This chapter takes place one week after Conner and Courtney's wedding.
Chapter 5
Earth-21
(Watchtower, Metropolis, Early afternoon)
Tess Mercer and Emil Hamilton were at one of the computers when Clark, dressed in his Superman suit, entered.
"Tess, Emil, what happened?" Clark inquired.
"Six inmates at Stryker's and five at Belle Reve mysteriously disappeared from their cells," Tess informed.
"Who?" Clark asked.
"Black Manta, Solomon Grundy, Icicle, Volcana, Captain Cold, and Rose Wilson from the former," Emil answered. "Justin Gaines, Tim Westcott, Tommy Lee, Tyler Crenshaw, and Tempest Drake from the latter."
Clark let out a sigh. "Any idea how it happened?"
"Twenty-eight minutes ago, all the cameras in both prisons inexplicably went offline at the same time for approximately two seconds and when they came back on, the inmates were suddenly no longer in their cells," Tess explained.
"Someone is obviously behind this and we need to figure out who," Clark said. "I'll head to Stryker's first to see if I can find anything out of the ordinary that might give us a lead."
He flew out of the Watchtower in a blur of red and blue.
Once outside, Clark soared through the air at full speed, heading directly towards Stryker's Island Penitentiary. He was determined to get to the bottom of what happened, find the inmates, and put them right back where they belonged. Those people were too dangerous to be allowed to roam free.
As Stryker's appeared in his sight, Clark was about to descend towards the prison when he suddenly vanished in a flash of light.
(Kent farm, Smallville)
Kara Kent was taking some clothes out of the washing machine and putting them in a hamper when she suddenly stopped and closed her eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over her. When she opened them, her eyes were void of emotion.
With a hardened expression on her face, Kara abruptly flew out of the house in a blur and took off into the sky, having instantly changed into her superhero uniform.
(Washington, D.C.)
Diana Prince and Steve Trevor were sitting at a table outside a soup restaurant having lunch. After the conversation she had with her Earth-50 counterpart, Diana had decided to confess her true feelings to Steve and, as he felt the same way about her, the two had been in a relationship ever since.
Diana suddenly dropped her spoon and closed her eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over her.
"Diana?" Steve asked in concern. "Are you all right?"
Diana opened her eyes and stood up, a stone cold expression on her face.
"Diana, what-"
Steve was cut off as Diana abruptly raced off in a blur.
Diana stopped on the rooftop of a building, having changed into her Wonder Woman uniform, before she vanished in a flash of light.
Earth-38
(National City)
Kara Danvers was talking to Nia Nal, a new reporter who had recently started working at CatCo.
"James is gonna love your pitch for the article," Kara said.
Nia grinned eagerly. "Really?"
"Yeah," Kara nodded, with a smile.
"Thank you very much," Nia said in appreciation, before she walked away.
Kara's smile suddenly vanished as she closed her eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over her. When she opened them, her eyes were void of emotion.
With a hardened expression on her face, Kara took off her glasses, flew out of CatCo at super-speed, and soared into the sky, having instantly changed into her Supergirl suit.
(Elsewhere)
Clark Kent aka Superman was flying through the air after thwarting a bank robbery in Mexico. He was clad in a new suit after his previous one had been badly damaged in the battle against Doomsday on Earth-1.
The Man of Steel suddenly stopped flying and closed his eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over him. When he opened them, his eyes were void of emotion.
With a hardened expression on his face, Superman resumed flying, increasing his speed as he soared across the sky in a red and blue streak of light.
Earth-50
(Kent farm, Smallville)
Clark, Lois, and Martha were sitting at the table in the kitchen eating sandwiches for lunch.
Clark suddenly closed his eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over him.
"Honey, are you all right?" Martha asked, as she and Lois looked at him in concern.
Clark opened his eyes and stood up, a stone cold expression on his face.
"I have to go," he stated, before abruptly flying out of the house in a blur.
Lois and Martha exchanged worried looks. "I wonder what that was all about," the former said.
"I'm not sure, but something's definitely not right," Martha said.
Outside, Clark had instantly changed into his Superman suit as he took off across the sky in a red and blue streak of light.
(Paris, Evening)
Diana was walking towards her apartment, dressed in civilian clothes with her dark hair tied into a ponytail, when she suddenly stopped and closed her eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over her. When she opened them, her eyes were void of emotion.
With a hardened expression on her face, Diana abruptly sped off in a blur. She stopped on the rooftop of a building, now garbed in her Wonder Woman outfit, before vanishing in a flash of light.
(Fawcett Central School, Philadelphia, Afternoon)
Billy Batson and his best friend, Freddy Freeman, were walking along the corridor when the former suddenly vanished in a flash of light.
Freddy stopped, gazing around in complete bewilderment. "Billy? Billy!"
Earth-78
Superman was flying high above the clouds with his arms outward, clad in the same bright blue and red suit he had worn for the last four decades. The longtime Kryptonian protector of Earth was well in his seventies, though appeared no older than the average human in their early forties. Some of the hairs at his temples were gray while the majority was still jet black.
He suddenly stopped flying and closed his eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over him. When he opened them, his eyes were void of emotion.
With a stone cold expression on his face, Superman resumed flying, tremendously increasing his speed as he soared across the sky in a red and blue streak of light.
(Linda's apartment, Midvale)
Linda Lee, whose real name was Kara Zor-El, had just finished feeding her cat Alura when she suddenly closed her eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over her. When she opened them, her eyes were void of emotion.
Linda changed into her Superwoman suit in the blink of an eye and vanished in a flash of light a moment later.
Earth-96
(Daily Planet, Metropolis)
Clark Kent was in his office sitting at his desk across from a young blonde woman in her early twenties, whom he had just finished interviewing.
"Congratulations, ma'am, you have a job here at the Daily Planet," Clark told her with a polite smile.
The young woman grinned happily. "When can I start?"
"Can you start tomorrow morning?" Clark asked.
"Sure," the young woman answered.
"Well, I'll see you tomorrow then," Clark said as he held out his hand.
"Thank you, Mr. Kent," the young woman said as she shook Clark's hand.
"Please, call me Clark," Clark said, kindly.
"Okay... Clark," the young woman said, reluctance evident in her voice. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, bright and early."
She got up with her folder and left the office.
Clark suddenly closed his eyes as a lightheaded feeling washed over him. When he opened them, his eyes were void of emotion.
He stood up, took off his glasses, and sped out of the Daily Planet, instantly changing into his Superman suit as he took off towards the sky.
Earth-192
(Metropolis)
Superman and Lois Lane were sitting on a rooftop having a picnic.
"So what is it that you wanted to tell me?" Lois asked, before taking a sip of her wine. "You said it was important."
"It is important, Lois," Superman replied. "This is something I should've told you long before now. You deserve to know the truth."
"What truth?" Lois asked, curious.
Superman took a deep breath. "The reason a certain friend and co-worker of yours is never around much is because..."
Whatever the Man of Steel was going to say next was interrupted as he suddenly vanished in a flash of light.
Lois gasped in alarm, gazing around for any sign of her not-quite boyfriend. "Superman?"
She stood up and continued looking around, but couldn't find him.
"What the heck just happened?" Lois wondered. "And how am I gonna get down from here?"
(Elsewhere)
Diana of Themyscira, publicly known as Wonder Woman, was walking along the sidewalk, paying no mind to the stares she was receiving from the civilians, which she had long ago gotten used to. She was dressed in regular clothes, having decided to take the day off from her superhero duties. Hopefully, nothing would come up and fate would, for a change, allow her one whole day to rest.
She suddenly stopped walking and closed her eyes, a lightheaded feeling washing over her. When she opened them, her eyes were void of emotion.
She spun around a few times and a bright light surrounded her for a few moments as her clothes instantly transformed into her Wonder Woman outfit, while people nearby gawked in awe.
With a stone cold expression on her face, Wonder Woman flew off into the sky in a blur.
Earth-78
(Metropolis)
High above the clouds, Superman of Earth-21 appeared out of thin air. Clenching his fists, he watched with a stern expression as another Superman, who was clearly older, flew towards him at a speed rivaling his own.
Superman of Earth-78 stopped a few feet before him, a glare appearing on his face. "You must be who I was expecting." He looked the younger Superman up and down. "I assume you're one of the other Supermen my cousin met during her Multiversal adventure a few months ago."
"You remind me of someone I knew a long time ago," Clark stated, noting the older Superman's strong resemblance to Virgil Swann. "I almost feel bad that I have no choice but to end you."
"End me? That's funny," Superman remarked in amusement. "I believe you have that backwards, son. Don't get me wrong, you seem like someone who is capable of giving me a good fight, but I've been living this life for over forty years and only have gotten much stronger in that amount of time. How long have you worn that suit for?"
Clark scoffed. "Your longevity is irrelevant. You haven't witnessed everything I've managed to pull off with these powers over the years."
"You haven't witness what I've done either," Superman shot back. "If you truly believe that you're more powerful than I am, prove it. Action speaks louder than words after all."
"You're right," Clark snarled, clenching his fist. "There's only one way to find out which of us is stronger."
With that, the two Supermen flew at each other with their fists outward.
Earth-21
(Metropolis)
Kara K continued flying until she spotted two figures standing on the rooftop of a building. One of them was an attractive young woman with neck-length blonde hair and bright blue eyes. She was garbed in a long-sleeved white leotard, a pair of white gloves, matching boots, and a golden belt. The other one was Wonder Woman of Earth-50, who held her sword in one hand and shield in the other.
Kara K descended before the two women, glaring furiously at them.
The blonde in white, who was none other than Galatea, the older and more powerful clone of Earth-192 Supergirl created by her universe's Emil Hamilton, stared Kara K up and down with a smirk.
"I have to say, I'm not impressed," Galatea sneered. "The Supergirl from my world nearly electrocuted me to death, but I'm all better now. I'm gonna make up for my temporary defeat by killing another version of her. You."
"You can try all you want," Kara K snarled, clenching his fists. "I always give much more than I get."
"I've killed many stronger opponents in the past," Diana of Earth-50 countered, before pointing her sword at Kara K. "Not even you are invulnerable to the magical properties of my sword."
"I highly doubt you can take on the both of us on your lonesome," Galatea added with an arrogant smirk. "I was beating the snot out of my world's Supergirl and would've killed her if I hadn't gotten distracted!"
"I'm not your world's Supergirl!" Kara K shot back. "Come on, take your best shot at you!"
"With pleasure," Galatea said eagerly, before she hurled a punch at Kara K.
Earth-96
(Metropolis)
Superman descended on a rooftop, where Wonder Woman of Earth-21 was standing with her sword and shield at the ready.
"You're clearly not the Kal of my world," Diana said, sternly.
"You're not my Diana either," Superman retorted. "You know what that means, don't you?"
Diana glared at him. "Yes, it means that I must kill you."
Superman chuckled in amusement. "You mean 'try to' kill me."
"No," Diana snarled, intensifying her glare. "I meant exactly what I said."
"Under a yellow sun, we Kryptonians are made of extremely tough stuff," Superman pointed out. "You may be significantly stronger than humans, but not strong enough to save yourself from what I'm about to do to you."
"We'll see about that!" Diana spat out, before letting out a yell as she charged at the Man of Steel.
Earth-38
(National City)
High above the clouds, Linda Lee aka Superwoman appeared out of thin. Hearing a sonic boom behind her, Linda spun around as Kara Danvers aka Supergirl appeared and hovered a few feet in front of her.
"Hello, young one," Linda greeted in a cool tone.
"I knew we would run into each other again," Kara D retorted, clenching her fists. "Time to found out which of us is the better Supergirl."
"We both know the answer to that question, sweetie, and it's certainly not you," Linda stated, looking the younger Girl of Steel hard in the eyes.
"And you think it's you?" Kara D shot back, glaring at the older Kryptonian. "Just because you're older than me doesn't mean anything. You wouldn't be the first Kryptonian I beat down to the ground and that's exactly what I'm about to do to you."
"So much arrogance within you," Linda noted in disgust. "I'm disappointed, Kara."
"Prepare to be even more disappointed because you're not winning against me," Kara D snarled.
With that, she and Linda unleased their blue and red beams of heat vision.
(Metropolis)
Billy Batson of Earth-50 appeared out of thin air in an alleyway. He closed his eyes for a few moments as a lightheaded feeling washed over him. When he opened them, his eyes were void of emotion.
"Shazam!" he exclaimed.
On command, a huge bolt of lightning descended from the sky and struck Billy, instantly transforming him into the aforementioned superhero.
With a stern expression on his face, Shazam shot into the sky at immense speed, leaving behind his usual trail of blurry yellow light. He soared through the air until the Superman of this Earth appeared from the opposite direction and hovered a few feet before him.
"You know, sometimes I wondered how I would do if I had to fight Superman one-on-one," Shazam said. "I know you're not exactly the one I know, but I'm still excited for this."
"Don't get too excited," Superman advised. "After all I've dealt with over the years, taking you down won't be much of an issue."
"Bring it on then, Supes," Shazam challenged.
"Very well," Superman agreed.
With that, the two heroes flew at each other with their fists outward.
Earth-50
The Superman of this Earth quickly arrived within the city limits of Metropolis and was soon confronted by a figure who was clearly another Superman, whose suit was brighter than his own and contained a pair of red trunks over the blue pants.
The two Supermen stared each other up and down with matching glares.
"Not... impressed," Superman of Earth-50 said in a cool tone.
"I'd say the feeling's mutual," Superman of Earth-192 countered in the same cold tone, before regarding his counterpart's suit. "Clearly, my suit's much better than yours."
"Really?" Superman of Earth-50 asked in the tone indicating he disagreed. "Is it because of the red underwear over your pants? I wouldn't be caught dead wearing anything like that."
"At least my suit emanates hope," Superman of Earth-192 stated. "Yours is too dull for my liking."
"We'll agree to disagree regarding our suits," Superman of Earth-50 decided, clenching his fists. "The only thing that matters right now is eliminating you."
"Actually, I'm the one who is going to eliminate you," Superman of Earth-192 countered, also clenching his fists.
"Enough talking!" Superman of Earth-50 snarled. "Let's settle this like men. Or should I say Supermen?"
"Agreed," Superman of Earth-192 nodded.
With that, they flew towards each other with their fists outward.
Earth-192
(Metropolis)
Wonder Woman stopped flying as a figure appeared out of thin air right in front of her. She regarded the figure, a woman who appeared to be in her late thirties, with long brown hair marked by a white streak on the left side, and was clad in a tight black jumpsuit.
"I'm guessing you're the one I have to kill," Wonder Woman said, sternly.
The woman, who was none other than General Astra of Earth-38, stared the Amazon up and down.
"You possess the aura of a true warrior," Astra stated as she and Wonder Woman glared daggers at each other. "But are you a match for a Kryptonian such as myself?"
"The real question is, are you a match for me?" Wonder Woman countered. Raising her fists, she added, "Only one way to find out."
With that, the two women flew towards each other with their fists outward.
Vanishing Point
Lex-192 held the Book of Destiny in his hands, while the other five Lexes each had a hand placed on top of it. The six of them were engulfed in the bright energy flowing steadily out of the magical book.
Lex-192 was now wearing a green jumpsuit with darker green gloves, black boots, a high-tech belt with several buttons, and a holster with a pistol resting on the left side of his shoulder. Lex-21 was dressed in an expensive white suit like the one he had worn as President in the future, while his right hand was no longer covered with a black leather glove since it was fully healed. Lex-78 was dressed in an expensive mostly black suit with a yellow collar and matching flower lapel pinned on the left side of his shoulder, while Lex-96 was dressed in a long white overcoat with a black suit underneath. Lex-38 was wearing the same black suit he'd worn the entire time, while Lex-50 was in a navy blue suit.
After about a minute, the Lex Luthors moved their hands from the Book of Destiny and Lex-192 closed it, causing the energy around him and his counterparts to disappear.
"There, mission accomplished," Lex-192 said with a smirk.
"Now our Supermen and some of the other heavy-hitting powerhouses across our worlds shall duke it out," Lex-21 stated.
"And as planned, we will capitalize on the inevitable destruction caused by their battles," Lex-38 said.
"Then we can kill our Supermen without being the bad guy and be hailed as a hero for it," Lex-96 added
"Indeed," Lex-78 agreed.
"Let the all-out chaos and utter destruction across the Multiverse begin," Lex-50 said eagerly with a psychotic grin as the other Lexes exchanged concerned looks at his behavior.
"Now it's time for our guests to take care of the remaining members of the Justice Leagues," Lex-192 stated.
The Lexes turned to the group of assembled villains standing a few meters away. The group consisted of:
John Corben, Black Manta, Rose Wilson, Grundy, Captain Cold, Icicle, Claire Selton, Justin Gaines, Tim Westcott, Tommy Lee, Tyler Crenshaw, and Tempest Drake from Earth-21.
Hank Henshaw, Silver Banshee, Bizarro-Girl, and Red Tornado from Earth-38.
Deathstroke, Solomon Grundy, Bane, and Clayface from Earth-50.
From Earth-192 were Sinestro, Giganta, Bizarro, Metallo, Star Sapphire, Livewire, Killer Frost, Volcana, Cheetah, Atomic Skull, Black Mass, and Royal Flush Gang members Jack, King, Queen, and Ten.
Lex-192 opened the Book of Destiny once more and all the supervillains vanished in a massive flash of light.
So the Lex Luthors have used the Book of Destiny's powers to make Supermen, Supergirls, Wonder Women, and Earth-50 Shazam engage in battles across the six Earths involved, while sending an assembled group of supervillains to deal with the rest of the Justice League. The reason that the Martian Manhunters weren't mind-controlled into fighting despite being heavy-hitters should be obvious.
Earth-38 Superman's new suit is the one he wears in the show Superman and Lois, as it's much better than the suit he wore on Supergirl, which was badly damaged in the fight with Doomsday in the previous story.
Now, the fights, which will be covered in the next few chapters:
Smallville Superman vs Donnerverse Superman – These two are the most powerful Kryptonians in the Multiverse, making it a fitting match. Also, Earth-78 Superman's power level has increased quite a bit in the years after his movies, so he's now on par with Earth-21 Clark in this series.
Smallville Superwoman vs Galatea and DCEU Wonder Woman – Given that Kara Kent is almost as powerful as her cousin, while both Galatea and Earth-50 Diana are below the Supermen of their respective universes, this is a two-on-one fight so it wouldn't be too easy for Kara.
Routh Superman vs Smallville Wonder Woman – Earth-96 Superman is not far below his Earth-21 and Earth-78 counterparts and is on par with Smallville Kara, while Earth-21 Wonder Woman's strength level is below that of Smallville Kryptonians and Reeve Superman, but above DCEU Superman. However, her superior combat skills and weapons are enough to make this a decent match.
Arrowverse Supergirl vs Donnerverse Superwoman – Linda Lee/Earth-78 Kara's power level is slightly above that of DCEU Superman, who is above Earth-38 Kryptonians. Despite the gap between the two Karas, couldn't resist pitting these two against each other.
Arrowverse Superman vs DCEU Shazam – These two are below DCEU Superman in strength, although Shazam makes up for it with his magical nature. Didn't want to pass up on the opportunity for a Superman vs Shazam fight.
DCEU Superman vs DCAU Superman – While the exact power levels of the DCAU heavy-hitters was inconsistent in the cartoons, in this, going by their high-end (as well as tie-in comics) feats, the Earth-192 characters are slightly above their Earth-50 counterparts. Felt this would be a good match.
DCAU Wonder Woman vs Astra – These two are battle-hardened warriors with roughly the same amount of strength, though Astra possesses more abilities while Diana is the superior combatant, making this a fitting match.