The World's Finest
5: 56 AM
"I am running out of patience my friend" Lex walks forwards as his eyes land on the back of another man "Our little arrangement was only devised to benefit you the most. You had all the money, all the time, and all the resources that you ever ask for. So tell me why the device is not finished when I said that today was going to be the last of time that I am going to wait for you to finish the job that I paid you to do, Winslow" the bold man raises an eyebrow as he glares daggers towards the man who had his back turned to him.
The other man was stood next to a workbench as he wore protective gear over his eyes and was using a blowtorch to heat up some kind of green object that was in front of him placed on the bench. His hands were shielded by thick black gloves. The torch was causing the green Kryptonite to slightly dark due to the rapid pressure of heat that was hitting it "Toyman says that it is not done. The game still needs more players to be playable. Toyman says that I need to test the meteor rock before I can confirm its effectiveness" Toyman replies to Lex over the loud noise coming from the blowtorch and the helmet that weighted his voice.
"We don't have that amount of time left. Our partners will be very disappointed with us if we do not make good on our end of the baron. If we end up failing to complete the task at hand, our very powerful friends will become our very powerful enemies" Lex replies as he holds his arms to his sides and squeezes his gloved hand "Our little helpers should be here any moment with the final ingredient. You know at first I thought I was alone in this world, that my fear of beings far greater than us was irrational, that we shouldn't just put all our trust in a man from the stars, but I have met those of which also share my care for the future of the human race. They too wish for the gods to leave us be and to let us make our own destiny"
"Mr Luthor, they're here!" John Corben calls to his boss.
Lex turns his head as sees John walking towards him with the two women following behind "I trust that your little venture went off without a hitch? That is why I went all out with the expenses after all" he addresses the two women stood made their way over to him.
"Not quite" John answers with a bandaged rolled over his head that cover's his right eye, but a faint green glow could still be seen "They managed to secure the package, but the fire that was supposed to destroy all the evidence was put out before it could do the job" the unshaven man explains.
"Superman?" Lex inquires.
"No, it was Batman" John rests his hands on his hips "I don't know how he knew where we were going to hit, but he was ready for us. He was seen entering the building mere moments after Firefly set off the bomb. I got to be honest, boss. I doubt that it was a coincidence"
"That's because it wasn't. Batman isn't some boy scout like Superman. He is a relentless individual - he doesn't do coincidences or happy accidents. He was there because something or someone tipped him off" Lex turns his head to Catwoman as he holds out both of his hands "The package, please" he asks.
Catwoman bends her arm over her back and reaches into her rucksack "Good. I can get my money and get out of this city. It's way too clean for my tastes" she pulls out the wooden box and holds it in her hands, her fingers were tightly clinging to it "First the money and then you get your dumb trinket, capeesh?" she gives a flutter of her eyelashes towards Lex.
"Don't worry my dear...you will get everything that you deserve, I promise you" Lex snaps his fingers "Mr Corben would you be a help and give the lady what she has ever so rightfully earned" John gives a slight nod as he quickly grabs Catwoman by the neck and lifts her off of the ground. She drops the box and John catches it with his free hand with lightning-fast reflexes. Catwoman struggled against the man's hold, but no matter how much she claws, mauls or kicks him, he seems to feel no pain from it. Though her claws did take a chunk out of his arm, tearing the skin right off, but instead a bloodied wound; the man's arms appeared to be biomechanical with green-glowing veins.
John hands the box over to Lex who took hold of it "Thank you, Mr Corben" Lex opens the box and his face is illuminated in bright red flashes "Red Kryptonite, who would have thought that I would be holding the ground of which gods once walked on, yet we humans remain while the once omniscient race did not even know how to stop their own demise. It makes you wonder just what makes a being be classified as a god. Power? Intelligence? Wisdom? Compassion? Or just one's unchecked pride? Or maybe it's all of them...or maybe it's none - It may be a quality that us mere mortals are not capable of understanding or something that we know not to tamper with...that is the beauty of us, humans...we know our limits, we don't go around changing the destinies of those around us..."
"Can we kill her now? I have been waiting for this for a long time!" Firefly growls.
"Yeah...I'm with her. I would rather be killed than listen to you say another word. Usually growing up as bold damages your confidence, so why the hell are you so talkative?" Catwoman spits out.
"Alexander The Great once said that *I would rather excel others in the knowledge of what is excellent, than in the extent of my power and dominion* in the world of business and politics...there is no greater weapon than one's own words, in my field of work...the need to use such deadly force is not something that I need to do often, but that does not mean that I am completely against it. I find it strange that Batman happened to show up in Metropolis the same time that I hired you for the job" Lex closes the wooden box as he looks to Catwoman.
"Okay, I know how you got to that conclusion, but I had nothing to do with him showing up. He was already planning on coming here" Catwoman gasps as Corben tightens his hold around her throat "Oh shit" she thought to herself as she feared that she had given away too much to Lex, she could tell that Lex was way too close to figuring out the identity of Batman. She bites her lips and looks down to Lex "Alright! You figured me out! I told the Bat about the job and have been feeding him information about you...that's how he got to the Bank before the fire could finish the job!" she lies through her teeth.
"You owe me one" Catwoman thinks to herself, just wondering why she is even bothering to protect him anymore, was it because of the pesky love that she still held for him? She keeps telling herself that she feels nothing for him anymore, but her words couldn't be any less true. She knew that Bruce would never return her feelings anymore, he sought all of his time to be used to protect the streets of Gotham and even Metropolis now apparently, but she knew that if he was in her situation, he would do the same for her without any hesitation.
"See! We should just kill the traitor right now. I can burn her real good, make her suffer" Firefly addresses Lex.
"What do you say, John?" Lex asks.
"I say we-" John was hurled backwards as a red-blue-blur rams into him. Catwoman rolls onto the ground and quickly kicks Brigit's legs; knocking her over.
Superman descends onto the floor as he smiles "Sorry to barge in unannounced, but that is no way to treat a lady" he flicks the curl of hair back as he lifts his head "Even one that is a thief" Superman looks onward as he sees John Corben emerge from the rubble and debris with his shirt damaged. John begins his hand to the shoulder of his shirt and rips it off; leaving his torso bare as a green light flashes from underneath his skin. Superman's tense up as he begins to feel a faint pain around his body.
John pulls off the bandage from over his face to reveal a clockwork of moving parts with a shinning green eye that was locked straight onto Superman "Bad move coming here, boy scout. You are going to pay for what you have done to me!"
"I didn't kill your sister, John" The Man of Steel tries to reason with the distressed man.
"But you sure as hell didn't save her! She wouldn't be dead if it wasn't for you!" John lifts both of his palms up and fires a pair of dual green energy beams straight at Superman. The Man of Steel was struck by the blast and was sent flying backwards; crashing into one of the high-tech machinery.
"Hey! Toyman says that equipment was expensive!" Toyman outbursts as he drops the blowtorch and makes a break for it. Superman looks over to him and uses his heat-vision to melt Toyman's shoes to stick him in place "What the?" Toyman tries to lift his legs off of the ground, but the bottom of his shoes have become like tar stuck to pavement and even more stuck to his feet, making it impossible to remove the shoes. Superman cracks his neck.
"Relax, it's not like Luthor doesn't have enough money to buy a new one" the man in the red cape comments as he flies towards John and hits him at point blank range, but this time John was only slightly moved by the force of his punch. Corben punches Superman in the face then the stomach. Superman feels blood dripping from his mouth and onto the floor that he stood on. He uses his thumb to brush away the trail of blood running down his cheek "Okay...that was a good one, the Kryptonite must have already taken effect" he thinks to himself.
"You can't beat me on your own. Not after all I have become. I am David and you are Goliath" John smirks as he punches Superman across the room "My blood is your weakness, the more you hurt me is the faster you bring about your own demise. I have been anticipating this moment for so long...my blood is boiling" he sniggers.
"Try cooling off then" Superman takes a deep breath and unleashes a blizzard upon John; icing him over in small chunks and slowing him down. Superman rolls his right shoulder as he looks back to Catwoman who had knocked Firefly unconscious. John's eyes glow even brighter as the ice around him melts and floods the floor around him. The heat itself has burned away all of his remaining skin and just a mechanical skeleton remains with nightmarish emerald glowing eyes and green-glowing veins all over his metal endoskeleton.
Superman's eyes soften as he witnesses Metallo's form "You were so driven to kill me that you replaced your entire body...is there anything of the man you once was?"
"His body? No, but his rage? It's all still in me" Metallo steps forward and glares at Superman "John Corbin is dead, but his anguish lives on and will end today when I kill you and show the world just what you really are - a false god who brings a false hope! A man can't kill god, that is the one conclusion that every faith has agreed on. That the one above is all-powerful for a reason, more powerful than any mere man could hope to be. So I do not fight you as a man, but as a monster, a cold-hearted, soulless machine to make you suffer and choke on your last breath" the cyborg growls as his voice now has a metallic tone along with a faint echo.
"You really shouldn't have said that" Superman advised as he concentrates with his eyes as two red beams of light shoot out and hit Metallo, right at his chest - his power core. The cyborg was pushed back by the force of the rays, their heat began to higher the temperatures of his metal frame. Steam begins to trail off the scorch marks that are left behind the heat rays. Metallo's metal jaw fixes itself into a grin as he takes a step forward, and another one, and another one, and another one towards Superman. Each step he took made a clanging noise on the floor.
Catwoman looks over and sees Lex grabbing whatever he had that other guy working while he still held the wooden box. She flexes her claws and smirks "Try to kill me, will you? Don't think so" she whispers as she hurries her way towards Lex. She made a move to pounce which Lex swiftly denied and he brought a handgun out and started firing at her. Catwoman rolls out of the way out of the first few shots and used her whip and yank the gun out of his hand and grabs in herself "Sorry Alexander...looks like you aren't that great after all...poor you" she points the gun at his chest "Now about my money...I only accept cash...makes it harder to track... as you promised"
"You actually expected three million dollars in cash? How did you fall for that? Do you know how heavy that would be...more than someone of your posture could carry that is for sure" Lex comments. Catwoman's eyes look to the box that he was holding "Oh well...guess I'll just have to take that back then. I'm sure there will be someone out there who would be willing to match your price...maybe even exceed. I girl can dream, can't she?"
"You must be insane if you think I am handing this thing over to you. A petty thief like you can't be trusted with it" Lex replies as he glares her way.
"It's not up to debate. You didn't keep your end of the deal so I am sure as hell am not keeping mine. You straight up wanted to kill me after I did all your work for you. That is the last time that I work for anyone else, but myself. Give me the box or I will shoot you where you stand" Catwoman hisses as she presses the gun against Lex's chest.
"No, you won't. Your beloved Batman wouldn't approve, right? He does use violence to solve his problems, but he doesn't use guns or kill. You will not fire that gun because of your unrequited love for him. That was very elegant of you to protect him, even when you thought your life would soon come to an end. Oh...if he was only here to see that display of affection from you" Lex smirks as he sees Catwoman's eyes look away for a single moment.
"Screw him and screw you!" Catwoman hisses as she presses down on the trigger and fires point-blank into Lex's chest. The bald man 's eyes widen as he was thrown back by the force of the blast and drops the wooden box onto the floor. Lex holds his hands over his chest and wheezes. Selina's eyes widen as she looks at the gun in her hand still smoking from the bullet that she shot. Her eyes trembles as she drops the gun to the ground, clearly shaken up.
"SELINA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!" a familiar growl made itself known to her as it echoes through the room. A small device was thrown under Metallo's legs as it lets out a pulse of energy; causing the Cyborg to short-circuit and for his eyes and vanes to go from the bright green to black as he falls over. Superman then looks over to Catwoman as well Batman glides down to become equal level with the two "You just shot an unarmed man! WHAT THE HELL WERE THINKING? That fire you helped killed an innocent man, Selina!" Batman yells at Catwoman.
"Did she...?" Superman questions as he looks over to Lex who lies on the ground.
"No...not by the lack of trying though" Batman walks past Catwoman and kneels beside Lex. His eyes widened as he sees a crushed bullet placed deep in his shirt "He's wearing a bulletproof vest, but the force of impact has knocked the wind out of him. There could be some internal bleeding that needs to be checked out...he needs a doctor" Batman turns his head to Superman "Take him there...I need to talk with Catwoman" Superman nods as he walks over to Luthor and picks him up in his arms.
"I guess it's over now at least. Firefly, Metallo and Lex are all down and Toyman is..." Superman gives a quick glance to Toyman who was trying to rip off his shoe as he struggles against the ground "Batman...thanks for the assist. It is greatly apricated" he gives one final nod as he flies outward of the building with Lex in his arms, leaving both Batman and Catwoman alone, besides Toyman who was too busy with his own problems to bother them.
"Listen, I can..."
"You tried to kill a man. How can you explain that?"
"I didn't though! So what's your problem?" Catwoman rolls her eyes.
"Doesn't matter. You pulled the trigger with the intent of killing him" Batman replies as he glares at her "What if he wasn't wearing that vest? You would have just taken another life, and you wouldn't have even felt remorse for it. What happened to you?" Batman's eyes focus on her and do not make another movement.
"What!? Lex had it coming. No one would miss him if he died"
"So that makes murder right then? The fact that he has done bad things justify you trying to take his life? You have just opened yourself to killing people, what gives you the right to decide who should live and die? You are better than that - better than him " Batman replies heartbrokenly to Catwoman shrugs off his pleas to her.
"You don't know me, so stop acting like you do. I am not your little plaything that follows your orders or obeys your commands. I pulled that trigger because I wanted to, and you know that is true. Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm NOT you" she leans forward until she was only a few inches from Batman's face and the roots of haunting glare that he gave her. She pucks her lips "I do not do things your way and never will. So stop trying to appeal to my better nature because it won't work! I am just a thief, nothing more, nothing less...when are you going to get that through your thick skull?"
"Selina...you are a good person. Hiding behind your masquerade of coldness won't convince me that you aren't. But you have tried to murder a man, helped Firefly set fire to the Bank which caused a good man to die. The Selina I know wouldn't be so uncaring about that..." Batman adds.
"Maybe, or maybe the fragile girl has finally come out of her shell. Maybe I was always meant to turn out like this...maybe if you were there for me when I needed you...I wouldn't have become this. You could have saved me, but you felt it was more important to fly away and go this crusade of yours. I loved you!" Catwoman's eyes narrow "I thought you loved me too, but you didn't even wait five minutes before hopping on to the next girl that caught your eye. Talia? She has done worse things than I ever could yet you give her a free pass? Why because she actually slept with you? I'm having a little trouble following that logic of yours"
"We are not doing this" Batman snaps at her.
"See! Even your tone of voice cares about Talia more than me. How could you do that to me? Leaving was one thing, but doing that. Sleeping with the leader of the League of Shadows? That is okay in your book, but finding time to visit me is asking too much? Am I joke to you? To you get your kicks out of making me miserable, breaking my heart...when are you going to decide that I have suffered enough? When will stop finding ways to hurt me!" Catwoman was screaming at him hoping that he would finally get her message.
"You and I weren't together when Talia and I were together. Yes, I know how dangerous she is but I have seen the side of her that matters the most. She was just a kid like me thrown into the crosshairs of her Father to bring Gotham to its knees. We felt each other's pain, we helped each other become who we are today. Talia is no angel, but at least she cares about me enough to respect my code and not take a life when she sees fit. You...all this these past few days...you didn't do this for you...you did this to spite me, to hurt me. To get back at me because you aren't at the centre of my world anymore..." Batman tells her.
"What are you even-"
"I get it. Your mother left you and I lost my parents. We were connected on the pains of lost and sorrow...we helped each other become better...to rise from the tragedy. I did love you, Selina. I really did. I wanted us to be together, we both did, but this isn't about what we want. Everyone in Gotham has their roles...ours aren't on the same path...you needed me and I left you, I can never make up for that. Nothing I could do or say can erase your pain...or make you feel better. Talia and I are over...just like we are..." Batman speaks to her and he places his palm over her cheek. His eyes see that the woman's own eyes were watering as he sees tears drip down her face.
Catwoman places her own hand over the man's own hand "I thought I could handle this...journey of yours. I see that you trying to do good...you have done good for people and for Gotham, but can't you see that you are destroying yourself? Your parents would never want that for you...they would want you to be happy...this crusade of your is only going to end in one way...you are going to end up dead...dying alone. You can't seriously want that?" she persists.
"We don't always get what we want" Batman moves his hand away from Catwoman's own "Because if we did...we wouldn't be standing here right now. We might have never met in a perfect world. We would have our parents...we might have been happy. I have been dreading this moment...I knew that it would have to come sooner or later, I think we both knew that it was only a matter of time..." Batman lowers his head.
Catwoman slowly shakes her head "Please don't say what I think you are going to say...I'm begging you...we can work this out together" she reaches towards him. Batman grabs her wrist and pulls it away from him "I...I love you...you mean more to me than anyone else ever has...please..."
"You deserve better than me. Someone else who can be there for you where I can't"
"There is no one else. You are the only one..." Selina whispers.
"Goodbye, Selina. Take care" Batman replies. Before Catwoman could even think of a response she sees Batman thrown forward as a green blast hits him from behind. He falls into her arms as she wraps them around him as smoke fades off of him. Catwoman's eyes tremble as she sees Metallo standing back on his feet, the green glow in his body had returned. His green eyes look over to her as he grins. Metallo walks over to the wooden box that was planted on the ground.
He lifts up the box and breaks into chunks as he squeezes it until only the red Kryptonite was in his hand "Green Kryptonite is the source of my power...this was meant for the plan...it's power...it's all I need..." the red meteor rock glows in his metallic hand "This is much more powerful variant of meteor rock...I will become...a god..." Metallo rams the Kryptonite through the centre of his chest and his core. His eyes widen as the red rock was absorbed into his body.
"What the..." Catwoman rests Batman on the ground and kneels next to him.
The veins of Metallo turn from green to bright red and his green eyes change to a crimson colour. He screams as the red kryptonite erupts from his body and breaks through his metal plating. Red glowing spikes burst from his body. His arms, his legs, his torso, even his head was overtaken by the onslaught of the crystals that puncture through his metallic body. Metallo's now red eyes flash, red electricity sparks all across the surface of his body.
"Oh that's not good" Toyman gulps, "Toyman says that his body wasn't made to contain Red Kryptonite, sooner or later he will overload and go boom. Toyman says to get the hell out of this city if you don't want to be caught in the blast" the man sweats heavily.
The new revamped Metallo lift his head as two red beams of heat shoots out of his eyes and incinerate the roof; creating a large hole to the outside world "Must kill...Superman...must kill...the last son of Krypton" his jaw joins together in a red-glowing smirk. Gripping his hands into fists he suddenly flies upward as super-sonic speed as he becomes a red blur; leaving the three by themselves. Batman's eyes wince as he tries to push himself up from the ground.
"Lucius only had the time to make a single EMP. This has gotten worse to way worse" Batmanlooks up at the hole in the roof that was left by Metallo "And here I was thinking that it was going way too easy. Serves me right for wishful thinking"
"Oh god...he only got the red rock because of me..." Catwoman's lips trembles as her eyes look to Batman "You were right. I have just been selfish this whole time. I'm sorry...this is all my fault" she sighs. Batman walks away from her and brings out his grapple gun.
"Go home, Selina" Batman aims upward out of the hole.
"I'm sorry...you need to let me-"
"I said...go!" Batman shoots the grapple gun and was launched out of the building as he begins to glide once he enters the outside world and is among the Metropolis skyline. Batman's shadow briefly passes over Catwoman before he leaves her field of view.
"This is a problem" Catwoman comments.
"You have the slightest clue" Toyman replies as he looks to her.
"Really? Why don't you just tell me all about it then?" Catwoman walks towards the stuck man as he gulps.
"Toyman says Metallo's core is to handle green kryptonite as a power source. The most common kind, you see the red kryptonite...that's not good for him. His core cannot handle such power for a long duration of time. Toyman says Metallo will overload, Toyman says that Metallo will explode - taking all of us with him! Toyman says to run for your life" Toyman squirms as he begins to try and remove his feet from the ground, kicking at it and pulling his foot up.
"Oh, shit..." Catwoman looks up to the skyline.
Superman was thrown onto the ground, rolling and stopping as he crashes into an oil tanker; causing for oil to be spilt all across the street. Superman spits blood and looks up to see Metallo "What the hell happened to you, John? you've changed..." the Man of Steel groans as he stands back onto his feet. He shoots out two beams of heat towards the Cyborg that was high above in the sky. Metallo's eyes narrow as he too shoots his own beams of heat at Superman as they both clash.
"I must kill you...kill you...kiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiilllllll. My only human memory left...is to...kill...you!" Metallo growls as his crimson eyes glow even bright as the intensity of his heat vision increased. Pushing Superman back and cutting across his face. Metallo's body was covered by quick shocks of red lightning all over "my...sister...must...avenger...her...I can't...think clearly..." Metallo shakes his head as he charges towards Superman and knocks him back onto the ground "Must...must...remember...her..." the cyborg punches The Man of Steel square in the jaw which blew one of his teeth out onto the ground.
"Oh my god...the red kryptonite...it's changed...made you more...primal...listen to me, John. Your sister wouldn't want this!" The last son tried to appeal to whatever humanity Metallo had left, which at the moment didn't seem like there was anything of him left. Metallo delivers another blow to Superman's face; bloodying it and bruising the once untouchable Man of Tomorrow. Superman could only taste his own blood, his nose was broken his ears were ringing. The sounds of everyone around them screaming was enough to make him feel like his head was about to explode.
The red sparks covering Metallo's body had set the oil around both Superman and him up in flames. Metallo goes in for another punch but Superman catches his fist with his own hand "JOHN! You are out of control! People will die if you keep this up! This isn't you...the kryptonite is affecting your mind...it's making you do this!" Superman stops an attempt of the cyborg using his free hand to hit him "You let your obsession for revenge drive you...change you...if there is anything left of the man who you were...please stop this!" Superman begs as he struggles against Metallo.
"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Must kill you! Kill!" Metallo's red core illuminates "Kill!" Metallo growls as he pushes back against Superman.
"I'm sorry. I couldn't save your sister or you..." Superman lets loose ice-cold breath upon Metallo, but the red lightning and the heat of his body negated any effect that it would have had. Superman's eyes widen as he sees that his ice breath has failed. Metallo headbutts the Man of Steel and sends him flying through the building next to them. The crimson-lit Cyborg dashes after Superman. From above on the rooftop opposite the now crumbling building.
Batman kneels on the edge as his eyes look to the building in front of him "Lucius! I need another EMP blast as fast as possible"
"Lucius?" Batman asks as he couldn't make out the man's words "Alfred, can you hear me?" the dark knight taps the side of his cowl. Looking up Batman sees Metallo thrown out of the building and Superman quickly charging towards him, punching him across the skyline of Metropolis "The red kryptonite that is powering Metallo...it must be messing with his systems and scrambling my signal to Alfred and Lucius. John just shoved an energy source powerful enough to power Metropolis for a year right into his core. His body won't be able to handle that immense power for too long...if we don't do anything about the red kryptonite, we could be looking at an explosion big enough to take out all of Metropolis and anything in a two hundred mile radius"
Metallo flies towards Superman and punches him to the ground and hits him with his heat vision. Batman sees that the cyborg's body was covered by red violent sparks of electricity all around his body. The crimson crystals that punctured through his body were radiating with a ferocious red light over and over. His metallic body slightly cracks around his chest and arms "Kill...Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, Kill, DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE!" Metallo screeches. Superman winces in pain as he holds his fractured shoulder. His red cape was now torn, his mouth covered in blood, his teeth stained in the red liquid, and his right eye was bruised.
"John...don't do...this..." Superman wheezes as he dribbles blood and coughs.
"Kill you! Kill...KILL" Metallo descends onto the ground and stands in front of Superman. His metal skull cracks, revealing a powerful red glow from underneath "John is dead!" the cyborg grabs Superman by the cape and lifts him to look him in the eye "Just like you will be..." Metallo echoes.
"Superman! He is going to explode and take Metropolis with him! Destroy his core now!" Batman yells from up high as a Batarang was thrown at Metallo's back. The Cyborg turns his head towards Batman and sends two beams of red energy from his eyes towards the dark knight. Batman leaps off the building and barely dodges the explosion that struck the roof.
The cyborg turns back to Superman "This...is...for...my...sister..." Metallo's eyes shine brightly "This...is for her!"
"No...this is for you and deep down you know that. She wouldn't have wanted you to become this. I'm sorry I couldn't save either of you, I truly am. The kryptonite inside you is too unstable and is corrupting you. Please...stop this. You are going to blow and take millions of innocents with you. You swore vengeance against me...not the people of Metropolis. If there is anything left of the man who you once was...listen to me and stop this...before it's too late!" Superman dribbles blood that drips down his chin, down his costume.
Metallo's body emits a red sphere of energy that expands across the entire city, sparks of red lightning strikes down everywhere in sight. All the buildings were darkened as their lights were shattered. Metallo looks all around him as he sees the mayhem that not just he caused but of what is bound to happen "She...would fear me..., you did this...to me. You caused this, yet you are the hero? This world...is broken...I don't want any part in it anymore..." Metallo uses his spare hand to reach his core "Yet you will live...my sister won't...or..." he rips out the red kryptonite from his chest and crushes it in his hand; turning it to dust "Me...-" the cyborg falls to his knees and lets go of Superman.
The sphere around the city fades as well the sparks that cover Metallo's body. His veins turn from red to black and his crimson eyes darken as he slumps over and lies on the ground. Superman looks at the deceased man and lowers his head as he kneels next to the lifeless body "But you will be remembered...I promise" the man of steel feels a hand placed over his shoulder. Turning his head he sees Batman stood next to him "He was a good man once...a long time ago" Superman tells the dark knight.
"I know...and in his last moment...he was good again" Batman comforts the man of steel "He made the right choice when it mattered the most. His human side must have been fighting the whole time and it won in the end, and that's the part that matters the most" the dark hero gives a slight smile to the other hero. Superman stands up, looking up in the sky as he sees the sun rising and the day taking back the city. He too smiles as he is enveloped in the early hours of the sun, his scars and bruises heal.
"Hey,...you're talking without your voice changer? Did you finally realize how ridiculous you sounded?" Superman places his hands on his hips
"I don't know. Have you realized how ridiculous you look?" Batman crosses his arms as he looks back to the man of steel "...I don't usually say this...and don't get used to it. I wanted to say...thank you. I couldn't have done it without you..."
Superman raises both of his eyebrows and was at a lost for words "Did you just...thank me? I mean really...did you just thank me? Can I get that on paper?"
"No. No, you cannot" Batman quips back as he holds out his hand "Good work"
"You know...one of these days I might actually figure you out" Superman brings his hand forward and shakes the other man's hand.
"Highly doubt it" Batman replies with his usual stoic expression "Could you do me a favour? Bruce Wayne is meant to still be in Metropolis so I am going to need you to take Firefly back to Gotham. More desirably on the GCPD rooftop. The commissioner there will know what to do with her" Batman pulls out his grapple gun and aims it one of the skyscrapers close by.
"I think that I can spare a minute, plus I need to pick up Toyman anyway. What about that other one? Catwoman was it? She is an accomplice to Firefly...whether she likes it or not...what are you planning to do with her?" Superman inquires as he holds his arms to his sides "She seems like a good person...from that exchange that you had after I left...it seems you two have quite the history...I would understand if you don't want her to be put in prison"
"What did I say about the eavesdropping?" Batman says under his breath but knew that the other man could hear him loud and clearly.
Superman drops his arms to his sides "Batman,...I used to be alone, refuse to work with others...I built all kinds of walls around me in hopes that none of my enemies could hurt me, but cutting myself off from others did the opposite of that. It made it even harder to reach out for help. Knowing that you are out there gives me hope that there are more of us...more people using everything that they have to save people...to be heroes. We aren't the first heroes and we will not be the last...you are not alone, not anymore. If you need my help...I'll be there, remember that"
"Just what I needed...a bunch of super friends" Batman retorts.
"Well...I was personally thinking more on the lines of a...league. It just sounds right, but for now, we just have to settle with being The World's Finest. Take care of yourself" the man in the red cape says his final words as Batman shoots out his grapple gun and is launched away from the ground. He watches Batman glide away far away in the distance as he gives a smile "I don't look ridiculous ...you look ridiculous" Superman says under his breath as he turns his head as he hears the sounds of police cars heading his way.
"I really should get Chloe to get in contact with his man behind the scenes. We may have stopped Luthor for now, but I got a bad feeling that this only the beginning of something much more dangerous, and we need to figure out just what that is" Superman thinks to himself as the remains of the red kryptonite on the ground steadily begins to glow.
Gotham, Arkham Asylum
Dr Harleen Quinzel saunters towards the last cell door at the end of an overly long corridor. She adjusts her glasses and knocks on the door "Mr J? It's time. Everythin' is in place" she coos. From within the cell, the man in question gave a haunting grin. Dressed in a straightjacket and the black and white standard Arkham Inmate bottom uniform. He stands up and turns his head towards the bars on the door to the room, his eyes meet with Harleen's own.
"Good...my arms were getting quite numb" J lowers his arms and shakes his hands "Everything is in place? Perfect...time to raise some hell. Oh...my Batman. You had to face-off with some of the poorest excuses for criminals that this town has to offer...well not anymore...I'm here for you. I, the villain of your dreams...I won't let you down...Gotham, bare witness to..." his lips curve into an even wider grin. He turns his body to face Harleen as he holds his hands behind his back. His eyes narrow and his posture straightens.
"Joker!"
Chapter End