Welcome back to The Injustice Wars. Last time, Darkblood finally revealed the full reason he was in The Trench, recruiting Hank Henshaw, alias Cyborg Superman, to the Empire. But while there, Darkblood got an unexpected surprise, as Cyborg Superman revealed someone else kept prisoner where he was. A hunk of rock that used to be a man named Gril Pyrogen. But with a little help from Raven and Darkblood's fire, Pyrogen was released and became one of the Big Three of the Empire, the magma demon Psycho Burner. With this recruit, the Empire outgrew their barn and moved to the fabled Nameless City deep beneath the Himalayas. But now it's time we left the Empire behind for a bit. There's another faction we need to explore a bit more. Which one am I talking about? Read on to discover...
(Our story resumes back in Vandal Savage's observation zone, where he appears to be analyzing a set of schematics, while communicating with someone via an earpiece)
Vandal Savage: The architecture of this prison is unlike any I have seen. Breaking out our target will not be easy.
(At this point, we transition to the prison and find exactly who Vandal Savage is talking to, it's Belial Aether, who's apparently crawling through the vents with a package on his back.)
Belial Aether: Nobody said doing what needs to be done was going to be easy, V.
Vandal Savage: Please, stop calling me that.
Belial Aether: Nickname or no, you get the point. (Thinking about it) Remind me again how we decided on recruiting her exactly?
Vandal Savage: With Superman on the loose, someone who knew the ins and outs of his forces would be a great asset.
Belial Aether: Wasn't she this Superman guy's most ardent follower? Or at least one of them
Vandal Savage: For as diabolical as he appeared, Superman relied upon the same simple brainwashing as all dictators did. I have broken it as many times as I have employed it in my years of life.
Belial Aether: I'm taking your word for that.
Vandal Savage: You should be nearing her cell now.
Belial Aether: This better work, else my face is about to get bashed in.
(At this point, we see exactly who's cell he's talking about, as looking down from the vents, we see a face unseen since the Regime fell, one Shayera Hol, alias Hawkgirl.)
Belial Aether: Well, down we go.
(And with that, Belial Aether breaks through the vent in the ceiling and drops down into Hawkgirl's cell, catching her off guard)
Hawkgirl: Who are you? What are you doing here?
Belial Aether: Let's just say I'm a friend.
Hawkgirl: Who sent you? Adam? Diana?
Belial Aether: I sent myself, thank you very much.
Hawkgirl: Are you with the Regime at least?
Belial Aether: I'm no fan of dictators, my dear.
Hawkgirl: (Getting up to confront Belial Aether) Superman was no dictator. He was the only one who could protect this world effectively.
Belial Aether: Really? Then how'd he get his tail beat by a bat with no powers?
Hawkgirl: Batman didn't even participate in that battle. It was those dragons who temporarily defeated Superman.
Belial Aether: Temporarily? It was five years ago last I heard, going on six I think.
Hawkgirl: It's still only temporary. No doubt you've heard that Superman's back out. The Regime will rise again, and soon we will take this world back.
Belial Aether: I know about the place you held in this Regime, at least kind of.
Hawkgirl: I was one of Superman's most devoted followers.
Belial Aether: Then riddle me this. If that's the case, why are you still stuck in here while he and the rest of his cronies run free?
Hawkgirl: They're probably just trying to locate me, that's all.
Belial Aether: Wow, you really have drunk the Kool-Aid, haven't you?
Hawkgirl: What are you talking about?
Belial Aether: It's clear to me Superman doesn't care about you. The minute he finds someone else he can manipulate, especially if they're stronger than you, he'll drop you like a load of bricks. And based on the fact that you're still here, he probably already has.
Hawkgirl: You're lying. Superman would never abandon me. He's not like Katar was.
Belial Aether: Katar? Who's Katar?
Hawkgirl: My ex-husband. Came here to try and take us both back to Thanagar. Superman talked to him and said I was still needed here. Then next thing I know, Katar just... left. He gave up on me, or so Superman told me.
Belial Aether: (Remembering this bit of intel from the unseen planning phase) And that's how he got your intense loyalty, isn't it?
Hawkgirl: I lost all respect for Thanagar at that point. I knew where I was wanted, where I was needed, and who needed me.
Belial Aether: What if I told you that what Superman told you was a complete fabrication?
Hawkgirl: I'd bash your face in if I had my mace.
Belial Aether: Well hold on a minute, there's more. What if I had proof that Superman murdered Katar and then faked him returning to Thanagar without you.
Hawkgirl: He would never.
(At this point, Belial Aether reaches into the backpack he brought with him and pulls out a tablet, and cues up a video on it.)
Belial Aether: This might convince you.
(Now we see the video Belial Aether cues up, showing Hawkgirl exactly what happened in Year 5 of the Injustice comics, when Superman, confronted by Hawkman with a Kryptonite mace, fights and kills the avian superhero, before meeting with Diana to cover up his death so they don't lose Hawkgirl's loyalty. Seeing this, as well as realizing Superman was never coming for her, changes something in Hawkgirl's eyes, as if some sort of blinder has been removed. As of now, she realizes exactly what she's become.)
Hawkgirl: (Falling to her knees) What have I done...?
Belial Aether: You've been manipulated by the greatest tool of the dictator's arsenal, the Noble Lie. Just about every dictator throughout history has used it. I bet, deep in your heart, you knew what was going on was wrong. But only now have the Regime's blinders been lifted, allowing you to see it.
Hawkgirl: Why? Why are you showing me this?
Belial Aether: (Helping Hawkgirl up) I offer a chance at redemption. And at revenge if that strikes your fancy.
Hawkgirl: Oh, you bet it does. Superman's going to pay for lying to me all these years!
Belial Aether: And I've got some friends who can help you with that.
Hawkgirl: Unless your friends can break through this wall, I'm not sure how much help they're going to be.
Belial Aether: I brought our way out.
(With that, Belial Aether opens his back and dumps out the contents, revealing Hawkgirl's helmet and mace. With a smile on her face, Hawkgirl puts on her old helmet and picks up her mace, which glows with energy at her touch)
Hawkgirl: Let's get out of here.
(Now determined to get her revenge on Superman, Hawkgirl energizes her mace and bashes open the wall before extending her wings and grabbing Belial Aether's hand before flying out of here. At this point, Belial Aether can hear a slight chuckle in his earpiece)
Belial Aether: (To Vandal Savage back at headquarters) What's so funny?
Vandal Savage: Hearing you reference the Noble Lie caught me off guard, and it fit so perfectly. Plato would be proud.
Belial Aether: You talk about it like you knew him.
Vandal Savage: I did. Kind of. I knew someone who studied under him. Learned a lot from him actually.
Belial Aether: Wait, are you telling me you were a student of Aristotle? Who are you, Alexander the Great?
Vandal Savage: No, that was my son. I observed some of his lessons at first.
Belial Aether: Well. Good to know.
(And as Belial Aether and Hawkgirl fly off, our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good spot to wrap up on for now. So, looks like the Republic has recruited Hawkgirl, one of the more fanatical members of the Regime per my research. When Yami's list of Republic members included Hawkgirl, I was seriously looking forward to figuring out how I was going to keep her off the Regime's roster. I think this works. And as to Vandal Savage's alternate historical name here, I figured making him Alexander the Great would be too easy, but making him Phillip II of Macedon, Alexander's father, seemed a lot more doable. This is not one of his confirmed historical identities, like Genghis Khan or Blackbeard, but is exclusive to this story, since Injustice really hasn't introduced Vandal Savage that I can find. So, now that Hawkgirl's in the Republic, what awaits? Tune in next time to find out! Same time... same channel!