FLASHPOINT HEROES
by Gunman
Disclaimer: I do not own Spider-Man, Justice League, Flashpoint Paradox, or their characters.
Summary: Spider-Man and his allies assemble their Justice League and prepare for a new threat that could devastate the world.
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Chapter 9
Flashpoint Heroes Pt. 3
While Vulko and the other Atlanteans had been given permission to retro-fit the underwater cave to suit their needs, Mera and Tula were with Peter and the other members of the Justice League in the library of the Wayne Mansion where they were scrutinizing the trio of amazons before them.
"I don't trust them." John Stewart said.
"For obvious reasons." Batwoman said.
"What reasons?" Black Canary asked.
"The fact that they just showed up out of the blue and say they're here to help us." John said.
"The Atlanteans did the same thing." Element Woman said.
"Yes, but we had a representative of theirs to speak on their behalf." Cyborg said, indicating Mera.
"Sides, we can't just kill them." Lady Blackhawk said.
"Well..." Robin started to say.
"No! We're not going to." Batman snapped.
"It's not like they're completely human." the boy wonder said.
"They're Amazons." Black Canary said.
"Meaning?" Lady Blackhawk asked.
"They're warriors." Black Canary added.
"And we are not?" Starfire asked.
"They kill because they can." Raven said.
"And I thought they hated men anyways." Batwoman said.
"Well, not all of them hate all men." Peter said.
"Yeah, look at Diana and Arthur." Supergirl said.
"And if the Amazons and Atlanteans are working together, some of them might actually be more than associates and such." Superman said.
"You're suggesting romantic relations between the ranks of two warrior races? The king and queen is one thing, but the rest of them?" Zatanna asked.
"We live in a world where nothing is impossible." the Man of Steel said.
"We Amazons are not violent like the men of Mans World." Ebony said.
"Yet you claim to be warriors, wielding swords and spears and arrows with ease for thousands of years." Jonn Jonzz said.
"Meaning?" the dark-skinned amazon asked.
"Meaning... you might want to reevaluate what you actually are." the Martian said.
"The Amazon culture has forever been warriors. Peaceful warriors." Ebony said.
"You do realize how confusing that statement is?" Black Canary asked.
"We can settle that one later." Superman said.
"Yes, you said that you were sent here by the goddess Athena. For what purpose, exactly?" Peter asked.
"To find a means of defending this world against the coming danger." Donna Troy said. "Our Queen and her new king are rather... busy." she said sheepishly.
"Yeah, we know." Peter stated.
"What 'danger'?" Cyborg asked.
"Darkseid." Cassie said.
"Who or what is Darkseid?" Cyborg asked.
"A powerful alien warlord who seeks to enslave Earth and it's people to his will. To add this world to his ever-growing empire." Peter said.
The group looked at the Spider-Atlantean hybrid with shock and interest.
"So... he's kinda like a super-powered alien version of Hitler?" Batman Sr. asked.
"Pretty much." Peter agreed.
"How do you know all this?" Cyborg asked.
"Someone like Darkseid is too powerful and infamous not to be known." Peter said.
"I've never heard about him. And if I haven't, then the US government surely hasn't. And besides, you're from another dimension. How could you possibly know about him when we didn't?" Cyborg asked.
"It's sort of like being on the outside looking in. And besides, you didn't know that the government was holding Kal-El and Jonn Jonzz." Peter said.
Cyborg seemed to grimace at that. Another reminder that his own government apparently didn't trust him as much as he thought.
"That's different." he said.
"Only because you're too much of a boy scout to believe otherwise. Which they no doubt took advantage of." Peter replied.
Cyborg was getting a little upset at being kept in the dark. And not just by the heroes who clearly knew more about his own world than he did.
"Do you have information on this Darkseid character?" Cyborg asked.
"I do." Peter said.
"Show me."
The heroes followed Peter down into the Batcave where he booted up the information on his computer. Meanwhile, the rest of the heroes were talking to the trio of amazons. John Stewart and Element Woman were talking to Ebony, Flash and Black Canary were talking to Donna, and Supergirl and Zatanna were talking to Cassie.
"Here's what I have on Darkseid." Peter said as he showed Cyborg the information on the computer.
Ten minutes of reading information and analyzing the video files of Darkseid, the cybernetic hero had only one response.
"My God!" Cyborg gasped.
"Never took you for a Christian." Peter said.
"I'll take whatever help I can get nowadays." he said with a sigh. "In the last few days, everything I thought I knew, ever believed in and trusted, has be flipped upside down, stuffed into a blender, pureed, tossed into a microwave and burnt to a crisp."
"Wow. That's graphic." Peter laughed a little at the analogy.
"What I mean is, everything has changed. Everything is different. Thanks to you." Cyborg said.
"Uh... you're welcome?" he shrugged.
Cyborg just looked at the Arachnid/Atlantean hero with a smirk.
"Even you're different then when you first got here." he said.
"Yeah, and that was my choice." Peter replied.
"So you coming here and helping us was not your choice?" Cyborg asked.
"No. I was recruited for this. Inter-dimensional travel isn't my usual M.O. I'm usually a street-level hero. Catching muggers, bank robbers, breaking up crime syndicates, and, of course, the super-villain of the week. I even had my own Rogues gallery and everything. But I'm here now, apparently forever, so I'm making the best of it."
"Yeah, I know. You and Mera have gotten pretty close." Cyborg said with a smile.
"Yeah, we... have a lot in common." Peter said with a blush.
Looking at the files on Darkseid Cyborg sighed he turned towards the aquatic webslinger.
"Assemble the League. We need to show this to them." the cybernetic hero said.
"You got it." Peter agreed.
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(Two hours after the 'Darkseid briefing')
In the upper floors of the mansion, Thomas found his wife, Martha, in her old room, working on something.
"Martha, are you in here?" the elder Dark Knight asked.
"Here, Thomas." she said, sitting at her old sewing table.
"What are you doing?" Thomas asked as he found his wife working on something.
"Making myself a new costume." Martha said as she diligently worked.
"New costume? For what?" he asked.
"What do you think?" she replied.
"Martha, you can't!" he protested.
"Oh? Why not?" she asked indignantly at her husband.
"It's too dangerous!" he said.
She looked at him incredulously.
"'Too dangerous'? After everything we've been through these last twenty years, you think that we can't handle what's going to be coming?" she asked.
Thomas did realize how he sounded, grimacing at his own hypocrisy. They had changed severely in the last twenty years from a doctor and his socialite wife. Done things that would normally have been considered crazy and suicidal.
"We did those things because we had no other option. I was drowned in grief; you went crazy." he said.
"Thank you for reminding me." she said bitterly.
"We had each other, we had Bruce... but after our son died..."
"And thanks to Spider-Man, or Peter, he isn't. We have a second chance, Thomas. We can't lose that."
"But what you're talking about doing is..."
"Exactly what we should have become. We should have become a team to fight against the evil that took our son. But we didn't. We became each others worst enemies. Grief and madness took hold of us in different ways. But now, we have a second chance with Bruce. And we have a grandson as well! I am not going to stand by and let something happen to them!"
The pair stared at each other for several seconds before Martha spoke up again.
"If we are going to face this... Darkseid... then win or lose we do it as a family." she said.
Thomas looked at the outfit she was making. It was a simple pink and wine-colored outfit. Reddish-pink boots and gloves, a lighter pink colored cloak and hood over an eight-button dress uniform with holsters on the pants beneath the dress itself. There were also a pair of guns on the dresser. Guns that didn't look normal.
"Where did you get those guns?" he asked.
"I had Peter make them up for me. They don't fire bullets, but energy bolts that can tazer anything. Non-lethal... unless I shoot them numerous times." she said.
"Right." Thomas sighed, at least glad she wasn't going to try and kill anyone. But he also wondered if just letting her become someone else was a good idea too. "So... what are you going to call yourself?" he asked.
"I was thinking about... Black Orchid." she replied.
"Black Orchid? Really?" he asked, somewhat amused.
"Well, the first Black Orchid died several years ago. I kind of like the name. It was one of my favorite flowers a long time ago. So... why not?" she asked.
"Right. Why not?" Thomas mused with a heavy sigh as he looked at himself in the mirror that was off to the side.
"Something wrong, dear?" she asked, noticing his pensive stare at himself.
"I think it's time for a wardrobe change as well." he said, looking at himself in his bat-suit.
"Because two Batmen are confusing enough." she said. Three if you count that woman.
"So much has happened in so short a time. I feel like a shadow of my former self." he said.
"We both do. This isn't who we were meant to be." she said as she stood up from her work table and walked over to her husband.
"We were meant to be dead." he said, still staring at himself in the mirror.
"I know. But we're not. Neither of us are in our prime. We can't make much of a difference... compared to Bruce and the others." she said.
"But we can still help them. Because that's what family does." he said as she moved up to him.
The pair kissed, holding each after such a long time apart.
"I missed this." she whispered as she buried her face into his chest.
"So have I." he replied softly.
"We have so much to make up for." she said with a suggestive nod.
"Yes. I guess we do." he replied as he kissed his wife again.
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(Batcave)
"Do you have their locations?" Cyborg asked.
"I do. Here." Peter said as he handed the printout to Cyborg.
"Good. Raven! Starfire!" Cyborg shouted to the pair of heroines.
"Yes?" Starfire asked.
"Yes?" Raven asked.
"How do you feel about getting some air?" he asked.
"YES!" Starfire jumped up and down.
"Calm down." Raven said calmly, though she seemed irritated. "So... what is the mission?"
"These are a list of superheroes still out there that we need to recruit." Cyborg said as he handed Raven the printout.
"Hmm. Red Tornado from Chicago. Long Shadow from Arizona. Black Lightning from Los Angeles. El Dorado from Mexico. And Nightwing, from a place called Bludhaven." Raven said as she read the list.
"Sounds like fun." Starfire said.
"It should be." Peter smirked as he brought up the map with their locations on it. Raven and Starfire looked at the map.
"We're going to need everyone we can get. At least talk to them to see if they're interested in joining." Cyborg said.
"Oh, just talk? And here I thought you wanted us to use our feminine charms to win them over." Starfire said with a smirk.
"I'd never ask you to do something you weren't willing to give yourselves."
"So that means you want her to act like a slut?" Raven smirked.
"Hey!" Starfire snapped, feeling insulted.
"You said it." Raven said.
"I did not!" Starfire replied.
"Fine. You... inferred." she said.
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While this was going on, Green Lantern walked over to see how Captain Atom was doing.
"How are you feeling?" GL asked the atomic-powered hero lying on the examination table.
"Better now. Thanks." Captain Atom said as he sat up.
His costume had been fully repaired and his atomic energies had been restored to full strength.
"Welcome." GL said.
"So you, Supergirl, Raven, Starfire, Batman and Robin, are not from this universe?" Captain Atom asked.
"No, we're not. We were recruited by Spider-Man over there, who brought us to this dimension to aid the heroes and people of this universe." John said.
"You said that this universe was... wrong?" he asked.
"A parallel reality. One in which the Amazons and Atlanteans weren't attacking various cultures and one in which our team, The Justice League, protected mankind. Along with Diana and Arthur. Of course, now everything's changed. They're working together instead of trying to kill each other." he explained.
"And... how bad would that have been otherwise?" Cap asked.
"Apocalyptic." he replied.
"Nice." Cap said. "And they didn't seem too happy to see me."
"You were sent by the US government to stop them. Of course they weren't happy to see you. But everything is different now." GL said.
"So you told me. Somehow, one of your teammates changed history." Cap said.
"Yeah. Infiltrated Paradise Island and stopped Queen Diana and Queen Mera from fighting. Mera's death would have led to a war between the Amazons and Atlanteans, and that would have been worse." GL said.
"And now we've got another problem to face. This Darkseid and his space army." Cap said, remembering the briefing that had taken place a couple hours ago.
"We need to rally the world governments and put an end to this conflict with the Amazons and the Atlanteans." GL said.
"It won't work." Captain Atom said with a sigh. "And besides, the military doesn't have anything that can stop them."
"Which is why we need the Justice League. And you on it." John said.
"We tried assembling a team of metahumans to combat these threats. It didn't work." Cap said.
"It will now." GL smirked.
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Peter was working on a new costume for himself as Mera approached him.
"Is something wrong, Mera? I mean... Queen Mera?" he asked, noticing her staring at him.
"You don't need to call me by my title when we are alone, Peter." she said with a smile.
"Sorry. Never dated royalty before." he said.
"Even though we've done more than dating?" she asked with a sultry smile.
"What can I say? I've always found redheads to be amazing." he said with a smile.
"Thank you." she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, nuzzling his cheek.
"Can I ask you something?" Peter asked he touched her arms tenderly.
"Of course." Mera said.
"You and Arthur were married. But... he wasn't loyal to you. How did that affect you?" he asked with a serious expression.
Mera was silent as he asked her that. It was a just question.
"My marriage to Arthur was one of political convenience." Mera said. "I was the royal bodyguard to the Queen of Atlantis, Atlanna, Arthur's mother. When Arthur came of age to ascend the throne, and after Atlanna's death, I stayed by his side. We grew close. I cared for him more than any other. We were wed, mostly because everyone in Atlantis thought it was for the best, and while I'm sure he cared for me... it was not love he felt for me at the time."
Peter could only nod at that.
"Guess political marriages are like celebrity marriages. It's for the people, not yourselves. If it's not for you, for love, they don't last." Peter said.
"I wouldn't know about human celebrity marriages, but... yes, you are right."
"It's funny. But... it seems that I'm in your place, and you're in Arthur's place." he stated.
Mera's eyes widened as she realized he was right.
"The queen of the new Atlanteans, marrying her consort who does not lead them. Yes, that is hilarious!" she laughed.
They had only known each other a couple of days before they slept together, and that was because they both had an in-depth glimpse into each others lives. The Infinity Shards that Peter had used to teleport them in and out of Paradise Island had somehow allowed them to know each other. Shown glimpses of their pasts to the other. Something that would have taken years of opening up and getting to know each other, to accomplish.
"Peter... we haven't had a ceremony yet, and... even though we are expected to be married in order to lead the New Atlanteans..." Mera started to say.
"You're worried that they won't respect me the same as you?" Peter asked.
"You have proven your strength to them. This will get them to accept you as my choice, but... there is the question of what position you will have." she said.
"Position? You mean... my role as a member of the New Atlanteans?"
"Yes."
"Huh. Well, I guess science advisor is out of the question, since Vulko is here."
"Well, Vulko knows Atlantean science. Not... surface science."
"Surface science? Is that what Atlanteans call it?" he laughed.
"Amongst other things." she said with a smile.
"Maybe I can be your bodyguard." he said with a laugh.
Mera would have said something, along the lines of 'you can guard my body any time', but just settled for laughing along with him.
Mera then looked at the costume that Peter was working on.
It was a blue and white bodysuit, with an ocean-like camouflage pattern, a black spider on his utility belt, white gloves and black boots. He already had a mask for himself.
Considering his powers were now half-arachnid and half-Atlantean, Peter decided to change his costume to reflect that.
"A new costume?" she asked.
"Yeah. Figured I'd need one, now that I'm different from the man I once was." he replied.
"There's something else wrong, isn't there?" she asked, sensing something was indeed wrong with her new lover.
"Well, I'm just wondering if setting up shop here in Gotham is a good idea for us." he said.
"You mean... you, me, and over 300 of our Atlantean brothers and sisters?"
"Yes." he said. "While the cave was a good idea, I'm just wondering if we shouldn't have considered something more... peaceful and quiet for all of us."
"Like where?" she asked.
"Well... Maine might have been a good idea." he said.
"Maine?" she asked, curiously.
"It's a nice quite place, far upstate from Gotham. Lots of open seas and fishing areas, no major cities. Nothing to really interfere with a group of Atlanteans just trying to live their lives."
"Maine. Hmm. But where, exactly along the coastline?" she asked.
"Well..." Peter said as he looked at a map of the Maine coastline on his laptop computer that was off to his left. . "Hmm. Mercy Reef sounds like a good place to start."
Peter brought up several pictures of Mercy Reef on the computer. Mera seemed to like the idea more and more as she saw the images. It was a picturesque fishing town located at the southern part of Maine itself. A large wharf near a lighthouse and several buildings that looked like Inns and restaurants. The large open sea-scape was actually peaceful looking.
"I can have Vulko and some of the Atlanteans go ahead and scout the area, maybe set up a secondary base there. If need be." Mera said.
"There's a noted marine biologist named Dr. Stephen Shin, whose hobby is studying Atlantis. He lives a short distance from Mercy Reef, and might be able to help us." Peter said, bringing up the mans profile.
"His hobby is studying Atlantis?" she asked.
"Yeah. He's apparently obsessed with the myths and legends surrounding Atlantis. Of course, I don't think he's ever found it."
"Hmm." Mera mused. "That might be more trouble than it's worth, but... we should investigate."
Mera looked over at the nearby work table and saw Zatanna working on something. It looked like a new costume. Leaving her consort to his work, Mera approached the young magic user and looked at what she was working on.
It was a mostly blue and white outfit with large blue sleeves, the center of the outfit was white that went from her neck to her waist, it had blue bun-hugging shorts, long blue boots with white trim that went up past her thighs, a red neck-choker with a jewel in it, a white cape with blue trim, and a pair of red earrings with the letter 'Z' etched into it.
She was wearing the outfit itself, as she worked on the cape/cloak.
Mera then noticed another outfit off to the side. It looked like a sexy stage magicians outfit, complete with fishnet stockings, a black jacket with tails, white shirt with a tie, and a black top hat. There was even a red rose lying atop the lapel.
"New outfits?" Mera asked.
"Yes." Zatanna said, turning to look at the queen of the New Atlanteans. "I asked Peter to show me the costume-maker, and showed me how to design a couple new outfits for myself. This is my Justice League outfit, and the other one is my stage uniform."
"Stage uniform?"
"I worked in Vegas for a while as a magical entertainer, but my witches outfit was a little too... secular? Not exactly suited for wholesome family entertainment."
"Couldn't you switch outfits earlier?"
"Well, I could have, but... there was something about the outfit that caught mens attention, and... I guess I was hoping to catch the eye of... someone." she said with a shrug.
"Ah. I see." Mera said, realizing that Mera was simply lonely.
"Yeah. And then I get recruited by Cyborg to be part of his super hero group, because somehow he found out about my magical abilities."
"Are they real?" she asked.
"My powers? Yes. Watch." she said as she stood up from the worktable and looked at her finished cape. "This is mostly just a parlor trick. Epac Emoc Ot Em Dnuora Ym Sredluohs!"
The cape suddenly lifted off the worktable, flew to Zatanna and wrapped around her shoulders, securing itself around her neck.
Mera looked impressed.
"Incredible! And that was just a... parlor trick?" she asked.
"Compared to what I can really do? Yes. Being a homo-magi I am capable of much, much more."
"Homo-magi?" she asked.
"Human beings who can use actual magic, to accomplish just about anything, but I have to speak my spells backwards." she said.
"Backwards?" Mera asked.
"The commands that I speak have to be spoken backwards. It sounds like an incantation to most people. Like a lost language." she said with a shrug.
"Good to know." Mera said.
"Peter! Got the new Strength-Gauge ready!" Supergirl shouted from across the cave.
"Right. Coming." he said as he got up from his work table and headed over to the pair, stretching his muscles a bit.
Mera and Zatanna followed him over to the machine, which looked like either a large hydraulic-press or a heavy cardboard compactor. Peter stood underneath it as the large press moved down on him. He lifted his hands up and caught the press, which strained under his own exertion of force.
The assembled heroes just watched as the pressure continued to increase, which meant that ton upon ton was being added to the weight.
Cyborg was monitoring the weight-levels.
"Incredible!" Cyborg said. "He's lifting more than 50 tons. And still going."
"Peter?" Mera gasped, slightly worried for her boyfriend.
"Whoa!" Supergirl gasped as the pressure increased.
Peter started to buckle as the press forced him down to one knee. Cyborg stopped the press and allowed Peter to get out.
"Incredible!" Cyborg gasped when he checked the final readout. "You maxed out at 75 tons!"
"Wow. I knew you were strong, but..." Black Canary gasped.
"Yeah, I didn't know I was that strong either." Peter said as he stretched his muscles.
"You didn't?" Mera asked.
"No. I figured the combination of my spider-DNA and the Atlantean DNA I used to transform myself, had enhanced my strength. But I didn't know exactly how strong I was. Am." he stated.
"Well, 75 tons is very impressive." Zatanna said.
"I know. It's a lot more than I could lift before." Peter said.
"How much could you lift before?" Cyborg asked.
"About ten to twelve tons." Peter said.
"Yeah. Definitely more." Black Canary laughed.
I wonder how much he could lift if he was fully immersed in sea water? Mera wondered, knowing that Atlanteans were stronger under water. Peter hadn't been in the water for some time, so maybe he could retain some strength. But if lifting 75 tons was based on mere adrenaline... the possibilities are amazing! She thought.
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Talia eventually woke up. Damian is glad to see her awake. However, Talia didn't know him.
"Why doesn't she know me?" Damian asked.
"Because in this time line... Talia Al Ghul never met Bruce Wayne, because Bruce Wayne died when he was ten years old." Bruce said to his son.
"Meaning that you two never met... never fell in love... never had a son." Damian reasoned.
"No." Bruce said, wondering if Talia ever truly loved him like that.
Her loyalty had always been to her father, which is another reason she had kept Damien a secret from Bruce, until Ras was killed by Deathstroke.
Talia had basically pawned Damian off on him so that she could go hunt down Deathstroke.
But that was another life. Another reality.
Martha had come down to the Cave and noticed the upset looking Damian.
Talia just looked over at an older woman with pale-blond hair and green eyes comforting an upset Damian while the pair spoke, yet she couldn't hear what they were saying.
"Who is that boy?" Talia asked.
"He's my son. And yours." Bruce said.
"He's my what?" Talia gasped at hearing that.
"It's complicated."
"It's insane. I don't know him, or you. I'm sure I would remember, but... you're telling me the truth, aren't you?"
"Yes. In another time line, you and I were... involved. Briefly. Damian was the result."
"Another time line? What nonsense are you talking about?" she asked.
"In this world, I originally died when I was a child. But in my world, my time line, my parents died. And I became the person you see before you." he explained.
"You mean... a parallel reality. I've heard of the theory, but... this is too incredible." Talia said.
"It's the truth." he said.
"So it would seem. But then... how did you get here?" she wondered.
"Spider-Man brought us here from another reality to save this world."
"So he is responsible for all this?" she mused as she looked over at the Spider-Atlantean hybrid, who was talking to the former Queen of Atlantis.
"Yes, and no. Someone else was originally responsible for it. Spider-Man was acting as their agent and just brought us here, to save this world from it's grim fate." Batman said.
"But what do you mean by 'briefly involved'?" she asked.
"You kept Damien's existence from me for ten years. I didn't even know he existed, until you showed up one day, after your father had been killed." he explained.
"Killed? By who?" she asked.
"Him." he said, indicating Deathstroke who was walking up to them.
"Slade Wilson." she growled as she saw the one-eyed mercenary.
"Nice to see you too, Talia." Slade said casually.
"I had hoped never to see you again."
"If it wasn't for these... heroes... you and I would not be having this conversation."
"What happened?" Batman asked.
"He was cast out of the League of Assassins." Talia said.
"I was Ras Al Ghul's right-hand man. I would have married Talia and produced an heir for him. But Talia didn't approve of me." Slade said.
"You weren't exactly my type." she said.
"Perhaps not. But I was the next in line to lead the League." Slade said.
"There is no more League. Thanks to those Amazons and Atlanteans, everyone, including my father, is dead and gone." Talia said.
"You and I are the only two left." he said.
"No. There is another." Talia said, indicating Damian.
"Don't get any ideas, Talia." Batman said.
"And why not? If I raised him to be a member of the League of Assassins... and he is the grandson of Ras Al Ghul... then it is his destiny!" she argued.
"Ras Al Ghul is dead, as are all the other members of The League of Assassins. Just as in my timeline. Except you and Wilson." Batman said. "And I won't allow the League to be reborn in this world."
"It sounds like the words of a weakling." Deathstroke said.
"Valuing life, is not a weakness." Batman said as Damian and Martha approached the trio.
"And I can prove that statement to be true." Damian said as she stepped up to Deathstroke. "Fight me!"
"You can't be serious. You're a child." Deathstroke said.
"I'm strong enough to defeat you." Damian hissed.
"Oh, really? Let's prove that, shall we?"
Damian looked to Batman. The Dark Knight nodded to the Boy Wonder.
"Oh, this should be good." Black Canary said as the other members of the League gathered around to watch the spar.
Deathstroke and Robin faced off against each other.
"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Martha asked as Robin made the first move.
"Damian is strong and trained. He isn't as reckless as he was before." Bruce said as Deathstroke blocked the onslaught of kicks and punches.
"Was before? How so?" Martha asked as Deathstroke tried to grab Damian, but couldn't because he was shorter. Damian actually played that up.
"He let his anger rule his decisions, he didn't listen to anyone but himself, he didn't trust anyone to do their jobs." he said as Damian kicked Deathstroke in the gut.
"No one? Not even me?" Talia asked as Deathstroke grabbed Damian's cape and tossed him across the cave.
"You left him with me so that you could go hunt Deathstroke for the murder of your father." Bruce said as Damian flipped through the air and landed on his feet.
"And did I avenge him?" Talia asked as Damian pulled his sword out as Deathstroke pulled his own.
"Not exactly." Bruce said as the pair lunged for each other. "That's enough!" Batman said as he pulled his batarang and hurled them right between the pair. "Both of you!"
"I beat him last time." Damian said.
"Last time?" Deathstroke asked, clearly confused. "I've never met you before today."
"Yes. And like last time, you don't have to kill him." Batman said to his son as he pulled Deathstroke to the side to talk to him.
Talia, however, had been watching all this with earnest.
"Damian." she said to the young man. "Can I speak with you?"
"I thought you didn't want to talk to me." Damian said to the woman.
"Because I didn't know you." she replied.
"I know. Everything's different here. In this reality, you never had a son." he said.
"No, I didn't. But if I had, I would have wanted him to be you." she said with a smile.
That actually made Damian smile.
"You always did respect strength." he said.
"It's how I was raised." she said with a shrug.
"So was I." he replied.
"Tell me about your life." she said.
Martha just looked on, pleased that the son was getting to know his mother. She hoped to continue that with Bruce. But later.
While the pair talk, Deathstroke and Batman talk.
"So you and Talia, in another time line, actually got together, and had a son." Deathstroke said.
"That's right. But Talia kept his existence from me. Until you killed Ras Al Ghul." Batman said.
"You mean I succeeded? Hmm." he paused, tilting his head to the side as if in thought. "I was upset at Ras. Betrayed. He denied me what was mine, because his daughter didn't approve of me, and Ras supported that decision. I would have destroyed him. But Aquaman's and Wonder Woman's Alliance beat me to it. Along with my own forces." Deathstroke said as he looked at Batman. "So Talia choose you, huh?"
"She did." he said.
"Mind if I ask, exactly what makes you worthy of her?" Slade asked.
Batman held up his hand, revealing Slade's gun.
"What?" Slade gasps, suddenly realizing that the holster on his hip was empty. A holster that still had the safety strap over it. There isn't any way that someone could have removed the gun while the strap was secured. At least not removed it without him hearing or feeling it being removed. "How did you..." he started to ask.
"I'm Batman." he said, tossing the gun back to a still-shocked Slade.
"Alright. I'm impressed." he said as he replaced the gun in his holster.
"You can have this back, too." Batman said as he tossed something else to Slade.
Slade grabbed it in mid-air and looked at it. It was the bullet clip to his gun.
Either he's that good, or I'm getting sloppy. Slade thought as he reinserted the clip into his gun.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"I suppose I have you and your associates to thank for saving my life." Lex Luthor said as Peter and Superman stood over his bed.
"You do. But we have little time for socializations." Superman said as Lex sat up.
"So I heard." Lex said.
"When we found you, I had a feeling you might want to help us. So... I had this... started." Peter said to the bald man as he lead them over to one of the work tables.
Luthor looked at the half-built armor and smirked.
"Nice. Not finished yet, I see." Luthor said.
"We've been busy. Plus I figured you might want to add your own personal touches." Peter said.
"Again, thank you." he said as he sat down and got to work.
While Superman kept an eye on Luthor while he finished up his armor, Batman had pulled Peter aside.
"Is that really a good idea? You know the kind of person he is." Batman said.
"I know. But we're gonna need him." Peter said. "Besides, he might be a little different than the one you knew."
"Less of a villain?" Batman asked.
"If we're lucky." Peter said.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
"Is something bothering you, father?" Robin asked while Martha and Talia were now talking.
"Being trapped in this universe, might be better for us." Batman said.
"What do you mean?"
"We don't need to hide here."
"Hide? The only one who was hiding was me. Because of you."
"Because Bruce Wayne didn't officially have a son. If people knew about you, they'd start digging around, they would have found out where you came from, from Talia and the League of Assassins, and that would have lead back to Batman and Bruce Wayne being the same person. Which could have compromised my ability to protect Gotham."
"What do you mean?"
"Criminals, villains, terrorists are essentially the same. In that they aren't afraid of the police and other authority figures. All you need is a name and face to figure out where they live, who their family and friends are, and that can be used against you, because they are people you care about. Plus it helps to have something that can protect you as well." Bruce said.
"You mean if no one knows who you are under the mask, they won't attack you when you are out and about?" Damian asked.
Like the Court of Owls. He thought. "Yes."
"So the best option is to not have anyone to care about?" the boy asked.
"There are always people you care about." Bruce said.
"I... suppose that's true." the boy said with a sigh.
"That's why we wear the masks. To protect those we care about."
"But then, why do you say this is better for us? Being in this universe?"
"Because here, Bruce Wayne doesn't exist. He died years ago."
"And because of that, he didn't have a son, so there is nothing to compromise his identity."
"Precisely."
"It does feel a little liberating, not having to worry about such things, but there's something else, isn't there?"
"You're perceptive."
"I was trained to be."
"There is a part of me that misses having those connections. They actually meant something. Gave me a reason to keep fighting, night-after-night."
"Well... you have your parents back." Damian said.
"Yes, but... that's something new to get used to. Just like having a son." Bruce stated.
"You got used to me." Damian said.
"That took time. Plus, we don't have a multi-billion dollar company to produce advanced technology for us to use in fighting crime. Lucius Fox apparently died a few years back. He helped develop most of my tech."
"So instead of him, we've got... Peter?" Damian asked.
"And the others."
"Hey, guys! You need to come upstairs and see this!" The Flash shouted.
Everyone assembled upstairs in the library, where the Shazam Kids had been watching a news report on the new big screen television that Peter had acquired for them.
"What's going on?" Mera asked once they assembled upstairs
"Well, Queen Diana and her Amazons have butchered every Muslim male in the Middle East, leaving the women in charge." Cyborg said, reviewing the news feeds.
"And took out some terrorist organization named ISIS in the process." Flash said.
"King Arthur and his Atlanteans have ruined every fishing fleet in the Mediterranean and the Middle East." Cyborg said.
"Figures." Black Canary said.
"There's something else." Cyborg said. "The news service is reporting that Air Force pilot Hal Jordan just died in a kamikaze mission against the Atlanteans and Amazons."
"And it didn't work. The Amazons and Atlanteans didn't suffer any loss of forces." Flash said.
"Figures. The military tried to handle things their way, and all they succeeded in doing was proving how impotent they are." Batwoman said.
"Interesting choice of words." Black Canary said.
"So what do we do now?" Donna Troy asked.
"We need Hal Jordan for this." Peter said.
The group looked over at Peter and gasped. Instead of him wearing his red and blue Spider-Man costume, or even the Atlantean armor he managed to acquire, he was now wearing a white, black, dark blue and light blue camouflage bodysuit, with a utility belt and a blue mask with white lenses over his face.
"Change of costume, Pete?" John Stewart asked.
"Felt it was appropriate." Peter said.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Supergirl asked.
"Like I said, we need Hal Jordan. So... I'm going to get him." Peter said as he held up two of the crystal shards. "The Time and Space shard should have enough power to get the job done." he said.
"Going alone, again?" Robin asked.
"It's easier this way." Peter said.
"Still doesn't make it right."
"Be careful, my love." Mera said.
"I will, Mera. Promise." he said to her.
The pair kiss before Peter stepped away from the group
In a flash, Peter was gone.
"You know, I still don't like it that he's doing all the work." Supergirl said.
"We'll get our chance soon enough." Superman said.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(Several minutes into the past, over the Mediterranean)
Hal Jordan was flying the modified alien space craft, loaded with a special nuclear weapon, with the intention of taking out both the Atlantean and Amazon forces once and for all. A plan that was created and authorized by General Sam Lane.
However, Aquaman had summoned up a giant sea serpent that swallowed the ship whole before he could get close to the king and queen.
"Well, good a place as any, I reckon." Hal said as he pressed the button to trigger the bomb.
Suddenly, a flash of light behind him caused him to turn around. He gasped when he saw a man in a blue and white bodysuit with a black spider on his chest.
"Come with me if you want to live." Spider-Man said.
"What the.." Hal gasped, as the time reached Zero.
"Okay, no time for you to choose!" he said as he grabbed Hal, right as the bomb went off.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
(Wayne Manor, one minute after Peter had left)
In a flash of light, Peter Parker and Hal Jordan appeared in the middle of the Library, both crumpled to the floor as the heroes and heroines just looked at each other and then back at them.
"I am not doing that again. Too close for comfort!" Peter gasped.
"Peter! Are you alright?" Mera asked as she rushed towards him.
"I'm fine, Mera." he reassured her.
"The shards?" she asked.
"Used up, saving his life." Peter said as he sat down on the couch with Mera next to him.
"I hope he was worth it." Ebony said.
"Did you just teleport me out of a kamikaze mission?" Hal asked.
"At the last second. So, as far as the world knows... you're dead." Peter said as he took his mask off.
"Oh, great. I'm probably the only person in history to survive a suicide mission. Bet I don't even get a medal for this." Hal said with a laugh.
"Well, you might. But you're never gonna wear it." Black Canary said.
"Yeah. That's true enough. So, why did you do this?" he asked.
"Because we're gonna need your help, Hal Jordan." Peter said.
"You know my name?" Hal asked.
"I wouldn't have saved you if I didn't know who you are." he replied.
"And you want my help? Why? And how, exactly?" Hal asked, totally confused.
"Can't tell you, until you're in." he said.
Hal looked around at the heroes assembled. Some of them looked amazingly powerful and diverse, while the women were hotter than any super model he had ever known.
"Oh, I'm in. But... I'm not exactly in the same league as you guys." he said.
"I know. In another time line, you wear the Green Lantern power ring that John wears." Peter said.
Hal looked at John, the Green Lantern waving back at him.
"Don't suppose you have a spare?" he asked.
"No. But I think you might be able to wear some other kind of special alien weapon." Peter said as a green-skinned man in a dark-blue bodysuit with a blue cape and red straps across his chest came up from the Cave, carrying a bluish metal object. "Jonn, is it ready?"
"Yes. All the proper reprogramming has been completed." Jonn said as Peter stood up from the couch and walked over to the Martian.
Hal balked when he saw the green-skinned alien.
"Excellent." Peter said as he took the strange blue and black metallic beetle-shaped object that was about the size of a large softball.
"What's that? Some kind of land mine?" Hal asked as Peter held the object.
"It's your new set of clothes." Peter said.
A skeptical Hal looked at him like he was crazy.
Peter then turned Hal around and placed the beetle on Hal's back.
"What are you doing?" Hal asked.
"Trying to see if this will work." Peter said, holding it with his left while his right activated the device.
"You don't know what it's going to do?" Hal asked as Peter began punching the buttons on the side.
"Oh, I know what it's going to do. I'm just not 100% certain it will accept you as..."
(HUMMMMMM!)
Peter released the scarab as it glowed and started to spread over Hal's body like it was some kind of liquid metal. His chest was first, followed by his arms and legs, then finally his head was covered by the blue and black liquid that quickly solidified into hard armor. A pair of antenna seemed to stick out of his back, his mask/helmet was mostly black around the face with blue marks around his eyes and the edges of his face as well as head. His body was mostly black armor with blue shoulder covering, his legs from his knees down were also blue in color, as were his hands and wrists. The armor itself looked high-tech and powerful, but seemed almost thin and light on Hal. His eyes were glowing yellow lenses that looked around and scanned the whole area.
"Whoa!" several people gasped when they saw it.
"It's alive. It's Alive!" Peter cackled madly.
The group looked at Peter in confusion.
"Sorry. Couldn't resist." he said sheepishly.
"Whoa! What is this thing?" Hal gasped as he looked at himself.
"The Blue Beetle armor. A sentient alien weapon that fell to Earth several years ago, found and locked up by the government, just like Kal-El and Jonn Jonzz here. I found it when the others were helping to rescue our Martian ally. Obviously the government couldn't get it to work, otherwise they would have used it already." Peter explained.
"Probably a good thing." Supergirl said.
"You said it's alive?" Hal asked.
"No, I said it's sentient. It needs a host in order to function. Like symbioses. Otherwise, it's nothing more than a paper weight." Peter said.
"Cool." Hal said as he looked at himself in a nearby mirror. "Hey, this thing's got Internet Access! And it's talking to me!"
Peter and the others felt themselves sweat-drop at hearing that.
"Are we sure he's the right choice for that thing?" Lady Blackhawk asked.
"If he wasn't, he wouldn't have been able to activate it." Peter said.
"Okay, that's not saying much." Element Woman said.
"We chose him because we knew him." Peter said.
"We knew him as Green Lantern. The power ring of Abin Sur chose him, in his reality. Here, it didn't have the chance because Abin Sur died before he could choose a successor." Superman said.
"Yet, Hal Jordan was clearly destined to be a hero. Denied one opportunity, another one arose." Jonn Jonzz said.
"The government had it, who knows how long, and it was completely inactive." Flash said.
"Which means that they don't know anything about its powers and capabilities." Supergirl said.
"It was damaged." Flash said.
"Yes. And a good thing too. Otherwise, if what I've heard about this thing, it could be a greater threat than any super villain." Peter said.
"Which is why you had me erase it's original programming." Jonn said.
"Exactly." Peter said.
"What are you talking about?" Black Canary asked.
"In some realities, this device was meant to be an infiltrator." Peter said.
"Infiltrator?"
"It was created by a group of aliens called The Reach, an ancient race of cosmic marauders. They were beaten by the Guardians of the Universe thousands of years ago and forced into a truce. Since then they had posed as a benevolent alien race, lending their advanced tech to budding civilizations. The scarab was a gift for that world's champion, giving them amazing powers and the knowledge of the Reach to protect his or her people. However, the scarab was part of an advanced hive mind, with its own A.I. covertly supplanting the wearer's own. They would become the 'ultimate infiltrator', a covert agent intended to take over their own world. But since this scarab was damaged, Jonn and I were able to reprogram it. So instead of controlling it's host, it formed a symbiotic relationship with them." Peter explained.
The group looked at Peter in shock. Mera just smiled at how brilliant her new lover was.
"Strong. Cute. Caring. And a genius." Mera said to herself.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Raven and Starfire returned a couple hours later, and with their target-heroes in tow.
From Chicago, Red Tornado, real name: John Smith, a sentient wind storm that possessed an advanced android created by a scientist named Will Magnus. 6'0", no hair, crystal-blue eyes. Android body looks amazingly human-like. Costume is a red bodysuit with a blue cape with yellow trim, a 'T' insignia on his chest.
From Arizona, Long Shadow, real name: Thomas Running Bear. Member of the Apache Indian tribe, possesses size-shifting powers. Real height: 6'4", possesses long black hair and a muscular build, black eyes and tanned skin. Dressed in a brown earth-tone sleeveless bodysuit with intricate designs, yellow boots and yellow/brown arm bands.
From Mexico, El Dorado, real name: Eduardo "Ed" Dorado Jr. Possesses mystical illusion powers, enhanced strength, teleportation, can shoot lasers from his eyes, short-range telepathy. Has short black hair, black eyes, and is of Hispanic heritage. Dressed in a pair of green pants with red and gold boots, yellow gloves, a neck collar that is attached to his belt, and a bright red cape.
From Central Africa, Rima the Jungle Girl. She has long platinum-blond hair, black eyes, tanned skin, dressed in a purple-blue single-shoulder strap dress minus shoes. Possesses the ability to speak and command animals, is an expert tracker, in peak physical athletic condition, expert in wilderness survival, and is a skilled fighter.
From the city of Bludhaven, Nightwing, real name: Richard Grayson. Short black hair, blue eyes, peak physical athletic prowess, was trained in martial arts skills by The Legless Master and his brother, The Armless Master. Dressed in a black bodysuit with a red 'bird' symbol on his chest, and a mask over his eyes. His choice of weapons are a pair of escrima sticks.
Along the way, they had met and recruited other heroes for their Justice League.
Halo, real name: Gabrielle Doe, 5'7", 120 lbs, has short blond hair and blue eyes. Wears a black bodysuit with red, yellow and blue colors on it. Her body can generate different energy attacks, such as heat, stasis beams, concussive force beams, a tractor beam, holographic distortion beams, blinding light and enables her to fly with ease.
Katana, real name: Tatsu Yamashiro, 5'2", 96 lbs, brown eyes, short black hair, dressed in a black bodysuit with a white mask over the top part of her face, with a red sun symbol on the forehead, she has shoulder, arm, wrist, shin and boot armor, and carries a Japanese katana called The Soultaker. Expert in martial arts and swordsmanship, highly athletic and agile.
Geo-Force, real name: Brion Markov, 6'0", 190 lbs, green eyes, strawberry blond hair, possesses the power of super strength and durability, as well as the ability to manipulate gravity and the Earth. The deposed heir to the throne of Markovia in Europe and dresses in a green and yellow bodysuit, complete with a mask and a 'GF' on his chest.
Black Lightning, real name: Jefferson Pierce, 6'1", 200 lbs, brown eyes, bald, from Los Angeles. Possesses the power to generate and project intense surges of electrical energy from his body. He is athletic and agile, and wears a black and blue costume with a yellow lightning bolt on his chest, and a black mask on his face.
"Thank you all for coming. Now... as to why we've asked you here." Cyborg said as he addressed the costumed superhumans.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
(Batcave, an hour later)
"We're just about ready." Cyborg said, glad that the nine newly recruited heroes had agreed to join them.
"What else is there? Who else is left?" John Stewart asked.
"Alright, kids. Gather around." Peter said as the Shazam kids approached him.
"Who are they?" Hal Jordan asked, his Blue Beetle mask off his face.
"They're Captain Thunder." Black Canary said.
"Captain Thunder? All six of them?" he asked.
"Funny story. The six of them were caught on a subway car that was swallowed by a mysterious earthquake. The car ended up taking them to the Rock of Eternity. There, the wizard Shazam gave each of them a special attribute of a great hero. The Courage of Achilles, the Strength of Hercules, the Wisdom of Solomon, the Stamina of Atlas, the speed of Mercury and the Power of Zeus. These six kids, when they speak the name of the wizard who gave them their powers, transform into a single powerful hero. Captain Thunder." Zatanna said to Hal.
"Impressive.
Cyborg then went on to explain who they were to Hal, their names and individual aspects.
"Individually they are just ordinary children. But together they become one of the most powerful heroes on this planet." Cyborg said.
"Captain Thunder." John Stewart said.
"So, what now?" Hal asked.
"Now... we enhance our ranks." Peter said holding up the small glass tube with a small red crystal shard inside it. "Kids, form Captain Thunder."
"SHAZAM!"
BOOM!
Instantly the six children disappeared, and in their place stood a tall and muscular man in a red costume, white and yellow cape, a lightning bolt symbol on his chest, and scars on his face.
"Wow." Hal gasped.
"Here." Peter said as he dropped the red shard into Captain Thunder's palm. "You know what you have to do."
Captain Thunder accepted the shard and closed his fist around it.
Instantly, his body started to glow.
When the flash of light and explosion of energy was done, the heroes just looked on and gasped, seeing six adult heroes, each wearing a different colored outfit.
The first was a young man with an athletic build, about 25-27, with short black hair, blue eyes, dressed in a red bodysuit with yellow boots and armbands, a white cape with yellow trim, and a yellow lightning bolt on his chest. This was Billy Batson.
The second was an attractive young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes, about 26 years of age. She was dressed in a white dress with yellow trim and a lightning bolt on her chest. A white cape with a white hood that also had yellow trim, and yellow boots with white trim. She looked athletic and slender. This was Mary Batson.
The third was a heavy-set, muscular Latino man about 30 years of age, with short black hair and brown eyes, with tanned skin. He was dressed in a green bodysuit with a yellow cape and a lightning bolt symbol on his chest, yellow boots and metallic bracers on his wrists. This was Pedro Peña.
The fourth was a lean and athletic Asian-American young man about 28-29 years of age. He had short dark brown hair and blue eyes. He was dressed in a black bodysuit with a yellow lightning bolt symbol on his chest, yellow boots and gold bands on his wrists, a white cape with yellow trim, and a mask over his face that hid everything but his eyes. This was Eugene Choi.
The fifth was an athletic and beautiful African-American woman of about 29-30 years of age. She had long black hair and black eyes. She was dressed in a black bodysuit with purple highlights, with a yellow lightning bolt on her chest. Black boots and dark purple cape with yellow trim. This was Darla Dudley.
The sixth person was a young man with short black hair and blue eyes, about 29 years of age. He was dressed in a blue bodysuit with a yellow lightning bolt symbol on his chest, yellow boots and metallic bands on his wrists. He had a yellow cape with white trim on his back, and a belt with a lightning bolt symbol on his belt. This was Freddy Freeman.
The heroes looked at the six new super powered heroes and gasped. Most of them were ecstatic at having additional strength and power for their team. The rest of them were looking to Peter for an explanation.
"What did you do?" Hal gasped.
"I used the Power Shard to enhance the powers of Captain Thunder, thereby providing enough energy to give each of his six personalities their own 'Captain Thunder' powers and identities. Now, instead of one Captain Thunder, we have six." Peter said.
"Power Shard?" Hal asked.
"That was risky! And dangerous! Suppose it hadn't worked, and they had all exploded?" Martha snapped at the aquatic-spider.
"Wouldn't have happened." Peter said.
"Why not?" Thomas asked, the man now dressed in a black suit and cloak with a fedora hat, gun holsters under his arms, and a red scarf around his neck.
Batman was curious about this, as was Robin.
"The power of the shards not only enhances the abilities of the person who uses it, but also adapts the persons body so that they can handle it. Considering the power was going to be split amongst the six of them, I wasn't worried they were going to explode." Peter said.
"It was still a gamble." Thomas said.
"Maybe, but I talked with them about this and they all agreed to do it." Peter said.
"You could have told us." Black Canary said.
"Why? You weren't the ones who had to take the risk." Peter said.
"I thought you said there wasn't a risk." Barry Allen said.
"No, I said it wouldn't have happened." Peter said.
"You just said that we weren't the ones who had to take the risk." Barry added.
"After I stated that it wouldn't have happened, which negated that following statement." Peter said.
"You are so odd." Batwoman said.
"I know." Peter said with a shrug.
Peter looked at his girlfriend Mera and Tula standing next to her.
Donna Troy, Cassandra and Ebony were standing in one group.
Green Lantern, Flash, Jonn Jonzz and Blue Beetle were in another small group.
Superman, Cyborg, Raven, Starfire, Supergirl and Captain Atom were in another huddle.
Batman, Robin, Shadow, Black Orchid, Talia, Deathstroke, Lex Luthor, and Batwoman were off to another side of the cave.
The six Shazam Kids: Billy Batson, Mary Batson, Darla Dudley, Freddy Freeman, Eugene Choi and Pedro Peña were still in their own group.
Then there were the four new recruits: Black Lightning, Geo-Force, Katana and Halo.
Nightwing, Red Tornado, Long Shadow, El Dorado, and Rima the Jungle Girl were the original five new recruits.
And then there were the four female allies who had come together. Black Canary, Element Girl, Lady Blackhawk, and Zatanna the Enchantress.
43 superheroes. Heroes, vigilantes, aliens, amazons, cyborgs, scientists, mercs, magic users and Atlanteans. The most powerful force for good in the world.
"And so... the League is set." Peter said with a smile.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Authors Notes:
I based Martha's new look on Pandora, from DC Comics Trinity of Sin. And if case anyone hadn't recognized it, I'm changing Thomas Wayne from Batman into The Shadow.
Sorry this took so long. As you can see, it involves dozens of people and trying to be fair to the group as a whole it very complicated. This whole thing takes up to 31 pages, so that's the reason it took so long.
And yes, I am changing Talia's personality quite a bit so that she doesn't become like she did in 'Batman Bad Blood'. Deathstroke will still be a bad-ass, but not so evil as he was previously. Luthor will be a better person as well. I might add another couple characters as well. Maybe.
Next chapter will show Darkseid beginning his invasion of Earth, and Diana and Arthur will be joining the heroes in battling his legions to defend Earth.
I expect that chapter to be long as well.
Please read and review.
