Standard Disclaimer: I don't own- (vanishes in a rift)
Author's Notes: Oh my. Oblivion's even affecting the pre-story space. o.o
Anyhow, time to begin the big battle scene! Readers who know Legend Maker are probably going to love me for the cameo in the first scene of some 'special' characters. :D
Begin!
xxxx
Oblivion
xxxx
We close in on a mountain just on the border of Jump City. If one looks carefully, they can see the abandoned ruins of Professor Chang's lab further down the mountainside. But we're not looking at that.
We're looking at the two men on top of the mountain.
"I really really REALLY hate my life," grumbled the first man, his brown hair shortly-cropped. His outfit looked rather casual – blue jeans, black sneakers, and a red T-shirt – but then again, he hadn't really had the time to change into his green uniform. On his wrist was a rather nifty-looking watch that looked like a cooler-looking design reject from the movie Clockstoppers. His green eyes were filled with exasperation, irritation, and frustration (or a combination of all three, if you like).
"You always say that," muttered the slightly shorter man next to him. With his brown cloak-and-hood, tan robes, and tan pants, he looked exactly like a Jedi (that, and the lightsaber clipped to his belt helped). His hood was up, so his hair (which was swept-back and tied into a ponytail, FYI) was hidden. However, his face was a tad younger-looking than the other's, and there was a more childish aspect to it (probably because the other man was so angry all the time).
You've probably guessed who they are.
And if you guessed Anakin and Obi-Wan, you're wrong! It's…PHIL AND RALPH!
That's right. Phil and Ralph of Physics Police fame (if you're reading this Bobcat, please don't kill me). As to why they're here? Well…
"This is just great," grumbled Phil. "I finally get a leave from duty, and I FINALLY get to go on a date with Kiyone, and JUST when we're about to hit third base…O'Connor calls." He then began mocking the voice of his boss. "'Oh no, this mission won't be long! Just get a little dimension hopper back to his own place and fine him for bending the rules of reality!'" Phil snorted. "Little does he know that the MOMENT I arrive, two teenage superheroes merge together and suddenly have enough power to rip a planet to shreds AND completely violate the laws of physics with a sharp, pointy stick."
Ralph winced. "Did you have to use 'violate' and 'sharp, pointy stick' in the same sentence?"
The Physics Policeman grumbled as he rubbed his aching neck. "Whatever. I'm getting freaking tired of being kicked around. You know what? Just to spite O'Connor, I'm not going to help out. I'll let this whole incident resolve itself."
That wouldn't be a good idea Squire.
Oh shut up Arthur!
Ralph arched an eyebrow as Phil hovered into the air. "And…you're really not going to help?"
Green eyes glared at the former janitor. "Before my leave, I had to chase Erik through HQ. AGAIN. I had to fight him. AGAIN. I'm not in the mood to fight with a super-powered being who can turn pillows into nuclear missiles." Phil then ascended higher into the air. "Well, since we're in Universe DC-LM, we might as well make a quick stop in Metropolis. I'm hungry for some McDonald's."
"Phil, there's about five million McDonald's in HQ."
"But THEY don't have the Superburger. Specialty of Metropolis."
"Eh, I suppose." Ralph calmly pulled a small capsule, pressed a button, and threw it onto the ground. It 'BAMFed' into a small puff of smoke, which faded to reveal an A-Wing. "You KNOW you're going to get in trouble for this."
"Don't care. Besides, this universe's denizens can fix their own problems quite well." He then took off.
Can I get a Happy Meal?
No Io.
Please?
No.
Oh come now Squire, why won't thou let the girl have a simple trinket?
I am NOT walking into a McDonald's and ordering a Happy Meal!
Egotistical much?
Io. Shut it.
Spleen?
No, McDonald's does NOT serve spleens!
I still say thou should turn around and face this new foe with valor and courage befitting a king!
DON'T MAKE ME TURN THIS BODY AROUND!
That's what I want thee to do.
"GAAAAAH!' roared Phil as he and Ralph took off to the north.
And so they left Jump City to its fate…
xxxx
Titans Tower…well, what's left of it anyway.
A gigantic pile of rock, metal, glass, and dust is all that remained of it. Oblivion's single attack had brought the Tower to its knees. Just like the Lord's first strike on the Final Night.
However, just like on the Final Night…the Titans survived.
Rocks levitated from the ruin, revealing a black dome of energy. It vanished, revealing Terra moving more of the rocks away from them, as well as the other Titans.
Cyborg grimaced. "Well this is just lovely."
The Teen Wonder growled as he removed rubble his hair with one hand. "Okay…what exactly happened back there?"
"Exactly what it looked like," replied Raven, her violet eyes fixed into a remorseless stare. Yet beneath those eyes, her mind was racing for answers to their newest dilemma. "Robert and Noel have merged together to form a new being…a being with powers imbued from my magic, the Old Ones' technology, and Larry's reality-bending abilities. Not the best combination."
"Dude…" moaned Beast Boy as he shook the dust off of his body (momentarily turning into a dog to do so). "How many times is the Tower going to be destroyed? All my stuff's gone again!"
Ekard Mit gulped. "Oops…I messed up again, didn't I?" fearfully asked Larry.
"No, friend Larry!" exclaimed Starfire with a soothing tone. "You did not make an 'oops'. This is all Slade's 'oops'!"
"Except Slade did it on purpose," growled Robin, his hatred for the mercenary coming up once again. It was ALWAYS Slade…ALWAYS him. There might have been godlike threats in the form of the Lord or Whim…there might have been incredibly powerful metahumans such as Asphyxiation or Godsend…but when it came right down to it, the one who would always, always, ALWAYS cause the most damage to the Titans…was Slade Wilson…Deathstroke the Terminator. "Okay Titans, we need to focus now. Savior and Gauntlet have combined into a new being."
Terra asked, "Didn't he call himself 'Oblivion'?"
Cyborg snorted. "Fitting name."
BOOM!
Everyone gazed at the city; an explosion had just consumed a building (a condemned one, naturally. The Superhero Guidebook declares that the first target of supervillains is ALWAYS an abandoned building. Usually a hotel.). Oddly enough, the building – upon exploding – had turned into blue Kool-Aid.
Raven sweatdropped. "He's already putting his reality-altering powers to work. Intentionally or unintentionally is anyone's guess."
"Let's hope it's the latter," muttered Robin. Larry's powers didn't bother him…precisely because of Larry. He was an innocent. But this 'Oblivion'…he had the minds of two Titans. Of particular worry was Noel…especially his tactical side. He'd rather not have that part of Noel's persona manifest in Oblivion (after all, why fight an enemy when you could simply manipulate the enemy's body and turn him into taffy?).
"Just to let you all know," spoke Raven, her voice slightly morose. "I still felt part of Noel and Robert inside Oblivion before he leapt away…but it seemed as if they were being slowly buried beneath that body's new psyche."
Beast Boy blinked. "Uh…and?"
Raven glared. "If we're going to try and rescue our friends, we need to be quick about it."
"Raven's right," said Robin, his body tensing; a battle was nearing, and he was as ready as ever for it. "Our first priority is to minimize damage to the city. Raven, Terra, Beast Boy, evacuate as many people as you can. Cyborg, Starfire, with me. We're going after Oblivion."
"What about me?" asked Ekard Mit with bashful eyes.
Robin knelt down beside his doppleganger, smiling warmly. "You just wait here and cheer us on."
Larry smiled. "I can do that. YAY! Go Robin, go Robin, go Robin, GO! Titans for the win! WAHA!"
Raven flew off, leading Beast Boy (as an eagle) and Terra (on a rock) towards downtown Jump City. Starfire, carrying Robin and Cyborg with one hand each, flew off in the direction Oblivion had gone.
xxxx
Oblivion stood atop a building, his golden armor shimmering in the sunlight. It wasn't even noon yet…but many people had gone out for their lunch break. Which meant lots of people on the streets. Which meant lots of screaming when Oblivion used a Glimmer hammer to flatten a condemned apartment building like a pancake.
The fused warrior calmly jumped down from atop the building, using several Glimmer strands to slow his fall. The golden lines formed long legs that bent to ease his momentum. When he stepped onto the road, the impact was as meek as a kitten.
"OBLIVION!"
The teenage fusion gazed skyward. Starfire was in the air, holding Robin and Cyborg…and then she promptly threw the latter at him. The cybernetic teen brought his foot forward. "Try this on for size!"
BAM!
Oblivion was sent skidding backward by the collision; Cyborg's metal foot might have left an imprint in his chest, had the shield of the Gauntlet not been in place. As it was…it only made him irritated. "Leave me be."
"No can do Oblivion," said Robin as he was set down by Cyborg. "You're causing a lot of damage…and we're going to stop you."
The fusion scowled. "You can try."
"Fine by me!" whooped Cyborg as he unleashed his Sonic Cannon. The blue stream rocketed toward Oblivion, who promptly formed a large Glimmer barrier in front of him. The sonic blast wasn't breaking through. But before Cyborg could increase the cannon's power, a Glimmer boxing glove erupted from the barrier and smashed into his face. "DWAH!" yelped Victor Stone as he was sent backwards by about fifty yards.
Oblivion retracted the barrier-
CHOOMCHOOMCHOOMCHOOMCHOOM!
Just as five exploding discs impacted the ground around him, kicking up a cloud of dust and dirt. Almost immediately, a torrent of Starbolts tore into his position, kicking up remnants of the now-ruined road.
Robin yelled, "Don't let up Starfire!"
"I do not want to kill our friends Robin!"
"Trust me Star, keep going!" If Oblivion's as strong as I think he is…this won't even scratch him.
As if answering his prediction, a Glimmer strand erupted from the cloud and wrapped around Starfire, who could only shriek as she was slung down into the road at high speed, resulting in an even bigger cloud of rock and powder. Oblivion calmly walked out of the dirty haze…and like Robin predicted, there was nary a scratch.
Oblivion glared at Robin. "I don't want to hurt you."
Robin arched an eyebrow, although he quickly recovered. "You're destroying the city."
"I have no choice."
"Yes you do."
"I have too much power. You expect a body like this to hold it all in?"
"Excuses. You're causing senseless destruction, and I WILL stop you." Robin whipped out his bo staff.
Oblivion scowled. The consciousness that now commanded the fused body of Savior and Gauntlet was starting to get fed up. He had a new psyche; although knowledgeable in how to handle the power within him, he had the emotional maturity of an infant…for although he was spawned from both Noel and Robert, the sheer power had utterly overwhelmed all higher thought processes…leaving only instinct and the rawest forms of emotion.
And when one who operates on gut instinct gets angry…there is no controlling it.
"SO BE IT."
Oblivion roared as multiple Glimmer strands tore into the ground, kicking up car-sized sections of pavement. However, they suddenly contorted into the form of basic quadrupeds…and they spawned mouths.
Robin blanched; Oblivion had just turn pavement into – essentially – Dobermans. Okay, this is bad.
The Rock Hounds snarled and howled as they leapt at the Teen Wonder. Robin dove under the first, bringing his armored boots up into the next one. It shattered into tiny pieces, but the others were immediately upon him. He quickly swung his bo staff around in a circle, smashing several of the Rock Hounds. One paw grazed his side (thank goodness for armored clothing), but it didn't tear. The one responsible was immediately smashed. Almost immediately, a Rock Hound rammed its head into his back, sending him forward towards another. This beast sank its teeth into his shoulder…and they sunk. Robin howled as he punched the beast in the head. It kept its teeth in, even as Robin's punches continued to chip away at its skull. Finally, it let go…because there was no more head. Robin grimaced as he pulled out rocky teeth, smashing the others with his armored feet. However, he had a new problem; his left shoulder now had a serious wound. "Just great."
KABOOM!
Robin looked up as another building vanished before Oblivion's power. This time, the dust became locusts that buzzed everywhere (Godsend would've likened it to the Biblical plague of locusts that befell Egypt) throughout Jump City, searching for nourishment. Oblivion continued on, his Glimmer lines slashing through abandoned cars like a hot knife through butter (literally; one of the cars actually melted into butter upon contact with the Glimmer).
Robin frowned. We're going to need the others.
"Robin…?"
Robin turned to see Starfire floating (her head sporting a nasty bump, but she was fine otherwise). Her green eyes stared at the bloody wound on his shoulder. "You are injured."
"Nothing Raven won't be able to fix," answered Robin. "Cyborg can give me some anesthetics to dull the pain. But we have to keep Oblivion from destroying anything else."
Starfire's eyes glowed bright green. "He will NOT." The Tamaranean roared as she charged after Oblivion.
Robin stared…and grimaced as he felt the sting in his shoulder. "Agh…"
"Somebody call for a first aid-kit?"
The leader of the Titans turned around to face Cyborg – the metallic half of his face sporting a large dent, but otherwise he was fine – pulling a small tube out of a slot in his left arm. A small needle popped out of the tip. "If you act like a big boy and don't cry, I'll give you a lollipop."
Robin chuckled. "Sure…no cherry though."
xxxx
"HRAAAAAAAA!"
Oblivion turned around-
SLAM!
Two glowing fists of green slammed into his face, sending him careening backwards along the world. Starbolts peppered his body, even as he stood to face the enraged Tamaranean.
"YOU HAVE HURT ROBIN!" roared Starfire as she fired eye lasers at Oblivion. The fusion warrior's right hand glowed white as he formed a reflective shield – it looked like a mirror – out of air molecules, bouncing the lasers back at her. Reality-altering powers were amazing things; with them, you could alter molecules to form anything you desired.
It was something that would soon be brought into play on a grander scale…but in the meantime, Oblivion sprouted two-dozen razor-sharp Glimmer lines that lashed at Starfire, cutting into her skin. She didn't care; she was too busy focused on pummeling the monster that her friends had become to care.
Her friends had…become…
That was right, wasn't it? Friend Noel and friend Robert were still in there…
So as Starfire punched the living daylights out of Oblivion…she suddenly hesitated.
And that allowed the dazed metahuman to regain his focus…and his blue eyes flared with rage. "THAT HURT." The Glimmer wrapped around a nearby lamppost, and the twenty-foot structure suddenly became as elastic as a rubber band. Oblivion reared the Glimmer and swung.
THWAP!
It was like a fly swatter swatting a fly. Except when the lamppost hit Kory from above, it retained its metallic mass and feel. You can probably guess what that meant.
Starfire created another crater in the road, this time causing a shockwave that shattered nearby windows. Fortunately, Cyborg and Robin were immediately on the attack…and they were using their infamous tag team attack.
"I got the Sonic!" Cyborg charged his sonic cannon.
"And I've got the Boom!" Robin threw another explosive disc, although this one was of a special make; at least five times the destructive power of his regular discs.
Cyborg fired. The blue stream of sonic energy slammed into the explosive disc.
Oblivion vanished in a wave of white energy, his body careening into a building with an almighty crash. The collision caused the entire edifice to collapse upon the fused teen; he was now buried under several tons of stone and metalwork.
For all the good that would do…but it was enough to stall for some time. Even as the rubble began to shift.
xxxx
"Ooh…" Starfire opened her eyes, feeling a distinct pain in her head. "Raven…?"
"Your skull had a hairline fracture around the forehead. I healed it." Raven touched her head lightly; she had already absorbed the pain from Robin's wound, and now she had the pain of a fracture to deal with it. But it was nothing; she had endured far worse.
Speaking of Robin, he was talking to Beast Boy. "So everything around us for 200 yards is clear?"
Beast Boy nodded. "The police are taking care of the rest of the evacuations. Since most of the hospitals are in the downtown area, we figured we could come and help once we got a little breathing room."
"Thanks BB. We'll need all the room we could get," replied Cyborg as he stared at the mountain of dirt and stone. It was starting to rumble from within.
"And even then it might not be enough. Our friends have truly become a powerful foe," remarked Starfire with a frown as she hovered in the air. Her body was tense; after slung into the ground twice, she had to be more careful.
Terra, on the other hand, was grinning. "That collapsed building is PERFECT. I'll try and compact it!" The geokinetic's hands glowed yellow as she began manipulating the dirt and rock, pushing it inward in the hopes of injuring Oblivion…somewhat.
But it was all for naught, as a massive colossus rose from the ruin, standing at 100 feet tall. Its appearance was bedraggled and junky (to be expected), but the outline was uncanny; it seemed like the…
"MegaZord?" Beast Boy facefaulted. "Is Oblivion a Power Rangers fan or something?"
"Gauntlet, perhaps," remarked Raven. "Its most likely a subconscious manifestation of one of Gauntlet's memories."
Terra's hands glowed yellow again. "Doesn't matter, it's going down! HUAAAA!" The 'MegaZord' began to break apart-
A flash of white light.
All of a sudden, its body was no longer composed of raw materials. It was now an exact duplicate of the MegaZord itself…except instead of looking like a man in an cardboard suit, it now looked like the high-tech weapon of mechanized destruction it was meant to be…except this time, it wasn't in the hands of the good guys.
For Oblivion now stood atop the MegaZord's head, his Glimmer lines linked with the machine. "Crush them."
The massive multi-colored mech's yellow eyes flashed as a laser blast erupted from the two horns atop the MegaZord's head, blasting at the Teen Titans.
"SCATTER!" roared Robin as everyone ran for cover. The females took to the air while the boys sought shelter from below.
Of course, it wouldn't help to retaliate in some fashion. Cyborg unleashed a Sonic Cannon blast. The sound-based stream crashed into the MegaZord's breastplate (resembling a red mouth with razor-sharp teeth). It did virtually nothing.
Beast Boy howled in protest. "DUDE! That's so not fair! Aren't they supposed to explode in a bunch of sparks and fall over whenever they're hit?"
"Apparently, this baby's playing by new rules!" retorted Cyborg as the MegaZord's right foot – the yellow Sabertooth Tiger – nearly crushed. "I'm more worried about copyright infringement! What if a Saban executive sees this thing?"
"Less jokes, more action!" roared Robin as he swung away from another MegaZord laser blast with his grappling hook.
Meanwhile, Starfire, Raven, and Terra were trying to get to Oblivion…but the MegaZord kept swinging its massive sword around, preventing them from getting any closer. The blonde Titan frowned as she willed several large pieces of rubble (we're talking at least 200 hundred pounds here) into the air and catapulted them at the MegaZord with a thought.
One slash annihilated every single rock that Terra had thrown. Her jaw dropped out of disbelief. "Oh please! Why can't it act like a guy in a clunky suit?"
"Because it's not a guy in a clunky suit anymore," replied Raven as her eyes glowed white. "Azarath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" A black aura covered the entire sword, and it bent downward on itself.
The MegaZord glanced at its ruined sword for a second before throwing it at Starfire. The Tamaranean squeaked as it slammed into her, sending her flying. Terra immediately began moving in for the attack…but then stopped when two MORE laser cannons emerged from the back of the MegaZord. "Uh oh."
Lasers filled the air as Terra weaved in and out of the crossfire, looking more like a surfer at the moment. Then she had a wipeout when her rock was blasted into smithereens. "AAAAAH!" screamed Terra as she started falling.
Her fall was much shorter than expected, for she landed on the back of a green pterodactyl. "Oh. Thanks BB!"
"Don't mention it Terra," screeched the Changeling, his voice sounding high-pitched due to his current form.
Meanwhile, Raven was once again on the attack. "Azarath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" Segments of the broken road rose into the air, slamming into the MegaZord. This only caused Oblivion to frown as he manipulated the MegaZord's inner workings, causing two large cannons to slide up from the mech's back. The empath paled as she was targeted by the massive weapons. "Uh oh."
"Farewell," muttered Oblivion, the cannons charging with red energy.
Then…the unexpected happened; Schmidt's Law kicked in: never eat prunes when you're hungry.
…wait. Wrong one.
Let's see…Nader's Law…Acton's Law…ah, here we go. Murphy's Law.
What can go wrong will go wrong.
For a red and blue blur suddenly slammed into the MegaZord, toppling it over to the ground. Oblivion blinked as he jumped away from the falling mech, landing on the road some distance away (and using his powers to turn the pavement into a trampoline at the last moment). However, before he could retaliate, a green energy field wrapped around him and threw him into the air, moments before a flying woman slammed a fist into his face, sending him straight through several buildings before stopping.
At the same time, a red and yellow blur zoomed over the fallen robot. Moments later, it fell apart into hundreds of pieces, its body and inner workings dislocated at every gear, joint, and wire.
The Titans gathered around the MegaZord, just as the four new arrivals stood in front of them.
Robin blinked out of shock. Starfire gasped out of surprise. Cyborg nearly cleaned his eyes with industrial-strength cleaner (then he remembered that would possibly melt his biological eye). Raven arched an eyebrow out of slight disbelief. Terra fell to her rear out of utter shock; this was the first time she had seen THESE people up close.
In the end, Beast Boy put it best. "Dude…"
They were unmistakable.
Superman, the Man of Steel.
Wonder Woman, the Amazon Warrior.
The Flash, Fastest Man Alive.
And the Green Lantern…more specifically, the boring one.
John Stewart glared at the sky. "And what do you mean by that?"
Your only use for the ring is to shoot lasers! At least Hal Jordan was more creative.
"Can you just focus on the story?"
CRASH!
Barring that collapse of the fourth wall, of course.
Robin was amazed. What's the Justice League doing here? Take note that this was before the Thanagarian takeover of Earth…and hence before the advent of the JLU. Which meant John Stewart had his old look: closely shaven black hair and a clean face (better than his Unlimited makeover in any case). Regaining his composure, the leader of the Titans. "This is unexpected. What are you four doing here?"
Superman (goodness, he was so imposing…the mere sight of him were causing some of the Titans to get shaky knees. And you couldn't blame them; this was SUPERMAN) answered, "We were dealing with a magical beast summoned by Vandal Savage, who was dabbling in some ancient underground ruins in the Bahamas."
"Which beast?" asked Raven.
"Behemoth."
The sorceress paled. "You mean THE-?"
"Same mythical beast of legend, got it," said Flash with his ever-confident grin. "As if that wasn't bad enough, turns out our battle with Behemoth woke up another mythical beast who happened to be napping on the ocean floor. What was it, uh…Levitate?"
"Leviathan," corrected Green Lantern.
Raven blinked. "And…you subdued them?"
"It took awhile, but we managed to suppress them long enough for Dr. Fate to come and seal them away for us," replied Wonder Woman. "We were about to head back to the Watchtower when J'onn called us; he was getting some strange energy readings from Florida, originating in Jump City."
"And since we were practically a stone's throw away, we figured we'd make a quick stop! Seems like it's a good thing we did too," finished Flash as he gazed down the road at the row of buildings that now sported several holes, forming the line through which Oblivion had fell. "Geez Diana, you punch him hard enough?"
The warrior of Themyscira casually replied, "Considering what J'onn said was emanating from this city, I doubt that would put him down for long."
"You'd be right on that one," replied Cyborg as his systems did a quick self-diagnostic. "My systems are still rarin' to go Robin."
"So what's the situation?" asked the Kryptonian superhero.
Robin sighed – he had to calm himself down, this was a fellow hero…but it was SUPERMAN – as he regained his composure. "Long story short, two of our teammates were merged together by a magic spell gone wrong. They're Savior and Gauntlet. The spell's malfunction was due to interference from Slade-"
Green Lantern blinked. "Slade? As in Deathstroke the Terminator?"
"Yeah," answered Beast Boy somewhat shyly. "He's to us what Joker is to Batman……………can I have an autograph by the way?"
The black man smiled. "Since you have to deal with a villain like Deathstroke all the time, I'll give you two when this all over."
This sent Beast Boy into a fit of giggles as he scurried over to Cyborg, his eyes filled with the starriness normally associated with hero worship. "Dude, did you hear THAT? TWO autographs!"
"Can the hero worship Beast Boy," ordered Robin. "We have a battle to contend with, remember?" He turned towards the four Justice Leaguers. "As I was saying, the miscast spell caused our two teammates to fuse together into a being that calls himself Oblivion. As a side-effect of Slade's interference, my doppleganger from another dimension lost his reality-altering powers. Now Oblivion has them. Combine that with Raven's magic-based essence, Savior's nervous system, and Gauntlet's…well, Gauntlet, and you have a lot of power. So much so that he has no control over it."
"As far as I can tell, Oblivion's new psyche is composed of two parts: raw emotion and basic instinct. As a result of this, it's easy to get him mad…and that's a very bad thing." Raven gazed at the buildings Wonder Woman had sent Oblivion through; the last one was beginning to glow white. "And it looks like he's up and running again."
Robin grimaced. "Man…I hate to ask this, but we appreciate the help."
"Don't mention it," replied Flash with a shrug. "After all, you kids WERE the ones who dealt with the Final Night and the Last Wish. I say it's about time we grownups lend a hand."
The Teen Wonder nodded as he turned to the Man of Steel. "So…you're obviously the most experienced of us all. Any ideas on what to do?"
Oddly enough, Kal-El smiled at this. "This is the Titans' city. And you're their leader. You make the call."
Robin blinked as the other Titans stared in shock. Superman had all but outright put himself under his command. To be blunt, Tim Drake was now the temporary leader of Earth's greatest superhero…as well as Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, and the Flash to boot.
"Okay then…" Robin quickly returned to 'Leader' mode as he turned to the Flash. "Flash, I need you to first assist with the evacuations. We managed to get everywhere within 200 yards evacuated, but at the rate this battle's going, we'll be running out of room soon. Get everyone at least one mile outside of the city limits."
Flash nodded. "Okay…so how many people are in this city?"
"Roughly 1.3 million."
"Hmm. Okay, gotcha. Gimme about five minutes. Maybe ten at the most." Then he was gone in a burst of red.
Robin turned to Superman. "Superman, I want you to assist Starfire and Raven in an aerial support role." He turned to Diana. "Wonder Woman, you'll be with me and Beast Boy in close-quarters combat." Finally, he faced John Stewart. "Green Lantern, you, Cyborg, and Terra will be our artillery."
"Long-distance support." His eyes flashed green in unison with his power ring. "Understood."
Rumbling.
The nine heroes turned to face the nearest building that Wonder Woman had sent Oblivion through. It was no more, as a series of Glimmer lines had torn through it. The golden man walked out of the smoke, his crystal blue eyes set into a hardened glare that would've made most men wet themselves. If there was one word to describe the look on his face…it was 'rage'.
And boy oh boy, was he mad. "You…HURT me…"
The intellect that commanded the body now knew something else; it didn't like pain. At all.
"…RRRRR…" His right hand suddenly glowed as the Glimmer formed an extra-large hand, which he used to tear through the road. Moments later, he pulled a water main up.
"What is he doing?" asked Terra.
The water main glowed…and reformed into an exact replica of the four-barreled AA gun known as the Flakvierling. However, instead of bullets as ammo…Oblivion had water.
John Stewart paled. "EVERYONE, FIND COVER!"
The Glimmer latched onto the controls of the Flakvierling, and Oblivion opened fire. Watery projectiles erupted from the four barrels with a strangely quiet sound, as there was no explosives involved; only water pressure. Nevertheless, these 'hydro bullets' were infinitely more deadly than the metal ones used during World War II. If pressurized enough, water could cut a hole through practically anything.
Green Lantern immediately formed a shield that spanned the street, protecting those on the ground from the barrage. However, it wasn't meant to last. "Scatter! I can't hold this forever!"
Robin turned to Wonder Woman and Beast Boy. "We'll go around through the alleys and strike him by surprise."
Wonder Woman and Beast Boy nodded as they dashed through the alleyways. Terra, meanwhile, willed dozens of rocks and all shapes and sizes into the air above. "Here's the main course!" She heaved her arms forward, causing the multitude of rocks to begin their bombardment.
Oblivion trained the sights of the Flakvierling on the incoming boulders, chipping away at them with a barrage of water. Try as she might, Terra couldn't manipulate her storm of storm fast enough to get closer to the golden fighter.
Of course, there was another Stone who could do the job. Victor Stone, that is.
For Cyborg suddenly jumped off one of the larger boulders, past the highest angle of fire that the Flakvierling could aim, and armed his Sonic Cannon. "BOOYAH!" He fired.
A Glimmer strand suddenly WRAPPED AROUND the sonic blast…and froze it. Cyborg could only pale as the golden strand of energy wrapped around the frozen energy stream and sent him flying with a well-timed hit. "THAT'S JUST NOT RIIIIIIIIIIIIGHT….!"
Green Lantern was having a double take of his own. "How could he freeze sound waves? That's physically impossible!" After all, sound was a wave; to stop a sound wave, one would have to utterly stop the wave at the molecular level, and once that happened, sound ceased to exist. Hence, one couldn't 'freeze' sound. At least not in the way Oblivion had just did it.
Terra grimaced as Cyborg landed behind the Green Lantern's shield. "I'm beginning to see why Savior didn't like Larry's reality-altering powers. They can be a real pain!"
In the air, Starfire and Superman each let loose their respective eye-based powers; laser vision and heat vision. Green and red energy collided against the Flakvierling, shattering it. Oblivion immediately formed two Glimmer lines that grew into 'mouths'; each mouth gobbled up a metal beam from the fallen building behind him and started spitting golden bullets up at the aerial combatants (complete with the cartoony spit sound effect).
Superman impulsively got in front of the bullets…and blanched as they exploded upon his body. Acid bullets?
"Azarath, Metrion, ZINTHOS!" Raven coated the bullets with her black aura and redirected them at Oblivion. Although the ground around him disappeared – eaten away by the acid – he was unscathed, thanks to the shield provided by the Gauntlet portion of his powers.
Oblivion was not done; he clapped his hands together, and the sound waves that traveled upward towards the three suddenly turned into iron crescents, sharper than a sword.
Starfire squeaked as she dodged. Superman backpedaled just as Raven's body was swallowed by darkness. "Superman, come to me!" The Kryptonian turned around just as he was swallowed by the darkness within Raven…and then they both disappeared…
…and reappeared right behind Oblivion, who turned with a look of displeasure. Raven threw her cloak open, revealing a charging Superman. Even Oblivion couldn't help but look stunned.
BAM!
He was sent skidding along the ground, coming to a stop fifty yards away as windows shattered from the force of the blow. The fused Titan growled; that blow had actually dented his breastplate! But in the end, it didn't matter; his nervous system dealt with the pain, while his magical aura healed the wound itself.
But even so, he was caught off guard again, this time by two teens and an Amazon warrior charging from the dark alleyway.
Beast Boy – as a ram – rammed (lolpun) his head into Oblivion's abdomen.
Robin struck the side of Oblivion's face with his bo staff.
Wonder Woman gave Oblivion's torso a double-fisted punch.
Result: he was sent skidding again, this time carving an even longer trench in the ruined road (heck, Wonder Woman was nearly as strong as Superman, if not AS strong).
He came to a stop by the Green Lantern's shield.
John Stewart eyed the dazed teen. "I believe you've been causing some damage." He formed a massive mallet with his ring and smashed it into Oblivion. Terra immediately added by willing the earth to swallow him whole, creating an impromptu grave.
Oblivion had been put down for now. But not forever.
Green Lantern flew over to the others. "A tricky little son of a gun. Will that hold him?"
"I doubt it," grumbled Cyborg. "The guy's like fighting a brick wall!"
Wonder Woman frowned as the rubble began to shift. "He's beginning to move." Something told her – call it gut instinct – that something REALLY big was about to happen.
Flash suddenly skidded to a stop beside them. "Hey guys, what I miss?"
"RRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGHHH!"
The ground within a twenty-yard diameter of Oblivion was vaporized as a white column of light erupted from the ground, causing the road to quake. When the light ceased, Oblivion floated in the sky…and he was utterly ticked off. The power within his body was radiating in DROVES…
And, as an unexpected result, cracks began to appear.
In the sky, that is. And in buildings. And in the road.
"Uh…is the sky about to fall?" muttered Beast Boy as he lookedfearfully at the sky.
"No…those are rifts," replied Raven. "Where they lead, I can't say."
Superman's face contorted into an expression of displeasure as his sense of smell detected a strange scent in the air, emanating from the rifts… "Ozone…coming from the rifts…"
At that moment, one of the rifts on the ground spawned a herd of fleeing dinosaurs: the duckbilled Maiasaurus. They were being chased by the bigger and nastier cousin of the Velociraptor: the Utahraptor.
Beast Boy blinked at the sight. "Uh…wha…?"
Then two German Junkers Ju87 dive-bombers – better known as Stuka dive-bombers – flew out of a rift in the sky. And they were being chased by Black Condor of the famous Freedom Fighters. The Stukas whirled around to avoid the flying superhero and dove back into the rift, with the Freedom Fighter following close behind. In yet another rift, ravenous demons came out, charging at another rift from which cute little squirrels emerged.
Then the squirrels promptly pulled out bazookas and blew the demons to bits.
The Titans sweatdropped. The Flash muttered, "O…kay…so why's everything going haywire?"
"Too much power," muttered Cyborg as his robotic eye scanned the area around Oblivion. "His realtiy-altering powers and magical abilities are conflicting with each other, and they're opening holes in the fabric of reality as a result. And with all that power he's radiating, more are gonna open."
Robin scowled. "It's like the Chronoton Destablizer all over again…it seems that these rifts lead to different timelines as well. But their presence here can't be good; what if some powerful force emerges from a portal, feeling curious? Remember the world where the Lord won? I don't want to see a rift leading to THERE. The last thing we need is a guy like him."
"…and yet, it may just be the key to our success."
Everyone turned to Raven, who was staring at the slowly growing number of white tears in the air around them. "Not to be insulting…but considering the massive amount of power Oblivion possesses, I don't think the Justice League alone will be enough to help us win this battle." The empath stared at them with calm eyes of purple, even as an enraged Oblivion advanced towards them. "I'm going. Stall for time if you have to."
"Wait. Where are you going?" asked Wonder Woman.
"Yes friend Raven, tell us why you are leaving?" asked a fearful Starfire.
She gazed at a jagged portal in the sky…and as Oblivion leapt into the air, she spoke.
"To get backup." And then Raven vanished in a dim flash of black energy.
This happened just as Oblivion descended toward them, several dozen Glimmer threads emerging from his back. They were thrashing about, giving off the appearance of a maelstrom that would utterly eviscerate anything it touched.
Flash gulped. "Oh boy, that's not good."
xxxx
"Hmm…I never quite expected the Justice League to show up and assist them…" Deathstroke smiled nonetheless. "And yet, Oblivion is holding his own quite well…"
But it was the appearance of these new rifts in reality that intrigued him the most…for they, like the spell that had stuck Robert and Noel's hands together, presented…opportunities.
Opportunities that Slade would only be too happy to explore.
xxxx
To be continued…
Next time…
Crisis
xxxx
Author's Notes: Phil and Ralph belong to Bobcat. The superheroes (you know who they are) belong to DC. And I am tired now.
See you soon, and please review! (sleeps)