Midnight Las Vegas, McCarran International Airport: Airplanes were rushing across the tarmacs desperate to take off, filled to the brim with passengers as military transports also began landing to try and evacuate as many as they could. It was into this chaos that General Lane, Chloe Sullivan, and Lois Lane found themselves. Panic and chaos reigned everywhere as the military did their best to fight it out with the crowd, to varying degrees of success.
"Was this what it was like on Dark Thursday?" asked Lois slightly apprehensive while watching her father talk things out with a local commander.
Chloe nodded shivering in the cool air. "It was a nightmare Lois, one I don't want to experience ever again."
"Well at least there's some order here, daddy's usually very good at scaring people into doing what he wants them to do," said Lois with a grin. Chloe tried to smile too, but the fires raging in the background in the city itself pretty much took that idea away. She looked around at the various airplanes to try and divert her attention from the devastation when her eyes fell on one in particular.
"Is that a LuthorCorp jet?" she asked staring at the airplane that was across the airfield. But before anyone could respond, an object went flying across the field and straight into a passing jet taking out one of the landing struts causing it to collapse onto the ground before exploding in a gigantic fireball flinging debris everywhere.
"Oh my G-," began Lois over the screams of voices all over the place as whatever order had been established vanished completely as people swarmed everywhere. Lois and Chloe bolted for the relative safety of the top of one of the airport rescue vehicles as from the flames Doomsday appeared with several armored individuals clinging to its body, attempting to stop its forward movement. One rushed in at extremely fast speeds and began punching it even faster before the beast's fist connected with it in a bone crunching thud that sent the person flying straight at the vehicle Lois and Chloe were on top of. The resulting impact was so forceful that it caused the vehicle to be thrown off of its wheels and only by pure luck were Chloe and Lois able to leap off of it in time as the truck went crashing across the ground taking out anyone and everyone in its path.
"C'mon Chloe, we've got to go!" said Lois tugging at her shoulder. Chloe shook her head.
"Not until I've seen what that thing just threw at us!" she shouted breaking free and rushing for the truck. More explosions tore up the airfield as the military began firing on the beast while civilians scattered everywhere. Chloe and Lois slowly made their way to the now destroyed vehicle and looked at the person now embedded into it. Chloe nearly hurled at the sight of the person, their skull was nearly crushed flat from the hit it had received and blood was still gushing out of the center of its head from one of Doomsday's bone spikes on its knuckles, with even some brain matter visible. The rest of the body was no better off, with the uniform torn in various places with more blood soaking the entire area.
"Lois," said Chloe, covering her nose as best she could from the smell. Lois was only faring slightly better having seen a few dead bodies in her day but none as bad as this.
"Lois!" Chloe insisted. "Does this guy look anything at all like Wes was when he died?"
The mentioning of Wes's name kicked Lois's mind into gear as she looked at the body in question.
"Yes," she confirmed nodding grimly. "Yes, he has the same clothes on. Now can we go? It's not safe here."
Another explosion rocked the area as Doomsday continued its trek through the flames even as the rest of Project Ares continued fighting it from all sides, even after Doomsday picked one up and impaled it through one of the spikes growing out of its kneecaps. On top of the main terminal, Lex Luthor watched his experiments and their unsuccessful attempt to stop Doomsday with disgust.
"You said Project Ares would be unstoppable," he said angrily through gritted teeth. The new scientist in charge of the project gulped nervously as he wiped sweat from his forehead, though whether from the fire or from being afraid of Lex's wrath even he wasn't sure.
"Mr. Luthor I assure you that what is happening out there is a result of that thing being too strong and not because our creations are too weak," the scientist chose as his line of reasoning. Lex did not respond to that but shifted his focus to the creature in question.
"And what about this new arrival?" inquired Lex. "What have you managed to learn about it?"
"Nothing," said the scientist helplessly. "Absolutely nothing."
"What do you mean nothing?" demanded Lex. "Have you managed to obtain any cellular tissue from it?"
"No sir that thing has not bled once as far as we can tell," Bartlett answered. "It also has yet to shed a single cell that could possibly be used for any type of analysis."
"How is that even possible?" demanded Lex.
"We don't know sir. The creature must have been genetically engineered," Bartlett surmised. Lex turned to look at him out of the corner of his eye.
"If it can be engineered it can be de-engineered," he said with malice before returning his attention. "We may need to consider passing out the shock cannons to our remaining super soldiers."
"It may be too late for that sir we've already suffered eighty percent losses," said Bartlett looking at his blackberry and reading the remaining life signs emanating from the remaining soldiers's biopacks. Lex's arms fell down to the side and the binoculars clattered to the ground breaking. Lex spun around and eyed them with pure fury in his eyes, enhanced by the firelight reflecting off of his irises.
"You're telling me out of the thirty soldiers we brought with us, only six are remaining!" he roared. "That's at least 24 million dollars lost in only twenty minutes!"
"25 sir," amended Bartlett. "No, 26…27…28…29…"
Lex spun around and stared out at the ruined airport as in the only area of calm amongst the chaotic airfield, Doomsday held up the final super soldier by palming its entire head and then squeezed. A stomach sickening pop later, blood seeped through the beast's fingers as it dropped the final soldier dead onto the ground. Lex's resulting roar, powerful though it was, was still drowned out by Doomsday's roar in challenge for the rest of the world.
Las Vegas Strip: Firefighters were doing their best to put out the fires that were still burning up and down US Highway 91. But up at the top level of the MGM Grand it was relatively peaceful as the entire place had been abandoned and the only people left were the looters. Two in particular were looting one room that had a huge gaping hole in it that oddly enough seemed like it had been caused by an outside force, even though the rest of the hotel was seemingly untouched.
"The hell do you think caused this?" asked one to the other as they stood at the edge of the hole looking out at the Strip beyond.
"Damned if I know, but whatever it was it's my best friend. Whoever was in here must've been some rich old bastard because this place is loaded!" said the other with glee holding up several diamond necklaces. "Now c'mon before I push you out that window and take all this stuff for myself."
His partner nodded and moved to join him. As they were throwing whatever they could into their sacks, a rumbling noise was heard from behind a large chunk of the ceiling that had come loose and was on the far side of the room opposite the hole in the side of the suite.
"The hell-?" began the second member, and apparent leader of the duo. The large chunk slowly began shifting ever so slightly as if something behind it was straining to push it off of them.
"You don't think…" began the first member trembling slightly with fear. The second pulled out his gun and aimed it at the ceiling chunk. The chunk began moving outwards from the far wall even more this time.
"That creature can't be here can it?" said the first one panicking.
"No you idiot it's at the airport," said the second flipping on the TV that showed an exhausted Cat Grant outside a chain link fence reporting what she could see from her vantage point as the camera zoomed in on a chunk of pavement that went hurtling up into the night sky taking out an Apache Helicopter that promptly exploded flinging pieces of it everywhere. The voice of Cat Grant reporting on the carnage seemed to prompt the ceiling chunk to move even faster until it found itself crashing across the room. From where it had been, a battered and bloody individual stood up with torn jeans, red coat, and blue undershirt. It looked at the two criminals with passive eyes.
"Put back all of your stolen stuff where it belongs and I may show you mercy," the person stated.
"Like hell buddy," said the second opening fire without a second thought as the first one reluctantly joined in. They emptied their entire clips and could only stand there in stunned silence as the being still stood apparently untouched. Immediately after the two realized this, the individual's eyes lit up and red optic beams erupted from them blasting their guns away.
"What the hell are you?" demanded the second terrified. The individual slanted their head to the side as if thinking about this.
"The last boy scout," was all it said as in a flash the two robbers found themselves and their loot on the pavement outside directly in front of a pair of police officers. The two cops looked at each other surprised before slowly reaching down and arresting the two, who offered no resistance.
McCarran International Airport: Lois and Chloe had gotten separated amongst the chaotic crowd and now Chloe found herself in a situation not along the one during Dark Thursday. But she resolved to remain calm and knew that somehow she would survive this. But those hopes immediately vanished when Doomsday came crashing down in the crowd right in front of her and began wiping out people left and right. And then there were no more left nearby except a Chloe Sullivan about to go into convulsions. Doomsday's fists came flying down on her and all Chloe could hope for would be that it was quick and painless.
But she never got her chance as a red and blue blur swept her up and at the same time sent Doomsday flying before coming to a halt inside the relative safety of the airport terminal. As Chloe opened her eyes, she saw a grim and determined Clark Kent with clothing nearly torn to shreds and blood caked all over his body.
"Clark you're alive," she said grateful as she hugged him tightly as the Kryptonian winced in pain.
"I've got to go," he stated breaking from her grasp and turned to go.
"Clark no, if you fight him like you are now you'll die!" pleaded Chloe. "Doomsday's unstoppable!"
"That may be," Clark conceded. "But too many are already dead and too many more lives are in jeopardy and I'm the only who can stop this thing's rampage. I don't have any choice. It just comes with saving people's lives and taking zero credit for it, a friend taught me that."
With that he was gone in a burst of speed that caused a sonic boom to erupt inside the terminal causing the outside glass to instantly shatter as the red and blue blur slammed straight into Doomsday and both vanished into the eastern horizon as the sun slowly started to rise. Chloe was still staring out the window in tears when Lois and General Lane finally found her a few minutes later.
"Hey you," Lois said reassuringly, putting her arm around her. "You look like you just saw a close friend die."
Chloe looked at her through bloodshot eyes and nodded slowly to herself before trying to calm down by wiping away her tears.
"War is never a pretty thing to look at," said General Lane trying his best to help her through this as he looked out at the devastation. "But eventually it comes to an end and then you pick up the pieces and start again, hopefully for the better."
"So what's going to happen now?" Chloe asked. "What about the Doomsday monster?"
"Well apparently the other being that fought it earlier showed up again and drove it away from here and for that I am thankful," said the General before he turned slightly downtrodden. "But…"
"But what?" said Chloe as a sinking feeling grew in her stomach. General Lane sighed.
"It has been decided by the higher ups that these two beings have the power to tear apart this world with their raw hands if left alone. Right now they are too busy fighting each other to take that opportunity and they're not to be given that chance," said Lane. "The military has been waiting for the two combatants to enter an area with relatively few civilians nearby that could be immediately evacuated. Well that time is now. The other alien managed to push Doomsday, as we're now calling him, into New Mexico before the fighting recommenced, and this is as good an opportunity as we can hope to get because any further East and secluded areas will become fewer and fewer."
"What's going to happen?" Chloe said as anger and fear threatened to boil over in her system. The General shot a look to her and Lois.
"What I am telling you is in the strictest confidentiality and should not be given to your papers beforehand or you will face criminal charges against the United States of America," he stated. Chloe and Lois both gave their agreement as the General looked at the clock and then at his watch.
"In approximately fifteen minutes the largest tactical nuclear warhead the United States has ever built will be dropped on them," explained the General. "We're looking at approximately a 50 megaton explosion to rival the Tsar Bomba. It is a last resort weapon; something the US has never acknowledged exists as it is twice as powerful as anything the armed forces have ever had the guts to build. When it goes off nothing will be left standing."
"General you can't do this!" shouted Chloe.
"Better they both die then have another Vegas or Coast City on our hands," said Lois dismissively.
"But General-," began Chloe.
"The decision is out of my hands it's already been made. We knew they were heading East and so the military has quietly evacuated everyone from the soon to be affected areas," said Lane curtly. "Now if you will excuse me I have to go oversee the continued evacuation of this city. Be careful though not to stand near any open ledges, we'll likely be able to feel and see the blast from here."
With that the General was gone and Chloe immediately collapsed.
"Clark I…" she said helplessly before just sitting there in shock staring out the window.
Los Alamos, New Mexico: Clark and Doomsday were pounding away on each other when Clark heard a jet engine noise with his super hearing.
"Just one plane, I'd have thought there would've been more," thought Clark disappointed as he ducked a punch and threw another one. Though he couldn't prove it, Clark could've sworn that Doomsday was starting to slow down and it gave Clark the strength to push on fighting.
Elsewhere: The Queen Industries Jet roared across the Texas/New Mexico Border headed for Los Alamos. The entire team was suited up and ready for action and Ollie was prepping them.
"Sorry AC, but there's not a lot of water in New Mexico so you'll kind of be out of your element," said Ollie chuckling as the Arthur Curry just shook his head at that.
"What part about me training in water my whole life makes me faster and stronger on land don't you understand?" he asked.
"Anyway the point is that we'll be out in the open and that won't provide us a lot of cover. We'll have to all keep on the move because this thing has managed to tear up half of Coast City and Las Vegas and Clark is still fighting him," Ollie continued. "If we slip up we'll die and in business they teach us it's easier to maintain existing customers than it is to recruit new ones. I like to think the same thing holds true for us as well so don't make me have to go looking for new recruits to replace your sorry butts. I'll be sure to tell them all of your little secrets when they do."
The team laughed at that and all put their hands together.
"For Justice," said the Green Arrow.
"For Truth," added Cyborg.
"For the babes," said Impulse.
"For Lois," said Aquaman before he began laughing at Ollie's expression at that. "Okay, for the Atlantian way then."
"Ollie can you get up here," said Hal piloting the plane.
"To the Junior Lifeguard Association!" they all said as they broke. Ollie entered into the cockpit.
"What's up?" he asked taking the copilot seat. Hal took off his headphones and placed them beside him.
"I'm getting automated warnings from the Air Force to turn back, not only from Los Alamos but the entire state in general," said Hal. Ollie looked confused by this.
"So? We expected something like this already, you said you could outmaneuver anything in the sky," said Ollie.
"Yeah the problem being that there's nothing here to outmaneuver," Hal shot back. Silence filled the cockpit at that and Ollie shut the door so the others couldn't hear their conversation.
"You're saying that the Air Force isn't about to force us to land," Ollie ventured as his mind raced trying to figure out the implications of that.
"Oh it gets worse," said Hal chuckling nervously. "I used our satellite in orbit to try and get a clearer idea of what's going on. All air traffic west of the Mississippi has been permanently grounded, again on the military's authority. So naturally I tried to scan the area for heat signatures to determine the army's position. They aren't there. In fact, everything within a two hundred mile radius of Los Alamos has been completely evacuated."
Hal produced a printout of a thermal image of the Southwestern United States and sure enough, two hundred miles expanding outwards, it was almost a black spot. Oliver's heart went cold at that and he dropped the readout in stupor. He breathed in deeply and sat staring out the cockpit window at the blue skies ahead of them and the small clouds that dotted the skies around them.
"What do you think is going to happen?" the CEO of Queen Industries asked sadly. Hal sighed.
"I think something very bad is about to happen and I think Clark may need us now more than ever," answered the pilot also not feeling any better about what he knew was coming. Ollie held his head in his hands in pain of the decision he was about to make.
"We don't have a choice do we?" he asked. Hal shook his head.
"Nope," he answered as he reached for the throttle. "Like you said, we're heroes. Save the cheerleader save the world and all that."
Ollie looked at Hal's hand that was now clasped firmly on the throttle.
"Do it," he ordered. Hal nodded and slammed it forward and the aircraft began picking up speed headed towards Los Alamos.
Sky above Los Alamos: A B-2 Spirit Stealth Bomber coasted high above Los Alamos in a circular pattern waiting for the final command to be given.
"Colonel Grady," said the copilot looking at a command code that had just flashed across the screen and then looking at their own codeword. "The order is given."
The pilot, Colonel Grady, nodded grimly.
"Do it," he ordered. A whistling noise was heard from the bottom of the aircraft as the Colonel reached for the throttle and shoved it forward as the bomber fled the area.
For nearly the entire United States, it was as if a second sun had risen as the effects of the bomb could be felt at least 600 miles away. The resulting mushroom cloud was nearly 40 miles high and 20 miles wide with an ensuing fireball that left a three mile wide crater in the sands of where the first atomic bomb had ever been tested. It was a day few would ever forget as only once before in the history of mankind had such a weapon ever been detonated. Then it had been called the Tsar Bomba or 'Emperor Bomb', here it was known as something much simpler, Alpha Omega. Where the bomb had hit, rock had been turned to ash and everything else standing vaporized. It was almost literally the Beginning of the End because it was 4000 times more powerful that what had been dropped on Hiroshima. And so the world watched and waited with baited breath to see if this 'doomsday' weapon had done its job and was truly worth the risk of living up to its name.