450

Grodd quickly contacted Luthor again, "Satellite imagery has spotted three groups of Justice League personnel approaching from the West. Superman and Guy Gardner are the leading edge of this group. A Javelin-11 is in pursuit and Mary Marvel and Troia are trailing behind."

Luthor snapped his fingers, "Supreme, Superman is on approach from the West. Deal with him."

Supreme bellowed a war cry as he flew off.


Superman was nearing Harlem when he saw Supreme approaching. He surged forward ahead of Guy. The force of Superman's blow created a shockwave that blew out windows all across the Boroughs. Superman accelerated even more to track Supreme as he was hurtling away across the Atlantic.

It soon became apparent that Supreme was directing his own flight again. As Superman neared the US Virgin Islands he began to hear weapons fire. He spotted the damage done by Supreme as he entered the Checkmate base.

A personnel evacuation was underway when Superman alighted near the door. He wondered who these people reported to. They'd lined all of the interior walls with lead. At this point it was impossible to determine whether or not this was a US government base, a UN agency base, or something devised by Vandal Savage.

Supes entered in only to receive a knee to the face. Supreme grabbed Superman's cape as he was thrown back. Jerking the Kryptonian forward, the Daxamite drove a fist into Superman's gut. An uppercut followed.

Supreme threw Superman across the base. Getting him into a control center, Supreme savagely beat Superman's face. Driven by rage and grief, Superman responded in kind. It swiftly became apparent the two foes were too evenly matched.

Supreme flashed Superman with his heat vision. Superman surged through it to drive a right cross into Supreme's jaw. The now shirtless Superman stood over Supreme.

"Get up!" Superman shouted.

Supreme kicked Superman in the groin. Then he delivered a left cross as he rose. Striding to the massive vault door embedded in the wall, Supreme ripped it off. Seeing a lead box in the center of the room, he knew his guess had been right after all.

Supreme ripped the lid off of the lead box and pulled out the kryptonite shard mounted on a charm held by a necklace. Putting the necklace on, Supreme knew he now held the pivotal advantage. Superman entered the vault and Supreme turned to face him.

"Lead may be fatal to my kind but we have developed serums to fight its effects," Supreme giddily watched as Superman could barely stand, "What do you have? Death is the only escape from the ravages of this stone."

Supreme took hold of Superman's head and repeatedly smashed his face into the wall. His face a bloody pulp, Superman slid to the floor and slumped over. He wondered what he even had to live for anymore as the darkness slowly took him.


Penny brought the Javelin-11 to the eastern section of Madison Square Garden's parking area. The only vehicles were destroyed military vehicles disabled by Red Torpedo, the Teen Titans, and early arriving JLers. She could see Guy doing a sweep of the area, presumably picking his targets.

Penny released the shuttle's weapons and eased down to the blacktop beneath her. Lowering the cargo ramp, she kept the landing gear up. This way she could rotate and bring her weapons to bear on emerging threats.

Penny had come a long way since joining the Justice League's support staff. Flying missions beside the Blackhawk Squadron had sent her into fire and death. And the incoming reports proved that even JLers weren't immune to death's cold embrace.

"Y'all better hurry," Penny broadcast over the shuttle's loudspeaker, "The Legion is sendin' baddies your way."


Sand double clicked his signal device's transmitter. Penny lifted off and then boosted her speed to streak off over the city. Assuming an orbit around Manhattan, she spotted an Oracle-5 inbound. They'd be arriving inside of ten minutes. Things were about to get a whole lot more interesting.

Sand was confronted by Brain and Mallah as the Leaguers dispersed. Brain practically vibrated with excitement, "Sand, it is fortuitous that we should encounter you first and foremost."

"Where are your usual minions?" Sand scoffed.

"The Brotherhood is a collective that has nominated me as its leader. Anytime they want me to step down, I shall," Brain promised.

"Can you even smell what you're shoveling?" Sand wondered.

"I've so wanted to meet you," Brain ignored Sand's sarcasm.

"Really? Because you usually run and hide anytime I'm around, or any of my teammates are around, for that matter," Sand snorted.

A port on Brain's cylindrical housing opened and a fusion pulse fired at Sand. His silicate body fused into glass. Mallah was beside himself with joy.

"Now, my love, can I finish him off?" he wondered.

"Indeed," Brain acquiesced.

Mallah used his assault rifle to shatter Sand into fragments. Brain's photoreceptors scanned Sand's shards while Mallah reloaded, "Admirably done, my sweet Mallah. Now let us seek out and aid our Brotherhood."

"Love, would you truly step down if asked to?" Mallah asked as they departed.

"Of course not!" Brain huffed.


Black Canary and Green Arrow were presented with a trio comprised of Copperhead, Penguin, and Two Face. Green Arrow decided to warn them off, "You'd better just lace your fingers behind your head right now. Some of your goomba buddies have killed my friends today and I'm looking to dish out serious payback."

"Really? There have been fatalities?" Penguin asked, "How glorious!"

"Like you didn't already know," Black Canary accused.

"Truly we didn't," Penguin assured them, "When the Legion withdrew from your fair cities, we left you in the supposedly capable hands of the Injustice League. Apparently they managed to kill some, if not all, of you after all."

"You owe me two thousand dollars," Two Face reminded Penguin.

"Yes, yes," Penguin replied testily.

"I take it you're not giving up?" Green Arrow grated.

Two Face tossed his coin into the air. Green Arrow drew an arrow, nocked it, drew it back, and fired it so fast he knocked the coin away before Two Face could catch it. Two Face went stumbling about trying to recover it.

"Drat!" Penguin complained, "That coin shall be the end of him yet."

Green Arrow repeated the motions but Penguin got his umbrella open in time. The arrow bounced uselessly off. Green Arrow was momentarily nonplussed.

"I suppose you think you're rather clever with these bow and arrow tricks?" Penguin asked.

"Pretty much," Green Arrow admitted as he drew and aimed another arrow.

Gren Arrow fired again and again the arrow bounced off. Penguin chuckled, "Reinforced Kevlar, my Emerald Archer. And that's not all."

A small missile fired out of the umbrella's tip. It detonated near Green Arrow like a fabled explosive bullet. It rattled Green Arrow enough he didn't see Two Face recover his coin. Two Face lobbed the coin again before catching it and slapping it down on the back of his hand.

Seeing the results, Two Face began to chuckle as he drew both pistols from twin shoulder holsters. He approached Green Arrow while the archer traded shots with Penguin, "It hasn't been nice knowing you."

Green Arrow realized his mistake before Two Face emptied both guns into his chest. Penguin congratulated him, "I knew you'd eventually make up your mind. It's a good thing too. I was out of ammo."

"What about this one?" Copperhead asked from where he was wrapped around Black Canary's body and had his tail clamped around her mouth.

Two Face tossed his coin and sighed, "And she has better luck."

"I think I'll keep her as a trophy. What is more beautiful than a canary in a cage?" Penguin mused.

Black Canary began struggling again. Copperhead shook his head, "You'll have to mute her."

A six inch blade popped out of Penguin's umbrella beside the tip, "I think I'm qualified to perform surgery. And if she doesn't survive there are plenty of other pretty birds out there."

Copperhead constricted until Black Canary couldn't breathe at all and then he held the pressure. She finally passed out and he laid her on the ground. Penguin loomed over her.

"Hold her in case she wakes up during the procedure," He requested.


"I hear you're another creature of the night," the Shade spoke to Dr. Mid-Nite, "Care to test out my brand of darkness?"

Ebon streams began to flow out the top of the Shade's cane. It began to blanket the area. Dr. Mid-Nite was startled to discover he couldn't see through it. But as a man who couldn't see in the light he utilized special goggles in his mask to block out all light sources, natural and artificial.

But the goggles had a second, rarely used, function. He activated their infrared scanning abilities and his vision was restored. But he could see shapes moving in the dark with the Shade centered in between it all.

Dr. Mid-Nite had already deduced that if he dealt with the Shade, everything would be restored to normal. He purposefully strode straight for the Shade. The Shade laughed.

"It seems you can see after all," he realized, "But can you fight the darkness?"

One of the nebulous shapes struck Dr. Mid-Nite. he staggered to one side, right into another blow. They came from all sides. If he dodged one, he was struck by another. They seemed grown from the darkness itself. Everything converged on Dr. Mid-Nite and beat him into unconsciousness.

"And you call yourself a man of the night," the Shade tsked.


"It seems we finally meet," Half-Ape gladly declared to the Atom. His simian half hooted and grunted its agreement.

"This is worse than Two Face," Atom said sourly.

"What was that?" Half-Ape asked irritably, "Are you mocking me?"

"Why don't you ask your better half?" Atom suggested.

"I'll kill you for that insult," Half-Ape promised.

"How do you propose to keep me from shrinking to atomic level and riding atomic bonds to your location and then restoring my natural height and subduing you?" Atom wondered.

Half-Ape pulled a directional hypersonic generator out and fired it at Atom. He passed out and Half-Ape elucidated, "Knowing I would eventually face you I had to develop a weapon that could neutralize any opponent regardless of size. But this explanation is wasted since you're already unconscious."

Half-Ape adjusted the emitter's settings, "Now I'll just calibrate my little toy to liquefy flash and bone. At least it worked under laboratory conditions. Given this is a field test, it may be a prolonged process and you may also be awake for most of it. So thank you for volunteering for human trials."

Half-Ape's gorilla half wildly agreed.


"And just how do you intend to beat me?" Aztek insolently asked the Key.

"With this, of course," the Key simply replied as he drew a key shaped pistol from his belt.

The Key fired at the middle distance between Aztek and himself. A tear in the fabric of reality opened up. Aztek realized it was unidirectional since the Key was affected by its strong pull.

"Holy...!" Aztek flew off of his feet and into the fissure.

The Key fired a second shot that repaired the rift, "Good luck on whatever world you end up in."


"I hear you have Sinestro's ring now, punk," Atomic Skull told Guy.

"That's right, Campfire Girl," Guy taunted right back.

"Gawd, you're not even witty. Just like Sinestro himself," Atomic Skull complained.

"So what'cha gonna do about it?" Guy wanted to know.

"Just this!" Atomic Skull released a radiation pulse unlike any other he'd ever conjured.

Guy erected a shield after being hit by a thousand rads. Atomic Skull laughed at him, "Too late, sucker. You'll be lucky to survive another twenty-four hours. Your corpse will glow in the dark for fifty thousand years."

"Say what?" Guy dreaded the news.

"I hit you with enough radiation to guarantee a kill on anyone short of a Super or a Marvel. You're a walking dead man. Like I said before. You'll be lucky to get twenty-four hours outta the deal. Use `em while you got `em."

Guy launched himself into space. Passing by Captain Atom and Major Force he reached the edge of the solar system within minutes. There he opened a wormhole and disappeared.


Back on Earth, Atomic Skull chuckled, "And don't bother comin' back."

"What's with you?" Ragdoll asked Wildcat, "You look younger somehow."

"Must be your imagination," Wildcat replied, "But if you want a complete explanation, wait for my fist to hit your face. It'll do all the talking."

"Well, your sense of humor hasn't improved," Ragdoll commented.

Wildcat came at Ragdoll throwing jabs and punches. Ragdoll just rolled with each one until he threw a backspin kick at Wildcat. Wildcat caught the leg and punched Ragdoll's kidney.

"Hey! That's not very sportsmanlike!" Ragdoll cajoled him as he broke free of Wildcat's grip.

"Aw, shut up!" Wildcat went back to work.

Ragdoll took the initiative and flew at Wildcat with a wild series of punches and kicks using a dozen different forms adapted to his triple jointed body. As Wildcat backpedaled Ragdoll mocked him, "You should give up on just boxing, old man."

Wildcat grinned, "Who're you calling 'old'?"

He thrust his knee into Ragdoll's jaw. Next, he slapped Ragdoll's ears. The he delivered a round kick to Ragdoll's head.

"Let's see you contort out of that," Wildcat challenged his opponent.

Wildcat delivered a right cross followed by a left. Ragdoll crumpled in on himself. Wildcat dusted off his hands.

"And stay down, buddy," He urged Ragdoll.

He turned away to see what other JLers might need help. Ragdoll leapt atop his shoulders. Wrapping his legs tight around Wildcat's neck, he incrementally began to squeeze until Wildcat couldn't breathe.

Newfound youth notwithstanding, Wildcat needed air just like anyone else. Ragdoll mirthfully chuckled, "Big, bad Wildcat has obviously never gone possum hunting."

Wildcat slowly sank to his knees and eventually fell forward. Finally his arms stopped tugging at Ragdoll's legs. Wildcat went limp and Ragdoll continued holding him for another twenty seconds.

He released his hold and stood up, "I really should have broken your neck. It'd be easier than what the others will come up with. Oh well."


Jay Garrick came upon Mad Hatter's minions looting stores and banks. They were primarily composed of World Army troops but various office and retail workers had been snared as well. Jay was about to intervene when he heard a scream.

He saw a woman in a red hood being chased by an amorous Mad Hatter. Jay knocked the Hatter over, "I thought Alice in Wonderland was your fixation. When did you go all Little Red Riding Hood?"

"As though I'd tell you," the Mad Hatter replied.

Jay turned to where the woman had tripped and fallen. The Hatter retrieved his hat while Jay asked her, "Are you all right, miss?"

She turned on him and slapped one of the Hatter's mind control interfaces on his forehead. Jay's eyes blanked out and the Mad Hatter savored the victory.

"Now what should I do with my very own personal Flash?" the Hatter gleefully wondered.


"Everyone clear out!" Commander Steel ordered, "I'll deal with Silver Banshee."

Mr. America and Red Beetle didn't need to be told twice. However, Judomaster hesitated, "But..."

"Sonya, please. I'll be fine," Commander Steel insisted.

"True love," Silver Banshee laughed before sneering, "Pathetic. I'll take care of you in a moment and then deal with her."

"Your ignorance about me is what's pathetic," Commander Steel retorted.

"What's to know? You're already dead," Silver Banshee said dismissively before she began to wail.

And Commander Steel stunned her when he was apparently unfazed by her screams. The truth was, Commander Steel's internal organs were affected but Silver Banshee drained a person's life essence through an organic body. And very little of Commander Steel was still organic.

It had begun when his grandfather, the first Commander Steel, had replaced Hank Heyward III's bones with alloy replacements. Then he'd augmented Hank's body by replacing muscle tissues with synthetic replacements. Finally, his skin had been replaced with reinforced synth flesh. And a second Commander Steel had been born.

Commander Steel used the opportunity afforded by Silver Banshee's puzzlement to unload a right cross on her jaw thereby knocking off of her feet. Silver Banshee reeled as Commander Steel grabbed her tunic and pulled her up. He then delivered two punches in short order.

Silver Banshee kneed his testicles. Commander Steel released her and she smiled, "I see those are still vulnerable."

Silver Banshee backed up and screamed again with all of her might. Commander Steel could feel the effects in earnest this time. But he purposefully strode towards her. He was too determined to let her stop him now.

He throttled her into unconsciousness. And then he bounced her head off of the pavement a few times. Finally, he passed out.


Cheetah roared as she ambushed Judomaster. But just as suddenly as Judomaster had been in her sights, she'd moved aside and Cheetah missed. Cheetah smirked as she turned to face Judomaster.

"Pretty impressive. I don't usually miss," Cheetah confided.

"So is the ability to become a cat person," Judomaster confessed.

"I don't become anything," Cheetah grated, "I'm this way 24/7."

"Was the transformation painful?" Judomaster inquired.

"What?" Cheetah was flabbergasted.

"If you are brilliant enough to affect such a transformation then you are capable of reversing it," Judomaster suggested, "Unless you do not truly wish to."

"You think you're so smart!" Cheetah angrily accused.

Judomaster faltered, "Please, my English is still not very good. Perhaps I misspoke."

"Look you little hussy, I'm a superior life form. I'm just looking for a superior breeding partner to create a new race with," Cheetah boasted.

"So I spoke the truth after all," Judomaster nodded her understanding.

"I'll show you the truth!" Cheetah snarled and she began to lunge a Judomaster.

Judomaster's backspin kick knocked Cheetah down, "Please, I do not wish to hurt you."

"But I wish to hurt you!" Cheetah roared as she pounced.

Judomaster caught and pinned her with one arm behind her back and the other caught between her legs. Cheetah laughed, "You can't hold me forever."

"I do not need to," Judomaster released the arm behind Cheetah's back and chopped down on her nerve cluster in her neck before Cheetah could respond. The Legionnaire fell lifelessly to the ground.

Judomaster looked around for other threats. Not seeing any she made a decision, "Now to check on Commander Steel."


Mr. America and Red Beetle had stumbled right into Queen Bee. Now they were racing away from her. So far they'd covered several blocks with Queen Bee flying after them.

"Keep running!" Mr. America urged Red Beetle on.

"Quick! The subway!" Red Beetle pointed ahead of them.

They entered and vaulted down to the next landing and a whole swarm of people. Countless civilians were in the subway stations, and even some in the tunnels, while the battles raged on above them. Red Beetle and Mr. America were immediately dismayed.

"Oh hell," Red Beetle grimaced.

"And we led her straight to them," Mr. America grimly realized.

"Ah, a perfect spot to select my future human hybrid drones from," Queen Bee laughed as she hovered at the entrance.

"Why would you do that?" Red Beetle wanted to know.

"Because I was dethroned on my home world and I discovered human genetic material was adaptable to my needs. Once I have a cadre of drones to breed with, I will create an army loyal to me and reclaim my planet," Queen Bee announced haughtily.

Despite her multifaceted eyes she hadn't noticed Mr. America had uncoiled his whip. He snapped it at Queen Bee and it struck her in the chest with hyperkinetic force, flinging her out into the street beyond. Mr. America loosely coiled the whip in one hand and began running up the stairs.

"Stay here with them!" he yelled back at Red Beetle.

"The hell with that!" she shouted back as she followed him.

They reached the outer sidewalk and their eyes searched the street. But there was no sign of Queen Bee anywhere. Then they heard the buzz of her wings. They looked up to see Queen Bee launching herself off of the wall she'd been clinging to.

They were downed by her electro stinger. She landed next to their fallen bodies and began adjusting her weapon's setting, "It will take a moment or two to reset this to flay flesh off of bone but I think it will be worth the effort. Don't you?"


Galatea had caught up with the Blackhawk Squadron's Oracle-5 over Connecticut. Blackhawk saw Galatea wave at him. She was frowning and pointed ahead of them. Then she streaked off into the distance.

"She must have spotted something," Blackhawk said dourly.

"She's one of the most powerful beings on this planet. I think she'll be fine," Lady Blackhawk reassured him.

"I know all that. I still worry. It's a husband's prerogative," Blackhawk told her.

"What would I know about it?" Lady Blackhawk muttered to herself.


Galatea dove down to Luthor's position. The pavement cracked underneath her as she landed. Luthor chuckled.

"As impressive as ever," Luthor applauded her, "You always have known how to make an entrance."

"I also remember how to break human bodies," Galatea warned him.

"Not today, I'm afraid," Luthor nodded to his right.

Stompa charged into Galatea and shoulder checked her right off of her feet. Then Stompa tried planting a boot in Galatea's chest. Galatea could see the energy created by matter/antimatter annihilation from Stompa's boot soles. Galatea twisted Stompa's ankle, and threw her off while the New God was off balance.

Lashina stepped into the fray, "I suppose I'll just have to deal with you as I did Wonder Woman. Why, I practically ruined her for all men."

"I don't play as nice as the Princess," Galatea warned her.

Stompa came at Galatea from behind her. Tea spun around and stopped Stompa by the shoulders. The she took hold of Stompa's head and bent her over. Driving her knee into Stompa's face a dozen times at super speed, Galatea tossed Stompa aside with a ruined and bloody face.

Galatea faced Lashina once again, "Your turn."

Lashina snapped her whip out and it wrapped around Galatea's arm. She energized it even as Galatea grunted as she went airborne and lifted Lashina off of the ground. Galatea began to throw Lashina around in an infinity symbol pattern. The she descended and smashed Lashina into the ground.

Yanking the whip out of Lashina's hand, Galatea threw that away and landed next to Lashina herself. Lashina rose and then threw herself at Galatea. Gripping Galatea's arm, she laughed.

"You dolts keep forgetting I am the source of my whip's power," Lashina boasted.

"And...I...am...the...source...of...mine!" Galatea grated between clenched teeth.

Lashina's left hand attempted to grope Galatea's groin. Tea intercepted the hand and used her other to throttle Lashina. Looking down at where she held Lashina's hand at bay, she used her heat vision to burn a hole through Lashina's palm and out the other side.

Lashina screamed and stopped her energizing field. Galatea grabbed a hold of her head and smashed it into the ground several times. Rising, she confronted the remaining Female Furies.

"Next?" she asked defiantly.

Malice Vundabar tittered and giggled as she stepped forward, "You've been naughty. And Chessie doesn't like girls that have been naughty."

Galatea groaned inside as a rift formed and a shadow demon emerged. Chessure was Malice's one and only true friend. And it was an all consuming monster...just like her.

Chessure leapt atop Galatea and its toothy grin opened into a gaping maw of ebon teeth. Chessure's claws raked and tore at Galatea while she was on her back. All of her efforts were concentrated on keeping Chessure's jaws from biting her head clean off.


The Oracle-5 flew by overhead. Anna managed one last teleporting spell and she, Zatanna, Hawk, and Dove appeared on the ground below. Luthor nodded towards several Legionnaires.

"This is the moment you've waited for," he told them, "Deal with these interlopers."

Bloody Mary and Mad Harriet moved in to intercept Anna and Zatanna. Anna shook her head in frustration upon seeing Bloody Mary, "Not this one again."

"It seems you brought a juicy morsel to me, Agent of Order," Bloody Mary licked her upper lip suggestively.

"Don't you know it isn't nice to play with your food?" Zatanna asked as she created a flaming cage around Bloody Mary.

Anna used a simple repulsion spell on Mad Harriet. Zatanna looked at Anna, "Couldn't you use a little White Light to deal with the nesferatu?"

"The Entity was inclined to impart some unto me on your behalf earlier. It was not due to my own merits," Anna informed her.

"But you're an Agent of Order," Zatanna argued.

"So was Jack the Ripper, and he still is," Anna countered, "Order does not necessarily translate into mercy or kindness. Often times it is manifested as the complete opposite."

"Are you really comparing yourself to Jack the Ripper?" Zee had to wonder.

"The truth is what it is and it stands on itself," Anna replied, "But it is also open to interpretation."

Zatanna was reminded of how little she knew of her friend's background. It was little wonder Anna drove the Question mad. Her entire life was a riddle.

Bloody Mary's cage exploded and she stepped clear of it, "Have you anything better to offer, my little crumpet?"

"I'll handle this one," Anna warded Zatanna away from Bloody Mary, "Beware, Mad Harriet is undoubtedly lurking nearby."

Zatanna thought she heard snickering as Anna moved off. Zee spun around and threw a fire bolt. But no one was there.

Then she felt Mad Harriet's energy claws dig into her back. And then voltage tore through her and ripped a scream from her lips. Mad Harriet's manic laughter filled the air as Zatanna passed out.

"Aw, the pretty-pretty is broken," Mad Harriet said in a lilting sing-song, "But not broken enough."


Bloody Mary lifted into the sky and Anna followed. She seemed to be searching for something specific. Anna saw her fellow Leaguers in peril but concentrated on Bloody Mary and her trail.

Bloody Mary came to a landing beside Atom Smasher, "Tell me, should I drain him of his life essence and swallow him whole? Or will you offer yourself in his place?"

Anna fired her arm cannon. The spell casing detonated against Bloody Mary and a healing spell gorged her. She swelled like an overinflated balloon and could barely move much less threaten anyone. And then the Weather Wizard spoke as the Rogues descended upon her.

"Welcome to our parlor," he said.

And Anna believed the veritable spiders had arrived.


"Aw dammit!" Hawk bellyached, "Not these jokers again."

Dove watched as Condor and Swan interposed themselves between them and Luthor, "At least they didn't bring Kestrel and Osprey along for the ride."

"Dove, your optimism gets pretty damn annoying at times," Hawk complained.

"We both agree," Swan catcalled.

Dove and Swan broke off to face one another unencumbered by their respective partners. Swan laughed, "It's always nice when us girls try and kill each other without the men getting in the way."

"I'll give you a choice," Dove countered, "Turn human and walk away. I won't come after you if you do."

"I have a better idea," Swan offered, "How about I sing?"

Dove knew one of Swan's songs could shatter metal. She pushed forward and karate chopped Swan's throat. Swan went down on her hands and knees gasping and choking while struggling to breathe.

Dove turned to find out how Hawk was doing when a hand clamped over throat and a piercing pain seared through her stomach. Looking down, Dove saw Swan had plunged a dagger into her gut.

"Never turn your back on me," Swan rasped in Dove's ear.


Hawk and Condor raged against one another with their heightened strength and reflexes. They also both had fingertip claws provided by the Lords of Chaos. Condor nearly eviscerated Hawk but Hawk gouged out one of Condor's eyes. They stepped back from each other to allow their healing factors to repair the damage within minutes.

Hawk saw a flare of light from where Dove had gotten off to, "Dove?"

Condor surged forward and snapped Hawk's neck. Then he let a victorious war cry out of his mouth.


Mary had caught up with Troia as they both left Fawcett City. Mary gave Troia a boost in speed by taking her by the armpits and accelerating far beyond any speed Troia could achieve on her own. Now they were flying over Manhattan.

"Everyone's in trouble," Mary lamented.

"Forget them," Troia broke free of Mary's grip, "We take Luthor and we cut the head off of the snake."

"Where is he?" Mary wondered.

"Dead ahead, making for Madison Square Garden," Troia pointed out.

They landed in Luthor's path. Gilotina and Bernadeth stepped forward as Luthor told them, "I don't have time for this."

Troia was surprised by Gilotina's new attire. She had adopted Romanesque armor with her twin swords still strapped to her back. She drew them and Troia observed they closely resembled Chinese Dao swords. She also realized that she and the New God were polarized versions of one another. One dark haired with dark clothes and bronze armor and the other fair haired with gleaming steel armor.

Gilotina smiled upon seeing Troia, "Finally, a challenge."

Gilotina exploded into action and Troia could barely block sword strokes with her bracelets. It was a meeting of two "unbreakable" metals. One mined on Olympus and the other on Argo.

Troia kicked out, throwing Gilotina back. Donna grabbed her lasso off of her belt and threw it around Gilotina's crossed swords. The New God struggled to slice through the rope but it had been forged by Hephaestus himself. Troia yanked the swords from Gilotina's hands.

But she was surprised when Gilotina merely smirked. Gilotina threw a chopping motion at a nearby lamp post and her hand sliced through the metal. Troia was admittedly startled.

"The swords are a convenient tool but I'm a living weapon," Gilotina bragged.

Gilotina's hands flashed around Troia so fast she could barely keep up. Thought and deed were one with Gilotina. She had no tells to reveal where she would strike next. Finally, Gilotina ended the battle with a blow to Troia's temple.

Gilotina retrieved her swords and sheathed them. Then she knelt next to Troia, "I would sooner keep you as pet sparring partner but I doubt Granny and Lashina would approve. And since I can't have you following us, I'll make this quick."


The edges of Bernadeth's fahren blades began to glow as she stalked towards Mary Marvel, "I'm going to cook you from the inside out."

Mary simply crossed her arms and gave Bernadeth a skeptical look, "I've survived fighting Darkseid and you think you can frighten me with a pair of glowing knives?"

"You'll die while still being impudent!" Bernadeth angrily declared. She lunged at Mary and Mary hopped out of the way. Bernadeth tried a slashing stroke but Mary moved away again.

This pattern repeated itself several times before Bernadeth screamed, "Hold still!"

"And let you stab me?" Mary was incredulous, "Besides, this is really informative."

An arrow imbedded itself in Mary's chest. As she stared at it, a second pierced her chest. Mary staggered before a third struck her. Her knees wobbled and she collapsed.

Bernadeth turned to see Artemiz approach, "You're welcome, by the way."

The Cyberpak joined their mistress at Mary's side. Artemiz look at Mary gasping, "I'll be headed indoors for now. Think you can handle her?"

"Of course," Bernadeth assured her snippily. As the other Female Fury withdrew, Bernadeth wore a cruel smile as she loomed over Mary, "The Master will be so pleased."