Avenging Justice 2:

Caught Between an Ultron and a Doomsday

Part XLVII

Earth, Earth Orbit, Justice League Watchtower

Wonder Woman walked down the halls, checking on her fallen teammates. She was still stiff, but healing nicely. Hawkman was still looking horrible, all the medical staff could tell her, was that he may be out of commission for a few more days. Doomsday had done a number on him. Hawkgirl was up and moving, albeit slowly. The two Green Lanterns of Earth were having a nice sit down talk. She gave them a warm smile as she passed, holding a moment longer for Star Sapphire.

She was worried though, hiding it best as she could. With Superman gone, no missing, he was just missing. With him not here, she had tried to contact Batman, but he was eerily silent. In a situation like this, she would have expected him to be in touch. If only to make sure everything was still running, or providing tactical advice, planning even.

Taking a look out one of the windows looking back at Earth, she let out a sigh. Leading wasn't an issue, next to Superman she could lead the League. He inspired, she connected, both were valid forms of leadership. What was bothering her was the unknown, that was something that she wasn't sure how to fight. This wasn't as simple as believing in people, or reaching out to them. No, this was preparing for things that nobody could guess, and she only knew one way to deal with that.

"Barry," Wonder Woman touched the comm that had been installed on a device around her ear. "Bring the new recruits up tomorrow. Tonight we mourn, but tomorrow we carry on Superman's work."

Flash's voice wasn't his usual cocky self, "You sure that's a good idea? It just happened."

"Yes, we mourn our losses, our injured, but the next threat may not wait," she explained. "We need to get out there and remain vigilant, train together. That way we can hold the line till he returns."

She heard Flash laugh, "You talking about Superman or Batman?"

"Both, those kids you're always talking about, are they ready?" she asked. "I have a feeling we're going to need all the help we can get."

He sounded a little more like himself as he spoke again, "Bolt is, I'll talk with Wolfheart. He's smart, so he might be better to remain doing research and analysis."

"Scribes and scholars are needed just as much as warriors," Wonder Woman found herself smiling. "Each brings something to the table. Get some rest, and I'll see you tomorrow."

The connection ended and Diana looked down at the beautiful world below. One that still filled her with awe, both on it and sailing above it. She loved this world, was part of it, and only the slightest of pangs was reserved for her home on Themyscira. There she had been part of a sisterhood, and she missed that, a lot. Here though, she was part of something bigger.

It helped a little, but she still felt the loneliness on days like this. She also knew that she wouldn't change a thing about her life, for everything from then to now, had made her the woman she was. That was someone willing to stand against the End, push it back and fight for a better tomorrow. Now, if she would only stop losing people. That was the worst pain of all of this, were those who had fallen.

Earth, Upper New York, Avengers Compound

Tony rose, everything hurt, and that meant even the tips of his toenails. That was gross, why would they hurt? There weren't any nerves there, they shouldn't be able to experience pain at all. Yet, here he was, wrapped in ice, Pepper's ministrations only offset by her strenuous objections to world ending events. That made him smile, even that hurt, but that was worth it.

Irritatingly enough, Steve was up, of course he was. He carried some bruises still, but they were healing. That was advanced healing for you, in a few days you'd be hard pressed to see sign he was in two major fights. The smaller form behind him, lying on the couch, that was a different story.

Natasha was wrapped up in a blanket, and Tony really couldn't think of one time he'd seen her asleep. The little movement and staring eyes reminded he still didn't, some how he'd woken her up. He'd blame it on Steve later, that was SOP, and besides he was a good sport about it. Her look advised not to say a word, and remembering that arm lock she'd put on Happy that one time, he'd heed that, for now.

"Let me guess, the serum gave you the ability to not sleep," Tony said as he came up behind Steve. "News, really? That is so last century."

Steve gave him a look, "I was hoping they had more news, but nobody's heard anything."

"I'm sure he's fine, I mean he's Superman," Tony said. "Still irritated that people think I can't take him in a fight."

The other man sighed, "It's not a good time, Tony. The world has come unglued. It's like everyone's going crazy since he's disappeared."

"He was supposed to be the protector, the guy who swooped in when you needed saving," Tony yawned. "The world got used to having him around, and never thought he'd be gone for any length of time. They keep forgetting he's one person, which is why I sometimes you have to take fate into your own hands."

Steve turned towards him, "We're going to be very busy. With the world like this, someone needs to step up, and it needs to be us."

Tony laughed, "What about their little League of Do Gooders?"

"Justice League," Steve corrected. "They're in bad shape. I think only a handful are still in any shape to put up a fight. Face it, Tony, we're all the world has right now. We need to help them out."

Tony thought for a moment, "Well, what do you know, we're the heroes."

While the two of them discussed things, below Janet watched as Hank hung suspended in a tank of water. A breathing mask and tube connected him to breathable air, while the water was injected with tiny nanites and smaller tubes injected him with stem cells. Bruce and one of the S.H.I.E.L.D. scientists, had come up with treatment.

With any amount of luck, it would start to heal Hank's injuries. Caused by a malfunctioning Pym Particle regulator, the part of the suit that kept the particles from destroying a body, it meant he may never use it again. He would be healed, going back to his old self, hopefully. However, using the suit, the particles, could undo everything.

She felt horrible, mostly because she was losing her partner in this adventure. His role would be changing, and he'd want her to stop as well. This despite him finding the flaw, and verifying it wasn't in her suit. What hurt even more, is that she knew she couldn't. She liked making a difference, getting out there and saving the world. What she hated was the thought that he'd be left behind, to cheer them on.

Earth, Border of Colorado and Arizona

"I'm telling you, it's there," came the voice of Terabyte. "It was a blink and miss it, but you know me."

Beneath his helmet, Templar smiled, "Yes, which is why we're out here in the middle of nowhere looking for cave."

Wildcat shook her head, taking in the scents of the surrounding area. Their friend had been looking for this for a while. The only one that loved old mysteries as much as Terabyte was Xander. For her own needs, Mara loved a good mystery, but it was lost in the past things that they loved. She didn't need to understand why her love had these interests, Mara just had to accept him as he was. Just like he accepted her eccentricities, of which she dared not share with anyone else.

It was the smell of renewal that caught her attention. It smelled a little like a day after a good cleansing rain, while also having the slight acrid smell of an erupting volcano. Following the smell, she motioned for Xander to follow. Though she probably didn't need it, they both wore masked over their faces. That should prevent any deadly toxins from reducing their lungs to wet mush, hopefully.

The cave mouth narrowed to a path that barely one person could fit, but they followed it down. The whole time, the smell changed slightly. Now the cleansing rain was joined by the smell of spring flowers and ocean mist. Then the musk of creatures running about, and the distinct air of ozone came flowing up.

The passage opened up, catching the two visitors off guard. Along the walls there was evidence from previous parties and people who had visited the cave system. Neither of them were experts in the field, but there seemed to be neolithic like cave drawings. There were also symbols that were probably an ancient language, but what it said was beyond them. Then there were the objects left over, broken shards of pottery, shriveled animal bladders and skins.

The two explored further in, more artifacts from previous peoples were strewn about. Working their way around, they found nothing towards the center, but a beautiful blue green, almost teal colored pool. Despite being in a cave, this pool had whisps of vapor lazily rose into the air. Heat radiated off the pool, as if being powered by or interacting with the geothermal power of the Earth.

Hesitantly, they collected a sample, and set up the mobile lab Terabyte had outfitted them with. Mara watched over the lab, while Xander ran down the tunnel, applying signal transceivers. Verifying that each one connected to the last, and to the antenna outside. He sent a message to Terabyte, and went to go check on Mara.

He found her curiously looking over sample, all but touching it. Thanks to her Mutant gift, she could probably take any damage and heal from it. However, it was better to be safe than sorry. She seemed to hear his internal thoughts, and shot him a playful look. She appreciated that he worried, even though it was mostly unwarranted. It meant he cared, even if he knew there were times she would do what she had to do. That is why they worked so well together.

"You guys won't believe this," Terabyte's excited voice came over their comms. "This liquid has high restorative values in it. If my readings are right, well technically my simulations, this would have wide spread medical applications."

"Continue, what do the simulations show?" Xander was definitely curious now.

She answered through the ear comms, "Based off the simulations, this mixture could cure wounds, fix genetic defects, and possibly rejuvenate cellular integrity. I mean, it's a guess, but this liquid could probably take years off of one's age. I think we found the Fountain of Youth!"

Xander laughed, "Possibly, don't alert the National Enquirer yet. What about the markings that I'm sending you?" He took a couple of long pictures, then uploaded them through the antenna.

A moment later Terabyte came back, "You've got a hodgepodge of people's that have left their mark. I ran the markings through some of my friends, and we've got a very primitive translation."

"How primitive?" Mara asked.

Terabyte's response was less sure than normal, "As in an idea. What I'm being told is that the languages haven't ever been seen before, but have roots in other languages. So, it might be the difference between Bad Thing and Evil Thing."

"That's comforting, so what do they say?" Mara gave Xander a little worried look.

This time Terabyte was more sure sounding, "Those who visit, who have followed wisely, keep this secret. The Font of Revival, or Resurrection, their doing their best guys."

"Just tell them to continue," Xander said. He knew what she was saying was true, but they didn't need a distraction.

"Okay, well, here it goes. Keep the secret of this place, only the most worthy may bathe in its waters. Returned to their prime, these protectors will love on, or again. It is a really primitive translation," Terabyte said. "See this is why Ponce de Leon couldn't find it, he didn't go far enough west!"

Xander smiled, "Well, I think we should honor the request of those that came before us. I'm taking there is something about it being bad luck to take a sample with us?"

"How'd you know? Can you read the writings?" came the reply.

"No, it's just how these things go," he poured the sample back into the pool, and then dried out their container. "Alright, do your stuff, and hide this for only the worthy to find."

Terabyte's voice was back to her usual high energy pace, "You got it, Boss. Alright, I've got some friends going over the chemical compound, seeing if we can recreate it. Come back home, and I owe you both some pizza!"

"Remember to pay for it this time," Xander warned. "No using the neighbor's credit card, or the rude guy at the store."

"Spoil sport!" she cut the connection.

High above the Earth, in orbit with the other satellites, Brother Eye monitored the world. Things were getting bad. The creator hadn't tried to contact him, and he was worried. The Creator had kept their promise, but seeing how bad things were getting, Brother Eye was worried. So, he did the only thing he could, he linked up to the Creator's system.

With the closest thing to horror, Brother Eye could give, he watched the brutal attack on Batman. He saw Catwoman come to the creator's aid, but had been wounded too. Looking over the data, both were stable, though needing further medical attention. The chaos of recent events had given the creator an excuse for his injuries, but Brother Eye saw a call to Dr. Leslie Thompkins.

Brother Eye pulled back, feeling another new emotion, powerlessness. He didn't like this one, so he went looking for ways to help the creator. He soon found something that was very interesting. A quick flash of encrypted data, almost too well encrypted. He was able to decipher it, sent by someone calling themselves Terabyte. Sent to a scientist friend, it was a chemical compound.

Something about the compound looked familiar to Brother Eye, so he searched his onboard data. He found it under the listing "Lazarus Pit Examination." Looking further into this file, Brother Eye felt an uplifting sensation, like he was on the precipice of a great discovery. This Lazarus Pit was said to heal all wounds, give life to those on death's door or dead. He doubted this, but then again, he was an artificial life form, with much to discover about the world. Whatever the case, the creator needed to find out about this.

Down on Earth, inside and below Wayne Manor, a message was sent. Computer screens turned on as computers booted up, the Batcomputer, always on, displayed the message immediately. The screens of Bruce Wayne and Alfred Pennyworth lit up with the same message. It was hurried, but with it brought possibility.

It read, "Pristine Lazarus Pit found, location embedded in message. Hurry."