-Gotham City Sewers: the next day-
Batgirl, Jason, the Professor, and Deathstroke sit around a table while Ares lounged against a wall as the four discuss their next move.
"Even with all of us, Black Adam is still too powerful to fight head-on. I saw we continue the search for more allies before we attempt to rescue Blue Beetle. I had difficulty enough with Aquaman and you with Robin. Firestorm is strong, but that's not enough to take down Teth." Deathstroke argued.
"Seriously? Me and the professor smoked him when he attempted to free Superman." Jason scoffed.
"I heard, but he was focused on getting Superman out and was blinded by his ego thinking he could scrap you with a fraction of his power. He has the power of six gods, don't be foolish." Deathstroke replied.
"But -" Jason started to say.
Batgirl raised her hand to quiet him.
"We can't just leave him there. And we need him asap, I say we go in there now," Batgirl said.
"And how would we free him? He's in a mystic prison from what Ares revealed," Deathstroke responded.
"Firestorm can find some way to get around the molecular makeup of the -" the professor started to say.
"This is magic, professor, not science. I doubt you could cook up something to work against some so ancient as the Rock of Eternity," Deathstroke interjected.
"So you're saying it's hopeless? We can't leave Jaime there!" Batgirl yelled.
"We need more people. There are members of your former resistance and Grodd's old society still out there," Deathstroke said.
"I know, but some of the most powerful are in the same prison as Kara. We can't get them out until we have more firepower as the heads of the Regime will gather there to guard it. Black Adam will be the only one in Kahndaq as the others are still here in North America trying to hunt us down. And who would we take from the Society?" Batgirl replied.
"Deadshot and Captain Cold, perhaps even Cheetah?" Deathstroke said.
"A murderer, a thief, and an animal," Batgirl scoffed.
"Last I checked you're running short on allies. And you don't know where you're other friends are in hiding are. Yes, I don't know where the three I listed might be...probably in prison as well, but perhaps not as heavily guarded," Deathstroke said.
"I believe Batgirl is right, perhaps we could distract Black Adam and find some way to free Jaime," the professor added.
Deathstroke looked at the three sitting with him. He grumbled under his breath.
"Fine, it's like talking to a brick wall. So how do we free him from Kahndaq?" Deathstroke asked.
"I...I'm not sure," Batgirl mumbled.
"I can give you a key to your insect's cage," Ares said.
The four turned to look at the god of war.
"I thought you said you weren't helping?" Batgirl asked with suspicion.
"Not on the battlefield, I never said about not working behind the scenes. I would figure you would appreciate that?" Ares chuckled.
"What kind of key?" Batgirl asked.
Ares opened one palm and a fire materialized from it. The fire slowly faded to reveal a red omega symbol that floated over into Batgirl's hands.
"That will get you past the magic of your destination," Ares said.
"And what about Black Adam?" Batgirl asked.
"I look forward to seeing how you manage him," Ares chuckled.
"Great," Deathstroke sighed.
"Ok, let's go to Kahndaq," Batgirl said.
-Kahndaq: a few hours later-
Batgirl, Deathstroke, and Firestorm made their way to the Rock of Eternity.
"So, do you know how to make that thing work?" Firestorm asked.
"Ares wasn't very clear about the instructions," Batgirl answered.
Deathstroke rolled his eye annoyance and shook his head. Suddenly the Rock crackled with electricity and a portal from its front appeared. From it, Black Adam emerged.
"Foolish boy," Black Adam mumbled.
"The portal's still open," Batgirl gasped.
Suddenly the key glew red with a fiery aura.
"What's that?" Firestorm asked.
"A light to reveal your hiding spot," Black Adam said as he floated before them.
"Great. Kid, you do what you gotta do. The fusor and I will handle the big guy," Deathstroke said.
"But -" Batgirl started to say.
"Go!" Deathstroke said.
Batgirl grumbled and ran to then through the portal.
"No!" Black Adam snarled.
Black Adam felt something hit his back. He turned and grumbled. Firestorm floated in front of him and Deathstroke walked out, a sword in one hand and a gun in the other.
"You will regret that," Black Adam snarled as his eyes and hands coursed with lightning.
"Is this part of the plan?" Deathstroke hissed.
"We got this," Firestorm chuckled.
Black Adam fired a lightning bolt and the field Firestorm had used to brush a strike from the villain before barely held the attack back.
"Whoa, he that didn't happen last time," Firestorm gasped.
"*Grumbles* Keep him off balance, don't go for a straight-on attack. Go!" Deathstroke ordered then fired his gun.
-Within the Rock of Eternity-
Batgirl walked past gargoyles that stood guard across a stone bridge, some eyeing her with inanimate intensity.
"Well, what a girl wouldn't do to have this place for a Halloween party," Batgirl mused to herself.
Soon she heard the sounds of groaning and followed it. Then she saw its origin: Blue Beetle in a sphere of crackling lightning.
"B-Batgirl? H-How did you -?" Blue Beetle gasped.
"Easy Blue, questions later. Right now, let's get you out of that," Batgirl said as she placed the Omega item on the sphere.
There was suddenly a cacophony of crackling and roaring. Then the symbol and the sphere disappeared, which led to Blue Beetle falling on the ground. He coughed a fit as Batgirl ran up to him to help him up.
"I don't know how you did that, but thanks," Blue Beetle said.
"Come on, let's go," Batgirl said.
(Kahndaq, a few minutes ago)
Deathstroke dodged a sphere of electricity from Black Adam and fired off several rounds from his gun. The bullets dropped to the ground after hitting Black Adam who glared at him.
"Damn it, gotta make new ammunition," Deathstroke hissed.
Firestorm threw a fireball at Black Adam who just backhanded it back at Firestorm. The fused hero opened his hands and absorbed the energy missile.
"Why is he not taking the beating we gave him last time?" Firestorm groaned.
"Because I'm not underestimating you," Black Adam replied.
He fired off a bolt of lightning from his hands at the fusor. Firestorm made a shield like before to block the attack but was being pushed back by the intensity of the lightning.
"You fight six gods, not one man. You really think you stood a chance?" Black Adam scoffed.
Deathstroke yelled as he lunged at Black Adam and slashed with his sword, but the villain caught the blade with one hand yet kept the attack on Firestorm with his other hand.
"You never should have come here," Black Adam hissed.
The Rock of Eternity crackled and from it emerged Batgirl helping Blue Beetle out of it, his right arm over her shoulder.
"No," Black Adam grunted.
Deathstroke managed to free his sword from Teth's grasp and sheathed the blade. He grabbed his shoulder with one hand.
"We didn't need to beat you, just distract you," Deathstroke said as he forced something into Black Adam's mouth.
Black Adam grunted in shock as the smoke bomb exploded in his mouth. Black Adam let out a coughing fit then blew away the smoke. He looked around to see all the intruders were gone. His eyes crackled with lightning and the sky boomed as he let out a scream of rage.
-Gotham City Sewers: Hours Later-
"So let me see if I'm following this correctly," Blue Beetle began as he retracted his mechanical mask and began rubbing his chin in contemplation, "Superman has not only left this world but this dimension entirely?"
"You are correct," Deathstroke said simply, "He got his hands on Batman's Inter-Dimensional Portal tech, and opened a gateway to another universe–"
"That's one way of putting it, considering he has taken half his army with him." Batgirl said quickly.
"Another universe?" Professor Stein asked. "Do you mean the parallel world Batman found or a different one altogether?" Stein asked Deathstroke.
"I believe I can answer that question," Ares said simply as he walked over to the group from where he had been lounging in the shadows.
He waved his hand and an image formed from fire, and it showed beings whom none of them could identify.
"Superman was hesitant of going to the world Batman found since that Superman beat him and imprisoned him. So he sought to find another world, one where he could bring his quote on quote 'peace and justice' to." Ares said as the image fizzled out.
"Bad, bad, very bad," Jason said quickly, "If he does to that world what he did to ours, nothing could stop him from doing to countless worlds and realities," Jason said, and that earned concerned looks from everyone, "We've got to stop him..."
-Elsewhere in the Multi-Verse: New York City-
"Its' been a few days since this new hero who calls himself 'Superman' arrived and saved New York City from Thanos, and while public support seems to be mostly positive due to his actions, some are not so happy." the news anchor said as the camera cut from inside of the studio to a reporter who stood next to a certain Squirrel tailed heroine.
"That's right, I'm here with one of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s youngest agents and heroes: Squirrel Girl. While she appreciates him defeating Thanos, she is hesitant to fully trust him. Can you tell our viewers why so?" The reporter said then moved the mic a little closer to the heroine.
"Sure thing. As you said, I'm glad Thanos has been defeated. He returned for revenge against the Avengers with an army. Then he shows up and Thanos is beaten. But there's a red flag when he came through," SG said.
"What's that?" The reporter asked.
"Why an army? I mean, sure it helped with clearing up the Mad Titan's army, but it seems a bit odd that he came from another world or universe or dimension or whatever with his own army. If he came through on his own that's one thing, but with what he has at its back? As a friend of mine would say: my spidey sense is tingling," SG answered.
"I see and what is Spider-Man's view on this event?" The reporter asked.
"I haven't seen him since the battle. I imagine he'll be talking to the rest of the Academy soon enough. Sure, maybe I'm wrong and I hope I am. I'm just not entirely convinced," SG answered.
"What about the people saying at home that this would help clean up the world faster as he has more than himself? That a larger force of heroes could take down the bad guys even faster than before?" The reporter added.
"That is a good point, more people helping out is a welcome thing. But Superman said he just brought 'friends' with him. I would've thought maybe that meant a team, like mine, the Avengers, or the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. Granted we all saw what happened with the Squadron Supreme, but he neglected to admit his 'friends' were an army. Let me say that again: an army. It just doesn't sit well with me," SG said.
The reporter nodded in understanding.
"Well thank you Squirrel Girl for your time and let's hope things just get better," the reporter said.
"My pleasure and indeed," SG replied.
"There you have it everyone: Squirrel Girl is hesitant to trust Superman, we'll keep you updated on this story as it develops. In other news, Latvarian ruler Dr. Victor Von Doom has requested an emergency meeting at the United Nations...
To be continued...