(AN) drops to knees I'm sorry for taking so long with this last update. I hope it was worth the wait.....and you can stop bugging me now, Doug! --
I do not own the rights to the characters, but I will own the rights to the real story adaption.
Chapter 18: All That You Can't Leave Behind
"This is Summer Gleason reporting live from Gotham City. Approximately one hour ago, two unidentified aircrafts suddenly appeared over downtown Gotham City. Reports say that the Justice League responded immediately and are currently battling the creature that rampaged through Metropolis exactly six months ago. The creature has been referred to as 'Doomsday'.
"Doomsday had been contained at S.T.A.R. Labs in Metropolis since his defeat at the hands of the Justice League. Authorities confirm that two months ago Doomsday had been taken from S.T.A.R. Labs in a daring burglary. His body had been reported stolen by Professor Emil Hamilton.
"Right now I'm being told that Gotham Police Commissioner James Gordon has surrendered authority of Gotham City over to the National Guard during this crisis.
"More when it becomes available…"
Clark Kent has felt this feeling before. The lack of control, bowing down to another's will, even the feeling of pain echoing throughout his body. However, none of these feelings have ever come from the bare hands of a single being before.
Superman regained consciousness buried under a pile of heavy debris, but not too heavy for the Kryptonian. He slowly began to sit up from being flat on his back, reaching for his head as the rubble poured off of his torso. He noticed that his head was ringing, more than likely he had a concussion. Superman wasn't sure if it was a concussion or not, being that he never had one.
Slowly, his legs regained strength as he stood up, noticing he was buried in the remains of what used to be a music shop. Superman came to that conclusion as the sign saying 'Gotham New and Used Music' was resting on top of more debris to his right.
Superman was brought back to his senses when he heard different shouts and clubbing sounds coming from the south of him. He stood up from the debris of the once record store, as small drops of rain began to fall. He scanned around with his heightened vision, trying to ignore the pain in his head.
"Superman..!" his comlink came on. "Where the hell are you?"
Superman noticed quickly that it was Nightwing.
"I'm at…uhnn…."
"Shake it off, big man", Nightwing said. "Diana and company are doing their best holding that thing off."
Superman began to walk himself out of the rubble, towards the street. He held his head with his left hand, not wanting to make any sudden moves until he knew the extent of his injuries.
"I'm on my way", Superman barely muttered out.
"Make it fast, Blue", Nightwing said as the connection closed.
A new challenge was something the Amazon had been looking for. Diana, J'onn, Superman and Blackfire had been engaged in a battle with the creature Doomsday. Doomsday seemed to have the upper hand from the beginning. J'onn Hawkgirl and Superman had originally been battling the creature. However as Diana arrived with Raven's team, she instructed Hawkgirl, who was injured, along with Raven and Boy to help Nightwing and Batgirl with the crowd control.
Hawkgirl was reluctant at first, not wanting to miss the battle. Diana had convinced Hawkgirl by saying that she, J'onn, Superman and Blackfire were better equipped at the time to battle the creature. Hawkgirl knew that heightened strength was a must against Doomsday, so she finally agreed to help Nightwing and Batgirl. .
Diana had risen from the small crater that she created as Doomsday planted her into the blacktop of the street. She noticed that only J'onn and Blackfire were battling Doomsday. Superman was nowhere to be found.
"Superman, come in", Diana said into her earpiece.
She received no response and Diana had no time to waste.
"Oracle, come in."
Diana's earpiece buzzed for a brief moment before she received a response.
"Superman is nowhere to be found and he's not answering his comlink. I need you to keep contacting him until he responds."
"You got it, Di."
Oracle cut the connection as Diana wasted no time regaining herself to continue the battle with Doomsday.
As Diana levitated, she flew quickly towards Doomsday, who had Blackfire by the throat.
"Damn you!" Blackfire barely said as she tried to break free from Doomsday's grip. She tried to use her energy attacks on him, only to find they had no effect on him.
Doomsday began to roar ferociously at her, causing her eardrums to ring in pain. She tried to open her mind to find out what the hell J'onn was doing. She had just now noticed that J'onn was on the ground, beginning to wake up.
"Per...fect", Blackfire breathed.
Blackfire felt a strong rumble as Doomsday's grip around her throat had loosened. She noticed that Diana had returned with two devastating blows to Doomsday's midsection.
Blackfire fell to the ground, holding her neck. She looked up to see Diana continue a barrage of attacks on Doomsday.
"Great…timing", Blackfire said too quietly for anyone to hear.
Blackfire was able to free herself from the powerful grip as Doomsday had returned his focus to the Amazon. Blackfire immediately flew twenty feet behind Doomsday, attempting to regain her strength. She noticed that it was just her, Diana, and J'onn dealing with Doomsday.
Diana had back flipped to avoid an oncoming punch from Doomsday, herself showing no signs of tiring down. She landed in a crouching stance baiting the creature. Smirking, Diana saw that J'onn was transparent behind Doomsday.
"I see that you are as far from finished as I am" Diana said.
Doomsday roared as he began to stalk Diana. He was stopped short as J'onn rematerialized in front of him, beginning a barrage of punches to Doomsday's head. Diana slumped down to one knee as J'onn relieved her. She had sustained physical and psychological exhaustion from battling the creature. Of every opponent Diana has faced, this monster has not only caused her physical pain, but it was a shot to her pride when she along with her teammates have yet to make a dent in Doomsday.
That itself was most discouraging to the Amazon.
Blackfire flew to Diana's side, seeing her on her knee. Blackfire knelt down and offered Diana a hand.
"D", Blackfire said as she landed. "Come on, we gotta…"
"I'm fine", Diana said ignoring Blackfire's help.
Blackfire was not a person to take refusals of her assistance fairly well. In fact, Blackfire rarely offered a helping hand to anyone. However, she has come to know Diana as a proud person, not wanting to show any signs of weakness.
Blackfire knew those feelings too well.
Static had been flying around Downtown Gotham in the Javelin for the past hour, not exactly sure as to what was going on. He had been told to hover around the downtown area in case civilians or members of the League were in need of emergency transport. Static had kept in contact with Nightwing from the beginning of the ordeal. He had lost contact with Gear as soon as everything had started. He was worried a bit about Gear. Of everyone he was with while under Slade, Gear had been closest to him.
"Gear", Hawkgirl's voice said over the Javelin comlink. "Raven, Boy and I are within eyesight of you. Open the hatch."
"Gotcha", Static responded.
Static pressed the button that controlled the hatch, allowing his three teammates to enter. As it opened, the three flew inside. Static had taken quick notice that Hawkgirl was injured. Her left arm was in a telekinetic sling made by Raven.
"What the heck happened?" Static quickly said as he closed the hatch.
"Something big", Boy said as he returned to his humanoid form. "And it's not going down easy."
Static set the Javelin to auto pilot as he unbuckled himself from the seat. He walked back towards everyone. He was stopped when Raven stood in front of him.
"She'll be fine, get us back to the others", Raven said.
Boy felt a large lump in his throat.
"But what about Hawkgirl...?" Static asked.
"I'll be fine", Hawkgirl said as she put her arm in a sling from the onboard medical locker. "I'll stay up here with you to help Nightwing and Batgirl with crowd control."
"Right…" Static said as he walked back to the pilot seat.
Boy helped Hawkgirl with her sling as he had a worried look on his face.
"I'm kinda worried that you're calm about not being able to hurt anything right now."
Hawkgirl smiled at Boy, with a hint of a smirk.
"It's only for a short time, greeny."
"Greeny?"
Static stopped the Javelin over the battle zone and opened the hatch.
"Ok Rave and Boy, we're here. Good luck."
Raven and Boy walked to the opened hatch and stopped before exiting. Raven looked up at her friend with a more tranquil look than usual.
"Don't worry, Raven", Boy said trying not to sound nervous. "I've got your back."
Raven nearly smiled as Boy winked at her and gave a 'thumbs up'.
"That's what worries me", Raven said now smirking.
Boy raised an eyebrow at her remark and then jumped out of the hatch. Raven looked down briefly and smiled to herself.
"I've got yours, too."
Raven then jumped out as well.
Hawkgirl walked up to the copilot seat and gingerly sat down, not wanting to move her arm. Static closed the hatch and began to resume his patrol over Gotham's skies.
"Wait…" Hawkgirl said.
She quickly snapped her head to look behind her.
"What is it?" Static said minimally panicked.
Hawkgirl turned back around and used her one hand to work at the keys on the console, bringing up a specific program.
"You wouldn't by any chance be two people would you?" Hawkgirl asked.
Static looked at Hawkgirl with a confused look on his face.
"Wanna run that by me again?"
"Our sensors are reading three people inside the Javelin, but we're the only ones…"
Static immediately slumped over the controls, unconscious. The Javelin quickly jerked downwards as he leaned on the control wheel. The emergency auto pilot activated and leveled the Javelin, avoiding a nosedive down onto the surface.
"Static!"
As the Javelin steadied, Hawkgirl quickly moved to his side, checking him for injuries. She noticed a dart plunged into the back of his neck. She turned around to the back of the Javelin, not seeing anything.
"Come out, damn you!"
Hawkgirl noticed a small portion of the empty space beginning to move, as though the air itself had formed a slightly visible mass. She noticed this quickly and reached for her mace with her good arm.
"I…see...you…" She couldn't help but taunt, bringing up her mace.
Suddenly, a figure appeared from the mass of visible air. It was pitch black, with a red symbol on its chest.
A symbol shaped like a bat.
"Batman…?" Hawkgirl said as she softened her stance, confused.
The figure quietly laughed with amusement.
"Close, Shayera, but not exactly."
Hawkgirl knew the voice immediately, regaining her stance.
"Slade…"
She lunged at the bat as well as she could, being that the innards of the Javelin gave little room to maneuver during an attack. She swung at him with her mace, him easily dodging it. The mace flew over his head as he ducked, bringing up a single hand to her midsection, sending a massive shock throughout her body.
Hawkgirl screamed in pain as her body violently convulsed from the shock, her injured arm adding to the pain from becoming unsecured. She fell to the ground landing on her bad arm, near paralysis from the pain. She looked up to see the bat looking over her. She began to open her mouth, only to have it quickly covered by a stomp from the bat's boot.
"You have nothing to say at this point, Shayera."
Hawkgirl's body then went limp.
"Easy now…" Green Lantern said as he carefully laid Flash down on the medical bed.
Flash had helped out Robin and his team when they were at the mercy of Slade and Bane. Flash had been in the medical bay ever since having his ribs shattered by Blackfire when she and the rest of her team were just prisoners.
"Oh man, is that pain", Flash said clutching his ribs.
"It could have been worse, buddy", GL said. "Bane could've given you matching legs, arms, knees, verte…"
"Yeah, yeah…I get it", Flash said stopping GL from continuing. "How are the Little Leaguers?"
"Quake has a broken tailbone; I've got her knocked out right there."
GL pointed to Flash's right to see Quake sleeping on another bed in the medical bay.
"Oh…"
"Cyborg is getting his power cells charged, so he's gonna be out for a while. Robin and Starfire are coming with me back to Earth."
Flash leaned back on his pillow some more, slowly closing his eyes.
"Make sure you turn of the lights and lock the door when you leave…"
The sedatives began to settle, putting Flash into a deep sleep.
"Dinner's in the oven, bro", GL said patting his friend on the shoulder.
GL exited the medical bay to find Robin and Starfire waiting for him in the hallway. Robin had a disturbed look on his face.
"What is it?" GL asked.
"Word from Oracle", Robin began. "Nightwing is the only one checking in, no word from the others."
"What if something…" Starfire started only to be cut short by GL.
"Worry later, kiddo. Let's get movin'."
Gear had awakened lying on a rather large bed, inside of a massive room. Sitting up, Gear looked around and whistled, knowing that this bedroom cost a pretty penny.
"Now this is nice…"
Gear quickly jumped out of bed, walking towards the door. As he reached the door, he noticed an elderly man asleep on the floor. Gear knew full well that the old man wouldn't sleep on the floor by choice. Gear quickly knelt down to the old man's side, putting his hand on his shoulder.
"Hey mister", Gear said beginning to shake him. "Mister, you alright…?"
The old man began to awaken, slowly at first. As the old man's head came up to meet Gear eye to eye, he quickly felt a spring in his legs.
"I'm quite alright, young sir", the old man said beginning to stand up.
Gear helped the old man by putting a arm to his side to steady him.
"Thank you again, young sir, but I'm quite alright."
Gear was beginning to feel uncomfortable with his new title.
"The name's Gear, mister."
"And since we're on the subject, I am King Arthur. But you may refer to me as Alfred."
Gear looked at him with an odd look as Alfred began to straighten his butler attire.
"I take it you were subdued by Slade as well?" Alfred asked.
"I really don't remember", Gear said trying to remember what had happened.
Alfred gracefully walked past Gear to open the door of the bedroom.
"After you, young sir…"
In the cave, the scene of Thomas and Martha Wayne's murder continued on the screen of the main computer. The sounds of the two gunshots echoed throughout the cave each time they played. In an empty cavern such as this one, the sounds seem to echo for an eternity.
Batman's weight hung from his wrists, as his arms were shackled to the display case. His legs bent backwards, his head slumped forward. He would swing back and forth if a favorable wind happened to gust on him.
Batman had been defeated.
He hung his head, already drowning out the sounds of the video Slade had left for him. He knew that his new 'abilities' would allow him to stay in this position forever if needed. His arms would not tear from the sockets, nor would he suffer from starvation. He was at the mercy of a well played scheme.
Hearing the doorway opening into the cave did not even break Batman from his morbid state. He heard footsteps quickly coming down the steps, getting closer to him. Mental fatigue prevented him from looking up to acknowledge whoever it was.
"Good heavens", Batman heard a familiar voice say.
The sounds of the video quickly disappeared, leaving only the sounds of slow footsteps approaching him.
"Master Bruce?"
Batman kept his head low, not moving a muscle. Gear politely brushed past Alfred to have a look at the shackles locking Batman's arms. He quickly noticed the key pad on the right shackle. The shackles were big enough to be Diana's gauntlets, Gear thought. The keypad was perfectly positioned from Batman's hands, denying a means of escape.
"What was it…oh!"
Gear quickly typed '91939', and the shackles easily opened.
Batman fell to his knees, head still slumped forward as Gear and Alfred caught each arm. Both carefully lifted Batman up to his feet, giving him support to stand up. Gear was obviously confused as to what was going on. The last thing he remembered before waking up was he and Batman exploring the insides of one of the ships that appeared over Gotham's skies.
"Quickly, Lad", Alfred said. "We have to get him to the medical…"
"No."
Batman pressed his legs on the ground to balance himself, removing both of his arms from support. Batman began to briskly walk toward the main computer in the cave, wanting to get the disc Slade left behind.
"Get in contact with Oracle", Batman said.
"Right", Gear said activating his communicator.
Batman walked up to the screen where he witnessed the murder of his parents for the second time in his life. The image on the screen was paused, Bruce Wayne kneeling at the sides of his murdered parents. Batman knew that Slade could not have doctored this. This was the real deal. He knew every inch of that ally in his dreams. The feel of the sidewalk as he fell to his knees as a kid, memorized every crack in the concrete. Even the blood stains were recognizable.
This was it.
Batman mournfully reached to eject the disc, but instead pressed the menu button on the console. As he did that, another screen quickly appeared. Batman studied the images of schematics as they were shuffling one by one on screen. Batman then felt another sensation jolt through his body.
He quickly sat down at the seat of the computer, copying the disc to the hard drive of the computer. He then began to make extra copies on disc.
Alfred and Gear appeared behind Batman as they watched him work in a hurried state copying the disc.
"What now?" Gear asked exhaustedly.
Batman pulled out the main disc along with the copied ones. He stood up and turned to look at Gear.
"Did you get a hold of Oracle?"
"Yeah", Gear said. "Oracle said Diana and everyone else are trying to stop that thing we saw. Nightwing was finishing up helping the Coast Guard with getting the crowds clear. And Green Lantern, Robin and Star are on their way down here to back everyone up. Flash, Cyborg and Quake are still up on the Watchtower."
Batman handed Gear the main disc.
"Back this up in your backpack and take it up to the Watchtower and back it up there as well. Make as may hard copies as you can."
Gear looked at the disc in his hand, then up at Batman.
"What is it?"
Batman reached into his belt and pulled out the control to open up a boom tube. He punched in the coordinates and the boom tube opened in front of the giant penny inside the cave.
"Get going!" Batman shouted at Gear.
Gear quickly ran to the boom tube and entered it without hesitation.
Batman closed the tube as soon as Gear disappeared from sight. He then walked over to Alfred handing him a disc as well.
"Get this to Lucius Fox, Alfred", Batman said.
"What do I tell him of your absence, sir?" Alfred asked in confusion.
"Anything", Batman answered as he walked towards the hangar area followed closely by Alfred. "This is a countermeasure for a new nano machine Slade developed. It attacks and breaks down the proteins in the human body."
"My word…" Alfred gasped.
"This countermeasure is only useful if the patient is given treatment within forty-eight hours of infection. After that, the antibodies can't stop the nanomachines once they've starting deteriorating the cells. I'm going to stop Slade before he even thinks about unleashing this plague."
Batman and Alfred reached the hangar area of the cave, now walking toward one of the planes ready for takeoff. Batman quickly reached the plane and climbed the ladder to the cockpit. As he entered, Alfred stood clear of the plane so it may take off.
Batman looked back at his longtime caretaker, knowing that Alfred deserves as much credit, if not more, than anything else in the birth of the Dark Knight. Alfred stared at him with those caring eyes of his, as he has done throughout Bruce's life.
"Good luck, sir."
Batman nodded back, and then hatch of the cockpit slid shut.
Superman felt a sense of urgency as the sounds of his teammates battling Doomsday had ceased for the time being. He flew to the area where he thought the sounds were coming from. He arrived just in time to see Doomsday stalking Diana and Blackfire, also noticing that J'onn was right behind Doomsday.
J'onn had rematerialized and began punching the head of Doomsday, then positioned his hands around the head of the creature. Superman knew that he was trying to mentally slow him down. Superman had a feeling that would prove ineffective. Superman flew down as Doomsday lunged his two spiked exoskeleton elbow extensions behind him, forcing J'onn to break his concentration and going back into his transparent state. A definite close call...
Superman landed in front of both Diana and Blackfire, ready to continue the fight.
"Bout damn time", Blackfire said.
Superman looked back at her with a smirk.
"Are you feeling well now?" Diana asked him.
"Just a few cobwebs I had to clear out, but I'm ok now", Superman answered.
He turned back to Doomsday as J'onn landed next to him.
"I can't detect any thought patterns inside of his head", J'onn said. "He's incoherent and in a blind rage."
"Then we'll have to teach him", Diana said as she and Blackfire joined Superman and J'onn's side.
"Blackfire and I will distract him with my heat vision and her energy blasts", Superman said to J'onn and Diana. "You two get behind him and start to physically wear him out."
"If that's possible…" Blackfire said.
"Now!" Superman shouted as Doomsday began to charge them.
Doomsday's massive body nearly gored the four League members as they dispersed into the air. Superman and Blackfire began attacking Doomsday with their energy projections. Doomsday roared as the attacks rained down onto him. He began to crouch, ready to leap into the air. Only to be delayed as a massive pillar from a near by demolished building collided into his back, Diana and J'onn both nearly impaled Doomsday with the giant shrapnel. Doomsday fell to the ground in rage, quickly leaping back to his feet, now facing J'onn and Diana.
"Hera, what are you?" Diana said to herself.
Diana charged Doomsday, followed by J'onn. In a speed that only Flash could imitate, Doomsday Grabbed both of their heads and bashed them together. J'onn and Diana fell to the ground in dead weight, completely knocked out. Superman came down from behind at Doomsday, crashing a double fisted blow to the back of his head. Doomsday staggered to his side, nearly stepping on J'onn and Diana in the process. The street they stood on was nearly leveled from the battle and almost from just the weight of Doomsday himself.
Superman knew that Doomsday was showing no signs of slowing down at all. They've used every possible means at their disposal, and Doomsday was the only one not worn down. Superman knew he had no choice but to try to put a permanent stop to Doomsday. The strongest members of the Justice League could not stop him, so he knew it was going to take a miracle.
Nightwing and Batgirl waited at the top of the GCPD building, waiting for the Javelin. The two vigilantes had finished sweeping the city for any stray people that may have been left behind, as best as they could. Exhausted, the two were sitting on the ground needing some rations, but Nightwing just liked to refer to 'rations' as food.
"Thank God…" Nightwing said as the Javelin appeared over them.
The Javelin landed on the helipad thirty yards from where Nightwing and Batgirl were getting their rest. With their breath caught as well as it could be, they hurried to the Javelin so they can go back and help the rest of the League. The bottom hatch opened as the ramp came down. The two reached the ramp, only to be stopped by a voice.
"Leaving so soon?" Slade's voice said from inside.
"No…" Nightwing said as a dark figure emerged from inside.
"What did you…?" Nightwing began to shout as he was stopped by the sight of Slade in a different costume. A bat costume...
"Is this a sick joke?" Nightwing said readying himself.
Batgirl was ready as well.
The bat ran down from the ramp ready to attack. Nightwing threw a kick at him that the bat caught easily. Nightwing's bait had worked as Batgirl jumped over him from behind and landed a straight kick to the throat of the bat.
The bat staggered back, but kept its composure.
"All sensitive and pressure points are well defended in this suit", the bat said. "Try again."
Batgirl began a flurry punches and kicks that were having no effect on the bat. One of her kicks was caught and she was struck by a quick roundhouse back kick. She was quickly knocked out, the suit obviously giving the bat a distinctive advantage.
"Richard, I know this must be embarrassing for you", the bat said. "How many times must you physically be punished before you learn?"
"Lets see…" Nightwing said as he slowly stalked the bat.
The bat reached down and picked up Batgirl with one hand and slung her over his shoulder, now looking at Nightwing.
"Then make it quick…"
Nightwing ran at the bat, only to have it raise its left arm, pointing it at him. A dart shot out and punctured the right side of Nightwing's neck. Nightwing was still in his running motion, beginning to trip over his own feet. He landed on the ground, still awake. He crawled to the feet of the bat, wrapping his arms around its ankles.
"You're…not…" Nightwing tried to say.
"Oh", the bat said aiming his arm at him. "But I am."
Nightwing looked up in time to see an energy blast come at him.
Superman flew at Doomsday with all of his strength, all of his force. He had a fist held back, ready to unleash a massive blow to Doomsday's head. As he approached him, Doomsday could feel an attack coming and quickly dodged to his side. So fast that Superman threw the punch intended for Doomsday, hitting only air. He spun out of control for a moment as the inertia forced him into a brief cartwheel in midair.
Superman then heard a horrible sound coming from behind him. He turned to see that Doomsday was actually laughing at him. Superman saw Blackfire standing behind Doomsday ready to attack.
"Don't!" he shouted at her. "Get J'onn and Diana out of here first. Then get help."
Blackfire nodded as she retrieved both Diana and J'onn and flew off.
Superman looked back at Doomsday, who was looking at Blackfire himself. He quickly turned and leapt at Blackfire.
"Dammit!" Superman said as he flew after him.
Blackfire looked behind her as she could feel herself being followed. To her sudden horror, Doomsday was flying after her and closing the gap.
"Oh god oh god oh god…" Blackfire was stammering in a near panic.
Doomsday was getting closer, ready to grab her ankle and drag her down as he made his plunge back to the earth. Just before he could grab her, a green aura appeared around him and propelled him back down towards the ground.
Blackfire looked up to see Green Lantern, Robin and Starfire in a green bubble. She stopped as the three began to float next to her. Superman caught up and stopped as well.
"A little trouble..?" GL asked.
"You could say that", Superman said. "Diana and J'onn are hurt, but they'll be fine."
Lantern looked over at Blackfire as she held both Diana and J'onn over her shoulders. He then turned to Robin and Starfire.
"You two go with Blackfire and find a safe spot to put J'onn and Diana. Superman and I'll hold off that thing until these two are rested."
"What about us?"
Everyone looked up to see Raven and a green eagle appeared from the skies.
"Do you know how long it took us to find you guys?" the eagle began to shout.
"Pipe down, Boy", Raven said then noticed the wounded over Blackfire's shoulders.
"Ok get going with Diana and J'onn", GL said as he opened the force field.
Starfire had Robin on her back as she and Blackfire flew the injured to a safe distance.
Lantern turned back to Raven and Boy.
"You to get in contact with Oracle, find out what the heck Batman and Gear are doing. They went inside one of those ships before I left."
"Gotcha", Boy said.
As Boy began to contact Oracle in his eagle form, Superman's eyes grew big.
"Look out...!"
Superman's warning did not come in time as Doomsday managed to leap into the air once again, grabbing the green bird in his giant grasp.
"B!" Raven shouted as Doomsday descended back towards the earth.
Superman, Lantern and Raven began to follow the laughing monster back towards the earth.
"This is Oracle", Raven's comlink came on. "Boy tried to contact me, what happened?"
Raven ignored Oracle as she and her comrades followed Doomsday back towards the surface.
"I said this is Oracle, what is…"
Oracle was cut off as Raven telekinetically disabled her comlink.
Doomsday landed, destroying a giant slab of street on impact. In his left hand he held Boy, still in his eagle form. Doomsday didn't squeeze enough to kill him just yet, however. Still free of coherent thought, Doomsday managed to draw his enemies at him by taking a temporary hostage.
Superman landed first, quickly followed by Lantern and Raven. Superman and Raven showed signs of attack before Lantern stopped them.
"Don't attack him yet", GL said to Raven and Superman. "We don't want anything to happen to Boy."
"How do we get him back, then?" Raven asked coldly, worried about her teammate.
GL tried to think of a quick strategy, being that one of his pupils was in the hand of this relentless monster.
"Superman and I'll draw his attention", GL said. "Raven, you use your telekinesis to pry his hand open. Then I'll use my ring to get Boy out of there."
Doomsday snarled a smirk at them, knowing full well what effect having the green animal in his hand was having on his enemies. Green Lantern and Superman both hovered to Doomsday's right, beginning to gain a small altitude. That's all that it took for Doomsday to fixate his focus on them, roaring in response.
Raven quickly took to Doomsday's left side and projected her black telekinetic wave at his hand, beginning to pry it open. Doomsday quickly turned his attention to Raven, giving a deafening roar. Doomsday then began to pull his arm back, resisting Raven's powers. Raven answered by digging deep and using more of her strength to command her power. What commenced was a telekinetic tug of war.
Lantern saw immediately that Raven was struggling, and then aimed his ring at Doomsday. He fired a full, concentrated blast at Doomsday's head, causing the monster to roar once again. He turned enough to see that Lantern was attacking him with an energy attack. With his left arm occupied, he brought his right hand up quickly and deflected Lantern's energy back at him and Superman. Both were hit by the energy's whipping motion as it was redirected at them.
Lantern took the full force of the beam, causing him to fly backwards and into an office building. Superman was pushed slightly backwards as his adrenaline prevented him from allowing that to stop him.
Doomsday returned his attention to Raven, who was tiring out from the used energy. She was having no luck in freeing her friend from Doomsday's clutches. With a loud huff in the form of a laugh, Doomsday tugged Raven into him using her own power and backhanded her with his left arm. She flew all the way back into a nearby park, almost unconscious as she landed on the soft grass.
Doomsday then brought his left hand back and flung the green bird over at her. Boy landed next to Raven and returned to his regular form, not moving or breathing.
"You monster...!" Superman shouted as he came from behind Doomsday and put him in a full nelson.
Superman's rage unstoppable, as the thought of his teammates being systematically taken apart by this monster was enough to force him into making a choice.
"The only way…we have a chance…is by breaking…your neck…"
Blinded by rage, all of Superman's strength was channeled into both of his arms. He knew what had to be done. Doomsday was not going down by causing external damage. What needed to be done was to kill him.
However, not only did Superman not stop to think if his tactic would even work, he failed to pay attention to the fact that Boy was in need of immediate help. But Superman was too focused on the task at hand.
Doomsday had had enough. He used the exoskeleton on his elbows and drove them backwards, into the sides of Superman. Superman had never felt this pain in his life. He had never been impaled, not by anything. Doomsday's bones dug inside the Man of Steel, causing him to cough up blood as a lung must have been punctured.
Superman's grip slid away from Doomsday's neck, as he was near shock, still impaled. Doomsday retracted his arms, pulling out the exoskeleton from Superman's sides. Superman immediately fell to the ground, for the first time in his life lying in a pool of his own blood. He tasted his blood in the back of his mouth as it made its way out, adding to the stains on the ground.
The world's best known hero, steps away from death.
Doomsday lifted his right foot over Superman's head, ready to add the final blows. Just as sounds of Doomsday's taunting laughs bounced off of the now pouring rain, he was interrupted by another shout.
Doomsday turned around in time to see both Blackfire and Starfire land thunderous uppercuts to his chin, causing him to fly back nearly two hundred yards. Blackfire landed on the ground, panting in rage as Starfire gripped her hand in pain.
"Superman...!" J'onn shouted as he and Diana flew to Superman's side. "We have to get him back to the Watchtower, now."
J'onn then looked around for Green Lantern, not seeing him anywhere. He then used his telepathy to try to locate him. However, he did locate another individual.
"Raven…" J'onn gasped. "Stay with him, Diana."
J'onn quickly flew into the park and to Raven's side, now noticing the broken body of Boy.
"No…" J'onn said as he knelt down to Boy's side.
Starfire and Robin quickly appeared behind him. Starfire looked on in horror as Robin quickly moved next to J'onn. Starfire noticed that Raven was still conscious and reached down to pick her up carefully, putting one hand behind Raven's head and the other behind her back. Starfire helped Raven on her feet, as she was still dazed from the blow Doomsday gave her.
"Raven, are you injured?" Starfire asked hoping Raven was fine.
"Just…" Raven tried saying as she clutched at her head.
Doomsday had hit her hard enough that her telekinetic shield barely kept her alive.
"He's not breathing", Robin said at Boy's side. "Get him on his back."
J'onn quickly and carefully moved boy on his back. Robin hovered over boy, placing his hand on his chin tilting his head back. He then began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Boy, trying to get him to regain breathing. Robin continued, moving back and forth from Boy's mouth to massaging his chest to get his blood and oxygen to regain circulation.
So far, no success.
"Dammit!"
Robin continued this practice he used on countless victims during his career as being Batman's partner. But this was different, like the night Barbara was shot. But this time he would not stand by and allow the worse to happen to Boy.
As Robin continued, Starfire felt the tears begin in her eyes. Boy was the first to recognize her as one of their own when he, Raven and Cyborg joined the Justice League. Boy was the funniest person she knew, next to Flash. He always managed to make her smile when he had the chance to.
"Boy…"
"One…Two…Three…" Robin continued as he pressed down on Boy's chest.
Diana flew over with Superman in her arms as Doomsday's roar could be heard again from the distance. She landed as Robin continued to work on Boy.
"We don't have a lot of time", Diana said maintaining her focus. "I contacted Oracle and Gear will open a boom tube from the Watchtower."
"The Watchtower?" Blackfire asked flying to her. "I thought he was with Batman."
"I know", Diana replied. "But right now Gear is repairing the damaged boom tube generator we had on board the Watchtower. She also said something about Gear backing up discs for Batman, but I didn't catch all of that."
"We can't afford anymore time", J'onn said referring to Boy and Superman's conditions.
Robin's efforts were proving useless as Boy was unresponsive.
"Javelin, come in!" Robin shouted into his comlink
No response.
"Oracle..!"
"What's the situa…" Oracle's voice said as it was interrupted.
"Where the hell is the Javelin?"
"I lost contact with Static a while ago, but the Javelin just left the GCPD building and his headed in your direction."
"Superman and Boy are down and in critical condition. Tell Gear to hurry the hell up with that boom tube."
"I'm on it", Oracle said.
Robin looked down at Boy with a cold look on his face. This was a situation that he was trained for, yet he could never get that queasy feeling out of his system. But Robin was not empty handed just yet.
He had one last option.
"Robin, what is wrong?" Starfire asked tearfully.
Robin reached for the medical kit in his belt and pulled out a small package. Inside of this package was a collapsible syringe and a chilled vile. Robin quickly put the syringe together and sterilized it as much as possible with the wet cloth that came in the kit. He then punctured the seal of the vile with the needle while pulling back the plunger, extracting the contents.
Pure adrenaline
"An adrenaline shot should work", J'onn said, still kneeling next to Robin.
Robin tore open Boy's shirt with a knife, then felt his chest to find his breast plate. As he was prepping to insert the syringe, Doomsday landed behind everyone on the street. Everyone quickly turned at Doomsday, ready to defend their fallen comrades.
"Starfire", Diana said placing Superman near Robin and Boy. "Stay with them, protect them with your life if you have to."
Starfire felt a hidden courage overwhelm her as she wiped tears from her eyes..
"I will."
Robin found the proper spot on Boy's chest for insertion. He whispered a silent prayer as Raven and Starfire looked on. He lifted up the syringe dripping at the tip, and then plunged it into Boy's chest, penetrating his breast plate straight into his heart.
Boy quickly shot up to a sitting position, screaming with anguish. His body convulsed, randomly changing into abstract forms. Robin then readied a special sedative used to calm the unneeded effects of pure adrenaline. He inserted the serum into the gun Batman had used so many times before and gave him a shot on the arm, sedating Boy before he caused himself further pain.
"Easy now", Robin said lying Boy's head back on the ground.
Boy was in an excruciating pain, as though every bone in his body had been shattered. His eyes began to tear as the pain was becoming unbearable. Robin took off his cape and made a pillow for Boy with it, carefully placing it under his head..
"Give him some more of that stuff", Raven said trying to keep calm.
"I can't", Robin said. "It could kill him if I give him anymore. We need to get him and Superman back to the Watchtower."
Raven closed her eyes, not wanting to see her friend in pain. Over Robin shouting into his comlink, she could still hear Boy's whimpers and cries, like a dying animal. She was beginning to feel her control slip.
Diana, Blackfire, and J'onn had stood up to form a line in front of Raven, Robin, Starfire and their injured friends. With Superman and Boy down, along with Lantern's disappearance, this was the last line of defense against Doomsday.
"Till our dying breaths…" Diana said serenely.
As the rain silhouetted the destroyed portion of downtown Gotham, the last three able members of the Justice League charged with the last of their energy.
Diana flew directly at Doomsday, but quickly changed her direction towards the sky as she drew Doomsday's vision with her. As he left himself open, both J'onn and Blackfire connected with punches to his midsection. Doomsday flew into the air, landing on an abandoned station wagon on the street.
Blackfire hovered over him and unleashed the biggest flurry of energy attacks she had ever let go at Doomsday's toppled body. She continued as the energy blasts exploded all around the car, destroying everything around it. Blackfire sweated with fatigue as she continued her onslaught, not holding back. A dome of fire and energy began to form around the area where Doomsday had laid.
Diana and J'onn looked on from the sky as Blackfire's cries of rage could be heard over her own attacks and the explosions.
The ground was beginning to implode from the force of her attacks, readu to collapse into the sewer system below. Even the closest building began to crumble from the barrage.
Blackfire felt herself becoming tired, but she kept on, wanting to reduce that monster to soot. She finally stopped her attack, the ground beneath her completely destroyed. A fire surrounded the area she concentrated her attack on, with no sign of Doomsday.
J'onn and Diana flew to her sides to prevent her exhausted body from plummeting to the ground. As they held her arms, the three looked down.
"He's still alive…" J'onn said. "His mind is regaining coherency. I'm trying to..."
J'onn screamed in pain as he probed Doomsday's mind. A psychic backlash erupted in J'onn's mind.
"J'onn!" Blackfire and Diana screamed.
Suddenly, the flames below them opened up as Doomsday leapt at the three heroes. He landed devastating punches to J'onn and Blackfire, causing them to fall from the sky to the ground. Diana stayed in the air in horror, frozen in realization that they may have only accomplished making Doomsday stronger.
Doomsday landed on the ground very close to Robin's makeshift hospital. He traveled a good distance with one leap, showing no signs of slowing down. Diana flew at Doomsday's back, landing an ineffective kick. She was feeling fatigue overtake her once more, when she needed her strength the most. She landed in front of Doomsday ready to attack, knowing it would be ineffective.
"You will have to kill me…" Diana said as Starfire ran to her side.
"I as well", Starfire added with a strong tone.
Doomsday laughed with a bellowing tone that mocked the broken spirit surrounding the fallen Justice League. He then began to slowly stalk his last prey, ready to end it.
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone covered their ears, including Doomsday as the loud, forceful voice echoed through the night. Suddenly the dark skies became even darker then before, the rain even halted its advance. Everyone looked to around to find the source, not knowing where it came from.
It was Raven.
The control she was forced to practice without her knowing why had completely escaped her. All that remained was the rage.
The Hate...
The Pain…
These emotions triggered something dark, hidden inside of her. She felt the dormant powers beginning to swell inside of her.
Raven levitated over everyone, as her dark powers engulfed her.
John Stewart finally had awakened from having his own energy redirected at him. He felt a coldness that he could only describe to himself as his soul freezing. He stood up, finding himself in an empty office Lantern walked to the edge of the partially demolished building, looking down at the street below. He saw his teammates scattered across the street below, needing help. He had to clear his head before he even tried to help his friends. Then he noticed the sky and the area around him had been enclosed by a large dome, a telekinetic field to be exact.
He looked down again to see that Raven was in the air, facing Doomsday by herself.
"Not good…"
Before he could jump down, a telekinetic shockwave blasted from Raven, sending Doomsday backward. Lantern watched from a distance as he began to see that something wasn't right. Raven was beginning to…transform.
Doomsday roared, but was easily overshadowed by the screams of rage coming from Raven. Her body began to morph into a plasma-like form. Her body stretched, her cloak spreading around Doomsday. Her face had been completely shadowed, only her now glowing red eyes could be visible. Raven screamed again, as a black opening appeared behind Doomsday. It resembled a black boom tube, but it was a powerful vacuum.
Raven slowly approached Doomsday as his roars continued, she was not impressed.
"You don't know what fear truly is…"
Raven flowed towards Doomsday until her eyes were level with his. Then, her face formed into an evil look, causing Doomsday's rage to slowly mellow. She again screamed, but it wasn't her voice that was heard. It was something darker, demonic.
Diana looked on from where she and the others stood. She had seen the gates of Hades itself, but only the fear of its legend compared to the actual moment she was witnessing.
"I…" Diana tried, but could find no words.
"What is happening?" Starfire said as began to hold her ground, the vacuum picking up strength.
"Good question…" Robin answered. "Diana, help me pin down Superman and Boy."
Diana stared at the grandness of what she was witnessing, not listening to Robin.
"Diana..!"
"R..right."
Diana ran over and held down Superman and Boy with her hands.
"They should be fine unless it picks up more", she said.
Doomsday stood neutral no longer. He lunged for Raven, only to have his wrists and ankles caught by the extensions of her cloak. He tried to break free, but the cloak gave no ground. Raven brought Doomsday closer to her as another strand of her cloak grasped his neck.
Doomsday could roar no more.
The Vacuum opened even wider, as lights could be seen from within it.
Lights that resembled eyes.
Dark streams slowly exited from the opening, hands forming at the end of them. Raven slowly walked Doomsday to the opening, keeping the stare upon him. Her now pointed teeth could now be seen as she smiled. An evil growl could be heard from her as she offered Doomsday to the dark vortex.
Doomsday screamed in agony as the dark hands burned as they grabbed him. Close to twelve hands in total grabbed at the would-be monster, all burning and dragging him into the void. Diana and the others watched on in a horrible shock as to what they were witnessing. Their own comrade, a fellow league member had become a demon before their eyes. At least that was the best explanation that either of them could form in their heads.
Doomsday gave one last desperate scream as Raven's cloak let go of him and the hands pulled him into the dark portal. Doomsday's rage and power seemed unstoppable, until it was pitted against pure evil, then he was devoured.
However, Doomsday's demise did not lead to the closing of the vortex. Raven was still in her demonic state, unable to control her powers. She needed to destroy. She turned to see the Justice League in the park, already broken and defeated. Raven's smile was burned into the retinas of every League member that made eye contact with her.
She slowly stalked towards them as the members felt the fear overcome them. Even Diana could not help but to be put into a spell of freight. It was a spell no matter how it was described.
Raven's pace quickened towards her teammates as they braced as best they could for whatever would come.
"Raven...!"
Raven looked up to see the Green Lantern flying toward her.
John Stewart had read about this before. This same incident had happened on a planet years ago. The incident was documented in many books he had to study when he was training to become a Green Lantern, one of his favorite stories actually.
And he knew of a method that just might help in this situation.
Lantern stopped and hovered in front of the apparition he knows as Raven. It stared at him with its evil eyes attempting to penetrate his soul.
His eyes, however, were protected.
"God…now's that time…"
After saying his pseudo-prayer, he lifted his ring and projected the light of the Green Lantern as bright as he could.
Raven scream resembled that of a banshee as the light entered her eyes, her energy swirling around them once again. The vortex that swallowed Doomsday whole was closing, as the kinetic dome over the area began to dissipate. Raven slowly began to shrink down to her normal size, the evil energy swirling in the sky. Then the energy began to flow down towards the ground, entering Raven's body, returning to its domain.
Calm came over the Gotham skies.
A hint of the sun was in the horizon as the Justice League lay battered, bruised and victorious.
Green Lantern lowered himself to see Raven asleep on the ground. She was lying in the fetal position, covered by her cloak. Lantern reached down and removed her hood. After the evil had come and gone, all that was left was a little girl who was not deserving of the curse that lived within her.
He picked her up from the ground, cradling her in his arms. She instinctively rested herself against him, embracing his warmth. Lantern walked back to where Blackfire and J'onn had met up with everyone else in the park.
"I'll get the critical to the Watchtower now."
Green lantern formed a field over Superman and Boy, already using his ring to secure them.
"J'onn, you get in too", Lantern said. "You're the only surgeon we have on duty. Can you do it?"
J'onn walked towards the bubble gingerly.
"Yes, but my telepathy is weakened from earlier. I can only maintain the contact I have with Superman and Boy."
"Fair enough, let's get goin'"
Lantern flew into the air, with Raven in his arms, and towed J'onn, Boy and Superman behind him.
"…bin, come in."
Oracle rang in Robin's ears.
"Hey O, what's up?"
"What the hell happened down there?"
"I'll tell you all about it later, now where the hell is the Javelin to get us out of here?"
"I told you lost communication with it", Oracle said. "But it was unable to reach you with the telekinetic activity in the area. It should be en route as we speak."
"Gotcha, and Batman?"
"I don't know what happened to him."
"I don't like this", Robin said. "I'm going to have to pick up his tracks when the Javelin gets here. Robin out."
Robin turned to the ladies as they sat on the ground in the park. He reached down to retrieve his cape that was used as a pillow for Boy.
"Oracle is getting word back to the Coast Guard so they can reenter Gotham", Robin started. "The Javelin will be around soon, but no word on Batman. I'm going to look for him with Nightwing and Batgirl when they get here."
Starfire and Blackfire listened to Robin intently, but Diana was still shaken by all of this. For her, too many emotions ran through her over the course of time since Slade made his first…
"And Slade..?" Diana asked quickly.
Robin shook his head.
"Then nothing is over…"
Diana turned her back again on the three, Starfire and Blackfire noticing her frustrations immediately.
"Robin…" Starfire started.
Robin looked at her and smiled.
"It's ok, Star", he said. "By the way, how do you like Earth?"
With a grin, Robin pointed to the area surrounding them, only to see destroyed buildings, demolished roads, black smoke and a funny smell in the air.
"I love it!" Starfire said gleefully, folding her hands in front of her. .
"I must've been adopted…" Blackfire said raising an eyebrow at her sister.
Finally, the Javelin appeared over them in the sky beginning its landing sequence.
"Now that's a sight for sore eyes", Robin said looking up with his teammates..
The Javelin landed cleanly on the broken pavement, the bottom hatch opening. Slowly, the four heroes approached the Javelin, all trying to catch their breaths. When they got closer, something was thrown out of the hatch. Whatever it was, it was followed by three just like it. Robin and his teammates ran to the Javelin, not taking any chances. When they got closer, they noticed what was thrown out of the hatch.
Hawkgirl, Static, Nightwing and Batgirl all tied up and unconscious.
Robin moved to their sides quickly and checked their pulses. They were alive. Robin ran inside of the Javelin, only to find it empty.
"What…?"
Robin's attention was returned to the outside as he heard Diana and Blackfire scream. He ran out to find them on the ground from being electrocuted. Starfire was looking around panic stricken.
"I do not know…I saw noth…" Starfire was saying as she was looking around.
Robin couldn't understand either, but he had an idea of who it could be.
"Slade…" Robin said.
"Very good", Slade's voice said coming from nowhere.
"Show yourself!" Robin said pulling out his collapsible bo staff.
Starfire stood next to Robin, a sense of calm returning to her. She knew now who the attacker was and that Robin was with her.
"As you wish…"
In front of both Starfire and Robin, a dark figure appeared. Robin took note of the costume, not showing any signs of surprise.
"Nice costume", Robin smirked. "Envious?"
"To say the least", the bat said.
Robin readied himself as Starfire stood by his side. The bat began to walk towards them, only to feel a hand on his shoulder.
"Like Hades will I allow you to walk away from me."
Diana swung the bat around with her hand and connected with a strong punch to its head. The bat staggered backward at Robin and Starfire, both ready to attack. Robin charged first, ready to swing with his bo staff. As he swung, the bat leapt backwards over Robin and Starfire, but stayed in the air. The bat levitated in the air, with the use of its rocket propelled feet. It stared at the three, moving its head side to side cracking its neck.
"A powerful blow, Diana", the bat said. "Now I should…"
The bat had been interrupted by a batarang flying through the air, exploding in front of it. The bat was thrown to the street below from the concussive force of the blast. Robin, Starfire and Diana looked behind them as another dark figure approached from behind the Javelin
The real Batman.
"Batman..!" Starfire nearly cried. "We were wondering…"
"Everyone leave. Now."
The three looked at him as he approached. Batman looked at the ground were Nightwing and the others had been bound.
"Get those four to the Watchtower, I have something to finish."
"Right", Robin said as he and Starfire ran to retrieve their friends.
The false bat stood up from the ground, grinning through its black mask.
"I'm glad to see you finally made it, Bruce", it said. "I was beginning to think you actually had admitted defeat."
Batman slowly approached the bat, only to be stopped by Diana's voice.
"I will stay and help."
Batman stopped her approach with his glare.
"No, I have to do this alone. You're in danger here."
Diana regained her steps.
"No, you will not face this alone", she said. "You know he is far more dangerous than he appears to be."
"I know", Batman said looking away from her. "Go."
Diana refused to allow her emotions to surface at this moment. She had been through far too much this day to end it with an argument with the one person she respects the most in this world.
"Actually Bruce", the false bat began as he brought up his left arm. "She's already doomed."
The bat pressed a button on its left forearm that caused one of the massive ships over Gotham to explode in the distance. Batman and Diana looked behind them as they watched the gigantic ship fall from the sky, landing behind the skyscrapers of Gotham. No doubt destroying everything it landed on.
"I hope you've taken a closer look at the disc I left behind, Bruce."
Batman returned his look to the bat, then back to where the ship had exploded. He noticed a strange cloud forming in the sky, beginning to spread. Batman then turned to Robin and Starfire who were standing on the ramp of the Javelin, the injured already aboard.
"Robin, take off now!" Batman frantically shouted.
Robin looked at Batman in confusion, and then looked in the direction the explosion occurred. He saw the same thing as Batman.
Go!"
Robin turned to Starfire, grabbing her arm.
"C'mon Star, we have to go!"
Despite her confusion, Starfire did as she was told and entered the Javelin. Robin quickly buckled himself into the pilot seat, starting the engines. Immediately, the Javelin 7 levitated and shot away towards the sky.
Batman and Diana were left on the ground, now looking back at the bat, who had its arm folded.
"I imagine that you know exactly what that is", the bat said. "The nanomachines will spread in an alarming rate, multiplying as soon as it begins to absorb carbon dioxide. The speed of it spreading across the world is astounding even to me. I calculated it would be worldwide in a matter of hours. The infected would only have forty-eight hours to be given the antibodies to reverse the affects. I hope you have been working on that."
Diana did not know exactly what the bat was referring to, but she knew the seriousness of it. Slade had caused so much destruction with the usage of nanomachines that this being a possible finale caused a rage to burn inside of her.
"Oracle", Batman said into his cowl. "Download the data backed up in the cave's computer and email it to the Center for Disease Control and every medical agency around the world. Is that understood?"
"I'm on it", Oracle said in his ear.
Batman returned his glare to the bat.
"I suppose a two on one match up is not exactly fair, so I have my own back up."
As was planned, a boom tube opened up from behind the Bat. The light dissipated, leaving Bane behind once again.
"Everything is according to plan, Senor", Bane said to the bat.
"Very good, Bane", the bat said keeping its eyes fixed on Batman and Diana. "See that the Amazon does not interfere.
Bane gave Diana a good once-over. Even after hours of battle, she was still very pleasing to the eyes.
"It would be my pleasure, Senor", Bane said giving Diana a mock bow.
Diana had already chosen which arm of Bane's she would break.
Batman returned the glare given to him, not letting his eyes stray from the bat.
"Now if you are ready, Bruce", the bat said as it readied himself in a judo stance. "We shall begin."
Batman continued his glare, not even readying himself into a stance. The bat began his approach with its arms ready to strike. Batman walked towards him, arms still underneath his flowing cape, his usual walking stance. The bat smirked, knowing full well it was being underestimated.
The bat began a series of punches and kicks that Batman effortlessly dodged and avoided. Batman moved from side to side, forwards and backwards, easily brushing off the barrage thrown at him. The bat jumped over Batman, landing behind him. He attempted a back chop to the back of Batman's neck; he ducked easily as the chop hit nothing but air.
As Batman came up, he revealed a small device in his hand, which resembled a small connecting rod. He drove the rod into the face plate on the bat's utility belt, which housed a slot for a perfect connection.
The bat backed away quickly, looking down at what Batman had inserted.
"What is this…?"
Instantaneously, a series of shocks ran through its body, causing the suit to shutdown. The bat now stood as petrified as a statue. Bane unfolded his arms in shock. Diana now folding hers.
"What…how did you…the suit…" the bat was shouting uncontrollably as it had its arms up, leaning backwards and not moving.
Batman walked up to the petrified fraud, stopping at its side. He looked down at the bat, bringing up his right hand to remove its mask. He pulled it off; revealing a scared look on Slade's aged face. Batman brought his face down to meet Slade's, giving him his best intimidating look.
"How…did you shutdown…" Slade began, only to be stopped by Batman's gloved hand around his throat, their faces inches apart.
"Because I already made it…"
Slade's face was now in a rage, and Batman allowed his mouth to curve into a smile. Batman tightened his grip around Slade's throat and his smile disappeared.
"How do I reverse the effects?"
Batman loosened his grip to get his answer.
"It…was on…the disc", Slade choked back.
Batman tightened his grip again.
"That's not what I mean, McGinnis", Batman growled. "How do I reverse my condition?"
"…The…serum…"
Batman didn't bother to loosen to get his answer. However, Bane was now taking exception to this interrogation.
"I believe you wish to release him, yes?" Bane said slowly approaching.
Diana quickly stepped to Batman's side.
"When I have what I want", Batman answered back, not bothering to look up. "The serum, McGinnis, I want it now."
Batman reached down and removed the rod he connected to the belt of Slade, returning the basic movements to his body. Slade fell to the ground, the suit's capabilities now useless. Batman took a few steps back, which Diana did as well, to allow Bane to help Slade up.
"Bruce, I have to say that I expected no less from you", Slade attempted to offer as he still lay on the ground.
"Can it, McGinnis", Batman spat as he folded his arms. "The serum…"
"Bane…"
Bane walked over to Slade, helping him to his feet. Slade dusted himself off, the black suit covered in the dust of the battle with Doomsday. Bane handed Slade a vile containing the serum Batman demanded.
"I believe I now have what I wanted…" Slade said tossing the vile to Batman.
Batman caught the vile and studied the contents through the glass. He looked back at Slade with a distrusting look.
"If there was one thing I learned from you Bruce, it would be honesty."
"Right…"
Batman stored the vile away in his utility belt, waiting until he tested the serum before he used it.
"Batman, come in", Oracle voice come on in Batman's cowl. "Superman and Boy are stabilized in the Watchtower. They had to use the red light you developed to perform surgery on Superman; otherwise they'd have little luck on him. Boy has multiple fractions throughout his body."
"And the antibodies..?"
"Being worked on as we speak, I've emailed the data to all of the proper authorities across the world. Looks like this is going to be over before it starts..."
Batman paused before he responded.
"Batman out..." he said as he closed the channel. "Alright McGinnis, you're coming back with us."
Slade's wrinkled face moved with a subtle laughter as he reached for another device. Batman could not reach a batarang in time as Slade opened up another boom tube, already engulfing him and Bane.
"I have what I wanted, Bruce", Slade said in the bright light. "But now I begin the rest of my life."
"Come on!" Batman shouted at Diana as they ran for the boom tube.
They entered it just in time as it closed.
Batman and Diana where no longer standing in the streets of Gotham. They now stood inside the bridge of the last ship hovering over Gotham. Both never moved from the spot they landed on. Batman already surveying his surroundings as Diana stood ready for a possible attack.
"I apologize for the suddenness, Bruce", Slade's voice boomed over some speakers. "I have a new challenge for you, one you may find…interesting."
"I don't have time for this, McGinnis", Batman spat.
"Oh, but you will eventually", Slade said. "You see Bruce, I have no doubt you do not wish to spend the rest of your days as an immortal. You will take the serum, restoring yourself to your normal form. I respect that. But what you fail to realize is the changes my presence in this time will cause."
"This time..?" Diana asked Batman, who had not noticed her question.
"Your usefulness will be needed well past your days as Batman, even as the next generation of the Justice League comes in full. But I know what happens, and what is needed. The future needs you, Bruce. I ask you, as someone who used to call you mentor, to reconsider."
Diana could not believe the gull of Slade. He dared to use a pleading tone with them, even calling Batman 'mentor'.
"You disgusting worm", Diana snarled as she clenched her fists. "Show yourself, and I shall relieve you of your future."
Slade gave an insulting chuckle.
"And she will need you as well, Bruce."
Diana turned to look at Batman who still kept his stern look, but was in fact thinking of what Slade had been telling him.
"Knowing all of this, Bruce, it pains me for what I must now do."
Two energy beams shot from openings in the walls of the bridge, hitting Diana and Batman. The beam was a form of restraint, paralyzing both heroes as they fell to their knees. They were groaning in pain, looking around for any of Slade's people.
"I'm sorry…" Slade's voice spoke for the final time.
A third beam fired at Diana, a strong concussive blast. It hit her harder than Doomsday had managed to earlier. The restraint beam on her halted, and she slumped to her side.
"Diana!" Batman shouted as he could do nothing.
In front of both Batman and Diana, Slade appeared. His regular suit had the cloaking ability his bat suit had, causing him to go unnoticed.
Slade walked to Diana's side, bending over to put her in his arms. He easily lifted her limp body and turned to walk away.
"Take your hands off of her!" Batman shouted from his powerless position.
Slade stopped in his tracks, as the bottom of the ship began to open. Slade stood at the edge of the opening and simply dropped Diana out of the ship. The ship was at least eighty stories in the sky, as Diana plummeted to the earth.
"Now Bruce", Slade said turning to him. "Destiny awaits…"
The Javelin 7 was coming over Gotham airspace, flying directly for the last of the two ships. Piloted by Robin, he along with Gear and Green Lantern had returned to retrieve Batman and Diana. Robin and Gear both wore biohazard suits, Lantern being protected by his ring, as the plague had been unleashed into the earth's atmosphere.
"I've got visual…" Robin said as he was piloting like a bat out of hell.
When he and Starfire returned to the Watchtower, he immediately dressed into the protective suit, ready to go back down. He had to seriously convince Lantern to come back with him, let alone Robin coming back alone. So when Lantern and Gear finished the prep work on the antibodies, they joined Robin for the rescue mission.
"I'm getting a reading from inside the ship", Gear said in the rear seat. "It's Diana's comlink."
"Fly under it", GL said getting up from the co-pilot seat. "I'll get myself in there from the underneath."
Robin flew the Javelin under the massive ship, which was about half the size of the Watchtower. He then noticed a small object falling from it, and then he and his crew noticed what it was.
"GL, GO!" Robin said opening the hatch.
Lantern flew out immediately as the hatch opened, Diana still in freefall. His speed was fast enough for him to reach Diana well before she hit the bottom. He caught her with his arms carefully, not causing her any injury from her sudden change in direction.
Lantern changed his direction now and flew back towards the Javelin. He entered from the bottom hatch, immediately flying to the medical bed. Gear was already waiting at the bed, ready to start to work on Diana.
"Strap her in and hold on!" Robin shouted from the front. "That ship is getting ready to take off."
The ship's main thrusters were slowly powering up, the loud roar of the engines nearly overpowering. Gear returned to his seat once Diana was secured. Lantern was ready to exit the Javelin again.
"I'm gonna try to get inside of it first…"
He jumped out and flew directly at the ship. However as he approached, a massive beam fired at him, catching him in the chest. Lantern flew backwards as the beam impacted him, the pain shooting through his upper body.
"Lantern, you alright..?" Robin's voice came on in GL's ear.
The ship was beginning to fly away.
"I'll be fine, follow that thing."
The ship then accelerated tremendously towards the sky, leaving a vapor trail behind it.
"The hell you are…" Robin said under his breath, closing the bottom hatch.
The Javelin turned and accelerated at full speed after the ship. Robin, completely comfortable at the helm, was flying the Javelin as if he built it himself. He kept a steady pursuit course as he began to gain distance with the rogue ship. Both ships exited earth's atmosphere, heading straight for the Watchtower. The ship quickly shot past the Watchtower, in a direct path.
"It's headed for Mars!" Gear said from the back.
Robin continued pursuit of the ship, not showing any signs of giving up. The Javelin shot past the Watchtower as well, keeping good pace.
"I'm picking up energy an energy fluctuation from the ship", Gear said now sitting at the Javelin's main computer.
A bright blue light engulfed the rogue ship, momentarily blinding Robin as he continued pursuit. Suddenly the light disappeared, along with the ship.
Robin watched as the ship he pursued in space, imprisoning his mentor, simply vanished.
"Talk to me, Gear…" Robin said in shock.
Gear worked at the computer, not reading anything.
"Nothing", Gear said. "They must have teleported."
Gear failed to notice that Diana had released the straps of her bed as she was standing right behind him. She walked towards the front where Robin sat at the pilot seat, his arms hanging from his sides, his mouth agape in disbelief. Diana stood at his side, putting a hand on his shoulder. He looked up in confusion, as she looked back to him.
"We…I lost 'em."
Tim Drake sat at the computer in the cave, going over the same case over and over. It had been six months since that day in Gotham; it took six months for some sense of order to resume. With the damage caused downtown, along with the strange phenomenon that took place, life in Gotham had been a lot more interesting lately, along with the world. The plague that was unleashed was stopped completely; it was even kept a secret from the public. No one outside of the proper channels ever knew they were in danger.
It had been also six months since Batman had disappeared. The Justice League, along with the help of the Green Lantern Corps had searched as many possible destinations they could over that period of time. Nightwing, Batgirl, Robin and Oracle worked night and day to maintain the inner peace of Gotham. The rest of the Justice League continued the usual watch over the planet. Lucius Fox was running Wayne Enterprises, during Bruce Wayne's 'mysterious disappearance'.
Everyone was beginning to lose hope that Batman would be found.
Everyone except for Robin and Diana.
They knew he was still out there somewhere, they knew that Slade had planned another elaborate scheme that involved Batman somehow. The only problem was that Slade was not making appearances to show he has Batman.
When Robin would be around Diana, he would notice her mood swings. She was a proud warrior after all, feeling she had to maintain a certain image of herself. It almost hurt Robin to know that she didn't feel comfortable enough to express any hidden emotions she may have with anyone. As though everyone had become a stranger to her again, like her firsts days with the League. But Robin knew how she truly felt.
Everyone who was injured was almost back to normal, except for Beast Boy. His injuries were very severe, falling into a coma shortly after he had returned to the Watchtower that night. Hawkgirl and Raven barely left his side,
Raven especially…
She had deep feelings for Beast Boy, no doubt. She would even admit it. He did trigger her 'outburst' that fateful night, after all. So he obviously meant something special to her.
Superman recovered from his injuries quick, almost too quick. He had lost a lot of blood, but his Kryptonian DNA continued to astound J'onn as he was back to normal in a matter of days. His scars from being penetrated had completely healed.
Flash and Green Lantern spent their days with the 'Little League', as Flash called them. Blackfire and Static had a few choice words about that.
Robin spent his days with Alfred back in Wayne Manor. He and Starfire had moved in to keep Alfred company during the absence of Bruce. Of everyone, Alfred was worried the least. He told everyone in the League countless times "no matter where he is or what he may be doing, you can believe he is doing the right thing". To Robin, that sounded better then it felt.
"Tim?"
Tim returned to reality as Starfire came from behind him. He turned around to face her; her high spirits and companionship are the main reason why Tim remained functional over the past six months.
"It is time", Starfire said.
Tim had learned from reliable sources that a terrorist attack was highly probable in Washington D.C. tonight during a public address.
"Alright then…" he said jumping up from his chair, smiling at her. "Lets do it."