-Chapter Thirty-Six-

The Anti-Life Equation

Xander had always known Angel was no good, the walking undead, despite what everyone had argued about him having a soul, he knew he was right. He was a monster. He had let those girls die, Renee and now Buffy. He was a poison. Every time he came into their lives, something bad happened. Superman glanced over at Xander as he held a hand up keeping him from staking Angel.

"You better explain yourself before they start trying to kill you again," Superman said coldly to Angel who bowed his head, "you can start by telling us where Buffy is?"

"And where you got the nifty new powers?" Faith asked slightly excited causing everyone to turn to her, "oh come on, angry aside it's really hot."

"Gay remember," Willow noted her face softening and then quickening into a glare at Angel as they wanted answers.

"We need to tell them," Angel sighed cryptically. "Yes, we do," Angel said in a different voice, a deeper and powerful voice. Everyone looked at Angel confused as he spoke in two voices and pressed a small white device on his belt buckle. Pinging sounds echoed from the belt, increasing with each ping a white light encircling Angel, with a pop two white figures shot out of Angel, the white light that engulfed him surrounding them.

Clark looked on in shock as two people exploded out of Angel. A strong looking man wearing a metal helmet with yellow lightning bolts across it, his clothing other worldly yet sporting the heroic spandex and the other person; Angel!

The figure that was Angel disappearing leaving the two of them sprawled on the rubble floor. Angel stood up no longer wearing the Twilight clothes and back to his usual dark coat and pants and grey shirt. He got up weakly dazed and confused. Their strangely dressed warrior didn't seem dazed at all getting up to his feet looking over at Angel as he held on to the piece of rubble.

"W-what happened? W-what's going on?" Angel croaked with confusion looking around at every one looking angrily at him.

"Don't worry, the confusion is only temporary," the man said as he typed at the small white device that had caused this strange anomaly waving it at Angel with a ping, "the mother box will give you some clarity."

"Excuse me, Mother Box? Angel and helmet dude splitting in two? What the hell is going on here?" Willow asked with utter confusion.

"My name is Orion," Orion said, his voice deep and commanding, "I am from New Genesis, the planet of the New Gods."

"You were the one who warned Angel of this 'threat'?" Giles queried.

"You planet is in grave danger as is the one you call Buffy Summers," Orion said sternly. "I fled the fire pits of Apokolips to warn your planet of a threat coming to you. I landed in Los Angeles a year ago and met the one you call Angel."

"H-he warned me of a threat coming to us and that Buffy was in danger," Angel croaked his memory reforming as he remembered his and Orion's meeting.

"Yeah from you! You've been attacking her all year!" Xander snarled at Angel who bowed his head softly.

"No, the Twilight fusion was merely a way of preparing her for the main threat and keeping her safe from her enemies," Orion argued.

"It could have been a smart plan," Batman said suddenly, "you have all her enemies under your control. Decrease the bloodshed that would have happened if they'd been made to go at her by themselves and also give her a concrete threat to prepare her for greater one."

"Girls died!" Xander snarled.

"I never said it was a good plan," Batman snarled back, Xander stepping back as Bats glared at him warningly.

"You still haven't told us who this threat is and what this has to do with Buffy?" Green Arrow said impatiently.

"The threat is known as Darksied," Orion spat with disgust at the name 'Darksied', "a New God and ruler of Apokolips the twin planet of New Genesis. At one point the two planets were one but in the end they split in two creating two worlds, one good and virtuous the other evil. New Genesis is ruled by High Father, Apokolips is ruled by the tyrant Darksied."

"He psychically feeds on the misery of others, his world ruled by slavery and despair crushing everyone under his boot," Orion continued snarling with rage at the injustice of Apokolips, "New Genesis and Apokolips have long been fighting an eternal war, in the end both planets gained an uneasy truce with Darksied and High Father trading their sons. Darksied got Scott Free, High Father's son and High Father got... me." He glared at the mere thought of his heritage the face of his father imprinted in his brain laughing at him, "this did not stop Darksied. He continued to search the Galaxy for the Anti-Life Equation. That is why he is here."

"And what is the Anti-Life Equation?" Superman asked knowing that if a monster like Darksied wanted it. It could only be bad.

"It's a formula that will give him complete control of all living things," Orion explained, "Darksied found out about it 300 years ago when he came into contact with the Martians. They defined free will as a Life Equation. Darksied believes there must be a negative equivalent of this equation giving him dominance over all matter. His thirst for this has caused him to destroy and take over planet after planet spreading his darkness throughout most of the universe. Now he wants Earth."

"What does this Anti-Life Equation have to do with Buffy?" Willow asked rubbing her head trying to process all the information.

"She's the chosen one! Destiny!" Giles exclaimed as he realised what Darksied wanted, "he believes she's the Anti-Life Equation."

"What? How?" Dawn exclaimed with confusion.

"You are an anomaly Buffy Summers," Darksied explained as he stood over her in her cell, her entire body still sizzling from the blast of the Omega Beam, "you are chosen. A Chosen Warrior born to fight the forces of evil. It would seem that you have no choice in the matter and yet you have now spread that across the world, into over a thousand females of the planet with more being born each day and spreading across the globe."

"Y-yeah and what does that have to do with anything?" Buffy coughed weakly, "you gonna used me to take control of every Slayer."

"For now," Darksied replied darkly, "I will have control of your army and your destiny will bring forth the Anti-Life Equation."

"The Anti-What?" Buffy asked confused.

"You will find out in due time," Darkseid growled, "but for now, I must address my new dominion."

"You think people are just going to lie down and let you take over," Buffy spat, "hello, we've had wannabe Gods here before trying to take over and the only thing that different about you is they had better dress sense."

Buffy gasped for air the smirk on her face disappearing as Darksied grabbed her by the throat as quick as a flash. He glared at her with his fiery demonic eyes bringing her close to him. "Once I have the equation, I will take great delight in obliterating you from this rock."

"Until then," Buffy croaked for air, "I want a room with a view overlooking the sea."

Buffy dropped to the ground as Darksied let her go turning and walking out of the cell the door slamming shut leaving Buffy in darkness.

"So what do we do?" Willow asked gingerly as they heard of the horrific act that would befall her best friend and so many girls around the world.

"My computer has locked on to all New channels," Batman said as he held a small hand held up, "Darkseid's forces are attacking nearly every major city around the world. Metropolis, Washington, Tokyo, Paris, London."

"We'll split up into teams," Superman said commandingly, "Arrow, you take Willow and Zatanna to Washington. Faith, you take Canary and Cyborg to London. Flash!"

"Yo, what's the haps hombre," Flash smirked as he zipped next to him.

"Where are the girls?" Giles asked urgently.

"I left them in cave a few miles from here," Flash said seriously, "they're safe, don't worry."

"Good," Superman said interrupting Giles before he could speak, they had time to lose, "Flash, contact John Jones. He'll help you."

"Right where am I headed," Flash asked.

"Paris," Superman said knowing full well Flash would like that, "How many of the cells made it to the castle?"

"Just Cleveland and Rome made it here," Xander replied, "London's base is underground as well as the others."

"Contact the cells, have the experienced fighters join you," Superman said as he floated in the air ready for the off, "I don't want anyone who isn't ready in this battle. Flash get the Slayers here. This is their battle."

"We'll take Tokyo," Giles said.

"Good, Willow, teleport everyone to their respected locations," Superman said urgently as he restlessly lifted into the air, "Batman, Angel and Orion you're with me."

"Hey!" Xander exclaimed but disappeared as Willow transported him and Giles to Tokyo with a flash.

"Good luck," Superman said with a nod to the others as Flash sped off to get the Slayers from the cave and the rest of them but Willow disappeared to their battlefields leaving with Salute.

"I have a friend who can help us," Willow shouted up, "I'll send him to help us once I've transported the girls. Good luck."

Superman nodded rocketing in the air, the Batwing following behind, Orion rocketing after them wearing his Astro Harness a now depowered Angel in Batwing with Batman. Night had fallen, but the battle was just beginning.