Mara and Brainiac 5 entered a dark cave filled with skulls and bones at the base of Mt. Olympus. Mara went Super Insane lightning up the cave as she walked into it. As they went through the tunnels, they came to a wide-open space featuring an underground fortress. "This is tactically dangerous. You may be overestimating your divine protection or your own abilities," Brainiac 5 warned.

"I do not fear death," Mara replied.

"Well, okay then," Brainiac 5 said following close behind her.

"Who enters my domain?" an old sinister voice asked of them. Hades then appeared before them in translucent kingly robes, a crown, and sword in hand. Mara could see the bone underneath his translucent skin and his white hair. His eyes were pure white.

"One who would have your allegiance," Mara said boldly.

"The dead do not suffer the living to pass," he threatened.

"You will suffer me," Mara told him off.

Hades laughed menacingly as he summoned tens of thousands of dead Greek soldiers and warriors to his side, men who had died in the name of the false Greek gods and were now in perpetual limbo neither accepted by heaven nor hell. Mara and Brainiac 5 were quickly surrounded by the ghost army. "The way is shut. It was made by those who are dead and the dead keep it."

"I'm detecting real energy signatures," Brainiac 5 analyzed.

"The way is shut. Now, you must die," Hades said as he advanced on them.

Brainiac 5 took out a pistol and fired it into Hades' head. The beam went straight through him as if he weren't even there. "Violence isn't going to get us what we want," Mara said to him.

"I've come to bargain," Mara said to Hades and his army. "Follow me and I will give you absolution."

"None but the true king may command me," Hades said as he swung his sword at Mara. The blade was blocked by her forearm. Mara then forced Hades' sword up against his throat.

"How?" Hades gasped.

"I am with God and He is with me," Mara replied. She then pushed him back. Mara looked over the entire army. "Fight for us, regain your soul, and gain absolution. What say you?" she asked looking them over.

"I don't know about this," one ghost soldier said uncertainly.

"I am an heir of Christ. Fight for me and you will have absolution for your false beliefs and all your sins," Mara offered.

The ghost army muttered amongst themselves on the offer. "Going once!" Mara pressed.

"Could there be a bad side to this?" one ghost soldier wondered.

"Going twice!" Mara shouted.

Hades laughed at her amused. "You have my word. What I bind here on this Earth, shall be bound in heaven," Mara said to the army.

Hades eyed Mara curiously wondering if she was sincere. "So be it...Christianos."

Atlantis

Poseidon and Kon visited Atlantis and were given an audience with King Arthur. "Poseidon, what an unexpected pleasure," Arthur said obliviously. At his side was Mera looking scared stiff around him.

"Just here to see how you're handling Atlantis since you signed that treaty with the alien," Poseidon said accusingly.

"I did what I had to do to keep Superman off my back. He never comes around here anyway," Arthur said dismissively. "Who is the kid?" he asked curiously of Kon.

"This is my squire," Poseidon lied.

Kon remained silent and eyed the trident next to Arthur's throne. "You like my trident?" Arthur noticed. "It's sharp enough to cut through a Kryptonian."

"Indeed," Poseidon said intrigued.

"Yeah, I sliced Supergirl through the back and into her heart with it. Sure, Wonder Woman cut off her head and Superman crushed it but that was just gratuitous. I was the one that really took her down. Once I stabbed her, she was already dead," Arthur gloated.

"How did you manage to get the element of surprise?" Poseidon asked.

"We lured her into the Hall of Justice under the false pretense we just wanted to talk. We all knew that so long as she was married to John Henry Irons, she would never side with us. We decided to kill her long before she arrived," Arthur said nonchalantly.

Poseidon and Kon gave each other knowing looks. Kon then took a step forward.

Metropolis

Kara waited patiently as the Amazons took off. With them being ten thousand, it would take some time to logistically exit the city and transport them back to Themyscira. "All this for one kill?" Mon asked dismayed.

"It was a good plan up to the judgment by combat clause," Kara said disappointedly.

"You done wasting my time?" Calvin asked annoyed.

"Surrender or die," Kara ordered.

"That's not much of a choice, is it? Sounds more like an ultimatum," Calvin stared her down.

"Call it what you wish," Kara said unconcernedly.

"I don't do ultimatums," Calvin refused.

"Surrender or death," Kara pressed. "Abdicate your false throne and leave the Hall of Justice...or there will be trouble."

"We're not just going to let them punk us?" Robin asked Calvin.

"No, Robin," Calvin assured him.

"We just need to figure out our options," Hal said.

"Leave Supergirl to me," Calvin said seriously.

"Allow me to amplify sunlight to your arm," Cyborg offered, referring to when Diana sliced down on it.

"Make it quick," Calvin ordered.

Cyborg disassembled his right arm into a clamp to keep Calvin's arm still. Flash clasped his hands together nervously and then zipped around at high speed. In a sudden twist, he took off the yellow rings on Calvin's and Hal's fingers. Immediately, Hal was depowered and Calvin's lost his Kryptonite immunity. Right on time, Robin stabbed Calvin in the back with a Kryptonite blade.

Upon realizing the betrayal, Calvin ripped off Cyborg's right arm freeing himself, and backhanded Robin to the floor. Noticing something was wrong, Sinestro arrived in mech-suit energy construct around his body. "Take care of him," Kara directed Mon.

"With pleasure," Mon said as he went Super Insane matching Sinestro's yellow energy.

Sinestro went for a punch that had no effect. Mon punched at Sinestro's head breaking off his mech-suit helmet energy construct. Mon then kicked Sinestro to his exposed head. Sinestro fired energy rockets and machine-gun fire at Mon with little effect. "I don't fear you," Mon smirked as he shattered Sinestro's mech-suit with one punch.

Mon then pointed his hand at the fallen Sinestro. "No, don't!" Sinestro cried out in terror.

"Big Bang Attack!" Mon shouted as he incinerated Sinestro and created a deep hole in the ground.

Kara approached the fallen Calvin. "My robot friend placed little bombs at the base of your comrades' skulls, encased in lead, of course. I didn't let you rescue Flash, Cyborg, and Robin out of incompetence. No, I let them escape so they could become my little Suicide Squad."

"Isn't that right, boys?" Kara asked them.

They all reluctantly nodded. "Hate you...hate you all," Calvin hissed in pain. "But you're a fool if you think you've won," he said as his brainwashed Kryptonian-powered humans all assembled.

Kara eyed the growing force with concern as they numbered thousands in black armored suits. "On my order, they'll kill the entire human population. Not even you can stop them all," Calvin said confidently.

Kara frowned and then suddenly kicked Calvin into space. In space, Kara punched Calvin to the back forcing the Kryptonite knife deeper inside him. As Calvin turned around to face her, Kara punched him hard to the face giving him a bloody nose. Kara rammed her fist into his gut sending him further into space away from Earth. Spinning quickly, Kara kicked Calvin to the back. Calvin turned around to give her a punch. The two slammed at the fists breaking Calvin's hand. Kara punched Calvin to the face once more. Calvin went for a punch with his left missing completely. Kara grabbed Calvin's head with both hands to crush it. Calvin struggled against her grip as she tightened. Finally, Kara released him and slammed her fists down on his deltoids breaking his back and shoulders. She then backhanded Calvin back to the Earth where he landed in a deep crater. Kara accelerated down towards Calvin at several MACH speeds and slammed into him causing a massive explosion of rock and dust.

An army of pissed off brainwashed Kryptonian-powered humans charged Mon and John. "You take the five hundred on the right, I'll take the five hundred on the left," Mon said.

"Shit, there's more than a thousand here," John calculated.

An army of undead Greek warriors then swarmed the city with Mara leading them. "The fuck?" John wondered as the undead army charged the Kryptonians. The two armies clashed with the undead warriors impervious to anything the Kryptonians could throw at them...since they were all dead. Mara joined Mon and John as the undead army went past them.

"Finally, you are now leading armies in a great slaughter," Mon mused.

"I ordered them to only incapacitate the enemy, no killing," Mara corrected.

"Shit," Mon said disappointedly as the undead army beat down the Kryptonians into submission.

After they were done, the undead army and Hades surrounded them. "Release us," Hades demanded.

"Bad idea. They'll turn on us just as they did to them," John disagreed.

"You gave us your word," Hades reminded Mara.

"In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, I absolve you and release you from my service. Go in peace," Mara said to him.

Hades smiled feeling peace for the first time in thousands of years. He, along with the rest of the army, faded away from view.

Kara's aura pushed the dust aside as she walked towards the broken Calvin. Brainiac 5 decloaked near Kara. "The Kryptonian army in Metropolis has been dealt with," he said vaguely.

"Any casualties?" Kara asked.

"None on our side," Brainiac 5 replied.

"Deal with him," Kara permitted.

"Of course," Brainiac 5 said as he injected Calvin with nano-machines that destroyed Brainiac's control over him. He then inserted a bomb at the base of his neck. The real Calvin eyed Kara with sadness and remorse.

John then landed with his hammer in hand. "We've freed him from Brainiac's mind control and placed a bomb in his head to keep him under our control. However, if you want to get your revenge, I won't stop you," Kara said to him.

Calvin eyed John tearfully. "I killed my cousin, your wife, the mother of your child. I deserve to die," he said.

John hesitated to give him a finishing blow. "I'm no executioner," he said finally.

"What will you do now? Place me in a Kryptonite cage forever?" Calvin assumed.

"Well, for the moment, yes. But you're going to help us fight Brainiac and redeem yourself," Kara ordered.

Calvin nodded and allowed Brainiac 5 to handcuff him.

Kara waited patiently for Kon to emerge from the water. Poseidon and Kon casually walked on the beach with Arthur's trident in hand. Kon's uniform was covered in blood and gore. Kara shook her head dismayed at him. "Is that whale blood and gore on you?" Kara asked accusingly.

There was an awkward silence between them. "Yes," Kon lied.

"What have I told you about blowing up whales from the inside? They're an endangered species and you look damn unprofessional-looking. You're supposed to look like a superhero, not some horror movie. Clean yourself up, God damn," Kara scolded and then walked off.

Poseidon eyed Kon knowing the full truth. "Holy shit, kid," he remarked.

DEO-Metropolis

At the new DEO, Brainiac 5 continuously monitored the planet and the surrounding space. Suddenly, his computer became corrupted by a foreign entity. "I am Brainiac," he revealed himself to Brainiac 5 on the computer monitors. "You cannot regain control. Over the past few days, your system has been absorbed into my neural network. It is now an extension of my mind."

"Perhaps that was my plan all along," Brainiac 5 taunted.

"You are fragile, child. However, I compliment you for capturing a fully developed male Kryptonian," Brainiac said to him.

"Perhaps, I'm not so fragile," Brainiac 5 replied.

"To prevail, you harnessed advanced sciences, nano-technology, satellite communications, inter-dimensional transit. I am now taking those tools from you," Brainiac said.

"How come?" Brainiac 5 asked unconcernedly.

"The Kryptonian belongs to me as well as this planet," Brainiac asserted.

"Oh really?" Brainiac 5 scoffed.

"You merely simulate human humor. You are only a machine whereas I am a synthesis of machine and organic. Your lack of organic material inhibits your potential," Brainiac said.

"Interesting thought. I'll look into it," Brainiac 5 said with false sincerity.

"Join me," Brainiac ordered. "Your knowledge and technological capabilities will serve me."

"I'm actually a team player. And humanity? That's my team," Brainiac 5 refused.

"But you are capable of so much more," Brainiac scolded.

"I have already surpassed you in more ways than one," Brainiac 5 said condescendingly as he accessed his computer directly with his hand.

"Not even you can gain control of my neutral network," Brainiac doubted.

"I don't need to. I'm just trying to get my network back online," Brainiac 5 replied.

"This minor success will not save you," Brainiac told him as Brainiac 5 regained control.

Brainiac was then shut out of the system. "Big Brother Eye is now online," the computer said to Brainiac 5.

Brainiac pods from his skull ship were launched into Earth's atmosphere. Upon landing like meteorites in crowded cities, the pods opened revealing drones made of metal and organic muscle. "Kara, Mon, John, we have a problem," Brainiac 5 radioed.

Brainiac's ship descended into Earth's atmosphere over Metropolis. It was the size of a ship in the shape of a skull with numerous metal tentacles dangling below. Squadrons of fighters continually patrolled around it. A platoon of drones entered John's hanger. "Ah, what the hell?" John wondered as he saw them slowly coming.

He quickly got into one of the ships he had acquired from Luthor Corp. and took off. A few of the drones latched onto the ship and tried to bust through the cockpit. John escaped the hanger and maneuvered his ship to try to shake them off. After several quick spins, he was able to detach them off. John then made his way to a Luthor maximum security prison that hosted Calvin.

In his Steel suit, John walked up to Calvin as he remained in his Kryptonite cell. "I see you're in the suit. Am I in trouble again?" Calvin asked bitterly.

"Brainiac: what can you tell me?" John demanded. "He's invading. He says you belong to him."

"Brainiac killed my parents, blew up Krypton," Calvin said somberly.

"How do I beat him?" John asked.

"You can't. Not without me," Calvin said.

"I'll find a way," John said dismissively and turned away.

"This is my fight, too. He took from me everything, my mind, my body, my...Lois," Calvin said tearfully.

John turned back and gave Calvin a sympathetic look seeing the pain and remorse on his face. "Alright then," he relented and turned off the Kryptonite field. "Better suit up."

Metropolis

In Metropolis, the drones searched for the humans that had been given Kryptonian abilities. They rounded up the humans into groups and scanned each of them. Those that had been given powers and had been brainwashed were brutally vaporized with heat vision. Flash intervened quickly dispatching the drones around the city. The drones were blasted apart on impact as Flash hit them.

On his ship, Brainiac analyzed Flash's attacks. With fast processing speed, he then anticipated how Barry would move and made his counter move. The drones fired at the spot they knew Flash would run into and after several attempts, finally got him. Flash was hit with heat vision beams and incinerated on the spot.

"The beta phase is complete. Earth's defenses are irreversibly compromised. Begin the countdown," Brainiac said to himself as metal cables attached to his skull.

Machines the size of skyscrapers that resembled Kryptonian world engines departed from the Brainiac ship and made their way to Metropolis to take the city. Kara, Mon, Kon, and Mara flew towards Metropolis and engaged the Brainiac ships. "They will be armed with Kryptonite weaponry," Brainiac 5 warned from the DEO.

"Of course they are," Kara rolled her eyes.

The air became filled with heat vision beams, energy blasts, and Kryptonite discharges. A weakened Calvin also entered the fight and was given a look of approval by Kara. Brainiac focused on the battle intrigued. "A surprising development. Kalel is free. But more remarkably, there is a Super Insane family on this world. You will all belong to me."

The Super-Insane family took out the Brainiac ships with relative ease and then dismantled the drones at the street level. With their X-ray vision, they tore through the tunnels underneath the streets and blasted the drones to scrap. For the moment, Metropolis had been saved. Still, Brainiac was on the verge of capturing other major cities on the planet to his collection.

"Split up and engage Brainiac's ships across the globe," Kara ordered Mon, Kon, and Mara. "Calvin, you're with me."

Mon instantly disappeared with Kon and Mara flying off at top speed. John piloted his ship towards Brainiac and avoided fire from fighters. Kara and Calvin gave him cover fire with heat vision beams as he got closer. "Locking on the skull ship," John said as he fired missiles. The missiles hit the Brainiac ship's shields and were not effective. The Brainiac ship then fired off a shield discharge that hit John's ship that disabled it.

Kara watched passively as John's ship was about to hit Metropolis. Calvin swooped in and grabbed John's ship before it would crash. "What just happened?" Calvin asked.

"Brainiac's forcefield is creating a concussive feedback loop," John detected.

"So, the harder we hit it, the harder it hits back," Calvin realized.

Kara went straight for the Brainiac ship and hit it hard. The shields protected the ship and zapped Kara hard. "That...hurt," Kara winced.

"Trying hitting it really really hard at multiple points really really fast before the shields can adapt," John said condescendingly.

"Got it," Calvin agreed and hit the Brainiac ship at multiple points quickly.

"Creative but not sufficient," Brainiac mocked.

The Brainiac shields compensated for Calvin and blasted him to the ground. Brainiac tentacles took aim at Calvin and fired streams of blue energy upon him. "Okay, release his power restriction," Kara radioed Brainiac 5.

"It must be done manually," Brainiac 5 replied.

"Shit," Kara realized and went to rescue him.

Calvin became red hot, began to crack, and then exploded. The explosion threw John's ship out of position and stunned Kara for a moment. As the dust faded, nothing of Calvin remained. As the dust cleared, Kara looked around for Calvin and found nothing. John landed his ship in the crater and walked out. "Another Superman I failed to save," Kara said reflectively. "I bet you're happy."

"I'll miss him, too," John said honestly.

"You mean that?" Kara asked incredulously.

"He was a good friend once. I even campaigned for him when he ran for president. I trusted him with my life when I went to Iraq. All this time, I thought the power had gotten to him but it wasn't his fault. Brainiac got to him and I didn't realize it. I lost my friend Calvin then and I've missed him ever since.

John walked over to the center of the crater where Calvin had stood and gave the salute to his fallen president. Mon, Kon, and Mara then suddenly appeared inside the crater. "Holy shit," Mon said surprised.

"Calvin is dead," Kara informed them. "Kon, hand over that trident."

"It's my trophy. I won it fair and square," Kon refused.

"God damn it, Kon. I need it to get through those shields," Kara said.

"You can't get through that ship's shields?" Mon scoffed.

"Mon, shut the fuck up, it has some kind of power dampener field around it making me unable to go Prime," Kara shot back.

"Such discord. No wonder humans have yet to expand their civilization beyond the confines of this planet," Brainiac mocked via hologram.

"Did you call in just to talk shit? I can respect that," Kara said honestly.

"My Betas are taking positions all across your planet. In one hour, they will explode in unison burning the Earth's atmosphere rendering this world a barren moon," Brainiac informed them. Unless you surrender, Kara Zor-El," Brainiac threatened.

"So, we'll get back to you in fifty-nine minutes," Kara mocked.

"You are the most powerful Kryptonian I have ever encountered, an opportunity to study the effect of yellow sunlight on Kryptonian cells. Surrender her and I will spare this world," Brainiac pressed.

"Done," Mon said instantly.

Kara gave him a dirty look. "Even in the face of annihilation and planetary genocide, you still mock me? Understand this, I am not like the others you have faced. I will destroy you without hesitation," Brainiac warned.

"Even if thought you would honor that deal, we wouldn't take it," John said defiantly.

"Yeah, what he said," Kara agreed.

"You have one hour to reconsider," Brainiac said and then disappeared from view.

"So, how are we going to get through his shields?" John asked.

"You should have actually surrendered me. I have no fucking idea," Kara admitted.

"Perhaps science is not the answer," Mara brought up.

"Mara, you're the MVP so far but you can't pray Brainiac away," Kara told her.

"Perhaps we should use the mystical powers of the trident," Mara said obviously.

"Good call," Kara nodded and then snatched the trident out of Kon's hands. Aiming the trident at Brainiac's ship, Kara went Prime. The trident glowed and became white-hot. Suddenly, a beam from the trident hit Brainiac's ship overloading his shields instantly.

Brainiac 5 arrived on the scene with a device in hand. "The shields are down. This is a signal disrupter. You will need to be within arm's distance of Brainiac to use it," he said handing it to John.

"Alright, let's move," Kara said taking to the air.

John piloted his ship back towards the Brainiac ship but was immediately followed by fighters. Kara blasted the fighters to pieces and followed John inside the ship's docking bay. John got out of his ship and was immediately confronted by Brainiac's army. Heat vision beams blasted a few dozen of them apart as Kara flew by. Kara dropped down and joined John in the tunnel system.

"The signal is stronger this way," John said reading the signal jammer.

"Lead the way," Kara said as the ship's walls were lined with lead.

As they got closer, Kara could hear the alien voices of billions of people trapped in miniature cities. Focusing on her own kind, Kara found the city of Kandor in an energy forcefield bubble. Kara eyed inside the city and noticed how similar it was to her own universe's version. "We can't help them. We must stay on mission," John said.

Metal cables suddenly took hold of them both. Kara fired heat vision in all directions recklessly as she tried to free herself. A cable then went over her eyes blinding her. Brainiac's army then approached surrounding them. Brainiac, himself, then walked towards Kara. "Kara Zor-El, you will complete my Kryptonian collection. Your predecessor was weak and foolish. You, on the other hand, have reached levels of power beyond any other Kryptonian."

"So...does this count as me surrendering?" Kara asked sheepishly.

"Do you know why I have been able to defeat you so easily? The atmosphere is hard for you to breathe, and microscopic nano-machines in the air are tearing apart your lungs from the inside," Brainiac revealed. He then cast her away into another room. "I'll do to you what I did to Kalel."

Brainiac then turned to John. "You have failed in every effort to oppose me. You are not exceptional. Merely, an ordinary specimen of a primitive species."

"That's racist," John accused.

"Dispose of him," Brainiac said dismissively to his army.

One drone pointed his hand at John and was about to fire a cable dart into his head. Super Insane Mon suddenly appeared inside the ship and blasted the Brainiac army to pieces in a flash. Pointing his hand at John, he fired on the cables freeing him. "Nice entrance," John complimented.

"Thanks, bro," Mon said giving him a fist bump. "Where's Kara?"

"Captured, somewhere," John said vaguely. "We only have twenty minutes before Brainiac's army scorches the Earth. Where are the others?"

"Attacking the drone army in case you two fucked up...which you did," Mon said.

"Brainiac is this way," John said as he used his signal disrupter.

The two went through the tunnels of the ship until they encountered a brainwashed Firestorm. "Firestorm, what happened to you?" John asked.

"Brainiac unified our dueling mind. No longer divided, we think as one," Firestorm said and then fired on them.

Swampthing then arrived on the scene also brainwashed. He took hold of John and slammed him to the floor. In a coordinated attack, Firestorm and Swampthing threw Mon and John against each other in the air. "Brainiac has unlocked the green's power. He has mastered the firestorm matrix," Firestorm said.

"Not impressed," Mon groaned.

"All knowledge will be subsumed under his collection," Firestorm continued.

"I've had enough of this bullshit," John said and then fired a missile into Swampthing's gut. The missile exploded blasting Swampthing into pieces. Mon fired a beam that placed Firestorm in a bubble. Firestorm fought in vain to get through the bubble, quickly lost oxygen, and passed out.

"We'll get your minds right...maybe," John said half-heartedly as they went past them.

Another Brainiac army marched towards them. Mon fired on them but their collective shields were able to absorb his energy. "That's new," Mon muttered. He then formed an energy ring over the army and with his hands made the ring smaller around them. The army was clustered tightly together unable to move. Mon tightened the energy ring until the army was torn apart and crushed.

The two finally arrived on the bridge. "No Brainiac," John said looking around.

"I can't sense ki in here," Mon reported.

Doctor Fate then materialized before them. "John Henry Irons of Earth, Mon-El of Mon, your battles echo across the universe," he accused.

"Nice," Mon smiled impressed with himself.

"Your war has had consequences neither of you could foresee. The chaos you spread is cancer upon the cosmos. Only Brainiac can establish order," Doctor Fate said.

Mon fired off an energy disc that beheaded Doctor Fate on the spot. He then casually walked over to Doctor Fate's helmet and crushed it. "Brutal as fuck but effective," John complimented.

Mon threw the crushed helmet aside dismissively. Brainiac then appeared before them suspended by metal cables. "Why don't you recognize my superiority? In time, the entire universe will adhere to my design."

"The universe is a big place, dude," Mon mocked.

"I offer nothing less than deliverance. Your environment is poisoned, your civilization has exhausted its resources. The Earth's decline is irreversible," Brainiac said to John.

"We'll find a way," John said stubbornly.

Mon attacked Brainiac with punches. After a brief round, Brainiac punched Mon aside. John engaged Brainiac from the other side. As with Mon, Brainiac subdued him as well. Brainiac then unleashed metal cables that kept both Mon and John at bay. Mon was slammed up against a wall while Brainiac held John's body suspended off the floor by his neck. Anticipating Mon's attack, Brainiac threw John to the floor. Brainiac and Mon met at the fist throwing Mon back. The two flew up where Mon slammed Brainiac to the floor.

"Earth's time is up," Brainiac informed him.

"I don't give a shit. Where's Kara?" Mon demanded.

"Being vivisected. She has already taught me much about the nature of your powers," Brainiac said.

"Allow me to give you a proper demonstration," Mon smirked.

"I match your strength. You cannot match my intellect, monkey. You are only Insane," Brainiac said confidently.

Mon fired in quick succession small orbs from his hand. He then directed the orbs to hit all of the cable sockets on Brainiac's body disconnecting him permanently from his ship and being able to use his cable whips. Brainiac fell to the floor devastated by the hits. John then fired his signal disrupter on Brainiac's body to disconnect him electronically from his army on the ground.

"Brainiac is down. The Betas have been disconnected," John radioed.

"Err...we took them all out already," Kon radioed back.

"Disregard," John muttered.

"Now, we find Kara," Mon said victoriously.

Brainiac's ship lost control and began to crash. "Brainiac must be the CPU of the ship. He must not have a back-up," John assumed. "If we crash, all the cities on board will be destroyed."

"That would be a pity," Mon said unconcernedly.

John looked around and found two cables. "Brainiac said this ship was controlled by pure thought," he said reaching for the cables.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. It could kill you," Mon warned.

"You got a better idea?" John said sacrificially. "Tell Natalie...I love her," John said as he was about to stick the two cables into his ears.

"You can tell her, yourself," Brainiac 5 said as he decloaked. "Withdraw, I will take control of the ship."

"How long have you been here?" Mon asked not surprised.

"Long enough to record your glorious victory, Mon," Brainiac 5 bowed his head to him.

"How are you any different than that fool?" John asked referring to Brainiac's body.

"I am a thousand years older than my ancestor. According to Moore's law, processing speed doubles every two years. You do the math," Brainiac 5 said and then connected the two cables to his head.

Brainiac 5 piloted the ship back into space. "My ship! You will not destroy my collection!" Brainiac said outraged and then punched Mon several times in quick succession dropping him.

"Relinquish my ship," Brainiac ordered Brainiac 5.

"I respectfully decline, father," Brainiac 5 refused.

A heat vision beam hit Brainiac to the back disabling him. "What did I miss?" Kara said rejoining the group.

"You will regret that," Brainiac said as he extended four cables from his own body.

Kara blasted off the four cables with her heat vision, cocked her right fist back, and punched a hole through Brainiac's gut. A forcefield bubble then appeared around Brainiac and John. "You are persistent but your primitive suit will not save you," Brainiac said to John.

John punched Brainiac to the head dumbfounding him. "That was for my wife," he said to him. He then punched him again to the head again. "That was for Natalie," he added. Brainiac went for a punch missing John completely. John kicked Brainiac to the side of the head. "That was for Calvin," he continued. John then picked up the fallen Brainiac so they were at eye level. He quickly activated his helmet. "And this is for me," he said vengefully as he head-butted him.

Brainiac fell to the floor soundly defeated with green blood oozing from his eyes, nose, and mouth. John then slammed his metal boot on Brainiac's head crushing it. Brainiac, in this universe, was dead.

"Can you resettle the cities," Kara asked Brainiac 5.

"Of course," Brainiac 5 replied.

"Good work, team. Did everyone get enough screen time, enough epic moments?" Kara asked the group.

"Yeah, I'm good," John nodded. "Thank you for everything. These last several months have been quite the trip," he said offering his hand to Mon.

Mon shook John's hand having the greatest respect for him among humans. John then embraced Kara. "I'm going to miss this," he said tearfully as he reflected on his wife.

"It's not power that makes one brave. No doubt, she was braver than I could ever be," Kara said to him.

"If you trust me, I will provide whatever assistance I can to correct my father's damage," Brainiac 5 offered.

John nodded.

Washington DC

Calvin was given a presidential funeral with John participating during the ceremony in his military uniform. Many veterans who had supported his reign of terror and those who resisted him came together in mutual understanding of what had happened. His empty casket had the House of El symbol and was draped in the American flag. The executive and legislative branches had been purged during Calvin's reign so a little-known CIA director was made president until new elections could be held.

The Hall of Justice was torn down, the Justice League was permanently disbanded, and human institutions took charge under Brainiac 5's guidance. "It's time to go," Kara said to her family. She activated a portal to Earth-38 with all of them crossing over.

Soon thereafter, John and Natalie placed flowers at the grave of Kara Irons. The gravesite called her the "Girl of Steel" a pun on her last name. John smiled at his daughter. "You're this world's Supergirl now."

End of Season 5.5

Flashback-Hall of Justice: End Credits

Supergirl slowly walked up the steps of the Hall of Justice and entered inside. As she approached Superman's throne, the Justice League members were lined up on either side of her. She felt overwhelming fear as she came closer. She knew how dangerous Calvin could be but figured he wouldn't stoop so low to kill his own cousin. She would try to persuade him one last time to give up power, free the world, and face justice.

On either side of Calvin was an old man, his VP, and an old blond woman, his secretary of state. They stood silently as Calvin stood from his throne to address his cousin. Arthur and Diana gave each other knowing looks and broke formation behind Kara.

Calvin gestured for Kara to continue towards him with his hand but also gave a slight nod to Arthur and Diana. "John, Natalie, I do this for you. And yes, even for you, Kalel," Kara said softly as she put her life on the line.

Author's Notes: This chapter very loosely follows Injustice Year 4 and the Injustice 2 video game. If read the comic, both sides are incredibly incompetent and self-righteous and could have finished each other off within a very short period of time. Adventures puts aside this incompetent self-righteous drama with an emphasis on efficiency to save as many nameless civilian lives that are in play. The problem with many of these superhero stories is they put close relationships between heroes and their own ego above the common people or the common good.

The story of John Henry Irons aka Steel will continue in Superman and Lois Season 2 but his Adventures' counterpart ends here. I initially hated John as a race-swapped Luthor reject resulting from the dumpster fire that was CW Crisis but as I learned who he really was, he became my favorite character of the show. What they did with his character is an example of respect and I'm happy I decided to adapt Superman and Lois Season 1 into Adventures. There will be a transition saga and then it will awkwardly go back to SG Season 6.