Demon Angels

by MaChaoJustice

The Scourge of Apokolips should not have been able to do this, but in a twist of fate he found a way into another multiverse. However, even he could not foresee the consequences of his avarice and passion to conquer worlds. Now, he has to reap what he has sown, for he had underestimated the might of a certain warrior race...

6. A fiery omen

Chapter 6: A fiery omen

Arc 2: Lost dreams, part 1: A fiery omen

~Belle Reve, Louisiana, one month later~

A perpetual scream echoed throughout the halls and chambers of a massive underground facility, its soundwaves never going further than the walls encompassing the compound. It wasn't just a bone-chilling scream of agony, or a cry for help that wasn't going to come. No, this was a scream of resignation, of finally losing hope. One, of giving up.

Next came the sobbing that soon quieted down to merely a whimper as the owner of the broken scream lied on her side, pulled her knees up, and started rocking back and forth to console herself. Even with her incredibly powerful physiology, her body, mind and soul simply couldn't bear the heartless torture for eternity. Her will was bound to break apart eventually.

"Subject A-025, designated 'Starfire', has not shown sufficient feats of durability at the desired threshold to implement into the P-MAZE-operating system. Other species required to fill in said gap." Stated the monotonous voice of a pulsing computer connected to the room the research subject was housed in.

"Hmm, implement the observations and results of her UV absorption and manipulation abilities into the database. Increase the amount of radiation in the next session. I also want a profile of the intricacies of her cellular behaviour during absorption." Replied the cold voice of a bald man with a deformed head, who pushed a bright red button on the computer's control panel rather dismissively. Immediately, two humanoid droids with the only feature on their face being a bright red terminator eye, headed inside the observation room and grabbed the whimpering alien by her arms, subsequently dragging her back to her cell. The bald scientist paid the alien no mind as he gnashed his teeth in anger and walked out of the observation room. He did not care in the slightest about his subjects' health, only about results.

"Computer, give me a report on the P-MAZE's current hypothetical abilities and functions." The man declared as he bypassed rows upon rows of specially designed prison cells containing various alien and metahuman specimens.

"Affirmative, Professor Ivo. Downloading files now." Replied the computer as the professor headed inside another room, where another bald man in a white lab coat was studying a broadsword, which had been in possession of one of the subjects here. The man in question had only one functioning eye, because his right eye had a vertical scar in the form of a lightning bolt.

Professor Ivo promptly ignored his colleague as he took a seat at one of the tables and grabbed his tablet. Through the piece of technology, he heard the voice of his personal computer.

"Files downloaded, would you like me to summarize the findings?" It asked.

"Naturally, now proceed." Ivo growled as he paid close attention to the tables and graph which were being displayed.

"The P-MAZE-operating system, unlike its predecessor, does not contain metagene-replicating-enzymes that are triggered by exposure of metahuman abilities through sensory perception. Instead, various genes that code into supernatural abilities are already implemented into its complex synthetic DNA structure. This can potentially result in stronger and more stable power manifestations and abilities, but at the cost of diversity."

"I already know that, I wrote it myself! Give me a chart, including the donor of each ability." Ivo growled as the computer did what it was told. Immediately the professor scanned through it, while the computer spoke to him the intricacies out loud.

"Subject A-025's, designated 'Starfire', unique physiological abilities such as linguistic assimilation and UV-absorption that enhances her natural abilities have been replicated into P-MAZE's DNA structure, despite her durability not reaching the desired threshold. Her power to expel blasts of solar energy, dubbed 'Starbolts', are still being implemented. Her DNA structure indicates that it is not a natural Tamaranean ability, but a manifestation as a result of older experiments into her DNA which weren't done here. The gene for said ability is still being researched."

"Good, warn me when it's finished. I would like to test that ability out. Continue." The professor stated anxiously as he himself continued to read.

"P-MAZE's electrokinesis is derived from subject M-013, designated 'Kamo'. No other abilities of significance have been found in the short time he was under experimentation, other than his amphibious physiology."

"And what about subjects M-022, M-023, M-024 and A-033?"

"Subject M-022, designated 'Raven', has been a difficult case. Doctor Sivana has been tasked with acquiring the necessary knowledge, due to most of her abilities being magical in nature. Currently, we have only been able to isolate the genes and replicate her affinity for magic that are derived of her being a Homo magi. However, the metahuman genes of subjects M-023 and 024, designated 'Kid Flash' and 'Terra', have been successfully implemented without any repercussions." The mechanical voice ended. Professor Ivo started to fidget with his lab coat as he waited for more information, which did not seem to come.

"And? A-033?" He finally asked, almost snarling.

"Subject A-033, designated 'Demon Angel', does not have any profitable abilities to include into the P-MAZE operating system."

"WHAT! Give me his profile! Explain this, now!" The professor seethed as he received a chart. When he scanned it thoroughly, he angrily discarded the tablet into the nearest wall.

"No sufficient powers and abilities?! His kin's power displays shook the entire planet! They shot beams containing more energy than we could generate in a decade!" Ivo snarled as he wiped the sweat off his bald head. He quickly headed towards the nearest monitor to re-evaluate the alien's profile.

"Subject A-033's biochemical reactions are heavily similar to Homo sapiens and do not show any significant results, even when incited by boosts of adrenaline. Although his bones seem to be of a higher density and his metabolic rate is higher than that of the average human, the Demon Angel currently hasn't shown any significant powers to implement."

"But you can clearly see that his cells possess an extra organelle next to the mitochondria. His blood also contains hormones that are not found in humans, probably to incite the transformation where his hair turns gold. I want his unique DNA structure to be implemented, despite the lack of significant findings. If only Waller let me wake him up for experimentation…" Professor Ivo growled as he walked away from the monitor and back to the table. Before he reached it, his colleague suddenly started to speak up.

"I see that your lack of knowledge regarding the Demon Angel's power manifestations has resulted in a lack of improvement to your android, Professor Ivo."

"Do not patronize me, Doctor. You do not seem to be doing any better yourself with your personal goals, considering the lack of a viable cure for your family's illness." Professor Ivo answered, while he took a seat. Doctor Sivana's eyes glowered for a moment, but eventually decided to remain courteous.

"I find it rather curious that your android does not contain any Kryptonian DNA. You did specify a durability problem after all. It would also alleviate a potential strength and flight problem as well." Doctor Sivana began as he took a seat at the other side of the table.

"No other Kryptonians, other than Superman, have been sighted. It would be most fortunate if I got my hands on a DNA sample." Replied the professor as he turned towards his colleague.

"What about Wraith? His powers seem to be rather similar."

"That would have been an excellent proposition, if not for my lack of ability and authority to get it. Waller keeps him on a tight leash."

Both the doctor and professor sighed heavily at that statement. Despite the perks of being part of this research facility as the two highest stationed scientists, the amount of authority and control they had left much to be desired. The extremely strong creatures such as Wraith and the Demon Angel were generally off-limits to experiment on. Wraith, because he was Waller's right hand, while the risk for waking the Demon Angel was simply too high, for Waller at least.

"So now you're just mindlessly torturing your subjects to make your android stronger?" Doctor Sivana enquired dismissively as he stood up.

"I don't care about their feelings, their wants and needs. I want results, I want-"

"Immortality, I know. I still wonder why that android is necessary for that goal. Not that I care, that is none of my business of course." Doctor Sivana said as he typed a few notes on his own tablet. Meanwhile, Professor Ivo kept staring at him irritably.

"What is the point of this conversation, Thaddeus? If you do not have something useful to say, then please extradite yourself from my presence." Professor Ivo eventually growled as he stood up. In response, Doctor Sivana smiled smugly.

"Now, now, let's not get hasty here, Anthony. I am here to improve that android on behalf of our dear executive. I have uploaded the results of my experimentations on subject M-022. Now, I have all the time to work on our biggest mystery. Please, follow me." Doctor Sivana urged as he stood up and motioned his colleague to follow him. Eventually, they came at a stop in front of an experimental setup, where the broadsword Sivana was researching was being displayed. To Ivo, the object didn't look any different from a general sword, but Doctor Sivana was nonetheless enthusiastic.

"Look at the results of the XRF-scan. This blade is partly of a metal that's never seen before. It is extremely durable, yet significantly ductile and malleable. It barely loses its sharpness as well, and I haven't been able to find its melting point yet." The Doctor inquired admirably, to which Anthony snorted.

"Do you study metallurgy, or magic? I don't care about the intricacies of this blade." Professor Ivo snorted. He was about to turn around when Doctor Sivana interrupted him.

"I am not finished, Professor. This blade also contains faint trails of magic, and more importantly, another type of energy. Something that practically no one on this planet utilizes. That part, is interesting to you, Professor." The Doctor stated as he headed out of the room towards a different part of the laboratory. Using a set of passwords and identification cards, he managed to open the five-meter thick titanium doors blocking the two scientists' path. Eventually, they arrived in front of a large tube containing a greenish liquid. Inside the tube was a dormant person with lavender hair, wearing an oxygen facemask. His entire body was connected to wires that uploaded his bodily activities towards the main computer.

"We have been looking at this alien's powers the wrong way. The incredible amounts of power he generates, are only partially explainable when you look at his genome. The secret is a bit more metaphysical than that."

"What are you implying, Doctor? That he utilizes some form of energy that is neither scientifically or magically explainable?" Professor Ivo asked as he squinted his eyes at the lavender-haired man sleeping in the tube.

"I believe it is a combination of both. The faint trails of mystical energy I found on the blade line up with his natural energy signature." Doctor Sivana stated as he opened the alien's biological profile on the monitor.

"Although his genome contains certain interesting attributes, such as a gene for a fifth limb, higher bone density and even an organelle that might be used to 'transform' into his golden state, his planet destroying powers do not necessarily come from that. I believe that he is utilizing spiritual energy that only the monks of Asia have been studying for centuries. They call it 'ki' or 'chi'." The Doctor ended. Professor Ivo was silent for a moment, but eventually started to laugh.

"Ki?! What nonsense are you talking about, Doctor? This is an extra-terrestrial, not a monk."

"Do you have a better explanation, Professor? From analyses of the footage we have, you can clearly see that he conjures energy from an unknown source. Why does his anger increase the amount of energy leaking from his body? Where is the source of his energy? Have you found any type of organelles that absorb radiation that is similar to a Kryptonian or Tamaranean?" Thaddeus asked knowingly.

"Hmm, and what if your theory's correct? How do you intend to test your hypothesis?" Professor Ivo inquired.

"The monks believe that this spiritual energy comes from the very soul and can be triggered by emotion. In order to see if it's true, we merely need to wake him up and incite his temporal lobe."

"Waller's specifically told us that-"

"Waller's not here now, is she? She's dealing with the Justice League. We just wake him up for a moment. If it does go wrong, we can easily absorb the energy he generates through the tubes." Doctor Sivana stated. At first, Professor Ivo looked apprehensive. Despite his cold exterior, he was actually extremely afraid of the metahumans which were housed here. They could kill him on a whim, and he was afraid of the very notion of death. Then again, his android would never be complete if he couldn't test the full extent of the donor's capabilities. Eventually, he resigned.

"Fine, I'll stop the flow of narcotics into his system." The Professor stated, a smirk forming on his face at the prospect of completing his android. He needed only to press a button and type in a few passwords to stop the flow of the many liquids going through the alien's infusions.

"Now, we simply have to wait for it to wake up." Doctor Sivana ended as the two scientists waited anxiously for a sign of awakening. It didn't take long before the Demon Angel opened his eyes…

---

~United States Capitol, Washington D.C.~

For the longest time, Superman kept floating a few kilometres above Washington D.C, contemplating about what was soon going to happen. The clear blue sky, warm rays of sunshine and cool breeze were an antithesis towards the direness of the current situation, and Superman was far from comfortable.

Today was the lawsuit, or something akin to that. It was actually going to be more of a tense meeting or debate between opposing superpowers, which was disappointing, but expected. Its sole theme was of course about the events that had happened around five years ago and the powerhouses who partook in these events, in particular the golden warriors.

He and Batman initially tried to accuse A.R.G.U.S. of the numerous abductions and experiments they had done over the years. The footage Batman managed to acquire incited only one word into the Man of Steel's mind.

Torture. Horrible, needless torture.

But due to lots of bureaucracy and nepotism, Amanda Waller managed to twist their pleas for justice into an accusation of withholding important information regarding the aftermath of the Battle of Metropolis. As powerful as the Justice League was, they had no control over the internal politics of the United States, so this result was, like he thought earlier, expected.

Superman still found it surreal that the government allowed this cruelty to stand in the first place. Didn't they realize that what they were doing was against everything that America stood for, especially freedom and human rights? Was their lack of control and fear of beings like him truly enough to justify kidnapping and experimenting on metahumans and aliens, to create some sort of 'anti-Justice League'?

In some ways, Kal-El could understand. Compared to him, a human was just… so weak and fragile. They were practically powerless if he ever went rogue. But there lied the problem now, didn't it? Did he have more right to live compared to an average human, just because he could lift the entire planet or fly faster than a photon? Of course not. All life is precious, yet only a few people seem to feel the same way as he, unfortunately. Sometimes he wished he could just snap his fingers and make the world realize that happiness, trust and kindness were far more important than power. That is what the Justice League tried to represent by helping those in need. It was important that the world could trust in them again, and that they have the people's best interests at heart. In order to do that, some secrets were needed to be addressed. Today, the truth of the Demon Angels would come to light.

And it was something the world wasn't going to like.

Kal-El still remembered that time when they first appeared vividly. How could he not? Literally the entire planet was under attack by a malevolent god by the name of Darkseid. It was humanity's darkest hour in at least two thousand years, yet so suddenly two rays of golden light came out of nowhere and gave the world a fighting chance to banish back the darkness. For five years, the League led the world to believe that they were angels containing God's demonic wrath and desire for justice, but in reality they were the same as Kal.

They were aliens, a race called the Saiyans. From what they had shown, they were more powerful than a solar-powered Kryptonian.

Superman was sure that Amanda had already figured out that there was nothing 'divine' about them when she managed to capture one to experiment on. There was simply nothing Superman could do to prevent it. Had he not been fighting Helspont back then, he could've helped him. Now, they had to do this legally.

Well, mostly legally.

It was hypocritical, but some things just had to be done in secrecy. Batman's squadron of youngsters was currently infiltrating Belle Reve to secure the Saiyan and while they're at it, every other innocent meta and alien that is being contained there. If the world found out, the League would be put under even higher scrutiny, but it was a necessary step to take to ensure Earth's survival.

Because as noble the two Saiyans had sounded initially, one of them seemed far from it.

Superman could hardly believe it when Hal Jordan showed him the hacked footage he acquired from one of the yellow rings of one of the Sinestro Corps members. It showed a battle of a massive yellow alien warlord fighting one of the Saiyan warriors. In reality, it wasn't even a battle. It was a one-sided onslaught.

Superman knew the warlord himself. His name was Mongul, the supreme monarch of a planetary-sized warship known as 'Warworld'. He wielded a Yellow Lantern Ring that was not under Sinestro's authority; they had been at odds for as long he could remember. Superman once fought the behemoth, and if not for the help of some of the League's own powerhouses, he would've been defeated as well.

Seems like the Saiyan did not need any help at all.

In the aftermath of the battle, Mongul had lost both his legs and his left arm, while the Saiyan sustained no injury whatsoever. Surprisingly, he had left the humbled monarch alive and Warworld mostly intact, before disappearing into the vastness of space. Currently, the massive warship is being run by the tyrant's son, while he's being cared for by his private doctors, desperately trying to stay alive. The reason why one of the Saiyans even decided to venture into the heart of a place as dangerous as Warworld was still being researched by the Corps, but Hal and Superman generally had an idea as to why.

And it was something Diana had been searching for months.

Mongul's Warworld was full of advanced weaponry and artefacts, be it physical or magical in nature. The fact that he might've had one of those golden glowing spheres was plausible. Bruce had asked one of his old 'allies' to research the golden glowing orb when Diana had brought it to the watchtower, and she found out that the ball acted as some sort of conduit and was practically useless without others of its kind. This could only mean one thing.

Sooner rather than later, the Saiyans would come back here, just like five years ago.

As much as he hated to say it, for he was grateful for their help in the past, the Saiyans were too much of an enigma to truly trust. Besides that, Mongul's humiliation served as a fiery omen of a potential fate of the Earth and its inhabitants when they find out their kin was being experimented on while they were initially searching for that golden sphere. Nothing that Superman knew of could stop their onslaught, not even the combined might of Earth's heroes.

Superman wasn't naïve; legally trying to convince the government to free the Saiyan would take far too long. It was simply not worth the risk. He still did not like it, but it simply had to be done.

While the Man of Steel kept staring at the warm and inviting sun with those thoughts lingering in his mind, his earpiece suddenly started to beep.

"Superman, this is Batman calling in. The 'meeting' is starting shortly." The stoic voice of his best friend echoed throughout the com. Superman sighed deeply, before replying.

"I'm coming, give me a few seconds."

With hardly a second to spare, Superman started to descend. With an incredible display of speed, he landed quickly, yet gracefully on the pavement just in front of the United States Capitol. His heart filled up with slight wonder upon seeing the massive, white, neoclassical building. Just like when he was a child and went on a school trip there.

All around him, he heard people chanting his name. Some even insulted him, but when he looked at their direction, they quickly looked away. Sometimes, Superman truly felt like an outcast. As much as he tried to remain by his human values, things like this always reminded him that he was just an alien trying to be different.

As Superman shook his head at his dreary thoughts and walked up the steps towards the Capitol, he was greeted by something that had become all too familiar when these two were together.

"I'm sorry Steve, but what we had… it is not working anymore." A beautiful woman wearing a tiara stated to a broad man. Crystal clear blue eyes looked on rather difficultly as she brushed her raven hair with her hand. She was wearing a red, sleeveless breastplate outlined with silver, and a blue leotard. Her legs were almost fully exposed, with the exception of knee high steel boots. On her belt, she had a sword sheathed and a golden lasso. She was Diana of Themyscira, better known as Wonder Woman to the outside world.

"Diana…" The man she was talking to replied with downcast eyes. He was wearing a black military suit, with lots of different medals of service embedded on his chest. He too, brushed his hair, which was colored a light blond. His eyes were the same color as Diana, a vibrant blue.

When they noticed Superman approach, the two immediately forced a reassuring smile towards him.

"Ah Kal, good of you to come." Diana replied as she gave him a quick hug.

"I'm heading inside the Capitol, I'll see you both soon." The Amazon immediately stated as she walked away. Superman quickly turned back towards the person known as Steve, who sighed heavily.

"I don't know what to do, Superman. I-I can't seem to get over her, but every advance I make falls on deaf ears. She just wants to be good friends, but I don't know if I can do that."

Superman could only sympathize with that. Love was just… difficult. He himself didn't even know what his relationship with Lois was. She was completely fangirling over 'Superman', yet was the best friend of 'Clark Kent'. He had been desiring a relationship with her, but how would she react if she realized that her 'crush' and 'best friend' were the same person?

"I can't help you with that, Mr. Trevor. I have some problems of my own as well. I can talk to Diana about it, if you wish, but her heart hasn't been in the right place for a long time." Superman answered as he and Steve slowly walked towards the Capitol building.

"What do you mean? Wait, is she still thinking about…" Steve began, to which Clark nodded.

"Their disappearance does not sit well with her, and ever since she heard of A.R.G.U.S. holding one of their species in captivity, she's been hell-bent on getting him out. Whatever her feelings are, only she knows. She's always been the most mysterious of us, despite valuing honesty and the truth. Hmm, maybe that's how it is." Superman ended with a thought.

"What are you implying?" Steve questioned as he and Clark turned around upon suddenly hearing many of the guards readying their weapons. Mentally Clark sweatdropped at the display in the distance.

"Maybe she doesn't know what to feel herself, and is trying to find out. You go ahead and talk to the rest of the League, I'll deal with this." Superman ended as he rushed towards the scene.

"Let me go right now, I have every right to be here!" A woman in a tight, purple pencil skirt and matching blouse growled as she was being restrained by two heavily-armored guards.

"Gentlemen, I'll take it from here." Superman ushered in kindly as the guards turned to the Man of Steel.

"Is she speaking the truth, Superman?" One of them asked, to which Lois snorted.

"Yes, miss Lane is speaking true. She's given special permission to attend the meeting. Thank you for guiding her towards me." Clark stated with his signature smile, to which the two guards nodded. Quickly, Superman dragged Lois towards the Capitol, while also starting to speak.

"Lois, if you wanted to come, why didn't you just ask me to bring you here? Saved you the hassle of forcing yourself through the massive crowd." Superman sighed as Lois momentarily stopped to place her hands on her hips, an angry frown on her beautiful face.

"I tried to call my friend Clark, because he had the invite with him that ensured us access towards the Capitol. The bastard never answered his phone…" Lois growled. Superman almost gulped, but remembered to stay in character.

"Hmm, let me speak to your friend later." Superman stated with a forced smile.

"You better, because his lateness annoys me to no end! Maybe you can talk some sense into him, you at least, arrive just in time." Lois smiled admirably.

"Yeah…" Superman chuckled sheepishly as the two appeared before a handsome man who was as tall as Superman.

"Good day, Miss Lane." The man greeted as his blue eyes stared deeply into the reporter's.

"Good day to you too, Mister Wayne." Lois replied, not being swayed in the slightest. She knew damn well that this man, with his sleek black hair and vibrant blue eyes was known for his womanizing charms. Instead of talking to the man, she quickly took notes of her surroundings and the many different people that were led into the Capitol.

"Ah Lois, would it be all right if I talk to mister Wayne in private?" Superman asked as he shook the man's hand.

"Don't leave me waiting for too long, boys." Metropolis' most famous reporter replied as she headed inside on her own, with Superman and Mister Wayne slowly following behind her, not keeping up with her pace. The two watched as Lois eventually started to interview a few of the people here, before finally starting their conversation.

"We have a problem, Kal." Bruce whispered as the two headed into one of the quiet corridors to talk.

"Waller's not there yet?" Superman asked as Bruce shook his head.

"Your children are bickering more than saving the innocent metas and aliens at Belle Reve?" Superman then asked, to which Bruce sighed.

"Don't remind me, but no. All is going fine, as of now. The problem lies here." Bruce stated as he showed Superman camera footage of the meeting chamber on his phone. Someone immediately stuck out. He was sitting at the front, next to Amanda Waller and the alien known as Wraith.

"What is Lex Luthor doing here?!" Superman hissed as the two headed out of the corridor to head towards the meeting.

"I fear that tempers are going to rise with him sitting there. Waller's got guts for getting him out of prison just for this moment." Bruce growled as the two finally arrived in front of the massive door where the stage was set.

Superman still remembered vividly how Lex manipulated things to gain favour from Brainiac, just before the time Darkseid attacked. He has been in prison for his treachery ever since, but it seems Waller managed to get him out just for this occasion. Superman's odds of a successful plea to shut down Belle Reve's laboratory were practically non-existent now, so now the biggest responsibility fell on Batman.

"Bruce, you do realize that if this goes wrong, they will hold you as the scapegoat?" Superman finally asked as the two watched Lois Lane approach.

"I know." Batman simply replied as they shook each other's hands to pretend they did not know each other well.

"Are you done?" Lois asked as she arrived next to the two, her notebook already full of theories, thoughts and general notes.

"Let's get inside." Superman replied as he opened the door of the chamber. Immediately uncountable eyes turned towards the three across the entire senate chamber. Superman could easily pick out the relieved smiles of his Justice League colleagues. Aquaman was with his red-haired wife Mera. The Flash was accompanied one of Central City's most prominent reporters: a brunette named Iris West. Green Lantern had one of his human colleagues from the corps with him, an Afro-American named John Stewart, who was also an architect and a retired soldier. Even Cyborg was here, together with his father.

Superman's gaze then shifted towards the rest of the crowd. He could pick out wealthy businessmen like Oliver Queen (who was actually Green Arrow), Michael Holt and even someone as notorious as Oswald Cobblepot. Many United Nations officials were here as well, as well as highly placed military officials such as General Sam Lane; to Clark usually known as Lois' father who disliked his 'Superman' persona greatly. Before long, however, his eyes got fixated on the trio of people who were already sitting at the defendant side of the room.

As Superman headed towards the front to take his seat at the complainant side, where Diana and Steve were already sitting, he kept his gaze firmly plastered on a smirking Lex Luthor. The bald man was still in his prison suit, with cuffs on and under heavy security, but that did not make him any less dangerous. Then, the Man of Steel's gaze momentarily shifted towards the being known as Wraith. In a way, Superman could certainly understand why he would be mistaken for Darkseid's son. The fury inside the alien's gaze was almost the same, but the color of his skin was just slightly odd. Darkseid didn't have orange colored energy in the form of a star on his chest either.

When Superman turned to Amanda Waller, he was surprised to see her looking rather nervous. She usually looked cold and calculating. Did she know that Batman's sidekicks were infiltrating her Base of Operations? Another thing that he found strange was the fact that Amanda looked surprisingly fit. The last time he saw her in person, she was close to morbid obesity. It was almost as if she looked and acted like a completely different person.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats."

Superman immediately looked in front of him to see the president of the United States sitting on the spot which the senate chairman usually took. This man, unlike his predecessor, was a more progressive person when it came to the U.S. and its affairs both domestic and international. He was accompanied by his vice president and secretary of defence. He complied with the man's request, and proceeded to sit between Steve and Diana, the former looking nervous while the rather kept her fierce gaze directed at Wraith.

"Why is Lex Luthor here?" Steve hissed as Superman momentarily looked behind him to see Bruce Wayne playing with his phone at the back of the room, probably directing orders at his 'children'.

"Amanda probably bought him out for a day, just for this occasion." Superman then replied, "Logically, because most people are bound to lose a confrontation of wits with him."

"Then why's Batman not here?" Steve asked urgently as he scratched his head.

"Don't worry, Steve. Batman's here, just not in the way you expect him to be. Besides, we don't need him to speak. I'm sure that we can sort this out ourselves." Diana answered confidently.

"Indeed. I've dealt with Luthor before. I probably know him better than anyone." Superman ended as he turned his gaze at the president, who slammed his wooden hammer on his desk table and motioned everyone to focus on him.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming to this… unique occasion. This day will be the most important one in the history of not only the United States of America, but the whole world as well. It is up to both parties to set aside their differences to ensure a brighter future to us all, one where barriers between humans, metahumans and aliens do not exist." The President stated as he addressed everyone inside the room. Everyone remained quiet as the president did his speech, except for one. It was merely a snort, but that made the entire room tense up.

"Mr. Luthor, is there anything that you would like to share with us before we begin?" The President asked gravely, while Luthor waved his hand rather dismissively at him.

"Oh, just that the idea of a nation where super-powered individuals who destroy property, works of wonder and even lives on a whim can coexist with general humans is utter farce. But please, do continue." Lex Luthor answered with a yawn as many accusatory glances were subsequently directed at him.

"Thank you for your optimism, Mr. Luthor. It seems that your days in prison has given you a much brighter outlook on life." The president replied with a bemused tone. Superman smiled slightly at that. At least the president seemed genuine at trying to end this predicament peacefully.

"Now, Superman, I believe you have something to share about our golden saviours from five years ago, something that you weren't ready to share until now." The president ended steadfastly as he motioned towards Superman to stand up.

"Well, here we go…" Steve muttered as Superman began to speak up…

---

~Belle Reve, Louisiana~

While the entire world held its breath as the most powerful man on the planet opened up about the League's biggest held secret, an experienced individual in the arts of stealth was quietly navigating through the air vents of a certain underground facility. The lawsuit that attracted the most powerful and influential beings on the planet was the perfect distraction, one that would give this man and his co-workers just enough time to prevent hypothetical disaster. The mission he was assigned to was arguably the most important one in the history of human life. If this failed, it could be the end of this planet as well.

Although this person, clad in a black bodysuit containing a symbol of a blue bird on his chest, a blue face mask, and an utility belt containing various different gadgets, was completely focused on the mission and understanding of the potential threat, most of his colleagues were less so.

"Guys, look at your bat-watches! Daddy's messaged us!"

"One more ridiculing sentence and I'll cut off your tongue, Todd."

"Take that back you meanie, or I'll tell daddy!"

"TODD! I'll fucking-"

"Guys, stop fighting, we need you focused."

"Red Robin's right. Red Hood, stop patronizing, and Robin, watch your language."

"Ugh, guys! Sort this out later and focus on the mission!"

Nightwing, more commonly known as Richard 'Dick' Grayson, sighed as a growl from Barbara, a.k.a. Batgirl came through the com. Usually he was the one who made the annoying jokes during tense situations, but the insidiousness of this mission was far too important to ignore.

Looking at his 'bat-watch', Nightwing quickly read the message his mentor gave him.

"Well, I guess the importance of our mission just spiked, guys. How did Waller manage to free Lex Luthor?"

"American bureaucracy at its finest." Batgirl replied dejectedly.

"Can't we just put a bullet through that guy's head?"

"For once I agree with the black sheep."

"Let's kill your grandfather too while we're at it."

"That's it Todd, I will slam every single tooth out of your revolting mouth with a crowbar after this is over!"

"Not this again…" Dick could hear Red Robin, or Tim Drake, sigh as Red Hood and Robin were at it again for the umpteenth time.

"Guys, if you don't focus now, I'll spoil the next Game of Thrones episode." Dick replied towards everyone. Immediately he heard the desired response.

"That's low, Dick." Red Hood growled, also known as Jason Todd.

"You will not, Grayson. Counter-measures will be applied if you-"

"Everyone, shut up and focus!"

Dick winced as Batgirl's screech echoed through his earpiece. Still, it was a good thing because everyone remained quiet as of now. Dick quickly used the time to navigate through the dark vents. It was a tight fit, but as a gymnast this felt more or less the same as walking through a two-meter tall door.

"Nightwing, where are you now?" Batgirl asked as Nightwing opened his holographic map.

"Close to the prison cells it seems. My biorhythmic scanners don't show any guards in here at all. Thought this place was going to be protected better than this." Dick answered as he peaked through one of the openings. The halls were eerily white, just like those secret laboratories you usually see in movies about extra-terrestrials.

"Most of A.R.G.U.S.'s security is currently at the Capitol. Still see a few droids here and there, though, so be careful. I've locked on to your signal, so I can open any doors and disable any cameras and traps while you're on your way." Barbara replied as Dick slipped through one of the openings and scanned the hall for any stray guards. When he realized that the coast was clear, he jumped towards the floor. Like a cat, he landed gracefully and quietly on his four limbs and quickly scanned the doors for sudden activity. Nightwing was glad to have someone as talented and amazing as Barbara watching his back through the security systems. She and Tim managed to hack through the advanced security protocols of this underground facility in less than 30 minutes, which was absolutely insane. Unfortunately, Belle Reve's security system was constantly being overwritten and rebooted by its AI, forcing Tim and Barbara to remain at the Batcave to prevent countermeasures from the hacked system. They didn't like the lack of fieldwork, but it was a necessary burden.

As Nightwing moved through the white halls, he eventually picked up something peculiar. In front of him stood a massive titanium door, and his scanner told him of strange activity.

"There's something behind this door. Can you open it?" Nightwing asked quietly as he grabbed one of his escrima sticks, just in case.

"Just a minute, had to disable a few androids due to Jason and Damian not being careful enough. Their constant bickering has almost compromised the mission!" Barbara answered through the com with a growl.

As the titanium door slid open, Nightwing immediately took in the rows upon rows of specialized prison cells, containing various alien species and metahumans. There was one particular prison that gained his immediate attention, however.

It was only a small cell, containing an orange-skinned alien, wrapped in a tight metal incubator. It seemed to be female, considering the sizable bust and wide hips. Her hair was long and wavy, colored a darker orange that turned a fiery red towards the tip. Her eyes were lime-green in coloration, but looked so distant. She didn't seem to be fully conscious. When he looked into those eyes, something inside his brain clicked.

"Kori…" He muttered in disbelief. This alien… for some reason, vague memories started to flourish inside his mind, but he couldn't place it. He could remember her warm and inviting personality, her hot and sultry lips licking and nibbling at his exposed body, her fiery heart that burned with love… but at the same time, this woman felt as much as a stranger to him as all the other aliens and metas floating in their tubes.

"Kori?"

Dick froze up when Batgirl's voice rung in his ears. Did he just say that out loud?

"A-a friend, she was a friend of mine, but she suddenly disappeared some time ago. I now know where she's been all this time." Dick answered as he kept his gaze on the dormant alien.

"I'm sorry Dick, but you need to secure the Saiyan first. I know it's hard for you…"

"I know Babs, I know." Nightwing answered as he shut down his com again. After a few minutes of silence, he could hear footsteps heading his way. His scanner immediately told him that it was someone he knew, so he remained at ease.

"Fuck, what did they do to you, Kori?" Sounded the heavy voice of Jason through his mask as he walked up to Dick, his eyes focussing completely on the orange-skinned alien.

Nightwing could clearly 'see' the grimace coming from his adopted brother, despite him wearing his signature crimson facemask. His attire consisted of his usual gear; a black suit with Kevlar plating containing a red bat symbol, and a leather jacket. Two pistols hung on his utility belt, containing only rubber bullets. Nightwing knew Red Hood didn't like that, but those were Batman's rules if he wanted to partake in this mission.

"You know her?" Dick asked curiously. Jason put off his mask to eye his adopted brother with an angry glint in his eyes.

"Yeah, she saved my life a few years back. Roy and I have been hanging out with her for some time, but that stopped ever so suddenly. We thought she went back to the stars, but that couldn't be further from the truth." Jason growled as he was quickly losing his cool.

"Fuck this, Dick! Why do we always have to 'abide' by the rules?! They tortured her, experimented on her! Why can't we just put a bullet through Waller's head and be done with it?!"

Dick quickly shook his head as Jason angrily slammed his fist against the glass.

"That's not going to deliver the justice we seek, Jay, and it will only complicate this already delicate matter. I think helping Kori through this would be the best course of action, and far more rewarding as well. Come on, let's find Damian."

The two continued to venture through the eerily white halls, bypassing numerous other dormant prisoners. Nightwing could recognize most of them from the files he read, but it seemed that A.R.G.U.S. had so many more prisoners that didn't have biological profiles.

Eventually, another set of titanium doors blocked their path. Clearly he could hear fighting coming from behind it, so he immediately grabbed his escrima sticks, while Jason pulled his pistols from his belt.

"There's someone out there behind these doors, Batgirl. Can you open them?" Nightwing asked quickly as he readied himself.

Before he knew it, the titanium doors slid open, revealing a familiar person standing proudly on top of a broken android.

"As always, the best child has to do all the dirty work." Robin stated smugly as he dusted the small scraps of metal from his colourful red, green, yellow and black suit.

"Not everything's a game, Robin. We're in this together." Dick replied as he stepped over the other various droids and scanned the room. Lots of experimental setups stood haphazardly all around the room, as well as a big supercomputer in one of the corners. Dick was rather certain that this was the laboratory.

"Can't fault a squirt for not knowing. I mean, he's still only a toddler."

"Funny, because as far as I know, I wasn't the one with temper tantrums regarding his momma, which eventually resulted into an unfortunate death."

Nightwing almost smacked his head in frustration when he heard Red Hood and Robin bickering again. In response, he clicked on his com and started to speak.

"Tim, Babs, they're at it again."

No words needed to be said again, because before he knew it the two skilled vigilantes fell to the ground, clutching their ear in pain.

"Alright, alright! I'll stop!"

"Stop this heinous act right now, Gordon!"

Nightwing could not help but laugh as Red Hood and Robin writhed on the ground. Every time they had a mission together, they would argue and bicker with each other. Maybe knowing that Barbara could just bombard them with high-frequency sound waves would shut them up for some time.

"Fucking hell, that hurt…" Jason moaned as he brushed the small bits of dust from his leather jacket and black Kevlar suit rather irately.

"This punishment is certainly not worth the effort to slid Todd's throat…" Damian muttered in his colourful red, green, yellow and black suit.

"You guys had it coming, you know." Nightwing answered smugly, to which Damian snorted.

"This wouldn't have happened if Todd remembered my superiority over the likes of you all." The young vigilante growled as he begrudgingly made various samples of whatever biological material he could find around the room.

"Serves you right. Now, focus on the mission. Nightwing, can you give us a sitrep? What do you see?" Both Barbara and Tim asked simultaneously.

"Lots of different experimental setups and notebooks. I can see a highly advanced spectrograph and schematics of some sort of android they're building. No sign of the Saiyan yet, though." Nightwing replied as he headed towards Jason, who was busy admiring a broadsword.

"Alright, we'll try to hack through the main computer's software. Keep us updated when you find something." Barbara replied as Nightwing arrived at Jason's side.

"This is the alien's sword, right?" Red Hood asked as his gloves glided over the blade's ridge.

"Looks like it. Kind of surprises me that an alien uses a broadsword that looks similar to the ones you have on Earth."

"Not only that, look at the tip of the blade. It is grinded into a diamond shape and the guard has a habaki, which the European broadswords don't have." Damian answered as he arrived next to the two. It kept surprising Nightwing how knowledgeable he was for a ten year old.

"Why the hell does an alien as powerful as he need a sword at all? I mean, it's kinda redundant if you can just blow shit up." Jason mused as he decided to grab the sword and started swinging with it.

"Red Hood! Be careful with that!" Both Dick and Damian hissed.

"What? It's not like I'm gonna break it. I'm trained with blades too you know." Jason answered dismissively as he held his two adopted brothers at bay by pretending to be an expert swordsman.

"Hmm, the sword's heavier than I expected it to be though. The metal might not even be from Earth-huh?"

Dick almost tried to pry the blade away from Jason, before his biorhythmic scanners picked up strange signals. Immediately after, his com started to beep.

"Nightwing, you and the rest need to scatter now! We've found sudden activity from behind the titanium door you just went through. Waller knows you're there." Red Robin hissed to the com. Dick chuckled grimly at that.

"I just realized that… We've got the Suicide Squad on our hands now." Dick answered grimly as he watched the huge titanium doors opening, revealing a foursome of extremely dangerous criminals.

"Ah, the Bat-brats! Mah favourite males besides Mistah J and Bat-daddy! I've missed y'all!"

The trio of vigilantes immediately tensed up as Harley Quinn's shill cackle echoed throughout the laboratory, while puffing her pearly-white cheeks up as she shed a tear of pseudo-happiness. She was accompanied by a man in a skin-tight armored suit that was gray and red in coloration, with a helmet containing a crimson visor. Dick knew that man as Deadshot, one of Batman's recurring foes. He had faced this man before as well, and knew that his boasts about being the best marksman on the planet were not without sufficient bite.

But those two felt like small fry compared to the behemoths who stood behind them. One was a giant of a man with a ginger mane by the name of Mammoth, while the other one was a monstrous anthropomorphic hammerhead known as King Shark. Dick wasn't sure whether he could win this one, especially since they were outnumbered.

"Well, the feeling's not exactly mutual. I'd rather cleave you in half with this…" Jason growled dangerously, while clutching the broadsword even tighter in his hand. Damian seemed to be on the same page as Jason, because he grabbed a rather sharp batarang from his pocket that reminded Dick more of a shuriken than a boomerang. He wasn't going to complain now though, because the odds were stacked against them.

"Aww, ya hurt me! What would Mistah J say about that? Something about Robins and crowbars, probably…" Harley Quinn asked, feigning a whimper. Dick quickly placed a reassuring hand on his brother, knowing full well the torment he was going through.

"Why doesn't it surprise me that Waller knew we were coming?" Dick sighed as he grabbed his escrima sticks.

"'If you want to beat the Bat, think like the Bat', is what she said to us. Only he would send his children to do something as stupid as infiltrating Belle Reve at a time like this. I somehow feel sorry for you that he's not here himself to see you die." Deadshot replied, while pointing his wrist-gun at Dick.

"Do not be fooled by your superior numbers, Deadshot. We've bested you lot before, we can easily do it again. Brainless muscle isn't going to make things any different for us." Robin ended as he was almost ready to throw his batarang at them, but something stopped him.

"What in the demon's name…" The youth gasped, trying to keep himself balanced as the ground started to rumble.

"Damn it, I don't like where this is going…" Deadshot growled as he turned towards the titanium on the other side of the room.

"How to explain this to Batman…" Dick chuckled nervously as two bald scientists ran out of the door, where a golden shimmer started to turn brighter and brighter…

---

~United States Capitol, Washington D.C.~

The entire room turned eerily quiet when Superman ended his speech. Nobody dared to make a comment, or utter a whisper, even. There was one man however, who broke the ice with a haughty chuckle.

"Oh, this is rich! I can hardly believe the words coming out of your mouth! Allow me to sum up your sentimental oration, 'Man of Steel', because I believe that everyone deserves to know what you're truly implying." Lex Luthor began as he dared to stand up. Even though he was still in his prison jumpsuit and wearing handcuffs, nobody underestimated the danger this man was, especially not Superman.

"For five long, arduous years, you and your Justice League members have been withholding information of the highest importance regarding the safety of the Earth, by allowing the lie of these 'Saiyans' being God's angels of vengeance to spread, while knowing that they were never here to serve as our noble protectors?"

Superman mentally winced at the accusatory looks he was given. It infuriated him how Luthor's words could cut so deep and how powerless he currently was to it.

"And now you're also claiming, for the very first time I might add, that you are not sure whether you're able to protect this planet whenever one of them or someone just as powerful decides to invade it?" Luthor added with a condescending glint in his eye. Clark could only watch in silence as Amanda Waller could not contain her excitement.

"And yet you continue to advocate for them, knowing full well the extent of their destructive habits? You're one hypocritical fool, aren't you? You want A.R.G.U.S. to open up on its internal affairs, while you keep this kind of information hidden from the world as well! What else are you hiding, Superman?!" Alexander Luthor barked, his eyes twinkling as his focus was completely set on Kal-El.

"Let me remind you of something that should've been emblazed into your brain ever since you first started to surface as humanity's 'hero'," Luthor growled as he walked towards Superman and stood head to head, a never ending smirk on his face.

"You're not humanity's tomorrow, you're its doom! When have we ever witnessed a better tomorrow since you and those other self-proclaimed 'heroes' showed up and disrupted the status quo? Homicides have tripled globally, far more destructive terroristic acts have been committed across the globe by metas and aliens that used your first act as an incentive to take matters into their own hands, and the world has been enduring a second Cold War ever since the Justice League had been formed! Did you know how many countries disagreed with the formation of your superhero groupie? Most of the hotspot countries such as Qurac, Markovia, Russia and Kahndaq have openly shown their disapproval of such an act, seeing it as a threat coming from American soil! They're certainly not wrong! They do not want you there, yet you run rampant on their grounds without their permission, believing to be higher than their laws and constitution!" Luthor accused as he pricked his finger right on Superman's 'S' symbol.

"And you know what the sad thing is? The heroes we needed to deal with the vermin, have only caused them to grow. A lot of the people's taxes even go to you and your cause, but the results of your endeavours are even less than disappointing. What have you done in the five years that you were at power, other than letting criminals loose on the world that you were supposed to deal with? What happened with lunatics such as 'The Joker', or 'The Parasite'? You 'repel' their crimes by putting them in prison, but how many times have they escaped? Your actions only fuel a never ending cycle of containment and freedom, with innocent lives as its fuel. At least Miss Waller's A.R.G.U.S. division literally 'deals' with them, by making those inmates work for their freedom, and to make sure that they can't take another innocent life." Luthor ended with a hint of superiority in his voice, before heading back to his seat. This gave Waller the incentive to speak up.

"Clearly, Mr. President, The Justice League is not up to the task of making this world safer. I think it is fair to suggest to disband them for the time being, and let A.R.G.U.S. take over these dangerous operations-"

Before Waller could end her sentence, the most foreign individual in this building spoke up with a gaze that wasn't frequently seen on her beautiful face.

"Is that how the world mostly sees us? Are we truly considered humanity's doom? Do we incite the worst in you? Are we really the monsters you claim to be, just because we do not always act in ways that are profitable to your own agenda?" The Woman of Wonder spoke, her voice brimming with various wavelengths of emotion. She narrowed her eyes when Luthor leaned back in his seat, ridiculing her with merely an uninterested gaze.

"Do you desire proof, Diana of Themyscira? Look at the protests all around the world. The world is fed up with the lack of improvements, and rightfully so. The Justice League is an utter joke." Luthor answered with a smirk. Some people dared to laugh quietly at that, but Diana wasn't someone who could lose her conviction so easily.

"When I was a girl, I often asked my mother about how the outside world looked like, and what kind of people lived there. Being as old as she was, I was certain that she was full of stories of wonder. I desperately wanted to hear stories of true love, enduring hope, boundless courage, righteous justice and most important of all: peace…" Diana began. She could clearly hear the hushed whispers, or snickers from the people around her, but she continued on.

"Many times I've asked her why Themyscira, my home, was surrounded by a magical barrier, separated from the outside world. Why did my sisters want to split themselves from what they called 'Man's World'? A name they spat with more potent venom than even the Hydra's fangs could concoct. She always answered me with a story from one of the various cultures of the outside world that are and had once been. I not only heard of stories of the ancient Greeks, Egyptians and Romans, but also from civilizations who lived incredibly far away from my home, such as Mayans, Incas and Aztecs. I've often wondered why she always answered that way, with a story that felt so far from the truth I sought. There was one time where it angered me so much that I demanded an explanation. She told me that I was missing the underlying themes."

Diana looked at everyone in the room, her eyes sparing no one from her gaze, before she turned back to Luthor.

"Do you know what her answer was, Mister Luthor? Do you know what its recurring themes were?"

"Enlighten me, please?" Luthor enquired with snide. Diana could only shake her head at that.

"Human cruelty and greed, Mister Luthor. There was not a single civilization that could live in peace with each other. Wars, needless violence and overall cruelty were the underlying terms of a societies that pretended to strive for peace. The United States, in all its glory, is founded by principals of cruelty. Slaves, wars, weapons of mass destruction… You, in all your narcissistic glory, are a prime example of the heartless and greedy nature of men." Diana stated with clear disappointment in her face.

"How dare y-" Luthor began as he stood up, but Diana's commanding bellow thoroughly overshadowed Luthor's own charismatic voice.

"You are no better than the people you insult and condemn, Luthor. I daresay, you're even worse! You sold us to an alien overlord, used unwilling subjects to experiment your latest 'medicine' on and you sold numerous weapons towards nations such as Qurac! Not to mention the constant assaults you committed on someone as kind and wonderful as Superman, just because he tries to make a difference. Yet, you dare blame us on the violence that has been happening all over the world, because you believe we're not doing our jobs correctly? Because we do not kill needlessly, or worse, experiment on criminals or even innocent people? Because we strive for peace, instead of more violence? Because we do not act as judge, jury and executioner on your terms? As an Amazon, I enjoy fighting, but I will not use my powers and skills to fuel the desires of evil men and women who tolerate this true injustice, just because their hearts are too afraid to trust in a united planet, and rather desire absolute power! Unlike you, I want to empathize with someone's actions. It might not condone their crimes, but everyone deserves a second chance in my eyes." Diana ended steadfastly as she started to address the entire crowd.

"The Saiyans, although as mysterious and insidious as the dark waters of the river Styx, did not come here to claim this planet, as Waller tried to spread. They were here, because a true monster destroyed their homes, murdered their families and destroyed their planet! Instead of fighting for vengeance, however, they decided that protecting this planet was more important to them. A planet which was entirely unfamiliar to them. A selfless act, one I will always hold dearly into my heart."

Diana closed her eyes for a moment, while placing her hand on her heart, before opening her eyes again.

"Are we truly that cold to deny them the joy and hope they desperately need by enslaving one of their own kin, and using him selfishly as a soldier?" Diana stated as her eyes hardened towards Waller.

"Say it, I dare you! We've seen the evidence, so there's no point in hiding it. Those experimentations, they were conducted because you intend to replace us."

It was at this moment that the crowd started whisper loudly with each other. It had been full on the internet the past month when the first pieces of evidence were leaked by Batman and Cyborg about A.R.G.U.S.'s secret asset operations, but now the rumours were truly solidified.

In response towards the accusation, the being known as Wraith stood up, his body slowly starting to glow. Many of the League members stood up, to which many of the A.R.G.U.S. guards under Waller's authority responded by readying their weapons as well. Diana however, merely sighed as she placed her hands on her hips.

"I believe you've just solidified my point." She stated matter of factly, while she gave Wraith an unimpressed look.

Before things could truly get out of hand, someone opened his commanding voice.

"Stop this now, instantly!" Steve Trevor roared, while standing up himself, before eyeing the president with a determined look on his face.

"Mr. President, may I ask my colleague some questions?" He asked as politely as possible, while turning towards the woman who had always been a thorn in his side at A.R.G.U.S.

"You may, Mister Trevor." The president agreed as he too focused completely on a sweating Waller.

Wasting no time, Steve immediately addressed Amanda.

"Is this true, Amanda? And if so, why was this kept hidden from me? As A.R.G.U.S.'s commanding officer and liaison to the Justice League, I had the right to know! What have you been hiding under Belle Reve!" The old Colonel asked harshly. Waller could only sigh, probably trying her hardest to find the proper words. Superman found it curious that she was getting more nervous by the second, despite her being usually calm and composed.

"Waller, speak now. What in God's name have you been scheming?!" The president inquired as well, fed up by Waller's silence.

"We've been trying to 'encourage' metahumans and extra-terrestrials to protect us from extinction level threats, in exchange of helping them settle down here. We do not want a second Battle of Metropolis after all… And we believed that the League would appreciate our help in making the world safer." Waller eventually answered. One man, clad in a green light started to shine rather brightly as he roared in outrage, while walking towards the front.

"Are you fucking kidding me?! Are you really that much of a coward to confess that you're a heartless piece of shit? 'Encourage', my green ass! I've seen the evidence, Waller. You don't help them, you experiment on them, you torture them!" The Green Lantern, towards his colleagues also known as Hal Jordan, stampeded towards the defendant's table and clearly made his presence known by generating a giant green middle finger. Wraith already started to move slowly out of his seat again, but Hal Jordan was not deterred and intimidated in the slightest.

"A.R.G.U.S. is not lying, Lantern. Take Wraith as an example. I'm sure he's grateful to assist in a good cause. But alas, someone as single-minded and pig-headed as you would never understand. You go and play space cop, handing out fines and whatnot. Let the realists and superior-minded people do the important work." Lex Luthor answered casually. It baffled Superman, and many of the League, at how callous Luthor was in his dismissal of freedom and compassion.

"Really? That's rich, coming from a guy wearing a prison onesie! For someone so confident in his mental capabilities, you are incredibly ignorant of the size of the hole A.R.G.U.S. has dug itself in. Do you even realize what will happen if one of the Saiyans from five years ago finds out that their kin is being imprisoned, while initially thinking that they were the last ones alive?"

"Do you claim me for a fool, Lantern? Of course we know what will happen. Unfortunately for these Demon Angels, Batman isn't the only one with the necessary contingency plans." Luthor answered coolly.

"Wraith can protect us." Waller stated with a nervous sweat. Her behaviour was slowly becoming more odd in Superman's eyes. When he listened in more closely, he could hear a faint beep coming from her watch.

"A wounded, tired individual, maybe, but I've seen how destructive one at full power can be. You heard what Superman stated earlier. We cannot defeat them. Trust me, I would be the last one to accept that if I could see another outcome. This planet's gone for if you do not let him go now." Hal Jordan ended as he shook his head in disbelief.

"Is this true, Superman?" the president eventually asked, to which Superman shook his head.

"We don't know, at least not fully. But Green Lantern is right. Just because we are not certain, it is still not right to keep him, and every other innocent meta and alien captive. I'm optimistic that we can talk this out if-"

Superman's keen senses immediately alerted him of a high pitched sound wave that only he and Wraith could seem to hear. While Wraith looked around in confusion, Kal-El sighed with resignation. It was an alert that was only used when the Watchtower intercepted a potential threat from outer space…

"Superman, what's wrong?" Steve Trevor asked worriedly. Clark eyed him for a small moment in response, before turning to towards a sweating Waller. Lex Luthor seemed to chuckle knowingly, while Wraith stood up.

"Waller, what's happening?" Kal-El demanded as he headed towards Waller rather urgently. Again, various weapons were being readied by the many different people across the room.

"Miss Waller, what are you hiding?! Speak up, now!" the president growled, not in the least threatened by the many powerhouses sitting across the senate chamber.

"S-something just entered the Earth's thermosphere, Mr. President." Waller answered shakily.

"I'll deal with it, Waller." Wraith immediately stated as he launched himself in the air, right through the roof of the Capitol.

"Waller, bring your soldier back right now! I warn you, if he does not come back instantly, I will make sure A.R.G.U.S. pays dearly!" The president roared in outrage, but nobody was able to directly answer when the entire Capitol roof exploded when something was slammed into its exterior.

Superman used his super speed to quickly catch the president from being engulfed by debris, while the Flash rescued the rest of the people inside who did not have superpowers.

"Blast it, we need to act fast!" Aquaman growled as he headed towards Superman, his wife Mera following close behind. Many of the other League members turned towards Superman as well, who only had eyes for the blue-skinned alien who struggled to get upright, before heading back into the skies, disappearing in a flash of red and blue.

"They're back…" Diana muttered quietly.

"At the worst possible time, yes. Everyone, we need to head to Belle Reve this instant."

The six Justice League members quickly turned around to see Batman, all geared up, addressing them.

"Because the asset has woken up as well." Batman ended as the League and their allies turned towards a coughing president being supported by the Man of Steel.

"I cannot trust A.R.G.U.S, so once again I need to call for your aid. If what you said is true, this planet's existence is on the line. Please save us from annihilation."

From Superman to Cyborg, all of the League members nodded vigorously, before immediately setting out to prevent potential disaster.

---

~Belle Reve, Louisiana~

An unnatural darkness moved ominously around a muscled individual, who stood there silently, holding a broadsword that was splattered with blood. The person did not feel, nor care about the black and purple strings of energy that fluttered around him; his eyes were completely focused on the sword in his hand.

A light-skinned individual with pointy ears and a bright red mohawk on his otherwise bald head stared at him from the place where the youth would normally expected to see his reflection. The man in the sword was smiling joyously, his dark, greenish brown eyes gleaming.

"You're a hero, Trunks. Wherever life takes you, know that I'll always be proud of what you've become." The man stated as his face disappeared back into the blade, revealing the reflection of a lavender-haired youth who couldn't hide his tears.

"Hraaaaahhh!"

With a bone-chilling scream, the man threw the blade at the vast emptiness, never seeing it fall as it got engulfed by the darkness. Subsequently, the man fell on his knees and wept.

"I'm sorry..." The man cried out, watching his own tears disappearing into the darkness as well. It took him a while to steady himself, but when he stopped crying, he felt a warm hand touch his shoulder.

Looking up and behind him, he stared at the violet eyes of a young adolescent girl in a black cloak. A violet bang fell down her face, but the rest of her hair and body were otherwise concealed by a cloak.

"Who was he? He looked like a dear friend, but your heart felt strange when he spoke to you." The girl asked as the man stood up, his blue eyes lacking the vibrancy and confidence he once had.

"H-he was my first real loss. the one that started it all..." The man answered as he stared into the distance.

"But why do I feel-"

"Shame, regret, self-loathing? I wasn't strong enough to help him, so the only way to help him was to take his life."

The cloaked girl stepped back as a wave of golden energy erupted from the youth, his blue eyes turning into a hateful green.

"How could he be proud of me?! What's the point of trying to be stronger if it was never going to make a difference to begin with!" The man raged as he let out a fearsome roar.

The girl, although overwhelmed by the fury and pain the man radiated, started to move towards him determinedly. The golden aura was painful, but she held on steadfastly while trying to ease the man's broken heart. Finally, after a lot of effort, she managed to touch his head to calm him down using her unique powers of empathy.

"Rachel... Why are you doing this? Why are you trying to help me? I lost everything... I've nothing to fight for anymore. Darkseid stole everything I held dear from me..."

For quite some time, Rachel did not answer. The two kept silent for a bit, watching the eternal darkness while in each other's company. Finally, she answered as her violet eyes burned with passion.

"I disagree, Trunks. There's one thing that you still have. Something which your loved ones would make as proud as a peacock. Something that is unique only to you."

Trunks watched as the girl known as Rachel moved away from him. He did not feel compelled to reach out after her, until a beautiful bluish orb of light erupted from her hand.

"This light, Trunks. This, is your greatest power." Rachel ended as she slowly disappeared into the darkness.

"Rachel, Rachel wait! What is that light!" Trunks yelled as he chased after her. Slowly the darkness disappeared as a blinding white light banished it from whence it came...

---

Trunks opened his eyes slowly, feeling the strange embrace of a warm liquid around his naked body. He couldn't see what was in front of him, but he could hear distant voices around him.

"Well, doctor Sivana?"

"Be patient, professor Ivo, the alien is almost ready."

Trunks shook his body slightly, trying to move his extremities. For some reason he couldn't. Even his head was stuck in place. When his eyes stabilized, he could see two individuals staring back at him from behind a green filter. That was when it hit him.

"Ah, the recognition in his eyes, just what I was looking for. Now, let's give his temporal lobe a good shocking."

Trunks hardly realized what was happening to him, until an unbearable pain shook him through his core. Immediately visions of the monsters that destroyed his life cascaded like snapshots through his brain.

"Androids... Cell... Hirudegarn... Darkseid..." The youth snarled as his body started to erupt.

"This... this is incredible! Where the hell is my tablet! These numbers need to be assessed immediately!"

Trunks could hear the excited gasps of the people through the glass, which only made his anger grow. These people, they were forcing him to relive the pieces of his broken heart, just because they felt like experimenting on him! Anger and rage coursed through him as he started to struggle against the bonds that held him, his bloodlust starting to increase exponentially.

"Professor Ivo, we need to shut him down! The tubes are overloading with energy! They can't sustain much more!"

"Nonsense, doctor. This is the only opportunity I have to study him thoroughly, and the data I'm receiving is just perfect! Besides, this was your ide-"

The individual behind the glass never managed to finish his sentence, because a piercing roar from Trunks resulted in an explosion of golden light that broke the bonds and cage that kept him captive. Shards of glass, metal wires and greenish liquid were splattered around the strange white room as Trunks fell on his knees, trying to catch his breath. When he looked up, he saw two bald headed scientists staring at him in shock and moving slightly back.

"You imbecile! I told you-"

"Shut up and get through the door! Lock this place down, now! Call the Suicide Squad!"

Trunks endured great difficulty to bring himself back to a standing position, despite feeling the power of his Super Saiyan transformation coursing through his veins. He watched quietly as the two scientists escaped through the massive metal doors and closed them, his vision red with rage. Trunks immediately tried to go after them, but the insane throbbing in his head stopped him for a moment. He felt fatigued, sluggish and overall burned out, but that could not tame his rage at the way he was being treated. He was going to make them pay.

While thinking that, he quickly shot a ki blast containing as much power as he could muster at the metal doors in front of him, quickly blasting them apart. The moment Trunks stumbled haphazardly through the hole in the door he had created, a panicked voice echoed throughout the room.

"Don't just stand there like imbeciles, constrain the Demon Angel!"

Before Trunks could realize what was happening around him, he saw a massive shark-like creature charging at him. Due to his fatigue and grogginess, he was unable to react as the behemoth slammed into him, sending him back into the room where he was being contained earlier.

"Time to eat!" The being roared as Trunks shook his head in frustration and backhanded the monster into the nearest wall. Flashbacks started to flow into his mind, reminding him that this monster was familiar.

"Red Hood, what are you doing! He's in a delusional state! He'll kill you!"

"Do I look like I care, Nightwing! He can help us save them all, save Kori!"

While Trunks struggled to get up, he heard various shouts coming from the other room. As he focused his eyes, he could see a silhouette going through the smoke. He was ready to defend himself, but instead of being met with an attack, an outstretched hand appeared before him.

"Take my hand! We're here to help!" A man in a black suit and a crimson helmet stated curtly. Trunks wasn't entirely sure who to trust, but his doubts were thrown out of the window when the person put off his helmet momentarily to show his face.

Anger, frustration, helplessness, but also sheer determination and sincerity. That's what Trunks could see inside the man's blue eyes that mirrored his own. He did not hesitate a second longer and grabbed the man's hand, who pulled him back on his shaky feet.

"The name's Red Hood by the way, and I think this is yours. They took our friends too, will you help us?" Red Hood asked as he put his helmet back on and pushed his Brave Sword towards him. Before the two could so much as make a step forward, the monster was already standing and in the process of pummelling them.

"Hrraah!" Trunks immediately yelled in response as a yellow beam of energy slammed into the giant's torso, bringing him down once more.

"I take that as a yes." The Red Hood quipped as he admired the way Trunks seemed to have handled that issue.

Without skipping another beat, the two rushed back into the main laboratory, where Red Hood's compatriots, an adult black and blue spandex, and a child in colourful suit of various colors, were engaging in combat with a woman with pearly-white skin and pigtails, and a man in an armored suit and a crimson visor. Trunks immediately recognized those two from when he fought Wraith. The sharpshooter and the harlequin…

"I will pummel you!" A gruff voice suddenly roared.

Trunks' fierce green eyes immediately locked onto another behemoth who was charging at him; a giant of a man with a ginger mane.

"Get out of the way!" Red Hood yelled, but Trunks pushed him aside instead.

"Hyaah!" Trunks roared in rage, slicing his blade diagonally down on the giant's torso, cutting him apart with ease. The entire room turned quiet as the giant's wails died down to a last gasp. The entire room turned silent upon seeing the brutal display of might, each individual hiding a different expression on their face.

"Damn, why the hell did Waller bring Wraith with her? Could use him right now…" The sharpshooter with the crimson visor growled in frustration, breaking the ice. Trunks' fearsome gaze immediately settled upon him upon hearing the mention of Wraith.

"Aww Deadshot, you made him even angrier by mentioning 'you know who'." The harlequin woman quipped, involuntarily taking a step back as Trunks' aura started to surge. He remembered how he was humbled and ridiculed by that heartless alien, and that made him furious inside. Before he could reach out to the two, the titanium doors across the room opened. The two scientists were scurrying away from the carnage like rabbits running away from a surveying eagle.

"Go get them, we'll take care of these clowns." Red Hood ushered as he joined his other allies into battle, while Trunks rushed towards the doors, tearing them apart with his bare hands as they were about to close in front of him. The moment he took a step forward, his heart almost came to a stop.

Rows upon rows of prisoners, just like him. Tortured, afraid, lonely… He did not need a second longer to hesitate, because before he knew it he was already tearing open each and every cell or tube that came across his way, placing the numerous individuals gently on the ground, but as quickly as he could.

As he continued to tear down the various prisons, one of the prisoners, an orange-skinned woman, fell down on top of him. Trunks almost lost his balance, but held steady as he supported the woman who was a few inches taller than him. Tears were flowing down her beautiful face as lime-green eyes met his fiery ones.

"P-please, no more…" The woman quietly sobbed as Trunks held her tightly for a few moments, his stomach wrenched up in abhorrence as the woman's voice betrayed her anguish.

"Look at me, it's going to be all right…" Trunks muttered as he consoled her, holding her tightly to his battered body.

"I'll be back soon." Trunks growled as he placed the woman gently on the ground and turned towards the door where the scientists had gone through. He didn't want to just kill them anymore. He wanted to annihilate them, torture them while they pleaded for mercy. Mercy he wasn't going to give. What they conducted here was unforgivable in the Saiyan's eyes.

He was almost ready to blast a hole through the metal doors, until his bloodshot eyes caught the sight of one last prison. When he saw who was inside, his bloodlust had vanished immediately, as if it was never there to begin with.

"Rachel…" Trunks immediately gasped as he slammed his fist into the tube, shattering the glass and freeing the unconscious girl. This was the girl from his dream, the one who kept him company to keep the nightmares at bay while he slept endlessly.

"Rachel, please wake up…" Trunks muttered as he gently shook the young woman in his arms, promptly ignoring the haggard breathing of the scientists escaping through another set of doors.

It took a bit of time, but Rachel eventually opened her eyes. In response, Trunks finally showed a small smile.

"T-Trunks?" Rachel asked with a slight cough, while placing a hand on the man's forehead. A rush of calmness washed over the youth, who finally managed to think straight.

"Oh Kami…" Trunks croaked out as he watched his own expression inside the violet eyes of the girl in his arms, appalled at how murderous and vengeful he looked. It caused him to revert back to his base form as he held Rachel close to his chest.

"Kori! What the hell did they do to you?!"

Trunks watched silently as the Red Hood and one of his allies kneeled in front of the orange-skinned woman, who seemed to recognize the two.

"D-Dick? J-Jason? Is it finally over?" The woman asked, her voice quivering. This caused Red Hood, or Jason, to raise his voice in anger at his compatriot.

"Look at her, Dick! Just look at her! They tortured her and left her to rot! I don't care what Batman said. I'm going to punish these fuckers for what they did, and you're not going to stop me."

"Let's just first focus on helping Kori and the others before you start on a killing spree, and stop accusing me of being too soft again, Jason. You're not the only one who wants justice for this atrocity." The person in the black spandex suit and blue eye mask known as Dick answered, while he turned to Trunks. Trunks could clearly see the hesitance this 'Dick' displayed when he approached him, unsure as to whether approaching Trunks was safe. He seemed to ignore his doubts, however and gave a soft, but friendly smile.

"Wow, apart from the lavender hair, you look practically human." He began as Trunks forced himself up and supported Rachel by carrying her in his arms.

"Where am I? Who are you all?" Trunks asked in return, his eyes momentarily focussing on Red Hood holding the orange-skinned woman tightly. The man known as Dick answered solemnly.

"The name's Dick, short for Richard. Usually call myself Nightwing when I'm on a mission though, but I guess Kori already spilled the beans… The little dude in the colourful suit in the back is Robin. Red Hood you already know. You're on a planet called Earth… These people were experimenting on you and your friend. We're here to rescue you and the others. I'm sorry for what they did to you… We'll make it right."

Trunks was visibly shaking upon hearing the name of this planet.

"H-how? Earth got destroyed… by Darkseid!"

Again, the rage started to resurface. Before he blacked out before his capture, he saw his own home being destroyed, so what this Nightwing person said didn't make sense to him.

"T-Trunks, stop, please…" Raven moaned as strings of violet energy danced around her fingertips. Trunks felt another wave of harmony washing over him, but it was only enough to quell his pain for a moment.

"T-thanks for the help. The name's Trunks." Trunks answered as his mind still reeled from the revelation.

"Just doing the right thing, but you're welcome." Nightwing replied courteously as he turned his back to look at the boy known as Robin approaching the group.

"Now what, Nightwing? We can't bring them all with us." The one known as Robin stated as he eyed the freed, but distraught prisoners behind him rather unsurely.

"We have to call the League, tell them that we screwed up. I see no other way." Dick sighed as he put his finger to his ear, pressing at some sort of com device. Before he could even open his mouth to speak, the facility started to rumble. Trunks clutched his head in pain as his fried senses got bombarded by an insane power level that could not be ignored.

"What is happening?!" Nightwing asked urgently as he turned around, seeing the fearful expressions of the many residents of this facility.

"T-This ki…" Trunks gasped in shock, unsure whether his senses were working correctly. This ki was the same as-

"Ki? What do you mean? Who the hell is coming?!" Red Hood asked as Trunks used his blade to keep him at bay.

"Move out of the way, now!" Trunks roared as he shot an invisible blast of ki, pushing Red Hood and the people behind him away, before shielding Rachel as something powerful came down next to him. Trunks let his aura explode when a rain of debris went his way, shielding the others from harm.

"What the hell?" Red Hood gasped as he and the rest stood there bewilderedly at the two beings who appeared from above. A small man clad in a golden light had grabbed the occiput of a blue-skinned alien who was covered in a lava like substance, and pulled him upright.

"W-Wraith? A-and…" Trunks exclaimed, unable to utter the word that started to form in his mind as fearsome green eyes stared into his soul.

"I'll let your superiors know, you blue-headed buffoon," The golden individual began venomously as his other hand started to burn through Wraith's neck, before viciously slicing through it.

"that imprisoning and experimenting on my son has been the greatest mistake of their sorry lives, punishable only by annihilation!" The man ended as he crushed the alien's skull, before staring deeply into the blue eyes of Trunks.

"Father…" Trunks croaked, unsure as to what to process. He promptly ignored the shocked eyes of the people around him after he had opened his mouth.

"Yes my son, I'm here now. Everything's going to be alright…"

---

Greetings, readers. First of all, I want to thank you for reading this chapter and I would love to know your thoughts. I want to apologize for the fact that the update took super long, but I'm currently doing internships so I don't have a lot of free time currently. That being said, I want to elaborate on a few things from this chapter.

As you might've noticed, this chapter contained lots of political and (fictional) scientific themes that were difficult to write about. I hardly know a thing about the American rights system, so if I portrayed things incorrectly then I want to apologize for that. However, wanted to up the scale a bit when it came to world building. I want to integrate Goku, Vegeta and Trunks into the DC comics world in a way that is both true to their characters and believable, which also means that they'll clash with the believes of the Justice League, especially Vegeta. The Z-fighters have always killed their hateful enemies (except for Goku most times) and do not believe in the 'Batman' philosophy. This difference in ideals and beliefs is going to make it difficult for them to fully integrate in a society that lives with Superheroes who usually do not kill.

Also, I'm no expert when it comes to the science being talked about here, so please bear with me about that too. Still, writing about the science parts was actually refreshing. I enjoy delving into the powers and abilities of each individual and how an alien's physiology works so that scene had been a pleasure to write.

By the way, did you find this chapter a bit too long? I was thinking of splitting this one up into two chapters due to its length, but then again, Vegeta finally reappearing back on Earth, bloodlusted as ever, seemed like a perfect ending to the chapter.

Oh and before I sign out, is anyone interested at being a beta reader? I kinda like need one so if you're interested, PM me. Thanks in advance and enjoy the rest of the day/night!