Justice League
Volume 1: Invasion
Chapter 1: The Invasion Has Begun
"It has been two weeks since anyone has seen Metropolis' great hero Superman. It is rare for the Man of Steel to abandon his city like this, especially with crime rates at an all time high." Outside, people ran and screamed as green wave of energy flew past them. "If you can hear this," the broadcaster on the news spoke. "We need Superman."
Just as the reporter finished her sentence, a green ball of energy smashed through the glass and destroyed the group of TV's on display in front of an electronics store. The cause of the destruction stood a few feet from the store. He was no stranger to the people of Metropolis and was forever places on its gallery of infamous villains. He was the Atomic Skull. "Like hell we need a Superman." He said through his flame covered head that gave an uneasy light to the night sky. As the civilians ran away, the Metropolis PD drove up a few feet from the Skull's position and drew their pistols. "Ah, the local police." Skull noted mostly to himself. "Like they'll do anything to me."
"Freeze!" On of the police officers shouted. "Put your hands above your head!"
Skull chuckled for a moment before he put his hands up. "Yeah, right." Two blasts of energy fiired from his palms and hit two police cruisers, causing them to explode! The officers all took cover from the blast. One of the cars launched into the air an impressive fifteen feet before threatening to fall on top of one of the men unfortunate enough to dive underneath it. Just before in dropped, the tail of the car was stopped in mid air. It's catcher was covered by the smoke surrounding the area.
"There we go!" Skull prepared to face his rival Superman who he guessed was concealed in the firey smoke of the car. "Come on out here you bastard." Skull readied to blasts in his hands. "Now."
The smoke began to clear and the person holding the car began to be more and more visible until she was completely revealed. She was beautiful in every way possible and dressed in red, white, and blue. The woman had a tiara crowned on her head and a golden lasso wrapped around her waist. The most noteable was the big 'W' on her chest. She looked down on the villain both threateningly and with superiority.
Atomic Skull's eyes went wide before he began to laugh. "Who are you supposed to be? Super Woman?"
The woman frowned. "Try Wonder Woman." This made Atomic Skull laugh even harder. Wonder Woman scowled and lifted the car above her head and threw it at the Skull, smashing him into the pavement of the street.
Above them, in the rooftops, a handful of soliders ran to the edge of the building with a clear vantage fight of the battle that was sure to happen. The commander of the group retrieved a pair of binoculars and peered down at Wonder Woman and then the Atomic Skull who was making his way out of the car wreckage. He then took cover and looked to the group of soliders.
"Alright guys," Captain Steve Trevor of the Department of Metahuman Affairs started. "Wonder Woman has engaged the enemy. We'll give her back up if or when she needs it." He told them. "Stay frosty until I give the order." He aimed his rifle down and at the Atomic Skull.
"Hey Cap," One of the other DMA soliders next to him nudged his arm. "You think your girlfriend can handle this?" He smiled.
"Shut it, Snapper." Steve responded.
Atomic Skull pushed the cars bumper off of his torso and got up quickly. His containment suit burned with green fire. "You- You think that's funny?" He shouted at the hero.
Wonder Woman slowly glided to the ground and landed gracefully. "Yes, actually." She smiled.
The Skull clenched his fists. "I'll kill you!" He shot a blast of energy from his hands. Wonder Woman dodged it and flew towards Skull. He shot more blasts at her but she simply flew out of the way of them until she collided with his chest, sending him sliding on the ground. As he slid, Wonder Woman followed after him and connected her fist with his jaw. She kept swinging at his face, fist after fist. But as the assault continued, she began to feel dizzy. She stopped hitting him and stumbled to the ground.
The Skull stood up and popped his jaw back into place before kicking Wonder Woman in her own jaw, knocking her back a few feet. "Pretty weird affect, right?" Skull stepped out of the crater they had made. Wonder Woman tried to stand up but fell to her knees. "Don't feel bad. The same thing happenes to Superman all the time." He slapped her cheek as hard as he could, slamming her into a nearby building. "Prepare to get the worse case of radiation poisoning, baby." The Skull cracked his knuckles.
On the rooftop, Steve Trevor watched. "Oh, this is getting hazy." He turned to the others behind him. "Okay men, I'll get Wonder Woman out of there. As soon as I do, open fire on the bastard." He ran to the stairs.
Diana stood up, using one of the roof beams she had broken through for support. Even with her blurred vision she could see the Skull approaching her. She told her body to move, to defend herself, something but could not muster the strength. Whatever the Skull was doing to her was working. The Atomic Skull came a few feet away from her and lifted his arm, about to blast her.
"Shame," The Skull added. "We could've had a little fun." He was seconds from firing.
"Hey!" The Skull turned around to see a blonde haired man in military armor labeled: 'DMA.' He had a gun trained on the villain.
"What the-?" Before he could finish, Captain Trevor shot the flare gun at him.
"Diana!" Steve shouted, covering his eyes. "Cover up!"
Wonder Woman took the advice and moved her arm over her eyes. The Skull had not been so lucky. The flare from the gun flew into his face and exploded, temporarily blinding him!
"Argh!" He yelled. "Son of a bitch!" He started blasting randomly into the sky.
Steve ducked under a wave of energy the Skull had fired at him and rolled behind him, getting to Diana who was laying on the ground weakily.
"Come on Princess." Steve picked up Diana and ran to a safe distance away from the Atomic Skull. "Alright men, that's your window of oppurtunity!" He shouted into his com.
The other soliders still up top began firing on the Skull. The bullets hit him but melted against the radiation! "Sir," Snapper Carr spoke. "We're having little-to-no effect here!"
"I'll say." The Skull blindly swung his arm in the air, sending a wave of energy at the DMA soliders!
The men all ducked for cover as the wave destroyed the ledge of the building. The Skull's vision began to improve. So much so, that he could now see the blurry speck that was Steve Trevor holding Wonder Woman. He ran angrily at them. "First you, then the wonder bitch." Steve grabbed his pistol and began firing, having no effect on his attacker.
As the Skull got closer, he prepared a fist of energy he planned to decapitate Trevor with then punch a whole through Wonder Woman's chest. He smiled at the idea. But he heard a type of whistling noise. He stopped running and turned around. He saw a black object spinning towards him. He caught it but as soon as his hand made contact, the object exploded and encased his arm in a hard foamy substance.
"The hell?" Atomic Skull eyed his arm and tried to break it loose. But he saw something in the corner of his eye. A black shadow speeding towards him and before he could react, it ran into him, causing him to fall back.
The Skull looked up and saw his attacker. A man in a black and grey outfit, sporting a long black cape and mask that showed the majority of his mouth but covered the rest of his face and long pointed ears sat at the top of his head. There was a large symbol of a bat proudly displayed on his chest. He was the Batman.
"Dammit! More heroes?" Skull shouted as he raised his other arm. "At least your just a man."
Before he could fire, Batman threw two more batarangs at the Skull's palm, covering it with the same solid foam he had covered his other arm in. "Aw, hell."
Batman then threw down a smoke pellet, covering the Skull in a shrowd of mist. He then ran to Steve Trevor who starred at him blankly. Batman reached into his utility belt and handed Steve a face mask with a clear glass covering. Steve took it.
"Put this over her mouth." He instructed as he retrieved another for himself. Steve did so. "He's leaking high amounts of radiation. It effects even the most powerful metahumans." Batman explained.
"Good to know." Steve gently slapped Wonder Woman's cheek. "Wake up Princess. We need you."
Batman put a capsule up to Diana's face and squeezed it. A pink gass flowed into her nose and she immediatley woke up. She looked around. "What the hell happened?" She looked at Batman. "Who is this?"
Steve was about to answer when he was the Atomic Skull jump out of the smoke, his arms now free. Steve pointed at him. "Guys-!"
Batman and Wonder Woman spun around. "These masks him surpress the radiation he's emitting long enough for us to take him down." Batman told her.
"Do you have a plan?" She asked him.
"I'm working on it."
"Right." Wonder Woman turned to Steve. "You may want to move back Steve." She advised. "For your safety."
"Yeah, sure." Steve took off towards the building where his men were.
Atomic Skull was about to blast the running Steve but before he could, a wire wrapped around his forearm. Batman pulled it just enough to deter the blast from hitting Steve. The Skull growled at the annoyance. Batman handed his grappling gun to Wonder Woman who took it and pulled it, causing Atomic Skull to fly towards them. Wonder Woman jumped up and punched him in the face.
The Atomic Skull fell back on the street and immediatley burned the wire off of his arm. He looked up to Batman slamming his boots into his face! "Gah! My face!" Batman grabbed his electrical knuckle dusters and punched the villain in the gut then again in the jaw. The Skull countered by punching Batman in the chest but the Dark Knight braced himself and slid a few feet back.
Wonder Woman flew into Atomic Skull and punched his chest repeatidly before kicking off of his chest. Once Wonder Woman was clear, Batman jumped on top of Atomic Skull. He quickly pushed Batman off of him. The Dark Knight slid on the ground.
"What the hell as that supposed to do Batman?" The Skull asked, standing in a very superior position. Wonder Woman was about to start running towards him but Batman held out his hand, stopping her. He rose up his other hand revealing a detonator. The Skull froze with fear. He turned and heard the sudden beeping on his back. Plastique. "Oh, I hate you." The plastique exploded on his back, making him fly past the two heroes and into the back of a cargo truck.
Wonder Woman helped Batman to his feet. "Good thinking."
"Who are you, again?" Batman asked her.
"I'm Wonder Woman." She answered.
"I've heard of you. You and the DMA were involved in the attack on D.C. a few months ago." He noted.
"Yes, that was us." Diana looked at where Atomic Skull crashed through and saw a green light ratiating from the hole in the truck. "Look out!" She pushed Batman out of the way and leaving herself vulnerable to the incoming blast. She made an 'x' formation with her arms. The energy blast deflected off of her enchanted bracelets.
Atomic Skull came barging out of the truck and towards Wonder Woman who braced herself for impact.
The villain rushed to his target. "You stupid! Little! Bit-!" Before The Skull could finish, a small pellet was thrown into his mouth. He swollowed the capsule then burped. He turned to Batman. "Thanks for the snack." He aimed a blast of energy at him. "Now die."
"Wait for it." Batman stood still as the Atomic Skull smiled. Suddenly, he felt a heavy feeling in his stomach. He dropped to his knees, clutching his stomach in pain. He began to cough up fire until it formed into a form of icy mist. The fire around his body began to grow smaller. "What did you do to me?"
Batman stood above him. "You just ate a capsule of liquid nitrogen." He told him.
"I'll kill you!" Atomic Skull tried to blast him but nothing came out. "What happened? What the hell did you do to me?"
"It's liquid nitrogen. You are a fire based energy source. Do the math." Batman said before kicking him in the jaw, knocking him out.
Wonder Woman approached Batman. "Again, good thinking." She commended.
Batman placed a pair of handcuffs on the Skull. "The liquid nitrogen will thaw out of his system in a few hours. Have your DMA friends take him to a secure cell."
Steve Trevor and the group of DMA soliders came out of the building they had took cover in. Steve tapped his com. "Control, the Atomic Skull has been captured. Send in a few transport trucks for our boys and the new inmate."
Batman took off the re-breather off of his face and pulled out his grappling gun and aimed it up. "His radiaion levels are low and they'll remain that wat for a few hours until he is restored to his regular strength. My work here is done." He said.
"Wait." Wonder Woman stopped him and handed him the re-breather he gave her. "Why are you in Metropolis?"
"Good question." Steve joined them. "Considering that Gotham is more your juristiction." He stated, crossing his arms.
"The same reason I presume you are." Batman put his grappling gun back on his belt. He extended his arm and pressed a few panels on his gauntlet. A holographic screen rose from his glove showing a news image. "Superman. Metropolis' crime rate is rising rapidly and with him gone, criminals are moving here looking for... Oppurtunities." He explained. "More noticably from Gotham."
"Do you have a theory of where e could be?" Trevor asked.
"No." Batman put his arms being his cowl. "But I'm working on it."
"Well thanks for your assistance." Wonder Woman said.
"Yeah, much appreciated." Steve extended a hand. Batman starred at him. He retracted his hand nervously. "Okay then."
Three trucks arrived on the scene. The unconscious Atomic Skull was loaded onto one and soliders got into the other two.
"Captain Trevor!" One of the men in the truck called. Steve and Wonder Woman moved to the truck followed hesitantly by Batman. "Sir," Snapper Carr started. "We have just recieved word of a Superman sighting."
"Where?"
"Coast City."
"Coast City?" Steve looked at both Wonder Woman and Batman. "What the hell could he be doing all the way out there?"
"That's not all, sir." Snapper continued. "He's fighting with the Green Lantern."
"What-? Why?"
"We don't know but control says that their battle is about to enter Metropolis airspace." Snapper put down his radio. "And from what I hear, Supes is winning."
Steve, Wonder Woman, and Batman all looked up into the sky. "How far away are they?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Seconds." Snapper responded.
Just as predicted, seconds later, a loud crack was heard in the sky. Then a geen flash brightened the sky. Another crack and a green meteor began to fall from the clouds and towards the streets below.
"Wonder Woman," Batman called. "Grab the Lantern."
Diana leapt into the air and flew towards the green meteor. "What!" Steve called. He turned to Batman. "Who is supposed to be giving the orders here?" Batman glared at Steve with a coldness in his eyes that sent chills down its targets spine. Trevor backed away. "Okay, then, you do... What you do. Sorry to interrupt." He rubbed the back of his head.
Wonder Woman approached the green man falling from the sky and caught his wrist. He was indeed the Green Lantern, as shown by the green symbol on his chest and the ring on his finger. His uniform was ripped and bloodied along with his face. He was mumbling something that was too quiet for her to hear. She looked up to see two red dots in the distance. She narrowed her eyes and could see the silhouette of a man. Of Superman. Her eyes went wide as he flew towards her at super speed, hurdling her to the ground. As she fell, she let go of the still unconscious Lantern. She recovered herself and tried to grab him again but she felt someone fall on top of her and fly her down and into the streets!
Diana opened her eyes to see Superman standing over her in the crater they had made. His cape was ripped and his eyes were strangely yellow. He lifted his fist above her, ready to strike her down but as he did, Diana felt something wrap around her ankle and pull her out of the way of the punch. She slid underneath Superman and flipped to Batman's side who held the grappling hook that just saved her.
"Wonder Woman!" Batman shouted. "Lantern, now!"
Diana flew back into the air and immediately noticed the falling Lantern who was flickering with green energy pulses. "Come on, come on." He said to himself.
Superman turned around to Batman and let out a primal roar so intense that in made the Dark Knight's cape flutter. In a flash, Superman rammed into Batman who had little time to brace himself before hitting a street light. He fell to the ground and checked his ribs. None broken. Good. But as soon as before, Superman had his hand around Batman's neck and lifted him into the air. Batman took the oppurtunity to quickly scan the Man of Steel with his cowl.
Just as the scan finished, Superman threw him into a brick wall, causing most of it to crumble on top of him.
Wonder Woman flew in close to Green Lantern. She grabbed him and carried him down to the ground. "Thanks... Lady. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm itching for a little payback." Green Lantern turned away from Wonder Woman for a moment and held his ring out as a bright green lantern appeared in front of him, floating in the air.
"Are you alright?" She asked him.
"Just charging up." He said, smiling. "In Brightest Day, in Blackes Night, No evil shall escape my sight, Let those who worship evil's might, Beware my power... Green Lantern's Light." His costume became a brighter green and his ring began to pulse with recharging energy.
"That is an honorable oath." Wonder Woman commented.
"Thanks. Now where is that big, blue freight train?" He asked.
Batman crawled out of the piles of bricks only to have Superman kick him halfway across the street. Batman threw a handful of smoke pellets at Superman. They quickly shrowded his vision. But not his x-ray vision. Batman grabbed his electrical knuckle guards and slid them on his hands. As he prepared to fight again, two beams of laser vision singed off the knuckle guards and Superman quickly appeared in front of him.
"Didn't think that'd hold you long." Batman said aloud. The group of DMA solider charged to the area, lead by Captain Trevor. They all aimed at Superman.
"Superman!" Steve called. "Power down or we will use lethal force." He warned.
Superman clenched his fist and prepared to obliterate the men with a single wave of heat vision. But just as he was getting ready to, a giant green hammer fell on top of him, creating a deep crater! Batman looked up to see Green Lantern and Wonder Woman floating above them.
"Sorry we're late." Lantern said as the hammer disappeared. "Took a wrong turn at-." Superman flew up and landed a punch on the Lantern's jaw, knocking him back. Wonder Woman advanced towards him but as she did he sent beams on laser vision at her. She deflected both of them with her bracelets and continued her assault. She punched him in the face then spun around and kneed his gut. Superman recoiled and swatted at her, back handing her across the face. There was a moment of silence as Diana rubbed her cheek.
"Uh-oh." Steve said. "Shouldn't have done that."
Wonder Woman looked up at Superman and quickly punched him in the throat before kneeing him in the jaw and round house kicking him. He flew through the air and stopped himself before going off to far. Wonder Woman flew close to him, punching him in the face constantly until kicking him away. Lightining crackled behind him. It began to rain. Superman wiped a small amount of blood from his bottom lip. A green light flashed above him. He looked up.
Above him. Green Lantern held a giant bucket over his head. "Don't mind me." On his command, the bucket tipped over and covered Superman in gallons upon gallons of green water, causing him to splash down to the ground. Superman tried to get up but both Green Lantern and Wonder Woman flew into him and drove him through the ground and into the subway system!
The three fell down into a tunnel and onto the train tracks where rain began to fall, electrifying them. Superman punched Green Lantern in the face and crashing into the wall. Wonder Woman lashed out her lasso and covered Superman with it. He tried to break free but found breaking it a lot harder than he thought.
"Don't bother trying to break the Lasso of Truth. It's impossible." Wonder Woman told him. She tightned her grip on it. "Now tell me Superman, what are you doing? Why are you attacking us?" She questioned. Green Lantern floated up next to her.
"I... I..." Superman clenched his teeth. "I don't know." He said.
Wonder Woman and Green Lantern exchanged glances. Diana turned back to Superman. "The lasso compels you to tell the truth." She tightened her grip again. "Why are you attacking us?" She asked more forcibly this time.
"I... Don't know." Superman still struggled.
"You sure that thing works?" Green Lantern asked her.
"He's being mind controlled." The two turned around to see Batman approaching them.
"How can you be so sure?" Green Lantern asked him.
"I scanned him. His entire body is covered in some strange energy signature unknown to any on earth. You can see it in his eyes."
The three looked into Superman's peircing yellow eyes. Wonder Woman looked to Lantern. "Why did he start fighting you?"
Green Lantern rubbed his temple. "Just thinking about it hurts. I found him on top of the Coast City radio tower setting up this.. weird orange cube." He explained. "When I tried to talk to him about it, he went psycho on me."
"Orange cube?" Batman reached for Superman's utility belt and grabbed an odd looking circle on the belt. He examined it then pressed down on it. It expanded and folded out into an orange cube. "You mean this?" Batman extended it to Green Lantern. "It seems to have the same properties as whatever's controlling Superman." He concluded.
"That's one of them."
"One of them?"
"Yeah. He left the one I found him with in Coast City on the radio tower." Lantern folded his arms and shrugged. "We have to assume that he may have more tham just two."
Superman noticed the cube and began to groan.
The three looked at him. "Not good."
Superman stood on his feet, quckly sped over to Batman, took the cube, and flew down the subway tunnel, still bounded by the lasso. Wonder Woman tried to pull him back but found herself pulled along with him. Superman turned his head to see Wonder Woman holding on to the lasso.
"Superman!" She called. "If you're in there, listen to me! You're not in control of your actions! If you have any control, you have to fight it!" That's when she noticed light coming on the other side of the tunnel. A train. "Great Hera." Wonder Woman flew herself to the ground and wrapped the lasso around her forearm and pulled. Superman was stopped just as the subway train passed by and was thrown into a wall.
Wonder Woman, still holding onto the lasso, approached the smokey crater Superman made in the wall. "Superman, listen to me. I can help you if you just give yourself up quietly."
All she saw was the other part of her lasso thrown on the ground. Superman was loose. He punched Wonder Woman in the gut and twisted his fist to make sure she felt it. The woman fell to the ground, clutching her stomach, barely able to breath.
Superman's eyes burned red. But a green football slammed itself into his side. Green Lantern and Batman ran to Wonder Woman's aid. Batman helped her up.
"We have to give him cognitive recalibration." The other two heroes eyed him strangely. Batman sighed. "Hit him really hard in the head." He dumbed it down.
"Oh," Lantern made a giant fist with his ring. "Why didn't you just say that? Shouldn't be a problem."
Superman flew towards the three, roaring. Batman lead the charge by running at him as well but threw a batarang in his face, encasing his eyes in the same solid foam he had used on the Atomic Skull. He then flipped over the now blinded Superman. Green Lantern created a bat along with a matching baseball cap and got ready to strike the Man of Steel. Once he had a clearing, he swung, smacking the bat against Superman's face and shooting him a few feet in the air. Wonder Woman tossed her lasso around Superman's neck and yanked him back down to the ground before connecting her fist with his nose.
Superman fell on the train tracks and lied there for a few seconds before the other three cautiously got closer to his position. "Superman?" Wonder Woman quietly called.
The Man of Steel lifted himself from the ground before falling back down again. He took a breather for few moments before slowly looking up. He opened his eyes. Still yellow. He smiled sinisterly and grabbed Green Lantern's arm and pushed it upwards before punching him through a pillar and throwing Wonder Woman into a wall. The only one left was Batman who heard the sound of an incoming train. He began running in that direction. He had to time this just right. He will time it just right.
Superman chased after him and quickly caught up, tackling him over the tracks. Batman retrieved his taser and stuck it to Superman's neck. It had no effect as Superman kept strangling and choking the Dark Knight. Up ahead, the train sped their way. Batman rose the voltage on the taser until it busted in his hands!
"Now!" Batman lifted his steel toed boot and kicked Superman in the crotch! The brief oppurtunity of pain was all Batman needed. He pushed Superman off of him and onto the tracks as he himself rolled out of the way of the incoming train. Superman was about to stand when the train rolled over his head, hitting him with every passing subway car until they all passed over him. Batman stood and walked over to Superman. He spread his eye lids open to see no more yellow but now light blue.
"Is he... You know... Normal, now?" Green Lantern asked caressing his right arm. Batman nodded. "Great. That's good." He leaned across one of the pillars. "I need a vacation."
"Are you okay?" Wonder Woman ran through, asking the two other men.
"We're fine." Batman stated, still observing Superman.
"Speak for yourself!" Green Lantern shouted holding him his arm. "I'm going to be out of commssion for a few weeks, letting this heal. I can't really focus on making constructs with a broken arm. The arm that I have my ring on!" He continued.
Batman looked at him then activated his detective vision. It's not broken. It's dislocated. You're lucky he didn't rip it out of you. He could have." Batman told him.
"Yeah, that makes me feel so much better."
Wonder Woman approached him. "Do you mind?" She asked pointing at the arm. Before Lantern could say anything, he gently punched his shoulder and sent the arm back into place.
Lantern squirmed uneasily. "Argh!" He shouted. "What the hell, lady?"
"It feels better, doesn't it?"
He rubbed his shoulder then began moving his arm. "Yeah actually. Thanks."
Batman grabbed the cube off of the ground where Superman dropped it and began examining it again. "What is this?" He whispered. The cube began to beep and an image of some form of man became visible as a holographic projector. The man had grey, almost rock-like skin and red eyes. He wore a large blue, black, and grey outfit with the universal sign for 'Omega' spread across the torso in one large symbol. His eyes were blood red and compared to a normal man, he was huge; at least seven feet tall.
"I am Darkseid, ruler of Apokalips. I have set my sight on earth to destroy it and make it hell on earth-."
Paris
"- Any resistance will be met with extreme force. You will all die anyways.-"
Hong Kong
"- You will only be prolonging the inevitable. Earth will be destroyed and every single human being will as well-."
London
"- Your planets heroes will not save you. Superman will not save you. From now on, it is every man for themself-,"
Central City
Wally West slept comfortably in his bed while his TV was left on, broadcasting the current statement by Darkseid.
"- that is, until you are all destroyed by the flames of New Apokalips." As he said this, a smile curled onto Darkseid's lips.
Gotham
Alfred Pennyworth sat in the chair in front of the Bat Computer as it displayed the worldwide warning.
"- This is earth's destiny. Be proud that you even lived this long-."
Coast City
Carol Ferris watched her TV as she held a picture of her boyfriend Hal Jordan in her hands, frozen in fear at the words she was hearing.
"- Enjoy your final moments." With that, the transmission shut off.
Metropolis
"Does anyone know what the hell that was?" Green Lantern asked Wonder Woman and Batman.
"A warning." Batman said.
"No, I mean the alien. Darkseid. I know about every single alien race exsisting and I've never heard of that one. Especially one that rules an entire planet that I've never heard of."
"No." The three heroes turned to see Superman slowly standing up.
"Superman?" Wonder Woman asked.
"It's too late." Superman responded.
Batman lifted the cube. "What do you know about this?"
"That..." He pointed at the cube. "It's dangerous. It's a Boomtube! It'll bring them here!" Superman told them.
"Who is 'them?'" Green Lantern asked.
"Darkseid's forces. That's what he had me doing. He brain washed me and made me come here and plant those portals everywhere on earth." He explained. Superman took the cube from Batman and threw it at the ceiling of the subway tunnel as hard as he could.
Instead of it bouncing off, the cube plowed through the cement and through to the other side of the streets and into the air. As it flew, it lit up... Along with every other Boomtube across the globe. Superman starred into the sky as the Boomtub began to open.
"It's already too late." He said to the other three heroes. The Boomtubes were open.
The Invasion had begun.