Action Comics: The Ending—Chapter 2
"I don't know if I believe in all that Lords of Order and Chaos stuff, but it did seem like Dove's death started us all in a downward spiral of chaos. It was shortly after that Alan Scott was put on trial. As a Green Lantern, I had to sit there and watch, helpless to do anything for him."
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Hal Jordan asked the other Green Lanterns sitting by him. Kilowog just grunted and shook his head. "But I know this man," Hal continued. "I've even worked with him on occasion. He's not a thief, or a criminal. He doesn't deserve this kind of treatment."
"Calm down, Hal," Arkiss Chummuck replied. "The Guardians know what they're doing. I don't know Alan Scott, but I do know that the Gaurdians have the best interests of the universe in mind."
The Guardian prosecuting the trial spoke again. "Earthling Alan Scott, do you have anything more to say before you are sentenced?"
"I've already given my defense," Alan offered, "But I will simply say that I don't know why you're doing this. I've never hurt any innocent person with this ring; furthermore, it's not even one of yours. I see no reason why you should take it from me."
"Your plea has been taken into consideration, but refused. Earthling Alan Scott, by order of the Guardians of the universe, your ring, the source of your power, is hereby removed to prevent you from harming any denizen of Earth or other planets. Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern of sector 2814, will take you back to Earth, where you may continue with your normal life. Sentence has been passed."
"It got worse. Even Batman got injured. You remember when that happened, right?"
"Sure, it sent a shock through all of us. I mean, we all know he's human, but still, he's the last one I'd expect to get wounded in a battle."
"I think he felt the same way."
"Look, Batman, I know you're in charge, and I certainly can't give you any orders, but I really think you need to sit this one out. Your leg isn't even close to being healed."
"I'm going, Black Lightning. You need me there; this is a volatile situation and you'll need my tactical expertise even if you can't benefit from my fighting ability."
"You can lead us from here in the bat-cave."
"No, I can't. They've erected a barrier around the building that the bomb is in to keep communication from going in and out. That's why it's imperative that I go with you, at least inside the walls, so that I can coordinate the assault from there."
"But what if you're attacked? You won't be able to defend yourself."
Batman's eyes narrowed. "I can defend myself."
"Against a normal threat, I'm sure you could. But would if some superhuman monster attacks you? With the state your leg is in, you wouldn't be able to run…um, retreat back to us."
"I can handle myself."
"Come on, Batman. The Outsiders don't leave their own in danger. But if I or Geo-Force have to stay with you to make sure you're okay, that'll cut down on our attack force. You have to admit that it makes more tactical sense not to do something that would lower our active force." Batman said nothing. "We can do this, Batman. Really. You know we've had the best trainer in the world, and we're ready to go out there without you holding our hands. Let us prove it to you."
"And then there was the Titans. A very promising group. They used to all be sidekicks, but they were really starting to come into their own."
"I know what you mean. Wally had vastly decreased his time working together with me so that he could focus on his work with the team. For a minute, it almost looked like they'd replace the JLA."
"Titans, we've got something," Nightwing said, sweeping his long hair back behind the large collar of his blue and yellow costume. "Is everyone here?"
"All present and accounted for," Wally West, Kid Flash told him. Wally was their youngest member at seventeen, which was why the team had taken the modifier off of their title. The other members at the time were Arsenal, Tempest, and Troia.
"Uh oh," Nightwing said, as he studied the monitor.
"What's up?" Arsenal asked.
"It's Deathstroke."
"Wonderful," Troia said.
"He's at Warehouse 32. This could be important."
"I don't get it," Kid Flash said. "How could a villain be making some important robbery at an old, abandoned warehouse?"
"The abandoned warehouse thing is just a cover. That place is the access point to an underground STAR Labs facility," Nightwing explained. "Come on, we've got to get there before Deathstroke finds out how to get inside!"
"Did we ever figure out what was up with Superman this whole time?"
"No, although I don't know how much he could have done to change any of this. I don't know where he was; all I know is he was off-world."
"You sure you want to do this, Kara?"
"I'm with you, Superman. One hundred percent."
"It could get pretty messy."
"I know."
"You sure you're ready for something this big?" Superman asked again.
"Yes! Now let's get on with it."
"Alright. You be the lookout. I'll start giving them the food." Superman stepped out from behind the cover of a scraggly black bush to face some of the denizens of Apokolips. They looked on him fearfully, and moved slowly away from him like a small animal would retreat from a man. "Please," Superman began softly. "I want to help you. I have food." He held up some of the rations he was offering, and it drew a few of the villagers a little closer. "Take it, please." Superman set the parcel down, and then moved back out of sight. The villagers came forward slowly, cautiously, expecting some sort of trap.
They weren't disappointed.
"Kal, look out! Parademons are coming!" Supergirl pointed past the village toward a thick mass in the sky far away, looking like a swarm of flies, getting bigger and bigger as it came closer.
"I don't know if they're here for us or for the villagers, but either way, they're gonna have to settle for us!" Superman said, launching himself into the air to face the minions of Darkseid. Supergirl followed an instant later, and soon they met the enemy. The Parademons fired laser bolts from their weapons, but they were easily dodged, and as Superman and Supergirl got into the crowd of soldiers, the worst the lasers could do was hit another Parademon.
Superman was angry, and he showed it as his eyes glowed red, taking out one Parademon with his heat vision while knocking down another with his fists. Supergirl was slower, but certainly did her share. The Parademons were no match for the two Kryptonians, and pretty soon the troop was routed.
"Kara, it looks like some of their laser shots knocked some of the buildings down. There are villagers trapped in them. You get them out while I finish off these stragglers." Superman went after the few Parademons that were left, hoping their leader might have some useful information, when he realized three new combatants had arrived on the scene.
"Superman; I don't think we've met. Allow me to introduce the Female Furies."