Avenging Justice 2:
Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday
Part XL
Earth, Kentucky, Outside of Lexington
John Stewart felt the hand around his head crushing his head, even despite the Green Lantern armor. Above, the beast the media had labeled, Doomsday, growled, hatred coming across the language barrier. The Green Lantern was fighting for his life, his mind starting to go to that primal state. Thus, his constructs were going from actual objects to more primitive things, if not downright energy blasts. Nothing seemed to be working.
The blessed air came back, as the monster was knocked off. John Stewart didn't have time to enjoy, as the rapidly closing ground, reminded him he needed to stop his descent. For the next several seconds, feeling more like hours, he gulped in huge lung filling breaths. Somewhere, outside of him, there was sound. The more advanced parts of his mind told him he should respond, that this was communication. The more primal part was still taking stock.
"Don't worry, Lantern, I got him now," the voice, familiar, very familiar, came flooding in. "Apologies for being late, had to stop for an oil tanker that caught fire."
John looked up, half dead and saw the blue and red blur shoot off. He wobbled, even as a green cot appeared under him. He hadn't brought that into existence, but the pain grunt to his left told him who it was. With his arm still in a sling, Hal Jordan touched down. He looked as bad as John felt. He may or may not have mentioned that, before darkness came for him.
Superman knew that Hal was there, and between him and Star Sapphire, they could get John Stewart out. He knew things had been bad, just not this bad. He might have come back later to the tanker, but that was something he'd have to second guess himself later about. Right now, this beast was getting back up, far quicker than it should have any right to.
Mongul, Darkseid, these beings he was used to fighting, and could go toe to toe with him. They were some of the few beings he could really let go with, really unleash his power, his strength. Unlike them, this being didn't even looked phased. He hadn't hit as hard as he could though, so he swooped down and came up with an uppercut.
The fist with bony protrusions coming out of it, was very much a surprise for him. As was the feeling of his head being savagely sent back, and Superman saw stars. The creature was on him, but he had fought beings like this before. As it came, he pushed up and hit hard, sending the thing flying into the atmosphere. Shaking his head, he followed suit, slamming into the creature at full speed, and pummeling it with hits.
Blasting through the sky, the Blackbird only saw something fly by the main cockpit, too quick for the naked eye to see. Cyclops at the controls swerved, and let out a choice word that was uncharacteristic of the X-Men team leader. Jean Grey scanned, and her face went to a mask of pain. Immediately she withdrew, and put her hand up to stop Cyclops from asking.
"It's just as the Professor said, nothing but rage, hatred and the need to destroy, kill," she managed.
Wolverine cracked his neck, "No worries, Red, we'll stop this thing." He popped his claws out, "Even if we have to shred it to tiny pieces."
Cyclops glared, "So far it's taken on the Justice League as if they are nothing, I suggest we go in with a plan of attack."
"Figure it out, oh great leader," Wolverine mocked. "While you're figuring it out, I'll be showing this thing why I'm the best at what I do."
"Shut it, Logan, not everything needs to be your own brand of…" Cyclops began, but was interrupted by Jean Grey.
"Scott! Bank left, now!" she screamed.
Just as quickly as the words came out, he did so, and that was the only reason the aircraft survived. A very angry grey skinned beast rocketed by, punching another flying figure harshly. Both crashed into a nearby industrial area. Cyclops brought the Blackbird in a circle around it, seeing the two beings mid battle.
"Setting down, X-Men, help whoever is down there contain this thing," Cyclops commanded. "Beast anything you can hypothesize on what we know so far?"
The blue furred mutant, looked absolutely terrified, "Don't get hit, that thing is frightfully strong and durable."
"Right, team, let's go!" Cyclops landed the Blackbird and opened the boarding hatches.
Wolverine was the first out, with Rogue and Jean right behind. Cyclops came with Beast, with Scott using the high advantage to send out an optic blast. Nightcrawler bamfed into existence on a nearby tree, looking over the battlefield. He saw the blast hit, and everything go wrong in an instant.
Superman slugged the beast hard, hard enough to hurt his own hand, and the thing barely looked phased. This thing was tough, and while it looked like a being, it acted more like a force of destruction. He had tried speaking, only to be greeted with growls. However, upon seeing the House of El crest on his chest, the creature had become even more enraged. One would have thought that impossible, based on the damage it had already caused, but his sore jaw and shoulder disputed that.
The creature roared, and tossed him as if he were a doll. Before it could continue after him, a blast of energy slammed into Doomsday. It howled, more in outrage than in pain. It threw its forearms up to block the blast, then as the blast ended, it launched upward. Superman reacted, rocketing to intercept, and hit the creature. It turned to him, and slammed a double fist slam into his back. He impacted the ground hard, just as the creature hit and rolled. Coming back up it launched again.
Cyclops saw it coming and blasted again, only he missed and he saw the massive fist coming for him. He heard a "bamf" then saw something beyond reason, before the "bamf" came again and he was thirty feet away. Struck with the immediate need to empty his stomach contents, he felt a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"Sorry my friend," Nightcrawler explained. "The loss of one's lunch is better than their life."
"I'll agree with that," Cyclops managed. "Let's not do that again."
Doomsday looked around confused, for just a moment before a smaller form latched onto its back. Adamantium claws dug in for purchase, but just as quickly Wolverine found himself thrown to the ground. A green boot came down, and if it hadn't been for his skeleton, he'd been a boneless mass. Instead, he felt his healing factor start to restructure his burst organs and nearly annihilated body.
"Listen, Sugah, this ain't a good look for you," Rogue punched the creature from behind.
The creature stumbled forward, turned and backhanded her. Rogue skidded about half a mile, before she stopped and she was back up. She came back fast, throwing a haymaker, only for it to be caught. The ground came up at her at a blinding speed, and she felt herself going into the ground. She was brought back up, and saw Doomsday sending another blow at her.
Superman deflected the attack, and sent his heat vision into the creature's eyes. He normally wouldn't do something like this, that would leave lasting damage, if he could help it. However, based on what this thing had taken so far, he was just looking for a way to stop it period. On some level, it must have worked, because the creature howled and dropped Rogue. It then stumbled around for several seconds.
Recognizing the young woman, "What are you doing here?" Superman asked.
"Trying to help," she gave him a smile. "I'm thinkin' you might be needing as much as you can get."
He nodded, "Right now we need to get the innocents out of harms way. Can you and your friends clear the area. I'll keep it busy."
Rogue nodded, "I'll be right back."
Earth, New Jersey, Gotham City
Batman dropped into the old zoo hard. He looked around, finding the telltale signs of Killer Croc. He had to end this quickly, Firefly was currently setting fire around Crime Alley, and Killer Moth was alternating between the coming turf war between gangs. If this kept up, the city would tear itself apart, it would be like before. That he couldn't let stand, Gotham deserved the ability to move beyond the bad old days.
"So, the Bat walks into my lair," came the rumbling voice of Killer Croc. "They say if you eat something, you take on its aspect!"
Batman dodged, and felt the claws rake against his shoulder armor. Gouged scratch marks appeared on his armor, and he instantly sent out a flashbang. Just as swiftly, he shut his eyes, as the room instantly illuminated with brilliant, blinding light. Killer Croc howled, and the Dark Knight rolled to the left, coming up with a batarang. Sending it out to where the howling was coming from, he burst forward.
Killer Croc felt the batarang hit him, and immediately lunged at where it had come from. Disappointed, he came up with nothing, even as he felt the air shift. Throwing out his off hand, the once man felt fabric, but nothing else. Turning, he found an armored boot meeting his jaw. Several teeth fell out, as a fist came at his temple.
Batman produced his taser blast, sending it into Killer Croc, knowing he had to hit him just right. Any other time, any other day, it would have been perfect. After spending most of the day going after the escaped inmates of Arkham, he was just a millimeter off. As such, most of the electrical charge went in, but not enough. Which is how the Dark Knight found himself slammed into a wall, with Killer Croc's open maw nearing his neck.
Thinking quickly, he pushed away the dagger filled jaws, and held them apart just long enough to get away from his body. Then he let Croc slam those jaws shut, before producing a foam spray sealant. Quickly he grabbed Croc's jaws closed, and used his other hand to spray the sealant. All the while, Killer Croc was battering Batman's ribs.
Jaws sealed shut, Killer Croc threw Batman off, and started to claw at the sealant. The Dark Knight hit hard, but rolled, grunting as he came back up. Stumbling slightly, he sent out another batarang, to get his attention. Then positioned himself to the right a slight, before turning on a light source.
"Well come on, Croc, you that easy to stop?" Batman taunted the reptilian human.
Killer Croc charged out, mouth finally free, "You're mine, Batman!"
Batman calmed himself, took in a breath, he had to wait till the right moment. That was impressive with someone taller and bigger than you, coming at your like a freight train. Even more when that bigger person, had armored reptilian skin and the ability to rip you to pieces with his bare hands. However, that was also going to be Croc's weakness.
Despite his protesting ribs, Batman leaped to the side, just at the right time. Killer Croc continued past, slamming his claws into something that Batman had been standing in front of. The rending of metal filled the air, and so did the quick howl of Killer Croc. Claws sliced through the electric panel and into the wiring inside. Enough electricity to kill a normal person, coursed through the reptilian man, and he was stuck in constant pain. Then it went away, and he fell to the floor.
Batman didn't waste any time, and slammed a savage kick into Croc's head, and then a second and third to make sure Killer Croc was down. Then, making sure that when Croc woke up, he'd be secured, Batman trussed the reptilian man. Sure that Croc was not going anywhere, he quickly scanned the area, finding the kidnapped people.
The victims had been taken from around the city. Luckily for them, Killer Croc had been emboldened by the other rogues running about, and didn't hide his movements like normal. Which is how Batman had tracked him down so quickly. This was good for the kidnapped, as the scary shape of a bat came for them. Finding themselves released, and a trail of glow sticks to follow, they found themselves rushing into the awaiting arms of Gotham P.D.
Batman watched this from a nearby rooftop, his ribs really starting to bother him. Reaching down, he gently pressed his side, and felt something pop. With that pop, the pain went from shooting pain, to a dull throb. That would do for a while, enough for him to finish getting the city back in order. On his side, the Justice League communicator was lit up. He pushed it back for a second, long enough to contact Commissioner Gordon.
"Gordon, you're people have Croc, I'm going after Killer Moth next," Batman said.
Gordon's voice, while tired, sounded a little more hopeful, "Thank you, Old Friend. However, Robin and his team have taken out Killer Moth and Firefly already. Apparently, Firefly is begging to be kept away from this, Raven, on Robin's team."
Batman cut the communication and signaled Robin's communicator, "What are you doing in Gotham?"
"Hey, Boss," Robin came back. "Taking care of Mad Hatter. Got a call that said you had some trouble out here."
Batman was struck between being proud that Dick had made it back, and aggravated that someone went behind his back. He didn't think it was Alfred, not unless Robin had specifically asked. That meant, the last person he'd let in. Frustration formed, and then he let it go. He still other matters to look into.
"Stay away from Joker," Batman said. "Tell your people that."
Robin's reply was cut off as Batman leapt away. Soon the Batmobile was blasting through the city. To those of the city and visitors stuck during this breakout, hope came back. As a black monster of a car rumbled and roared by, those criminals on the street thought better of their possible misdeeds. Those that didn't were already on his list of people to take down already, and send back to Arkham.