Author's notes: I have no idea what to say up here.
Into the Void
Gotham City, Oracle's Clock tower
To Barbara Gordon, this place was her home and workplace. For a paraplegic, a clock tower was an unlikely place to call home, especially with a wheelchair, but so far she had managed just fine with an elevator and without any ramps. Also having being raised as Police Commissioner's daughter she had been raised not to feel helpless at all.
Also having the kind of friends that she did, Barbara knew how to keep her head cold in most of the dangerous situations.
''Alfred just gave me the word,'' Barbara said turning her wheelchair around to face Tim Drake and Cassandra Cain, aka Red Robin and Black Bat. ''Bruce has left for Apokolips.''
''So this is all on us now,'' Tim said rubbing his head. ''We're supposed to keep the city together until he get's back. Or he doesn't- OW!''
Cassandra punched Tim on his shoulder as Nightwing and Red Hood dropped in through the rooftop access.
''Gatorade?'' Red Hood asked removing his helmet to which Barbara responded by pointing at the fridge in the corner. As Nightwing unmasked himself too, Jason took a gulp of energy drink and said: ''We can't keep a too long break, so what's the word?''
''Bruce has left for Apokolips and the chances of him getting back are minimal,'' Barbara said. ''We should talk about what if he doesn't make it back.''
There was a short silence, before one of them spoke.
''Shouldn't Alfred be in on this too?'' Dick asked. ''If we're talking about life after Bruce, we should talk about it without leaving everyone involved in Batman present. And Alfred has been involved longer than all of us.''
''Thank you, Master Richard,'' Alfred's voice said from one of the Clock tower's consoles. ''I appreciate your concern. Matter a fact is that you are all here because I asked Miss Gordon call you all.''
''We ran into Catwoman and had this conversation already,'' Jason said, gaining some glares from the others. ''What!? We all know how she gets when we just mention 'Batman' in a conversation and her reaction varies on how the conversation carries on.''
''Thought you had better pokerfaces,'' Tim said looking at Dick and Jason with his hands crossed. ''Or did Catwoman become a metahuman who can see through your helmet?''
''As amusing as I might imagine that to me, Master Timothy, we are not here to discuss about it,'' Alfred's stern British voice spoke. ''I have been reviewing Master Bruce's notes after Master Damian's grave was robbed. They include dozens of different strategies in order to regaining Master Damian's remains from Apokolips, including a variation of his currently ongoing plan of utilizing the Hellbat armor, but also bringing you as backup.''
''And we know why he didn't want to drag us to hell with him,'' Dick said, however not agreeing with it. ''What are the plans based on? Bruce has the Hellbat armor and he has been on Apokolips before. What does that plan has for us?''
''I have shared this particular plan with into the Clock tower's database. Miss Gordon,'' Alfred's voice said as Barbara turned to her console, ''you should be able to view it there at your own end.''
Barbara opened the plan to be viewed on her screen and it got all Bat Family to step up closer interested on the plan's potential.
''Which of you are willing to go through with this?'' Alfred's voice asked after the silence had lasted long enough.
Cassandra was the first on to raise her hand. Then Tim.
''Already had some Hell experience with the Titans,'' Tim said after raising his hand. ''Plus this is Bruce's plan.''
''We need a Mother Box. Alfred, have Cyborg meet us in the Batcave,'' Dick said rising his hand with Jason not far behind. ''Barbara, call the Birds of Prey to the city up during our absence. Call Batwoman too. And everyone who owes us a favor.''
New York, United Nations Lobby
It was times like this that made Harry wonder if he had learned anything during his seven years of Hogwarts or if he should have taken courses he had not taken. Then again, there was Hagrid's class of Care of Magical Creatures that he, Ron and Hermione had dropped out of during their sixth year and in that years classes, or the seventh that Harry and Ron had not returned after defeating Voldemort, there would have probably been something that would have taught Harry something or anything about 5th Dimensional Imps.
''The usual program of me coming and going from our by play sessions by you fooling me into saying my name backwards has begun to lose it's… well it has obviously lost it's name too,'' Mr. Mxyzptlk spoke to Harry, Superman, Lex Luthor and Lois Lane, holding one hand on the label of his suit and a large cigar on his other hand. ''Come to think of it, the usual routine had grown old long ago any way and feel a little childish. Mix in politics and it becomes all new and fresh!''
''What exactly is this thing?'' Luthor asked looking back and forth between Mxyzptlk and Superman. ''And you know him how?''
''He first appeared to me by doing all bunch of childish reality bending tricks,'' Superman said keeping his angry eyes on Mxyzptlk. ''Turning statues alive, people to animals, toys and portraits. Buildings to jell and more that broke the rules of physics.''
''That is some magic,'' Harry said, making Mxyzptlk laugh and make cartwheels in the air.
''Hahah HAHAHAHAHAAHHAAA! Magic?! MAGIC!? MAGIC IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE POWERS OF 5TH DIMENSION!'' Mxyzptlk laughed extending his arm to lift Harry, Luthor and Lois in the air to prove his point and making Superman to rush in between them in air.
''And this guy,'' Mxyzptlk said putting his arm around Superman's neck like a drinking buddy and pointing him with his cigar, ''this guy is the only one who can keep up with it. This guy is the best reason thing I always have waiting for me every time I come back her. Visiting your 3rd Dimension is nothing if there isn't a Superman to play with all my 5th Dimensional powers!''
''Just say your name backwards and leave us to get through this hearing!'' Superman said to Mxyzptlk with his eyes burning.
''Kltpzyxm,'' Mxyzptlk said grinning with his cigar between his teeth, as nothing happened. ''New stakes means new rules, Superman, and that doesn't work anymore.''
Mxyxptlk pushed himself away from Superman and with a hand gesture
BASH!
pushed him down to the floor, still keeping Harry, Luthor and Lois in the air.
''What do you have against wizards that you want to harass our hearing?'' Harry asked looking down on Superman and then at Mxyzptlk. ''Fate of millions of lives are at stake and you jeopardize only to bully him?!''
''YOU ARE KEEPING HIM AWAY FROM ME AND MY FUN WITH YOUR HEARING!'' Mxyzptlk screamed at Harry and turned his suit into a billboard saying FRIEND THIEF. ''Superman is mine! Mine, mine, mine, mine, MINE!''
''Would you mind going out to play with your little friend while the adults discuss about their argument?'' Luthor said looking down on Superman. ''Because I enjoy watching you down as much as my peers, but I actually believe in these people.''
''NO! THE GAME IS ALREADY ON!'' Mxyzptlk yelled turning Luthor's suit into child's sailor costume complete with a hat and a lollipop. ''I am running this hearing now! I decide what gets said and what defense is allowed and every fate decided by this hearing is by the higher power! MY POWER OF THE 5th DIMENSION!''
SNAP!
''Also, you can't call me out in the court, that's against the rules. And only defense I might allow is one that isn't an explanation back up by any good intentions or by anything that I can't expect to use, such as your actions in the past or possible actions in the future. Mr Luthor,'' Mxyzptlk said letting everyone back down and turned Harry's and Luthor's cloths back to normal, ''you are a smart man. Explain to us the first 4 dimensions before my 5th Dimension.''
''Huh, seriously?'' Luthor asked looking at Harry and Lois as if he expected them to know them before rubbing his eyes in disappointment. ''What is wrong with our education system? First dimension is the line you walk every time you go forward, second dimension is the plane in which stand in, third dimension is THIS SOLID SPACE we are standing in, OUR dimension! Fourth dimension is the theoretical reality known called the space-time continuity that can theoretically be used for time travel!''
Luthor's mention of that reminded Harry of his third year in Hogwarts when he and Hermione had used a time-turner to go back three hours in order to rescue Buckbeak the Hippogriph from execution and Sirius from Dementors. With Luthor ranting about it time-travel being theoretical Harry was tempted, for a split second, to burst Luthor's bubble about it, but before he could Mxyzptlk spoke again.
''And as a being from 5th Dimension, I can go back in the 4th dimension and so see if your defense goes against my rules,'' the imp said in a formal voice, in an obvious attempt of mocking them. ''But, Superman, for the good times, I can also give you an escape clause.''
''I'm not running away from this,'' Superman said. ''I have known them for years and I would help-''
''Supes, please,'' Mxyzptlk said waving his hand at Superman's disputes. ''They are in this position because you know them and they know you. Because of that, I can use my access to 4th Dimension to go back and make sure you never met. You won't meet them, they won't be exposed and they can remain hidden. What is happening now will never take place and fates of millions won't be on the balance. I can make this all go away and all you need to do is say… Ktlpzyxm.''
This hit both Harry and Superman hard. Meeting Harry, Ron and Hermione had helped Clark Kent when he had been in a bad place, their company and support had helped him work through internal demons and help Clark in becoming Superman. And Clark's help on the war against Voldemort had gained a welcomed boost that had saved countless of muggleborns and helped the morale and friendship between Harry, Ron and Hermione when they had been on the run. Not meeting Superman could have left the wizards in possibly a worse situation than they were in now.
''Recess is over,'' Mxyzptlk said before turning into a balloon and flew out of the lobby to the hall in
BLLLRRRRR!
-ning spirals of hot air and time started to move normally again.
Ministry of Magic, London
''Expeliar-''
BANG!
''Colonel, permission to move onto 'no witnesses' protocol?'' Deadshot asked talking to his earpiece after shooting a stupidly brave ministry worker trying to face them.
''Permission denied,'' Colonel Flag's voice said. ''We don't want too many bodies for a black op mission and after you already blew yourself in there.''
''There are still people in here and they keep popping out in our line of fire,'' Deadshot spoke back as the Squad got to the chasm. ''Enchantress is still trying to tap into whatever it was Deathstorm tapped into when he closed these people's magic.''
''Who're these boyos supposed to be?'' Captain Boomerang said looking at the statue fountain between the chasm's railing and the wall of windows, mailboxes and owl cages. ''Uptight fancy pants and- Harley, leave those owls alone!''
''They're so cute,'' Harley Quinn said as she smiled petting and caressing the owls with her fingers through the cage's bars. ''This one's name is Soren, this one's Gylfie, this is Twilight and this one's Digger, like you Boomerang. This is Eglantine, Primrose, Pellimore, Otulissa, Martin, Ruby-''
''WE GET IT, HARLEY!'' Captain Boomerang yelled as Black Spider jumped down. ''We can't stand around here.''
''No, we can't. Enchantress!'' Deadshot said turning to Enchantress who was leaning over the railing to the chasm. ''Hurry up tracking the source, our necks are ticking.''
FLAASSSHH!
''The source is near and I can follow it's roots from here,'' Enchantress said raising her arm over the chasm and a beam of light begun to emit from her hand that dove down the chasm in a line. ''I can find it from here. Deathstorm was a radiation bender, I am a sorcerer!''
''Will that work?'' Black Spider asked looking down to the Enchantress' beam of magic with Deadshot and Captain Boomerang.
''If it does, I need to call Flag to prep the extraction,'' Deadshot said reaching to his earpiece. ''Colonel-''
CLINK!
''HOOOOOO-oooh!'' ''HOOO-oooH!'' ''HOOO-ooh!''
''Fly pretty owls, BE FREE!''
TZAAAHH!
''Don't disturb me, Quinn!'' Enchantress told Harley Quinn in a dominant and angry voice after firing a a beam of arcane fire at her after she let out all the messanger owls. ''This can take too long if I can't concentrate.''
''Tarrant, make yourself useful and keep Harley from doing anything stupid,'' Deadshot told Tattooed Man. ''And Harley, don't do anything stupid!''
''Can he do all that?'' Lois asked looking at Harry, Luthor and Superman. ''He just stopped time and turned you into a billboard and a child of the fifties. Of course he can.''
''He didn't give it as a mercy,'' Superman said shaking his head and looked at Harry. ''Mxyzptlk is an asshole who doesn't like sharing his toys. He just wants to push you away from taking my attention away from him.''
''Whoa, careful with that language,'' Luthor said half pleased. ''Although, hearing what you're saying is making me like this guy.''
''No one asked you, Luthor,'' Superman said.
''How can we get through this with your personal bully harassing us just for knowing you?'' Harry asked breaking a feud between the two rivals. ''This is more important than which one of you is better!''
Superman looked at Harry with mixed feelings. He was in between helping his friends, something he had volunteered for, but also under the uneasy judgement of Lex Luthor and pressuring thumb of Mxyzptlk in his every 3 monthly episode of menace. It wasn't about him, but his enemies had made it so behind the scenes just because Superman had offered to help Harry and the wizarding community get evaluated in this hearing as an equal and safe part of the human race.
''Our presence is required in the hearing by more than just Mxyzptlk,'' Superman said to Harry, before turning to Lois. ''Justice League has had a magical liaison who could help getting through the hearing in the wizards' favor on Mxyzptlk's terms. She is currently recovering from Crime Syndicate's attack on an estate near Gotham.''
''Ms. Zatara? I remember her,'' Luthor said realizing who Superman was talking about. ''You think she can help in this?''
''That can be a start, but can't your other League members pick her up too?'' Lois asked, finally getting a chance to speak into the men's conversation after having listened into it with her reporter's instincts.
''They probably have their own messes to deal with,'' Luthor said, ''but your mess just happened to fall on them.''
''In the lack of better words,'' Superman said hating to admit it. ''But still-''
''Ron is watching Hermione with their children at A.R.G.U.S, but I can ask Ginny to go look for her,'' Harry said taking his DA Coin and sent the message, including to come pick up Lois. ''There, and now we need to go stand up that imp's charade.''
Batcave
''Sooo, what's your problem again?'' Victor Stone aka Cyborg asked with his hands crossed from Nightwing, Oracle and Alfred Pennyworth.
''Well,'' Barbara said showing the screens on the Bat-Computer, ''I don't know if others in the Justice League have taken notice about Batman's departure to Apokolips.''
''Yeah,'' Cyborg said looking at the screen showing different locations on the globe having super-criminals causing havoc, ''and he used those things to distract us from being in the Watchtower when he picked up the Hellbat armor.''
''Internet 3.0 holograms from our training programs,'' Nightwing said pointing at the images and then nodded at the hardware set next to Bat-Computer. ''After Leviathan attacked Gotham, Bruce spent days reliving different simulations of Damian's death and trying to find a way how he could have prevented it.''
''Did he?'' Cyborg asked.
''Eventually we all did,'' Alfred said with his head down. ''Unfortunately, that happiness was not what we asked for. It was like waking up from a good dream, to the cruel reality.''
Cyborg nodded. He had had a lot of those dreams after his life of football star had ended and the life of a cybernetic superhero. Dreams about being just Victor Stone and not Cyborg.
''I can imagine. What do you need me for?''
''This console,'' Barbara said wheeling herself in to hardware and gestured Cyborg to follow, ''is the access to Internet 3.0's virtual reality where the holograms are coming from. I can shut them down from the Bat-Computer, but that would take hours with Bruce's encryptions. But if someone with augmented brains were to enter Internet 3.0-''
''It could be done faster,'' Cyborg said setting himself down to the hardware and put on the VR-helmet. ''So, about this Internet 3.0-''
BTZZEEEEET!
The helmet gave Cyborg a hit from every virus Batman had created and collected into his supply of countermeasures meant to neutralize the Justice League and that made Cyborg's systems crash.
''Okay, S.T.A.R. Labs upgraded his cybernetics and augmentations after Crime Syndicate so we don't have a lot of time before he reboots,'' Barbara said pushing her wheelchair to Cyborg and opened his chest. ''Just like jumpstarting a car.''
''Opening a Boom Tube is like jumpstarting a car?'' Red Hood said coming out from the Batcave's armory with Red Robin and Black Bat, all three changed into more armored versions of uniforms.
''To a former street punk, no. To me, yes,'' Barbara said grinning as she worked on Cyborg's wirings. ''Just need to do this and then this aaaand-''
BOOOM!
''Voila!''
''I should be coming with you,'' Nightwing said looking at his adopted brothers and sister.
''Bruce said he doesn't want to pull us all to Hell with him,'' Red Robin said. ''And we all know why you're the one staying back.''
''This was in there for you without suits,'' Black Bat said handing Nightwing a suit wrapped in black cloth. ''Bruce wanted this to be yours if this plan was ever executed.''
Nightwing didn't need to fold the cloth too much before he realized what he had been given.
''No, no, no, NO!'' Nightwing said throwing it onto the floor. ''I am never going to wear that.''
''In that case, go on your knees and prey we can bring Bruce back here alive,'' Red Hood said ready to step into the Boom Tube.
''Before you go,'' Alfred said handing Red Hood, Red Robin and Black Bat something. ''To remind you who we are all fighting for.''
All three took the disks with Rs on them and sticked them on their left chest.
''Alright, guys,'' Red Hood said arming himself with his guns and stepped into the Boom Tube with Red Robin and Red Hood. ''Let's Rock n' Roll!''
''HEY! WAIT!'' Cyborg yelled as he suddenly did manage to reboot himself and pushed Barbara of him. ''WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR DOING!?''
''Mr. Stone, calm down!'' Alfred said charging to attempt to restrain Cyborg as Nightwing charged to catch Barbara. ''We can explain-''
BOOM!
but the Boom Tube closed just as Cyborg managed to jump into it following the other.
''Well, CRAP!'' Nightwing said holding Barbara on his arms, looking at the space where the Boom Tube had been.
Then they both looked down where the suit Black Bat had given him had opened from being folded and could be seen how it looked.
It was a Batsuit.
''Now I really hope they can bring Bruce back alive.''
Author's Notes: Okay, here I can probably come up with something to say. This story has two themes. One that is large and public, another that is also large and personal. Harry and Superman being at the UN and having Mr Mxyzptlk sabotage their hearing with serious consequences and Hermione's situation that Ron and John Costantine are working on and has cause a chain of events that has dragged Batman and his sidekicks to Apokolips and Earth-2.
I have photoshopped one cover for every story I have written, but looking at this one's cover has made me think I should make another and switch the two back and forth depending on if the latest chapter is about the first theme or the other one.
Replies to Reviews:
Exodus5: As I said there^, I'm having the story's two halves split to come in turns, but this chapter's theme will continue in the next one, ON THIS EARTH!
Batman's survival on Apokolips is mostly thanks to the Hellbat armor, that does run on rechargeable power supply. He isn't fighting with his bare hands.
Suicide Squad is currently in the London's Ministry and their mission does seem to be going too easily. Wanna bet if they are forced to go to the other ones to finish their mission? Also, I have mentioned in-story that the other ministers of magic from other ministries have been asked to be questioned. And seeing how Mxyzptlk is running the show, the magical community might as well be branded as terrorists or be judged to be treated like metahumans are treated in Marvel comics.
Miss Singing in the Rain: What does Ron's smoking have to do with Batman's Hellbat armor or did I miss something?
That's actually something I have decided for myself too. When shit hits the fan and we are all that far screwed where Earth-2 is, that's when I decide ''Screw it!'' and stop caring about how unhealthy smoking can be if death can be coming from behind the corner. And don't be that worried, Ron and Hermione are going to meet again.
He was taking the best he could think of in a bad situation and Angels on Earth when Apokolips is bringing Hell there, that is a cruel joke even John Constantine can't help to laugh at. And this Hawkgirl is Kendra Saunders.
I was looking for a good spot to put that one in. And most media that I have read and are set on DCAU never had Apokolips devour their planet or have Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman be killed five years before that happened. This is based on Tom Taylor's Earth-2, RECOMMENDED FOR READING!
And in this chapter you saw how the cavalry arrived. Plus, Power Girl mentioned a Thomas and a Helena(wink wink).