SHINK!

Drew unsheathed his sword and stood to his feet, ready to kill whatever potential predator this might be. There was pure silence for several seconds as he looked around, the only sounds being the crackling of the fire and the howling of the chilling wind.

"You have done well, Detective.." A familiar voice spoke directly behind Drew. Drew's eyes widened, and out of instinct, turned around to face the perpetrator.

It was…

"Ra's!?" Drew exclaimed, his voice containing that of absolute shock, as well as slight but justified anger.

Ra's simply chuckled, and nodded his head. The man appeared to be.. impressed?

"For over a month I left you out here.." Ra's began to bring up. "I left you exposed to the elements. You were exposed to such harsh conditions in so long a time that would have left the average man with extreme cases of hypothermia and frostbite. The average man should be dead right now.."

"Why the hell did you leave me out here!?" Drew demanded, gritting his teeth. "What brings you here now? Where even am I!?"

Ra's merely smirked.

"This was merely a test.. An initiation if you will."

"Initiation?.." Drew questioned with widened eyes, taken aback.

Ra's nodded. "Yes.. What good would the League Of Assassins be if they didn't have strong willed and sharp minded members? You showed courage and opposition to death's cold grip.. And in doing so, I hereby officially grant you an official League Of Assassins recruit.."

Drew looked down for a moment, as if taking all this in. He was still just so confused and taken aback by all of this.. This was just a test this whole time!? A rather extreme one at that!

"You are improving greatly, Detective.." Ra's complimented. He then motioned towards the carcass by the fire. "The way you adapted your stealth when hunting those Takin.. Very well implemented. And you managed to keep your anger in check when seeing me for the first time in over a month. Most would have tried to attack me, or even insult me.." Ra's then shook his head. "But no.. You are doing exceptionally well! You are already much different than when we left that small town in Colorado.."

Drew absorbed all that Ra's was saying, and as weird as Drew thought it was to be doing this, he actually cracked a slight grin. Drew gave a traditional bow of respect, still holding his sword in hand.

"At ease, recruit.." Ra's told Drew in his usual calm voice. Drew rose back up as Ra's turned around and motioned in the opposite direction.

"Come on.. Let us make the final part of the journey towards the temple. It is an area of absolute secrecy, and is so remote that no one would ever dare make the trek.. It is far too dangerous a journey for even the most experienced of hikers or mountain climbers.."

This got a response out of Drew, who widened his eyes slightly. Ra's simply looked down at Drew's fur coat he had taken off of the snow leopard, and with a smirk finished,

"But you seem to be prepared for such temperatures, and are more than athletic enough to make the climb. Are you not?.."

Drew took a slight breath, before he nodded in a determined response.

"Let us go.." Drew simply spoke, before Ra's immediately obliged.

With that, the two of them began the rest of their trek to the hideout of the League Of Assassins, leaving the campfire and carcass well behind..

The next step of Drew's training was already in motion..

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

It was a long 4 hour hike, which also included lots of climbing, but eventually Drew and Ra's made it to a final giant slope.

"We are almost there.. It is just above this final incline." Ra's informed Drew.

Drew was breathing heavily from the long and grueling hike. Sure, he was athletic, but this was just a different level of extreme!

He couldn't wait to just get some rest..

As the incline began to get lower and lower, Drew's prayers seemed to finally be answered! There it was.. In the distance.

The Temple of the League Of Assassins!

Drew's face immediately lit up, and a burst of energy seemed to surge through him. He and Ra's approached the giant lone temple, walking through what appeared to be a huge campus for training purposes! Outside, in many different groups and scattered throughout these grounds, were ninja assassins already apart of the League. They seemed to be getting their daily exercise and training in.

As Ra's and Drew now saw the temple's front entrance clear as day, Drew noticed a man standing right in front of the sizeable doors..

The man wore jet black armor, similar to the ninjas. It seemed more ornate though, than the fairly simple robes of the others.

He had his arms crossed, and-

CLANG!

Drew finally saw a pair of ninjas were dueling. The man seemed to be inspecting their progress. Drew was taken aback by the ferocity of the duel. The two ninjas were fighting with such force and speed that a blow would surely kill them.

Ra's Al Ghul appeared to yell out at them in a language that Drew couldn't quite understand.. It was definitely some Asian language, though.

After that, Ra's looked over at Drew, and translated it to English, telling the ninjas again,

"Slow down! Save that ferocity for those who stain this Earth with their corruption.. You are only supposed to be sparring."

The two ninjas bowed to Ra's Al Ghul, before looking to the man who had been overseeing their training. He spoke in the same language Ra's Al Ghul had just spoke. His tone was low, and cold. He seemed to be scolding them. After finishing, the two bowed, and left, before the man turned.

Drew saw the man was wearing a sleek metal mask, with a t-shaped vizor on top. The man looked at Drew, before he spoke to Ra's Al Ghul. He said something that sounded like a question.

Ra's immediately nodded, much to Drew's confusion.

"Yes, he is the one I have been observing over these past several months.. The one from South Park." Ra's informed the man, translating it to English so Drew could understand.

The man was silent, before he spoke, this time in an English, with an accent that, to Drew's shock, was distinctly American. No Asian overtones. His voice was low, but commanding.

"Welcome, Detective..."

Drew was about to reply, before something caught his eye. On the man's belt, instead of a katana, was…

Drew's eyes widened. A lightsaber hung at the man's belt.

Drew took a cautious step back, just in case the lightsaber in question was in fact red.. He held his hand beside his sword, ready to unsheathe it.

"You-" Drew began, before his expression appeared evidently suspicious. "Are you a Sith?.."

The man laughed humorlessly.

"No, boy. Not anymore..." He crossed his arms.

"I would expect you to recognize this weapon, considering your close friend wielded it with surprising skill, but no control..."

Drew's expression was unchanged, still holding that suspicion.

"I'm aware of what it is.. And I also know what the Sith are capable of!" Drew shot back.

Ra's immediately butted in, wishing to stop this before things escalated.

"Drew! Revan! You will stop this at once!"

Revan cocked his head to the side a tiny bit, but said nothing more. "He has a fire in his soul, I'll give him that."

"That.. we can agree on." Ra's responded, before looking at Drew firmly. "I can assure you, Detective, that Revan is a trusted and close ally of mine. He has been here for four years now, and has more than proven his loyalty and worth to the League Of Assassins. You have nothing to worry about.."

Drew looked over at Revan for a bit, and then back to Ra's. Drew gave a sigh, but nodded in concession, giving a slight bow.

"My apologies.. Ra's." Drew told him, before rising back up.

"It is quite alright.." Ra's waved it off. "I'm certain that Revan feels the same way."

Revan nodded.

"You have nothing to fear from me, Drew..."

He took a deep breath.

"I don't blame you for being suspicious. I distrust the Sith as much as the Jedi, though it seems that your friend Jack is one of the last..."

He then added. "You have indeed impressed me. Your exploits as Batman were most impressive for one so young."

"I don't do that anymore!.." Drew surprisingly exclaimed, the memories of being Batman seemingly striking a nerve. It brought back the horrible memories of Bebe's death, and how it put so many of those he cared about in danger. "Batman is no more! That is- That's behind me now.."

Revan was silent.

"The future is always in motion," Revan said cryptically.

"Ra's?" He then asked, in a more respectful and humble tone.

"Go on.." Ra's responded with a cocked brow of curiosity.

"I request the chance to oversee our new recruit's initial training alongside you."

He looked at Drew.

"He's strong, but unbalanced, emotional, impulsive and weighed down by memories and guilt from a past that's dead. He needs to learn control, to truly reach his potential."

Drew looked like he wanted to respond to that, but kept his emotions in check. He had to learn how to do that, after all..

Ra's looked in Drew's direction, as if in thought. Before long, he looked directly back towards Revan with a nod.

"Consider it granted.." Ra's told him. He then started talking to Drew briefly. "But keep in mind, you will still receive training from me as well.. That language you heard from earlier? That was Dzongkha.. The language of Bhutan. You will learn to speak it! Not only that, but you will learn every language in the world! Fluently.."

Drew couldn't help but laugh, thinking that Ra's was just joking around with him. However, when he saw Ra's and Revan dead silent, he knew that his statement was no joke.

"Oh.. Y- You're serious about that.." Drew softly replied. "How is that even possible, though!? Every language on Earth? Seriously?"

"Nothing is impossible..." Revan stated. "You will learn that in time.."

"Yes," Ra's supported. "Learning each tongue the world has to offer is very useful while on missions. You will need them in the midst of interrogation or even spying on the targets in question.. You can and will learn vital information that way!"

Drew looked down, still very shocked and unsure of how this was even humanly possible, but even still, he nodded his head in understanding.

"Your physical and mental state will be brought to its absolute limit! I see potential in you that I have seen in no other before.. And that is why your training will be even more grueling than it would typically be.. You will reach that next level quickly! You will even want to die! Feeling that way will be normal.. But the more you push, the more your body will become accustomed to it.. Your body won't even care that it hurts anymore.." Ra's explained.

Drew was taking in each and every word, making sure he didn't miss one! This all felt like a dream or a movie.. These demands seemed near impossible, but yet he treated them as if they would be done!

"Every martial art, you will have mastered them! Every possible strategy in combat, you won't think twice about it! Every member here is held to a high standard, but you?" Ra's paused momentarily. "You hold the highest potential of them all, and will be put to the ultimate test! You will either succeed, or your body and mind will crumble under the pressure.."

Revan nodded.

"We will break down what you once were, and remake you, until you are something this world has never seen...the perfect human." He added.

Drew still stood there in silence, his mouth slightly agape as he listened to the two men tell him all of this.

"What will it be, Detective?.." Ra's asked Drew in a more upbeat and wild tone of voice. "Are you ready to quit? Why don't you give up now!?"

"No!" Drew shouted fiercely. "I will not quit! I will complete every task you throw in front of me!"

"And why won't you quit!?" Ra's quickly asked with that same upbeat tone. "It was impossible, you said it yourself! Clearly you aren't ready.."

"I am ready! It is not impossible!" Drew yelled back, feeling motivated and fired up.

"Then what are you waiting for!? Are you ready to begin!?" Ra's asked him.

"Yes!" Drew shouted, feeling as fired up as ever before.

"Well that's a shame, because we start at dawn tomorrow.." Ra's explained, spoiling Drew's determination.

Drew's eyes widened with a slight gasp, before he looked at Ra's with a questioning expression.

"Let us see how your body deals with the stress and anticipation of what is sure to be an important day come sunrise.." Ra's slightly smirked with a chuckle, already appearing to put Drew's mentality to the test.

"Meet us here at first light." Revan said.

As Drew began to nod in understanding with yet another bow, another voice called out,

"Father!"

It was a feminine voice, which most notably held a Russian accent.

Drew, Ra's, and Revan looked in the direction of the voice. Ra's immediately began to walk in its direction, as if knowing who this was almost immediately.

The voice came from a woman about the same age as Drew, but maybe a year younger at 16. She was dressed in black ninja robes, but didn't have a mask on at the moment. She had light brunette hair with shimmering green eyes, and stood at 5 feet 8 inches tall. Her build was very fit and athletic, weighing about 140 pounds.

"Talia.." Ra's greeted to who Drew assumed to be his daughter. "We were just in the middle of welcoming our newest recruit." He then motioned to Drew, who Talia then looked at with an unreadable expression.

Drew looked at her with a very nervous expression, not really liking the look she was giving him. Besides that, he didn't want to say anything that might upset the daughter of his new mentor..

"He is weak.." Talia bluntly spoke aloud. "He will not last but a couple months here, at most.. If he is lucky.."

Drew didn't know why, but that actually quite hurt to hear.. Even though he had never seen this chick in his life, just her immediate observation really brought Drew's spirits down a bit..

"Don't judge him too quickly, Talia.." Ra's simply responded. "We shall see what he is made of come sunrise.."

Talia simply chuckled humorlessly, before she replied,

"Good luck with that.." She then began to walk off, putting her mask back over her face. "He's going to need it.."

Talia then did a series of parkour-like flips and jumps to scale a giant building, reaching all the way to the top before entering through a clearly opened window. It was clearly there to practice their scaling abilities, and looked to be a passage to another training area.

"Talia is one of our most skilled assassins. But also one of our most...distrustful..." Revan mused.

Ra's sighed. "Yes.. It is a difficult but familiar truth. She is my daughter, and seeks to be the best around here! She carries a heavy responsibility on her shoulders, you know.." He paused for a bit, before explaining further. "When I finally am ready to step down as leader of the League Of Assassins, then Talia shall take my place.. The leader of this League needs to be more skilled than the rest, and held to a much higher standard! That is why she works so hard."

Drew looked up at where Talia had climbed, before he sighed and nodded in acknowledgment,

"Her words don't phase me.. I'm here to prove that I can be the best! That I can join the fight to rid our great planet of the evil that corrupts it!"

"Then you must prove it.." Revan said simply.

"Dawn, tomorrow. Don't be late."