Chapter 4: Mêlée à Trois
Earth-Prime: Hall of Justice, Central City(Present Day):
At the formerly abandoned, now renovated, S.T.A.R. Labs Hanger (which was now known as the Hall of Justice); Cisco, Felicity, Curtis, and Schott all worked endlessly on the monitors hoping to find the others that fell into the breach, where they are, and how to get them back. And even with the help from Time Vault Gideon, Waverider Gideon, and every S.T.A.R. Labs satellites, they can't risk the possibility of them walking in a trap.
Allen, still in his Flash suit, walked to Cisco and the others, hoping to know their progress.
"What do we have, tech team?" Allen asked, mostly Cisco.
"Nothing yet, man. We've been checking for any other breaches that come up, and I've contacted Gypsy and Breacher, they'll let us know at the moment they got something." Cisco said.
"Ok. Good work, Cisco." Allen sighed, as he rubbed his head.
Cisco saw this and was concerned.
"You ok, man?" Cisco asked.
"Hmm? Honestly, I should've been faster, Cisco. Oliver always trusts me but I was almost to late to stop Chase from detonating the bomb. Now he, alongside Ralph, Ray and the others are lost out there somewhere." Allen said, as he was stressed.
"C'mon, Barry, don't be too hard on yourself, you had no idea that this would've happened, none of us did. And besides, we'll find them, we have to." Cisco reassured his friend, patting him on the back.
Earth-13: The Fortress of Solitude:
The High Councilor was looking at the monitor viewing the pictures featuring herself with her friends, her family, and her Barry. Yesterday was five years ago that she lost the love of her life, her friends, her home, and her entire family.
It was supposed to be a happy day of joy and love, for Barry had proposed to her that fateful morning, but of course, Chase and Luthor took that away from her; everyone and everything.
Flashback: Barry's Loft, Central City/Five Years Ago (6:00 AM):
It was early in the morning, Supergirl woke and noticed that there was a void in her boyfriend's bed, but heard a nice melody down the hall
"Barry?" Supergirl called out.
"In the living room!" Barry answered.
Supergirl then put on her boyfriend's shirt and sweatpants, and tied up her hair into a messy bun before walking into the living room and seeing Barry, in a t-shirt and shorts, dancing to music.
"Morning, Beautiful." Barry turned and saw his girlfriend.
"Morning, handsome." Kara softly blushed.
Barry put on slow-dancing music.
"May I have this dance, Miss Danvers?" Barry asked, offering his hand to Supergirl
"Yes you may, Mr. Allen" Supergirl giggled, blushing madly as she grabbed Barry's hand and danced with him. A song began to play, which Supergirl instantly recognized [1].
"Oh babe, I love this song." Supergirl said.
Supergirl began to sing, while staring into Barry's loving eyes as he stared into her's as well.
Supergirl:
"Many times I've tried to tell you, many times I cry alone.
Always I'm surprised how well you cut my feelings to the bone.
Don't wanna leave you really, I've invested too much time.
To give you up that easy, to the doubts that complicate your mind."
Barry joined in the singing as well.
Barry and Supergirl:
"We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder.
We belong to the sound of the words we both fallen under.
Whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better, we belong.
We belong, we belong together."
Barry grabbed Supergirl's hands as he began to twirl his girlfriend around.
Barry:
"Maybe it's a sign of a weakness, when I don't know what to say.
Maybe I just wouldn't know what to do with my strength anyway.
Have we become a habit? Do we distort the facts?
Now there's no looking forward. Now there's no turning back when you say"
Barry and Supergirl:
"We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder.
We belong to the sound of the words we both fallen under.
Whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better, we belong.
We belong, we belong together."
Barry lifted Supergirl up in the air, laughing, with both of their cheeks and ears turned rosy red.
"Close your eyes and try to sleep now, close your eyes and try to dream.
Clear your mind and do your best to try and wash the palette clean.
We can't begin to know it, how much we really care.
I hear your voice inside me, I see your face everywhere
Still you say"
Barry caught Supergirl as they completed a final spin. The two lovers then swayed softly to the music.
"We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder.
We belong to the sound of the words we both fallen under.
Whatever we deny or embrace, for worse or for better, we belong.
We belong, we belong together."
"We belong to the light, we belong to the thunder.
We belong to the sound of the words we both fallen under.
Close your eyes and try to sleep now, close your eyes and try to dream."
The song finished, and Barry and Supergirl held onto each other affectionately as they let their temples rest against each other. And it was that moment, Barry made a decision.
"Kara, you helped me when I was at my lowest. After Iris was killed by Zolomon, I swore to never love again, but you broke down the walls of my heart and sought to bring me back to the light. You taught me how to smile, laugh, and love again, and I can't ever thank you enough for that."
Barry got down on his knee and pulled Supergirl down with him, as the latter felt tears swelling in her eyes, shocked and emotional that this was happening.
"Kara Danvers, will you marry me?" Barry pulled out a ring, which had the House of El sigil on the diamond.
"Yes. Yes! I will marry you, Barry!" Supergirl immediately answered, as she and Barry immediately rose up to let the latter put the ring on her finger.
"Oh my-" Supergirl then wrapped her arms around Barry's neck, pulled him to her, leaned up and kissed him. Barry was surprised, but returned the kiss without hesitation as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her against his chest. Supergirl inadvertently floated in the air with Barry in her arms.
After the kiss, Supergirl rested her forehead on top of his as she took deep, slow breaths and floated back to the ground.
"Can I tell you a secret, Kara?" Barry asked his fiance.
"Mhm." Supergirl nodded, smiling.
"I love you."
Supergirl felt like her heart melted, and decided that two can play at that game.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Supergirl asked.
"Of course you can." Barry nodded.
"No matter where we might end up, what or who we become, I will always love you for the rest of my life." Supergirl promised, which made Barry feel truly happy.
Barry and Supergirl kept staring at each other's gazes lovingly, until the latter heard something with her super hearing.
"The Arrow?! Kill that son of a bitch!" A gruff voice shouted.
"Oliver's in trouble!" Supergirl said, stunning Barry.
"Go!" Barry said, nodding as he understood.
Supergirl then sped to switch into her outfit, and was about to fly out the window before stopping to give one last kiss to Barry before heading off.
"I love you."
"Love you too."
Supergirl then flew out of Barry's loft window, flying off at superspeed.
End Flashback:
That was the last time she truly saw Barry, the last time they said 'I love you', and the worst part was; they never said goodbye, and Overgirl never found closure or solace for her fiance's death. She mourned for her love and the deaths of her family and friends as she sobbed and wiped eyes of tears.
Batwoman, now dressed in a strapless, red and black dress with a skirt, entered the Command Center and went to the High Councilor, wrapping the latter in a 'loving' hug.
"You miss them all, do you, my love?" Batwoman asked softly. The closeness and tone made Overgirl feel… uncomfortable, considering she never moved on from Barry, but she decided not to say anything against it.
"Yes, Kate. Just yesterday was the fifth anniversary of that tragic day, the day I lost… my friends… my family… Barry…!" Overgirl sniffled, her voice cracked as tears streamed down her face.
"Kara, whatever happens next, we'll be there for you, I will be there for you." Batwoman said, 'consoling' her.
"I know, Kate…" Overgirl said, not really sure herself if she was assuring herself or not.
"High Councilor!" A voice, Olsen, spoke, as he entered the Command Center, forcing Batwoman to separate from the High Councilor, while the latter wiped the tears off her face. "I apologize for the intrusion but I bring news before you, for I have something from the one person who might peak your interest; Captain Sara Lance." Olsen said as he kneeled before the High Councilor, but this did little to gain the attention of Overgirl.
"And what of her, Olsen? Because this better be damn good!" Overgirl demanded, beginning to lose patience as her eyes changed color, turning from blue to red [2].
"She finally broke and gave me the information we have decoded; apparently the Insurgency plan to call upon allies from other worlds." Olsen revealed, to the shock of Overgirl and Batwoman.
"Other worlds, huh? Advise Kal and Mon-El to gather available soldiers and commanding officers to search all the cities. I want to know everything about what Oliver and his Merry-Men are planning and how this is possible and if any of those 'allies' of his have arrived, then find them and any others that might be out there. I want to know everything." Overgirl ordered Olsen.
"And what of the prisoner?" Olsen asked Overgirl, as he rose to his feet. Overgirl immediately decided on what to do with White Canary.
"She is free to go. Remove her out of her cell and send back to Starling!" Overgirl ordered.
"Yes, my liege." Olsen bowed, as he left the Command Center.
"How is this possible, Kara?" Batwoman asked the High Councilor.
"I am not sure, Kate, but whatever Oliver is planning, it won't work." Overgirl responds, as she is determined to end the Insurgency.
The Streets of Starling City:
As Prometheus wanders around the streets of Starling City, mostly through the alleyways, he makes sure to avoid the Regime vehicles that patrol the sidewalks and roads and the T-Spheres that patrol around the aerial views of Starling's buildings.
"Well, time to go find out what happened to this… world's version of me."
As Prometheus makes his way through the streets, he "doesn't" notice Oliver watching on top through a rooftop.
The Glades:
Soon, Prometheus walks by a condemned building in the Glades and as a train passes by, he turns around and throws a shuriken at an incoming projectile; an arrow, which shatters the arrowhead and slices it into two.
"Back for more, Oliver?" Prometheus demanded. "No matter because soon, I will return to our world and I will be the victor this time around!" Prometheus cackled maniacally.
"No, you won't!" Oliver roared.
"Then come and try." The two enemies then charged at each other.
Oliver jumped at Prometheus and flipped him to the ground and as the two dropped their respective weapons of choice to fight in hand-to-hand kombat (Get it?). As Prometheus charged at Oliver, the two crashed into dumpsters in an alleyway as the latter managed to come out on top and began to pummel the former in a flurry of punches before Prometheus pulled out a gun from his pocket and shot Oliver on the side.
Oliver growls from the gunshot, and falls to the ground, unable to get back up.
"Oh don't worry, Oliver. You've been hit with a dose of a curare, courtesy of Talia." Prometheus revealed.
"You're not dying but the more you're exposed to it, the more you will. It's not my intention to kill you." Prometheus stated as he shot Oliver in the shoulder, this time with a normal bullet, with the latter growling in pain as he struggled to fight against both the curare and pain from the bullets.
Prometheus then kneeled beside Oliver and took out a pouch from his pockets to reveal a leather pouch of herbs from Lian Yu.
Prometheus then sees two figures flying towards them from above; one having a red aura surrounding him, and the other having wings, dressed in armor as she carried a mace.
"Take these, but know that I didn't act out of goodness or anything like that. I want you to suffer, to make you see that everything you touch dies, everyone around dies, and everywhere you go, destruction follows." Prometheus reminded, as he tossed the pouch and a bottle of water at Oliver. "I think I'll leave you here… Just like how you left Slade Wilson, to die on Amazo." Prometheus harshly mocked, as he left Oliver on the pavement. Oliver then put the contents of the pouch in his mouth and drank it all quickly to counteract the curare.
"Chase, you…! You bastard!" Oliver gritted his teeth, as he glared at the Throwing Star Killer hatefully before passing out on the ground. Thankfully, the suit (mostly the kevlar) was upgraded by Cisco back on Earth Prime, it was made to stop any type of bullet in time if ever shot at close range or long range; but it wasn't designed to counteract any fast acting poisons.
The two figures, Red Lantern Spartan and Hawkgirl, then landed as they were both shocked to see who they saw unconscious on the ground.
"Well, well, well. What do we have here…?" Spartan mockingly taunted, as he and Hawkgirl saw Oliver lying unconscious on the ground.
"J-John?" Oliver weakly said.
"On your feet, Queen! Let's go!" Hawkgirl ordered.
"Not happening, Kendra." Oliver weakly groaned, before passing out from the curare.
"Your time will come soon, Oliver, but not yet. For now, I will report this to the High Councilor." Red Lantern Spartan said, as he tapped the comms device on his right ear.
Back at the Fortress of Solitude:
In the laboratory of the Fortress, the High Councilor tests three restraining devices with a remote control, one of these devices is a power dampening collar and the two other are high-tech restraining chips inserted to those who are cybernetic [3], on three dangerous people; Parasite, Metallo, and Cyborg Superman, mostly to see if they work to control them.
"Right foot." Overgirl orders the three prisoners, but they have resisted the collars' commands and nothing happened.
"Right. Foot. Now!" With the Red Kryptonite making her lose patience, Overgirl, who was in no mood to play games, orders the three prisoners more harshly as she pressed a shock button on the remote control to make them comply, electrocuting them as they screamed in agonizing pain. The three prisoners then raised their right foots, respectively, and then put it back down, ending the electrocution as they all catched their own respective breaths.
"Now you three understand the consequence for disobedience and insubordination" Overgirl coldly said, without remorse.
Overgirl's communicator then went off and she went to answer it.
"What now?!" She roared, losing more of her patience.
Spartan was apathetic by Overgirl's outburst, but Hawkgirl was; even Parasite, Metallo, and Cyborg Superman, all jumped and shivered in fear from Overgirl's anger.
"High Councilor, apologies for the intrusion but Kendra and I bring news to you." Spartan began, a little scared of Overgirl.
"I trust this is important, Red Lantern. Spit it out now!" Overgirl snarled.
"Kendra and I have found Oliver Queen and we're bringing him to Iron Heights." Overgirl's angry expression changed from hearing that.
"Can it be true that you two have found him?" Overgirl questioned, unsure of Spartan's claim.
"We have my liege, and we can prove it to you. I request that you meet us at Iron Heights Penitentiary so that you may see for yourself." Spartan said.
"Very well, John, I'm on my way." Overgirl resolved as her cold demeanor changed a bit.
Iron Heights:
Once Spartan and Hawkgirl brought Oliver to a holding cell and chained him to the wall, from wrists to ankles, they also made sure to remove the latter of any tricks he might have up his sleeve; no arrows of any kind, no quiver, no compound bow, and no mask and hood.
As Oliver began to wake up, regaining consciousness, he felt dizzy from the curare's effects and was surprised to see that he was shackled on the wall and even more surprised to see his 'friends' surrounding him with such… hostility.
"How the mighty vigilante has fallen." Spartan mocked his former friend/brother/boss, as the latter began to fully wake up. Oliver felt pain in his face, and realized that he was beaten up by the Red Lantern.
"J-John? Kendra? W-Where am I? What is this place?" Oliver groaned, trying to process where he currently is, and asking himself why he is currently in a holding cell.
"Oliver Jonas Queen, by order of the High Councilor, Kara Zor-El; you have been charged with crimes of terrorism, illegal acts of vigilantism, fugitivity, resisting arrest, and murder. The High Councilor is coming here right now to decide your fate." Hawkgirl declared, with Oliver looking at her in confusion and shock.
"All make way for the High Councilor, Overgirl!" A Regime Soldier announced outside of the holding cell.
"Alright, Oliver, you ready for visitors? Want a comb before she comes in?" Spartan mocked his former friend.
Outside, the Regime Soldiers formed a line to greet the High Councilor, Batwoman, Superman, and Valor, bowing before Her Grace and her allies as they made their way to Oliver's holding cell.
The door then opened and Overgirl, Batwoman, Superman, and Valor entered the cell to see Oliver and to make Overgirl realize that Spartan was not lying.
"You were not lying, John; this is him!" Superman said. Overgirl then began to scan Oliver, as the latter looked at Regime members, shocked.
"How did you find him, John?" Valor asked the Red Lantern, skeptical on how the latter did it.
"Well, I-" Spartan began before the next words stopped him and everyone in their tracks.
"It's not him."
"What?! But how can this be, High Councilor?" Spartan asked.
"While his DNA matches Oliver Queen's, there's one crucial difference; his vitals, they're all wrong." Overgirl revealed, taking a step closer towards the doppelganger of the man who she's currently trying to defeat.
"So you're one of the duplicates, tell me why are you here!" Overgirl demanded, grabbing Oliver by the neck and with her eyes glowing blue with heat vision, and with the latter in shock at seeing Overgirl's aggressiveness.
The Quiver, Starling City:
Back at the Insurgency Base, the Quiver; Ray, Ralph, J'onn, Alex, James, Thea, and Roy asked Arrow, Sentinel, and the other Insurgents to leave the room to themselves so they process the information and history of this Earth.
"So, J'onn? What do you think about them?" Alex asked J'onn, who was pondering over the information.
"Well I didn't read their minds, but from the look of their eyes, it seems that they were telling us the truth." J'onn truthfully said.
"I believe you." Alex sighed, as she rubbed the temple of her head.
"And imagine if our Earth's Kara lost our Barry…" Alex feared the possibility of her Earth's Kara going down a dark path.
"She won't go down that path, Alex. I know because I have faith; in her, in Clark, Lena, John Henry, and even you." J'onn reassured Alex.
"Even though we're currently far from home right now, and that this is too much to process,our duties don't end, especially at the borders of another reality. So, for the Barry of this reality and for Earth-13!" Ray toasted.
"For Barry, and Earth 13!" The other Earth Prime Heroes toasted as well.
Unknown Location (Concurrently):
As Prometheus reaches a location, it is revealed to be a warehouse that bears a hexagonal shape that looks exactly like a honeycomb from a beehive. Inside the warehouse, Prometheus walks around but he is not fooled for he knows that he is surrounded by multiple soldiers.
"Before we begin, does anyone want to leave this place alive?" Prometheus asks the seemingly empty room as he pulls out his sword and readies his position.
The lights turn on to reveal several Ghosts, H.I.V.E. Agents, and the Thanatos Guild aiming their weapons at Prometheus.
"Hold your position, men!" A Ghost Commander ordered the soldiers and the Thanatos Guild, as they readied their weapons on Prometheus.
"Boss, we have the intruder surrounded. Your orders?" The Ghost commander requested his boss via comms.
"Hold your fire, Commander. I know this person." A man answered, ordering the commander and everyone who has their weapons on Prometheus to not shoot at the latter.
"Are you sure, sir?" The Ghost commander requested confirmation.
"Did I stutter, Commander?! You are not to shoot this man, final order!" The man snarled, beginning to lose his patience.
"Y-Yes, sir! M-Men, stand down now!" The commander stutters, scared of the threats of their leader, as the Ghosts and the Thanatos Guild all lower their weapons.
"So, Adrian Chase returns from the grave. And yet, I do not sense any source of magic in your soul, let alone sense the waters of the Lazarus Pit on you. And it would appear that you are not a metahuman or that cursed Martian either." The figure said, revealing one Damien Darhk, as he ruled out the first four possibilities and stepped out of the shadows, alongside Dark Archer, Talia Al Ghul, Athena, Cupid, and China White.
"So who are you exactly?" Darhk demanded the Throwing Star Killer of Earth Prime, as the former had questions and so did the latter.
The Quiver (Later):
"Alright, let's get started." Arrow said as he, Sentinel, Lockwood, Black Canary, Flash (Wally West), and Madame Steel entered the boardroom to discuss the mission.
"You're familiar with H.I.V.E. on your Earth, correct?" Black Canary questioned the Earth Prime Heroes, who all nodded in response.
"Well three years ago, they stole these enhancers that were meant for the Regime but in actuality, Madame Steel actually created them for the Insurgency. HIVE's main goals are not just to destroy the Regime and the High Councilor, but to also destroy the Insurgency, the Children of Liberty, and anyone who gets in their way." Black Canary continues as she detailed the last few weeks, and as a picture of the enhancers appeared on the monitors.
"We received word from our spies within H.I.V.E. that there is a speech happening later tonight, detailing their plans in taking down the Regime and the Insurgency. Their headquarters is a few miles outside the city, but we must plan this perfectly; a direct attack on either H.I.V.E. or the Regime will only provoke retaliation, and lead to unmeasurable losses. We lost a lot of good people already, and I will not endanger any more lives." Arrow continued, vowing to end tyranny and honor the deaths of those who gave their lives fighting.
"Hey, what are those things? Pills?" Ralph asked, pointing to those tiny objects on the monitor.
"Yes, Mr. Dibny, but not medication pills. They're durability enhancers; 5-U-93-R, courtesy of the High Councilor." Lockwood answered.
"How does a pill like that allow…?" Ray began before being cut off.
"Kryptonian nanotech, Mr. Palmer." Madame Steel answered. "I created the recipe for the Regime; if a human or a being who is not Kryptonian ingests one, then that person will receive powers and abilities of either Supergirl and Superman. But if a Kryptonian ingests one, then their powers and abilities will double and increase in a scale, hitherto undreamt of." She continued as she explained the enhancers' purpose and traits, with the Earth Prime Heroes left in shock and impressed.
"Arrow and General J'onnz sent one team; Me, White Canary, Frost, and Sentinel to intercept the hijackers and recover the enhancers. But we were ambushed by Kane, Dr. Thomas Snow, Icicle, Adachi, Diggle, Clark, Drake, Holt, Helena, Sharp, and their soldiers." Speedy carried on with retelling their failed mission.
Flashback 1 (3 Years Earlier):
As Speedy, White Canary, Sentinel, and Frost all drove to the H.I.V.E. truck that stole the 5-U-93-R (the aforementioned three driving in their respective vehicles, and Frost using her powers to get there), they were ambushed by Superman, Huntress, Batwoman, Spartan, Olsen, Black Siren, Wild Dog, Red Arrow, Icicle, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, Artemis, and multiple Regime Soldiers; the former who used his heat vision to stop the four heroes/rebels.
End Flashback 1:
"We were able to incapacitate Rene, Icicle, and Curtis, but Drake, Adachi, Sharp, Kane, and the Regime Soldiers were better prepared, some were enhanced with 5-U-93-R from their previous supply; so we were ill-equipped to deal with either one of them. Clark and Diggle as well, considering that the latter was given a Power Ring of the Red Lantern Corps." Frost said, which made Alex look up at the former.
"Red Lanterns? Like, Green Lanterns?" She asked.
"Yes, but they're power comes from rage and a strong level of anger and hatred." Harbinger revealed to everyone as they understood the difference.
But anyways, with them on the Regime's side, and the enhancements in their hands; Diggle, Kent, and the soldiers were too strong for Speedy's team; so J'onn, Arrow, Wally, Harbinger, Vibe, Black Canary, and Lockwood came to the rescue, alongside some Children of Liberty and five of our best soldiers." Madame Steel continued.
Flashback 2 (3 Years Earlier):
As the calvary; Arrow, Vibe, Flash, Black Canary, Martian Manhunter, Harbinger, Lockwood, the Children of Liberty and the five best soldiers of the Insurgency took on the Regime, with two of their best Insurgency Soldiers and the Children of Liberty leading the civilians away from the battle to avoid any crossfire.
Arrow, Vibe, and the three Insurgency Soldiers assisted Speedy; with the former (Arrow) and Lockwood battling against Olsen and Batwoman, and the latter (Speedy) battling the enhanced Regime Soldiers with explosive arrows (courtesy of her brother). While Black Canary assisted her sister against Black Siren, Huntress, and Artemis. Martian Manhunter battling Superman, and Harbinger battling Spartan, the five battling in the skies. And Flash battled Hawkgirl.
"So the Guardians chose to give their Ring, the color that represents false determination." Spartan sneered at his ex-wife.
"That 'false' representation is what drives us to fight on, John. It's something you seemed to have forgotten." Harbinger retorted at her ex-husband.
The two Lanterns of opposing sides then charged at each other, striking blow for blow and shooting energy blasts from their respective Power Rings.
End Flashback 2:
"But in the process, Helena, Drake, and Sharp overwhelmed Sara and I, and they captured her." Black Canary looked down in shame and guilt, for failing her sister as Arrow held her hand, reassuring her that White Canary will be safe.
"And then Emiko shot an arrow that was meant for Clark… but in actuality… it was meant for…" Sentinel's voice cracked, as tears threatened to leak. "J'onn…!" She revealed to the shock of everyone, including both Alex and J'onn; that the Red Arrow killed the Martian Manhunter.
"In the end, we learned that the ambush was all a ruse, to bring the Commander to the battle and frame him for murder!" Lockwood gritted out, clenching his fist in anger, as he remembered his mentor/friend and while also remembering the ones responsible for his murder.
Flashback 3 (3 Years Earlier):
Straying away from the battle and arriving at a nearby rooftop, Batwoman hands Red Arrow a mysterious arrow, encased in lead, and the latter aims at Superman and shoots the mystery arrow at long range at the Man of Steel.
Amidst his and Madame Steel's battle against Spartan, Martian Manhunter turns and sees someone launching the lead encased arrow. Martian Manhunter feared that the arrow is made of synthetic kryptonite, and saw that it was headed towards Superman.
"CLARK!" And in that moment… fearing for his friend's life; Martian Manhunter flies towards his friend and pushes him out of the way and allows himself to be hit by the arrow, where its lead casing fell away revealing to have been filled with lethal magnesium nanites; a fatal weakness to any Martian.
"J'ONN!" Superman cried out terror rushing towards him and catching him in time before he fell from the sky due to the pain.
As the Insurgency, alongside the Children of Liberty, continued to battle against the Regime, a voice broke them from their battle.
"ENOUGH! This battle is over!"
Everyone stopped fighting to see the High Councilor flying above them as she saw her cousin descend from the sky, slowly, with Martian Manhunter in his arms, with her eyes widening in shock and emotions starting to spiral out of control.
"No…! J'ONN!" Overgirl cried out in fear as she flew to Superman, with Sentinel running behind her.
"J'onn! J'onn, please say something! Please!" Overgirl pleaded, shaking the man she saw as a father figure.
"K-Kara…?" Martian Manhunter stirred, bleeding internally from the magnesium.
"J'onn…! Hold on, we're gonna help you! We can save you." Overgirl assured, tapping her communications to call for medical attention, but someone held her hand.
"N-No, don't. Please don't call them, either way there's nothing they can do." Martian Manhunter weakly said as he held Overgirl's hand, accepting his fate and wanting to talk to his surrogate daughter.
"We got to do something! We can't just…! Ion, can you…?" Harbinger panicked as she came with a… solution.
"I am sorry, Miss Michaels, but the Green Lanterns are only able to create constructs from their willpower, not to heal wounds." The Green Lantern entity, Ion, stated the true purpose of the Green Lantern Corps, to Harbinger; who felt despair.
"K-Kara, A-Alex… when I first came here, I was lost without my wife, my daughters, and my father. But then I met Jeremiah, and he told me so much about you two… how much you both meant to him and Eliza… and that was enough for me to feel obligated; to watch over and protect you two, like you were my family… . Martian Manhunter said, as he shed tears which streamed down his face. "I may have failed my family on Mars… but I wasn't going to fail this one on Earth…! You two… Jeremiah… Eliza… Winn… James… Clark… Maggie… Barry… you are my family…!" He continued, groaning from the pain.
"J'onn…" Supergirl said tearfully, knowing that his end was coming. [4]
"P-Please end this now, Kara…! I know there is still good in you! I know there is…!" Martian Manhunter said, wanting the High Councilor to end the Regime. "And don't blame Oliver for this… This is not his doing…! You're being deceived…!" He continued.
"What…? By who, J'onn? Who?!" Overgirl pleaded for answers, wanting to know who is lying to her.
"And Alex… protect your own sister… as I have protected you both…." Martian Manhunter begged Sentinel, violently coughing up blood.
"Kara, Alex, my daughters, stay strong. Promise me." Martian Munhunter begged Overgirl and Sentinel.
Supergirl looked at Sentinel, who looked at the former, and agreed to keep their promises to him.
"Okay, J'onn, we promise." They both said simultaneously, making Martian Manhunter smile weakly.
"Father… M'yri'ah… I'm coming…" And with that, Martian Manhunter took his last breath, closed his eyes, and tilted his head. The Last Son of Mars; J'onn J'onnzz, the Martian Manhunter… has died.
"J'onn? J'onn! Hey, no, no, no, no! J'onn, don't do this to me, please! Please!" Sentinel sobbed, pleading her surrogate father to wake up.
"J'onn! No! No, please! Oh Rao, please no!" Supergirl sobbed as well, begging to Rao that this was not happening to her, not again.
"J'onn! Dad! No! No, no, no, no!" The two sisters then consoled each other, hugging as they sobbed, mourning the loss of their father figure.
"Kara…" Arrow tried to console Supergirl, moments later, but then…
"Go! Go back to your lair, and stay there. I never want to see your face. Ever. Again!" Overgirl hissed venomously.
"Kara, please…!" Arrow pleaded.
"Go now, Queen! You too, Alex." Overgirl glared at her former best friend and her sister.
"Kara?" Sentinel asked, worried, shocked, and confused at her sister's tone.
"I wish you no ill will, Alex, but I can't guarantee any mercy the next time we meet. Go, Now!" Overgirl sighed, warning her sister, with the latter shocked that she was warned in such a tone.
Though she and Arrow were reluctant to leave Overgirl alone, Sentinel eventually agreed to leave the battle.
"Cisco!" Arrow commanded.
"Yes, sir" Vibe complied and opened a breach back to the Quiver; with the Insurgency Soldiers, Children of Liberty, and the Insurgent Heroes entering the portal, but not before Sentinel, Lockwood, Flash, Black Canary, and Arrow looked back at Overgirl who was still holding Martian Manhunter's body in her arms. Both were reluctant to leave Overgirl behind, they had to listen to her commands before things could get ugly. And with that, Arrow, Black Canary, Flash, Lockwood, Sentinel, and Vibe, entered the breach and left the battle.
Overgirl continues to sob into Martian Manhunter's chest, as Batwoman kneels behind and 'hugs' her 'love'.
"My love, you know that in your heart that they do not deserve forgiveness. Queen and his allies are relentless, and so is H.I.V.E . And they will not stop… not unless we do something about this." Batwoman said, manipulating Overgirl into taking… extreme methods into defeating both the Insurgency and H.I.V.E.
And with that, Batwoman kissed Overgirl on the lips. The kiss lasted for a few moments until Batwoman pulled away with Overgirl's eyes glowing red, and her resolve imminent. [5]
End Flashback 3 (Present Day, The Ark, H.I.V.E. Headquarters):
After being filled in on the history of Earth-13 and what happened to his counterpart, Prometheus was silent for a moment before he spoke at last.
"So what I've heard is that this is another… world? One where my counterpart succeeded in breaking the Girl of Steel, but that filthy Kryptonian managed to kill me and bring the world to her knees?!" Prometheus exclaimed, taking it all in at once.
"You sound… distressed, Adrian. Do you need a breather?" Darhk asked, amused at his reaction.
"No…I feel fine, Damien. I'm actually pleased that I broke Ms. Danvers." Prometheus responds, answering and contradicting Darhk's claim. "Of course, I've been doing this all wrong. Why go after Oliver and his friends, family, and allies, when I could go after them instead? My counterpart had the right idea, and now; I know what I must do when I return to my world." He chuckled sinisterly, as he began strategizing his plans for when he returns.
"Yes, and you will have your chance to have your revenge, Adrian. But first; before we can find a way to get you home, we have work for you to do, my friend. Help us and we will help you in return." Darhk decided to take advantage of the Throwing Star Killer's ambitions and use it for his own goals, but make no mistake; Darhk will honor his promise.
"What kind of work, Damien?" Prometheus skeptically asked, glaring at the head of H.I.V.E.
"It's like this…" Darhk began to explain H.I.V.E. 's plan to 'save and rebuild' civilization to Prometheus, and the latter was intrigued.
Later:
After explaining their plan to 'rebuild' civilization to Prometheus, who then agreed to help them out; Damien, alongside Dark Archer, Talia Al Ghul, Athena, Cupid, China White, and Prometheus walked to the podium in the warehouse interior. There, Darhk welcomed his audience; basically loyal followers and soldiers of H.I.V.E., with Vigilante, Derek Sampson, and Captain Boomerang.
"Ladies and Gentlemen of H.I.V.E.; soon, we welcome this world its new saviors for our time has come!" Darhk announced. "In a few short hours, we will save this world of its filth, corruption, and grasp of tyranny! No more Regime! No more Insurgency, and best of all; no more Justice League! Today, the world welcomes its new saviors; H.I.V.E.!" He continued.
Darhk then pulls out a 5-U-93-R pill and shows the audience.
"Four years ago, our moles inside the Regime revealed to us that the High Councilor requested Ms. Luthor to make these pills that can enhance her Regime thugs; and then the Arrow and his Insurgents got these enhancers as well. One pill and we can be worshiped as this world's saviors, allow any vehicle to fall on us and we will never get hurt and now; we can turn the tables against the High Councilor and Oliver Queen." Darhk finished his speech as he, Dark Archer, Talia Al Ghul, Athena, Cupid, China White, and Prometheus all ingested the 5-U-93-R pills, while H.I.V.E. and the Thanatos Guild cheered, until…
A loud scream pierced the walls of the warehouse, breaking it down as Red Arrow, Wild Dog, Artemis, Huntress, Black Siren, and Regime Soldiers stormed the warehouse; with the Regime Soldiers and Wild Dog shooting at H.I.V.E. and Thanatos Guild Assassins. But Darhk, Dark Archer, Talia Al Ghul, Athena, Cupid, China White, Prometheus, Vigilante, Derek Sampson, Captain Boomerang, even Cold, Heatwave, Glider, and Deathstroke joined the fray (mainly to maintain their covers); alongside with every H.I.V.E. Soldier, and the Thanatos Guild Assassins as they began to fight back against the intruders.
A Regime Soldier shoots at Prometheus, but to both of their surprises; nothing happens.
'Huh. So they do work. Thank you, Ms. Luthor and Ms. Danvers.' Prometheus thought, thanking Madame Steel and the High Councilor as he pulled out his sword and stabbed the Regime Soldier in the chest; killing him instantly and used his body as a human shield and charged at more that were incoming.
Black Siren, Artemis, and Huntress all see Prometheus, Darhk, and Dark Archer killing each of their soldiers; so the former unleashes her Siren Cry, powerful due to her being enhanced with 5-U-93-R, blasted and sent them flying through a wall and outside of the warehouse.
The three stunned villains of H.I.V.E. got back up on their feet, steadied themselves and readied their weapons against the three Regime members, same went for the three Regime members.
"How are you back from the grave, Chase? You and Lex were cremated to ashes, therefore you should be dead." Siren demanded.
"I'm not saying how, Dinah, but what I can say is that; I'm not your Chase and this is not my Starling City." Prometheus answered cryptically.
"No matter, because we are really going to enjoy giving you three and your allies to the High Councilor." Siren declared, as she is going to enjoy bringing Prometheus to the High Councilor
"Oh not today, my dear. Because when I'm through with you, the Siren will cry no longer." Prometheus mocked.
Back at the Quiver:
Arrow was explaining the plan to his allies, as they mentally prepared themselves for the coming attack, until they heard a beeping sound.
Arrow went to the source of the noise to find that it was his communicator beeping, and tapped the device to answer the call.
"This is a secure channel, to whom am I speaking to?" Arrow demanded, speaking to whoever was on the other side of this call.
"Kid! It's us!" Deathstroke answered.
"Slade?! Why are you contacting us on-?" Arrow demanded, but was cut off.
"Because HIVE has been ambushed by the Regime! And Adrian Chase has returned!" Cold cut in, stating the reasons for this call.
"What?!"
"Robin Hood, normally we'd say we got this but we need your help! NOW!" Heatwave pleaded with the leader of the Insurgency, to come with help..
"Hold on, guys. We're leaving immediately, so on our way." Arrow said, ending the call.
"We got a call from our undercover spies, H.I.V.E. is under attack by the Regime. Suit up!" Arrow ordered, and with that; the heroes readied their weapons and put their suits on.
Back at the H.I.V.E. Warehouse:
Thanks to the pills, Dark Archer, Darhk, and Prometheus were able to defeat Black Siren, Artemis, and Huntress. But then Wild Dog sees the three villains, but he mostly notices Prometheus.
"Chase!" He snarled.
"Ah, Mr. Ramirez. Welcome!" Darhk greeted Wild Dog in faux pas.
"You died! How did you–?!" Wild Dog demanded, shocked to see Prometheus alive.
"I only answer those kinds of questions to those that have earned it, Mr. Ramirez. Not to reckless and hotheaded fools like you." Prometheus retorted.
"You wanna see a reckless and hotheaded fool?! FINE!" Wild Dog then walked towards Prometheus, readying for a fight as he pulled his dual pistols.
Damien Darhk and Dark Archer readied themselves for another fight, but Prometheus held up his arm to prevent them from interfering.
"No, leave him to me, help the others."
Damien and Dark Archer then went to help out their allies and followers, with the former using his dark magic to kill Regime Soldiers and the latter using his bow and arrows/
Prometheus pulled out his sword and pointed it at Wild Dog, the two circling each other for the coming fight.
"So, Rene, whose boots are better to taste; Oliver? Or the High Councilor?" Prometheus taunts.
"Shut your damn mouth! You have no right to talk about the High Councilor that way. And Arrow is a criminal, just like you." Wild Dog roared.
"Nothing like me at all!" Prometheus was 'shocked' that he was being called a criminal.
"Wait, you're a hero where you come from?!" Wild Dog froze and lowered his weapons, dropping his guard.
"Oh no, good man. It's just… Oliver corrupts young minds, while I… make him see reason by teaching his allies a lesson!" Prometheus answered. And with that, the two enemies charged at each other.
A/N:(Normally I'd do a fight scene between Prometheus and Wild Dog, but I have had so much to do with this chapter, so I'm not even gonna bother to write it. Sorry to disappoint you all. That and we don't have time for another fight scene, but let's just say that Prometheus defeated Wild Dog).
"Now then, time to send Oliver a message!" Prometheus laughed to himself, ready to kill Wild Dog but he never got to it; for the cavalry had arrived.
Arrow, Black Canary, Lockwood, the Children of Liberty, and the Earth Prime Heroes arrived at the warehouse in the nick of time via breach, courtesy of Vibe, to rescue the three former Central City Rogues and the Terminator (Deathstroke); the four who were battling both Regime and H.I.V.E. Soldiers.
Seeing that there was no chance of victory; Black Siren, Huntress, and Artemis; all who had regained consciousness, went to Wild Dog, who was knocked unconscious, and picked him up.
"We're outnumbered, Rene! We got to go now!" Black Siren then unleashed a Siren Cry and destroyed another wall.
And with that, Black Siren, Artemis, and Huntress took Wild Dog with them and escaped; alongside Red Arrow, Olsen, Mr. Terrific, and the surviving Regime Soldiers.
Moments Later:
After sending the Regime into a retreat and defeating most of H.I.V.E, Harbinger and Insurgency Soldiers arrived to apprehend Darhk, Dark Archer, and most of their followers, Arrow approached Deathstroke, Captain Cold, Heatwave, and Golden Glider.
"Did you four uncover anything?" Arrow asked the four undercover Insurgency Soldiers.
"Just that they were planning to take both the Regime and the Insurgency with the sheer numbers they have, and with the enhancements. Other than that, nothing, sir." Golden Glider answered.
"Alright, you four did your best. Good work." Arrow praised the four. It may not be much info, but he'll take what he can get and make due with it.
Damien Darhk and Dark Archer, both cuffed in restraints and the latter with Nth Metal, glared at the four traitors as they were led out of the warehouse by Insurgency Soldiers.
"I can't believe I had spies under my watch. I had spies, and I didn't know!" Damien exclaimed, as he entered a breach, opened by Vibe.
"I tried to warn you, Damien, but you did not heed me!" Dark Archer retorted, entering the said breach.
"Captain, send each of them to a cell at our black site base. And put all of our available agents on guard duty as they arrive." Harbinger ordered an Insurgent Soldier.
"Yes, Harbinger." The soldier replied, nodding his head.
Then Prometheus approached the group, with Arrow, Black Canary, Speedy, Thea, Roy and the others looking at him in shock.
"My friends! Wonderful to see you! So, what do we do now?" Prometheus spoke.
"Chase!" Ray went to Prometheus, grabbed his arm and pinned it behind his back, restraining him.
"Ow! Is this really necessary?" Prometheus exclaimed in pain.
"What is this?! What are you doing here?!" Arrow demanded, glaring at the doppelganger of the man who took Barry from all of them.
"Oh. Me? Well when you brought us here, our Oliver was trying to stop my nuclear bomb by reaching the remote and that physical contact brought us here." Prometheus answered, to the heroes' shock, but Thea wanted to know more on where her brother was.
"If that's true, then where is he! WHERE IS MY BROTHER?!" She demanded.
"Oh, him? Well I left him, and I think he might've been arrested. Or kidnapped. I can never tell the difference between that." Prometheus mocked, with Thea seething in rage.
"You son of a bitch!" Thea was about to attack Prometheus, but she was held back by Roy and Speedy.
"Thea, no!"
Arrow approached Prometheus and glared at him.
"Your eyes. Pure evil and sadistic, just like theirs were!" Arrow said, remembering Chase and Lex Luthor.
"Who? My doppelganger, or John Diggle? I mean, he and Ms. Saunders did capture Oliver. Our Oliver." Prometheus replied.
"SHUT UP! OR I'LL CUFF YOU AND LEAVE YOU FOR THE HIGH COUNCILOR!" Arrow snapped.
"If what he's saying is true, then we have to save him!" Ray said.
"To free your Oliver, we must complete our mission first." Arrow agreed, but reminded the others of the mission.
"How can we help, Kid?" Deathstroke asked.
"Commander Wilson is right, General. How may we be of assistance?" Lockwood joined the conversation.
"You five can start by laying low, Ben. You and the Children of Liberty may be targets so hide for now. And as for Slade, the Snarts, and Rory; you four head back to base for a debrief. And get some rest, all of you, that's an order." Arrow commanded, with the five nodding in agreement.
"Sure thing, Kid." Deathstroke replied, leaving the warehouse
"Sir." Lockwood replied and saluted with respect, and left as well.
"Whatever you say, Robin Hood." Heatwave said, shrugging as he also left.
"Yes, boss." Cold and Glider said, the two siblings leaving the warehouse as well.
Arrow turned and glared at Prometheus.
"And you! You are too dangerous to let go!" Arrow then tossed him to Harbinger. "Send him to Waller, she'll know what to do with him."
"Yes, sir." Harbinger nodded and left the warehouse, with Prometheus restrained.
"Let's go." Arrow ordered his team as they all left the warehouse.
Back on Earth-Prime: Hall of Justice, Central City:
The Geek Squad, Cisco, Schott, Felicity, and Curtis, continued to search for their friends on the S.T.A.R. Labs monitors, hoping to find any sign of their friends or any sign of breach activity and where they landed. And yet; there was nothing so far. Until now…
"YAHTZEE!"
"You guys found them?" Allen asked the reasoning for the simultaneous cheer.
"Yep, Earth-13." Cisco said, readying his hands to open a breach.
"Well, let's do this! Time to bring them home!" Curtis cheered.
Cisco attempted to open a breach… but nothing happened.
"That's odd… let's try again." Cisco attempted to open another breach… but again, nothing happened. "Okay, we've pinpointed their location and my powers are functioning, but for some reason, I can't open a breach to get us there." Cisco was confused.
"Well that was a fail, now what?" Curtis questioned. Allen and the others pondered on what to do, until Cisco got an idea.
"The Cosmic Treadmill at S.T.A.R. Labs!" Cisco said, snapping his fingers at the idea, with Allen joining in as well. "Good idea, man! We can modify the treadmill and use it to power up a breach and if we time it perfectly, I can open up a breach and bring our friends back." Allen agreed, knowing where Cisco was going with this.
"Well that sounds risky, but at least we avoid the risk of sending an away team; so we have a shot." Kara nodded, agreeing with the plan.
"And besides, we have a Speedster, a Kryptonian, and four tech geniuses; one who is also a Meta who can detect vibrational frequencies in either sonic or reality manipulation. So it won't take us long." Schott continued, being optimistic and cheerful.
"Alright, let's do this." Allen declared.
Cisco opened a breach to head back to S.T.A.R. Labs. He, alongside Winn, Schott, Felicity, and Curtis went into the breach. Barry was about to enter the breach, but someone grabbed his hand before he could.
"Barry, are you sure this will work?" Kara asked her husband. [6]
I'm honestly not sure Kara, but we have to at least try. I'll be fine, honey." Barry assured his wife, holding her hands.
"I know." She sighed.
The two leaned in for a brief kiss before finally letting go.
"Come on. Let's go." Barry said.
"El Mayarah." Kara said, reciting her family's creed.
"El Mayarah." Barry responded, as husband and wife finally entered the breach.
Back on Earth 13/ Rooftop of A.R.G.U.S.:
Harbinger looks to the night sky and admires it while looking back at what once was. She then hears footsteps, but does not turn because she knows who is behind her.
"A quiet night, is it not, Lawton?" Harbinger asked the figure; Floyd Lawton, Deadshot.
"It is, Michaels. If by 'quiet', then you mean 'bullets being fired all about in Starling City', then yes." Deadshot replied.
"You're ready to join our cause, Floyd?" Harbinger asked the marksman.
"Yea well, what other choice do I have? Business is bad, but at least it's better than being hunted. And besides, there are lines you don't cross while you're a mercenary; for one, you don't go after women or children!" Deadshot replied, admitting the reason for joining their cause.
"The Regime and H.I.V.E. gave many offers of amnesty to you, even the Insurgency gave you offers, and yet you rejected them. Why join now?" Harbinger pointed out, wanting to know his reasonings for joining the Insurgency.
Deadshot's face darkened as he looked away. He then pulled a picture of him, with a woman and a little girl who looked no older than 10 years old.
"They crossed a line by making it personal, they went after my family; my wife and daughter. My Susie!" He growled, with tears streaming down his face while Harbinger looked at him in sympathy.
"And for that; I will kill them all!" Deadshot declared his vengeance against the Regime, and the High Councilor. [7]
Flashback: Lawton Residence/Six Months Earlier:
At the Lawton Residence; Red Arrow, Spartan, and Artemis all beat a tied up Deadshot in his living room as his wife and daughter, Susie and Zoe, were forced to watch by Batwoman and Black Siren; the two restrained mother and daughter in chairs, tied zip cuffs. Deadshot was beaten up so bad; a bloodied face with a broken nose, black eye, and blood pouring out his mouth.
"Pretty tough, are you, Lawton?" Red Arrow mocked.
"I'm not scared of you." Deadshot groaned painfully.
"This is your last chance to accept the High Councilor's amnesty, Lawton! And if you know what is good for you and your family, then I suggest you take it!" Batwoman warned.
"And then what…? Become a thug with no morals… like you?" Deadshot spat with venom, as he coughed blood.
That earned him another hard punch in the stomach by Spartan.
"FLOYD!" Susie cried out, wanting the torture to stop.
"DADDY!" Zoe cried as well.
"SILENCE!" Spartan roared in a monstrous voice, scaring the mother and daughter.
"The boss is being generous, I wouldn't. Most of her friends and family, including her fiance, died with National City and Central City five years ago." Batwoman coldly stated.
"I had nothing to do with that!" Deadshot seethed.
"Doesn't change the fact that you're on the wrong side of the law!" Spartan replied in the same cold tone.
"Send this… to your 'High Councilor'" Deadshot painfully said. He spat blood at the Red Lantern's face, which led to another punch in the gut.
"Alright, fine. If you won't place nice, then perhaps… wife and daughter will." Spartan turned to Batwoman and nodded at her, who nodded in return.
Batwoman pulled a handgun, cocked it, and pointed it at Zoe's head; with mother and father fearing for their little daughter.
"ZOE!" Susie and Deadshot both cried.
"MOMMY! DADDY! HELP ME!" Zoe begged, through tears and scared.
"NO, DON'T DO THIS, PLEASE! SHE'S INNOCENT! SHE'S JUST 9 YEARS OLD!" Susie pleaded.
"YOU WANT TO SAVE HER, THEN MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE! JOIN US AND YOU AND YOUR FAMILY LIVE! RESIST FURTHER AND YOUR DAUGHTER WILL SUFFER THE SAME FATE AS YOU WILL!" Batwoman roared at the Marksman.
Deadshot had no other choice; to save his family, his wife and daughter, he will have no choice but to comply.
"Okay, okay, I'll join! Just please let my wife and daughter go! Please!" Deadshot pleaded.
Batwoman considered before finally…
"Well said, Lawton." She lowered her handgun and then turned to Spartan, who nodded. He then orders Black Siren and Artemis to release Susie and Zoe from their zip-cuffs, who then run to Deadshot; embracing him in a hug.
"Well said indeed."
Batwoman then pointed the gun at Deadshot and pulled the trigger, but Susie gets up and takes the bullet, hitting her in the chest.
"MOMMY!" Zoe shrieked.
"SUSIE!"
"Kane, what are you doing?!" Siren demanded, pulling Batwoman aside.
"What had to be done." Batwoman said emotionlessly, as she shrugged.
"You were going to kill Lawton and his family!" Artemis realized, eyes widening.
"Scum like him don't deserve our loyalty!" Batwoman yelled.
"That is not for you to decide!" Spartan sneered.
"Let's go! And pray that the High Councilor does not hear about this incident!" Black Siren said, not wanting to the High Councilor's… discipline for disobeying her orders.
Batwoman, Red Arrow, Black Siren, and Artemis left the Lawton Residence, with Spartan staying behind to say something to Deadshot; the latter who wrapped his daughter in a embrace, both mourning the loss of Susie and crying in sadness.
"You have one week, Lawton, until you join the Regime. Prepare yourself!" Spartan glared, staring down at Deadshot, as he left.
End Flashback:
'I promise you, Susie, I will avenge you and they will pay for what they did!' Deadshot thought, promising to avenge his wife.
Verdant Nightclub, The Glades:
Arrow, Black Canary, Flash, Sentinel, Frost, Guardian, Roy, Ralph, Ray, and J'onn arrived outside of the abandoned Verdant Nightclub, which is now surrounded by a force field. Speedy shot an EMP arrow to disable one of the generators. Once that generator was down, Arrow and Ray got to work on disabling the force field by disarming its backup generator and weapons systems.
"This must've been some party. The High Councilor did this?" Ralph asked.
"After what happened to our world's J'onn, Kara exposed my identity to the entire world and froze all Queen Consolidated assets; made Oliver Queen a non-person." Arrow replied, answering Ralph's question.
Flashback: United Nations Headquarters, Manhattan, New York (The Day After Martian Manhunter's Death/3 Years Earlier):
"I did not want to do this, nor did I wish this, but my hand has been forced. To all those listening across the globe, know this; the fugitive known as Arrow has betrayed us all. The Arrow killed one of our own to get what he wanted. No more. He has taken one of our friends and allies, my family, and I am taking something of his; his anonymity. If you wish to know the Arrow's name, then here is something that can help you. His name… is Oliver Queen!" Overgirl publicly announced to the world, with every news reporter, blogger, photographer, activist, and government officials in uproar, talking and asking questions as they were shocked about this public revelation; with Batwoman, Superman, Mr. Terrific, Hawkgirl, and Valor beside her by the podium.
"And another thing, from now on any hero that does not pledge loyalty to either my cause or to the Justice League will be considered a fugitive and a criminal. So to aid with this, surveillance drones will be deployed; first in America, and then the rest of the world, effective immediately." Overgirl continued to announce as Mr. Terrific deployed a T-Sphere to make an example of her .
"If you are the leader of a country, leader of a criminal organization or an Insurgent, a criminal mastermind, or even a petty crook; THIS IS YOUR FINAL WARNING! Stop committing violent and criminal acts, or suffer my wrath." Overgirl warned as she glared her eyes. She is no longer playing "Little Miss Cheerleader" anymore, she is no longer playing games, and she is… not bluffing.
The Quiver, Starling City (Same Time):
Arrow, Black Canary, Lockwood, the Children of Liberty, and the rest of the Insurgency were all shocked that Overgirl would expose the former like this; in broad daylight on national television. Once they operated in secret, now they were exposed to the world.
"Kara… what have you done…?!"
End Flashback:
"I just can't believe that this Earth's Kara really went through all of this, she must've felt so vulnerable, probably for the first time in forever. First her home, and now; the love of her life."Ray said, feeling nothing but sadness for the High Councilor.
"Her fear won out in the end…" J'onn said, agreeing with his statement.
"My world's Ray Palmer died trying to explain that to her." [8] Arrow revealed to everyone's shock, their eyes widening.
Ray was shocked and silent to learn that his counterpart died by Overgirl's hands.
"How did she take it? Nora, this Earth's Nora, I mean." Ray asked, concerned for this Earth's Nora.
"Not good. She swore vengeance against Kara and her father, but she was no match for them so John and Nelson were able to rescue and save her in time and transport her to another Earth so she could recover and raise her son." [9] Arrow responded, answering Ray's concerns; as the Earth Prime Heroes were stunned to learn that she has a son.
"S-Son?! She was pregnant?!" Ray demanded, surprised that an alternate version of himself and his wife had a son.
"Yes."
"Where is she now?" Ray wanted to know more.
"Last I heard from John, he said she was recovering and raising her child on an Earth where that world's Ray Palmer lost his Nora." Arrow answered Ray's questions.
"As long as she's safe and okay, that's all that matters to me." Ray said, nodding as he calmed down.
"So, what's with the extra security? I mean, she already trashed the place." Ralph asked as he looked around Verdant, viewing the defenses around the nightclub.
"Would any of you take your chances with me?" Arrow retorted, silencing Ralph as the others nodded, agreeing with the former.
"Sentinel, I need you and the others to secure the main entrance while I activate the Bunker's backup generator. Wally, circle the perimeter and make sure that no one else is here. Laurel, Speedy, and Roy, you three are with me." Arrow ordered.
"That sounds like a great plan, but… isn't this more your thing?" James asked, wondering why they were needed.
"Normally, yes, but splitting up saves us time. That, and we three are only ones capable of taking out the T-Spheres and sentry guns." Arrow answered.
"Okay, that's fair." Ralph said as the others shrugged and nodded in agreement.
"Let's move!" Arrow said.
After checking on one of the storage rooms, Sentinel, Frost, Guardian, Roy, Ralph, Ray, and J'onn continued to walk down the lounge corridor, until Flash zoomed in.
"Perimeter checked, coast is clear. But this feels too easy, does it?" Flash questioned the others.
"It does." Sentinel agreed, narrowing her eyes.
Then, cold air fills the surrounding atmosphere as the Heroes almost enter another room.
"Wait. Do you feel that?" J'onn stopped the others, holding his arm out.
Ray pressed his hand on the door of the next room, only for his gloved hand to feel the cold.
"It's cold." He responded.
The others nodded and they all approached the door, but then a strong, windy, ice blast suddenly bursted the door open; pushing Flash, J'onn, and Ray back, except for Sentinel, Guardian, Ralph and Frost.
"Oh shit…!"
The blast then died down to reveal who shot that powerful blast, and two more who were beside him; Hawkgirl and Batwoman.
"Icicle!"
"So my poor excuse of a daughter joins Queen's merry band to play criminal. How pathetic!" Icicle sneered at his 'daughter'.
"This coming from a man who wants me to be an emotionless killer! But truth be told; I'd rather be a criminal than be an emotionless killer!" Frost sneered back, firing an ice blast from her hands at her 'father'.
Hawkgirl was about to attack, but then… she noticed Ray, and he noticed her too.
"Ray?!"
"Kendra?"
"Is it really you?" Hawgirl asked, nearing her 'former' lover
"I-It's… complicated." Ray responded, not answering much.
"I never thought I'd see you again! I missed you." Hawkgirl ran her hand through his face.
"Kendra… I'm not your Ray, and you're not my Kendra." Ray said softly, hoping she would understand.
"I know but please, stay here! We can escape her, we can run away! Live the lives we want, the life you want!" Hawkgirl pleaded.
Ray took his words into consideration before making a decision.
"Kendra… Long ago, I would've given anything to win your heart back, I would… but I moved on. I'm in love with someone else." Ray said as he gently lowered her hand from his face, leaving Hawkgirl heartbroken and angry.
"Fine!" Hawkgirl then struck a blow at Ray with her mace, sending him flying out of Verdant.
Ray finally regained his posture in the air and landed safely on the ground, outside of Verdant.
"I'm sorry, Kendra, but I have a job to do." Ray said, readying his suit's thrusters to fly again as he prepared his arm blasters.
"So do I!" Hawkgirl hissed, readying her mace.
(I'm just gonna skip because I'm too lazy to write this fight scene, and because I don't know how to write a sky battle.)
After defeating Hawkgirl, Ray landed beside her and kneeled before her to remove her Nth Metal belt and confiscate her mace.
"You chose the wrong side, Kendra."
But before Ray could do that, he was hit by an EMP batarang that disabled his suit's systems.
"You know, our Ray Palmer was just as pathetic in this world, as you are here without your suit to help you!"
"I'll let you know that I am more than my suit!"
Taking on Batwoman was not easy, battling someone who was trained by multiple combat teachers and survival specialists was no cakewalk. And despite his armor's systems being immobilized from the EMP, Ray, however, didn't need his armor to battle the Pretender. When he was not busy upgrading his suit, Ray spent his part time training combat skills under Oliver and Sara's tutelage; so while he wears his armor to protect himself, Ray relies on his training as well.
And with that, Ray defeated Batwoman single-handedly, the latter knocked out from the last punch to the face.
"Guess all that training with Oliver and Sara paid off. Thanks, you two." Ray thanked Oliver and Sara for the combat training, feeling proud of himself.
As Ray was about to walk back inside to help the others, his armor's AI began to speak.
"System rebooted. Weapons systems, online. Flight Mode, online. Oxygen levels, fully functional. All systems are functional."
Back inside, Icicle was knocked out unconsciously; defeated by Frost, Flash, Vibe, and Ralph.
"WOOHOO! Team Flash for the win, baby!" Ralph cheered, making Frost, Flash, and Vibe tense.
"Um… Ralph? We don't call ourselves that anymore… Not since what happened five years ago." Wally gently said.
Ralph's eyes widened, realizing his blunder as he remembered that this wasn't his Team, and he wasn't their Ralph.
"Oh… Right. I-I'm sorry, I… forgot."
"Hey, it's fine. We may not say that anymore, but Barry would've wanted one of us to say it. Besides, it was nice to hear that again." Frost said, as she remembered Barry.
"And even though this may not be fully accurate, it is good to have back, Ralph. Team Flash forever." Vibe said, extending his hand out.
Ralph looked at it, and eventually shook it.
"Team Flash forever."
Arrow, Black Canary, Speedy, and Roy eventually joined the others.
"We've officially taken out the last of the drones and sentry guns, how's everything on your end?" Arrow asked.
"Main entrance is clear, although we ran into… complications, however. But we defeated them." J'onn answered, as he and everyone else looked down at Icicle, Batwoman, and Hawkgirl's unconscious forms.
"I just checked; no signs of any more enemy signatures around here, so we're in the clear." Ray said, completing the full scan of Verdant.
"Okay, let's head into the Bunker, the substance we need is right there. But we should hurry, I don't think we have much longer before the High Councilor finds out we're here." Arrow said, with everyone making their way downstairs to the original lair; the Bunker.
"How did you hide this… substance from the High Councilor? I mean, it looked like she went thorough." Ralph asked, confused how Arrow managed to hide this from the High Councilor.
"Walls are based on lead polymer, so there's no way she could've found what we're here for." Arrow answered Ralph's question.
"Sounds reasonable enough… I mean, you've been through and risked so much just to do this. That and the DNA…" Ray said, as they all neared the door outside the Bunker.
"I'll be honest, it was a hard call one could do alone; but in order to neutralize the High Councilor, I needed the help of my closest allies and others." Arrow punched the code and placed his hand on a biometric hand scanner to open the door.
"Our counterparts." Roy realized, with Arrow nodding in response. The door was finally unlocked and everyone entered the Bunker, with the lights turning on.
"I asked Barry, but he said that couldn't be the one to defeat Kara, so I asked Wally, Cisco, and Caitlin. And with my world's Barry, Roy, Ray, and J'onn dead, and the others backing Overgirl's madness, I needed you five; your DNA specifically." Arrow continued, as he searched for something in every drawer, until he opened one of the last few.
"It's right here." Arrow pulls out a briefcase, encased in lead, from the drawer.
"This is it." Arrow then takes out a remote control, and presses a button to activate a control panel, placing the briefcase on the panel.
"Overwatch, you there?" Arrow asked, tapping his comms device in his suit.
"Always." Overwatch responded.
"Good. We've arrived at the Bunker to retrieve the substance, and we have it. Ready the biometric systems." Arrow commanded.
"Yes, sir."
"Alright, everyone, place your hands on the scanners." Overwatch said, as Arrow, Black Canary, Speedy, Roy, Ray, Flash, Frost, Vibe, Ralph, Guardian, Sentinel, and J'onn went to their spots on the panel and placed their hands on the hand scanner, which had their respective color of choice. Forest Green for Arrow, Red/Yellow for Flash, Crimson Red for Roy, Scarlet Red for Speedy, Burgundy for Ralph, Black for Black Canary, Red/Black/Gold for Vibe, Turquoise for Frost, Black/Blue for Sentinel, Silver Grey/Black for Guardian, Blue/Black/Red for J'onn, and Maroon Red/Navy Blue for Ray.
"Readying biometric scanning."
Overwatch then begins the scanning process as it confirms the DNA of all 12 members as the lead-encased briefcase is unlocked. The final locks come off and Arrow opens it to find a big chunk of kryptonite, but this version appears in a different color.
"A rock. You're gonna defeat the High Councilor… with a rock?" Ralph blankly questioned.
"Not just any rock, this is Blue Kryptonite; the only thing that can counteract the effects on Red Kryptonite. It's enough to create about anything with it and if we're correct, then one dose of this will revert Kara back to normal." Arrow simply answered, with the others intrigued.
"Are you certain this will work?" Ray questioned
"It will work, Ray. It has to. Maxwell Lord was certain of it, so was General Lane, and Barry, J'onn, and my parents would've wanted me to save my sister by bringing her back to the light. I know there is still good in her." Sentinel was sure of it because she had something in her that kept her going; Faith. [10]
"We've lost so many good people already, so we must honor them and save this world by saving Kara. And it's up to us to make sure that their sacrifices are not in vain!" She continued, declaring to honor those that have died and saving Overgirl.
"Ok. Let's head back before–" Arrow said, but was cut off due to a scrambling sound coming from his comms device.
"Overwatch, come in! What's going on with the comms?" Arrow demanded, but no response.
"Overwatch! Felicity!"
"Ollie, what's going on?!" Black Canary asked her husband.
"I don't know but Felicity is not responding to my calls, I don't like it one bit." Arrow said, worried about everyone back at the Quiver. He then turned to the others.
"We got what we came here for, let's go! Cisco!" Arrow ordered.
"Right!"
Vibe then opens a breach back to the Quiver, but by the time they all return to their base; an attack will fall upon them.
L-Corp, New National City:
At the L-Corp main office, Madame Steel stared into the night sky by the balcony, until she heard something from the sky, a cape flapping. Madame Steel turned to see who was beside her and was startled to Overgirl, hovering in the air beside her.
"High Councilor. I am honored by your presence." Madame Steel recomposed herself, cleared her throat and kneeled before her.
"Lena, how many times do I have to tell you? There's no need for that, just call me Kara." Overgirl laughed, genuinely amused; which was something she rarely did or felt.
"Of course, Kara. Would you like to come inside?" Madame Steel offered.
"Why yes, thank you, Lena." Supergirl accepted, nodding gratefully to her friend.
After discussing for a while, Overgirl decided to cut to the chase and tell Madame Steel about the duplicate Arrow (Earth Prime Oliver) that came here mysteriously and requests that she looks into it and hopefully find where they came from. Madame Steel tensed, but she kept her cool and listened to her friend.
"So, you want me to create some sort of scanner that can help you find these… duplicates?" Madame Steel asked skeptically.
"Yes, and if there's anyone I know who can achieve such a task; it's you, Lena." Overgirl confirmed, as she took out a red data card.
"Here's the DNA of the Arrow duplicate I'm holding at Iron Heights." Overgirl continued, giving the data card to Madame Steel.
"I can do this. However, it might take me a while, a few weeks or a month, give or take." Madame Steel said, hopefully stalling for time.
"Take however much time you require, Lena. I trust that you'll figure it out." Overgirl calmly replied.
The two friends then stood up, and shaked hands.
"No dinner this evening, old friend? I could ask my chef to make us something." Madame Steel asked.
"Maybe next time, but thank you for the offer, Lena." Supergirl politely declined.
Supergirl then steps out to the balcony, ready to take off, but not before she stops in tracks, making Madame Steel look at her in concern.
"Kara? I know I might regret this, but is everything ok?" Madame Steel asked.
"Yes, Lena, it's just… these duplicates. Do you think there's a Barry where they come from?" Supergirl responded, hoping to know if she can find a Barry Allen where the duplicate Arrow comes from.
"I'll be honest, even if there was; I'm afraid that there was only one Barry." Madame Steel sighed, responding to Overgirl, who looked down but understood.
"Ok, I understand. I'll see you around Lena." Overgirl then took off to the sky, back to the Fortress.
Madame Steel looks up to the sky, seeing Overgirl take off. But then, her earpiece communicator then went off in her ear, so she answered the device.
"L-Corp. Lena Luth—" Madame Steel began, but was cut off by whoever was on the other side of this call.
"Oliver, slow down! What happened?" Madame Steel pleaded with Arrow to slow down, not understanding a word he was trying to say.
On the other side of the call, Arrow explained everything, and Madame Steel's eyes widened in shock.
"What?! H-How… When…?!" She demanded.
Arrow said that they're trying to figure that out, but then Madame Steel.
"Explain everything to me when I get there, I'm on my way!"
Madame Steel then summoned her suit via watch and ran to her balcony and jumped out as her suit flew near her, and assembled around her. Finally fully armored, Madame Steel activated her thrusters and took off for Starling City.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, I had such a hassle with writing this chapter, alongside a serious case of writer's block. And I had some personal things going on, alongside school and all that. I'll still write this story, but need to replay the games and read all Injustice Comics to continue. The next chapter might come around in time for the holidays.
[1] The song is "We Belong", from the Supergirl finale
[2] The Red Kryptonite is still in Overgirl, hence the eye change; like from Smallville (I haven't seen the show, but I hear it's good.)
[3] Just imagine restraint bolts, like they use on droids in Star Wars.
[4] No, that is not a typo. I wrote "Supergirl" because there is still good in Overgirl, she's just being manipulated. I'm planning on redeeming her in this story.
[5] Batwoman has synthetic Red K, and uses it as lipstick to manipulate Overgirl's anger and grief, and to take advantage of it.
[6] To answer everyone's questions; YES! Ok, Earth Prime Barry and Kara are married.
[7] Overgirl may be merciless with Red K, but even she would not order her followers to attack. This is all Batwoman.
[8] Earth-13 Atom died years prior by Overgirl, similar to how Insurgent Green Arrow died in the Injustice Prequel Comics (Year 1).
[9] References to John Constatine and Dr. Fate
[10] Sentinel never lost faith in Overgirl, so she will save her sister. And it's a reference to Batman having faith in Superman in the Snyder Cut.