AN: Time passes as the Apprenticeship nears. We will now see the interactions of those who we have not mentioned for some time now…and those we have. A new world is dawning soon, dear readers. It won't be the World of Perfect Heroes tha dreamt and still dreams of…but it will soon be better.
Outta This World: The Call Beyond Edition
Arc Two: Deathstroke
Chapter Fourteen: That Bucket of Foreshadowing
HIVE Academy. The HIVE Trio and the Agents of Canon.
Ashley Creedence was not in a good mood. It was not the fact that she was on another mission on a never endless crusade. It was not the fact that she had Lukas Graile—the god damn Seraphim—and Jacob Winters as teammates. No, the worst part was that she was back in high school, an environment that she had very much come to despise. Of course, it didn't help that said school was also for budding supervillains and mercenaries, since it seemed that everyone here was trying to be the biggest badass around.
This was what was happening precisely at this moment, as Ashely—otherwise known as Vector—and her two teammates were currently engaged in combat against the three best students in the academy—another group of C-lister villains known by the names of Jinx, Mammoth, and Gizmo. Villains who would pose a challenge to some lesser-known superhero groups and the Teen Titans, but when faced with the Justice League, would fold almost instantly.
Vector, Seraphim, and The Huntsman weren't the Justice League, and neither were they the Teen Titans…and they didn't need to be. The Huntsman was a psychotic killer who killed an entire city filled with abominations. Seraphim was a technical genius and a skilled gunfighter. Vector herself could poison anyone just by touching them.
All three of them had experienced dangerous situations before. All of them had fought much tougher opponents. All of them had fought to the death at some point. The HIVE trio? In a simulation battle? Easy as pie.
"Damnit, damnit, damnit, DAMN—!" Gizmo's screaming was cut off as he fell from the air, jetpack smoking as his pursuer—Seraphim—flew after him on mechanical wings, laughing as he fired rubber bullets from a sawed-off shotgun. Mammoth swung his fists in a clumsy, drunken manner as Vector dodged blow after blow with the grace of a ballerina.
And The Huntsman…The Huntsman grinned a manic grin as he flash-stepped through Jinx's hexes, dodging them only at the last second, and slowing growing closer to his prey. Jinx's face, on the other hand, was mired in panic as her shots began to go wild, not even hitting their intended target.
"No…" She muttered, her increasing anxiety apparent in her tone. "No, no, no!"
The Huntsman laughed as he swung a clenched fist.
Monitor's Rest. Lord Insight.
David—also known as Lord Insight, or Councilman Null—sat upon his dark throne, clutching his weary head. The changes to the canon timelines of the DC Universe were becoming greater and greater. More things from the comic book continuities that he was so familiar with were being merged with the continuities of the animated universe. Not to mention the content from universes that were totally unrelated to the DC Universe…
"HYDRA agents, Metal Gears, and Alchemists, oh my…" David whispered, trying to reduce the headache his own precognitive abilities gave him.
"Still trying to predict the future, old friend?" A new voice asked.
David lifted his aching head towards the source of the voice. At the entrance of the dark room stood a man in a business suit. He was tall, much taller than any normal human had any right to be, and much more muscular than any bodybuilder or quarterback had any hope to be. The man also had a handsome face, like that of a movie star, or some other celebrity. His hair was a sandy blond and his eyes shone a crystal-clear blue, and his mouth was curved upwards into a charming, boyish grin, which held teeth that seemed to be made of diamonds, as they radiated a pure white glow.
In short, he looked like a star quarterback that had done everything he had ever wanted and somehow earned enough money to retire at the age of thirty-five. He looked like the living embodiment of the American Dream.
David smiled. "Ah, Akira my old friend…" David shifted in his seat, unconsciously sitting a little taller. "My Number One. How many more field agents have been granted your wonderous boons?"
Akira's grin grew a little. "One thousand and seventy-one, David. But you still did not answer my question."
David growled, a scowl growing under his helm. "Doctor Mossa has proven extremely difficult to locate, even when I use my ability to peer into all possible futures."
Akira—also known as Councilman One—hummed. "Indeed. The Pariah who caused the Crisis of Infinite Earths has proven to be quite a nuisance as of late."
Lord Insight let out a bitter chuckle. "And here I thought my old mentor understood what I was trying to do." He stood from his throne and began to pace around the room. "We spent all that time trying to put our portion of the grand multiverse back together after the Anti-Monitor disrupted it, and now he is trying to destroy all of our work—just as it was promised that he would keep to himself." Insight walked over to a nearby computer console, placing a hand upon it. "But now, not only does he sow chaos…" The Commander of Team Canon slammed his fist down on the console, smashing the screen and damaging the keyboard. "He allies himself with those aberrations that he sent here! This 'Windwalker' and that 'Skitter'…"
For a moment, there was silence. Then David let out a tired sigh. "I wish Alex were here. He'd understand what I was trying to do. Clark, not so much, but that boy—super he may be—was always a bit naïve."
One cleared his throat. "And what of Hayden? Do you want him back as well?"
Lord Insight turned back on his comrade, a sneer beneath his helmet. "That traitor can rot in the hole I threw him in for all I care."
The Batcave. The Batman.
He couldn't trust any of them.
This was the one thought that ran through the mind of Bruce Wayne as he watched The Tape, again, and again, and again. He had memorized every detail, every frame, every word, even down to the las crackle of audio, to the last shift of the pixelated screen. At least half of the Founding Members of the League had betrayed the ideals that they had stood for—that Diana, Clark, and Batman himself had stood for.
He couldn't trust anyone.
So he would build someone—or something—he could trust. A caring brother. A watchful eye. A satellite that would observe and analyze all superhumans, hero, villain, or somewhere in between. This 'Brother Eye' would watch them all.
And if needed…it would eliminate these threats to justice.
Some back alleyways in Jump City. Luminous.
Luminous—the man who had killed Doctor Light—stood over the smoking corpse of yet another criminal. He had been working through the ranks of Jump City's underground criminal society for some time now, after his 'defeat' at the hands of the Titans. As guaranteed by Cire, Slade's forces—and by extension, the forces of HIVE—had left him alone, for the most part. There were always a few would-be badasses, a few recruiters, a few assassins—like this man had been.
"Enjoying yourself, I see." The familiar voice of Cire echoed throughout the alleyway.
Luminous shook his head. "No. Just doing what needs to be done."
"Ah, focused on the job then."
"Cut the crap, Cire—if that is your real name." Luminous snapped. "When are we going to move against the Titans."
"Soon. Soon." Cire mused. "Before that happens, our Death-Handed friend must first fulfill his end of the bargain. And that time is near."
Under the helmet, Luminous blinked. "So Slade Wilson…"
Cire smirked. "Will soon no longer be a problem."
The Hole that he threw the Traitor into. The Savior and his Great Destroyer.
It was dark here. So dark that the golden armor of The Man in Gold could not shine in this overwhelming black. There was only one light that could shine in this place of overwhelming blackness, and it was now held by the man who would be a Savior. But he had not come alone. No, The Man in Gold brought with him a terrible and mighty force, clad in the colors of The World's Finest, but with a mind forever focused on the past—on what could have been.
"Are we almost there, Lex?" The Destroyer asked, floating alongside his comrade.
"Yes, Clark." The Savior answered, holding the mystical lamp up to his face, revealing curly red hair and the face of a man who was in his twenties. "Now be silent. What comes next require…concentration."
The two inevitably came upon their destination—a large stone door that would tower above even Giganta. On eye-level with the two travelers was the mechanism that held this door shut. It was a simple thing—a circular indent in which a mask crafted entirely out of gold sat, a blank expression on its well-crafted face.
The Savior reached out towards the mask, but the Destroyer flew in front of him. "Hold on, Lex. Didn't he betray us to the Anti-Monitor once before? What's to say he won't betray us again?"
The Savior chuckled. "Oh, Clark…what makes you think I haven't planned for that?"
The Destroyer paused, nodded with approval, and then moved out of the Savior's path, opting to take the lamp from The Savior in the case he needed to use both hands. The Man in Gold placed his hands upon the mask, funneling a strange, purple energy into it. There was the sound of a shifting mechanism from the other side, and the mask was detached from the circle. The Savior stumbled back but failed to fall as the door opened.
On the other side of this door was a room—or rather, a prison cell. In this cell sat a young man with blond hair that reached down to the small of his back. The man was muttering the same words, over and over again, a mantra that if disrupted would have consequences for all involved…which is what The Savior was counting on.
"One Earth…only ever one Earth…"
The Savior put on his best winning grin in order to charm the frightening power that this prison held. "Hello, old friend."
The young man within lifted his head, and then inclined it a little towards The Savior as he spoke again.
"I have something of yours, Rodger Hayden…or shall I call you…"
The Savior tossed the mask into the room, its golden face landing at the young man's side.
"The Psycho Pirate!"
AN: Once, there were many Earths…then, a great Crisis lessened the amount of those Earths. Soon, there shall be another Crisis…and the face of the Multiverse shall once again be changed.
But that time isn't yet. Not all of the pieces are in place. Not all of the plans have been made. But soon…But soon…