Chapter X
"We've got trouble." Batman turned from the view port to face his allies. He nodded and said simply, "I know." Lois frowned at him, then glanced at J'onn. The Martian shrugged and said, "There is more, my friend." "We were attempting to reach the Still Zone," O'Brien began. "Only it wasn't there," Batman finished. John Henry Irons gaped and said, "How did you know?" "Logic," the Dark Knight answered, "Kon-El must have informed Zod that it was the most likely location for a secret base. Since they can't find the Watchtower, they made sure we're stuck here." "This stinks!" Irons declared, "I got into this to take Zod out, but instead we get led on the most mixed-up wild goose chase ever!" The Watchtower shuddered, and Batman spun to face a terminal in a nearby wall. "That was a shock wave," he said, "But to be able to feel something like that in space..." His voice trailed off as the screen showed the source of the disturbance. The moon. Or rather, what had once been the moon. "This is not good," O'Brien said softly. "Definitely not," Batman agreed. "The debris alone could lay waste to half the planet," Steel added. "But why?" O'Brien asked, "What good does it do Zod and company to get rid of the moon?" "Us." The others turned to Lois, who was shaking her head in dismay. "He did it to get rid of us," she explained. "She's right," Batman said, "The more we maneuver to avoid the debris; the easier we are to detect. And if we stay put, chances are that we will won't survive long." "My friend," J'onn said, "We cannot change what Zod has done. We must survive to see that he doesn't harm anyone else." "You're wrong," said a voice from behind them. The assembled group turned, and Batman could see Lois visibly restrain herself. I know how this must feel, he thought, but considering the company he's keeping; now's probably not the best time. "We can change the past," the Man of Steel went on, "We have and we will again. The future starts here, with us. We are the Justice League Eternal."
Else While...
He stood on a balcony overlooking the heart of the empire. A city of enormous size, called Elysium after the legendary place of happiness in Greek myth. But, he saw no happiness. Only firm, unrelenting order. For this city, this world; perhaps even this whole universe... was loyal to Zod. There was a whisper of movement behind him and a moment later Kon-El joined him. "Marvelous, isn't it?" It was not a question, but he did not care. "Pathetic," he stated. "I wouldn't try my patience or that of my master, Kal-El," his clone advised him, "Your usefulness may be at an end, and your life shortly after; but see what you have done!" Superman regarded him momentarily. "What I have done?" he retorted, "How dare you blame me for this!" Moving with unnatural rapidity, he struck Kon-El to the ground. "That's enough." The cold tones cut off the imminent conflict, and Clark turned to face the speaker. General Zod nodded at Kon-El, who rose glaring at his double. "There is another reason I have had you brought here," Zod stated, "Rather than to gloat. The story is not over, my friend. You might say that in a way, it is just beginning." Zod turned his helmet towards the sky and then reached up as if to grasp the stars. "You see," Zod went on, "There is much work to be done yet in order for my rule to be absolute forever. There are still those who seek to oppose me." As if on cue, the air above Elysium crackled with energy and a voice spoke out. His own and yet, not his. "General Zod!" it said, "Know that your reign of terror and destruction has come to an end! Even now the Justice League Eternal has assembled from all parts of reality to oppose you and defeat you once and for all time." Zod turned to Kon-El. "Make sure that our prisoner can see everything that is about to transpire," the tyrant said, "I wouldn't have him miss a moment." As Kon-El began to pull him inside, Superman cried out, "You can't win Zod! Even if you defeat them, there shall always be others who will oppose you. You'll never achieve true victory!" Zod regarded him for a moment, then said quietly, "Oh, but I already have." And then he was gone.
Your allies are an eclectic group at best. His friend's words as he had left him safely hidden in a pocket of space-time echoed thru Superman's thoughts as he surveyed his companions. They had thrown down the gauntlet; it was now up to Zod to pick it up. It was the first time he could remember that such an assortment of heroes of villains had allied themselves together against a common foe. Separately, they were merely powerful. Together, they could reshape universes. Parallax; once Hal Jordan, the second Green Lantern, master of time and bearer of one of the most powerful weapons in the known universe. The Spectre; agent of the Presence, and an undying force of nature to boot. Darkseid; lord of Apokalips and controller of the Omega beams with which he had ruled his world. Zauriel, one of the hosts of the Pax Dei, and wielder of a sword of purifying fire. Vandal Savage; the immortal and wily Cro-Magnon, plucked from a time in which the living sun, Solaris, had betrayed him. And Hourman; the android and one time bearer of the worlogog. The Man of Steel smiled thinly. One thing was for sure; they were going to give Zod a run for his money. A sound caught his attention, and he raised a hand in the pre-arranged manner. The others quietly shifted positions, expectant. Rising from behind a low group of buildings, the familiar crimson form of Zod appeared. At his side flew Faora, who was scowling. "Surrender," Zod commanded, "And you might be allowed to live." Superman cocked his head, and replied, "You took the words right out of my mouth." Zod regarded him coldly for a long moment, then made a subtle gesture with one hand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw something leap towards him, and the Man of Steel moved instinctively, catching the attacker in a sidelong blow and tossing him to a nearby rooftop. His eyes narrowed as he recognized his attacker. "General Eiling," he stated, "It's been a while." The other snarled, but the fact that he failed to attack again alerted Kent that it was a setup. Spinning so fast he created a tornado of air, Superman shot in an upward arc away from Zod and rejoined the others. A dark form settled to the rooftops; its intended strike foiled by Superman's quick escape. "Ignition!" Superman gasped, "This is impossible! You're dead!" The armored attacker seemed to gaze at him for a moment and nodded slightly. "You should know that no force can defy Zod," Ignition stated, "So it was that I escaped my fate at your hands to rejoin my master in this hour." "There are many more who are my allies," Zod said simply, "Admit defeat, or else." Superman's eyes narrowed, and he glanced at the rest of his forces. They all nodded imperceptibly. Turning to Zod, the Man of Steel spoke one word that would change the history of the universe. "Never."
"I shall enjoy this." Superman glared at his clone, straining futilely against his bonds. Kon-El smiled mockingly. "Don't worry, you won't miss a thing," the traitor said, "Believe me when I say that."
"Why!?" the Man of Steel cried out, "Don't you see what you have allowed to occur? Can't you realize that you have betrayed everything you ever fought for?" "What was the point, Kal-El!?" the other shot back, "Truth, justice? Small concepts for small minds. Only order can bring peace to the galaxy, to the universe and all reality. Your kind foster chaos and destruction. Why do you think always there were those who fought to destroy you?" "You won't be an exception to that rule," a soft voice said, and Kon-El spun to find they were alone. "Now you've got me hearing things," he scoffed. "This isn't your imagination," the voice, now familiar to Clark, went on. "Show yourself!" his clone bellowed, "Or I shall summon Zod to destroy you!" "Oh, I think General Zod is otherwise occupied right now," the voice said, "Or didn't you think there would be those who would rise against such blatant tyranny?" As it faded, Superman's bonds shifted imperceptibly, and he tensed, ready for action. "You will be destroyed!" Kon-El declared, "Just like the Quintessence and all the others who dared to oppose the will of Zod!" His clone had turned to face the wall opposite him. With a burst of speed, the Man of Steel shot from his bonds towards his clone. Kon-El whirled to block the blow, but he never completed the turn. Abruptly the wall shifted, and without a word a familiar shape stepped forward and incapacitated Kon-El. "Thank you," Superman began, but his savior held up a single green finger for silence. "The very fabric of space has ears, my friend," the alien said, "Come, we must plan our next course of action." Clark nodded and then frowned slightly. "Is this part of the plan?" he asked. The other shook his head negatively. "That is part of what we must discuss. Come, now," he insisted, "Before it is too late."
Interlude
There was no air in the place to which the two combatants were sent. But then, for the moment, neither of them needed it. The abrupt transition separated them, and for a moment, the Superman whose universe had been altered by Zod's attempt to alter the past considered leaving the monster here at the end of time. But, no, he might yet need his power. And the strength of still others, all to defeat Zod. His plan began to form as the power of the worlogog surrounded Doomsday and himself, sparing them from the pull of entropy all around. He'd had been here once before to dispose of this problem. Too bad that only proved to be a temporary solution, he thought. The monster regarded him coldly, seeming to realize that for the moment, he was powerless. I am not your enemy, he thought, trying to reach the beast. The creature's eyes widened, then so did its mouth. I'm serious, he thought, resisting the urge to pound sense into his long-time enemy for laughing at the very idea. Desperate times, he thought to himself, call for desperate measures; remember Imperiex. Zod, he thought, bringing up the image of the tyrant to their minds, is your enemy as much as he is mine. Doomsday's eyes narrowed, but he nodded assent. When he is gone, his one-time nemesis thought, what of me? Superman grimaced faintly, and replied, That is up to you. For now, I need your strength. Doomsday nodded again, and Kal-El felt the urge to sigh in relief. But, of course, here that was impossible. Pulling them both back into the past, they soon left the end of time behind.
