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Chapter 9- Keeping the bargains
Earth-167, Metropolis, LexCorp Building
Batman pressed some commands on his mini-computer and the doors to Lex's office in front of him opened, as he walked in, typing more commands which took out the cameras. The guards had already been knocked out by gas pellets before they had seen him, and that included Otis as well.
Batman walked into the office, seeing a figure crouching near the computer and typing something into it.
The figure turned to Batman and he groaned on seeing it. It was someone dressed in a Batman suit with the symbol in a red emblem, but his face was pale like chalk, and he had green hair, and a smile carved on his face.
"Not another one", Batman groaned at the sight of Joker Bruce who laughed hysterically as he walked to him.
"Hey Batman!" Joker Bruce laughed. "You enjoyed any booms recently?"
"I did, unfortunately", Batman said.
"Well then you won't mind if I use Lex's satellite to launch more booms, would you?" Joker Bruce asked as he laughed again.
"Actually", Batman said. "I would."
He suddenly hurled a batarang as Joker Bruce narrowly avoided it by leaning sideways, and as he straightened himself, Batman leapt and kneed his face, staggering him back, before elbowing his chest in a spin motion and then punched his face in a spin motion again.
He tried to punch again but Joker Bruce blocked and head-butted him with a laugh, staggering him back. "You forget. I am not just Joker. I am Joker and you!"
"Yeah, but the other one was smarter", Batman quipped, angering Joker Bruce as he tried to punch again but Batman ducked and grabbing him, lifted him up by the waist and tossed him onto a table, shattering it as well.
Joker Bruce hurled a batarang as Batman leaned sideways to avoid it but was kicked back, sending him falling as well.
That was when Nightwing leapt in the way, twirling his sticks, which glowed with electricity, and hit Joker Bruce on the face twice, hitting him with shocks as he made over-exaggerated sounds while Nightwing struck his abdomen too and then his face again before elbowing him away in a spin motion.
Batman rushed past them to the computers, typing in some commands as the satellite's launching was deactivated, stopping any missiles that could have been launched.
"No booms now!" Joker Bruce complained, only to get a kick to the face as he staggered back. That was when Batman struck his head really hard from behind, making him groan as he fell on the ground, knocked out.
Superboy and Megan then flew in as she said. "J'onn told me he had been kept away in the Martian prison."
"Guess The Batman Who Laughs set him free", Superboy sighed.
"Take him away", Nightwing ordered and they nodded as Megan picked up Joker Bruce and the two flew out.
"Guess it's over now", Nightwing said. "We only need to find Superman now."
"And I hope you do", Lex Luthor said as he walked in. "But what I cannot tell is why are you both in my office? You are trespassing!"
"Well, the freak you recruited ended up recruiting another freak, and he trespassed first", Nightwing shrugged as Lex glared at them.
"If you do not get out, it will not end we-"
He was cut off when Batman punched him on the face, knocking him out, before turning to Nightwing. "Always wanted to do that to my Lex. Guess I'll have to settle for an even more evil version of him."
"Let's go", Nightwing said as both of them walked out of the building.
Same time, Earth-10005, New York City
"You really outdid yourself this time, Doom", Reed spat out at him as he staggered, with Susan supporting him. "Attacking our city with Demons and taking away the Phoenix Force? I have to hand it to you there."
"But it's over now!" Mystique said to him. "You are going down Doom."
"I shall smite you where you stand right now", Thor snarled as he raised Stormbreaker.
"You shall do nothing", Doom told them calmly. "And neither shall the world, because I am ruler of Latveria."
"Look around Vic, this isn't Latveria, this is New York", Johnny quipped. "We can light up your ass on fire here."
"Amusing", Doom shook his head. "But not something I feel threatened by."
"We know we can't kill you, but we are not letting you go so easily", Tony said to him.
"What will you do?" Doom asked. "Bore me to death with the words your feeble mind comes up with?"
Tony glared as Steve said. "You shall face consequences for what you did."
"No I won't", Doom shook his head. "And you all are going to let me go."
Shao-Lao of all people laughed, and it could be heard even outside the city. "And why are we going to do that?"
"Doom stupid", Hulk grunted.
"I am smarter than you and Bruce Banner put together", Doom said calmly as Hulk snarled at him. He then looked at them all. "You remember when Superman of Earth-167 attacked you due to being possessed by something?"
"Yes, we do", Wanda said, not liking where this was going.
"Well, he is free of the Demon, but not free of me", Doom revealed, to their shock. "And don't look for him in Latveria or New York. I am not so feeble-minded to keep him where anyone can find him."
"I tried to look for him by sensing his Kryptonian energy", John revealed. "But even I can't pinpoint the exact location."
"Me neither", Strange said regretfully.
"That is because The Batman Who Laughs weakened him greatly before sending him to me", Doom said. "And the Demon possession weakened him even more. He is not at his full strength, so it is difficult for you to track him."
"Where exactly are you going with this?" Pietro asked.
"Fast legs, slow mind", Doom mocked him as he glared. "At least I used the Speed Force to enhance mine when you helped Annihilus defeat me all those months ago."
"So you've been planning it since then, eh?" Quicksilver asked.
"Much longer than that", Logan snarled, angry at Doom for being responsible for his Jean's death.
"Well, even after all of that, he didn't get the Phoenix Force, did he?" Jean asked. "His loss."
"For now", Doom said. "This was just a match. We haven't finished the entire competition yet."
"What are your demands, Victor?" Susan asked.
"You shall let me go, and I will return Kal-El to you", Doom said. "And I shall help you expose my co-conspirator in this."
"Who's that?" Sif asked.
"Lex Luthor of Earth-167", Doom said casually, shocking them all. "He had The Batman Who Laughs and Joker of Earth-38 in his custody for months, and came to me for help in his petty schemes. I used his schemes to further my own. He unleashed his freaks while I unleashed my Demons. The Batman Who Laughs weakened the League enough for Lex to swoop in and save the day, so he could be the hero, while The Batman Who Laughs sent Superman to me, to help me in defeating you all."
"So that's what happened", John said.
"And how shall we prove that?" T'Challa asked.
"With this", Doom said as he conjured some files and video recordings in his hand. "They have proof of Lex holding The Batman Who Laughs and Joker in his custody, helping The Batman Who Laughs build his own suit, letting them both go, and giving a nuke to the Joker of all people. And he thinks he is smart."
Doom walked to John and handed him all of it. "This shall end Lex forever."
He then walked off, opening a portal. "Once this closes, another shall open, and Kal-El shall be returned to you."
He walked into the portal and that was when another opened, with Kal falling out of it and crashing to the ground, groaning in pain as Quicksilver ran to him, helping him. "Easy buddy, you're gonna be okay."
"I-I need…..to get back", Kal groaned.
"You will, Clark", John assured him as he walked to him, lifting up the evidence. "And here is a gift for you."
"What is it?" Kal asked.
"Stuff that will keep Lex behind bars for 7 lifetimes", Tony revealed as Kal managed a smile. At least some good had managed to happen now.
Later, Earth-167, Metropolis, Watchtower
There was a flash of light as a fiery portal opened and out walked John, supporting Kal.
"Clark!" Lois yelled happily as she ran to him, hugging him with tears as she kissed him on the lips. "Clark, are you okay? Did anything happen? You get hurt?"
"I did, but it's not too bad", Kal groaned. "Just get me under yellow sun lamps."
"Sure", Lois said as Chloe ran to them too, helping Kal while John held out the evidence.
"What's this?" Chloe asked as Emil took over from her, helping Kal lie down as he switched on the sun lamps for him.
"Turns out dear Mr. Luthor had someone pulling his strings too", John revealed as Chloe and Lois listened. "And that someone cares about him as much as he cares about the ground he steps on."
"So this is evidence?" Lois asked and he nodded.
"He won't be able to fight his way out of this, even with his army of lawyers", John said as Lois and Chloe exchanged joyful smiles, the former taking it from John.
"Well Baldie, this is why you should have never hit Clark with your car", Lois quipped as she looked at the files, deciding to give them a thorough read before giving them up to the police as well as Daily Planet.
Same time, Earth-10005, Latveria
Doom stood near a table in his throne room, not showing any emotion as Lex stood behind him, not seeing his face.
"So, I saved the League from The Batman Who Laughs, who was banished by that magician guy", Lex said. "My reputation is improving, Clark managed to come to you and take down some Heroes for you, giving you the chance to take the Phoenix Force. Sorry to hear it left you."
Doom gave no response as Lex asked. "You can get it back though, right? I mean, I am sure you can do it."
That was when Doom finally spoke.
"Once, nearly a lifetime ago, I had a horse. Beautiful creature, long legs, deep chest, and a fiery look in his eye. I called him Arion, after the Greek myth, but I doubt there's such things as myths these days. All the families thought they had the best horse, "ours is the fastest", "ours is the toughest", "ours can go days without rest". I proved them all wrong. Arion could gallop circles around them, because I made sure that he was the perfect horse, better than any that came before. Brushing, feeding, caring, I did it all. One day, after another clan of Romani's were proven wrong by Arion and I, these newcomers approached our camp. Even by our standards, these people were in poor shape, but my father welcomed them all the same. Their son, cocky like teenagers usually are, heard of the reputation mine and my horse had attained. Wanted to prove himself the new top dog, as bullies usually do. Things went as they usually did, we were racing, I was in the lead, about to cross the finish line...until I saw him pass ahead. My horse, the one I groomed to be perfect, lost. He was supposed to be better than all the others because of me, but he lost to some cocky little bastard and his nag. I did the only thing I believed I could...I shot Arion. In the head. If after all that training yet still he lost, then he wasn't the perfect specimen I expected of him. No point in keeping him, a failure, if he couldn't perform as expected of him."
Doom turned and strode towards Lex, the bald man stepping back as from beneath the metal mask, piercing, pale blue eyes stared down at him. And Lex felt himself shake.
"If you cannot perform as is expected of you, then there is no reason for you to stay."
The King of Latveria turned back to his throne, his green cape flowing behind him.
"Take this as a lesson."
"And the boy? Lex asked, Doom not breaking his stride. "What happened to him?"
"Dead. His family were kicked out after they were caught stealing from another clan. No one ever saw them again."
"Then how did you know they died?"
"A wolf came into their camp, killed them all."
This time, Doom turned over his shoulder. Lex froze under those unnerving eyes beneath that mask.
"I trained the wolf."
Later, Earth-167, LexCorp
Lex sat down on his chair in his office, wondering what Doom meant. He had fulfilled his end of the bargain! If Doom lost the Phoenix Force, that was on him, not himself! Some people just couldn't accept the blame.
That was when the doors opened and in burst three cops, led by Maggie Sawyer. Otis was there too.
"I am sorry sir, I tried to stop them, but they have a warrant", he said.
"How can I help you, officers?" Lex asked with a smirk.
"Lex Luthor, you are under arrest for illegally holding people in your building, causing damage to property and life, and being irresponsible, and I use that term loosely, with a nuke", Maggie Sawyer said as she walked to Lex, making him stand up while she cuffed him.
"No! This is ridiculous! What proof do you have?" Lex asked, getting angry.
"Enough to the point ever your army of lawyers won't be able to expose you to a tiny ray of sunlight for the rest of your life", Maggie said as she led him away with the other two cops. "You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you-"
Same time, Earth-199999, Sanctum Sanctorum
Strange, Wong, Fate and Danny stood together, facing Shao-Lao, who looked down on them. "And today, with my departure, the Earth shall see its last of Dragons."
"How did you all come here in the first place?" Danny asked out of curiosity.
"All of us came from the same Dimension", Shao-Lao explained. "Our bones granted immortality so we were hunted for. Some of the more powerful Dragons went back and sealed the entrance to our Dimension so that any undesirables do not gain access. All of us then looked for our place in the world. I settled in K'un-Lun because it was rich in mystical energy, and became its resident, teacher and protector. Then there was Kilgharrah and others like him who settled in the magical land of Albion. Cut off from our own Dimension though, we started losing power. Not me though, because of K'un-Lun's own mystical energy. The ones in Albion started teaching magic to humanity as a way to ensure survival, but then witch hunts started, and Uther came, using his power to purge magic, and hunt our kind. The Dragons of our world opened the Dimension again to allow their kind a chance to escape, but Kilgharrah was captured before he could and lost his chance. However, sometime after the passing of Arthur, the portal was opened by them once more. Kilgharrah though, now inspired by the sacrifices he had seen Merlin make, gave up his life to the youngling known as Aithusa, allowing Aithusa to return home while Kilgharrah passed on nobly. And now I shall return too."
"Well, that was a nice lesson", Danny said, feeling enriched and knowledgeable now. "Thank you, Shao-Lao."
"Use the power I gave you wisely, Danny Rand, and same for Colleen Wing", Shao-Lao said before turning to the 3 Mystics. "The God of Mischief made a bargain with me on your behalf."
"And I shall fulfill it", Fate said before an ankh appeared and he chanted something, and then a rip appeared in the sky, an entrance to another Dimension.
"Home", Shao-Lao said fondly. "After so long."
Looking at Danny one last time, he said. "Farewell, Iron Fist."
He then nodded at the 3 Mystics and they nodded back before he turned and flew into it, disappearing on the other side as Fate closed it.
"I guess that's enough for bargains today", Strange quipped as the others chuckled.
Few weeks later, Earth-167, Metropolis Court
Lex was in the defendant's stand as his defense attorney Tom Hagen spoke in his defense. "Mr. Luthor's nuke was stolen by Joker, he would never hand it to a madman like that even if they were working together."
"So you're telling me a crazy criminal broke into the building of one of the smartest people on the planet and stole his nuke without triggering anything?" Lindsey McDonald of Earth-167 asked rhetorically with a smirk as Hagen shut up, while he turned to the Judge. "Your Honor, the defense's case is ridiculous, and I use that term lightly. Even if Joker stole the nuke, he can't carry it alone. Evidence points that Mr. Luthor gave him the nuke, and also held him and the madman that attacked the Justice League in his LexCorp Building-"
"No he did not, the footage was doctored!" Tom Hagen snapped.
"The man that attacked the League has never been seen before anywhere, and when he was seen, he was in a suit that obscured most of him except his face", Lindsey said. "The footage of him and Joker in Mr. Luthor's custody show his body details rather accurately, which would be impossible if the footage was doctored, as some inconsistencies are always available in those. So it is proven Mr. Luthor held Joker and the other man, he let them out to cause havoc, he gave Joker a nuke to level Gotham City, probably so he could help it via charity-"
"Objection, Your Honor, prosecution is making assumptions of the defendant's state of mind and intentions-"
"Sustained", the Judge said as she looked at Lindsey. "Use facts that have evidence behind them, Mr. McDonald."
"Very well, Your Honor", Lindsey said. "He gave Joker a nuke, we have evidence of that, because Joker cannot steal it from him. He also let the other man out and then saved the League from him as a way to improve his image after the brainwashing incident from a few months ago. His computer records were also checked and he was going to fire missiles at different places that day."
"No he was not! A man broke into his office and did that!" Tom Hagen defended him.
"So crazy men keep breaking into the office of Mr. Luthor, who is one of the smartest people on the planet", Lindsey said. "Either he is not as smart as he makes himself out to be, or he is not as kind as he makes himself out to be."
"The Court shall come to a decision after a break in Court Proceedings."
Few minutes later
"I think this is it", Ollie said to Kal, Chloe and Lois. "Lex is going to go behind bars, and never come back."
"About time he faced the consequences for his actions", Kal said. "No one will save him now."
"Karma is here", Lois smirked.
"Let us see what the Court decides", Chloe pointed out.
Later
Everyone sat in their places as the Judge read out her verdict.
"On account of illegally holding people as prisoners, the Jury has found the defendant…guilty!"
All from the prosecution side started applauding as Lindsey smirked when the Judge slammed her gavel. "Order in the court!"
"On account of causing loss of life and property due to letting his prisoners go, the Jury has found the defendant…guilty!"
There was some more clapping but the gavel banging silenced them.
"On account of misleading the court with false statements and pretexts, the Jury has found the defendant…guilty!"
All were going to cheer again but stopped on realizing that the next one was the big one.
"On account of endangering lives by trying to blow a nuclear weapon in a city, and trying to rain down missiles from his satellite, the Jury has found the defendant…guilty!"
All from the prosecution side cheered and applauded happily as Clark and Lois and Ollie and Chloe hugged, and then Clark and Chloe and Ollie and Lois hugged while Clark and Ollie tapped each other's shoulder as Lois and Chloe hugged each other too.
Lex looked down, feeling anger and hatred burning within him as two agents arrived and cuffed him, leading him away.
How could this be? How could he have lost? How could no one understand his intentions? He was the good guy! He wasn't the one they were supposed to take down!
A week later, Stryker's Island Penitentiary
Lex Luthor was surprised on hearing he had a visitor but when he looked to the front at his visitor, his surprise faded and was replaced by realization.
Lex sat down, holding out the phone as Clark Kent held it from the other side.
"Came to gloat in my face, Clark?" Lex asked with a glare.
"Why Lex?" Kal asked him. "Why did you do all of this? To prove yourself better than me? To show yourself as a hero?"
"You couldn't embrace your destiny for so long, so it had to be me!" Lex snarled. "Humanity is its own greatest hero, not an alien from another planet."
"I said it before and I will say it again, my destiny wasn't yours to take", Kal said. "So I guess everything you did was because you thought I wasn't being a hero fast enough, isn't that right?"
"You hid your secret from me, you lied to me, manipulated me", Lex snarled. "We could have accomplished greatness together, Clark. If only you had put your trust in me to good use."
"Could we really?" Kal asked rhetorically. "You know about the Red Kryptonite, don't you?"
"Yes, the one that makes you act all bad boy, right?" Lex chuckled and Kal actually joined him in that, as they remembered the good old days when they used to consider each other brothers. "There was that time you patted my shoulder while on Red K and I was sent staggering away by a few feet. And the time you crashed mine and Lana's engagement party with Lois."
"I remember", Kal said, getting serious again. "Anyway, Red Kryptonite didn't change who I was, it only lowered my inhibitions."
Looking Lex dead in the eye, Kal said. "And with my inhibitions lowered, I easily revealed my secret to Chloe and Lois, and even showed off for them. But I never could tell you or Lana."
"So what are you trying to say?" Lex asked.
"That deep down, I never trusted either of you", Kal told him. "I always saw you two for who you really were, but I couldn't accept it, and thought you were good people, who actually cared about others. Lana at least became a better person once she and I parted ways, because we were bad for each other. But you, Lex, you dug your hole deeper and deeper till all left around you was darkness and loneliness."
"So you never trusted me. Guess it proves me right that you were using me all along", Lex said angrily. "And Lana too. That's why you broke us up, didn't you? You couldn't afford the two people you didn't trust coming together like that."
"Still deflecting blame, Lex", Kal sighed sadly. "Just because I didn't trust you deep down didn't mean I didn't care about you. I tried to help you, I tried to save you. If I had saved you, I would have trusted you enough to tell you who I really was. But you made your own choices Lex. Sure I was a factor in some of them, but you didn't want to be saved. You are responsible for your current predicament. Not me, not Lionel, not Oliver, not Lana, not Tess, but you."
"Is that all you came to say?" Lex asked.
"No", Kal said. "I came here because I had a fool's hope that I would see a glimpse of the man I considered my brother. But that man died years ago. I'm sorry I couldn't save you. Goodbye Lex."
"Goodbye Clark", Lex said emotionlessly as they kept the phones back and getting up, turned around, walking away and not looking back once.
Later
Lex walked back into his prison cell and looked at the guard closing his cell.
"Hello Lex."
Lex turned around, gulping, as he saw Doom standing in his cell, his arms folded.
"Hey, help me!" Lex said desperately. "I helped you in your schemes, right? Now please, let me out of here! I know you can do it!"
"I told you that your history of failure is extensive, and you should change it, or I would do it for you", Doom said as Lex gulped again, realizing what that meant.
"Hey! I let Kal come to you, my part was played just fine! You lost the Phoenix Force? It's your fault!" Lex said. "So please, let me out."
"I only tolerate perfection", Doom said. "And you are clearly not a perfect ally, considering you gave up your nuke to Joker."
Lex was about to protest when he realized something, and his eyes widened in shock and realization as he glared at Doom. "You replaced my fake nuke with a real one, didn't you?"
Doom gave no response but Lex knew it was the truth.
"You son of a bitch!" Lex snarled as he punched Doom, but Doom was unaffected. It didn't even slightly move him.
"I think now it is time to fulfill my word", Doom said. "You are not perfect, just like Arion."
Lex's heart thumped against his chest as Doom's story of Arion ran through his head, and then Doom took out a gun, pointing it at Lex.
"Hey man! We can talk about this! Just let me out, and I will correct everything, okay?" Lex begged, now feeling fear for the first time in a long time.
"Worthless weapon for a worthless person", Doom said about the gun and Lex before he pulled the trigger.
Lex gasped as he looked down on his chest, feeling it burn as his his shirt was soaked with his blood. Lex gasped, looking at Doom in horror and anger as he started coughing blood. "You…..kill…..me? With a gun?! No, if anyone…..kills me, Superman does! With…his power! I…am…..bet-"
At that moment, Lex dropped to the ground, the life leaving him as his eyes stared without seeing.
Doom threw the gun away, not needing it anymore, and it wasn't like anyone on this Earth would trace it to him. On the off-chance they did, they wouldn't able to do a thing.
Opening a portal, Doom walked into and it closed, leaving the dead Lex behind.
And with this, we finally end the main plot of this story. Next one will be a post-credits scene.
Hope all enjoyed the history lesson on Dragons that Shao-Lao gave, and it finally reveals what happened to Kilgharrah and Aithusa as well.
So Doom's evidence made sure Lex would be tried for his crimes and be found guilty, and lose all of his reputation.
And it was Earth-167 Lindsey McDonald that prosecuted him. Back in Chapter 1, I edited it so that the Wolfram and Hart employee who came to visit Doom was Earth-10005 Lindsey McDonald. I'm thinking of making a gag that every Earth with a Wolfram and Hart has a Lindsey McDonald.
Here, let's just say Earth-167 Lindsey transferred himself to the DA's office from Wolfram and Hart to spread their influence there, and took down Lex since his plans could be a threat to Wolfram and Hart's plans.
Hope all liked the conversation between Kal and Lex. I think this conversation provides a good level of closure between them both.
Also, this is something Stand with Ward and Queen pointed out to me- Whenever Kal in Smallville was on Red K, it lowered his inhibitions. It never changed who he was. And on Red K, he revealed his secret to Chloe and Lois rather easily (most of the time) and even showed off for them both. But he never could tell Lex or Lana, so I think deep down, Kal always saw both of them for who they truly were, and couldn't trust them fully.
And Lex is dead now, killed by Doom, because Doom is a man of his word, and for him, Lex failed, so he isn't a perfect ally, and deserves to be killed.
So now with this, we end the story at last, and I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it.
I would once more like to thank my very good friend Brainstorm Sorcerer for his help with this story, as I couldn't have done it without his help. So thanks a lot to you once more, buddy.
So thank you to everyone who favorited, followed or reviewed this story or supported me in any other way while I wrote it.
We shall meet again in the post-credits chapter. Stay safe from the coronavirus ya all!