Disclaimer: Property of DC.

Rating: T for violence.

Edited: 05/29/22

Gotham Holiday: A White Door

Chapter Two: Tamaran

Galfore worked his way through the Cereth'ka Caves until he found a dozen or so children and their mentor, a soldier named Tarya.

"Grand Ruler Galfore, what brings you so far below the palace?" Tarya saluted and asked.

"I heard you were touring these old caves." Galfore gave the surrounding cave tunnels a wistful glance. "There are hard to reach places here that Princess Starfire loved exploring as a little one. I would not mind seeing them again myself."

The children, all green-eyed and red-haired like most Tamaraneans, smiled at the name of their princess.

"This way." Galfore gestured one of his large, calloused hands. "I will guide you first to the Whispering Chasms of Chargna and tell you about the cave witch who used to live there, conjuring and causing Tamaran all kinds of trouble long ago. Then, I will show you the Hidden Falls of Dorth."

As Galfore led the group through the twisting, stony caverns, the children held little balls of green energy in their hands to light the way. Some children laughed nervously at the shadows that jumped on the rock formations around them. They murmured about spirits of the dead, but Galfore knew they were only enjoying the strange pleasure that comes from a little fear mixed with the knowledge of complete safety.

Near the Chasms of Chargna, a harried messenger caught up to them. He knelt, out of breath.

"Grand Ruler, we are under attack! The enemy's numbers are so great, they have cast a shadow over the Capital City!"

The ground began to shake as loud booms from Tamaran's surface echoed down. Small showers of dust and rock debris shook loose from the cave's ceiling. The children drew close together with quiet, fearful gasps.

The messenger stood, his eyes wide. "I saw countless dragged into the enemy's ships."

Tarya's brow furrowed. "Perhaps they mean to enslave and conquer Tamaran for their own."

Galfore's fists tightened at his sides. "If so, they are fools to spare even one of us." To Tarya, he said, "Stay below with your charges. If the caves become unstable, use Othar's Path to escape. It is the fastest route to the surface. I will send word when the battle's won and our latest would-be masters are all dead."

He spared a grim smile at the children's disappointed faces. "I promise, little ones, I'll show you the secrets down here another day."

Outside the palace, thousands of invaders poured from the innumerable black ships hovering above the Capital City. Galfore's breath caught at the sight of such an army. Along with the messenger, he moved to a safer vantage point. There, under the cover of a partially collapsed roof, Galfore did a quick assessment of the battle raging before him.

The ships fired upon the city with red energy beams, blasting apart structures Galfore had known his entire life. He clenched his teeth at the thought of how many families were surely crushed beneath the rubble of their own houses. Screams and cries of pain assailed his ears from every direction. The invaders wore green and gold armor. They swept through the city in a massive, churning swarm. They dragged people to the ground, mauling them to death in seconds.

The enemy, having no honor, did not seem to care if their victims were soldiers or civilians. Their appetite for suffering seemed insatiable.

A child's nearby cry rose above the chaos.

Galfore and the messenger found the child and her parents cornered by the palace's foundation. She huddled behind her parents, clutching her ears. Her eyes were squeezed shut. Both parents flung desperate starbolts, but the invaders pressed closer with each diving attack.

Not hesitating, Galfore raced to their defense. The world became a green, gold blur filled with pain. Galfore, the messenger, and the family were tackled to the ground. Ripping, wet sounds mingled with shrieks of pain. Galfore fought hard to avoid being mauled. Regaining his feet, he threw aside the invaders who tried to grab him. He blasted them back. Again and again. It meant nothing. They never stopped. They overwhelmed and squashed Galfore face-first to the ground. Claws punched through his back. Something sharp pinched his neck. The moment it happened, Galfore found himself no longer able to summon his starbolts.

Enraged, he renewed his struggles, but this only drove the claws deeper into his flesh. Crushed against the street, he knew he would soon suffer the same brutal fate meeting the rest of his people. But instead of killing him, the invaders kept Galfore trapped.

Eventually, the cries and screams torturing his ears drew further apart. The ships ceased their bombardment, and the city fell into silence.

Two invaders withdrew their claws from Galfore's back and pulled him up to stand. Galfore swayed in their grasp. With each ragged breath he took, his lungs vibrated in his chest. As he took in the leveled buildings and bodies strewn about, Galfore's mind raced to make sense of the slaughter.

Deep, booming sounds echoed over the landscape. At first, Galfore believed the ships were attacking the surface again, but looking up he realized there were hundreds of portals opening up throughout Tamaran's sky. Most of the invading army and their black ships passed through these portals, vanishing back to whatever nightmare world they'd come from. It only took minutes for nearly the entire force to evacuate Tamaran. After the portals disappeared, only a few hundred or so invaders remained.

Galfore was flown up into the air and deposited on a flat roof. He hit like a broken doll, and for several moments, was too stunned by pain to move. When he did make it to his feet, he ignored the sight of his own blood sprinkling the rooftop. Galfore cast his gaze out at the Capital City's remains. Few buildings stood upright. Amongst the endless sprawl of smoking, fiery debris and towering heaps of rubble, he recognized the nearby palace only by its collapsed balcony.

The remaining invaders gathered around the roof's edges and watched Galfore with restless, pale eyes.

Perhaps it was their ritual to save the ruler of a planet for last. How they knew Galfore's position, he couldn't fathom.

Galfore turned in slow circles with his fists raised. He gave the invaders a challenging glare.

He needed to die fast. Then perhaps the invaders would finish their exodus, thinking their work was complete.

Once it was safe, Tarya and the children would emerge and witness how the world had ended. They'd seek out Starfire, and as always, Tamaran would endure.

Two lights, one purple and one green, streaked across the city's ruins.

Princess Blackfire descended before him. Galfore felt no shock in his heart at seeing her aligned with such evil, only a deep emptiness at what she'd become.

Another Tamaranean touched down beside her. Galfore nearly dismissed the youth as a traitor and nothing more.

But something about the boy made him look closer.

Blackfire flipped her long, dark hair behind a shoulder. "There you are. I have to admit, I'm disappointed. I never thought conquering Tamaran would be this easy. You really are a shadow of your former self, aren't you, old man? The crown's made you lazy."

The boy returned Galfore's searching gaze with cold, green eyes.

Galfore struggled to make sense of the sight before him. When Wildfire was a toddler, a terrible war had forced him to be sent away from Tamaran for his own protection. Unfortunately, the child's escape pod was either intercepted or lost. At least, that was the truth Galfore had known. Now, even though the boy had grown to be a teenager, Galfore recognized him.

Like most Tamaraneans, Wildfire had red hair and green eyes. But he wasn't dressed in the purple clothing or gray armor of his people. Along with his sister, he wore black and red armor.

"Prince Wildfire," Galfore said, each word causing his chest great pain, "how could you betray your own people? Destroy your own home?"

Blackfire scoffed. "Destroy it? We're remaking it, you old fool. Under your thumb, Tamaran was totally out of control. Fortunately, Father provided us with an army tough enough to bring peace and order back to the planet."

Galfore felt heavier with each labored breath. "Father?"

Blackfire waved a dismissive hand. "The man who raised me, of course. Perhaps you'll be lucky enough to grovel at his feet and pledge your loyalty. That is, if you don't die in the next five minutes from blood loss. ...You know, you should be grateful. You should already be dead like the rest of these peasants, but thanks to me, you might get the honor of serving in Father's army. He's always looking for big dumb meat shields."

To Wildfire, Galfore said, "Your mother and father are long dead. As their son, you are the rightful ruler of Tamaran. Will you do nothing to stop your sister's madness?"

Wildfire did not respond. He stared with an empty gaze.

Unsettled, Galfore asked, "Can you not speak, boy?"

Blackfire smirked. "Sorry. The A'narnian prison where I stowed him away all those years ago didn't bother giving widdle Wildfire language lessons, but he knows his place is at Father's side. That's all that matters now."

"And your place," Blackfire held up a ball of purple energy, "is kneeling at his throne. But before that, I wanted to let you know that I received a report from one of our ships. It seems our sensors detected many lifeforms hiding throughout the planet. Their attempts to evade destruction will fail. Every cowardly peasant hiding on Tamaran will be found and executed."

Galfore shook his head in disgust. "What if all that's left are helpless children, scared and orphaned because of your so-called father?"

Blackfire smirked. "Then they shouldn't be too hard to find. Children are stupid. They'll probably come to the first friendly voice they hear. Of course, I could always ask for them to be spared. Maybe Father will show mercy and allow them to live as his little slaves."

Galfore felt his balance and strength slipping. He aimed his angry glare at Blackfire. "They'll never be slaves. They won't submit like you to the ruler of these fiends." He swept a hand towards the invaders watching them from the roof's edges. "Though they are children, they are far braver than you could ever hope to be, Blackfire."

A thunderous sound was followed by a portal opening not far behind from where Blackfire stood on the roof. Its spiderwebs of light grew larger until a man, dressed like a Tamaranean warrior, strolled into their reality. The portal shrank to close behind him.

The man had black hair, blue eyes, and a small beard. His armor, though Tamaranean in design, was black and crimson with a red jewel near the collar.

"Blackfire, I bring good tidings from your father," the man greeted warmly with spread arms. "He is proud of how swiftly you brought order to this planet. He has decreed that you, along with your brother, will be justly rewarded with your own planet to rule together."

Blackfire beamed. The ball of energy dissipated from her hand. "We are greatly honored, Kanto. I cannot wait to return home and thank Father in person. After we finish off the survivors here, of course. Do you know what planet he plans on giving us to rule in his name?"

Galfore puzzled over her words and behavior as he fought to stay on his feet, but his gaze remained fixed on this being Blackfire called Kanto. The newcomer made his skin cold. If he could have summoned his power, Galfore would have used it strike down the thing that had just arrived on his planet. As it was, it took much of his willpower just to remain standing. The wounds on his chest and stomach bled freely.

He wanted to rest but knew deep in his heart that the moments he spent standing were likely his last.

He wasn't going to lie down and give them up so easily.

Kanto smiled at Blackfire. "He knows well of your desire to lead his armies against Earth and will take into consideration the part you played in telling us all about such a wealthy, if untamed, planet. The decision about which of his children will rule Earth, however, is still up in the air."

Kanto steepled his hands together. "I advise patience."

Blackfire placed a hand over her heart as she spoke. "Whatever Father thinks is best, I will honor."

Beside her, Wildfire nodded and covered his heart as well.

Kanto gave a short bow as he addressed Galfore next. "Greetings, Grand Ruler Galfore. I am Kanto, an ambassador of the magnificent realm of Apokolips. I've been sent not only to commend these two outstanding lieutenants, but you as well. Your people have fought very hard and valiantly, but none can withstand the will of Lord Darkseid. I offer you a chance to join my lord's army, as these have."

Kanto gestured an open palm towards Blackfire and her brother.

Galfore squared his broad shoulders. Though beaten and bleeding, a small fire of hope kindled in his heart. "If I were to agree to such service, would you spare Tamaran's survivors?"

Kanto laughed. True mirth glinted in his eyes. "You misunderstand. You will serve regardless. Whether you choose to join our ranks as an elite member, like your former princess," Kanto indicated Blackfire, then the winged monsters, "or should you become repurposed into a mindless parademon, you will serve our righteous cause until your destruction."

"And the survivors?" Galfore pressed, the hope in his voice turning to anger.

Kanto addressed Blackfire and Wildfire. "If there are any, round them up. If there are children, keep only those who show promise. On Apokolips, they will find new lives. Destroy the rest."

"You won't! You won't touch them!" Using all the strength he had left, Galfore launched himself at Kanto. His broad hands reached to grab the alien by the head and squeeze until the evil being's skull was crushed between his palms.

But a searing, horrific pain cut through Galfore's side. He howled as it was driven deeper. Looking to it source, he realized Blackfire had created a spear or crackling, purple energy. She'd skewered him. With sadistic glee, she released her power, and the spear exploded in a powerful blast that left Galfore sprawled on the rooftop in a bloody pool.

Lying on his back, Galfore felt nothing but warm blood cradling his head. He did not dare look down at his body.

"No!" Starfire screamed.

He should have known she would come home when Tamaran needed her most.

Galfore heard her scream again, but this time, it was the anguished roar of a warrior.

Starfire threw a series of blasts at the rooftop—most aimed at her sister. Blackfire and Wildfire flew upwards to meet her. They, along with the swarm of parademons, attacked Starfire as one.

Galfore distantly wondered if she recognized her long lost brother.

Part of him hoped she didn't.

Batman, Cyborg, Raven, Beast Boy, and Kid Flash caught up, appearing through Raven's magic on the same roof as Galfore. Looking up, they saw Starfire trading blasts with not only her sister, but another Tamaranean and a horde of monsters wearing green and gold armor. The swarm took note of the other heroes' arrival and dove down to meet them. Cyborg and Raven repelled them with their respective powers, Batman with his gadgets, and Beast Boy through his transformations.

Using his arms to create tunnels of wind, Kid Flash knocked droves of the monsters back from his friends, causing several of the invaders to crash into each other and fall unconscious from the sky. He considered making one big tornado to suck up the creatures and blast them into outer space, but he didn't want to risk putting any heroes or Starfire's friend in more danger.

"Yikes!" Kid Flash dodged an unconscious invader as it crashed into the roof, but he grinned at how easily the heroes were taking them out. Then his grin slipped.

They're spreading us out.

The swarm, though diminished to roughly four dozen, had focused on Batman and Starfire, pushing them both west. A redheaded alien was trading blasts with Cyborg several buildings over and to the east, and Kid Flash didn't see Beast Boy or the dark-haired girl who'd stabbed Starfire's friend anywhere.

We've definitely ditched anything close to a plan.

Nearby, Raven's glowing white hands covered Galfore's heart. She'd surrounded herself and the fallen warrior with a shield of dark energy to keep a small group of attacking monsters at bay.

Kid Flash created a tunnel of wind with his arm to blow them so she could fully concentrate on healing Starfire's friend. Glancing around quickly, he noted there was still no sign of Beast Boy. Worried, he decided to go searching to make sure the Titan wasn't in over his head, but just as he was about to take off, Kid Flash noticed for the first time that another alien stood not far from Raven.

He looked human, but he wore black and crimson armor like the two hostile Tamaraneans.

He wasn't fighting.

He's just… watching.

As if sensing the young hero's curious gaze, the man faced Kid Flash and gave him a slow, secretive smile. It split into a grin as the man turned. There was a loud boom and a portal of light opened. Kid Flash watched the man pass through the portal before it snapped out of existence.

"Please, you have to hold on for her."

The desperation in Raven's voice made Kid Flash rush to her side. He tried not to grimace at the terrible injuries Galfore had suffered. He wasn't sure he'd ever seen so much blood.

Whatever Raven had been trying to do, it was obvious she'd failed.

Kid Flash knelt alongside her. "Is there any way I can help?"

She shook her head.

"I've done what I can," Raven said to Galfore. "I'm sorry… I sensed you, but we were waiting for backup... I should have told the others right away, but I didn't until I realized your life was in danger... I'm sorry..."

"You have given me precious time," Galfore assured her. He glanced between her and Kid Flash. "There are children beneath the city. You must get them to safety. They may be all that is left."

Raven closed her eyes a moment. She nodded. "Found them. Don't worry. We'll take them to Earth. They'll be safe there, I promise."

Galfore gave her a small nod of gratitude and relief.

Looking up, Raven saw Starfire racing to check on Galfore herself.

Raven's heart ached for her friend, but she had a new mission now. She took Kid Flash by the hand and dragged him through a dark portal that would take them to where Tamaran's dozen or so survivors hid deep beneath the planet's surface.

As they vanished, Starfire dropped to her knees beside Galfore. She scanned his body in disbelief. He was almost in two pieces! Her mind struggled to understand how he was even still alive.

He coughed hard. Blood streamed down his chin as he spoke, "Princess… No, you are my Empress now."

Starfire gripped his chest armor but did not dare move him. Tears brimmed in her eyes. "Please, you cannot leave me! If you give up now, how will I—how will Tamaran—"

"Tamaran will endure." Galfore's unscarred eye searched her face for understanding. "You will lead us out of this crisis. You will do such great things... I am proud of you, Bumgorf... and I will be with you."

Starfire's grip on his armor tightened as his body settled fully against the roof.

A scream of grief couldn't get past the painful lump swelling in her throat.

She no longer heard the battles happening around her.

For an eternity, she felt outside herself.

Then, with the sharpness of a knife, Blackfire's distant, mean laughter cut through the fog of her despair.

Starfire rose high above the Capital City's remains.

She glared in her sister's direction.

Her eyes and fists glowed a fiery green as grief became fuel for the anger skyrocketing in her heart.

Beast Boy ran across the damaged rooftops, his arms pumping and his chest burning for oxygen. Thanks to Blackfire, he'd gotten separated from the other heroes. They were all fighting several blocks away near the palace.

Faster! Run! his brain screamed.

Beast Boy dodged another one of her blasts as he ran from roof to crumbling roof.

Fighting her wasn't an option. He had the burn marks to prove it!

Between her powers and her stupid energy spear, Starfire's crazy sister had nearly killed him twice already.

He couldn't let her get close again.

He needed to get back to his friends.

"You know, Beast Boy, you make pretty fun target practice!" Blackfire mocked from above. She held up a huge ball of energy. "Better keep moving!"

Beast Boy threw a panicked look over his shoulder, his eyes wide at the attack coming his way. He reached a roof's edge and jumped off, transforming into a falcon.

The blast erupted the roof. Beast Boy dodged its debris as he tried to fly back towards his friends, but Blackfire cut him off. Her energy blasts forced him to retreat. Knowing he didn't stand much of a chance in the skies against her, Beast Boy pulled back his wings and swept down to fly horizontally through the streets. He couldn't fly as fast that low, but at least he could weave through the toppled buildings and other rubble. He just needed to lose her long enough to regroup with his friends.

Blackfire threw an endless barrage of energy blasts as she pursued him. More than once, he had to double back to avoid running right into a deadly explosion. Everywhere he tried to go, the world seemed to be blowing up.

Fear threatened to override his focus.

She's too close!

His heart raced too fast.

He needed a break.

He needed help!

His flying became erratic as he realized he'd lost track of his location in the city. Transforming into a cheetah, Beast Boy managed to pounce off a wall instead of crashing headlong into it. He dashed away, narrowly avoiding a blast from Blackfire that destroyed the wall and collapsed the building it belonged to.

She's going to kill me! I don't want to die here!

Beast Boy ran, but his speed got harder to maintain with every leap and dodge.

A curtain of purple energy blasts struck the ground before him, creating an exploding wall that cut off Beast Boy's path and forced him to slide into a desperate stop. Before he could dart in a new direction, Blackfire unleashed a circle of blast attacks around him. The attacks were so strong they created a circular ditch several feet deep in the ground. Disoriented, Beast Boy fell on his backside and transformed back into a human.

Blackfire victoriously sank to hover inches above the ground mere feet in front of him.

"Oh good, you're finally ready to roll over and play dead like a good boy." Blackfire recreated her spear of purple energy. "Don't worry. Since you're my sister's friend, I'll make this super quick. Promise. Then I think I'll kill that dark witch wannabe."

Beast Boy got to his feet and balled his fists. His chest heaved with exhaustion, but anger, too. Blackfire thought she had a right to take away his life, but she was wrong! And he wasn't about to let her hurt one of his friends. He planted his feet and covered his face with both palms. With a roar, he shapeshifted into a hulking, muscular werebeast with sharp claws and even sharper teeth. Roaring again, he zeroed in on Blackfire.

She regarded him with surprise.

Before she could zip out of reach, the werebeast leapt. He snatched her by the head and smashed Blackfire face first into the street. He did it three more times before throwing her body into a nearby house.

Blackfire crashed through the structure, grunting as her back hit a wall. She landed along with several dislodged stones. Looking around, she realized she was in some peasant's bedroom. Groaning, Blackfire shoved herself free of debris and blasted an exit.

The moment she was outside, Beast Boy, still in his monstrous form, dropped down on her from above with an angry roar.

Blackfire cried out but managed to dodge him. She shot to the sky, stopping only when she felt high enough to be safe. She scanned the rooftops and alleys for any sign of her foe. Her fists crackled with energy, ready to strike the moment she spied anything green.

Hot, searing pain ripped across her back.

Lurching forward, Blackfire realized she'd been clawed. She faltered in the sky even as she was struck again—this time across her stomach. Blackfire looked down in startled pain at the long cuts across her belly. She'd seen nothing but a green blur. How was he moving so fast!? She clutched her stomach's wounds.

There! She glared spitefully down at the beast. He was on a rooftop. She couldn't believe how high he'd jumped or fast he could move. It didn't matter. She'd make him regret hurting her. Blackfire used her free hand to fire a huge volley of blasts at him. As the explosions blew up several buildings, she turned to flee back to her allies. Surely the attack would cover her escape.

A giant hand wrapped around her ankle and Blackfire yelped as she was dragged from the air by Beast Boy's weight.

Plummeting, they grappled with each other. His grip on her arms made movement almost impossible. It took all her strength just to keep herself from getting crushed into a deadly bear hug. He snapped his teeth at her, narrowly missing her throat. The glint of fear in her eyes only made him try again.

"Let go, you big, green creep!" Blackfire finally ripped an arm free and landed a punch on his face seconds before they crashed into the street. Their impact left them at the bottom of a deep crater. Beast Boy, unconscious, transformed back into a weird green human. Blackfire shoved him aside.

She flipped out of the crater. Standing on its edge, she regarded Beast Boy and took a calming breath. Her hand covered her stomach wounds. She could feel blood running down her back. Thanks to Beast Boy, there were several deep gashes on her arms and legs, too. She huffed in anger.

She'd kill him.

Otherwise, her father might never forgive her for letting such a weakling get the upper hand on her in battle.

But first… Blackfire squeezed her eyes shut, knowing the pain she was about to endure. She then used her powers to cauterize the wounds on her stomach. The brutal pain brought tears to her eyes and made her scream through her clenched teeth. Breathing hard, she moved to finish off the little green monster that had come so close to humiliating her. Looking at him already half-dead made her feel better. She laughed at the sight of him at the bottom of the crater. He was so pathetic!

"You will leave him alone!" snapped an icy voice from the air.

"Sister!" A smile overtook Blackfire as she faced her new enemy. "I was just thinking about coming to visit you again on Earth."

Starfire's eyes and fists were lit with rage. "Do not call me sister! Not now, or ever again! Do not even speak my name!"

Glancing to the crater, Starfire saw Beast Boy lying unconscious and injured. The sleeves and legs of his uniform were torn, and his gloves, belt, and shoes were missing. Starfire's heated gaze fell back upon her sister.

"You have killed Galfore and betrayed our people," Starfire said in a hurt, furious voice. "Despite this, know that I take no pleasure in making you answer for your crimes."

Blackfire's expression soured. "Make one move against me," she thrust a hand back towards Beast Boy, "and I'll finish off this thing you call a friend. Why even bother lying to yourself anyway? We both know you don't have the guts to kill me. Face it, little sister, you'll never have what it takes to be a leader. You're too soft."

A new idea seemed to dawn in Blackfire's mind. Her voice lost some of its hostility. "You're too soft... but Father could help you. Yes! Father could fix you, and then we could fight side by side. You'd like that, wouldn't you? We are family, after all."

Starfire was taken aback by Blackfire's words.

Their father was long dead.

A fresh wave of anger rose in her chest. In many ways, Galfore had been her father. Now, because of her treacherous sister, he was gone forever, too. Seething, she took a deep breath to keep herself from obliterating Blackfire on the spot. The power in her hands grew larger, begging to be released.

"Look," Blackfire said, "I can see that you're mad, but everything we've done today was for the glory of Father. If you just come home with us, you'll understand this was for the best. Tamaran had to be brought to order in Father's name. Galfore was—"

Starfire thrust her hands forward and released a vicious blast of energy. It slammed into Blackfire, sending her flying backwards. Blackfire hit the ground hard. Her body dug a path through the street as she slid to a rest. Not giving her time to recover, Starfire pounced and straddled her, striking her hard and fast twice in the face with a fisted hand. Blackfire passed out.

Starfire glowered down at her unconscious sister. "You will not speak his name again either!"

From the crater, she heard Beast Boy moan. Starfire zipped to his side. "Beast Boy! I am so glad you have awakened. When I first saw you, I feared you were dead."

As she helped him sit up, Beast Boy held his head. "Man, do I have a headache... What happened? Wait!"

He panicked. "Where's Blackfire!?"

"Do not fear." Starfire placed a calming hand on his arm, mindful of a large burn that ran down from his shoulder. "She is defeated. Come, we must make sure she cannot become a threat again and then rejoin the others in finishing this battle."

Thunder erupted across Tamaran's vast, pink sky. Giant light portals opened amongst the clouds, and from them, fresh swarms of the insect-like invaders poured into Tamaran. They clotted the sky, casting a shadow over the city.

"Holy cow," Beast Boy managed as he gawked up at the ever-growing mass. He stood along with Starfire.

One of the invaders noticed the two young heroes far below. Along with dozens more, the creature peeled away from the swarm and flew towards the ground to kill them.

Close to the palace, a dark portal opened. Raven and Kid Flash led the surviving Tamaraneans, all children except for one woman, out of the darkness. Together they herded the group into a small, intact house that stood in the palace's shadow.

Raven wrapped the whole building in her magic. To Kid Flash, she said, "Herald can transport them back to the Watchtower when he gets here with J'onn and the others. The shield won't fail unless I get knocked out."

She noticed Kid Flash looking up at the sky with wide, blue eyes. The tiniest bit of fear began to show in his expression. He tried to to hide it as he met her gaze. "Looks like we kicked the hornet's nest. Maybe we should make sure everyone's okay?"

Raven agreed. She closed her eyes a moment to gain a sense of her friends' locations throughout the city.

They found Cyborg blasting back the winged creatures from the rooftops. Sprawled unconscious at his feet was the young Tamaranean who'd fought alongside Blackfire.

"Raven! Mini-Flash!" Cyborg called as they joined him. "Man, am I glad to see some friendlies! Have ya'll see Beast Boy or Starfire? I lost track of Batman, too."

A portal snapped into existence right in the middle of the three heroes. Crying out, they scattered and regrouped quickly to face the blinding tunnel of light as it manifested on the rooftop. The swarm of creatures backed off immediately to hover high overhead. Not having time to wonder at the strange behavior, Kid Flash and the others squinted to see what emerged from the new portal.

First came the alien he'd seen before—the one that had given him a creepy smile before ditching the fight.

Walking a step behind was another person.

The sight of him made Kid Flash's brain do a flipflop.

"Uh, guys," he stammered. "Is that—"

Raven and Cyborg gasped.

Superman wore the same black and crimson armor Cyborg had seen Blackfire wearing, except with the addition of a golden S-like symbol emblazoned across the chest and a long crimson cape.

The portal snapped shut.

The alien escorting Superman addressed Cyborg first, placing a hand over his heart and giving a short bow. "I am Kanto."

He gestured the same hand out to Superman. "And this, my young friends, is Kal-El, the most esteemed and beloved son of Lord Darkseid. You would be wise to bend your knee and surrender immediately to him. Your survival may depend upon it. Considering your wonderful talents, you may even find yourselves lucky enough to be chosen to serve our cause as elite soldiers."

Kid Flash moved fast to stand in front of Cyborg and Raven. His bright blue eyes sought to find any recognition in Superman's. "H-Hey, Supes. It's me, K-Flash. We've known each other a long time, and you've never mentioned having a dad named Darkness or whatever. You got kidnapped by Lex Luthor and handed over to these bad guys, remember? You're part of the Justice League—not one of these homicidal psychopaths. They've obviously done some magic trick to mess with your head."

Superman's eyes glowed red. His venomous tone made Kid Flash's skin crawl. "How dare you mock my father's name."

Kid Flash snatched Cyborg and Raven, moving them out of the way and narrowly missing a direct shot from Superman's laser vision. A small, smoking crater was left in the ground where the blast hit.

"Kal-El," Kanto admonished, "your father wishes to offer these an opportunity for painless surrender. If they refuse, it would be preferable in this case to capture them alive. They were raised by barbarians and do not know the glory of your father or his mission. On Apokolips, they can be given the opportunity to become enlightened."

Superman nodded. His eyes returned to normal. "Forgive me for overreacting. If what you say is Father's will, I will see it done."

Superman turned his attention back to the three young heroes. He smiled, but his eyes were cold. "Show wisdom and surrender. If you resist, I can't guarantee you won't get hurt, but I can promise that you'll all be captured in less than a second the moment I'm bored."

Raven enveloped her friends in darkness and escaped.

She reappeared on the other side of the city where Beast Boy and Starfire were fighting. Beast Boy, as T-Rex, smashed aside a few of the flying monsters before transforming back into his human form. He ran over to Raven, Cyborg, and Kid Flash. Starfire dropped down to join them, too.

Raven didn't give them time to ask questions. She could sense Superman barreling towards her. She wrapped all four of her allies up and transported them to the inside of the building where she'd left the Tamaranean survivors.

"Princess Starfire?" the lone adult Tamaranean gasped in relief. The children at her sides echoed her words. The only light in the room was the calm, green energy ball the adult cradled in her palms.

Starfire knelt and embraced as many of the children as her arms could encircle. If they remembered any rules about not touching the princess, the children abandoned them and hugged her back.

"There, there, you are safe now!" she promised them.

"Raven, what's going on?" Beast Boy asked. He glanced around. "Where's Batman?"

Raven said, "He's still out there, but he's alive. I can only carry four other people with me at a time. I'll get him, but first I have to try to reach Superman. He's clearly been brainwashed by the invaders."

"Superman's here?" Beast Boy asked in shock.

"Here and brainwashed," Kid Flash reiterated. "Guys, we can't hide from him. He knows exactly where we are."

Beast Boy gave the ceiling a paranoid look. "You're right. He can see through practically anything! If you really did see a brainwashed Superman, then we are so, so screwed!"

Kid Flash started pacing. "And he can hear everything we're saying. And he's fast. Maybe even faster than Flash. Oh man, without Kryptonite, I can't think of anything we can do."

Beast Boy gasped. Before he could speak, Raven cut him off with a sharp look. She met the other Titans' gazes and held a finger to her lips in warning. Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy exchanged a glance before nodding to show they understood her plan.

In case Superman was listening, Cyborg asked, "Can you knock him out?"

"I don't know," Raven said. "If the shield protecting this building fails, then he's knocked me out—or worse. If I can't reach him, I'll try to keep him distracted..." until Herald and the others get here. She left the final part unsaid.

Even though he understood Raven's plan, Beast Boy couldn't help feeling like everything was happening way too fast. "Why are you talking like that? You shouldn't go out there alone. Let me come with you."

"No. Stay here, and if Herald does return, leave. All of you. He can come back for Batman and me," Raven said as she created a dark portal. She hurried through, not wanting to give Beast Boy time to follow.

AN: Tarya is an OC. Thank you MisterCorey for beta reading.

Anonymous: I have a specific moment in mind when Alfred stole Slade's gun, but I think it's kind of fun to let the reader decide.