Justice League Next Generation 'Dark Days'
Chapter 2 (Death Walker)
"Tears of the prophets have all gone dry
Behold the noose of Death, fraying away
Hanging heavily, history's guilt
The temple, will it be rebuilt?
Eruption of life eternal
Humanity's tomb stone removed
Behold the choruses of Creation
Majestic Son of light, risen DeathWalker" Deathwalker by Fearscape
(Outside of Smallville – Kent's Farm)
Amber Kent smiled as she sat down in a kitchen chair. She had just finished washing the dishes and helped to prepare breakfast for the extended family sharing the old farm house. Her hand softly touched her stomach and she could feel the swell of her pregnant belly. This was going to be their second child. Little Martha Lois Kent was already a handful, and while she looked forward to having another child in the house she did worry about their children developing powers from both of their parents. Chances was that the children's metabolism could be far greater than her own. If that was so then Kal would need to either extend the farm or one of them would have to work outside of the farm to bring in the other needed income for the expenses of the farm.
"Hi Sweetheart." The voice of Kal said as Amber looked up and smiled.
"Hi yourself handsome." Amber said before she stood and kissed her husband gently on the lips.
"Kal… Have you given any thought to what we're going to do about the kids?" She asked hoping that he would start to get an understanding of what she was talking about.
"Given any thought about the kids for what reason?" He asked before the sound of a soft explosion erupted from outside.
Kal turned and looked at the wall before his face paled in horror. He didn't wait for Amber to ask any questions instead he gathered her up in his arms and zoomed upstairs to where his daughter and mother was at. Lois turned to look at Kal as he burst into the room. She started to ask something, but he moved and caught her and little Martha. Somehow he managed to hold on to all three of them and get out of the house before they could ask any questions. Lois looked back to see Clark facing down two people. Her eyes grew wide in terror as she realized that those two figures quickly disappearing in the background were Martha and Jonathan Kent.
(Jameston New York – Grayson house)
Dick had heard the fighting outside and ran out to see his dead son – in – law somehow man or rather womanhandling Galatea. Before another flash of speed could be dealt out by Johnny, Dick quickly reached into his old utility belt and flung out several small marble shaped items. Johnny ran over them and the resulting explosion sent him hurling into a tree. Dick then tossed several robin wings at him and let the devices hold him there.
"If you are my son – in – law then I know that you are stronger than this. You can fight this." Dick said as he neared Johnny.
"No… I can't." Johnny said before he vibrated loose from the tree and grabbed Dick.
Galatea stood and screamed as Johnny bit into Dick's Throat and tore it out causing him to fall to the ground. She rushed forward slamming her fist into Johnny's chest and vibrating it as fast as she could. He could feel what she was doing, and while his body was attempting to match it he didn't fight. For a moment it appeared that the damage done to him would simply be repaired, but Galatea began using her heat vision and soon Johnny's body began to distablize. The ring left his finger and hovered for a moment.
Galatea turned to see the ring floating over Dick. She ran to his side and prepared to destroy the thing before it had a chance of touching him. She blasted it with her heat vision only to watch it harmlessly move through it and the ring found the finger of her husband. She felt his body move under her arm. She watched as his neck healed from the wound he suffered and then his face turned toward her.
"No, baby don't let them do this to you." She pleaded with him as Dick stood.
His expression was vacant and ghost like. He looked toward her and then at Mary. The sound of the door opening behind him caused him to turn and he looked upon his first grandchild. Dick's eyes began to focus and hints of emotion began to show through them before he lifted into the air and took off like a shot.
Galatea watched as Dick disappeared into the skies. She felt the terror and horror inside of herself pour out in each sob and shake of her body. At the moment she wondered that since there was gods, and most likely the Christian God existed as well, then why didn't any of them step in and stop this from happening? Why would they allow the most wonderful man on Earth to die and then return like this?
(Kent Farm)
"You should stop fighting this Clark." Jonathan Kent said as he neared his son.
"You're not my pa." Clark said with venom in his voice.
"Of course I am. The reason I'm back is because you had died before I had a chance to tell you a few things. I never got to tell you how proud I was of you, and I never had the chance to tell you happy I was that you did so well. It left an impression son. You caused a big enough hole when you 'died' that it let me come back. We can be a family again. We can be together like we once was. Think about that Clark." Jonathan said as he tried to move forward only to knocked but by Clark's super breath.
"If you won't join us Clark then I'm sure that our grandson will." Martha Kent said as she looked at her son.
"Leave Kal alone." Clark stated.
Outside Clark appeared to be calm and collective, but inside he was being torn apart. He hated this. The two best people in the world was being used by a force beyond his control and it killed him to see them like this. He wanted to save them, but the rings that was controlling them seemed as if they wouldn't allow them to be reasoned with. Even though he knew that his real parents wasn't inside of those bodies it didn't make what he was going to have to do any easier.
(Wayne Manor – medical room)
Hippolyta groaned in pain as her father ran tests on her. The black lines in her veins had slowly spread to her entire left side and her face. Everywhere it spread she began turning a sickening gray. And now there was a Lantern insignia glowing under her clothes. She could feel hundreds and thousands of voices talking to her at once. Everywhere she turned it seemed worse and worse until a little body walked into the room.
Hippolyta suddenly relaxed as Thana walked toward her. The little quarter Thanagarian, Amazon, and half human looked at her aunt and softly touched her arm. The girl pulled back and looked at Hippolyta in a confused and uncertain way.
"Papa what's wrong with auntie Lyta?" Thana asked.
"She was attacked little one." Bruce said as he watched the girl.
The idea of who Thana really was crossed Bruce's mind. He knew that it could be a long shot, but considering what happened there seemed little other choice. He activated his communicator and contacted Dr. Fate and Zatanna. Within moments they appeared and he looked at them. He began explaining what happened and then he explained what Diana had told him about their granddaughter. Dr. Fate listened for several moments before he finally nodded and looked at the girl.
"We can contact Thanatos, and I'm fairly certain that she will help us; however, I'm not sure if it change your granddaughter." Fate said.
"It shouldn't." Zatanna said as she knelt down in front of Thana.
"She has her own soul. The goddess may have been born into the body, but a separate soul was created. Thana will always be Thana. She just may have to be this as well." Zatanna said softly as she gently petted Thana's head.
"Hey! I just brushed that!" Thana complained.
(Outside of Wayne Manor)
Dick looked at the place he had lived so long ago. The ring was commanding that he go inside and find Diana. It commanded him to confront her, change her, and bring her powers to their side. He groaned as he moved forward. He wanted to fight this. He didn't want to be a slave to something else, but the draw and need for the feelings of despair was too great. The entire manor seemed to feed the ring as he moved. Each inch of it was covered in despair even though it was old it had lingered and thickened over the years.