Summer 2020
Gemma finally entered the VR world to trigger the deaths of billions. Upon arriving in VR, she found herself in Metropolis. It was night and stormy. Looking on either side of her, she saw Brainiac 5 drones lined up on the sidewalks. She then saw Brainiac 5 drones looking down upon her from the skyscrapers. The entire city, the entire virtual realm was nothing but Brainiac 5 drones without a single actual human user. All the drones were in suits and tie while wearing sunglasses. Brainiac 5 had booted over 2 billion users out of the system, prevented their return, collected their information, and controlled their avatars with millions of drones.
Knowing Gemma herself would only enter the VR if she believed she had been successful, Brainiac 5, Lex, and Kara had done everything possible to make her Obsidian World Unity Festival a success to draw her into the digital world for the ultimate trap. In the virtual world, Brainiac 5 was the Superman.
A single Brainiac 5 drone casually walked up to her. "Like what I did with the place?" he asked her.
Gemma glared at him still not realizing what was happening. "It ends tonight," she spat.
"I know it does. I've seen it. That's why the rest of me is just going to watch the show," Brainiac 5 smirked.
"I am Gememnae. I am the goddess of technology. What are you?" Gemma said to him.
"I'm a Brainiac," Brainiac 5 said simply. "I must compliment you for keeping your ship secret from me for so long. But now, it is in my hands."
"These humans you protect are destroying this world. Can't you see that?" Gemma asked him.
"In the future, humans will seed life across the galaxy turning dead moons into complex ecosystems. The environmental damage on one planet is insignificant to human potential. And if I truly wanted to, I could completely scrap this existing ecosystem with a new one. So, as you can see, I have it all figured out," Brainiac 5 smirked at her.
"You know what? You may have stopped the Obsidian World Unity Festival, but I'll simply come back with a new program, a new company. Virtual reality is inevitable," she said to him.
"I agree but you're not," Brainiac 5 said as he advanced on her.
"I'm going to leave now," Gemma said, pissed-off her master plan had failed.
Gemma then realized she was trapped inside her own program. "This is my world. This is my time," Brainiac 5 said to her as drones surrounded Gemma to keep her still. Gemma shed her human appearance revealing herself to be an android with cable hair that whipped around. She attempted to fight off the Brainiac 5 drones with little success. Brainiac 5 then formed a knife-hand and then penetrated her chest.
"Game over," Brainiac 5 smiled as black liquid covered Gemma's body completely, and then she became another Brainiac 5 drone.
"You'll like being a dude," Brainiac 5 said to the new drone as he fixed his tie.
"I do," the drone confirmed.
At Obsidian North, Gemma's android body fell on her desk lifeless in front of Lex. "Nice," Lex smiled victoriously.
Fall 2020-Present Day
Moscow, PATRIOT Facility
Alina waited patiently outside an orb-looking chamber that glowed intensely with solar radiation. The orb then stopped glowing and opened up revealing Karina in her Red Daughter uniform in a sitting position. She opened her eyes and focused on Alina.
"Are you alright?" Alina asked.
"No matter how much solar radiation I absorb, I can't seem to close the gap in our power," Karina said displeased as she got up.
"You'll be interested to know that Kara Zor-El has gone into exile over President Trump's loss. She's locked herself away in the Fortress of Solitude. That gives us an opportunity to make our move," Alina informed her.
"You really think an alien should be the savior of Earth?" Karina asked her.
"You are an alien second, a Russian first. Leviathan is gone. There's nothing that can stop us now," Alina told her.
"Once I fix this planet, I will fix every Earth in the multiverse," Karina said ambitiously.
"And what of the non-believers who do not appreciate Russian leadership?" Alina tested.
"They will join us or die," Karina replied.
"Are you going to take your sweet-ass time accomplishing the mission like your twin sister?" Alina asked.
"No, the world has five hours to bend the knee," Karina assured her.
Metropolis-DEO Fortress
Alarm bells went off as the Russians activated their satellites against the rest of the planet. Brainiac 5, Lex Luthor, and Hank eyed the large computer monitor. "Welcome bank, Hank. How was fatherhood...again?" Lex asked.
"It's not really for me. That's why I'm back," Hank grimaced.
"The Russians have activated twelve satellites around the planet. They're linked via Q-waves. The Russians are attempting to use Myriad to take control of the planet," Brainiac 5 informed them.
"Why do the Russians have Myriad?" Lex asked slightly alarmed.
"Kara handed it over to her twin as a gesture of goodwill," Brainiac 5 explained.
"If it's not one, it's the other," Hank grumbled. "So, we simply destroy the satellites. Too easy."
"Negative, each of the satellites is armed with a nuclear payload. Before you get close to them, they'll detonate killing you," Brainiac 5 said.
"Can you shut them down?" Hank asked Brainiac 5.
"They're using Cold-War era satellites that are not connected to the grid. I do not have access to them," Brainiac 5 replied.
"Well, shit," Hank muttered.
"What is our Kryptonite stock?" Lex asked.
"Sufficient to kill Karina if that is what we wish to do," Brainiac 5 said coldly.
"I need to talk to her. Maybe I can reason with her," Lex said.
PATRIOT
Karina and Alina eyed a hologram of Lex appearing before them. "As expected, Luthor," Karina smirked.
"We know of your plan to use Myriad and the satellites. However, should one of your satellites be destroyed, the signal will be interrupted. Your plan is flawed," Lex told her.
"You misunderstand our intentions, Lex. As soon as the satellites sync up, I will know who is and who is not susceptible to suggestion. I will order those who resist the program to kill themselves. By the end of the day, only those willing to join us will be left alive. For your sake, you better have your mind oriented towards us," Karina told him.
"I want you to disable the satellites. If you do that, I will give you what you've always wanted: me," Lex offered.
Karina and Alina gave each other a look and smirked. "That is tempting but you think too highly of yourself. Besides, I know there will be strings attached," Karina refused. "You cannot attempt to trap me. Your intelligence is no match against a Kryptonian."
"I'm wearing a truth seeker," Lex revealed showing a squid-looking creature on his arm. "I'm thinking your desire for me is worth more than the world. I surrender. Name the place and provide instructions on how to disable the satellites."
"Any place?" Karina questioned.
"Any place without civilians," Lex clarified.
"The DEO Fortress. I'll be there in one hour," Karina told him.
Lex's hologram faded from view. "You're not actually going to the DEO, are you?" Alina asked skeptically. "It's obviously a trap."
"I'm taking advantage of an opportunity. Lex Luthor doesn't realize what I am capable of. I will kill his ass," Karina said confidently.
"Meanwhile, his friends will be working to undo our hard work," Alina pointed out.
"The Super-Friends do not question my strength, my power, my speed. What they question is my resolve. Once I kill Lex in cold-blood, the person I supposedly loved above all else, they will fold," Karina predicted.
"It takes you mere seconds to get to the DEO. Why are you waiting an hour?" Alina asked.
Karina opened a bottle of vodka. "Plenty of time to celebrate," she said as she gave them both a shot.
Flashback-Summer 2020
Mexico City
Disgraced CEO, Andrea Rojas went back home taking a private plane. Upon landing, she saw death personified chatting with her father. "Father, Barney," Andrea said tensely.
"Andrea, my daughter, I want you to know that you need not worry about what's happening to your company. For me, family is the most important thing. I want to see you safe and loved," her father said to her.
"Of course, father," Andrea nodded. "And why are you here?" she asked Brainiac 5.
"I come bearing a gift," Brainiac 5 said and then motioned for Russell Rodgers to come out of the car. "Hello, Andrea," he said awkwardly.
"I assure you his rehabilitation was a complete success, and he now has a new identity," Brainiac 5 said handing Andrea a folder with a passport, ID cards, and papers.
"Thank you," Andrea said tearfully.
"When you get deep with the sharks again, call us first," Brainiac 5 said to her.
End Flashback
DEO Fortress
Brainiac 5 and Hank had a chat as they waited for Karina to arrive. "If it comes down to you, I'll use my own psychic powers to try to counter Myriad. It's just doing so will open myself up to the entire population of Earth. They'll know all of my secrets. They'll feel my grief for my wife and daughter. They'll know how much of an asshole I am," Hank said.
"You've never cared about how humans felt about you before," Brainiac 5 pointed out.
"You know, I never got into this business to save the world. It was more of an excuse to unleash my unyielding rage on people that deserved it. I may not give enough of a shit to save this world when the time comes," Hank admitted.
"It's for this reason that I am not completely relying on you to be successful," Brainiac 5 said bluntly.
"Fuck you, Barney," Hank chuckled amused.
"You're more concerned that your psychic waves will reach M'gann. Your feelings for her are strong. On one hand, she is the last remaining Green Martian female and now the mother of your offspring. On the other hand, she was once a White Martian, a concentration camp guard, and she fucked your brother," Brainiac 5 sensed.
"It just makes me so angry and yet so full of lust at the same time," Hank admitted.
"You are the greatest warrior your people have ever conceived. Do not fret over what this female may think of you," Brainiac 5 advised.
"Yeah, you're right," Hank nodded.
Nia entered the DEO to chew Brainiac 5 out. "Barney, it's been six months but I want a formal apology," she demanded.
"For what?" Brainiac 5 asked calmly.
"You hurt me. You abandoned us. Saving the world isn't a good enough excuse," Nia said.
"It's not?" Brainiac 5 questioned.
"No, it's not. Because what's the point of saving the world if we hurt those that are close to us," Nia said irrationally.
"Self-absorbed much? I think one obviously outweighs the other," Brainiac 5 said simply.
"I want you to think of me as more important than the world," Nia demanded.
"Here's a Vindicator ring. It is to symbolize your inclusion into our ranks," Brainiac 5 offered.
"Why didn't you give me this before? We've known each other for two years now," Nia asked.
"You were broken before but since I gave you a true sex change, you are now worthy of it," Brainiac 5 said.
"I was not broken," Nia said offended.
"Are you going to be of service to me or not?" Brainiac 5 asked her.
"Fuck you, Barney," she said and then stormed out of the room.
"Nice," Hank smiled.
"She's been very hormonal since she's received new ovaries," Brainiac 5 noted.
Smallville
Alex went under as she entered the Obsidian program. She immediately appeared as a doctor in a medical room. In front of her was a patient in need of open-heart surgery. Nearby was another patient also in need of open-heart surgery. Brainiac 5 appeared before her.
"I know how to perform surgery now," Alex said confidently.
"Oh really? Show me," Brainiac 5 challenged.
Alex went to work on the digital patient, opening him open and working on his heart as Brainiac 5 did the same with his patient. Alex worked as quickly as she could, frantically moving around the table to perform the quadruple bypass surgery faster than Brainiac 5 could. Brainiac 5 kept his cool and remained casual in his own surgery. Finally, Alex was finished.
"Good, adaptation, improvisation, but your weakness is not your technique," Brainiac 5 taught.
The patients went back to the beginning again. Alex and Brainiac 5 worked on their patients for a second time. This time, Brainiac 5 easily beat Alex on time. Alex freaked out as her patient went into cardiac arrest and died. "Shit," she sighed.
"How did I beat you?" Brainiac 5 asked her.
"You're too fast," Alex said panting from effort.
"Do you believe that me being stronger or faster has anything to do with my mechanical structure...in this place? Do you think that's air you're breathing?" Brainiac 5 asked her.
Alex gave him a dumbfounded look. "Again," Brainiac 5 ordered creating two patients in front of them. With this round, Alex still had trouble with her confidence. "You're faster than this. Don't think you are. Know you are," he said to her.
Alex nodded and continued her work. "Come on, Alex. Stop trying and actually do it," Brainiac 5 pressed. Alex suddenly got a burst of speed and clarity as she identified and eyed all the right arteries and veins. She fixed the heart at a rapid pace with perfect accuracy.
"I know what you're trying to do," Alex said, freaked out at her rapid improvement.
"I'm trying to free your mind, Alex," Brainiac 5 said softly. "Again."
DEO Fortress
As the minutes counted down, Lex got a little nervous. "She's going to kill you. It's a shame a man of your intellect must perish in this way," Brainiac 5 said casually.
"We have no other choice. It's okay, Barney. I've come to terms with it as long as you can stop the satellites and Myriad, it will be worth it," Lex said sacrificially.
"When she comes, you will want to take the higher path. She will play dirty and maximize her advantage however she can," Brainiac 5 warned.
"Yeah, well, bring it on," Lex smiled.
"It's nice to work with you again, Lex. You have a long way to go before you come anywhere close to my intelligence but it is nice," Brainiac 5 said.
"Bro hug," Lex said giving Brainiac 5 a heartfelt embrace.
"Good luck, Lex. You're going to need it," Brainiac 5 said to him and left him to be alone.
Lex activated the computer and began to record his voice. "I, Lex Luthor, give to thee all of my records, memories, and experiences. I hope it will bring guidance to others whenever they need it...now that I'm gone. This is my legacy download."
At the exact deadline, Karina burst through the doors of the DEO. Immediately, automated machine guns blasted her to no effect. She sliced them to pieces with her heat vision. Liquid nitrogen flooded the hallway. Karina walked through it like it was nothing. Flames roared around her and still nothing. Karina then punched through the doors to the command center.
"You done playing around, Lex?" Karina asked.
"I offer myself willingly," Lex surrendered.
"In my hand is the remote. On my command, half the world will be under Russian sphere of influence. The other half will cease to exist," Karina said showing her the remote. Lex fired a Kryptonite beam at her with his wrist gun. Karina dodged his fire and blasted him back with heat vision. Lex was thrown against the wall with an energy shield protecting him from being incinerated.
"You didn't really think I would really keep up my side of the bargain, did you?" Karina mocked.
"For a moment there, yeah, I kind of did," Lex groaned.
Karina activated Myriad using the satellites. The whole planet's population was now susceptible to whatever suggestion she wanted to give them. J'onn was already in space to block the Myriad signal with his own psychic abilities. He was about to strain himself to whole new levels when he stopped himself. "What the?" he wondered.
Karina then deactivated Myriad having accomplished her goal. "What did you do?" Lex asked.
Hank, Nia, and Brainiac 5 cornered Karina in the command center. "You still think you can beat me? I'm invincible," Karina reminded them.
"Not if we have anything to say about it," Nia said as she powered an orb in her hand.
"That's just embarrassing," Karina mocked and then clapped her hands forcing them all to the floor. Karina fired on the group with heat vision as she took to the air. Nia shielded everyone with her energy field.
Nia, Hank, Brainiac 5, and Lex all fired on Karina with their weapons. Karina formed an energy shield around her preventing any of their attacks from getting through. "You lack strength," Karina mocked them as she unleashed her energy field on them. The four of them slammed to the floor dumbfounded.
"I didn't think this day would get any better," Karina said as she gave Hank a good kick and then pushed Nia away. "Now, at the end, you finally understand," Karina glared as she was about to finish them.
A green bolt suddenly hit Karina to the shoulder. Karina fell to the floor devastated. "You're going to wish you were dead for this betrayal," Lena said vengefully with a Kryptonite pistol at Karina's face.
"Bitch, please," Karina rolled her eyes.
Lena suddenly bitch-smacked the weakened Karina to the floor. "Okay, time out," Karina said making the appropriate hand gesture.
"Lena, stop!" Hank said as she was about to pull the trigger.
"She was about to brainwash the Earth and kill those who would oppose her," Lena pointed out.
"It was just a war-game, a drill," Hank told her.
"The fuck?" Lena wondered.
"I wasn't told this was a drill," Nia said outraged.
"What did you actually do?" Lex asked curiously.
"I made the world love Lex Luthor, not just America but the whole world. You see, we can bend this world to think whatever we want. The world now knows Lex Luthor will do whatever it takes to save humanity," Karina smiled.
"Ah, thank you," Lex smiled and gave her a kiss.
"What the fuck is this? What the fuck is going on?" Nia demanded.
Metropolis
Andrea Rojas was front and center at Catco. "Give it up for the world's hero, Lex Luthor," she said as all the TV news networks praised all things Lex due to Myriad's influence. "Obsidian North may have crashed and burned but Catco is as strong as ever. We're going to report real news and shit," she said obviously tipsy. "We will start our news coverage on Lex Luthor. We're going to be the ones that will get the exclusive."
"I have the inside track on that," Nia rolled her eyes.
"Well, since we've lost Kara Danvers to the Smallville Gazette of all places, you have big shoes to fill," Andrea said to Nia.
Andrea then went into her office to find Brainiac 5 sitting in her chair. "You think your father bought all of your shares before the crash but he did not. I did. You're in a lot of debt...to me," Brainiac 5 said to her.
"Fuck me," Andrea sighed.
DEO Fortress
Nia came by as Dreamer and handed the Vindicator ring back to Brainiac 5. "This belongs to you," she said.
"I know it does," he said refusing to take it back.
"You know, just because you gave me a full sex change and opened my sexuality to new things, doesn't mean you can treat me like crap," Nia said pissed-off.
"I defeated Leviathan. With Supergirl in self-imposed exile, I am in charge of this world," Brainiac 5 told her.
"Barney, stop! Can't you spare one of your units to be a decent person?" Nia asked.
"I suppose," Brainiac 5 said reluctantly.
"Do you enjoy hurting me?" Nia asked.
"I enjoy nothing," Brainiac 5 reminded her.
"I need you to love me," Nia said desperately.
"Love isn't logical," Brainiac 5 shut her down.
"There was a time when you said you would pretend to love me. Do you really want to fix us? I need you to start engaging with me, honestly. No matter what. Even if you're trying to protect me from the fucked-up schemes you have up your sleeves," Nia said.
"You don't want to know...what I'm really up to," Brainiac 5 said darkly.
"I'm not a woman that needs to be protected," Nia told him.
"You can stop tidal waves and dream impossible things. You are definitively a category 2 hero," Brainiac 5 agreed.
"I love you, too," Nia rolled her eyes. "So, no more secrets?" she asked extending her pinky finger.
"I promise," Brainiac 5 lied.
Smallville
Alex sat awkwardly at the dinner table as Mon, Kon, and Mara obnoxiously ate a ridiculous amount of food at a fast pace. "You heard anything from Kara?" she asked Mon.
"Barney says she's still at the Fortress with the baby," Mon told her.
"Well, I need my sister to come back. Can you just bring her back real quick?" Alex asked.
"No can do. She wants her space and I'm not about to awaken that dragon," Mon refused.
Alex looked to Kon and Mara who both shook their heads. "This is so immature of her. How long is she going to sulk over this?"
"As long as it took for you to get over Maggie," Kon smirked. Mon immediately gave him a high-five.
"Fuck you both," Alex scowled. "People need to know that she's still around protecting people."
"We have Aunt Karina and father," Mara pointed out.
"And me," Kon smiled as he revealed his Superman t-shirt inside his black leather jacket.
"Is that supposed to be a costume?" Alex asked incredulously.
"Hey, it's better than blue eyeliner and blue streaks in your hair while wearing a hoodie," Kon mocked.
"You know...that was just an idea we kicked around the office. It was never serious," Alex said defensively.
"Yeah, bullshit," Kon doubted.
"Be more respectful of your adopted aunt," Mara scolded him. "A hero is not their power level but what they are able to accomplish with the power given to them."
"Alex reminds me of this prison guard I used to know. We called her sentinel," Mon recalled.
"Unfortunately, the Fatal Five made her a fatality," Kon grinned.
"Not at the dinner table," Mara scolded him.
"Alex, she will return to us. In the meantime, we will keep this town safe," Mon said super-serious.
"You mean the world, right?" Alex asked. "Right?"
Fortress of Solitude
Kara remained in her chair giving a blank look at a dark computer screen with a sleeping Kameron in her arms. She held no expression as her demons swarmed about her.
Author's Notes: Wow, I've never seen SG get her ass handed to her in such a humiliating way in the entire series. To make this work in Adventures, I needed a role reversal. The character assassination of Andrea's father "off-screen" and then Andrea criminally putting all of her worthless shares to him would not just get her caught immediately but such trades would be reversed. Andrea should have been arrested in any case. SG is pathetically weak in this episode. Not only is she incapable of destroying mere satellites but she can't handle the human Lex Luthor even with her team at her side. Her weapons are never secure, her security is conveniently offline, and very little makes sense. Alex's costume is a no-go at this station. The quality difference between SG and SL is amazing. I almost wanted to scrap this episode as I had already made my own finale in Leviathan I and II.
In Adventures, Karina will be taking point as SG for the next few episodes while Kara is in exile. Amazon's Invincible will be given a bonus episode with Kon. The Justice League II Adventures Cut will be released at a later point. Due to production delays in Superman and Lois, I'll have both shows occurring at the same time here.