Author's Note:
The following story is based on the DC Comics Elseworlds series of the same name by Mark Waid and Alex Ross. It is not a direct adaptation, but rather an inspired tale that also satisfies the circumstances of the animated universe. Additionally, the story takes place following the episode "Starcrossed" and must, unfortunately, ignore all episodes that follow. Though don't be surprised if references are made. As usual, the characters and stories are the sole property of DC Comics and AOL Time Warner. They are not in any way used for profit, but rather for the sake of fun and personal pleasure. So please don't sue.
Enjoy.
Two days after Superman's return...
"This is MY country! For years, I, The Americommando, and The Minutemen have protected the US from foreign threats... only to have overlooked the most insidious menace of all! The poor, tired, huddled masses camping on our shores, begging for citizenship!"
He stood proudly atop the crown of The Statue of Liberty with two of his comrades by his side. The others in position on the ground, waving their violent weapons before the weak and horrified people. Minutemen even flew in the sky, preparing for anything to take place at any moment so that they could freely fire upon the immigrants below. At any given second, they could just careless about any threat taking place and just pull the trigger.
"You immigrants dare expect sanctuary?" The Americommando continued with a roaring voice. "America's not as big as it used to be! For God's sake... Kansas is gone! We can't house you now! We can't even feed you now! But still you force yourself upon us! Well, no more!" The Minutemen began to fire their weapons in the air. Many carried flame-throwers, bursting fire into the air creating additional fear amongst the weak. "Today, The Americommando wages war on the wretched refuse! At the command of The Braintrust... my Minutemen will cleanse America's shores!"
The screams of the immigrants grew louder as The Minutemen began to fire faster and harder. Running for their lives, many ended up pushing each other into the waters below. Children cried nonstop, yet these so-called heroes didn't care. To them, an immigrant was an immigrant and the immigrants had to go.
"We will defend this nation against..." The Americommando was cut short when an explosion was heard near him. He turned to see one of his comrades fall to his death after being shot from behind. He looked up to see three winged superhumans, wielding weapons of mass destruction, in their hands. He knew their names well. Red, White and Blue.
"Defend yourself, Americommando!" cried Red. "This land is OURS to guard!" He fired his flame-thrower at The Americommando and his comrade atop The Statue of Liberty.
"America," White said as she pulled the trigger on her rocket launcher. "Love it..."
"... or leave it," the robotic Blue said, firing its laser gun.
The Americommando dodged the attacks as his other comrade took a laser shot to the chest. Red continued his assault upon other so-called hero while White and Blue made their descent to attack The Minutemen upon the ground. As the two sides traded fire, it was apparent that even the heroic trio didn't care about the lives of the immigrants either. Not being able to escape in time, many got hit by the oncoming attacks and most began to burst in flames from making contact with the flame-throwers carried by The Minutemen.
These weren't heroes. They were madmen. Ready to battle over territory without bothering to care who was caught between them. Parents held their crying children close, hoping to shield them from impending doom. Those who ventured to America alone screamed in confusion and disbelief. Someone had to do something.
Hands began pointing in the air. Nearly all looked to see four figures flying downward from the sky.
One of them was the hero they cheered for.
Superman.
Justice League
Kingdom Come
By Lord Akiyama
Based upon the story by Mark Waid and Alex Ross
Chapter Two: To Be or Not To Be
Angels. No. Not angels. Gods themselves. Superman had returned. And in doing so, drawing from seclusion the titans of yesteryear. Their emerald flashes and scarlet strobes lighting the darkness of the day. Green Lantern bore a generated emerald blade and transformed it into an object to carry as many immigrants out of the waters and onto the shores. Flash made the rounds to keep others from falling in.
"Nice digs you got their, big guy," Flash said with a smile as he passed by his green comrade.
"Same to you, hot shot," Lantern responded with a grin, noticing that he wasn't the only one who bettered himself with through a power change. He noticed Flash leaving a series of duplicates with every inch of his body that moved. John deduced that whenever Wally threw on the costume, he bonded himself with the speed force. Now The Flash truly was the fastest being alive.
There were two figures standing inside The Statue of Liberty. Panic painted their faces. Few, if any, knew of the existence of The Braintrust. Twin beings that could easily overtake the weak-minded with their enhanced telepathy. Of course, such power only went so far.
"No!" the first cried. "The Minutemen are distracted! We're losing our mental link!"
"Then concentrate!" the second yelled. "Command them to fire at anything that moves! TELL THEM!"
They didn't feel their heads getting smashed. They lost consciousness before they could even hit the ground. Their mental link completely burnt. A figure stepped up to them, making sure they were completely out of touch with reality. He then grinned before staring out upon the masses below. Sure he worked in the daylight sometimes, but why bother. After all, being a creature of the night was one of the many reasons Dick Grayson was named Nightwing.
The immigrants watched in awe as the heroes of yesteryear protected them. They battled the younger foes and were careful as to not create harm amongst the innocence. And the teamwork efforts were undeniable. Superman took The Americommando down with ease, The Green Lantern rescuing any innocence fallen into the waters, The Flash keeping the immigrants on land while giving time to landing several punches upon The Minutemen, Wonder Woman knocking her foes into submission. As Nightwing finally decided to join the party, it was apparent who would emerge victorious.
The men swept their foes aside like tenpins, while Wonder Woman protected the innocents from loose debris. With a final red glare, the fight was over. Below, the bystanders buzzed with gratitude. The reporters with questions.
"Really them?"
"... seen them in years."
"Years? Hell, a lifetime."
"Where you've been all this..."
"... story of the century!"
With a smile and friendly glance to those about, the heroes took to the skies. Flash sped off ahead toward their destination while Green Lantern generated a moving pad to carry Nightwing in tow. The crowd cheered with admiration and relief. The reporters still sought answers.
"Wait! Wait!"
"Where are they going?"
"Quick! Radio midtown and let 'em know... they're headed for the UN building!"
The word began to travel fast, making the rounds from New York to Washington. By the time Superman and the rest of his clan arrived, Flash was not the only person waiting for them. Scores of adoring fans and reporters waited and cheered upon their arrival. The heroes touched down and stood proudly before the massive crowd before them.
"You heard me! Hold page one!"
"... second coming of Superman."
"... making a statement?"
"Everybody shuddup, will ya? When this guy talks... we listen!"
The cheering and the speaking began to die down as Superman approached the near infinite number of microphones aimed at him. When all was completely silent, he began to speak.
"Good afternoon," he said, his voice echoing throughout the land. Many in the crowd began to exhale with wonder upon hearing his voice again after twenty years. "Many of you may remember us. We have been away for a while. That was our mistake. In our absence, a new breed of metahumans has arisen... a vast phalanx of self-styled 'heroes' unwilling to preserve life or defend the defenseless... a legion of vigilantes who have perverted their great powers... who have forsworn the responsibilities due them. We have returned to teach them the meaning of truth and justice. Together, we will guide this new breed with wisdom... and, if necessary, with force. Above all, we will restore order. We will make things right again."
The crowd began to cheer wildly. Their heroes had returned. The Justice League was once more. Yet despite the overwhelming approval of bystanders in attendance, the reporters still had questions to ask.
"Will there be others?" the first reporter asked.
"Our ranks will grow," Superman replied, his voice still echoing.
"Are you prepared to shut down those who don't honor your principles?" the second reporter asked.
"I don't anticipate anyone acting without our sanction," Superman replied.
"'Anyone'?" asked a third. Superman quickly recognized the logo of the news outlet the reporter worked for. The Daily Planet. "Would that include Magog? Superman, are you truly prepared to confront Magog... in light of what has gone before?" He knew this was a question he was going to have to face. He took a deep breath.
"Magog will be dealt with... if he surfaces." He didn't express it, but Superman was quite taken aback and surprised to see Wonder Woman make the reply. "Given the consequence of his actions in Kansas, that seems unlikely." He was going to have to speak with her later about what she stated. It was then the questions began to be thrown left and right.
"But what about..."
"... responsible for millions..."
"... other heroes afraid of him..."
"... really solving the problem?"
"That is all," Wonder Woman responded, raising her hand to make the questions cease. The heroes stated their thanks before taking flight once more. And the crowd roared with cheers, overwhelming all other noises about.
Inside the United Nations building, the world leaders sighed and returned to their seats. Barely any sole breathing in the room made any sort of smile, not even a smirk. "It's certainly enough for one day," the man seated at the head of the table spoke. He was Secretary-General Wyrmwood and there was a serious look upon his face.
"Ladies and gentlemen of the delegation... is anyone here delighted with what we've just heard?" he asked. We watched as every face turned to him, yet neither one opened their mouths to utter a sound. "No?" Another moment passed with nothing but silence. "Why am I not surprised...?"
There was a cloud of fear in the room. Or rather a validation of fear. Long had these mortals suspected that they were no longer the captains of humanity's destiny. Their suspicions had just been confirmed.
The sun was beginning to set beyond the horizon as Superman looked upon the shambles that was a majestic building. Wayne Manor once stood proudly as one of the few, if any, constructed beacons of hope in Gotham City. One look at the current state would say otherwise. Superman descended through an opening in the roof, examining the destroyed pieces of furniture throughout. He could barely imagine an innocent soul surviving such mayhem. But then, the owner of this place hadn't been innocent since it was taken away as a child.
He removed the grandfather clock from its place upon the wall. He glided slowly through the darkened hallways that lead deep into the true heart of this place. "Bruce?" he called. "Bruce, I know you're down here. You can't hide from me." He noticed the enhanced modifications made since his last visit. It clearly was a different sight from the building above.
"I bow to your superior wisdom." The voice had aged, but the dark sarcasm hadn't. Normally, Superman would smirk whenever the other man would speak that way. Time had changed, and so had the man who spoke. He noticed a large series of lights in one area, no doubt where the man otherwise known as Batman resided.
"After all... you know all about hiding..." Superman watched as the seated figure turned from the monitors and faced him with a dark grin. "Don't you, Clark?" He had changed. His hair was silver and no longer wore a costume. Instead, he wore metallic devices supporting his neck. It appeared that he suffered spinal damage sometime within the last twenty years. But that sure as hell wasn't going to stop Bruce Wayne from doing what needed to be done.
"Don't call me Clark," Superman replied, looking about his surroundings. "What happened to the manor?"
"Once my identity got exposed?" Bruce snorted as he turned back to the monitors. "Bane and Two-Face happened to it. Doesn't matter. I have everything I need down here. Besides, it's not as if anyone intrudes on me. That hardly ever happens..." He came to a pause. He knew the other man was not here for the sake of his health. After all, twenty years ago didn't really. "... Clark."
"That's right," Superman responded, returning his attention to the elder man. "Someone told me your nights became free once Genosyde blew up Arkham Asylum and everyone in it."
"Not to mention Belle Reve Prison and Blackgate," Bruce said, typing a command upon his keyboard. "Not an action I'd condone... but tell me the thought of it doesn't give your invulnerable skin a little tingle."
"I don't have that dark a side," Clark said, crossing his arms and keeping his temper in check.
"Tell that to your tailor," Bruce responded. "Black is a new look for you." That one glance at him from moments ago was more than enough for the detective to put together all the information he needed.
"Bruce..." Clark said, finally deciding to come to the point. "The League needs you."
"I'm busy," Bruce growled. He leaned in toward a microphone in front of him. "Twenty-five and thirty-two... resume patrol." He watched as figures on one of the monitors obeyed his commands.
"Too busy to help save the world?" Clark asked.
"The crisis at hand isn't new, Clark," Bruce said, turning from the monitors to face the other. "Where have you been? Oh. I'm sorry. Perhaps I should ask Magog." He chuckled as Clark gave him a serious glare. He loved it whenever he got under the skin of the great and mighty Superman.
"Frictions have been building to a head for years, Clark," Bruce continued as he turned back to the monitors. "The metahuman population boomed while you were gone... once ordinary folks decided you and I were too gentle and old-fashioned to face the challenges of the 21st century. They wanted their 'heroes' stronger and more ruthless. Be careful what you wish for."
His attention came to a specific monitor, showing a crook pointing a gun a helpless elder couple. "Maneuver twelve," he commanded in the microphone. He watched as seconds later, a robotic device jumped the crook from behind. The lawbreaker screamed as he was being dragged off screen. The elder couple continued to shake and began to run, even if they didn't show a sign of relief upon their faces.
"Right now, the metahumans have the keys to earth's kingdom," Bruce continued. "Wrestling control is a delicate matter. It requires finesse... and meticulous, careful planning against those enemies more hidden... but it can be done. Without, I might add, Superman and the Justice League booming into town... punching now, asking questions later."
"Dick doesn't see it that way," Clark said, hoping that will spark some positive reaction from the other. He got something that sounded like a mixture of a grunt and a chuckle.
"You got him to join the League," Bruce responded. "Is that supposed to sway me? Try harder. He and I never did see completely eye to eye."
"What about Diana?" Clark asked. He watched as Bruce slowly turned to face him with a raised brow, as if to ask if he was serious in asking that. Then the elder man.
"She didn't tell you, did she?" Bruce asked with curiosity in his voice. The confusion painted on Superman's face told him the answer he knew. He let out a grunt as he turned back to the monitors. "Around the same time you hid away from the world, I made it known I wasn't returning. She tried her best to get me back in the fold and at the same time maintain the belief that our relationship could grow. Long story short, our break up was as ugly as all my other relationships."
"I'm sorry to hear," Clark said.
"Save your sympathies for her, not me," Bruce snorted. "To get back to your original question, I have my own controls in place, thank you. They may be slower and more methodical than yours... but they get results. You used to brag that Metropolis was a utopia next to Gotham. Now who has the utopia?"
"Some paradise," Clark scoffed. "From what I can see, Gotham is nearly a police state. You always favored scaring people into obeying the law, but this... you're willing to turn ordinary citizens into a superstitious, cowardly lot?"
"They'll fear me more than they'll trust you," Bruce replied. "I don't trust you. After all, you left. I stayed. We're not limited to Gotham, Clark. We've built a network that extends from here all the way to Star City."
"'We'?" Clark asked, raising a brow. He then looked to one side, believing the two of them were not the only living organisms in the room. Bruce quickly regained Superman's attention.
"I have allies," he said. "Human allies a little more in tune than your friends to humanity's needs. We don't want to rule the world. We just want to straighten it out... our way... by ourselves."
"Then you're sure you won't join me?" Clark asked one last time with a sigh.
"For a man who can hear clouds scrape together, you don't listen very well," Bruce snorted. "The only thing I wonder about your down and dirty, quick and fast totalitarian 'solutions'... is whether I'd be the first to be 'reformed' by your new regime." A smirk slowly began to form on the detective's lips. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were taking a page from our old friends... The Justice Lords."
"What!" Clark cried in a mixture of shock and frustration. "This is nothing like those..."
"Goodbye, Clark," Bruce said, cutting off Superman from finishing his plea. He didn't have to turn around to feel the glare the costumed hero gave him before he flew off. The smirk turned right back into a grin. There just wasn't anything quite like the feeling of whenever he dug deep into the skin of "The Man of Steel." But when he heard familiar footsteps approach moments later, he thought again as his grin turned into a quiet smile.
"And they used to call you two 'The World's Finest,'" the familiar feminine voice whispered into his ears like a purr. "Maybe I should've joined in on the fun and see what kind of a mess we'd turn him into."
"If only he knew you like I did, Selina," Bruce said as he slowly turned to meet the seductive smile of his lover. "It would've made the fun all that much more enjoyable." The two shared a gentle, yet very passionate kiss. They let silence engulf them for what seemed like hours. "Is everything ready to go?"
"Everyone is accounted for," she replied with the same purr in her voice. "And a date's been set. A week from tomorrow. Those who remain are expected to attend."
"Even better," Bruce said, letting his eyes engulf the exotic figure before slowly turning his attention back to the monitors. "In time, the League will do serious damage. If they're allowed into our arena, the world is doomed. Superman has no idea what he's really up against. Fortunately... we have our own team to call into play." With a push of a keyboard key, the monitors switched from eyeing every inch of Gotham City into a roll call of heroes, old and new, on stand-by.
"Sounds like it's time we drew that web tight, my love," Selina said, looking upon the many faces before her.
Hours fold into days. The Justice League began as five. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Flash, and Nightwing. As time passed, their numbers grew. Dick welcomed his good friend and partner Victor Stone into the fold. He was once a Titan by the name of Cyborg. Now a living organism made of liquid metal, he was Robotman. Clark welcomed with open arms his cousin Kara-El. She began her super hero career as Supergirl. Her costume and name changed as the years passed, but her beauty remained the same. She was Power Woman.
Other names came aboard as the League discovered the value of bringing Nightwing into their clan. The one time Aqualad was now the current holder of the name Aquaman. Speedy, who at one point changed his name to Arsenal, was now called Red Arrow. But the biggest surprise came in the form of a young lady. Short black hair. Blue cape that blew from a black suit bearing a recognizable red "S" upon her chest. All could tell that Superman's smile was as genuine as it could be. The lady smiled as she embraced him with all her heart. This was Cir-El, the daughter of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, and the current bearer of the name Supergirl.
Whenever possible, Superman negotiated peace. Whenever impossible, he enforced it... at every turn, transforming enemies... into allies. All the while, a world hungry for hope gradually surrendered its feat to the skies. With a cadence almost military, the League marched from shore to shore. Together, they acted as an unstoppable unit.
Though occasionally, they would break rank.
"Diana...?" Superman was barely able to ask as he watched Wonder Woman forcefully slam a renegade hero into unconsciousness. Before she could charge again, he placed a gentle hand upon her shoulder. "Diana... take a breath. They're not evil... they're just misguided."
"How badly?" she asked, slowly calming her temper. "If they want to act like warriors... I'll show them war." She was about to fling forward when the hand on her shoulder tightened a little. She knew he wanted her to stop. So she did.
"You're right," Superman sighed, surveying the damaged city about them. "They seem to have learned little regard for human life..." He noticed a coughing figure within the wreckage of a house slowly catching fire. He made no hesitation as he lifted the debris to free an old woman from an almost certain demise. "... and there is nothing more sacred than that."
Ten days after the return of Superman...
"I said TWO sugars," he nearly screamed as the force of his choke cracked her neck. He took a deep breath as he tossed the now dead woman back into her seat.
"You ham," the second man sighed, shaking his head.
"Sorry," the first muttered, slowly returning to his seat. "Immortal habits die hard." He rolled his eyes as he had to mix his cup of coffee with one pack of sugar and not the two he asked for. A third sigh was heard and the two men turned their head to see who it belonged to.
"I just had her trained," the man standing in the doorway said with a hint of anger.
"Hello, Luthor," the first man said, stirring his coffee slowly.
"Mr. Savage," Luthor responded. "I see you've brought Strange with you. Perhaps he'd like to meet everyone. Come. Join us." The two men looked at one another and shrugged as they followed Luthor into the meeting room. Many faces they say sitting at the table were all too familiar. But it didn't matter. They sat at the nearest pair of empty seats.
"We call ourselves the Mankind Liberation Front," Luthor spoke. "The men who just walked in are Vandal Savage and Dr. Hugo Strange. You both know General Eding, I presume. This man to my left, gentlemen, is Ibn Al Xu-ffasch... hair to Ra's Al Ghul's empire. Next to him is Selina Kyle, an associate of mine. Next to her is Professor Hamilton. And to my right, as you all know, is Amanda Waller." Many of the group nodded at one another, though a couple retained a cold stare. This was especially so between the two women.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I need a status report," Luthor continued. "Xu-ffasch, where do we stand with medical attention and disaster relief for the Kansas victims?"
"Delayed," Ibn sighed. "Perhaps for weeks."
"Splendid," Luthor grinned. "Tech dispersal this quarter, General?"
"We have integrated another six score vigilantes," Eding replied. "Given the Arkham and Bell Reve survivors we reoutfitted and renamed, we are now responsible for eight percent of the 'super-hero' population."
"Excellent," Luthor responded. "Selina, what's the outlook on..."
"Whoa!" Hamilton interrupted. "Pardon me for questioning... but you're impeding public service? You're arming metahumans? Wouldn't all that serve to make the world a worse place to be? Where does this 'Mankind Liberation' part come in? Did I miss something?"
"Actually, Luthor..." another voice spoke. All turned their attention to a concerned Strange. "I had a similar concern. May I assume that the MLF works, then, to raise the stakes rather than lower them?"
"In a manner of speaking," Luthor replied with a wider grin, placing a lit cigar in his mouth. Most of the bodies began to appear confused. "No pain, no gain. Our objective is to heighten the tension between humans and metahumans... to bring it to a head so that humans have no choice but to reclaim the reins of world power... regardless of the cost. There will be war... bloodshed... but in the end, mankind will once again rule the earth."
"'Mankind,'" Hamilton repeated, shaking his head. "And that would translate as... you guys. Wow. When is a villain not a villain, I wonder? And you actually condone this, Amanda?"
"Under the current circumstances, I am willing to take such drastic measures, Professor," she replied. "And to answer your first question, a villain is not a villain when he labors for a greater good. Just like our esteemed host."
"Which brings us to our new problem," Luthor said, bringing the discussion back to order. "The resurfaced Justice League... and how their untimely arrival has turned our twenty-year agenda into a twenty-day stratagem."
"I never dreamed they'd return," Savage muttered, shaking his head. "Not in a million years."
"Nevertheless, the Gods have stepped down from Olympus..." Luthor continued. "And, frankly, I see several ways to turn their arrival to our advantage." It was then that the door opened. Luthor nodded as a servant, wearing a bright red coat and gold waist cover, entered the room carrying a shaving kit. The others appeared quite bothered that Luthor would use this time to have a shave in the middle of what appeared to be an otherwise important meeting.
"In fact, by entering into a certain alliance..." Luthor continued as the servant applied the cream upon his face. "I can guarantee a chance to hasten the current crisis to its end... by exacerbating it." The servant pulled out the shaving razor and began to gently run the sharp end upon his master's skin.
"And, in the meantime, we have nothing to fear from the League?" Eding asked curiously. "Not even from... Superman?"
"He will not touch me!" Luthor barked, leaning forward just as the servant removed the blade from his face. "HE WILL NOT! He..." He began to breathe heavily. "... He..." Even old age began to take its affect upon man of such wealth and power as Lex Luthor. He calmed down as he leaned back in his chair.
"... He cannot," he continued, suddenly beginning to sport a grin. "In fact, I've got the most... marvelous anti-Superman plan. Isn't that right, boy?"
"Absolutely, Mr. Luthor," the servant smiled as he continued with the shaving.
Selina was able to find something that would take her eyes of Waller. The servant. He looked familiar. Very familiar. This was especially so when she saw his smile. She showed no expression of it, but the sudden realization came over her. She could only imagine what Bruce would say.
Or the Justice League, if they ever found out...
to be continued...