Justice League Next Generation 'Dark Days'

Chapter 4 (Hello Darkness my old Friend)

"Hello darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again,

Because a vision softly creeping, Left its seeds while I was sleeping,

And the vision that was planted in my brain,

Still remains, within the sound of silence." Hello Darkness my old Friend by Simon and Garfunkel

(International House of Pancakes – Gotham – The Narrows – Three hours later)

Diana looked at the six people sitting at a table all eating pancakes and bacon. One of them looked toward her when she muttered the name Thanatos. The one that looked at her had two women sitting next to him to scoot over so that he could scoot out. She looked at a middle aged man dressed in a pair of black slacks, white shirt, black tie, and a pair of black loafers. He motioned for her to follow him and together the two of them walked toward a table near the deserted section of the International House of Pancakes.

"For you to know the name of the highest member of our business then I assume that you are here on some sort of business." He said.

"In a way… I need to speak to you about Nekron." Diana said.

The mention of that name caused the man's face to pale. He looked toward the others seated still talking each other before he turned back to Diana.

"What does the dark reaper has to do with this?" He asked.

"Dark reaper?" Diana asked.

"It was the name that Nekron earned for himself when he went rogue. He believed that death shouldn't be separated from the living. In fact he worked toward undoing all that Thanatos had done. She showed infinite patience toward him, but in the end she had to strip him of his powers. I heard that he finally got himself sealed into a generator of sorts." The man said.

"He is here on Earth and he is unleashing a terror I cannot even begin to describe." Diana said.

"Then his prophets was telling the truth. The time of the great harvest has come. Damn it... I thought that there would be more time. No one is ready for this. Everyone at that table is less than a hundred years old. Shit, I'm the only one here from Ancient Greece." He said as he put his head into his hands.

"Ancient Greece?" Diana asked.

"I was a Dorian soldier, and I was killed by a very angry Amazon. Before I died my soul was collected and I was 'cursed' to walk the earth collecting souls until I met my quota." He said.

The fact of who the man actually was sent a wave of anger through Diana. This man had been on the island when her mother was raped. He had partaken in the act and undoubtfully stole the innocence from some of her sisters.

"You… You…" Diana began.

The man watched her and his eyes widened as he realized who and what she was. He shook his head and looked toward the ground.

"It doesn't matter much after so long, but I'm sorry. I truly am sorry for what I and my brothers in arms did on that day. It doesn't make a difference, but unlike the other reapers I am cursed. Thanatos daughter of Hades said that I would be a reaper until the very end of the world. I've watched my sons and daughters grow old and die. I watched their children, and their children's children age and wither away. Each year I realize that I will always be. I will be the one who marks someone for a death they don't deserve because of the curse that I do deserve." He said.

"I should take you to my mother." Diana said as she gritted her teeth.

"Your mother?" he asked.

"Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons, and she would not be very forgiving." Diana stated coldly.

"No, I suspect that she wouldn't be. Your father… was he He…"He began to say before Diana clamped her hand over his mouth.

"Don't ever use that foul name around me. Heracles was a rapist, a brute, and a bully. What has happened to him is well deserved, but no, he was not my father. I was formed of Clay, and the closest thing to a father I supposedly have is Hades himself." Diana stated.

"It stands to reason… You look like Thanatos and Persephone. Actually you favor Thanatos more than the Queen of the underworld. I cannot make up for what I put your mother through, but I will do all I can to help you with this Crisis. You didn't ask for it and most likely don't want it, but my name is Dōrieis." Dōrieis said.

"I don't want it because it leaves a foul taste in my mouth; however, I need any information you have on this Dark Reaper, and I need to know how to stop him." Diana began.

(Watchtower – Medical Bay)

M'ire looked at Olivia as the girl cried in her sleep. She could feel the fear, pain, anger, and suffering pouring off of the girl. Even though she felt a little jealously toward Olivia for being so close to Hermes she wanted to give her some peace. Reaching forward M'ire touched Olivia's head and felt a flood of emotions rush into her. The half breed martian screamed as she fell to the knees. The images of Scarecrow flooded her vision and she tried to push them out.

"No child… I won't leave you now… See I infected her, and you… You simple little creature, I have infected you as well. Welcome to the Black Lantern corp." He said with a sadistic voice.

M'ire looked at her arms and black veins began to pop up. She tried to force the dark force inside of her out, but it refused.

Hermes… Please forgive me…" M'ire said as she looked toward the heavens and screamed. Suddenly her yellow eyes became glossy black and she stood. A ring formed on her finger, and she looked down at Olivia to see one on hers as well.

"The Blackest Night falls from the skies The darkness grows as all light dies, We crave your hearts and your demise, By my black hand-The dead shall rise!" Both Olivia and M'ire said at the same time.

M'ire walked toward the door of the medical lab and struck it as hard as she could. The force of the punch caused the door to buckle. Olivia smirked as she released her 'Canary' song and blew the door the rest of the way off. The two of them began to walk through the halls. The moment they saw Victoria, Olivia smiled. She ran toward her friend and sunk her teeth into Victoria's shoulder. The daughter of Question and Huntress screamed and backed away from Olivia.

"You're going to be one of us, and think of it… you can finally have an excuse to be with Rex once you kill him." Olivia said as she looked at Victoria with dead silver eyes.

Victoria slammed her fist against the com system.

"Lock down all halls connected to the medical unit and teleport all injured leaguers straight to the Metrotower! We have a Omega level security breech!" Victoria shouted as the blast doors started to come down.

"That's not going to hold us." M'ire said.

"No, but add me to the mix and I promise it will hold you long enough." Victoria said as she brought her Crossbow up.

(Gotham - Narrows)

Croc laughed as he mercilessly killed everyone in his way. Already he had began attacking everyone that neared him. He looked at the hero in his hands. The man was dressed as a different version of Robin. The look was sleeker, slightly edger, but it only came down to the fact that he was still Robin. Croc heard the sound of someone screaming in the background and turned around to see an angry Kryptonian slam her fist into his chest knocking him back.

"Tim are you alright." She whispered silently to the wounded man.

"K… Kara… I… I can't feel my legs." Tim said.

She looked at the man below her. She had came back after Clark had died and before he came back to life. For the most part she stayed out of the league since Galatea was there. Even though she didn't really agree with them adding her 'sister' to the roster she had to admit that Galatea had been doing fantastic work. So she helped Zor-Zul or Superboy as he called himself and the new Teen Titans most of the time. Well she and Tim helped them. She reached down behind him and felt blood pooling up.

"I don't think that it's too bad… It doesn't… It doesn't even hurt anymore…" Tim said as his eyes closed.

"No… Tim please no…" Kara asked as she touched his cheek.

The red stain left by his blood caused her vision to blur. She looked toward the monster laughing and stood.

"You… YOU BASTARD!" Kara shouted as she unleashed her heat vision at the highest amount of power she had ever poured into it.

Not far from Croc Hippolyta and Dick watched as the newest Black Lantern began to be destroyed from the shire amount of power radiating from Kara's heat blast.

Dick looked toward Tim and smiled as he rushed toward his little 'brother'. He sunk his teeth into Tim's shoulder and watched as the veins began to turn black on him. Within seconds Tim's eyes opened revealing a dead silver. He felt his body healing from his injuries and he stood.

"Kara…" Tim said