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.

Fifty days after the return of Superman...

"... flattered that the might Justice League has finally deemed the human race worthy of conversation," Secretary-General Wyrmwood spoke with a nod. Like his fellow delegates, his body spoke discomfort by their presence.

"There's no need for sarcasm, Secretary-General," Wonder Woman responded as calmly as possible.

"Forgive me," Wyrmwood said, though even he himself knew he didn't mean it. "We're simply no longer accustomed to being advised or consulted. Imagine our surprise, for instance, to learn that the center of the US now harbors a metahuman prison. You insist that... hard as this is to believe... it poses no prevailing danger. That those incarcerated are fully docile and eager to acclimate. Is that true, Superman?"

The attention was now set on Superman. Diana turned with concern to see what he would say. Superman sighed. "Not entirely," he replied, not caring about the quiet moans amongst the delegates. "The Gulag is a work in progress. The League must find a way to guide those who insist upon working against the common good. I admit to some danger... but I chose to put the renegades together where we can monitor them and teach them."

"Inside a giant powder keg," Wyrmwood responded, taking his glasses off. The gesture was taken as frustration and disbelief. Who would blame him? "Superman, the confidence and hope your reemergence engendered is fast eroding. Global economy is still catastrophic... world trauma, staggering. We will not risk another Kansas. I can promise you that." The other delegates nodded with approval at the words of their Secretary-General.

"Meaning...?" Superman asked curiously.

"Meaning that we must begin to decide some things for ourselves," Wyrmwood replied. "Good day."

A moment passed before Superman and Wonder Woman released their glares upon the delegates and took to the skies. Unbeknownst to all, including the heroes themselves, an invisible presence had overheard every word. And J'onn took a sigh as he shook his head.

"Stop looking so stunned," Diana said as the two flew further upward. "Do you honestly believe they'll sit back and let us solve the problem at our leisure? They're scared... and their fears may soon trump our solutions. We have to act." Superman glanced over, hoping to give her a look of disbelief that would tell her to speak no further of the situation. It didn't work. "Kal, whether you like it or not, you're a world leader... and the League is getting tired of waiting for you to adjust to that role. As far as I'm concerned, if the situation with the Gulag prisoners gets one micron worse...

"... The League will be forced to take a final, decisive action..."

Justice League

Kingdom Come

By Lord Akiyama

Based upon the story by Mark Waid and Alex Ross

Chapter Seven: Countdown to Extinction

"Good news!" Luthor cheered as he entered the meeting room where all the others waited. "The moment has come to begin our final strike! The Gulag is in turmoil! The inmates are... dare I say it? ... REVOLTING! Superman's prison has become a cauldron of hate and chaos! That's our cue to deploy or steel legion..."

Many of the figures, young and old, began to murmur to one another about the news they had just heard. In all honesty, they didn't know whether this really was a good thing or that in reality it was the most terrible news of all. Many of the younger heroes, whose parents were part of the League, seemed to think so. They watched Luthor rubbed his hands together in excitement and turn his attention to his servant.

"... But not before someone tips that scalding cauldron right onto the Justice League!" Luthor declared. "Someone I've been saving for just such a task!" Some of the original humans who were a part of this group had no idea what Luthor was talking about. But like Batman, everyone else knew what this meant.

The thirty-year-old Billy Batson raised his brows in confusion. "Me?" he asked his master. "But... but all our talks..."

"It's as I've always said," Luthor said in a lower voice, placing a hand upon his servant's shoulder. "The superhumans are evil. You can't argue with that."

"But..." Billy tried to protest.

"Only you can ensure their destruction," Luthor added. "I'm ordering you to demolish the Gulag so that its prisoners roam free. Free... and angry... and easily eradicated in a war that no one can win... save us." Most of the others in the room watched with great confusion as to what was happening before them. Bruce slowly got to his feet, watching this carefully.

"No... I..." Billy continued to protest.

"Do it..." Luthor said with a rather sinister grin, placing his hand near the servant's ear. "And worry no more about losing control. You won't. I've seen to that. Go ahead. Tumble down the Walls of Jericho." Everyone watched, some actually began to tremble, as Billy himself was riddled with confusion. "I insist."

The punch was hard and strong. Luthor watched in surprise and with a bit of horror as blood flew out of Batson's mouth before hitting ground. The attacker, Bruce Wayne, placed his foot upon the servant's throat to keep him from uttering a single word. "Shuh... Ssh..." Billy coughed, but the strength upon his neck was too much.

"Hello, Billy," Bruce said, his glare upon the panicking servant.

"He... he's not...?" Oliver cried in confusion. "You're kidding me! All this time, we've been in mortal fear of Billy Batson? NOT CAPTAIN MARVEL?" The younger heroes were just as surprised. The old villains were just completely dumbfounded as to what was happening.

"I'd suspected it for a while..." Bruce replied to Oliver. "And J'onn's telepathic probe confirmed it. It seems Marvel's dual identities are in quite a bit of mental conflict. All these years... as Batson grew to manhood, Luthor kept him in check by turning him into a stew of schizophrenic psychoses."

"B-but... our goals..." Luthor muttered in utter shock.

"My only goal in allying with you was to learn your connection to Captain Marvel," Bruce replied, looking up at the villain and pointing his finger at him. "In this entire global conflict, he was the wild card... and I hate wild cards."

"You... you double-crossed me!" Luthor screamed. The old villains began to panic, realizing that this was indeed turning into a terrible day for them. Concentration on their personal welfare, they didn't bother to notice Selina smiling from her seat and Ibn being assured by Nightstar that he won't be harmed.

"I learned from you," Bruce replied to Luthor.

"I assume you've given the signal, my love?" Selina said, slowly rising to her feet. The elder villains turned in shock to hear Selina say this. They hadn't just been double-crossed by Batman. They were double-crossed by one of their own!

"Absolutely," Bruce said, glancing over at Selina and widening his grin. He turned his sights back on the fallen Bill Batson, digging into his inside coat pocket and removing what appeared to be a modified gun. "Strike."

In the blink of an eye, the young heroes attacked. Luthor watched in horror as Savage was tackled from his seat and onto the floor. Strange screamed in horror as he was locked in his chair. Hamilton pleaded not to be harmed as he curled in his chair, clutching his heart. The Queen family launched their arrows to keep Eding from both escaping and to attempt to counter attack. Nightstar assured the others that she had Ibn under control and they reluctant took her word.

Only Waller was able to slip away, socking the nearest hero who attempted to hold her down. She made a run for the door was a gust of wind blew about her. She stood still as it appeared something was moving about in a vortex motion around her. Seconds later, a teenage girl appeared with arms crossed, a smile of grace, and a very familiar red bolt upon her yellow costume.

"Afternoon, ma'am," the teen said. "They call me Kid Flash. And I can assure you that you couldn't land a finger on me even if I let you." Waller growled at the young woman's arrogance and reared back for a punch. She suddenly realized that she was falling back. Upon landing on the ground, she looked to see that she had been tied up. She looked up with great anger as the smiling teen.

"Selina!" Bruce yelled. Selina looked up just in time to see Luthor successfully escaping the room. "Follow Luthor!" Her lover didn't have to tell her twice as she nodded and bolted for the door. "Don't let him get..." She didn't turn to see Billy taking advantage of Bruce's preoccupation and release himself from the elder's grip.

Selina may be faster than Luthor, but the villain had a head start and they were in a room with surroundings she was unfamiliar with. Luthor was going to make a great escape. But a smile came over her face. "I may not be as fast and as agile I used to be, Lex my dear," she called as she came to a stop. "But when you're the life partner of a man like Bruce Wayne... well, let's just say that while you can't teach an old dogs new tricks... a cat certainly can..." She pulled out a device in her hands and pressed a button.

Luthor, breathing heavily as he raced down the corridor, turned just in time to see lights shine about him. He came to a full stop and realized in sheer horror that he was surrounded. By the very robobats he helped produce. "What the...?" he muttered. "No!" The armies began to close in, blocking any and all paths of escape. "NOOOOOO..."

"Billy, stop!" Bruce called as he slowly followed the panicking Billy Batson into a different corridor. "You don't have to run anymore! I figured out what Luthor did to you!" He watched as Billy turned a corner and came to a stop, slamming himself up against the wall and breathing heavily. "He found out about you, just I did. I listened to those radio reports you made and did the math. He watched in hiding as he discovered that a special ten-year-old boy had the power to become a being more powerful than even Superman!"

Bruce slowed his pacing as he edge closer to Billy, retaining his grip on the gun in case there was something he overlooked that would be placed against him. "He beat us to the punch," he continued. "He found you first. Took you under his wing. Told you the same thing world started telling you after the Thanagarian Invasion... that super-heroes were monsters. Terrible, repulsive beasts.

"And he never ever let you forget... that you had one hiding deep down inside you. Don't think like that, Billy! He's twisted your brain around that insanity! The worms... they're engineered to secrete certain chemicals!" He got too close and watched as Billy started to run again, looking over his shoulder to watch The Dark Knight follow. "Billy or Marvel... either one... they eat away at your mind! They're driving you mad, Billy! Don't let that happen! The world depends on it! You can fight..."

Bruce suddenly realized that Billy was not going to see that he was about to run into something. "Billy, LOOK OUT!" It was too late. Billy slammed head on into a large glass tube and fell to the floor. Bruce came to a stop just a couple feet away from the fallen Billy. He quickly cursed quietly as he realized that the younger man was now covered from head to toe with those worms. And he was panicking upon the sight.

"Billy, no!" Bruce said as calmly as he could. "Stay calm! I can help! Stay calm!"

Billy turned his body in horror upon seeing the sight of those worms. The worms the elder man said were eating away at his mind. "Aaaaaa..." he screamed. "Sha... SHAZAM!"

Bruce barely had time to jump out of the way as an explosion sounded. He rolled a bit afterward, coughing from the dust. He looked up from his seated position to see a hole in the wall, leading to the outside. "Dammit..." he cursed. He slowly got to his feet as his entourage began to appear. As much as he wanted to grin at the sight of Nightstar clutching at his son's arm, what had just happened clouded his attention.

"Batman!" Dinah Lance cried. "Are you all right?"

"For the moment," Bruce grunted, making sure he could still feel his back. He sighed as he turned to the others. "What about Luthor and his people? Are they accounted for?"

"In custody, every one," Dinah replied. "What about Marvel?"

"No longer a wild card... unfortunately," Bruce sighed. "He's still in Luthor's thrall, God help us. Get in touch with Fate and tell him that I need to get to the cave now. Tell Selina to take Ibn and deal with the Mankind Liberation Front. Everyone else, you're all on stand-by. If all doesn't go well... you'll be joining your parents in war."

"In about five minutes, you're gonna start wishing you didn't come, John," Wally said as he, Kara and Scott watched John arrive. "The riot has been getting worse with each passing minute."

"I already wished I didn't come, hot shot," John sighed. "But I'm here and that's what matters now. We're in this together for good or ill, pal." The two old friends shared a small smile before returning to business. John sighed once again as he turned to the monitors. "Alright gang, what's the plan?"

"It's getting close to the point that we're gonna have to get in there, John," Kara replied. "Barda and Comet stopped trying to calm them down and are now preparing themselves for an all-out attack. And it doesn't take a psychic to tell that they will attack at any minute."

"Hold it guys," Scott said, pointing the attention of the others to a specific monitor. They watched as a mob began to slowly take one step after another toward Barda and Comet. Everyone on the screen was armed. Scott leaned a little closer, helplessly waiting to see what will become of his wife in moments.

Suddenly, the mob came to a complete stop. It only increased the intensity level. Sweat began to run down Scott's face at a rapid pace. He watched as his wife stood her ground, screaming out at the mob to disperse. Then came a moment of silence. Without warning, fires were shot at Barda and Comet. Battle had been engaged.

"We move, NOW!" John screamed as he, Wally and Kara exited the control room and made their way into the Gulag. Scott hesitated at first, but then removed himself from his chair and ran out in the hopes of doing what he could to aid.

Wally was the first on the ground as he sped through the arena, landing punches on practically anything that moved. Metahuman after metahuman felt the inhuman force of his punches as he zipped about. It took an energy projectile to knock the scarlet speedster to the ground, but he was not out. He quickly got to his feet, shook off the affects, and started running again. The question that ran though his mind was how long he could keep this up before he was down for the count and could not get up in time.

Kara charged at full speed into the nearest gathering of the metahumans. The sheer force combined with her outer-world strength nearly knocked down the entirety of those that huddled together. She landed on her feet and began to show these creatures why her name was Power Woman. Each punch caused on to slam into two others. But it wasn't long before the metahumans began to fight back with just as much force. She felt every attack that landed successfully upon her, but quickly countered with punches of her own. She knew it was only a matter of time before she felt fatigue, though she could only hope she wasn't overwhelmed by then.

John did his best to keep from landing on the ground as he generated his emerald blade and fired upon the masses. He concentrated his efforts on any of the metahumans that were flyers, but he knew not all of them would be airborne just for his benefit. A power and strength of each energy blast he fired caused many of those he fought to stay grounded. But even he was vulnerable to attack, as he was smashed hard by incoming fire from both the ground and from the air. It was risky to fight just the flyers, but he had faith Wally and Kara would watch his back.

Captain Comet did his best as he fought off the hordes of metahumans that surrounded him. He knew he couldn't keep this up forever, but he did so regardless. He then caught from the corner of his eye his comrade, Big Barda, in a terrible position. The mob that surrounded her was getting more ruthless and growing in numbers. Barda was looked upon as the high chief of the security forces and there was no question that if any one was as big of a target concerning the heroes within, she was the biggest.

"Barda!" he cried when he noticed Von Bach approach for a fatal strike. Using his powers, a gust of wind pushed Barda off the ground and out of the clutches of the mob. More importantly, saving her from death.

Barda landed hard against the ground. She looked about and noticed not a whole lot of metahumans surrounded her as she saw the familiar figure of her husband run toward her. She was confused for a moment before looking up to see Comet yards away looking straight at her. She got the message. He saved her life.

But then, she saw Comet's face painted in vast terror as several hands grabbed hold of him. She watched as he struggled to free himself, only to be pulled into a massive gathering of metahumans that began to grow with passing seconds. She then watched in terror as Von Bach scream a battle cry and leap into the mix.

"COMET!" she cried.

John, Wally, Kara and Scott turned to see what Barda was watching. They watched in horror as Comet screamed as he began to sink into the huddle masses. Soon, they saw nothing more than his arm reaching hopelessly and desperately into the air in an attempt to escape. Seconds later, the arm sank into the see of metahumans and all that remained of Captain Comet was his dying scream as it echoed throughout the Gulag.

He entered the room to see Diana outfit herself differently. Gone was the recognizable mixture of red, blue and gold. What she wore now was barely anything other than gold. He sighed and watched with great concern as she put forth the finishing touches in putting on the battle armor.

"Yet another side of you I'm not comfortable with," he said.

"Get used to this one," Diana said. "A soldier unprepared has no business calling herself a soldier."

"More Amazonian 'wisdom,'" he sighed, picking up the sword that rested upon her bed and gently ran his thumb to feel the sharpness. "Isn't it possible that we've already won the big fight? Once the rioters are calmed, we can instill... Ow!" Diana looked over to see a tiny drop of blood run down the blade.

"You always were a bit vulnerable to magic," she noted. "Be careful. The sword was a gift from Hephaestus. It can carve the electrons off an atom." He took the sword from his hands while he examined his cut.

"And you expect to use it?" he asked.

"I expect to be a soldier," Diana said, looking up to him as she wiped the blade with her American inspired cape.

Superman sighed, looking up back to her. "I will not sanction lethal force against the rioters," he said with concern as they walked out of her room and into the meeting hall together. "I'm uneasy with the blade."

"Not all of us have heat vision," she noted. They ignored the looks they were getting from the others.

"There are lines we do not cross!" Superman snapped, quickly having lost his temper. "We have rules!"

"And the prisoners don't!" Diana barked back. "That's why they're prisoners! And if they don't remain prisoners, your big, blue marble teeters on the brink! You made the decision to incarcerate them for the good of mankind, remember?"

"And maybe that was my mistake," he replied. "Maybe I should have let the humans decide how to..." He was cut off at the sound of radioed panic echoing throughout the meeting hall.

"... hear me? Send help!" Everyone listened as the cough began to sound clearly with each passing second. "Goddammit, who ever is there listen to me?"

"John?" Superman muttered. Moments later, a video image of Green Lantern appeared. He was bruised and not in the best of conditions. Those in the meeting hall gasped in horror.

"We're... we're in trouble!" John cried. "The fight at the Gulag goes worse than we expected! The prisoners have already begun to breach the walls! They can't hold much longer... nor can we!" They watched as the video image shifted from Lantern's face to the interiors of the Gulag, where chaos rained. "They've already... they've killed Captain Comet..." The signal was lost.

"NO!" Diana screamed as she slammed her fist upon the table, the impact shattering it in half. She began seething with rage while many of the others began to panic. Soon, everyone turned to Superman.

"Comet... gone..." he quietly muttered, his head lowered in disbelief. "Just like that... How could they...?"

"So..." Diana demanded. "Your world's finally turned completely topsy-turvy. How do we handle this?" He looked up to see every soul in the room looking directly at him. They expected him to act and act quickly. Time was running out.

"I..." he began. And then, he lowered his head again. "... I don't know." To say that they were shocked to hear that response from Superman was an understatement.

"Then I do," Diana cried. "We're going to confront the prisoners and give them an ultimatum. They must surrender." He didn't need super senses the know that the others began to share the same feeling as Diana, though many was out fear.

"And if they refuse?" he asked, turning to face Diana.

"Then it's war," she said with cold determination painted across her face.

"But you can't have a war without people dying," he decreed.

Empty silence fell upon the room as Diana and Kal locked eyes. The others watched with great anticipation as to what would happen next. No two people had the same idea as to what exactly the two were feeling. And then, they watched with a mixture of shock and sorrow as Diana stepped up to him. Her lips brushed his with the sound of marble scraping steel. It was a kiss completely devoid of passion. It was a final farewell.

Superman watched as Diana commanded the others to follow. Though some reluctantly, which included his daughter, they followed. He had a super sense of hearing, but in this moment he didn't even hear a pin dropped. He watched as the bodies disappeared one by one. Moments later, he was all alone. He stood there, thinking about whether or not he should actually move. Another moment passed before he decided.

At top speed, he crashed through the nearest wall that led to the outside, smashing a satellite along the way, and punching through the ground. Moments later, he ripped through the center of the world and out on the other side. He emerged inside the confines of the all too familiar cave. Bruce looked over his shoulder for a moment before returning to his work.

"I need you help," Superman demanded as he marched toward the elder.

"We've been through this already..." Bruce snorted.

"SHUT UP!" Superman screamed, swinging the screwdriver out of Bruce's hand. This completely caught his attention and surprise. He had never seen this kind of anger from Clark. "I don't have time for you holier-than-thou cracks! You're not above all this... not now, not with the stakes this high! We're racing the end of the world, Bruce! I've got a half-second lead, but by all the stars in heaven... that's not nearly enough!"

Bruce waited until the echoes stopped ringing off the walls and out of his ears. "The Gulag's ready to blow," he said.

"Yes!" Clark replied, retaining his anger. "Even as we speak, Wonder Woman and the League stand outside its walls... ready to bring them down around everyone inside!" It was Bruce's turn to put forth anger.

"You mean to tell me you never imagined it might come to this?" he barked. "Did you ever consider that a war might be for the best? That perhaps humanity's only chance is for the superhumans to swallow each other?"

"Don't give me that!" Clark yelled. Moments passed as he calmed his temper. "The deliberate taking of human... even super-human... life goes against every belief I have... and you have. That's the one thing we've always had in common. It's what made us what we are." He paused to take a deep breath. "And that, before you make the suggestion, is what separates us from being like the goddamn Justice Lords!"

He watched as Bruce took in those words for a moment, to let them sink in, and lower his head. For one of few, if ever, rare times in their lives, Clark was right. "More than anyone in the world, when you scratch everything else away from Batman, you're left with someone who doesn't want to see anybody die," Clark continued, almost in a pleading tone as he clutched the arms of the other. "We can still intercede. Gather your forces. Together, we can be the world's finest team. Tell me you'll help me."

Bruce took a deep breath as he looked into the eyes of Superman. It was probably for the best that they were the only two around. He wouldn't know how he felt if others saw Clark successfully convince Bruce to help him. "I will tell you this one thing," he said as he turned back to his work. "There's a player you haven't counted on. Captain Marvel."

"Marvel...?" Superman repeated in a quiet tone. It was surprise and maybe a little bit of fear. He remembered decades ago the sight of the incredible being who impressed him with unimaginable feats that even he couldn't do.

"He's been brainwashed... severely," Bruce nodded. "Once, there was a good kid inside him, but he's been drive out... and I don't know how you'd ever find him again. Marvel's headed for the Gulag, Clark. He's going to break it wide open onto the Justice League." He sighed as he thought about what to say next. "What do you expect me to do against..." He turned to face the other, only he wasn't there.

Bruce stared at where Superman once stood for a moment before a grin came over his face and slowly returned to his work. "So that's what it feels like..." he chuckled.

"ATTENTION! THIS WILL BE YOUR ONLY WARNING!" Wonder Woman's cry was as high pitched as could be as she gathered with the rest of the Justice League outside the Gulag. "ABANDON YOUR ACTIVITIES AND SURRENDER... OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES!"

As determined as Wonder Woman was, she failed the see those who were not as sure as she was about being there. Many stood there wondering why they were there. Why they have arrived to their most certain doom? They took as many deep breaths as they could, but they could not shake the overwhelming fear they felt about what awaited behind the walls of this oversized metahuman prison.

A crash of lighting in the distance caught their attention. They were not quite sure if this was nothing more than just a natural occurrence, or there was something more. The rain began to fall and they knew that regardless of whether the lighting was coincidental or intentional, it was about to play a part in this game of chaos and destruction. With widened eyes, Diana watched as a spectacular lightning bolt crashed upon the Gulag, breaking it wide open.

Even from where he was, Superman could hear the destruction that took place in Kansas. Determined, he increased the speed of his flight. He charged head on, hoping that he would be able to make it in time to stop the madness that was bound to erupt. Ragnarok was unfolding at last. He could almost see the enraged metahumans escape from their confines and the determined Justice League awaiting to confront them head on.

He was milliseconds away from crashing into the very walls of the Gulag when he was suddenly struck by a speed force. It was stronger, faster and much more violent than his. He barely had time to scream as his momentum was shifted and he slammed hard against the ground. The desperate hopes of the one man who might yet stop this madness turned to ash and cinders... by a single bolt of lightning.

Superman shook himself and looked up to see the standing and imposing figure of his attacker. The red costume with a shining gold lighting bolt bearing upon his chest. The silver cape wove in the wind as he saw the absolute look of terror itself. A smile he had not seen in over twenty years. Towering over him was Captain Marvel.

Armageddon had arrived...

to be continued...