If you read 'The Awakening', then you shouldn't have a problem reading this story. :)

If not, I recommend you read 'The Awakening' before this.

More from me at the end.

Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice.

Chapter 1: A New Weapon

Orbit of Daxam, 2018

So much could go the alternate direction, Mongul thought, but in the moment before action – in the instant when both triumph and defeat remained possible to any standard – the galaxy before him still seemed wondrous.

He observed the evacuation of the planet Daxam, home to the Daxamites, somewhat similar to the almost–extinct Kryptonian race, on dozen's of view screens across his War World control room. From the smaller spacecraft, personal shuttles of high ranking Apokoliptian officers and transports of specialized Parademon units he viewed, he realized his friend, the Tyrant ruler of Apokolips, was preparing to dominate the universe. The Apokoliptian battleship Heggra, once stationed above the capital of Daxam, had already repositioned itself to a safe distance from the capital. Despite protests of the local garrison commanders, the forces of Daxam would not be safe from what was to come.

Daxam was a planet that had been a victim twice during the 20th century. The first was during the Imperiex War, as Daxam was besieged by dozens of Imperiex Probes, whom were responsible for killing hundreds of innocent Daxamites. The Earth heroes known as the Justice Society of America, as well as a full complement of reserves, traveled to Daxam and liberated the planet without suffering a single casualty. However, in the many years that followed, Daxam was taken over by Mongul himself, which is why he was here, overseeing the official occupation of the planet under Apokoliptian rule. And with it's space blockade protecting the capital, the Daxamites were truly desperate.

One of the Parademon officers on board the War World gave Mongul a number on the Daxam forces, 93%. Mongul amended the thought, 93% of Daxam's assigned military forces to the capital would be safe.

But for Mongul, that would suffice. Daxam was weak. A 7% loss in return for total victory would still win him a more trustful friendship and alliance with Darkseid.

"It's past time, Mongul," the hypocritical voice came from War World's brand new shipping dock.

Mongul pivoted and made a quick, respectful smile at Steppenwolf, Darkseid's second–in–command and military leader of Apokolips, as he eyed the work of his parademon engineers. "I could not agree more," Mongul said, and inclined his head, "But under the circumstances as of today, it seems only respectful to await your nephew's command."

"My nephew is awaiting my report," Steppenwolf retorted, "Making your War World into a large moving battlestation equipped with Mother Box technology and a massive cannon that could destroy, I hope, almost anything in its path required the labour of the many."

"Remember, that idea was from me," Mongul's smile faded only a touch as he cleared his throat, "One had hoped that he and his new apprentice might have been here for such an occasion."

"Never you mind the Kryptonian under the training of my nephew," Steppenwolf's voice was laced with irritation and exasperation, "Here I was thinking that it would be prudent to save you from any… potential embarrassment."

Mongul chuckled, "My embarrassment? Or yours? Believing Darkseid's new apprentice may… take your place?"

Steppenwolf's objective was transparent: The Apokoliptian believes (with typical magnificent certainty) that a demonstration on Daxam would diminish, rather than enhance, Mongul's reputation. Yet why remained an open question. Mongul has turned up with no evidence of sabotage; nor had his contacts close to Steppenwolf revealed anything of use that regarded the military commander's plot. And while Steppenwolf's contempt for Mongul was supreme, he would surely have arranged for Darkseid to bear witness if he assumed Mongul's 'incompetence' would result in the War World's new weapon's failure.

No. The most likely of possibilities was that Mongul's precautions against any sabotage or failure had been shaking Steppenwolf's confidence. He was now hedging on his bets. If Mongul succeeded in commanding a portion of Apokolips' army to annihilate Daxam's military forces, Steppenwolf himself would selfishly attempt to take credit in the eyes of Darkseid, to keep the apprentice from taking his place. If Mongul were to fail, all the better.

But Mongul would not fail. Failure was not an option, it never was an option to begin with. The new weapon was ready. Once Daxam's capital was destroyed, he would finally receive a private audience with his Darkseid, his friend – and that he was confident he could persuade him that it was he, not Steppenwolf, who deserved the accolades.

It even happened to be true.

"Your concern is barely even warranted," Mongul said, "Your finest scientists and engineers have dedicated their very own lives to this project. You should not find our faith in them misplaced."

"If saying it would only make it so," Steppenwolf murmured, just loud enough for the engineers to hear him.

Mongul could barely withhold a snarl, "All Apokoliptian forces," he announced, striding along the command stations, "have been evacuated, and here I stand ready to destroy the entire planet." The parademon officers assigned to Mongul's War World faced him, uniformly at attention; the scientists, technicians and engineers slowed but did not cease their work, as Mongul had instructed earlier.

"What we do today was once inconceivable – a scientific heresy. Yet your planet and Leader have ensured our success and granted us the moral authority to take this step toward peace. The destruction of a world – " Mongul stopped at the sound of a hurried applause from Steppenwolf.

"Very inspiring, Mongul," he said, "But the destruction of a world is not necessary as of now. We need a statement, not a manifesto."

Mongul's smile twisted quickly into a grimace and asked, "Then what do you suggest?"

Steppenwolf shrugged, "Daxam's sacred capital will be enough for today. Besides, my nephew has other plans to attend to."

"Which are?"

"The hunt for the father of the apprentice. This… Superman."

Mongul chuckled, "Ah, yes. The entire universe searches for him."

"Indeed," Steppenwolf replied, "Now prepare your weapon, we haven't all day."

Mongul clenched his fists, wishing he could beat Steppenwolf senseless and call it a tragic accident. The military commander was hedging against both success and failure, ensuring that even a perfect performance from him would be unspectacular at best.

Could he subvert Steppenwolf's orders? Arrange the destruction of Daxam regardless and claim that the new weapon's sheer power had been unanticipated? He glanced from a control console to Steppenwolf and back.

Not with him watching. Not on short notice. Another time, perhaps. He would definitely find another way.

"Target Daxam's capital," he snapped, "Prepare for a single reactor ignition."

Mongul concealed his resentment, calming himself with the sounds of his breath and the tidal rush of the War World's reactor. This wasn't how he'd imagined the culmination of a less-than-a year's work – a diminished attack, a military commander's power play – but it was the reality he contended with.

"Fire when ready." His voice was strong and steady. He had earned more pride to himself, no matter any outcome.

Daxam Prison (500 miles away from Daxam Capital)

Nightwing was glad he was able to breath in Daxam. But he hated Aqualad for sending him and some others from Alpha squad on this mission to retrieve this Daxamite. Why this team? This was Alpha squad? Why not have someone like Wonder Girl, Miss M or Supergirl at the very least? Why not even Aqualad himself? Why them? They didn't even know who this Lar-Gand person looked like. Now they was stuck there, stripped from their outfits, with no communications, with a crashed ship and put in prison for intruding Daxam's airspace.

But he was always one step ahead. Or so he thought, this time. He'd tested the cell door's locking mechanism while the prison guards were busy gambling. He'd feigned fatigue, leaning against the dorr's bards so he could inspect the lock visually and see if there was a brand by any chance. Brand? He certainly wouldn't know any. Heck, none at all. If this was a prison back on Earth, he guessed he could escape the cell in under three minutes or maybe less. But here, it seemed like it would take days, or months… maybe years. As soon as the guards were gone, anyway.

But the guards weren't moving, and now he was stuck with two thoughts he had literally no desire to dwell upon:

Had this all been worth it? Travelling from Earth to Daxam to retrieve someone they don't even know? Even against the odds in saving him and getting out from the threat of this War World?

And where was Spoiler?

"HEY!" Nightwing banged the the cell door's bars with his palms, "It wouldn't be so bad if you let us out!"

The guards didn't listen and continued playing. Nightwing growled and started banging the bars once again, louder this time.

"Dude," Wally called out, slouching on his prison cell left to Dick's, "The more you do that, they're not gonna let you out."

"Wally!" Dick stopped banging and moved to the wall that faced the speedster's cell, "Why don't you try phasing through the bars?"

"I'm out of juice," he said tiredly, "Haven't you tried telling them why we're here?"

"And you'd think they'd listen?" Dick retorted irritatedly.

Wally thought for a moment, "Mal, have you tried barging out your cell door?"

Dick groaned.

"This ain't earth, West," Mal replied. His cell was right to Dick's and was shared with Damian, This ain't metal that I can bend."

"Damian?" Dick called out.

No response.

Dick groaned. He sat back down on his cell bed, looking at the surprisingly clean floor. This was the best prison he had ever seen. And probably his last. After a few minutes, the guards left for their lunch break.

"Hey, who's the guy in the cell next to you?" Damian asked Wally, breaking the silence. Dick tore his eyes from the floor and stood up, glancing over to Damian. It was the first time the fifth Robin had spoken for almost two hours.

There was a man in the cell next to Wally's.

Mal grunted and shuffled back up to his feet. "Who?"

"This guy," Wally stood near the small opening where he could see this man, "He's a Daxamite."

"What does he look like?" Dick asked.

"Strong build and he looks our age." Wally examined, "And he… looks pretty… still."

"Is he dead?" Damian had to ask.

"No, he's breathing fine. It's like he's… meditating."

Dick sighed and thought to himself before speaking, "Wally, we don't have enough time. Ask him."

"What?"

"You know what I mean," he replied, "Check if he's the one we're looking for."

"Okay," Wally breathed and crouched at the bars, "Excuse me?"

The Daxamite slowly opened his mind and look at Wally, "Yes?"

"What's your name?"

A snort came from the Daxamite, "And why should I tell you, human?"

Wally tilted his head to the side, "Actually, I'm a metahuman."

The Daxamite squinted his eyes in confusion.

Wally made a high-pitched hysterical laugh, "Nevermind, listen. We were sent here to retrieve a fellow Daxamite like you because we received a transmission from Earth."

The Daxamite nodded, "Hmm. And who is this Daxamite? Do I know him? Or is it a her?"

"It's a him."

"Name?"

"Lar Gand."

The Daxamites head bumped upwards, "Lar Gand, huh?"

Dick spoke this time, "Yeah! You know him?"

He nodded, "I know him. Because I am him."

"You're Lar Gand?"

Lar Gand nodded, "Yeah, that's me."

Oh, thank God! Wally praised in his thoughts. Damian and Mal fist bumped.

"Why the hell are you in here?" Wally asked.

"No time to explain," Lar Gand replied, "First, we gotta get out of this place, find a ship, and leave before things turn for the worse."

"First of all, do you even know how to get out of here?"

"I've been here for almost a week now," Lar Gand explained, "I studied the in's and out's of the prison."

"That sounds really cool," Mal was impressed, "So how do we start?"

"Wait for the guards to come back and we make a diversion."

Ten minutes later…

With the guards back, the boys were ready to create their diversion, which felt really stupid to begin with; pretend they were all feeling pain so the guards would open the cell doors and take them to see the prison doctor.

Then a female guard came in with blonde hair yet wore a mask that covered her mouth and nose. The boys knew who she was, and they were glad to see her.

"The warden would like to re-locate these prisoners." She ordered for her friends to be released.

The guards looked at each other confused. One guard spoke and chuckled slightly, "But… the warden specifically said these prisoners stay here."

"And you question the warden's commands?"

"No, not at all." A second spoke quicker than light. The other guards got up to their feet and opened the cell doors with cuffs on one hand. But in an instant, the female guard nudged her head as a signal, and the guys quickly barraged the guards with punches before knock out.

"You truly are a sight for sore eyes, Spoiler." Wally complimented.

Spoiler smiled behind her mask before bringing it down, "Thank you. Look, we haven't got much time."

"Hey, we're forgetting someone," Damian gestured his hand towards Lar Gand.

"Who's he?" Spoiler asked.

"I'm Lar Gand." He said himself.

"Oh! You're the guy we're looking for!" Spoiler said with such enthusiasm.

"Stephanie! There's no time to socialize!" Wally exclaimed, "War World up in Daxam's orbit!?"

"Yes, right. Sorry," Spoiler gets out a Prison Guard I.D and unlocks Lar Gand's door, "Now get dressed in those uniforms. I know where your real outfits are."

"Great, but how about a ship?" Dick asked putting on the guard uniform.

"I'll get ourselves a ship," Lar Gand volunteered, "Just be ready by then."

War World

Mongul paced slowly on the overbridge under Steppenwolf's watch, observing the technicians and referencing every step against the control protocols he'd memorized long ago. Levers were flipped, rotating focusing lenses deep within the War World's core. The engineers adjusted radiation baffles and ventilation pumps as the main reactor shook with effort and its comforting roar turned to an uncanny scream. Mongul noticed more than a few hands shaking. But the Parademon officers knew their duty. They would do everything necessary to destroy the Sacred Capital at the bidding of their commander.

Obedience, and skill, of course, might not be enough.

Mongul turned from the technicians to the monitor screens, saw reading gently crest as the three beams on the cannon reached minimum coherency.

From the new giant space cannon on the War World's outer shell, the beams of light and charged particles poured out into the end of the barrell. The overbridge main display blazed with red fire set against the void of space, and Mongul stepped forward, staring in awe at the conflagration. The radiance of the display impressed him, more than Steppenwolf himself.

For a moment, the burning red nexus of energy hung in the void of space. Mongul slightly tensed involuntary. This was the moment so many tests and simulations had failed him. Once, he had seen the nexus sputter and die, or expand to consume his War World itself. He had seen miscalculations under their own weight as predictions gave way to haphazard guesswork. He had seen success, too, but they gave him no confidence now.

Then the last stage was triggered: From the cannon's hole, a red burst of fire came out. It joined the laser traveling towards the capital. Carving through the Daxam space blockade, disintegrating the capital ships into fiery metal.

The atmosphere seemed to flare the capital that had been immediately struck, like the blink of an eye. Steppenwolf and Mongul both tried to imagine the incineration of the sacred capital and the ensuing shock wave that soon followed. Surely no one could imagine such a thing.

They had killed a city.

Therefore, they could kill a whole world.

Daxam Prison

The whole prison ruptured violently, making Alpha squad feel unevenly balanced.

"What the hell was that?" Mal asked, gathering his outfit and putting it in a bag, so did the others besides Spoiler.

"Military practise?" Spoiler suggested.

"No, worse," Dick said before speaking into his com-link, "Lar Gand!?"

"I got a ship!" Lar Gand paused for a moment, "Except there's a problem on the horizon."

"What problem?"

"There is no horizon. But on a positive note… I think I have this 'War World' your red-headed friend mentioned earlier."

"Shit!" Wally's eyes widened as he shouted, "We gotta go, now!"

They ran. Wally still lacked anything to eat, but the adrenaline made up for it. He was running for his life, alongside his friends.

Dick felt a thrill, realizing what was coming; realizing he would return to Earth not just successful, but wildly so, with an eyewitness account of the War World itself. He had remembered seeing it back on Earth alongside the Justice League. But it did nothing and left after a matter of minutes. The world was frightened of such an event. He was frightened the most as well, more frightened than seeing Conner brutally murder Black Beetle and the Reach's ambassador and scientist.

But the thrill was arrested by the chill that worked is way down his spine and the sweat on his brows. They all stopped once they reached the entrance of the prison. They all beared witness to the giant shock wave from the distance.

"Lar Gand," he shouted, "Where the hell are you?"

"I'll be there soon!" the Daxamite reassured, "If I make it at all."

Dick glanced sidelong at Damian, who was either inspecting or caressing his sword. He better not turn his back on us. It wasn't nearly fast enough, and for too fast for what he wanted.

"Alright, I'm here," Lar Gand announced as a blue and red ship landed in front of them. A sleek design, fitted with laser cannons on its wings and front. Doors could open from both sides and back. The left doors opened, "Get in!"

The air grew thicker of grass mixed with dust, raking everyone's hair. Once everyone was in the cabin, Wally exclaimed, "Get us out of here! Punch it!"

The cabin doors closed shut immediately as Lar Gand turned the ship away from the incoming shock wave, pushing it to full speed and zooming away from the prison.

Dick joined him in the cockpit, strapping himself in, "You know how to fly these things?"

"Oh yeah," Lar Gand said, his voice filled with adrenaline, "Had training when I was younger."

Wally noticed the shock wave coming in. Faster. And Faster, "Uh, Dick?"

"Wally, what is it?"

"Will this ship go any faster?"

Just at that moment, the shock wave came closer, despite the speed of the ship they were on. Rubble from the sacred capital flew towards. Thankfully, Lar Gand was good enough of a pilot, as he managed to dodge all multiple objects.

"Guys, look!" Spoiler pointed at the ash cloud as she went over toward the viewpoint at the back of the ship, maintaining her balance. A giant wave of debris flew across the sky, like a monster attempting to devour its tiny prey.

Lar Gand didn't turn toward Spoiler. Maybe he hadn't heard. But the Daxamite snarled, "Come on!" as he diverted power again, urging the ship through that speck of light as oblivion raged around them. And the sky turned blue, then black.

Their ship jumped out into lightspeed, and they all laughed on the floor in weak joy, feeling tired.

They had made it out.

"Wow," Wally exclaimed, "We basically escaped a Death Star like in Rogue One!"

Lar Gand raised an eyebrow.

War World

The War World's overbridge was dark except for the litted rows of instrumentation and the glow of the main display. Dominating the vast screen above its spectators was what remained of the sacred capital of Daxam; a stirred, whirling, fiery storm of sand and rock and glass shards. The air, ionized by the energy of the War World's cannon, flashed with lightning. At the storm's epicenter, the crater of the fire consumed city smoldered where the cannon had sublimed the outermost layer of the planet's crust.

This was not the fate Mongul had envisioned for Daxam. The War World was now designed to obliterate worlds, not to maim them. Yet Mongul wondered. If the planet would never recover from such an attack, or whether the cascading effects of a burning atmosphere and broken crust would result in a long, torturous death played across millennia.

"It's prepossessing," he murmured, breaking the minutes of near-silence on the bridge. Even Steppenwolf himself had surprisingly respected the crewmembers' shared awe as they spoke in whispers and muffled their keystrokes.

"I believe I owe you an apology, Mongul," Steppenwolf replied, "Your weapon requested exceeds all expectations."

Mongul did his best to conceal his surprise, glad the Steppenwolf's mocking attitude was wiped from his face, "And you'll tell Darkseid as much?" Too eager. He moderated his tone; he could afford humility if it would comfort Steppenwolf. "After all, this is his triumph – the triumph of his insight and will – more than any other single beings' agendas." There. Enough for you to save face, but not enough to deny me credit.

Steppenwolf cut the air with a dismissive gesture. "My nephew desires facts, not flattery. Your tenure on this project of ours has been rife with setbacks – setbacks you have, surprisingly, overcome. I will tell him his patience with your misadventures has been rewarded with a weapon that will make Apokolips bring the universe to their knees."

"You're too kind, Steppenwolf." Patronizing bastard. "But you express my hopes as well. We've just seen that the War World is capable of destroying a city. And what you witnessed today? That was only an inkling of its destructive potential–"

The same gesture as before: a demand for silence. Smiling acidly, remorsefully, Mongul obliged.

"I will tell him what the deal was," Steppenwolf said, "That I will be taking control of the War World once the weapon was finished… effective immediately."

Taking control?

Mongul curled fingers into fists and looked about the overbridge as he quelled his first and most vicious response in a long time. The Parademon Officers assigned to Mongul were not watching the confrontation; they kept themselves busy at their own stations, checking and re-checking the Cannon's status and scanning the Daxam sacred capital for any possible survivors. Possible. Hilarious.

That was a very small comfort.

Mongul stepped as close as he dared to Steppenwolf and snapped; his composure lost, "This weapon may be of your technology. But the War World you are standing on is MY achievement – not yours!" He forced his voice into a harsh hiss, "These crewmembers Darkseid had assigned to me – loyal to me. And they are the only ones capable of operating the War World whenever I am absent."

"We'll see about this," Steppenwolf snarled, and turned to leave the overbridge to the docking bay, "We are going back to Apokolips."

There you have the first chapter. Yes, Lar Gand (Mon-El) is here. Damian Wayne and Spoiler as well. Because it's pretty obvious for Young Justice to have new members every few years, especially since Season 3 is coming out next year.

Also, if you feel like the story is similar to Rogue One, you are not wrong. But I won't copy the whole lot of it in future chapters because that's not me.

Please review, follow and favorite this story (if you want to, not forcing you) and let me know what you all thought.

Have a great day/night!