Chapter 25
[Edge City]
During the time that Clark and Lana trained in the future, the dark storm had covered much of the continent. Thunder boomed. Red lightning flared and burned craters in buildings and streets. Soaking rains dampened spirits. Hurricane force gales and tornadoes ripped swaths through the Midwestern countryside. Tidal waves soaked coastal cities. Record earthquakes shook vulnerable areas collapsing buildings, shredding roads like tissue paper and throwing cars like Styrofoam.
People panicked and organized into roving mobs. With lights and utilities out not to mention food scarce and the authorities overwhelmed, civil unrest grew to an all time high. Despite martial law being enforced, bands of brigands looted stores, destroyed property and beat on those who they saw as being in their way.
Negative emotions and appetites ran amok. The vibrations soured any attempts at order.
And gave hope to a certain enemy of it all…..
Darkseid had reassumed its normal appearance hours earlier. With the super powered resistance all but crushed and the humans' spirits in the process of breaking, the tyrant smelled certain victory within its grasp. It saw the boom tube lying ready in the alley below and knew others planted in remote locations around the globe would be in similar states. "We're ready." It pushed an orange button on its gauntlet.
The button started the transport device propelling a giant wave of hairy animal/monstrous troops onto the chaotic scene from the other dimension. Wave upon wave of Darkseid's forces crashed into the mobs inciting blood lust and a massacre of the locals around the world.
Above it all, the invading tyrant savored the mess coldly. His conquest had begun.
Let the heroes stop it now….if they dared…..
[Watchtower]
Even as central Metropolis boiled and lurched under environmental and human assaults, the heroes' perch remained safe. Thanks to Oliver's planning ahead, two huge generators kept the security measures in play even as much of the city had gone dark. Titanium steel shuttering cut them off completely from the outside world save for the panels in the roof.
Chloe still felt empty after helping her boyfriend to get back on track. With the help of Detective Jones and Dr. Emil, she'd insured that Lois and Tess were moved from the morgue to there for security purposes. She continued to track the invading efforts around the globe as well. Even if Rokk had promised help shortly and only a few hours had passed, each second ticked heavily by.
The world needed heroes…and now.
She glanced at the assembled group waiting on Oliver to finish processing his information. For the JLA, Aquaman, Cyborg, Black Canary and Impulse waited for action. The JSA boasted Hawkman, Stargirl and the original Green Lantern. In addition, Zatanna and Byron Moore waited for action. Not as many as we hoped! Definitely not enough to deal with the world crisis! Still she kept a stiff upper lip. Let's hope Rokk was right!
"Didn't you say that guy promised to bring help?" Cyborg wondered aloud to her. "Can't be like the old boys here."
"Cool it, Cyborg. That talk won't get us anywhere," Stargirl interjected forcefully.
"Let the walking tin can deal with my mace," Hawkman hissed. "I'm in the mood to bash those circuits."
"Try it and I'll blast your eardrums out," Black Canary threatened.
"ALL RIGHT! ENOUGH!" Jones stepped between the parties. His eyes glowed red. "Darkseid feeds on this kind of discord and anger! Hawkman, you should know this! Don't start something!"
"Tell the Bionic Kid to watch his mouth," Hawkman retorted evenly. "I've danced more turns with this darkness than he's ever dreamed of. Better hope Kal-El and Lana get back here with help. We're going to need it."
Before the "discussion" could proceed any further, a flash of light redirected matters.
"Where'd they come from?" Byron asked in surprise.
"We're from the future," Rokk introduced while motioning to his companions. "We are the Legion. I concur with the Martian Manhunter. Such arguing will get us nowhere."
"You're the help Clark and Lana went after? We're still pretty shorthanded," Impulse supposed.
"Question not the help you get/ for difference it may be/when enemies you beset/between defeat and victory," Byron quipped poetically.
"Well phrased, Mr. Moore," Imra complimented. Seeing the dark poet's surprise, she smiled. "We know you and everyone here from the historical records in our time. But you are correct. And we are not alone."
"You better not be," Green Arrow insisted as he came into view. "Where are Clark and Lana?"
"They're coming, Green Dude. As your poet buddy there said, chill out!" Lightning Lad assessed. "And they're sporting major upgrades!"
"Major what?" Chloe asked. Then she saw three blips appear out of nowhere in the storm wracked skies and approach on a collision course. "What the Hell?"
"You might wish to open the roof, Miss Sullivan. Our friends have returned," White Witch declared.
Chloe nodded and opened the panel. "Hawkman, mind taking a look?"
"Someone's gotta protect this place," the winged hero supposed while shooting the emerald archer a sarcastic look. He took off into the mess.
"Maybe he might get fried," Green Arrow supposed sarcastically.
Hawkman flew straight up from the tower into the murky slop. He knew that his wings wouldn't be able to stay aloft for long in those conditions. He fought the harsh winds to stay in one place for just seconds at a time. "Now where in blazes are those…?"
In front of him, three figures flew straight at him not at all deterred by the storm around them all.
Seeing the figure in the center, he grinned while feeling a surge of strength and spirit.
The uniform definitely represented an improvement over the darker predecessor. The man seemed to exude confidence and purpose….and he was flying.
Just as Dr. Fate predicted! "YOU DID IT!"
"Yes I did, Carter," Clark reported. He looked at Kara and then Lana confidently. "We all did. Now let's get this show on the road. Lead us in."
"Is everyone okay?" Lana wondered.
"We're fine although I think the Green Mushball and his diaper league are about to…."
"Hawkman, don't bow to their level, all right?" Kara requested. "Not with this much on the line."
Hawkman considered the female Kryptonian with positive regard. Seeing the crest on her chest, he asked Clark, "Friend of yours?"
"Try my cousin," Clark indicated. "We can talk inside."
"Good to have you all back, Kal-El. Now we can really kick some ass!" Hawkman declared before clasping hands with his friend. Then he swooped back down into Watchtower's hatch.
The returning trio soared into the building on their friend's tailed wake, alighting on the marble floor as Chloe closed the roof panel.
"Told you!" Lightning Lad affirmed.
"Man! Clark?" Impulse stared at his friend. "You just flew?"
"He did, Speedy. That's some trick, Clark," Cyborg admired.
"As Dr. Fate said he would," Stargirl recalled. "Good to have you all back. Is that Supergirl?"
"That's what they call me," Kara indicated. "And who are all of you?"
"They're all friends," Clark indicated. He eyed Green Arrow and Hawkman before continuing, "Even if they don't always act like it." He strode over to Rokk and the Legion. "These folks are the Legion. They helped me against Brainiac two years ago and saved Chloe's life. Lana and I asked them to come back to help us and they've agreed."
"Darkseid must be dealt with," Rokk emphasized. "If we cut off its troop transports, we can limit how many of his monster troops it'll muster here."
"We know where they're coming from," Chloe indicated. She typed on the keyboard bringing up a global image on the large view screen. "They're pouring in from eight locations around the world: central China, Egypt, on the Irish coast, Sydney, Australia, western Germany, Rio de Janeiro, Miami and Edge City."
"We cut 'em off and make them bleed," Hawkman asserted.
"Split up, guys. If we can make teams of three apiece, we can cover the transports. Wish we knew what they look like," Green Arrow presumed.
"They're called Boom Tubes," Rokk noted. "Shadow Lass, White Witch, Element Lad, Ultra Boy, Saturn Girl, Lightning Lad and I all know what they look like. We'll each accompany teams."
"We disable these things and then we'll deal with Lex and Darkseid," Clark indicated. "Cut them off and the conditions return to normal."
"What about the civil unrest and the things running around, Clark?" Byron supposed.
"We'll find a way to deal with them too, Byron. Now let's split off and go," Lana chimed in.
The heroes formed their teams and prepared for their trips into the elements. As they prepared to leave, each person couldn't help but notice the difference in Clark and Lana. They could admire the changes in the duo. As with the Legion, they felt some degree of hope.
"Good luck, Clark," Kara told him.
"Same to you," Clark noted. He glanced toward Lana. "You be careful. Come back to me."
"Same goes for you!" Lana embraced him and kissed his cheek. "I don't want to lose you."
He let the light show in his eyes. "No chance of that ever again. Good luck, Everyone. Byron and Oliver are with me on the way to China." He motioned to his two friends and picked each of them up in his arms. "Just relax."
"Don't forget to pay his dry cleaning bill, Queen!" Hawkman sassed.
"You still owe me for that dinner bill!" Green Arrow fired back.
Clark rolled his eyes. "Up…up…and AWAY!" He took off with his friends into the weather soup.
"Wow," Chloe was worried of course about Clark and Oliver. However she felt so proud of him too. He's done it! He's really done it! She turned to Lana. "You heard Clark! Be safe!"
"No other way to be. You too," Lana concurred while returning the embrace. "Black Canary and Saturn Girl are with me." She followed Clark's path with the other heroines into the sky.
The activities continued to unfold. Heroes departed to deal with Darkseid's supply lines. Some stayed behind to guard Watchtower and serve as a reserve if needed. But it felt like the battle had been joined.
Let the last phase begin…..