A/N: I'm trying guys! Let me know what you think!

- Outside of time and space, before-

"You've all born witness to the things set in motion by Ares… what say you?"

"Why does this concern you? You are the spirit of vengeance, not justice. Don't his plans work in harmony with your very purpose?" Ganthet asks without a hint of sarcasm. Truth be told he's never been overly fond of earth and its inhabitants. He placed a protector for this sector out of obligation, given the choice he would have allowed the planet to burn ages ago.

Spectre turns to Ganthet, well aware of the elder being and his prejudice against the denizens of earth. Spectre finds his indifference disgusting. "Perhaps it does… yet I would be remiss if I did not remind you that underestimating Parallax did not do your corps any favors. I simply seek to avoid the same. And not duplicate your error…"

"Have care how you speak…both of you. We are not enemies here." Both simply nod at the words of The Presence, a being whose power far surpasses their own. "Ganthet's point, though crudely made, does have some validity Spectre. Your purpose works in harmony with Ares' current course of action… unless you think otherwise?"

"I do." Spectre knows that the Presence sees far more than he lets on, but he often is willing to let things play out all the same. If anyone can see Ares' endgame it's him this question is only for the rest of them. "He has designs on more than just Olympus-"

"Humph…" Highfather snorts, interrupting. "And this is somehow new? He is a child playing with matches… he is no threat."

Spectre is amazed at the sheer hubris of these so-called immortals. For the first time since his ascension, he struggles to keep his voice calm. "A child playing with matches could burn the entire world given the right circumstances…" He turns to the ancient Shazam who has remained quiet thus far. "He is assembling artifacts that will be capable of besting even your champion with ease, have you not seen?"

Shazam looks away in shame, he does not want to admit that not only is Spectre correct, but he has felt his own power waning as a result of Ares' actions. Yet he does speak up: "Spectre may have a point… I shudder to think the damage he could cause were he to unite all the artifacts and use them…"

"Perhaps it would be for the best." The Highfather wonders aloud. "We assemble to respond to cosmic threats; things that impact more than just one world. Is that not why we have not taken steps to rectify matters on Apokolips? What makes Ares more dangerous than Darkseid?" Highfather looks at Shazam and sighs, the once mighty wizard is a shell of himself and in part it is to him that he speaks. "Ares seems to only wish to supplant what is weak and old for his own strength and youthful ambition… It is the order of things is it not? Did you not choose your… Billy… for that very reason, Shazam?"

"I wonder will you show the same acceptance when your time comes…?" Spectre asserts coldly. "When perhaps your son Orion disposes of Darkseid and comes looking to right matters on your world…"

"It is a day that if it does indeed come, you and all memory of you will have faded from all existence… You are a human gifted with purpose, but at this moment you speak beyond your station." Highfather asserts defiantly. He was never comfortable with the idea of one born of flesh holding sway with him and those he considers his contemporaries. Particularly this current iteration of the Spirit of Vengeance, who seems more actively interested in human kind than what his position required.

"Have care how you speak to one I have chosen, Highfather…" The Presence interrupts calmly, allowing the weight of his words to elicit the proper response from the Highfather. Satisfied, he turns to Spectre: "Your words have been heard, Spectre; and I have considered them. At this juncture, I feel there is no need to intercede on behalf of earth. We have the entire cosmos to be concerned about… and there are champions on Earth who would rise up to challenge Ares. Other worlds are not as fortunate…"

"Perhaps, however-"

"Jim…" At the mention of his former name, Spectre feels another sensation he has not felt in some time; fear. "This will be my final word on this matter. None of us will intervene on your behalf concerning this situation. However, I am not unfeeling towards the fact you are torn between who you were and what you are. In fact, your compassion is one of the reasons you were chosen for this role. So, I will allow you this; you may select for yourself a singular champion to rise up against this threat. If this is not satisfactory… perhaps your role may need to be reevaluated…"

"Thank you for your consideration, I find your terms very reasonable." Spectre leaves the meeting without another word. After all, he has in mind the perfect champion to suit his needs, even though acquiring him would require some doing. He was not without his own resources.

- Mount Olympus, now –

"Well that was certainly exciting…" Ares laughs heartily startling all assembled. It was a meeting he had been anticipating sooner, yet it still caught him slightly off guard. But the singular appearance of Spectre meant that he was the only threat. None of the other Cosmic beings have, at least at this moment, have deemed him worthy of their notice.

Athena stares at Ares in amazement. "The literal embodiment of vengeance just showed up in your living room and that still does not give you pause? You truly are mad!"

"No." Ares stands to his feet, causing Athena to cower uncontrollably. "I am simply driven and assured of my purpose. A fact that you can understand, can you not uncle?" All in attendance look around confused as to who Ares could be speaking to. They follow Ares' gaze to a petite woman standing in the background. "Please drop that disguise… it is… unsettling…"

Hades now stands for the first time in centuries in the midst of Olympus. Those few who remained in the throne room now flee eagerly, leaving Ares, Hades and Athena as the only ones in the great hall. "You have become truly mighty… nephew…" Hades admits stepping carefully towards Ares. "My brother, his wife, even your siblings are nothing before you…"

"I suppose that's true…" Ares reflects ruefully. At the start of this he needed Hades' cooperation, however as things stand now, Hades, despite all his power is an afterthought at best. "Yet the question remains; what will I do now…? Am I right?"

Hades eyes greedily look to the trident in Ares grasp. "When all this began, even I wasn't entirely sure what your endgame would be…" Hades admits casting a glance at Athena, noting with discomfort how frail and helpless she now appears to be. Besides Hera herself, no other woman within the Halls of Olympus garnered as much respect as she once did. To see her now, shows how wide the gap in power is that exists between her brother and herself.

"Oh?" Ares smirks amused, noting that Hades is making a feeble attempt to outflank him. At any other time, he would find this maneuver insulting. But given his victories he is beginning to feel the same level of calm indifference Zeus always seemed to project. He supposes knowing the power and control he once held over them is in his hands makes it hard to get too emotional over these things.

"Sure, I figured you'd cause some mischief; as you are prone to do. Zeus would correct you and the cycle would continue, just as it has for so long… In fact, according to you ruling Olympus was not on your mind at all… Yet, here you stand looking very much the usurper …" Hades smiles momentarily, knowing that his brother, Zeus is likely becoming acquainted with his realm of the dead right now. "Your father roaming the realm of the dead is not an outcome I envisioned…"

After seeing Zeus killed Hades was eager to return there, to greet his brother for himself, but out of curiosity he remained. He is glad he did. Hades had no idea that Ares end goal was to grant humans access to the eternal waters of Olympus. Essentially ruling over all life for eternity, it was a plan bolder than Hades would have thought possible.

Ares shrugs. "I think you simply lacked belief in my ability to accomplish my goal… but somewhere within in you? You knew. How could you not?" In a flash, Ares shrinks the trident down until it becomes a chain around his neck and unsheathes the Sword of Peleus. It is still throbbing with untold power.

"The Trident-?" Hades asks unnerved. His brother had never performed such a stunt with the trident before. "How-?"

"You are all really fools…" Ares laments dejectedly. Here he was in his moment of absolute triumph and he was still tasked with explaining everything. "You sit stagnant, groveling at the feet of Zeus for whatever morsel he deems you worthy of. Secretly envying mortals for their free will, never deciding to exercise your own!" It often bothered him that everyone around him always seemed so content to carry out their roles as dictated by Zeus. Trapped in their respective roles like hamsters on a wheel.

At this Hades grows angry. "And what of you boy? You kept whatever knowledge you gained for yourself and proceeded to slaughter! Is that not your "role" as a god of war? How are you now any different? Will your sister and I be the next to fall by your hand, puppet of fate?"

Ares, for his part simply smiles. "I have killed yes, as is my purpose. Yet even now that purpose is evolving as I see fit. I sought out the knowledge you… all of you… never cared to understand and that makes you weak and obsolete. None of you are worthy of my rulership!" The cool and indifferent tone is his voice causes both Hades and Athena to shudder. "The humans, for all their flaws, are at least curious. They seek to rise above their humble beginnings. They refuse to be limited in their dreams even when those dreams become nightmares. That's why, in comparison to them, you are all nothing!"

"Ares, this is madness!" Athena stands up shakily. "What will you do? Kill anyone that disagrees with you? You once called our father a loutish boar who decimated cities on a whim, yet with each breath you declare yourself worse than him! Hermes, mother, father… will there be no end to your killing?"

Ares whirls towards his sister, and for an all too brief moment she believes that he will kill her. Spare her the injustices that he likely had in store for her. Instead, he lowers his sword and speaks to her softly. "If you knew the things I know, saw the things I have seen, you would note my actions as kindnesses not villainy…"

"Are you showing kindness to me as well, nephew?" Hades asks, inching closer, if he can grab hold of the sword, he knows he can wound Ares enough to snatch the Trident. "You seek to reduce me and my realm to nothing by ending death…"

"Just because people will live forever, doesn't truly mean they can't die, now does it…?

Before Hades can respond to Ares, he is impaled on the very sword he was inches from grabbing hold of. Ares pulls it from Hades' gut roughly and unceremoniously uses Athena's already blood-stained clothes to clean it off. Hades drops to his knees stunned, coughing up blood.

Ares grabs the hooded cloak from Hades and burns it with the fire from his eyes. Barely clinging to life Hades looks up at Ares, trying to speak. "No, Uncle, now you will listen…" Ares grabs the back of his head, staring into his eyes. "This was bound to happen sooner or later… in my new world, death will eventually be brought to nothing. Once those that would rebel are either killed off or die off… So, it's fitting that your death be at my hands… What is the point of your "afterlife" anyway? The nothingness of nonexistence is much more favorable than the fate of those who visit your realm…"

"A-Ares… cough… you cannot…"

"Shhhh…" Ares presses a finger to Hades' lips, ignoring the blood there. "I have already killed you… you just are too stubborn to realize it. I'm actually saddened by this, believe it or not. I would have liked to hear tales of your youth. Tales of when you were Zeus…"

The look of surprise on Hades' face is almost comical, but in one swift motion, Ares removes the look, along with his head. Once head is separated from body, both disappear in a puff of smoke. "Hmmm… I guess that answers what happens when the king of the dead, dies, doesn't it Athena?"

Athena, having reached her limit, passes out embracing a sweet oblivion of her own making.

-Erebus, realm of the dead, before-

"We've got to get out of here!" Zatanna exclaims out of breath. "I've been fighting off these vermin for days on end while you keep trying to open a portal!" Here in this realm Zatanna has found it particularly difficult to employ her magics effectively. The very air in this place is thick with despair and hopelessness and a great deal of her own abilities relies on her own optimism.

"Time is not authentic here, Zatanna." Dr Fate counters calmly. "Hours here may be seconds on earth and vice-versa…"

"Do I seem to be the sort overly concerned with semantics? ezeerF!" Zatanna musters up a blast of frigid air around a few of the fallen attempting to attack them. They truly are mindless automatons just lashing out at what they've determined is foreign. But that doesn't make them any less unrelenting.

"Zatanna, I will exhaust all efforts to teleport us from this place, yet I must remind you that only a few have ever escaped here. And most often not without help from the ruler of this domain himself-"

Zatanna murmurs another incantation to keep the lost ones at bay. "I know! If I seem impatient it's because it is getting harder not easier to-"

Her rant is interrupted by a burst of lighting and the lost ones seem to lose interest and at least for the moment cease their attack. Zatanna for her part remains on guard as the originator of the blast emerges from the shadows.

"No way…"

"I am as surprised to find myself here as you are to see me…" Zeus, the former ruler of Olympus takes note of the two magic wielders, taking a seat on a nearby rock. "I had always assumed that my brother would find a way to bring me here, and yet, it appears that Ares is the architect of my demise… if this were happening to anyone else, I might find the irony amusing…"

"Sons from the beginning have sought to supplant their fathers…" Dr Fate acknowledges grimly. "One could say your story is the definition of inevitability. Especially given the circumstances…"

Zeus smiles sadly. "I suppose you're right. Well, that explains my presence here, but not your own. The two of you are part of that Justice League, are you not? Yet you don't seem to be…"

"Dead?" Zatanna finishes for him. "No, we were transported here by Ares daughter, can you help us escape…?" Ares and Lyta have proven to be more formidable than she would have ever managed. It was embarrassing to realize that they had both been taken out so easily at first, but now things were different. The fact is that Ares had also managed to kill the supposed king of the gods makes her feel a little better.

"My hand- what…?" The bewildered look on the face of the former Olympian as he notices his hand beginning to lose tangibility gives Zatanna pause.

Zatanna turns to Dr. Fate confused and he nods. "He is beginning to lose what he was and beginning to become what the others here are… They exist in a constant state of flux. In addition to losing their cohesion they often forget who they were before, only to remember and be horrified by what they have become. The fact is… If we don't escape soon-"

"We'll end up just like him…" Zatanna finishes with a shudder. Death was one thing; she had no illusions about the possibility of it catching up with her sooner or later. But to be in some form of living death, forgetting and then remembering who you are, seemed worse than oblivion. "Let's not spend any more time talking to Father Christmas here then! Now that the lost ones are not attacking, we can focus on getting out of here!"

"Escape isn't possible without a guide…" Zeus answers, solid once more, grabbing her shoulder. The strength in his grip surprises her but it seems to fade just as quickly. "Something… is happening here… to me…"

"Well, you are, in fact, dead. So-" Over the shoulder of Zeus she can see many of the lost ones begin vanishing, there was no warning or obvious sign of attack. One moment they were there and the next they were gone in a puff of smoke.

Zeus takes note of the happenings around him as well and laughs bitterly. "He's done it! He has eliminated death itself… or at least the ruler of death's home…" Zeus, knows full well the consequences for himself, but inwardly he welcomes it. Nonexistence is far better than becoming one of the creatures who call this place home.

"What is he going on about, Fate?" Zatanna asks shaking free of his desperate grasp.

"Look around you, young sorceress… the very realm itself is fading from existence, soon everything and everyone here will be gone…" Fate, behind his mask, grimaces at the prospect. "The elimination of this realm will have a ripple effect that is substantial…" Fate fells a slight twinge of pity as he watches the Olympian simply fade from existence. He finds it an unusual end to the once powerful being. "Look around you Zatana… see the fate that awaits us as well…"

One by one she watches various dead simply disappear in a puff of smoke before them. His implication is not lost on her. If they remain here, no longer tethered to the physical realm, they will be wiped from existence as well. "It… it can't end like this…"

"Perhaps as this realm fades…" Fate begins concentrating on creating a portal even as the ground begins to lose its foundation. Through tremendous effort from the Doctor, he makes a large portal appear in front of them. "Make haste woman!" Fate yells, grabbing her collar and pulling her through. The two land in a heap at the foot of the mountain they encountered Lyta earlier. The strain of the transport causes Zatanna to vomit violently and Dr. Fate simply passes out.

-Watchtower, conference room-

"So I'm guessing it's a no on the cheeseburger then?"

Wonder Woman charges at Lyta's makshift prison and it's only the speed of Superman that stays her hand. "I will kill you for what you've done!" She yells, just barely being held back by Superman. "To my sisters, to this world… to… me… you deserve death!"

That final statement, cuts through Lyta's smug demeanor and she lowers her head sadly. "I was not in favor the involvement of… the clown… father thought it necessary. As for what happened on Themyscira, that was Darkseid's doing, not mine."

Diana opens her mouth to argue, but Batman cuts her off not wanting to waste this opportunity. "Surely you knew that at some point Darkseid would not be content to wait in the shadows. After all he has attacked the island before…" Batman notes with interest that Lyta shows a measure of remorse over his statement. Nothing about her so far has fit the narrative he expected.

"Everything will be better now though…" Lyta shakes her head confidently. "Now that my father has taken his rightful place, this whole world will see the benefits."

And there it is. Her actions were not those of a someone who sees themselves as a villain, but rather as a savior.

Batman and J'onn share a quick glance before he continues his line of questioning. "So Ares has his sights set on more than just Olympus?" With her guard sufficiently down, J'onn, at Batman's request, begins prepping her mind to give him answers. While she has strong defenses against an outright reading, coercion is another matter entirely. "What makes you so confident in War personified?"

"The others… Zeus, Hera, all of them… they watch as we humans suffer with detachment." Anger lights her face as she continues. "Choosing to use us as pawns or whores, depending on their whims, even as they have the power to make everything better. My father, unlike them, wants to set things right."

"Right how?" Superman interjects, curiously. Despite his otherworldly power, at the end of the day Superman is still a reporter.

"You all know better than to believe in fairy tales… but most fairy tales have a sliver of truth within them… when father told me… about his origins… at first I could hardly believe it. But I've seen the journals and manuscripts… read the ancient texts… in light of those words… based on what I've seen myself… I can't help but be convinced." Lyta eyes are alight with awe and a measure of reverence.

"Everything is connected…" Batman murmurs ruefully, realizing the truth of her words. The others turn to him expectantly, eager to hear what he has deduced.

Lyta smiles at him. "You see it too, don't you? My father thought of all the mortals you would. It's why he focused so much time and resources on keeping you distracted. He figured if he provided you multiple mysteries to solve, you wouldn't be able to discover the real puzzle underneath… but I had my doubts you'd realize at all. Funny that an immortal God of War has more faith in humans than I do…"

Batman stands from the table frustrated.

All along he felt a sense of unease at the way events unfolded. He kept trying to get to the root of the issue but was continuously sidetracked by new problems. Once upon a time, Bane employed a similar tactic and Batman nearly lost everything. Now, finally being able to put all the pieces together he feels like a fool. Out of anger he slams his fist onto the table.

"Don't feel bad Batman…" Lyta reassures sweetly. "You should take it as a compliment that Ares focused so much of his efforts on keeping you distracted. The rest of the dullards in here are just looking for someone to punch, they weren't worth the effort…"

"Batman…" Superman approaches anxiously. "Do you want to fill us dullards in?"

Batman drops back into his seat dejectedly, removing his cowl and rubbing his eyes. He had seen it; it was there in the back of his mind like an itch he couldn't scratch. It wasn't until Lyta made the statement: "…most fairy tales have a sliver of truth within them…" He mumbles with a bitter smile. "Yes, truer words… We have to stop Ares."

"But surely you know now you can't." Lyta interjects. "It's too late to stop this, any of it… He's truly unbeatable now. You oppose him, you'll die. Simple as that."

That definitive way she speaks causes a heavy silence to fill the room with tension and this time Batman does explain. "The anti-life equation that Darkseid seeks has always been here, on earth, he just didn't understand it. None of us did. Not really…"

"Oooh this is the best part!" Lyta claps her hands, startling all in attendance. "Like in the movies where the master plan is revealed only this time there's no villain monologuing. No opportunity for a last-ditch effort to save the day... Just the cold sting of reality." The Justice League all glare in her direction but are more disturbed but the low chuckle coming from Batman.

"We assumed that Darkseid wanted to end all life in the universe, remaking it in his image or simply being the sole person in existence. I don't know, maybe that was his goal, but that's not what the anti-life equation is. Superman and I saw it in Gotham, what seems like a lifetime ago, at the charity event. Free will bent to the will of another; but not in it's true form…"

"That was a chemical compound created by Ivy, wasn't it?" Flash asks feeling a tremendous sense of dread.

"That's what we were led to believe, what she was led to think…" Batman answers, standing and beginning to pace. "But if that were true, why didn't she use it for herself? No… I think she was as much a pawn as the rest of us. The chemicals she stole from Wayne Pharmaceuticals, together or separate, have no application that can arrive at the same result as the charity ball. It was another red herring, to throw us off the real threat… and to spin my enemies into a frenzy…" He turns back towards Lyta. "He really is unstoppable now, isn't he?"

"You say that as if it is a bad thing!" Lyta returns with a smile. "Isn't unification the ultimate goal of the Justice League? One world, one people, an end to-"

"Free will…" Batman finishes. "But it's a small price to pay for immortality… right?"

- Before –

"Do you understand what I am trying to do now, daughter?"

"What I don't understand father, is why not just offer this to the world? It's a gift! An end to suffering and death! Why should it matter who is in charge if that is the tradeoff?"

"Lyta, my dear…" Ares lifts his daughter's head up so that they are eye to eye. Over the months as he has come to know her, he finds himself feeling a paternal instinct he hadn't expected. Initially he was simply grooming her to act as a future lieutenant of his, now he wasn't as certain. "Humans have always chaffed under control; they prefer the illusion of independence. If I offer them something that will make it all too clear the ants that they are, they will rebel..." The irony of this statement isn't lost on him; once he discovered the truth of his own existence, he put his own plans of rebellion into action.

Lyta opens her mouth to protest, but the words die on her lips as a bright light and rush of air intrudes on their conversation. A second later, before the two of them stands the Lord of Apokolips himself; Darkseid.

"I trust I am not intruding…?" Darkseid steps confidently through the portal, his eyes aglow with the energy of his omega beams. He does not enjoy coming to this world teeming with light and life, but exceptions must be made.

Ares takes a defensive step between Darkseid and his daughter. Though the creature is here at his request, Ares is not foolish enough to think this will be an easy negotiation. "No, your presence while unexpected, is not unwelcome." Ares didn't anticipate his message getting to the Lord of Apokolips so quickly. He also was unaware that Darkseid's technology would be able to track him so efficiently. He would have to make a note of that for the future. Still, he was not without his own defenses.

The boom tube closes behind him and he begins walking around the Penthouse suite Ares is currently working out of. Besides being very comfortable accommodations, it also had other unique and special properties. "Is this what passes for luxury on this world…?"

"Humans have their uses, do they not…?" Ares asks, gesturing for Lyta to leave the room. Although she has his blood running through her veins, she is more human than not. Ares was not interested in testing her durability in this setting.

"Will she not remain with us…?" The threatening tone of Darkseid's question is not lost on Ares, but he signals Lyta to continue her exit.

"I believe our dealings can remain between the two of us…" Ares states flatly. "After all, I do not see your attendants with you, Lord Darkseid. No Kalibak or Desaad groveling at your feet eagerly…"

Though his son has been a disappointment at times, no one is allowed to belittle him. "I am not in favor of your tone Ares, tread carefully…" Darkseid views Ares as he does all so-called "gods"; a nuisance at best.

"I will endeavor to do so…" Ares replies with a smirk. "As we discussed; I believe that I have discovered some ancient texts that point to the existence of something you are looking for…" Those texts he discovered on the island of Themyscira, which revealed his own origins, contained the truth of what the equation truly was. Darkseid believed it would grant him dominion over all life in the universe and while his assumption was true it was not in the way he believed.

"The anti-life equation…" Darkseid counters impatiently. "Why should I believe you at all, Ares…? Your reputation for trickery is almost as well known as the Kryptonian's reputation for sickening altruism." Darkseid has been to this world many times and has encountered no sign of the equation existing here. The Source Wall didn't grant him this knowledge either, but despite his doubts, he would not pass up the possibility. No matter how remote.

"Why should I risk the wrath of the Lord of Apokolips?" Despite his own formidable powers, the Omega Beams of Darkseid are one of the few things that could eliminate him. He wasn't entirely sure, but he also wasn't interested in putting that to the test.

"Why indeed…?" Darkseid counters, swiftly grabbing Ares by the throat. "And yet you have…"

Bringing both of his fists down on the forearm of Darkseid, Ares is able to slip his grasp. Before Darkseid can react, Ares drives the two of them off the balcony of the Penthouse plummeting from the height at a rapid rate.

When the two land in a heap, Darksied is surprised to find himself slightly buried in sand. His surroundings that of a desert, with no sign of the structure he teleported himself into.

"You are only proving my point…" Darkseid comments, brushing the coarse sand from himself. "You will go to the blackness of death the trickster you are!"

"The penthouse was real enough, but I came prepared nonetheless… knowing you to be a volatile being…" Setting up a portal just off of the balcony was no small feat, but he's immensely glad he did.

"So says the God of war…" Darkseid fires his Omega Beams at Ares, looking to end the battle swiftly, only to watch the blast pass completely through Ares destroying the sand dune behind him. In the fall, Ares replaced his form with an after-image spell. He has been planning this for far too long to be taken out at this stage.

"Yes, I am the God of War, not the God of Stupidity…" Ares sneers angrily. "Imagine if we were in the midst of a populated city and you let loose with those beams of yours… how long until a member of the spandex brigade comes to subdue the two of us...?"

"I have nothing to fear from the "Justice League" or any of their ilk…" Darkseid folds his arms contemptuously. He has fought them many times, although his mind he has never lost, he also has never truly won either.

"Well, I would think that unnecessary attention is undesirable for either of our plans…"

"…I will listen to your proposal, Ares… but if I do not like what I hear…"

-Watchtower, conference room-

All of the League, with the exception of Batman are sitting down, allowing the revelation to sink in.

"The secret of Olympus… all this time…" Wonder Woman murmurs incredulously. "What chance have we against something so… primordial…?" Knowing now the danger that the Gods of Olympus put her entire race in from the beginning by keeping the texts there, makes her seethe with anger. She had always thought that the troubles that recently befell her home were the result of man becoming aware of their existence. Now, in the cold light of truth she wonders how worse things could have been if she hadn't come to the world of men.

"We have to take the fight to him!" Superman exclaims firmly.

"We will," Batman assures. "But we have to do so intelligently. Ares has ancient weapons of power on his side, as well as an army of Olympians. Not to mention that he is essentially Zeus. His weapons are of a mystical nature and two of our experts are out of commission… or dead."

All eyes turn to Lyta, who simply laughs. "Oh come on guys! They're alive. We just needed them out of the way for a bit, no need to kill them… although… where they are, they may wish they were dead…"

"J'onn?" Superman turns hastily towards his telepathic companion. "Can you locate them?"

"Give me a moment…" The Martian closes his eyes and concentrates. "They are at the foot of Mount Olympus… exhausted but alive…"

"Hmmm… looks like the brunette is more than just a hot set of legs…" Lyta quips amused. Although she suspects her father had something to do with their emancipation as well. Ares thought Hades might confront him after his ascension, so it's likely the ruler of the realm of death is either human now or more likely dead.

"Head to the transporter room and see if you can lock on their location. We need them here!" Superman orders, earning him a look of approval from Batman. He was just about to make the same order. Batman, for his part, turns back to Lyta.

"If I am understanding correctly, Ares plans on dispersing the waters of Olympus into the world and ruling over every living being on the planet; have I got that right?"

Lyta rolls her eyes and sighs. "An oversimplification, to be sure, but I suppose. Yet you're failing to see the benefit to all of you! The end of conflict! All people united under one ruler! None of whom will get sick or die! You all put on silly little costumes and punch criminals in the face and think you're making a difference! This is REAL change we're talking about! Lasting change!"

Batman again hears the sincerity in her voice. She genuinely believes in Ares; believes his motives are decent and pure. "We need to make preparations for an assault on Olympus…"

-Watchtower control room-

Over the last few hours every active and reserve member has been transported to the Watchtower and being separated into teams. Batman, Superman and Martian Manhunter have been coordinating teams as a strategy is being formulated.

Dr. Fate and Zatanna's intel, though not as robust has Batman had hoped did hold out a few important details that would help in the planning. Getting confirmation that Zeus, Hera and Hades were all dead meant that several major powerhouses were off the table. It did also mean that Ares was more than formidable any one had considered.

The assault plan Batman has configured was a three-pronged attack.

The ground team will take on whatever armies Ares might employ to keep the League from climbing the mountain. This team will consist of the best hand to hand combatants. Led by Batman, it will include; Nightwing, Robin, Black Canary, Spider-Man, Batgirl, Ravage and Wonder Woman. They will be supported by archers Green Arrow, Arsenal and Huntress. If the Agents of Ares attack is any indication, there will be great numbers to overcome.

The sky assault team will take the fight directly to Ares and the Olympians. That team will be led by Superman and consist of; Captain Marvel, Red Tornado, Firestorm, Hawkgirl, Starfire, Power Girl and Supergirl. The hope being that their collective might will eventually overwhelm Ares and allow them to strip him of his armaments. They will be on their own against whatever forces are in Olympus. Batman is sure that the most powerful will remain around Ares.

The support team will work in two ways; coordination and evacuation. Cyborg and Martian Manhunter will coordinate the team from the watchtower using technology and telepathy. Meanwhile, Green Lantern and Flash will be responsible for moving the injured from the field of play to a clear location for teleporting back to the Watchtower. When both men confronted Batman over being sidelined in this way his explanation made everyone present shudder.

"The blade that Ares has in his possession can not only cut through anything, but it strips the energies from whatever it does cut through. Do you really want to risk giving an all powerful being access to the limitless energy of the speed force? Or the power of will itself?"

There was no further dispute after that.

The rest of the Leaguers not actively involved in fighting were to remain in reserve, in case the worst should happen. Batman hoped it would not come to that.

The assault was planned for tomorrow as there needed to be modifications made to the teleporter array as well as gear upgrades for the hand-to-hand fighters. All involved begin to steel themselves for battle, they were after all going into a battle against gods.

That being the case, Martian Manhunter finds himself alone in the control room with his own thoughts. As he has many times before he stares out into the beauty of space. Not being able to return to his home world and given all that he lost before coming here, he can't help but feel a bit nostalgic. Though he has made many friends here, he often feels apart from them in ways he can't explain.

"You're brooding… Does Batman know you've stolen his whole deal?" Batgirl quips with a smirk.

"I didn't realize I was, but I suppose I am…" Martian Manhunter, turns to face Barbara Gordon, surprised to see her dressed casually in jeans and a t-shirt. Something about the redhead struck him in a way he was not accustomed to. She managed to have both a calming and enticing effect on him. "But I think in this case he won't mind…"

"Yeah…" Batgirl drops into a chair behind a large terminal and swivels it to the center of the room to face him. "This could be it, hunh? The battle to end all battles…" Barbara had always been a realist. It drove her parents crazy how pragmatic she could be, even at an early age. It made her well suited for the role of hero, but as Dick had told her; a lousy girlfriend.

"It seems to be building up as such…" J'onn nods, taking a seat opposite her. "I wonder, Batgirl, if you might answer a question for me." After hearing Lyta speak and thinking deeply on her words, a question nagged at him that he didn't think he could ask anyone. Now, face to face with Barbara, he thought perhaps she might not judge him for his inquiry.

"If you agree to answer one of mine honestly, once I do? Sure." Barbara had not been able to get the man out of her mind since his rescue of her. She didn't know if it was infatuation or real attraction, but she found him to be intriguing. He was disciplined and intelligent like Batman, but warm and empathetic like Superman. The truth is he reminded her of the qualities she enjoyed in Dick not too long ago, without the immaturity that grated her nerves.

"Intriguing…" J'onn quips happily. It was rare when someone here took an interest in his thoughts outside of League business. Her interest in him caught him by surprise. "Then I shall simply come out and ask it; given all that you've seen in the world… the hatred, the inequity, the despair and sickness, is Ares offer such a horrible one?"

Barbara sighs deeply. It was a question she herself contemplated after the briefing. As brilliant as Batman is, he tended to see things very black and white. Villains are evil, heroes are good. And while he was able to see the flaw in heroes, he never seemed able to see the virtue in those called villain. "That's a pretty loaded question…" Barbara answers quietly.

"It is however one I believe you to be uniquely qualified to answer." J'onn counters evenly. "Of all those here, you seem to be the most… balanced in your perspective."

"Your faith in me may be misplaced… but I'll try my best." Barbara counters running a weary hand through her hair. "In short no. What he seems to be after, is the same goal mankind has strived for since death first became a reality. An end to it. A way to live forever without pain. And perhaps that's the problem right there. Perhaps it's arrogance or pride, but if there is a Utopia to be discovered, we want to be the ones to make it happen…" Barbara pauses as the weight of her words hit, saying it out loud made her feel horrible. "I know, it's crazy. Because if humans were going to bring about lasting peace and prosperity, we've had thousands of years to do it. In our defense, there's also the very real possibility of some nasty strings being attached to Ares offer as well."

"Then wouldn't it be prudent to wait it out?" J'onn asks. "The most powerful beings of earth are here; we could remain separate. Watching from the Tower to see how things unfold…"

Barbara laughs softly at the suggestion. "That is a reasonable line of thinking, J'onn. The problem is that if you decide to put on a brightly colored uniform and punch bad guys in the face, you're not likely to be very reasonable to begin with."

J'onn smiles at her response and adds. "You realize that description includes you Barbara?"

"We do what we do because deep down we feel those in authority cannot." Barbara stands from her seat pacing. "We reject the idea of patience, of waiting on those in power to do the right thing, because they have shown a propensity to do the opposite. If that weren't the case, why not become police officers? Work within the system in areas of legislation? Fight for change through proper channels? It's simple; we prefer to act as our own moral authority, independent of the system. So, to us? Ares just represents another system outside of our control… and we reject that concept with every fiber of our being."

Martian Manhunter takes in her words thoughtfully. He envisioned an answer more inspiring. Something about the indomitable will of the human spirit. Its desire to remain unbowed and unconquered by any force, regardless of how magnanimous it appeared. Instead, it comes down to arrogance bordering on narcissism.

"Not the answer you were hoping for…?" Barbara asks with a sad, knowing smile.

"It was… disappointing… although it bears a strong ring of truth."

"J'onn, humans, no matter how noble, or how unselfish, are flawed. Deeply flawed." Barbara sighs approaching him. She always got the feeling that he, because of the experiences he's had with the white Martians of his world, viewed human beings in an overly positive light. At least the heroic elements of the populace were magnified in his eyes. "It is a great strength that you choose to see us for the heights we can aspire to, not the depths we too often sink… It's beautiful actually."

"Not naïve…?"

"Naïve would be not asking the question at all."

"And what if we are wrong?" J'onn asks looking down at the fierce redhead. "What if after being dedicated to and born for war, what Ares wants now is to be a benevolent ruler? Isn't it possible that he wishes to change?"

"That's your fifth question J'onn and you've yet to answer mine…" Barbara quips jokingly. "But I'll allow it… Rulership gained by force can never be benevolent. Because creating your kingdom through force, will mean you will have to use force to keep it. And what about the deaths and destruction he has caused on this path? Should the ends justify the means or should he be accountable for those wounds? I know the same argument could be made against us, but that's why we never take life."

"True. It is a line we would never cross…"

Barbara nods. "That's just it J'onn; Ares has set himself up as judge, jury and executioner already, what's to stop him from continuing in that role? Perhaps in his Utopia anyone who prefers pineapple on their pizza is evil to him, will they be put to death? Or maybe a woman he wants is married to someone else, will her husband be put to death? If we don't stop him now, we will have to deal with the answers to those questions and a hundred others like it. And we may not be in a position to do anything about it."

"Better then, to err on the side of caution and remove the possibility…"

"That's right, J'onn. Now are you ready for my question?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll give it a try…"

"Have you ever been on a date with a vigilante?"

A/N: the calm before the storm, what will the heroes do in preparation for the war to come?