TALIA AL GHUL had gone over the details in the last six months. She had with the benefit of her beloved's knowledge, her father's resources and her own wit made this experiment exceeds its own expectations.
Right now she was passively observing Grodd and Luthor do exactly as she had wanted--- take the Kryptonite from the warehouse using Bruce Wayne's own toy. She had provided Grodd and his ilk some of the knowledge she had gained from the Batcave. She was not a fool. Grodd has an endgame no one knows or suspects just yet. And if the other members of their so called Secret Society were to follow their regular pattern, they too had their own endgame. Just not as complex as either Luthor or Grodd.
Talia had usurp Bruce's Spy Satellite. She was sitting before a gigantic multi monitor that told her everything about the Brother Mark One. Of course she had taken the system to the next level--- enabled it to be an active participant and added some flavour of her own. In truth this was a product of both their minds.
Talia had read her beloved's notes. Why he had constructed this... machine. How the realization of the truth had eluded him for so long and that only when Amanda Waller and her Cadmus Project conflicted with the League did he understand the situation. Who guards the guardians? She understood it. But she knew that for it to be useful, one had... to simply extend it to its logical conclusion.
Using her father's vast network and more knowledge from the Batcave and unwittingly from Lex Luthor--- she had setup the very sword to the sheath and shield Bruce Wayne had created.
- - -
BILLY BASTON was an ordinary young boy with an extraordinary secret. When he utters the word, "SHAZAM!" the wizard that goes by that name grants him magical superhuman abilities and he becomes the costumed superhero, Captain Marvel.
Captain Marvel was gifted with extraordinary wisdom, that goes with the powers. But he of course couldn't help be a kid at heart. He was a kid who looked older. As a kid he looked up to the Justice League, Superman in particular was his hero and joining the League and being a part of that, well it was a dream come true.
Then he found out about the League. Saw how the concentration of power had made them arrogant. Superman in particular was... human. He was disappointed to discover that his hero was flawed. He resigned from the Justice League.
And here he was watching the news. The Justice League was in several different places around the world. Battling evil. But what if they were wrong? Who guards against the guardians? Billy asked himself. He didn't know. And for some reason when he asks that, as Captain Marvel, his wisdom fails him.
And that frightens him.
- - -
J'ONN J'ONZ was a Martian who came to Earth to help rid of the White Martians. He had contacted Superman and other costumed adventurers and put an end to the invaders who destroyed his homeworld of Mars. Together, they formed the Founding Members of the Justice League.
For years they had helped humanity time and time again. After the Thanagarians were defeated and the Founders expanded the League from the core members--- he had spent more time aboard the Watchtower than off it.
Diana quite recently called his attention on it: his increasing Xenophobia. He didn't realized how deep it was or how it set in. He would live far longer than any of his friends. Maybe except Superman or Wonder Woman. It would be a pretty lonely existence being alone. So he took Diana's advise and the time off is really paying well. He had the league set himself an identity and he has drifted towards the city, making friends outside of the League.
For the first time in many years he was happy. Yet somehow deep in his mind's eye, he knew that this vacation was fast coming to an end. That somehow there exist some threat in the Universe--- not just Earth and they would need all of the League to stand against it. For now he was enjoying a box of cookies with some new friends from the video store rental he just started working for.
- - -
A BLUR of blue, red and "S" flew pass Livewire and Star Sapphire, knocking them down.
"Aaaahhh..." Luthor grinned maliciously. "Kal-El," Lex muttered to himself. Too bad Superhearing doesn't work twenty-four-seven.
"Hello, Lex" Superman floated above Luthor in obvious superiority.
"Superman," Luthor grinned and activated a panel on his gauntlet and fired a Kryptonite beam at Superman.
"Aaaahhhh!" Superman fell to the ground. "What arrogance!" And Luthor's eyes shown brightly. "Livewire! Star Sapphire! Withdraw!" Without warning, a flash of blinding light and the Legion disappeared.
Batman walked from the shadows and stood before Superman who was getting up and offered his hand.
Superman took the offered hand and said. "It was Luthor. I think he restarted their Injustice Society."
"Perhaps." The Batman walked over to the missing crates.
"Why did you have tons of Kryptonite lying around."
"It was being prepared for storage." And before you go ahead and berate me for not adding more security, "IT was kept secret. And the security here is almost as good as the Watchtower's."
Steel and the rest of the Leaguers arrived. Superman ordered them to cordon the warehouse off.
The Batman walked towards the area, taking his time examining the warehouse. The Leaguers observed him working, hearing from time to time a gaunt but none-the-less the Dark Knight kept moving and working, never speaking. He picked several things up and secured them in a pocket on his belt.
"I'm done here." The Batman walked towards a corner. "Secure the area and take care of the crowd," He ordered Superman. "Watchtower, one to beam aboard."
There was a shimmer of light and the Dark Knight Detective disappeared.
- - -
"SUPERMAN! SUPERMAN! Lois Lane Daily Planet!" Lois called from the behind the police line. "Care to comment on what happened here?"
"The Justice League is currently undergoing an investigation. We have a clear visual identification of the parties involved but our investigation isn't done yet."
"Will you be revealing your findings with SCU?"
"As soon as our report is done, we will furnish it to the proper authorities so that they may act upon it."
"Have you spoken with Wayne Industries? Bruce Wayne is in town."
Lois was rubbing it in. Hoping to get an official statement because she knew, she'd never get it out from him once they went off the record. It was one of those sad things about knowing who the Justice League were behind the mask and being a journalist.
"Wayne is coordinating with the Justice League in its investigation."
And Superman started to take questions from the other reporters as more SCU teams arrived and began their investigation and securing of the area.
- - -
APOKALIPS WITH its Fire-Pits can only best described as Hellish. This world is ruled by the Dark Lord, Darkseid, a massive figure with red glowing eyes and a god of the fourth pantheon. Apokalips is a world filled with the downtrodden, without hope or aspiration. They serve only their dark master. Darkseid is their will. Darkseid is supreme. Darkseid is law. Darkseid is everything that is. Darkseid is power. Darkseid is.
After conquering the throne of Apokalips, for years, Darkseid had search for an elusive dream. He has sought the Anti-Life Equation--- a means for him to dominate the will of all free beings in the galaxy. Every working moment spent has been to further that goal: the Anti-Life Equation and universal domination.
A smile cracks and for the first time in more than a millenium, Darkseid thinks he is close to that elusive dream. Screams are a normal thing on this hellish world but the screams that echoed across his great hall was music to his ears!
A young woman dressed in blue, red and gold chained by magic was being treated to her twisted form of electroshock therapy by Granny Goodness.
"AAAAHHHH!" Rivers of tears were flowing from Kara Zor-El's eyes.
"My pretty," Granny Goodness leaned and whispered tenderly in Supergirl's ear. "Soon." And a new round of electroshock therapy ensured.
Darkseid moved towards the girl. She was a key to that goal. Universal Domination and his will in every free being in the galaxy!
"It is time, Granny Goodness." Darkseid's deep booming voice echoed.
Darkseid's mind pieced through the young woman's and he saw her very soul. She would be the instrument of his will. She would be his hand, and with he focused his Omega Beams at her head and her screams became louder and any being would weep for Kara Zor-El.
Satisfied, he ordered Kara Zor-El thrown into the Fire-Pit, His pit, a special creation and the transformation began. Parsecs away, The Source trembled and at the Center of the Universe, the Guardians of the Universe for the first time in a billion years felt dread and neither knew why.
The Armies of Apokalips gathered around the Fire-Pit and every creature on the world felt the pull towards the pit.
Kara Zor-El rose from the Fire-Pit of Apokalips! Eyes glowing... power personified.
"Rise my daughter!" Darkseid boomed! And Kara Zor-El, last daughter of Krypton burning with raw power, and wrapped with the symbol of the House of El stepped forward, black and red cape flowing and fell to her knees in front of Darkseid.
"I am yours to command, father" Kara hissed.