LEAGUE OF AVENGERS
by Gunman
Disclaimer: I do not own Avengers, Justice League, or their characters.
Summary: The Avengers and The Justice League meet the resistance and head back in time to set things right.
Story idea from Crazyboi23.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Chapter 3
Alliance
(Metropolis, Savage Time Reality)
"You will surrender yourself to police custody!" the armed officer shouted as he opened fire.
"The world has gone mad." Captain America groaned as the rather militant police fired at him and Sif.
The American super soldier and the Asgardian war goddess were deflecting the soldiers energy blasts away from themselves using their respective weapons.
"Follow me!" Cap shouted as he pushed forward and plowed through the gray-suited officers, knocking them down like bowling pins.
Sif smiled at the super soldier, liking a take-charge man.
Green Lantern Soranik was protecting the unconscious forms of Jonn Jonzz and War Machine using her Power Ring's aura.
Green Lantern Laira had scooped up Black Widow and Flash from the nearby park and was using her force field to protect the three of them.
Green Lantern Arisia had taken to protecting civilians Lois and Jimmy, but also the still unconscious Green Lantern John Stewart.
Spider-Man was dodging energy blasts left and right, much to Hawkgirl's amazement. The avian Justice League member was flying headfirst into the still-firing soldiers and smashing her mace into their bodies.
"Ouch!" Spider-Man gasped as the soldiers were scattered around the street like a group of bowling pins. Lucky that he was so agile when he fought her.
Batgirl was hurling batarangs at the soldiers. Vixen was using her rhino-hide power to shrug off their attacks as she plowed right into them.
Suddenly, a new group of superheroes appeared in the soldiers line of sight.
Superman and Supergirl barreled through them. The Hulk slammed into the ground causing several of them to be knocked off their feet. Maxima was using her sword to slice through their weapons and then spinning around to throw a roundhouse kick that knocked three of them on their backs.
"No Killing!" Superman reminded the Queen of Almerac.
"I know!" Maxima shouted back at the man of steel.
Suddenly, a massive explosion erupted from beneath the streets as two powerful and battle damaged individuals emerged before everyone.
Wonder Woman and Thor continued to glare at each other, oblivious to the armed soldiers.
"You have given me quite a battle, milady." Thor said to the amazon.
"And you as well. But don't think for a second I will yield." Diana said to the Asgardian.
"Nor will I." he smirked.
The soldiers suddenly opened fire upon them.
"What?" Thor gasped, the energy bolts striking his skin.
"Who?" Diana gasped, instinctively bringing her bracelets up to block their attacks.
"Bring them down!" one of the storm troopers shouted.
"You dare attack me? Thor? The God of Thunder?!" Thor roared as he raised his hammer into the air.
Wonder Woman watched as Thor summoned up a bolt of lightning and brought it down, blasting the landscape and knocking the storm troopers back.
"God of Thunder? You're not the God of Thunder!" Diana gasped as soon as the area was eerily calm.
"I beg your pardon?" Thor asked, confused.
"The only true god of thunder is Zeus of Olympus." Diana declared.
"In the Greek culture, perhaps. Not the Norse one." Thor stated.
"Norse culture? You mean... you're THAT Thor?" she asked, realization setting in.
"Is there any other?" he asked, shrugging his shoulders.
Superman was high up in the air as he turned and saw a dozen hovercraft-like vehicles flying towards them. He then saw a trio of large armored vehicles arrive, most likely with more troops.
"We need to get out of here!" Spider-Man shouted.
"The Justice League doesn't run from a fight!" Hawkgirl shouted.
"What, you're prepared to fight an entire army?" the webslinger asked.
Superman was smashing through a hovercraft while another one shot him in the back.
Repeatedly.
"Kal-El!" Maxima shouted as the Kryptonian man fell from the sky. She caught him as he came down.
"I'm... I'm alright." Superman groaned as he stood up and leapt back into the air.
Supergirl flew up and punched another hovercraft, causing it to careen towards Batgirl and Vixen.
"Look out!" Spider-Man shouted, running towards the pair of heroines as he grabbed a chuck of asphalt that had been uprooted by their fight, and tossed it at the soldiers who were still shooting at him. The asphalt smashed through their weapons, injuring their hands, as the webslinger leapt towards Batgirl and Vixen, scooping them up and moving away right as the hovercraft slammed into the sidewalk they were standing on. The pilot had been thrown from the craft as it crashed.
Thor hurled his hammer into the air and brought down two more hovercrafts even as Diana used her lasso and snared one of the hovercraft pilots and yanked him from the craft. The unmanned craft flew into a nearby building and exploded as the amazon princess threw the pilot into another pilot on another craft, knocking them off and causing the second craft to crash into a lamp post.
"Uh, you can let us down now." Batgirl said to Spider-Man, who had both her and Vixen under his arms.
"Wha, right. Sorry." Spider-Man said as he set them both on their feet.
"Ohh... what hit me?" Flash groaned as he looked over and saw Black Widow staring at him.
"That... would have been me." the red-haired Russian assassin said with a grin.
"More soldiers are on their way!" Supergirl shouted while hovering in mid-air.
"I think it's time for a retreat!" Batgirl said.
"Really? Even with big green over there pounding away at them?" Vixen asked as Hulk tossed one of the vans down the street.
"Somehow I don't think even we can handle a whole army of these guys." Batgirl said.
With a brief pause in their fighting, the group of heroes started to regroup themselves.
"What now?" Arisia asked.
"Over here!" a voice called out, getting everyone's attention.
"Bats?!" Flash asked, squinting at the dark shape beckoning them from the shadows of an alleyway. Everyone present seemed to copy Flash, trying to make out the shadowy figure who appeared from a nearby alleyway.
To the Justice League and Batgirl it didn't look like the dark knight of their world. There was no cape, no Bat-symbol on his chest, and the man was wearing some kind of armor instead of his regular costume. He did have small pointed ears on his helmet, but that voice was unmistakable.
"Hurry!" he called, turning to run back into the alleyway.
The Avengers looked to Captain America, the Justice League looked to Superman.
"GO!" the super soldier and last son of Krypton shouted at the same time.
The group took off towards the alley way, the Green Lanterns hauling their protectorates with them. They saw the armored Batman jump into an open manhole and quickly followed him.
Spider-Man, Batgirl and Supergirl went first. The Argosian heroine lowering the dark angel of Gotham through the hole and into what looked like the subway, and into modified train car. The webslinger followed closely behind them.
Soranik dove into the hole while pulling Jonn Jonzz and War Machine behind her in her emerald aura.
Laira, now free of having to protect Black Widow and Flash dove into the manhole while the pair jumped in after her.
Arisia did the same thing with Lois and Jimmy that Soranik did with Jonn and War Machine.
Hulk just looked at the open manhole while Vixen, Maxima, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl and Sif jumped through the hole.
Thor gave Captain America a questioning look, before the super soldier nodded to the Asgardian and then jumped down the manhole.
Thor raised his hammer and smashed the ground around the manhole, opening it up more than before to allow both Hulk and Thor's larger-than-normal size to fit through the hole.
Hulk was the last one down the manhole and into the train car where he saw his teammates and the heroes they had just been fighting standing around or sitting down. The train itself looked fairly simple. Ten bench seating, five on both sides of the car, railings along the ceiling to hold on to, and a single seat up front for the driver.
Soranik had placed Jonn Jonzz and War Machine in the front left-side bench seat and was now standing beside them. Arisia did the same for Lois, Jimmy and John Stewart, getting them into the front right-side bench seating, with John still unconscious. Arisia then took a seat behind them.
Spider-Man was standing at the back of the car with Batgirl and Supergirl.
The now conscious Flash stood over by Hawkgirl and Black Widow, also at the back of the car.
Superman and Maxima were over by Lois and Jimmy, while Wonder Woman stood next to Thor and Superman. Laira was sitting with Vixen who were sitting behind Sif and Captain America who was standing up next to the Asgardian war goddess.
Hulk was standing in the center of the car.
It was Flash who spoke up.
"Nice wheels." The scarlet speedster said.
Suddenly, the car they were in was pelted with high energy gunfire.
"Whoa!" Batgirl gasped as she moved back behind Supergirl.
"Hang on!" the armored Batman-like figure said, sitting in the driver's seat of the subway car.
The League and Avengers looked out of the cars windows and saw dozens of heavily-armed police rushing into the station and firing at the train.
Suddenly, the roar of rocket engines sounded and the car they were in lurched forward.
Laira, Vixen, Jonn Jonzz, War Machine, Sif, Lois, Jimmy and Arisia, who were all sitting, got only a very slight case of whiplash. Everyone else who was standing were thrown around the car.
Superman was thrown into one of the bench seats with Maxima falling into his lap. The red-haired warrior queen smiled as the Kryptonian man blushed.
Captain America was thrown off his feet, only to be caught by Sif.
Hulk managed to maintain his balance as GL Soranik was thrown against him, colliding with his rock-hard stomach and feeling pain because of it.
"Ouch." Soranik groaned.
"Sorry." Hulk said.
Hawkgirl and Black Widow were thrown against Flash, landing against him.
Supergirl and Batgirl were thrown against Spider-Man, who tried to cushion their landing with himself.
The six of them ended up a tangled mess of limbs in both corners of the back of the car.
Wonder Woman was thrown against Thor.
"Are you alright, milady?" Thor asked the amazon, his arm unconsciously wrapped around her waist.
Diana actually blushed when she realized he was holding onto her.
"Yes. Fine. Thank you." she said to the Asgardian.
As the rocket-train sped along the subway tracks, Hawkgirl tried to get up from her awkward position, only to pause when she felt something cupping her right breast.
"Whose hand is that?" she asked dangerously.
"Sorry." Flash said, quickly retracting his right hand and grinning sheepishly. He suddenly felt the fingers on his other hand being bent back. "OUCH!"
"Oh, I'm sorry." Black Widow smirked as she got off of him. "Was that your hand?"
Spider-Man was on his back, with Batgirl on his left and Supergirl on his right, both laying on top of him.
Supergirl was staring hard into Spider-Man's eye lenses. Like she was looking right into his soul. She looked at her hands and then looked to Batgirl, whose hands were also in front of her.
"Is that your hand on my butt?" she whispered so that only Spider-Man and Batgirl could hear her.
"Uh, yeah. Sorry." the webslinger said as he removed his hand.
"I didn't say to move it." she said with a flirty smirk.
Batgirl looked at the blond heroine incredulously.
"Supergirl!" Batgirl chided her friend.
"What?" Supergirl asked, trying to act innocent as she felt the webslingers arm around her waist.
"Not the time!" the dark angel hissed as she pulled the Maid of Might off of the amazing arachnid.
"Oh, come on! How many other masked men in my age-range do I actually meet who aren't already mentally unstable or in a relationship?" the maid of might asked.
"Relationship? He could be married for all you know!" Batgirl hissed.
"I'm not." Spider-Man said.
The pair looked at him.
"Fiancee?" Batgirl asked.
"No." Spider-Man replied.
"Girlfriend?" Supergirl asked.
"No." Spider-Man replied.
"One-night stand?" Supergirl asked.
"Uh, no." he said.
"I wasn't asking, I was offering." Supergirl smirked.
"Kara!" Batgirl growled at the blond heroine in a deep, low voice, hoping that Spider-Man didn't hear her.
"What?" she asked the redhead again.
Hawkgirl was glaring at the arguing pair, feeling a slight tinge of amusement at their little quarrel. And especially over a man they'd probably just met.
"Look out!" Captain America suddenly shouted, causing everyone to look forward and see that the train car was heading for a wooden barrier in front of a bricked off dead-end wall. However, their masked driver remained completely calm as they continued to head for it. And for good reason, as everyone now saw the barrier in front of the wall collapse down and the wall slide upward, revealing a tunnel. They sped through the tunnel as the wall closed up and the barrier returned to it's upright position. All traces of their escape now gone.
Within minutes the train began to slow and stopped in an abandoned subway station. It was dark and lightly illuminated. There were dozens of crates covered by tarps all over the place, and a vehicle that the League thought looked like the Batmobile, only it was more armored and had a cannon mounted on it.
Their driver stood up and exited the train, not paying any of them any mind as he walked through the station.
The Justice League was the first out, following him even as the Avengers and their allies continued to stare in confusion.
"This is too weird, even for him!" Flash said quietly.
"Tell me about it." Batgirl muttered to herself.
The Avengers heard him, and realized that their entire reality had changed from what it was previously.
Flash suddenly streaked towards their rescuer, stopping him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Hey, wait up, I've got some questions!" he shouted to the armored man.
However, as soon as the speedster touched the armored shoulder, more than 20 heavily armed and armored people emerged from various places around the station. The heroes noticed that some of them looked rather small, like children. They all aimed their guns at the heroes, their fingers on the triggers.
The League and the Avengers quickly got into their various defensive stances. Superman and Maxima were protecting Lois and Jimmy. Captain America had his shield up, Sif had her hand on her sword, Black Widow had her fists up. The Green Lanterns, including John Stewart, had their rings up. Thor and Hulk tensed their muscles, eyeing their various foes. War Machine's guns were at the ready. Jonn looked behind them, seeing even more armored figures with guns raised. Hawkgirl had her mace at the ready, but didn't pull it over her head. Vixen and Batgirl were standing behind Supergirl and Spider-Man.
The whole situation was tense enough, until the armored man spoke.
"No. I'll ask the questions." he said, turning around to face Flash and the others. "Who are you?" he demanded.
Flashs eyes were wide open, as were the Leagues, Lois and Batgirls.
"Bats, you're starting to scare me." Flash said.
"I scare a lot of people," he said flatly. He looked Flash up and down, then did the same thing to the rest of the heroes. Because of his helmet and black visor it was difficult to tell just what he was thinking."The Resistance might be able to use you, but you're going to have to prove we can trust you." he stated.
"Trust us? Are you kidding?" John Stewart protested. "You've known us for years!" he said, stepping forward to stand next to Flash.
The armored Batman-like figure said nothing, just reached behind him, taking one of the weapons from one of his soldiers, and pointed the barrel at John's face. Thor and the other Avengers caught the shivering expressions on the Justice League.
The looks of shock and confusion. Clearly this Batman was not their Batman. Further evidence that reality had changed.
"You must have me confused with someone else," he said, his finger on the trigger of the gun.
"I don't think he's kidding." Flash finally blinked.
Before anyone else could blink, Superman sped forward and grabbed the gun out of his hands.
"Listen! If we wanted to hurt you, we would have," the man of steel told him.
The soldiers around them all ran forward to defend their leader while the two men stared down the other. Armored Batman held up his closed right fist, then opened it up into a straightened up gesture, causing everyone to relax. Captain America, John Stewart and War Machine, being soldiers themselves, recognized the silent military-like gesture the man had used.
Superman handed the weapon back to the armored leader, which was now bent into a nearly perfect L-shape. The armored man looked at the weapon for a couple seconds before he spoke.
"Let's talk." he said simply.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The armored Batman lead them upstairs to where his large computer array sat, overlooking the station and the armored soldiers who were going about their own business.
"I think introductions are in order." the armored man said.
"But you know who we are." Batgirl said.
"I think we've already established, that I don't." he said, making the dark angel of Gotham shrink under his glare.
"Actually, I think that's a good idea." Superman said, looking at the Avengers, who nodded to the man of steel. "Kal-El, formerly of the planet Krypton, but a lot of people call me Superman." the man of steel introduced.
A little self-grandizing. Batman thought of the name. Or did he give himself that title?
"I am Diana, Princess of Themyscira, daughter of Hippolyta who is queen of the amazons." the raven haired warrior woman said.
Amazons? From the Greek myths? he wondered.
"Shayera Hol, Hawkgirl, of the planet Thanagar." the avian heroine said.
She's an alien? he thought.
"Flash, fastest man alive." the speedster said.
Another self-grandizing title. he thought.
"Jonn Jonzz, of Mars." the last martian said.
He's a martian? He thought.
"Batgirl, from Gotham City." the red-haired dark angel said.
I used to live there. Batman thought grimly.
"Supergirl, from the planet Argos." the blond-haired heroine said.
Another alien? he wondered.
"Vixen, born in Africa and grew up here in America." the dark-skinned heroine said.
I've never met a black woman before. He thought.
"Maxima, warrior queen of the planet Almerac." the red-haired warrior woman said.
How many alien races are we dealing with? he wondered.
"Lois Lane, reporter, Daily Planet." the raven-haired woman said.
"Jimmy Olsen, photographer, Daily Planet." the red-haired, freckled faced boy said.
At hearing the last two, Armored Batman glared at them, knowing that the Daily Planet was another of Savage's propaganda tools.
"John Stewart, former USMC, now a Green Lantern." the dark-skinned man said.
A Green Lantern? he wondered, then looked at the three alien women who also bore the green insignia that he did.
"Laira Omoto, another Green Lantern, from Sector 112. Planet Jayd." the purple-skinned alien woman said.
"Arisia Raab, Green Lantern of Sector 2815. From Graxos IV." the blond-haired, elf-eared alien woman said.
"Soranik Natu, Green Lantern of Sector 1417. From Korugar." the black-haired, red-skinned alien woman said.
More aliens. Incredible. He thought.
"Captain America, super soldier and leader of the Avengers." the star-spangled shield wielder said.
Super soldier? he wondered.
"Lady Sif, shield maiden of Asgard." the raven-haired swordswoman said.
Asgard? From the Norse legends? he wondered.
"Thor Odinson, prince of Asgard, son of Odin Allfather, and God of Thunder." the large blond-haired, hammer-wielder said.
What, THE Thor? Another living Norse legend? he mentally gasped.
"Spider-Man, genetically altered human with a science degree." the red and blue garbed hero said.
Science degree, huh? Could be useful. He thought.
"Black Widow, from Russia." the red haired woman in a black catsuit said.
But Russia was destroyed years ago. He thought.
"Lt. Colonel James Rhodes, Air Force, now called War Machine." the armored avenger said as his armor opened up like a cocoon and allowed the dark-skinned man to emerge from it.
John Stewart glared at the man while Batman seemed to be analyzing the armored suit.
"My friends call me Dr. Bruce Banner, everyone else calls me The Incredible Hulk." the gamma goliath said.
This brute is a doctor? he thought, looking up at the green-skinned powerhouse.
The group looked at each other, glad to now know who was who. They all turned towards the dark armored man whom they had gathered around.
"And what's your story?" Hawkgirl asked the Armored Batman-like figure.
"I'm the leader of the Resistance." he said.
"Resistance... against this twisted, fascist society?" Captain America asked.
"Yes. The Savage Regime." he said.
"Savage Regime? Why is it called that?" Supergirl asked.
"Because it's led by a man named Vandal Savage." Batman said.
"Never heard of him." Flash said.
"Never?" he asked.
"Sorry. We're... kinda new to this world." Flash said.
"How is that possible?" he asked.
"It's a long story." Hawkgirl said.
"Aside from the obvious, why are you fighting this 'regime'?" Black Widow asked.
He was quiet for a moment as the group continued to stare at him.
"I was eight years old when the storm troopers came to our house..." he started to explain.
"And they murdered your parents." Superman finished, getting everyone to look at him, included the Armored Batman.
"Yes." he said.
"Why?" Hawkgirl asked.
"For speaking out against the regime." he said bitterly.
"Incredible." Superman breathed.
"Not really. It happens every day. That's why I started the Resistance." he told them, looking down at the other Resistance fighters.
The group of heroes looked down and noticed several things.
A couple of the fighters were sparring, with several others cheering them on. There were a couple of youths running around looking like they were playing 'Tag'. There was a young man with a ponytail sharing a passionate embrace with a woman with short black hair and blue eyes, a few years older than him, with a whip tied to her hip. Batgirl's eyes seemed to twitch at seeing that.
Armored Batman's hands gripped the railing.
"We're all orphans and outsiders, fighting the good fight," he explained.
"How long has this regime been in power?" John Stewart asked.
"Since World War II." Batman answered calmly.
The Justice League and their allies looked shocked and confused. The Avengers, however, looked to their leader, Captain America, who looked a little shaken.
"But, we won that war, didn't we?" Flash asked.
"No," Batman growled out. He then walked over to the computer and pushed a couple of buttons. Instantly, a series of black and white photographs appeared on the screen. Pictures of Nazis marching through several cities. American cities. "They did."
Mouth dropped open as eyes widened. Shock and confusion painted on their faces.
"No..." Captain America gasped, the most horrified out of the group.
"You're telling us we lost World War II?!" a completely disgusted John Stewart demanded, moving up to stand before Batman. "That's insane! The Allies invaded Europe on D-Day, and–" he said, only for Batman to interrupt him.
"And it was a disaster. D-Day was the beginning of the end for the Allies." Batman said.
"I can't believe I'm hearing this!" GL exclaimed.
"No. It can't be! I don't believe it!" Cap hissed as he gripped the railing, the metal bar bending under the super soldiers muscular grip.
Everyone, including Sif, noticed this. Batman looked at the now bent railing, realizing that his 'super soldier' moniker wasn't just a title. Cap looked down at the bar and released it.
"Sorry." he said as he walked away from the group.
Sif looked at Thor, who only nodded his head towards his fellow Avenger. The shield-maiden turned and walked after the Captain.
"He seemed to take this rather personally." Jonn Jonzz said.
"He should. In our world, Cap fought the hardest of anyone to make sure the Nazis didn't win the war." Black Widow said.
"Your world?" Batman asked.
"Captain America, myself, Thor, Sif, Spider-Man, War Machine and The Hulk, are all from another universe. In that world, we are known as The Avengers, and our formation was mostly due to the efforts of Captain America." the Russian super spy explained.
"The Allies victory over the Nazis led to a free-enterprise system, and the creation of various fields of science, which ultimately resulted in the creation of several of the Avengers. Myself included." Spider-Man added.
Batman looked back to where Sif was talking to The Captain, and then back to the group.
"That's impossible. He doesn't look any older than the rest of you. How could he have survived all these decades from the War and not aged?" Batman asked.
"Cryogenic suspension." Spider-Man answered. "Being frozen in a block of ice for decades, until the Avengers found him, he only survived because of his super soldier serum."
"Super soldier serum?" Superman asked.
"The Nazis were on the verge of winning the war. Mostly due to the efforts of their deep-science division, HYDRA, led by their own demented and twisted super soldier, Johann Schmidt, the Red Skull." James Rhodes explained. "HYDRA had created a lot of advanced weapons and biological monstrosities that the Allies were quickly being overwhelmed by. The Allies best hope to win the war was to create an army of super soldiers to stand against them. People at the pinnacle of human physicality. Like Olympic-class athletes. Their first candidate was a skinny 4F volunteer who had been chosen because of extensive psychological searching."
"Extensive psychological searching?" Batman asked.
"Basically, the project leader wanted a good man to be the first recipient of the formula. The project was a success." Spider-Man said.
"And he was the only super soldier?" Batman asked.
"Before they could create their army, a HYDRA saboteur killed the lead scientist and destroyed most of the research. He was caught and killed, but it meant that the US wouldn't get their army. So... they decided to turn their only successful super soldier into a propaganda super hero. They called him Captain America, a living symbol of America and its values. Along with other noble heroes and soldiers, Cap led the fight against the Axis and HYDRA, eventually defeating them and winning the war itself." James Rhodes answered.
The Justice League and their allies took all this in, as Batman looked back to the super soldier and the Asgardian shield-maiden. Both of whom were quietly talking between themselves.
"That's why he took it so personally." Batman said.
"To him, this reality is his nightmare come true." Black Widow said.
"It would be worse if the Red Skull was here." Spider-Man added.
"But all this, shouldn't exist at all." Lois said. "The Allies won the War. All this didn't exist an hour ago."
"An hour ago?" Batman asked. "The world's been like this for over 60 years."
"To you, perhaps. But to us, these changes happened recently." Batgirl said.
"Something has obviously happened to the time-space continuum," Jonn said.
"Probably caused by the disturbance we experienced." Superman said.
"But why weren't we affected?" Diana questioned him.
"Perhaps the aura from Green Lantern's ring protected us," Jonn suggested.
"Protected ALL of us from the change." Vixen said.
"And what proof is there of this change?" Batman asked.
Lois looked at Superman before she stepped up to Batman. The armored resistance leader didn't move, but kept his focus on the attractive woman. She got right up close to his ear and whispered something into it.
"You're name... is Bruce Wayne." Lois whispered to him.
The League and the Avengers saw the resistance leader shake for a second, his mouth opening and then closing quickly. She pulled back and looked at him.
Batman was stunned. He didn't know these people, didn't know this woman, had never ever heard of any of them, and yet this woman knew his name? And Superman knew of what happened to his family when he was a child. He said it so casually, like it wasn't common knowledge. Like it was a significant event.
People died every day in opposition to the regime, so his situation was no different than the other Resistance fighters. And yet these people, who were in no way like the people born of the tyrannical society that Vandal Savage ruled over, claimed to have known and even worked with him.
They spoke of the Nazis losing the war, of a free-enterprise system that gave rise to so many unique and powerful individuals, of a way of life that was better than this.
Then why... he started to wonder. "Say that I believe you? Where would we start looking for evidence to verify your claims?" Batman asked.
"Have you detected any large electrical or magnetic disturbances recently?" Superman asked.
"We experienced some interference on our com-links... why?" he asked.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
After gathering up the distraught super soldier and the shield maiden who was trying to comfort him, the two teams of heroes and their allies were on their way to what they figured was the source of their troubles.
Lois and Jimmy had been given a pair of armored suits like the rest of the Resistance fighters, mostly for their own protection, though they weren't given any weapons.
Batman crouched at the end of an alleyway, staring at a building that looked like some kind of research facility.
"According to my sources, the pulse emanated from here. Vandal Savage's Research Center." Batman said to the group.
"And this Vandal Savage... how long has he been in power?" Captain America asked.
"Since World War II." Batman said.
The Avengers looked at each other, as did the League.
"And he's still alive?" John Stewart asked.
"How is that possible?" Supergirl asked.
"Super-human healing factor?" Spider-Man asked.
"Special longevity formula?" Black Widow wondered.
"Perhaps he is a demigod?" Thor mused.
Batman looked at the group in confusion.
"Encounter that a lot, do you?" he asked.
"Almost every day." Spider-Mans said.
Looking towards another building, they saw a fifty foot picture of Savage's face, with the word 'Leader' embroidered across the banner.
"He's everything I've been fighting against: the undisputed dictator of this repressive regime." Batman explained.
"Let's see what's inside." Jonn said, phasing through the ground.
"If I didn't know people who could do that, I'd think it was creepy." the webslinger said.
"How many people in your world can do that?" Supergirl asked.
"At least two. One's a mutant girl with phasing powers, the other's an android who can alter his density at will." Spider-Man explained. "He's actually an Avenger himself."
"Cool." Supergirl said. "Any supervillains with that power?"
"One. But I heard she reformed." he said, thinking about the blond psychiatrist with the Kree moon stone.
"Let's get going." Hawkgirl said as she lifted off into the air with the others behind her.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
The building was well-defended, but not too difficult to gain access to the research center. The two teams easily blasted through the guards and sentries, making sure not to kill anyone. Sif and Maxima may have been of a more fierce mentality than their comrades, but they had enough respect for them to heed their decision not to take a life.
Inside, Jonn Jonzz located the source of the disturbance.
Looking down upon a large, swirling black-colored vortex of sorts, two scientists in special suits were analyzing the data that the computers were giving them.
"How much longer until it collapses?" a male scientist asked.
"According to these readings, about 48 to 50 hours." the female scientist said. "Just as Savage predicted."
"It's a shame that we couldn't have controlled the wave fluctuations. Practical time travel would be a reality."
Time travel? Jonn mentally gasped.
Jonn maneuvered himself towards the control console as the Justice League and Avengers quickly broke through the steel doors to the lab, pouring into it like a tidal wave.
Hawkgirl and Thor were in the lead. Wonder Woman and Superman flew in after them. Flash was right on their heels.
War Machine and Supergirl flew in behind them. John Stewart and the Green Lantern Ladies were right behind them.
Captain America lead the ground forces, which included Spider-Man, Batgirl, Black Widow, Sif, Maxima, Vixen, Lois and Jimmy, Hulk was the last to enter the lab.
No one noticed Batman there in the shadows.
John, Arisia, Laira and Soranik created emerald shields in front of them, protecting them from the onslaught of the guards weapons. Diana unhooked her lasso from her hip, spinning it above her head and then letting it fly. It wrapped around the weapon of one, and she yanked it back, throwing the guard across the room since he didn't have the notion to let it go. While they were distracted, Flash ran past them, helpfully preventing them from being too overwhelmed by knocking them out.
Superman hefting one of the huge consoles and chucking it toward them, causing the guards to run before it crashed into them.
Captain America hurled his shield towards another group of guards, smashing into them and knocking three down before it flew back to his hands.
Spider-Man leapt through the air, dodging energy blasts as he twisted and spun around in mid-air with ease, before kicking down two of the guards.
Vixen and Batgirl took down two more guards while Hulk towered above one of the guards who kept shooting at him. To no avail.
"Run away." Hulk growled to the man.
The guard gulped, and did as he was told.
The last group of guards was taken down by a cloud of knockout gas, and both Batgirl and Lois knew that Batman was responsible.
"Well, that was good." Flash chuckled.
"Over here!" Jonn called out to the two groups.
The group rushed over to the swirling vortex, staring over it like some kind of whirlpool made of air and darkness.
"What is that?" Supergirl asked.
"Heavy matter. Like a black hole. They used it as a tunnel into the past." Jonn explained.
"And altered history to change the outcome of the war." Hawkgirl finished.
"All so that Savage could rule the world." Captain America added.
"Can we use this thing to change it back?" Flash asked.
"It would be risky." Jonn said. "We'd have little more than 48 hours before the portal collapses."
"Between the 20 of us, it'll be a cake walk." Flash said.
"22." Spider-Man said, looking at Lois and Jimmy. "They have to come with us as well."
"What? Why?" Superman asked, unwilling to put two of his best friends in danger.
"Everything that happened here is a result of the changes in the time line. The Green Lanterns power rings protected all of us from the time change. Including them." he said, pointing to Lois and Jimmy. "If we go back, and set right the events of WWII, the timeline will change again. And if they are here when it happens, they could be altered in some other way we may never be able to undo."
Everyone looked at the webslinger, rather astonished by his words.
Batgirl actually bristled at his words.
Supergirl said he was cute, and I know he's powerful, but... smart too? the dark angel thought.
"Wait." Batman said, getting everyone to look at him. "Are you saying that my world, my whole life, is like this because someone went back in time, and changed the past?" he asked.
"That appears to be the case." Jonn confirmed.
"Then doing this could save my parents." he said with a small ray of hope.
"I can't promise that. But this is better than the alternative." Superman said to the resistance leader.
"That means we all have to go." Wonder Woman agreed with the webslinger, looking at the pair of civilians.
Black Widow spotted something over by the other end of the room. She smiled as she rushed over to it.
"I have to agree with Spider-Man's assessment. Any changes to the timeline could be altered if we change even the slightest variable." Jonn said.
"Time is of the essence. If we are to be successful, then we must go forthwith!" Thor declared.
"And we're going too?" Jimmy asked, excited at being involved.
"I don't know about this. Anything could happen." Superman said.
"Plus their armor might not be totally up to handling things. They might need something else." Hawkgirl said.
"How about this?" Black Widow said as she brought over two odd-looking backpacks in her hands.
"What are those?" Lois asked the Russian woman.
"A modified flight pack, and a special force field generator." The Russian woman said as she tossed the packs to the reporter and photographer.
"How did you know that?" Superman asked as Lois and Jimmy put the packs on their backs.
"Because that's what it said on the signs that they were hanging under. Apparently some kind of new invention courtesy of this research center." Black Widow said.
The pair clipped and secured the packs to their bodies, as Lois grabbed a pair of guns that the guards had dropped. She tossed one to Jimmy.
"You do know how to use that, right?" Lois asked.
"I've played paintball and first-person shooter games before." Jimmy said.
"This isn't a game, Jimmy. We're going back to World War II. People will be shooting at us as well. So... don't shoot unless you actually have to." Lois chided.
The group looked a little unsure about this, but didn't see where they had much choice.
"What about you?" Lois asked Batman. "Will you come with us?"
"No. If this doesn't work, someone has to stay and fight." Batman said. "Besides, if I understood what he said earlier," he said, pointing to Spider-Man, "then I shouldn't go with you."
"If this does work, you, this version of you, will never have existed." Jonn said to Batman.
"Nothing would make me happier." he said in a grim tone.
"Then let's go." Captain America said as he stared down at the black hole, before jumping in to it.
Sif followed the super soldier, followed one-by-one by the Avengers, then the members of the Justice League and the Green Lantern Corps, then Jimmy Olsen.
Lois Lane and Black Widow were the last ones, standing with Batman who just looked at them.
Lois walked over to the dark armored resistance leader, leaning up to kiss him on the cheek.
"Good-bye, Bruce." she whispered to him before rushing over and jumping into the portal.
Black Widow looked at Batman and gave him a wink with no smile, before following Lois.
Batman just looked down at the portal, and for the first time in his life, felt hope spring up in his heart.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Authors Notes:
Sorry this took so long. And sorry if it's a little raw. I had to make a lot of changes to it from what I originally wrote before I posted it.
Please, tell me what you thought of it, read and review, and enjoy.
