The plasma cannon clip was exhausted. His cracked visor trilled the alarm that his weapon was empty and his suit had multiple malfunctions. He had tried to provide cover fire for Wonder Woman but it was not enough and she lay on the ground run through multiple times by the spears of the troopers, her lifeless eyes looking heavenward. Bruce was limping back towards him with Clark beating off anything that got close with a mixture for his freeze breath and heat vision. The cloud of enemies was trying to figure the best way to approach when the form in pink burst through and landed a solid hit to Superman's chest. The man flew backwards and impacted in to the ancient rock.
"No!" Robin screamed as she grabbed Batman by the neck and soundly broke it. Midnight Shadow dropped the lifeless body where it stood as if it was garbage to be thrown away.
"I'm done with this! I'm done with the way you all have treated me, my master, and the world. The future of peace will be better without all of you. No one will remember anything of you all!" Jinx screamed in fury at the survivors standing on the steps.
Robin stood at the top of the steps as Midnight Shadow planted herself at the bottom, a wild terrifying grin on her face. Speckles of dirt and blood covered her advertising the carnage that she had been through.
"Please stay right there bird boy," she cooed at him maniacally. "I want to punch my fist right through your chest."
"Jinx…"
"Save it. There's nothing you can say that's going to save this pitiful world. It betrayed me. Took away everything I loved and now it will burn."
Robin braced himself but felt the shift of energy. The two looked up and descending through the throng of hovering insects was the man wreathed in golden energy. His eyes seemed to burn that color forcing Robin's systems to adjust the visor tint to see properly.
"It's over," Sovereign's voice thrummed through him. "You all have put up a valiant fight. That cannot go unnoticed."
He looked around imperiously at the devastation around him.
"That kind of tenacity is remarkable. I would be willing to offer you a way out for you and those you pick."
Robin remained silent trying to think of some scenario to get through this. The villain was standing there and had not yet struck. Even Midnight Shadow had backed up to stand near him like a whipped puppy.
"Millennium has gone a few eons without a royal guard. Surrender to me and we shall recreate you as one of elite guard. You can live and help secure peace for other worlds. It is a better fate than being erased from existence."
Robin's answer was simple enough.
"No."
"If I can take him, can I have him as my plaything?" Midnight Shadow asked with glee looking up like a spoiled daughter to a father.
Sovereign seemed to think about it for a minute and then gave the smallest shrug.
"If it'll amuse you."
"Oh, he shall spend many nights amusing me. Hold still Robin, I don't want to break too many bones."
The Midnight Shadow pounced and Robin closed his eyes in reflex waiting for the power to strike him. Why resist? There was nothing he possessed that would stop her. He heard the thud but nothing hit him. His eyes shot open as he saw the surprise on both Superman and Sovereign's face. A form had hit Jinx mid air and pummeled her in to the middle of the courtyard. Robin's heart trilled in hope as he saw her standing there in her cloak. Black energy swirled around her as Raven grabbed Jinx by her collar and through her again.
Raven could not think of anything else to do but tackle Jinx. The pinkette did not expect it and was taken off her feet as she tried to strike out at Richard. The two hit the temple wall which left a giant crack but the mystic titan had rolled away, used one of her onyx shadows to grab Midnight Shadow and slam her against the other side.
"You!" Jinx shrieked as she finally was able to focus on her attacker. "betrayer!"
Midnight Shadow charged and Raven through every ounce of her magic in to the shield that she erected. Jinx hit it hard but did not pierce through it. She summoned a tendril and smacked her as hard as she could sending the form shrieking in rage and agony across the field.
Jinx recovered quicker this time and Raven felt her fist make contact with her stomach. The wind was knocked out of her and tears of pain flowed freely from Rachel's face. She fell to the ground gasping. She could hear the starbolts and the different pitched wings of the Kaz-Kal as they descended to join the free. The mental signal to protect the survivors not lost on her insect warriors.
"Jinx," Raven started pulling her to her feet. "I'm sorry that I hurt you."
"No sorry ENOUGH!" The second blow did not connect completely but it was enough for her to lose her balance. Jinx leapt for her throat.
Robin did not hesitate when the Kaz-Kal joined the fray. He activated the last line of defense against Sovereign that had been laid out. The hidden plasma turrets activated and the 50 caliber turret guns opened up on anything that did not match the IFF pre-programmed in. Robin took a few steps back to get to Cyborg.
"Cyborg, get the BQC ready to go! This is our-"
Robin saw the heavy armored leg come to his right and it carried him off the steps and in to the ground. Millennium landed heavily beside him, the giant cybernetic beetle glowing with menacing green energy. Robin tried to stand up but screamed in pain as it slammed it's sharp talon down on his leg, piercing the armor, tissue and bone pinning him in place.
"Your fight is done, little one," it thrummed at him through the haze of agony from the wound.
Millennium raised his other leg to plunge it through Robin's chest when he hesitated, his focus out towards the battle.
Robin decided that he might as well look as he was dead whenever the ancient entity decided to focus back on him.
Raven and Jinx were trading blows, energy swirled around them as they bounced from one corner of the yard to the next. What Robin spotted and what had to be the thing that had gotten Millennium's attention was the fact that among the onyx power that circled and lashed out at Jinx had a tinge of gold in it.
"It cannot be," Millennium said more surprised than shocked.
Raven hit Jinx hard sending her flying again but their energy was wearing down. The mystic titan could taste the blood and magic in her mouth and the tang of her own demonic magic mixed with the sweet scent of what once was her bond to Sovereign. The battle had been so rough that she could taste it leaking from Jinx. The Archon Ring had taken a few blows before Midnight Shadow realized Raven's intent. Now it had been harder to hit the cracking ring.
"I gave everything to you!" Jinx screamed at Raven as she pulled herself up out of the dirt. "I gave you my loyalty, I gave you my body, I gave you EVERYTHING! I was yours body and soul AND YOU THREW ME TO THE SIDE."
"No," Raven choked as the memories washed over her unfettered by the control of the ring. "I didn't throw you away, I had to stop what I was doing. I wanted you to come with me."
"This is what we were. You were my mistress, the one who brought me pain and pleasure. You gave me purpose in the reign of Sovereign and then you GAVE ME UP!"
"Please, Jinx, please stop. I don't want to hurt you anymore."
"You'll have to kill me," Midnight Shadow seethed.
Something inside her clicked. She felt the flowing of power she had not felt since being the Midnight Empress. Jinx charged but it had been slow motion, Raven was actually surprised she was taking such a easily telegraphed attack. Without thinking Raven side stepped the blow and summoned a tendril which took on a glowing gold/onyx point which easily pierced Jinx's chest. She could see the shock on Midnight Shadow's eyes as the tendril passed through without any resistance.
The world seemed to come back in focus and Raven realized what she had done. A cry of soul crushing sadness swept through Raven as she caught her once friend in her arms hemorrhaging blood from the gaping wound.
"Jinx, oh, Jinx. Why did you make me do this?"
The woman's mouth moved as Raven gently set her on the ground, ignoring the struggle that was still happening around her.
Jinx's mouth moved as she was trying to speak but the life had already begun to fade from her eyes. Raven pulled the girl close to her chest as the sobs ripped from her. When she released the girl, all that was there was Jinx's shell, now lifeless on the ground.
The rage hit her and Raven looked up towards where she knew Sovereign was. He stood there looking back at her with a mixture of surprise and understanding. A look that Raven wanted to rip off his face.
"You….MONSTER!" Raven screamed at him.
"Yes," He answered with a nod. "but it's over now."
Raven took in the scene around her. Sovereign was standing in the place she knew he had to be, the brilliant ball of white energy around his feet and hands ready to discharge the reality ripping energy that would end their all existence. Cyborg's head sat a few steps down having been separated from his body and she only could assume the blood smear inside was what was left of Beast Boy.
"No!" Raven screamed at him with every bit of fury she had in her as his hands opened.
With that, reality ceased to exist.