Welcome back to The Injustice Wars. Last time, a few members of the Republic-Legion-Insurgency alliance arrived in China to track down another strange energy signature. On the way up the mountain towards an old Shaolin Temple, Flash and Belial Aether discussed their histories like old chums. But as the group arrived at their destination, the Joker appeared secretly in the shadows, indicating these three aren't the only factions here. So what awaits within the temple? Read on to discover...
(Our scene opens up within a section of the Shaolin Temple, where Blaze and her team have just arrived)
Blue Beetle: Well, this place is creepy.
Flash: (Examines details of the architecture) Not to mention kind of weird. I've never seen a temple with this serious of fortifications.
Belial Aether: It used to be a fort of some kind. The monks established themselves here later on.
Flash: That explains it.
Firestorm: How do you know so much about this place?
Belial Aether: I was here when the monks established themselves. Kind of helped them do it.
Blaze: Any sign of those signatures?
Blue Beetle: (Pulls up a map on his armor) Looks like they're just through that doorway over there.
Blaze: Then we'll be out of here f...
(But before Blaze can even finish that sentence, she spies something in the shadows and throws a fireball at it, which the shadow dodges somehow)
Starfire: The shadows are alive?!
Firestorm: (Ignites his hands) It's an ambush!
?: How right you are!
(And just like that, Darkblood steps out of the shadows, but as he does, a set of hands reach out, almost grabbing Flash, Belial Aether, and Starfire, revealing themselves to be figures that shouldn't exist)
Flash: Man-Bat?! Killer Moth?! King Shark?!
Belial Aether: You seem surprised by this!
Flash: I'd think I would be! These guys are all dead!
Belial Aether: (Realizing exactly what just happened, then to Darkblood) You didn't...
Darkblood: Indeed I did, Anubite. What else would I do with your power? And they're not the only ones.
(And with that, Enchantress exits the shadows, accompanied by Joker.)
Flash: (Seeing Joker) No. IT CAN'T BE!
Joker: The one and only!
Supergirl: Joker!?
Darkblood: Hey, since we didn't have the Anubite, I had no control over who was revived. Guess we got lucky with this one.
Blaze: It doesn't matter who you bring back. They were put down once, we'll finish them again.
Darkblood: I'm not too sure about that. (Snaps his fingers) Destroy them.
(With that, Man-Bat, Killer Moth and King Shark move in, but before they can, a stream of heat vision cuts a line through the floor as Superman arrives, accompanied by Black Adam and Wonder Woman)
Darkblood: Ah, if it isn't the Man of Steel.
Superman: This madness ends here, Darkblood.
Darkblood: A shame, because my friend here has been looking forward to seeing you again.
Wonder Woman: (Seeing the Joker) It can't be.
Superman: Joker. I thought I ripped your heart out!
Joker: Oh, you did. (Pulls back his suit jacket, revealing there's still a hole in his chest where Superman punched through it) But you can't keep a good joke down for long.
Superman: Then I'll just have to kill you again.
Darkblood: You'll find my forces a lot harder to defeat this time.
(With that, Darkblood snaps his fingers again, and the stage is darkened by a shadow and a lot of shaking as the Imperial Damnation enters the scene, with Captain Avarice at the helm)
Avarice: What do ye think of your odds now, ye steel swabbie?!
Superman: You think this scares me?
Darkblood: If you had any sense, it would. (To his army) GET THEM!
(And with that, everybody goes to battle. All three factions are fighting each other at once. But ultimately once the Imperial Damnation starts firing what look like ion cannons into the scene, everybody starts scattering while still trying to kill each other. But ultimately, in the chaos a predominant sound can be heard, and strangely, it's the Steppenwolf song "Born to be Wild")
Belial Aether: Did someone turn up a radio?
Blue Beetle: Don't look at me. This isn't my style of music.
(And soon the sound grows louder, but once they look up everybody is just confused, save for Captain Avarice, who's just infuriated)
Avarice: Not him again!
(And just as she recognizes the source of the sound, we see it, a giant motorcycle-hovercraft looking thing with a gray figure in leather and jeans at the wheel)
Lobo: (Turns off his stereo) Avarice! About time I caught up with you!
Avarice: In case ye didn't notice, I be kind of busy right now, ye Czarnian bastard! I have no bounties for ye!
Lobo: Yeah, about that. You're the one I'm hunting. (Pulls out a giant gun) So abandon ship, ya bastich.
(And without even giving Captain Avarice time to react, Lobo opens fire on the Imperial Damnation, taking out some of the ion cannons before she can turn them on him as Darkblood looks up at the situation)
Darkblood: (To his forces) I don't care what you idiots have to do, KILL HIM!
Blaze: (Looking upon the chaos) This guy's given us the distraction we need! (To Belial Aether) Track down the energy source! We'll take care of the merry band of madness!
(With a nod, Belial Aether slinks off towards the source of the energy while the rest of the group joins in fighting off the combined Empire and Regime, as our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good place to end for today. So now the full extent of the Empire's current membership is known, the Regime has decided to make a move, and freaking Lobo is here now! Talk about a lot to happen in one chapter! But it's only going to get crazier from here, because next time, we learn what is the source of those strange energy readings. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!