Chapter II
"And you guys are positive that I was your first choice for this position?" Doomsday II fiddled with the arms of the office chair he was seated in, but honestly his attempt at presenting himself professionally had greatly improved over the span of 5 months.
"Well...we definitely believe that you have skills…"
"And information."
"And information that could be very useful to the Justice League." Superman and Batman fell easily into their "good hero, bad hero" schtick that they used to wow their prospective recruits. But Doomsday II only wanted one thing.
"My conditions haven't changed. I'll give you the information if you give me what I want."
"Please, Doomsday II-I mean Double-DJ-we just need to learn what you know, the entire world could be at stake! We can offer you a membership to the league if you comply." Superman humbled himself before Doomsday II despite their checkered past, but to no avail. Doomsday II ceased his excess movements and leaned forward dramatically, speaking with utmost seriousness.
"I want to challenge Aquaman in mortal combat."
𓇼𓇼𓇼
After the first meeting between Superman, Wonder Woman, and the Doomsday brothers; the three brothers were introduced to Martha Kent. The four of them settled down relatively quickly into a friendly environment, as they tried to find their place in the world. Within 1 week, Doomsday I was going to leave the farm without warning (not even a note, for he was still mute).
"And what exactly are you planning to do? You've proven yourself nothing but a homebody and now you want to travel the world!" Professor Doomsday had wheeled in front of the door to block the eldest's escape, with his streaming microphone and headset still attached.
[You believe that intelligence is to learn what constrains you. I wish to be free.] Doomsday I responded grumpily using American Sign Language.
"Well where are you going? I want to go!" Doomsday II flew from the yard to join the conversation.
[No.]
"Geez, tell me how you really feel."
[I did.]
"I was being sarcastic!"
[and I refuse to recognize your sarcasm.]
"Well away with you then! I have truth to interpret, and truth to speak! If my own brother won't pay heed to what that is, then I will spend my time speaking to a more willing audience! Thank you for your subscription Gxtraman94." Professor Doomsday wheeled away from the door and began speaking into his microphone, ignoring his siblings.
"Have you at least prepared for your journey?" Doomsday II grabbed onto I's shoulder and orbited around him.
[Preparation is an exercise in worry. I seek to be free of such things.]
Doomsday I stood still for a moment and felt the direction of the wind. Then, he leapt over the horizon and disappeared from view.
𓇼𓇼𓇼
Starting from that day, let us follow the paths of each individual sibling. Professor Doomsday had taken to the internet quickly after being sent to the Kent farm. With the help of Doomsday II, Professor Doomsday had built a PC, auxiliary systems, and a router/modem combo using scraps from junkyards and yard sales across the country. He already had a niche base of philosophy fans, but after several weeks he became discouraged at how slowly he was making waves in the internet world. Truly Professor Doomsday was a cut above the rest in terms of intelligence, so why didn't his popularity with the masses reflect this fact? One day, while he was absorbing energy from the sun outside, he asked a question of Doomsday II.
"How does one become popular on the internet?"
"It depends." Doomsday II was flying several miles in the sky, but he swooped down as soon as he heard Professor Doomsday with his super hearing. "It depends on what you're trying to say, or what content you're trying to make." II amended his response quickly to avoid the ire of his younger brother.
"I am trying to share my insight with the world! There is no purpose to knowing what is right, if I cannot show when others are wrong!"
"Well then tell them you're right." Doomsday II responded free of care, but his lackluster response actually implanted an idea within Professor's head. If he couldn't garner an audience with his own content, then he would argue with creators who already had an audience. Without delay, Professor Doomsday conceived of a trap. He researched several high profile speakers: hero worshippers, political commentators, conspiracy theorists, pop culture reviewers, and even food critics. Then, at an alarming rate, he produced a wide variety of call out videos. At first, it took some time for his videos to receive any sort of buzz, but eventually his type of video gained notoriety and were considered to be created by a community of trolls. In response to this, Professor Doomsday made a public callout with face cam, prompting people to gather at the circus-like attraction. Folks gathered from all four corners of the internet to join the discourse of the "Angry Rock Man", whom fans affectionately referred to as Professor DD.
Within a couple of months, he had created a "Doomsday Cave" where he streamed 24/7. The ceiling was converted into a modified solar cell that gave the Professor all of the energy he needed to live. The floor was converted into a series of magnetic tracks that his chair was linked into, making movement between all of his technological stations seamless. Alongside his internet tyrade, Doomsday was able to complete a side project. By studying his own unique biology, Professor Doomsday was able to create a tracking device for his own brothers that could also communicate through specific energy vibrations. Despite his aggressive attitude, he became somewhat satisfied with his life as a strange internet personality.
𓇼𓇼𓇼
Doomsday I only wanted to be a singular existence. At the Kent farm, he had obsessively studied language in order to be able to communicate, but he rejected the figurative interpretations he found therein. Taking a Descartian perspective, Doomsday I decided to reject any meaning that couldn't be proven, starting with the nature of existence. Free from outside interaction, Doomsday I began from a blank slate: free from background, connections, gender, and identity. The next step would be to build an experience from the ground up. After a week at the farm, Doomsday I decided to leave. They used American Sign Language to say goodbye to the other Doomsdays, but only so that the other siblings would understand. Doomsday I had already begun creating a new sign language that took the least amount of movement possible, and was devoid of any metaphorical meaning. In the doorframe of the farm, Doomsday I felt the direction of the wind, and then leapt into it.
Doomsday I lived solely based on feeling and sense. The decision of which direction to go and how fast to go were based entirely on Doomsday I internally, with no external factors contributing. Their wandering was a topic of much debate among countries and other superhumans, but Doomsday I remained oblivious to the news by choice as long as possible. This changed when they stepped foot on the Island of Themyscira, the homeworld of the Amazons. Doomsday I didn't present a threat to the Amazons, but they were also unable to communicate with each other. Annoyed by the Amazons' concern and all of their forced interactions, Doomsday I finally decided to leave the island by diving into the ocean.
For several weeks, Doomsday I existed alone below the waves, until a curious thing happened. Doomsday I became acquainted with many living things in the water, but they began to notice familiar creatures. In particular, a familiar blue whale. Whether due to Doomsday I's biological abilities, or because of the complete purity of their perception; Doomsday I was able to understand the whale. Over time, Doomsday I learned about their favorite hunting currents, their favorite whale songs, and their former servitude to the Atlanteans. The whale was very concerned with the state of the world: apparently the Atlanteans and the Amazons had entered into an unsteady alliance in fear of the Superman. Doomsday I wished to stay apart from these things, however they felt closer to the external world the closer that they felt a kinship with the whale. Doomsday I realized that remaining a pure existence would be impossible if they remained friends, and they continued on their way. However, it was precisely when Doomsday I left the whale that they realized how deeply the effects of that friendship had been; Doomsday I realized that from then on it would be impossible to be unaffected by others. They returned to the whale's path, but the whale had already been fatally wounded.
[Who did this to you? I could have stopped them if I hadn't left] Doomsday I communicated to the whale.
[I had already betrayed the Atlanteans. I don't regret my choice, and I accept the consequences.] The whale groaned in melancholy and acceptance.
[I will destroy Atlantis!]
[Do not. Strife will only bring more strife. There is something more important for me to say. I stole an artifact from the Atlanteans, a Motherbox, because I was afraid of what would happen if the Amazons and Atlanteans collected all three of them. I told the Atlanteans that I buried it at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, but that was a lie.] The whale spent its last words telling Doomsday I the location of the Motherbox. Grieving, Doomsday I decided to completely change their direction in life, choosing to live selflessly according to the wishes of their friend rather than according to their own self. Doomsday I traveled until they found the Motherbox, and then they remained still as a statue to guard it. In repentance, Doomsday I was going to protect the Motherbox for the rest of their days.
"Hey brother! I found you using some cool gadget that Prof made!" Doomsday II garbled in the deep ocean water.
[I am busy. Go away.] Doomsday I angrily responded using relatively sluggish American Sign Language underwater.
"How can you be busy when you're just standing here underwater!"
Doomsday I explained their situation to Doomsday II.
𓇼𓇼𓇼
Doomsday II was the only Doomsday who felt obligated to help out around the farm. However, the chores did little to quell his boredom due to his super speed and flight.
"Is there anything else for me to do?" Doomsday II was using his powers to mimic walking on the ceiling of the farmhouse.
"You could find your brothers." Martha Kent was washing dishes, something she insisted on doing herself after Doomsday II had excitedly destroyed half of them earlier.
"They're no fun. Why does it have to be them?"
"Well, when my Clark was growing up he didn't have many friends-it was hard to relate to other people when he was so different you know?" She stopped for a moment to smile at Doomsday II.
"That's it!" He excitedly fell down until his head was mere inches above the ground, startling Martha. "I'll find your son!"
"Maybe that's not the best id-" Doomsday II flew out the door at a slightly subsonic speed. Research wasn't Doomsday II's forte, so his plan for finding Superman consisted of flying around the globe with his super sight and hearing. Luckily for him, there was a large office building in Chicago that was on fire. He watched as Superman zoomed in and out with groups of people, and he descended to blow out the fire with super breath. Superman turned around when he heard the astonished reactions of the people to Doomsday II's appearance. Superman motioned upwards and they both took to the sky.
"Hey champ, how's the Kansas life treating you?"
"I don't know I got pretty bored." Doomsday II was dancing with his hands and fingers, keeping the rest of his body as rigid as possible.
"Er-well hopefully you can find a solution to that kiddo." Superman slowly deteriorated from his statuesque confidence to a slightly impatient arm cross. "Do you have an emergency?"
"I guess not. Oh wait, I wanted to ask you why you didn't save your father from that storm?" Doomsday asked innocently, but the only answer he received was a tense silence.
"Well then umm-good luck, and duty calls!" Superman smiled overly wide and gave a mock salute before rocketing below the clouds.
"That was illuminating."
𓇼𓇼𓇼
Doomsday II stayed in the air, but inevitably hovered back over the Kent farm. He flew down to the ground when he heard his younger brother ask a question.
"How does one become popular on the internet?"
"It depends-It depends on what you're trying to say, or what content you're trying to make." He made his response vague but technically correct so that Professor Doomsday wouldn't have much ammunition to use against him.
"I am trying to share my insight with the world! There is no purpose to knowing what is right, if I cannot show when others are wrong!" Professor Doomsday seemed like he wanted to vent more than he wanted to argue.
"Well then tell them you're right." Professor Doomsday surprisingly lit up at this low effort response, and wheeled away excitedly. Doomsday II was relieved but also somewhat disappointed, since he still had no answer to his boredom.
"Wait a second-if Ms. Kent says that I should hang around others like me, but they don't want to, then I'll just do what they do!" Doomsday II rushed upstairs to bug the professor.
"Are you here to provide more advice?" The youngest brother asked with his characteristic impatience, but he was in a better mood than usual.
"Not really. Can I help?"
"Hmmm. I don't think so, it would take too much time for me to teach you what is necessary, and even then I don't think your additive efforts would be significant."
"Well what are you doing?" Professor Doomsday was becoming more frustrated, but he withheld a sigh.
"I am studying the works of several popular personalities in order to find their commonalities and weaknesses. I created a program so that I can watch their content at one million times the speed. Then I will develop my own style in order to admonish the audiences of these 'personalities.'"
"So you're going to make a diss track?" Professor Doomsday paused for the first time and turned around to face Doomsday II, looking him in the eyes.
"I will only say this once, and then I hope that my meaning will come across in its totality-even to you. I will never make a diss track." He paused for emphasis, and then went back to his work as if Doomsday II wasn't present. Doomsday II dejectedly floated downstairs. He didn't see anything wrong with making a diss track, and he bet that he could make a great diss track.
"That's it!" Doomsday II rushed through the atmosphere, searching for any construction sites. He offered to complete any construction projects for an up-front payment, but after being rejected 6 times in a row (they didn't work with unknown illegal aliens)he decided on a different plan of action. Flying just under the clouds, Doomsday II scoured the United States for loose bills and change. He separated the different kinds of coins and bills by type and then traded until he had the largest bills possible. With his newfound riches, Doomsday II bought a microphone, studio headphones, and a PC setup. After several hours of web surfing, the internet rapper Doomsday Jr. or Double-DJ.
"Why, perchance do you know, is there an internet rapper who not only bears the name Doomsday, but has released a 'diss track' against me!" Professor Doomsday stormed into Doomsday II's room: absolutely livid.
"Oh, me? Maybe I'm just creating an online discourse."
"You are not! I can't even argue against you, when you provide nothing of substance to posit an antithesis to!"
"I didn't have a problem with it."
"Telling me that I need to get laid is not a proper argument!" Though he would not admit it, what Professor Doomsday found most infuriating was the ease with which Doomsday II had gained a following. Despite not being what one would call a musical genius, Doomsday II had several advantages. For one, he could rap at a pace several orders of magnitude above human rappers, could alter his voice beyond the human vocal range, and he didn't need to breathe. He could also produce and edit his tracks many times faster than a human. As a result, the wide library of Double-DJ contained something for nearly everyone, and he gained an online following.
"Ugggghhhh, you're such a killjoy. I don't want to keep doing this anyway." Professor Doomsday nodded stiffly and receded back into his Doomsday Cave. Becoming a musical sensation was fun, but Doomsday II wasn't planning on doing it for the rest of his life. If he was done following in Professor Doomsday's footsteps, then this time he would follow in Superman's footsteps! Doomsday II took to the skies in search of trouble-to fix! He continued his patrol until he witnessed a drug deal occurring on the streets. Excitedly, Doomsday II sped to apprehend the criminal...at mach 50. The resultant sonic boom tore through the glassware in a several mile radius and created a ground zero which prompted Superman and the Flash to show up on the scene.
"I was trying to stop a drug deal. Well technically I succeeded at stopping a drug deal."
𓇼𓇼𓇼
Doomsday II was locked into a secret government facility and held for questioning. After explaining that he wasn't planning a domestic terror attack and was in fact trying to be a hero, many security officials discussed the ramifications of setting Doomsday II free.
"Good evening, Mr. Doomsday the second, my name is Amanda Waller." An overly serious security official walked into Doomsday II's cell.
"Um hi"
"You had quite the rap career before your...incident. Look, I'm not going to mince any words here, for the sake of the American public it would be in our best interest to keep you imprisoned. However, we have a way for you to earn your freedom."
"I'm listening" Despite the dire circumstances, Doomsday II was excited at the prospect of becoming a government agent.
"With Superman and the Justice League as the supposed guardian of the earth, the president and congress don't believe that we need a superpowered task force. Unfortunately, I don't have the rest of the nation's optimism. I was able to train a superpowered agent codenamed 'Enchantress', but we recently lost control of her. I need you to neutralize the threat without alerting the Justice League."
"And how will I be able to do that?"
"The Enchantress herself doesn't want to rouse any unwanted attention, so all you have to do is complete the job quietly. The Justice League have been busy anyway, ever since Wonder Woman quit to lead the Amazons in the Amazon/Atlantean faction."
"Hm, sounds like a real humdinger of a case. I assume I'll be compensated in kind?" Doomsday II spoke in his best noir detective impression.
"Your autonomy will be your sole compensation. Also needless to say that this operation will be off the books and off the record. You'll also be wearing a nanite bomb collar as insurance."
"I suppose that's fair." Doomsday II was outfitted with the bomb collar, but it was quickly scrapped when he accidentally activated it-with no harm to himself. After pinky swearing that he would complete his task, Agent Doomsday flew stealthily towards his target. Maybe because of his heightened senses or innocent open mindedness, Doomsday II sensed something vaguely magical and flew in that direction. Eventually he came upon a vaguely Egyptian-royalty-looking sorceress in charge of a magical army in the Amazon forest.
"I can sense your presence, Kryptonian!" The Enchantress levitated menacingly into the air and glowed with power.
"You're kind of correct?" Doomsday II glided into view, completely dropping any pretense of surprise.
"What kind of failed experiment are you?!" The Enchantress narrowed her eyes scornfully as she spoke.
"Who said I was a failed experiment? That was a really mean thing to say. Anyway, I'm here to arrest you."
"You and what arm-" Before she could finish her cliche, Doomsday II flew behind her quicker than she could react.
"I could have taken care of your minions, but I don't really know if they're mutated humans or monsters or demons or whatever, and I didn't really wanna deal with that kind of moral choi-" Enchantress dramatically reeled back with a snarl and then shot a bright green energy bolt that he dodged with ease. "-ce. Y'know you would have a better chance of hitting me if you didn't make your magic visible."
"I'm not the one you should be worrying about right now." A large armored man with a flaming head grabbed Doomsday II from behind. "Incubus: Destroy him!" Doomsday II grabbed his wrist, flew over to grab her wrist, and then flew in the air with all three of them.
"Well I guess I have to take both of you to Amanda Waller. Ugh this is going to be heavy." Enchantress and Incubus roared as they blasted Doomsday II with all kinds of fancy fires, energy blasts, and spirit animal looking attacks. "I'm going to be honest, we don't really scale that well. I mean-without meaning to brag-I don't think there's anything you can do to hurt me, and the only reason I'm not dodging all of your attacks is because I don't feel like it. It's not even your fault, I don't think you were even supposed to fight someone as powerful as me."
"Wait! Do not take us to the Americans! They will cause the end of the world!" The Enchantress pleaded with him.
"And what are you trying to do?"
"Take my rightful place as the supreme ruler of this planet!"
"Uh huh."
"B-but the humans will destroy the world! Or if they don't, then the Amazons and Atlanteans will. All of them are dealing with forces beyond their control! The factions are trying to unite the three Motherboxes, weapons of an ancient evil, but this will only bring destruction!"
"Oh geez! Where are the Motherboxes?"
"The humans, the Atlanteans, and the Amazons each safeguarded one for millennia. However, the humans have long forgotten what they once protected; which allowed Wonder Woman to steal it."
"Then isn't it already over?"
"No; the Atlantean Motherbox seems to have been stolen."
"Oh, then everything's fine!"
"No wai-" Doomsday II excitedly carried the two villains at a blinding speed towards the secret dropoff point in the middle of the Sonoran Desert. Both of them vomited when they touched down.
"Were there any problems?" Amanda Waller asked coldly, surrounded by heavily armed agents.
"Nope."
"Then you are free to go. As a word of advice, don't go into hero work again." Doomsday II waved goodbye and flew away as the sounds of laser and gunfire from the secret government execution squad faded into the distance.
𓇼𓇼𓇼
With a new sense of purposelessness, Doomsday II yet again drifted back to the thinker of the trio: Professor Doomsday.
"Salutations brother; I would not otherwise, but I suppose it wouldn't kill me to take a break from my efforts. I believe you have been gone a good while?" Professor Doomsday greeted from his permanent seated station.
"Have you seen the news?"
"I have not."
"Then I haven't been up to much." Professor Doomsday narrowed his eyes, but didn't continue prying.
"I'm bored."
"This seems to be a natural state of affairs for you."
"I have an idea this time though! I was just wondering if you knew where to find Doomsday I."
"Doomsday I, now that's a name I've not heard in a long time. Forgive me-I have spent too much of my time engrossed in the human meme zeitgeist. It just so happens that I do have a way to locate our elder." Professor Doomsday whirled dramatically to his novel device and motioned for Doomsday II to follow. "Here I have all three of our locations-including the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates as well as the depth."
"This doesn't have anything to do with your internet work. Why did you make this?"
"W-well it is a useful technology to have access to!" Professor Doomsday responded defensively.
"Holy crap! You miss us! You're just too full of yourself to come find us yourself!"
"That is preposterous! You have your necessary information, so away with you, I am very busy." Professor Doomsday rolled back to his main computer, giving Doomsday II the cold shoulder, but Doomsday II grinned as he flew away. After a few seconds of flying, Doomsday II realized that he was far from any landmass, and that Doomsday I was located deep beneath the waves. So as not to harm the ecosystem, he slowed to the pace of a fast torpedo and propelled to the seafloor. Doomsday I was a statue on the bottom, visible only with x-ray vision.
"Hey brother! I found you using some cool gadget that Prof made!" Doomsday II bubbled at his older brother.
[I am busy. Go away.] Doomsday I signed, which Doomsday II interpreted slowly due to a lack of practice.
"How can you be busy when you're just standing here underwater!"
[I am fulfilling the last wish of a companion of mine. I am safeguarding this Motherbox until I die.]
"Oh I heard about those! So you're the one who has the Atlantean Motherbox! Well in that case we don't have to worry about the world ending."
[Yes.]
"Why don't you bring the Motherbox to the Kent farm so that we can hang out together?"
[I will not. My friend was killed by the Atlanteans while I was away, and it is my responsibility to never leave my station.]
"What?! Like Atlantis, like with Aquaman?"
[Yes.] Doomsday II became filled with rage and renewed purpose.
"You wait right here! I never liked that Aquaman guy and now he's going to pay!" Doomsday II shot out of the ocean to write an angrily worded letter to the Justice League P.O. box.
𓇼𓇼𓇼
"And you guys are positive that I was your first choice for this position?" Doomsday II coyly asked the leading members of the Justice League.
"Well...we definitely believe that you have skills…"
"And information."
"And information that could be very useful to the Justice League." Superman and Batman played along with Doomsday II's game, because they tacitly decided that this was the best way to get the information they wanted.
"My conditions haven't changed. I'll give you the information if you give me what I want."
"Please, Doomsday II-I mean Double-DJ-we just need to learn what you know, the entire world could be at stake! We can offer you a membership to the league if you comply."
"I want to challenge Aquaman in mortal combat."
"Even if we were to allow such a thing, Aquaman was never a part of the Justice League, and there's no chance that he will join after allying with the Amazons." Batman responded very dryly, bordering on intimidation. "And clearly the most important issue is the fate of the world."
"The world is fine, for the time being, and it will be even safer once Aquaman is out of the picture." Doomsday II countered. The duo began to formulate another argument, but before they could speak the Justice League phone rang from Batman's utility belt.
"This is the emergency line. Diana?! You made your stance clear when you quit the league." Batman's brow furrowed as he listened to the other end of the phone. "Listen, there's an emergency!"
"The Amazons were attacked on Themyscira by alien parademons." Superman spoke seriously.
"And their leader, who goes by the name of Steppenwolf, is searching for the Motherboxes." Doomsday II repeated grimly.
"Just because you have super hearing doesn't make you clever." Batman sighed. The two Justice League members turned towards Doomsday II.
"We're going to take the league and apprehend the army before they can harm any more civilians. You head over to the Motherbox's location and make sure no one gets to it!" Batman commanded Doomsday II as he and Superman flew from the scene.
"Aye Aye!" Doomsday II flew back to where Doomsday I was stationed. As he flew, Doomsday II saw a huge flock of humanoid and batlike parademons crowding over the ocean.
"Oh no! They've already found the Motherbox!" Doomsday II readied to fly down at top speed to the bottom of the ocean, but he stopped as two figures burst from the ocean's surface. Doomsday I leapt onto the nearest continent, holding the limp body of a large horned man.
"Is that Steppenwolf?"
[Yes. They were not that strong.] Doomsday I lugged the body single handedly and signed with the other.
"Huh." Doomsday II looked around and saw that the parademons had all been defeated by the Justice League. "I guess any villains that aren't powerful on a cosmic scale can't really do anything against anyone with Kryptonian powers."
[Indeed.]
𓇼𓇼𓇼