Wednesday
Los Angeles
Superman groaned in pain. It wasn't a feeling he had too often. In fact it was altogether alien to him. His arms were broken, he probably had a concussion, dried blood was caked on him. The others weren't holding up so well either. Due to their high metabolisms, the Flash and Goku were each starving and dehydrated, not having eaten or drank anything since Sunday morning.
Green Lantern was well on his way to joining them, though Superman had to admit that his willpower was keeping him going. Wonder Woman was probably in the best shape of all of them, attempting to find a way to free her from her bonds, but she soon stopped when the top of Green Lantern's green cross changed to a blade and stretched out in front of him, threatening to impale his head. Superman was most worried about the Martian Manhunter though. He had been wary of coming into this battle at all since he had felt the mind of Lavos, the First's servant. Then he had been set on fire, his only weakness. He was in a bad way but still he clung to life.
"J'onn? J'onn?" Superman asked, as he had for the last few days. And like the last few days he got no response. The only way he knew his friend was alive was by the sound of a very weak heartbeat.
"He can't hear you."
It was the First.
"What do you want?" Superman asked hatefully.
"Just making my rounds and I thought it would be enjoyable if I tortured you for a while." The First said moving in closer, flapping its wings high above the burning city below, "Do you see what has happened down below?"
Superman made no response, instead glaring at the First. The First grinned.
"What's happened is that I've unleashed a group of brainless animals that were down in the center of the earth. It's all very interesting really. The giant creature you fought, Lavos, came to earth before it had life. And I met it head on. It had great willpower I admit, but eventually my machinations allowed me to manipulate it psychologically. As time progressed, I wanted it to create creatures worthy of me. And it did. The Baragons are fire breathing dragons that burrow deep beneath the earth. The Gyaos are giant flying flesh eaters, whose terrible sonic cries cut through near any material. And my beautiful Turok-Han, genetically altered vampires more suited to my purposes. Lavos didn't stop there though. Oh no, it created my spires that now jut up out of the earth, casting darkness into the air. The same darkness that absorbs the souls of those who die and sends it to me. The same darkness that blots out the sun and robs you of your power. Tell me Superman, how will it feel to soon just be a man? I imagine you will hurt quite a lot." The First smiled.
"You'll be stopped." Superman said defiantly.
"Oh yes. The armies of man are overwhelming me as we speak. Oh please don't hurt me!" the First said in mock fright, "Idiot. Where are they Superman? The Avengers? The Justice Society? Where are the Authority? The Fantastic Four? You don't even have Gen 13 to help you. They're all dealing with my pets in other corners of the globe. They can't be spared to help you."
"Someone will come." Superman growled.
"Perhaps Adam Warlock would. He's planning something. But that just goes to show how hopeless the situation is for you. He possesses the Infinity Gauntlet, yet he does not act against me. No, he chooses champions. Oh I know that's what he's done. His particular plan is blocked from my view for now…but I have eyes and ears everywhere. It will not stay unrevealed forever. And why doesn't he just attack me? He can't. He won't. I would say the ball is definitely in my court now." The First explained to Superman before his ears arched, "Did you hear that? It sounded like a child's voice…crying for Superman to save him. Save him Superman. Go, save him."
The First's finger lit up in power, "Save him Superman! Save him!"
Superman struggled valiantly to escape his Oan bonds because he could indeed hear the child's voice and knew the First's intent. The First simply smiled and fired a blast of energy from his finger that sped out over the horizon and impacted. Superman's jaw dropped when the child's cry was cut short.
"Hmm. I suppose I was just hearing things." The First said as it began to laugh. Superman hung his head in defeat as the Martian Manhunter's red eyes opened and glared hatefully at the First, before closing again.
Buffy and Faith both lay on the ground, temporarily paralyzed, amidst all the similarly immobile Potentials. Gamora stood above them.
"Andrew?" the green skinned woman asked.
"Three minutes even" Andrew replied.
"Getting better." Gamora smirked.
Arashmahar, dimensional home of the Vengeance Demons. From here, each Vengeance demon receives their orders from D'Hoffryn himself and go about the world, righting what they consider wrong with wishes. Sometimes the wicked are punished rightfully. Most times however, innocent people make wishes to these beings and end getting a world of trouble. For eleven hundred years, D'Hoffryn was most proud of his protégé: Anyanka, patron saint of all women scorned. She was feared and worshipped throughout the mortal world. She wielded incredible power and had a reputation as being the greatest Vengeance Demon of all, save D'Hoffryn himself.
However, she had become prideful and lost her powers. Living as a human for three years after that weakened her resolve, so when she finally returned to the flock her work was lackluster at best. She had wanted a way out then. So D'Hoffryn gave it to her. Of course he had to murder a lesser Vengeance Demon and friend to Anyanka called Halfrek, but what of it? Anyanka became a disappointment, willingly turning her back from the fold. So for the last few months, he sent various other demons to kill her. So far she had survived. D'Hoffryn frowned at that, then smiled as Anyanka entered his court.
"Well, well, well. Anyanka." The large bearded, horned demon said with an evil smile.
"D'Hoffryn." Anya said as she walked past the other Vengeance Demons carefully. They spat in her direction, called her obscenities, and threatened her life. Through it all Anya just kept walking before D'Hoffryn.
"I never thought I'd see you here in Arashmahar again. I imagined you'd be killed or die from old age. Fitting deaths for a traitor." D'Hoffyrn said smiling as Anya was before him.
"I'm tired of it all D'Hoffryn. I'm tired of you sending all the demons after me. I'm tired of being afraid. I just want it to end." Anya explained slowly.
"So you came to seek more merciful death from me?" D'Hoffyrn asked, "I like that."
"I didn't come here to die." Anya said, hanging her head slightly.
"Oh. I see. You came to beg for your powers back. Well let me think about it…no. You turned your back on us Anyanka. You turned your back on Arashmahar, on Vengeance, and upon the Lower Beings. There is no coming back for your powers. There is only death here." D'Hoffryn said as his hands began to crackle with blue energy.
Anya turned up and looked him in the eye, "I know."
Her hand shot into his chest with a messy, wet, sound. D'Hoffryn's eyes went wide in shock as his hands stopped crackling. He grabbed Anya's forearm and tried to force it out of his chest, but it would not budge. His energy began to flow out into her, filling her with all his vaunted power. She recoiled her arm and pushed the gaping Elder Vengeance Demon over.
"But….how?" D'Hoffryn asked in shock.
Anya unclenched her other hand, showing him its contents. The Power Gem from the Infinity Gauntlet rested in her hand. Anya's eyes glowed with energy, closing her fist around it again.
"I'm not stupid D'Hoffryn, despite what many may think. I knew you'd never give me my powers back. I knew you'd try to kill me. That's why a friend of mine let me borrow this little trinket. With it, I was more powerful than even you. With it I can take your powers and the powers of every other Vengeance Demon in Arashmahar before having to give the gem back to its rightful owner." Anya said, smugly.
"But…that's…not…fair." D'Hoffryn said.
"No. It isn't. A lot of what we've all done wasn't fair. That's why it ends today. I will leave each of you with enough power to depart back to whatever worlds you came from, but that is it. You will give me your power willingly or I will take it. The time of the Vengeance Demon is over. Arashmahar will be an empty dimension. It will be a tomb. For D'Hoffyrn." Anya said angrily as he looked at her former mentor.
"You...cannot…kill me…I've been like a father to you!" D'Hoffryn said fearfully.
"You were like a father to all of us. Including Halfrek. Yet you murdered her to teach me a lesson. She was my closest friend. It's only fitting Vengeance be taken one last time before it ends." Anya said as D'Hoffryn was set ablaze, "That fire will burn for ten thousand years. And you will not die until it goes out in that span of time."
D'Hoffryn screamed in pain.
"Vengeance burns doesn't it? That was for Hallie, you bastard." Anya said bitterly as she turned to the other demons, "Now what were those names that you called me?"
"Why do they call them the Backstreet Boys again?" Connor asked as he walked along the cemetery with Dawn.
"It's just their name Connor." Dawn giggled, "How do you like the CD?"
"It's annoying." Connor said as he listened through the headphones for a while longer.
"Well, maybe Xander or Spike can loan you some things to listen to. More manly things." Dawn said.
"I don't think I'm a good judge of music. The only music I remember hearing were battle drums back on my homeworld. They generally weren't a good sign either." Connor explained.
"Well that's back in whatever dimension you were raised in. Here we use music to relax and for entertainment. Like Lorne. You've heard him sing right?" Dawn asked.
"A few times, when he thought no one was listening." Connor stated before looking at Dawn, "Are you sure your sister lets you go out like this?"
"Connor it's three PM." Dawn said.
"Yeah but its also total darkness." Connor shot back.
"Touché." Dawn said, "Okay so Buffy probably wouldn't let me go out like this. But I'm with you. I feel safe with you because you can handle almost anything we'd run into out here. I'm not slouch either."
"So it will be okay?" Connor asked.
"Sure. If it comes to it, I'll just say you forced me to come with you." Dawn smirked.
Connor looked at her, long and hard, before leaning in and kissing her. Dawn was a little surprised at first but didn't fight it. It was interesting, no doubt about that. She didn't fight him off. She pulled back.
"Wow." Dawn managed to say.
"Sorry. I felt I had to." Connor explained.
"It's okay." Dawn said.
"Oh it most certainly is not young lady. I 'magine that you're gonna be in a big ol' spot of trouble."
Dawn turned and saw someone that scared the living crap out of her. Standing a few feet away and leaning against a tomb was Caleb.
"Connor we have to get out of here." Dawn said, backing away and looking around for any Bringers.
"Who is that?" Connor asked.
"That's Caleb. He's not to be messed with Connor. He beat Buffy, Spike, and Faith all at once." Dawn said, walking behind Caleb.
"Now, now, now. Little girls should be seen and not heard little missy." Caleb said in his southern accent as he walked out to meet the two of them, "And look at you out here. Seducing this fine young man like a little Jezebel. You should feel ashamed, you dirty girl."
"Back off." Connor growled at the taller man.
"No manners I see. I suppose my judge of your character was off a bit. My mistake." Caleb said walking closer.
"Leave or I make you leave." Connor growled again.
"Connor, no! We have to go!" Dawn said pulling his arm.
"Should listen to your little goodtime girl." Caleb said with a smile, lighting his ring.
"I'm not afraid of you." Connor said defiantly.
"Well that's your first mistake." Caleb said striking out with his ringed hand to burn his mark into Connor. Connor caught his hand by the wrist.
"I've fought the Beast. You're no Beast." Connor said twisting and flipping Caleb to the ground. Connor instantly leapt atop the deranged man of the cloth and pulled out his stake bring it down. His hand was caught in a vice-like grip and Connor groaned in pain as Caleb made him drop the stake and then threw him through the air like a rag doll. Caleb stood up and dusted himself off.
"I hate to disappoint you, but I'm not a vampire." Caleb said before looking to Dawn, "Now you stay right there missy. I'll attend to you in minute."
Connor charged Caleb and swung a powerful punch that connected with Caleb's jaw and made him smile. Caleb then backhanded Connor and again he went flying. He hit almost as hard as the Beast did. Not quite, but it was still impressive. Connor went for a change in tactics and went for a tackle. Caleb caught him easily and held him in a headlock.
"Now let me see…mark you or just snap your little 'ol neck like a twig. Decisions, decisions." Caleb said with a smirk. The smirk faded when something collided with his face and hit hard. He let Connor go and pushed the boy to the ground as he examined what had hit him. He picked it up. A metal boomerang shaped like a bat. Caleb's gaze then went to the top of a nearby tomb, and on it stood what looked like a demon right out of hell. The Batman.
"Let them go or I hurt you." Batman said so low, Caleb almost didn't hear.
"Somehow I doubt you can do that." Caleb smiled. Batman leapt off the tomb and came running at Caleb. Caleb just opened his arms wide, like it was an old friend running to his embrace. When Batman was in striking range, Caleb threw a punch and missed. He then roared in pain as his arm fell lifeless to his side.
"I saw how strong you are. I can't match you in that regard. But I'm fast. And I know where all the major nerve clusters are. It doesn't matter how strong you are if you can't move your arm." Batman said coldly, as Caleb swung with his free arm.
Batman avoided it. Caleb swung again. Batman avoided it. Caleb swung one last time and Batman grabbed his arm, swinging him in a 360 with his momentum. When Caleb faced the Batman again he was struck by a powerful kick in his solar plexus. The air was driven out of his lungs as Batman pulled what appeared to be a grappling hook from his belt. Firing the mechanism, the cord wrapped around the legs of Caleb. With a simple pull, the cord tightened and drew Caleb's legs together and put him on the ground. "Steel cable. I'd like to see you rip that apart. One armed even."
Dawn's mouth hung open as she helped up Connor and looked at Batman.
"Who's that?" Connor asked.
"That's Batman." Dawn answered.
"Who?" Connor asked.
"I'll explain later." Dawn said as she watched the hero. She jumped when she saw Bringers coming out of nowhere to aid the sinister clergyman.
"Look out!" Dawn shrieked.
A Bringer swung a sword at Batman. He merely ducked and spun sweeping the demon onto the ground. Another came right at him. Batman stepped out of the range of the sword and threw a powerful kick. A throwing dagger spun at him. He caught it by the handle. Then he grimaced before throwing it back, making sure the angle was right so that the Bringer was hit by the handle and not the blade.
Connor and Dawn stood transfixed. The Batman was poetry in motion. He moved with a grace and skill that the teens had rarely seen, even in vampires. He was making it all look easy. Still things never really stay easy.
Caleb's hand locked onto Batman's foot. Batman groaned in pain as the powerful grip twisted his ankle. In a moment, Batman was down with Caleb atop him. A powerful blow made Batman see stars. Caleb smiled. He was using both arms again.
"What do ya plan on doing now hot shot? Time to repent of your sins." Caleb said as the white hot ring on his finger approached the exposed bottom jaw of the Dark Knight.
It was blocked at the last instant by a small mask that Batman instantly covered his face with. Caleb was perplexed at the speed and accuracy that Batman placed the mask on his face. He'd apparently reached for his belt. That's when Caleb started coughing. After all it would have been rather pointless of Batman to withdraw his gasmask without withdrawing some gas pellets too wouldn't it? Batman rolled Caleb over onto his back and violently elbowed the clergy's throat. He stood and looked back behind him. The Bringers were all coughing and clutching their throats as well. Good. He could get on with the plan then. Batman limped, albeit quickly from the gas cloud to where Dawn and Connor stood. He ushered them along.
"Dawn Summers." Batman stated as they began to flee the scene.
"You know my name?" Dawn asked.
Batman knew her name!
"I did some research. Found some records from the recently deceased Watcher's Council. I'd very much like to meet your sister." Batman explained.
"If you know my name then you know where I live. Why didn't you just knock on the door or something?" Dawn asked.
"I'd rather not be killed by Thanos. Meeting up with the proper person to get me in safely seemed more logical." Batman explained further.
"Oh….so what do you want?" Dawn asked again, somewhat intimidated.
"I want to help."