DCeased: Borrowed Time

by Billy The Blue Beaver

In DCeased, we saw what happened when DC's most popular heroes and villains dealt with a deadly virus that ended Earth, killing many heroes and villains alike. One of the many to fall and turn into the Anti-Living was Barbara Gordon, AKA Batgirl. In this storyline, we see what would happen if Barbara had not died, and what she would have done in this apocalypse. This is her story.

11. Cyborg's Final Destination

It was the day after Barbara warned Victor of the potentially dark future. It would also be the final battle against Darkseid and the forces of Apokolips. Cyborg chased a swarm of Parademons out of Metropolis. But soon he was captured on Apokolips, his wrists and ankles strapped to a table. Desaad was torturing him, growling, "The Anti-Life Equation. Do you know of it, Metal Man?"

"No," replied Cyborg. "It is the end of all freewilll. For the one who controls it, it is the domination of all sentient races," explained Desaad. "Yeah? Well I try not to kink-shame anyone," joked Cyborg. "Almight Darkseid," growled Desaad. "Almighty Darkseid?" Cyborg interrupted, "Why is it Gods always need people to suck up to them? It's a little sad that an all powerful being need to constant reassurance."

"Almighty Darkseid posseses half of the Anti-Life Equation," continued Desaad, "He believed the other half would manifest on your world. Key was of course, correct. He found it." Cyborg knew where. He possessed the other half. "It is in you," stated Darkseid as he walked in with half the Equation in a Mother Box. "Were you...?" Cyborg asked, "Were you just waiting in the corridor to make a good entrance?" Darkseid glared and said, "Desaad. Remove his tongue." And that's what Desaad did, causing Victor to scream in pain. Victor was scared. He knew what was going to happen. "The Mother Box will add your half of the equation to his system, Darkseid;" explained Desaad, "But there is a problem. Merging the Anti-Life Equation with the digital and the physical without the host is... Unsound. If he is killed by the process, the Equation will cease to exist."

"Then we need to control Victor Stone's end," said Darkseid, "I will summon death." Darkseid used the Mother Box to summon the Black Racer. Before The New God of death could attack, Darkseid grabbed him by the neck and said, "Black Racer. I have need of you." Black Racer was then held back as Desaad took a piece of Racer's death powers, changing the Anti-Life Equation, corrupting it. The corrupt Equation latched onto Darkseid's head. He tried to tear it out as he howled in pain, "My head! It's in-- HRAAARGH!!!!!!" Black Racer laughed, "It is time for God to die." Desaad realized what was unleashed, and was ready to send Cyborg away. Victor thought fast and turned his left arm into a cannon blaster, and blasted at the Mother Box, instantly destroying it! "You fool!" Desaad hissed, "What have you done?!?!?!?!"

Cyborg's system grew a tongue back and he replied, "You ain't gonna get rid of me that easy! I'm makin' sure this disease stays on Apokolips. Booyah, motherfucker." The infected Darkseid was now a slave to a new Anti-Life Equation. He attacked. First, he instantly killed Black Racer. Darkseid then leaped into the fires of Apokolips, into the world's core, and unleashed his Omega Beams onto them. This caused a massive chain reaction, causing the planet to explode, instantly destroying Apokolips! Billions of lives were destroyed on Apokolips, including Cyborg. As Cyborg died on Planet Apokolips, he smiled, willing to have died for the greater good, his final destination. Little did he know was that a darker timeline of undead monsters now ceased to exist.