(Last time on Return of the Cupboard)
(Washu's lab)
InuYasha looked at Kagome. He had barely left her side except to help with the Doomsday creature and returned when he heard the one called Washu said that Kagome had finally waked up. She smiled at him has she reached for his hand.
"InuYasha what are you going to do now?" She asked.
"What do you mean Kagome?" He asked.
"Since we've finished gathering the jewel shards and since Naraku has been trapped inside of the Jewel what will you do now?" She asked.
"I don't know. I always thought that being a full demon was what I wanted, but things have changed. Kagome seeing you try to sacrifice yourself to save me I don't want to lose you. I'm not strong enough to lose you again." He said has he touched her cheek.
"InuYasha you don't have to be strong enough has long we work together you'll never have to be strong enough. I've been thinking that maybe we should stay in these people's universe." She said looking at him.
"What do you mean Kagome?" He asked.
"Well Miss Washu told me that she could open a portal to our world when we want to visit family." She said.
"What makes you think that I want to visit my family? He's a jerk!" InuYasha said.
"Even so he's your brother, and he has protected you a few times." She said looking at him.
InuYasha stopped arguing knowing that he would lose anyway. His silence was met with a deep kiss and a surprised look on his face.
"That's for being so understanding my husband." She said smiling.
(Virus Infected DC Universe Gotham)
Lobo looked at the dead littering the streets and then heard the moaning coming from the alley ways. He grabbed the girl with him and pulled her back.
"Listen I don't like leaving for no reason, but there is something going on that I don't want to be a part of. We need to find Superman and see what is going on." He said.
(Bat cave)
Terry looked at the computer and then at Alfred in the cryostats tube. He had heard Bruce talk about the old man and wondered what Bruce would do once he found out that Alfred had been infected.
(Outside of Earth's atmosphere)
The infected Lantern held one of Aqua girl's feet. He had been slowly cutting away at her and keeping alive while doing it. If he was still completely able to tell good from evil he would have cursed him-self, but the hunger demanded attention.
(Currently on Return of the cupboard)
(Alternate DC universe Mars)
Jackie stood looking at the waste land around him. He knew that J'onn's people had come from here once, but now the planet was has dead as he felt inside. He walked over toward a rock cliff and without thinking much about it he began writing out the lyrics to Blue October's "Hate me today"
"I have to block out thoughts of you so I don't lose my head. They crawl in like a cockroach leaving babies in my head. Dropping little reels of tape that remind me I'm alone. Playing movies in my head that a porno feel like home. There's a burning in my pride, a nervous bleeding in my brain. An ounce of peace is all I want for you. Will you never call again? And will you never say that you love me just to put it in my face? And will you never try to reach me it was I that wanted space." He wrote on the rock imbedded in the cliff
Has he finished he thought of Raven, Regan, and his mom and dad. His decision had ensured that he could never be close to any of them again. Inside he felt two different beings. There was the person he always had been, but there was a cold uncaring monster that was the android. Each time he faced down the android in his mindscape it got harder. Slowly he could feel the android becoming more and more the dominate personality. His hand moved to the chorus of the song and what he felt that all of those that cared for him needed to do at this point.
"Hate me today. Hate me tomorrow. Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you."
Inside his heart felt heavy at the realization of what this meant. He was accepting that at some point he would become a monster. When this happened his friends, his heroes he looked up to would have to take him out. Gero had done too good of a job on creating a killing machine. Like any other teenager he would never admit to needing anyone. After all it was a universal understanding that boys just don't go crying home to mama, but he would have given his right arm for his mom to be there to comfort him. Silently he began to do something else that boys didn't do. Tears began to stream down his face at the realization he would never grow old, he would outlive all of those around him. Washu, Diana, Damien, Ryoko, and Diana and Damien's Gods and Goddesses would be the only ones alive that he knew when everyone passed on. He didn't doubt that Clark and Clara would live a very, very long time, but they where mortal. Thanks to Gero he was immortal.
"I'm sober now for three whole months. That's one accomplishment you helped me with. The one thing that always tore us apart is the one thing I won't touch again. In my sick way I want to think you for holding my head up at night. While I was busy waging wars on myself you where trying to stop the fight. You never doubted my warped opinions on suicidal hate. You made me compliment myself when it was way too hard to take. So I'll drive you so fucking far away that I'll never cross your mind. And do whatever it takes in your heart to leave me behind." He continued to write a little more shakily than before.
He didn't think of Raven as much has he thought he would. While he wrote this part of the song he thought about Regan. He knew that his sister would come looking for him no matter what. He knew that the only thing he could do at this point was ensure that she never wanted anything else to do with him. It hurt to know he was going to drive the only family he had left away, but what else could he do? If Regan came after him eventually the android would kill her. He feared for Raven has well and naturally he felt himself falling in love with her, but he knew she would think of the good of the earth and the innocent people first. Regan would be bull headed enough to think she could save him.
"Hate me today. Hate me tomorrow. Hate me for all the things I did not do for you. Hate me in ways. Yeah ways hard to swallow. Hate me so you can finally see what's good for you."
The repeat of the chorus brought even more thoughts of loneliness. He knew that even if he managed to overcome the android and not have to worry about fighting every second of every minute for the rest of his life that he would still be alone. He feared the thought of being alone, but what was worse was the thought of watching Regan grow old. She would grow up, get married, and have children. A twinge of jealously rushed through him. His sister would experience life far beyond his current abilities. He knew that according to biology class he had the 'equipment' to engage in an intimate relationship, but he also knew that compared to a full grown man he was going to be less than desirable.
"I'm worrying about getting laid now? God, how pathetic am I?" he asked no one except for himself. He turned his hand back to the rock cliff but stopped when he heard the sound of a machine in the distance. He floated up to the main surface of the planet and moved toward the sound. He would return to the canvas that was the rock cliff and finish feeling sorry for him-self soon enough.
He looked to see a blue light glowing in the distance and got closer. His eyes fixed on the being and he stepped back. It was impossible for him to be here, but there he was. He looked at Dr. Manhattan standing next to newly created clicking clockwork he had finished.
"I know what you are doing here. You're going to tell me that your name is Jackie." Dr. Manhattan said has he created a face for the ticking clock.
"Yeah my name's Jackie. What are you doing here? I thought that you belonged to vastly different universe." Jackie said.
"I do, but I am able to transfer my essence to every universe. Each time I return the red planet for some quiet." Dr. Manhattan said has he looked at Jackie.
"You can come closer. Even with the power granted to you there is no threat to me." Dr. Manhattan said has turned back to the clock.
"How do you know? Dr. Gero made me into a monster, and not just a normal monster but one that follows the commands given to it with the deadly effect of a true machine." Jackie responded.
"Yes, he created a 'machine'. I am the master of the atomic structure. You may be able to bend energy, create huge amounts of heat and electrical energy, but I can change all of it to air. Besides the commands you where given didn't include killing me." Dr. Manhattan said has he looked at the young android.
Jackie looked at the true Meta human and wondered if he could be the only one that it would be safe to be around. Almost as if he was reading Jackie's mind the good doctor spoke up.
"You are only safe for as long as you can control the mechanical monster inside of you. Eventually if you do not clear the prime directives who you are will cease to exist." Dr. Manhattan said has he finally turned his complete attention to Jackie.
"How can I clear them? The only one that I know of who could clear the directives would be Washu or Gero. Gero is dead and I can't go back to the satellite. If I do I'll have to fight with that 'monster' until I can open a portal back home." Jackie said has he set down on the red dirt floor.
"No one said that any action would be easy. The other option would be to manually clear the directives. While I am uncertain of your design I have seen countless androids in countless universes. All of them shared one basic weakness when it came to the prime directives. Their directives could be erased with a large enough electrical surge. It is not without risk, but it could prove to be the best chance you have at not killing anyone." Dr. Manhattan said has he looked at the boy.
"Where can I find a storm that powerful?" Jackie asked.
He watched has Manhattan stretched out his hands and a huge collection of electrical energy began to form in one spot above the surface. Jackie stood and felt the first of thousands of lightning strikes he would endure for the next several hours.
(Virus infected DC universe)
Regan followed Deathstroke until they were within an old factory. She looked around disbelieving at the dirty floors and broken machines until Deathstroke walked toward a brick wall and pushed three bricks in making the wall open up to a whole new room. Inside she saw a massive computer, several small consoles, a large training area, multiple training droids, and a targeting area. She walked inside and turned to see the wall close behind her.
"This is one of the many small installations that I have set up. You have knowledge of this one so once we leave I will not return to it. You are welcome to, but I suggest that anyone who is not able to survive an energy blast to the face doesn't come in." Deathstroke said has he typed in a few commands into the computer and one of the droids changed to look like a green lantern.
"The Green Lanterns use to have a single great weakness. That weakness was the inability to use their rings against anything yellow. Once it was discovered that the yellow energy they couldn't fight against was only stopping them because of their own fears that weakness was designed out of the rings themselves. There is still a great weakness to the Lanterns; however, it is not has obvious and easily done as creating a yellow energy blast. You want to attack when they are not paying attention to you, or you want to destroy the ring in the first blast. I do not believe in training with safeties so I suggest that you get this right the first time." He said has he let the droid go.
Regan jumped back and let out a blast of energy that struck the hand of the droid. It didn't have time to generate a field and the ring was destroyed. She smirked until she noticed the other hand also had a ring. She shot another blast, but it had already created a shield and then returned a blast toward her. She jumped out of the way only to find it hurling a spear made of green energy toward her. Each time she dodged the droid learned more of her movements and it became increasingly harder to get out of the way of the blasts, weapons, and containment nets. Finally she took to Deathstrokes other suggestion and phased through the floor. She came up behind the droid has it looked around for her and created a blade made from pure energy. She drove the blade through the back of the droid and watched it fall to the floor.
"Good, but don't wait so long to kill them. Those things out there will not be fighting has slow as this droid. Remember these droids are designed to fight the way a Green Lantern fights. It is not designed to fight the way one of those flesh eaters fight." Deathstroke said has he launched another droid.
This time the droid looked very different. Regan tried to place it and then it occurred to her that this droid looked like Superman, but it was part cyborg.
"This design is based off of Hank Henshaw. He has died and been reborn more times that most would like to remember. Do not believe that he will not fight against anyone here. Even if he can't be infected Henshaw hates Superman and has the desire to destroy anyone that will help him. His strength and powers are similar to Superman's so you need to use your wits with him." Deathstroke said has he launched the droid.
Regan tried to dodge the droid, but it caught her. She punched it hard only to have the droid smile and grab her shirt. She pulled back and the shirt came off. She covered her-self and threw an energy blast. The droid batted the blast away and came at her faster. She slammed her fist at its neck and watched has the droid stopped. She looked to see the body fall and the head of the droid resting on her now open hand. She watched has the droid's eyes glowed a bright red and blast her up close. She fell to the ground along with the head. Once again the head shot a blast, but this time it seemed to be controlling another droid body to come near it. She watched has the new body picked up the head and the head integrated itself with the new body. Regan felt angry and flew at the droid. She slammed into its body and flew straight through. Once she was on the other side the body exploded and even the head was gone.
"That's much better. I suggest that you get a shirt on though." Deathstroke said as he stood there watching.
Regan thought about how Washu and Ryoko could create clothes from almost nothing at all by thinking it or by regenerating the clothing from their powers. She reached up and found that a pocket of Subspace opened for her. She pulled out a battle suit like Ryoko's and smiled.
"I think that is enough training." She said
"No we are not through." Deathstroke said has he walked forward. She watched him pull a katana from behind him and looked at her.
"You have strength, power, and a little balance between the two, but you are not equipped enough to face those things." He said has he jumped toward her. She dodged only to find the katana being hurled at her. She moved and then looked at a grenade landing next to her. She raised a shield and the grenade went off. Lowering the shield she felt the impact of something striking her. She looked down to see his hand imbedded into her stomach. She moved back surprised and felt another strike on her face. Within seconds he had beaten her into submission and yet she was several times stronger than he was.
"I beat you not because I am stronger, but because of the misconception you have about power. All of your strength, power, energy, and even beauty mean nothing if you don't have the balance to pull all of it together and destroy your enemy." He said has he looked at her lying on the floor. He began to turn around when she grabbed his ankle and made him fall. Quicker than he had been on her she was on him. She struck him time and time again. Each time he never grunted or moaned. After a few minutes she wondered if she had killed him but watched has his hand came up and touched her face.
"You finally understand." He said has he watched her.
"I didn't mean to go nuts like that." She said feeling ashamed.
"You did what you needed to do. Don't worry about anything else than surviving." He said has he got up.
Regan watched him and couldn't pull away from how fit he seemed. He was distant, but in a way that reminded her of Bruce. She never wanted to admit to Jackie that the only hero she had watched from his collection had been Batman. She was able to relate to how Batman had felt with his parents, but at the same time she couldn't understand how he was able to push everyone out of his life. She wanted to do that at times, but now she almost felt as though she needed those connections. In a way she wanted to mark that up to the change in her body chemistry, but the truth was she feared losing everyone that mattered to her.
"Do not let your eyes find something pleasant to distract you." Deathstroke said has he walked out of the training area.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I trained Terra, a girl not much older than you, and she found something distracting. It was distracting for me as well and nothing good came of it." He said simply and turned toward the large computer.
(Metropolis near Monument Park)
Ash, 'Henry', and Morgan stopped near Ironman and Steel. Ash looked at them and seemed to question where the others where.
"We lost the other two. The Lanterns cut them apart. We managed to destroy some of them before some kind of vortex opened up and swallowed several of them." Steel said.
Ash looked at Morgan who merely smiled and seemed to turn her attention to her nails.
"Not that I am complaining but where did that vortex go to?" Ash asked.
"The vortex opened to the entrance of a world of death. A place where creatures much like themselves are already at, but I would assume that because they are Lanterns it will only be a matter of time before they return." She said.