Hey, guys! I'm back! And now we're back on schedule in regards to Second Chance. Who's enjoying Super Smash Bros. Ultimate this weekend? I'm not, because I'm waiting until Christmas to play. Anyways, here's Chapter 7!
Watchtower, Orbit; March 21, 2027 17:30
The majority of the League was still contemplating on the supposed future that Terry had shown them.
Even D.I., who had recently become infamous for his mean-spirited, poorly timed, and insensitive sense of humor, had nothing to snark about, instead left with Arsenal.
Clark was still processing the senseless tragedies that happened in the alternate timeline. Could all of this still happen? Could Conner be doomed to become Doomsday? Would M'gann become brutally tortured by Luthor? And would Earth be devastated this Veteran's Day?
Bruce, behind a mask of tortured stoicism, went through the files that his son had left. He was horrified by the details that Terry had understandably left out: Miss Park's miscarriage when the Watchtower was attacked by Luthor; Dick and Kory's divorce over the former choosing staying with Bruce over caring for his new family; M'gann's attempted suicide following the invasion; Shayera remaining a pariah even though she helped save the world twice; all of this started to push Bruce towards the line of thought that there was a very special place in hell reserved for Luthor.
It would also be a good idea not to tell Wally that his girlfriend had been pregnant in the alternate timeline right now. There was already an apocalypse due in November. The redheaded speeder certainly didn't need to worry about his family.
The mission to the LexCorp facility just outside of Metropolis would continue as planned, but Terry would be coming along to ensure that Conner was not captured. Right now, Conner's transformation into Doomsday was the first catalyst that had to be averted, otherwise, the world would be sent to hell.
Hopefully, Terry would break the news to Conner and Megan is a far gentler way, otherwise... otherwise, who knew what would happen?
Watchtower, Orbit; March 21, 2027 17:20
Terry was walking towards Superboy and Miss Martian's shared quarters to gently tell them the news that they had missed.
He certainly didn't want to tell them about the circumstances of the latter's death in the alternate future.
Terry gently knocked on the door of their quarters, and Conner opened it a moment later.
"How's M'gann doing?" Terry asked in compassion.
"Doing better." Conner answered. "She's resting quietly."
"Good." Terry said in relief, but still having a stern outlook.
"Judging from the look on your face, I'm guessing that the future got worse in my absence." Conner assessed.
"That's an understatement." Terry admitted. "After you and Clark died, Luthor organized an xenophobic media campaign to banish the Martians, the Amazons, and the Atlanteans. Worse, that son of a bitch had the nerve to firebomb Smallville, assassinate Lois, and resurrect Clark just to tell him how his family was killed."
"Then Luthor has to die." Conner said bluntly. "Everything that happens is because of him. Remove him from the equation, and the world is saved."
"Bruce told me that it's probably not that simple." Terry responded with skepticism. "But you're right. Luthor is one of the largest keys to Armageddon. If we run into him, don't expect me to hesitate to put him down."
"Good." Conner uttered simply. "No feelings of patricide could make me feel sorry if that monster died."
The feelings of patricide was referring to the fact that Conner's DNA was half of Luthor's and half of Superman's.
"I probably shouldn't tell M'gann that she was tortured close to your final resting spot." Terry mused. "Or that she attempted suicide after the invasion."
"What?" Conner asked.
"Let's just say the poor girl needed a hug." Terry replied, ending the conversation. "I'm sure that she was reunited with you in the afterlife after... after..."
"After what?" Conner asked, very concerned.
"I told you that she had attempted suicide." Terry reiterated, in tears that he was about to reveal to Conner how M'gann died in the alternate timeline. "Though she failed, she had many 'episodes' when she accidentally mentally attacked those around her, because of her brain damage, and my brother had to shoot her to save his squad."
Terry now cried remembering the last straw that broke his idealism.
"I'm sorry." Conner apologized, patting Terry's back very gently.
"Bruce is going through the alternate timeline's files right now." Terry reported upon reaching re-composure. "Trying to keep half the world from ending, or at least the entire world from ending."
Conner nodded, as he looked upon the peaceful M'gann sleeping in the bed.
Another series of knocks was heard as someone apparently wanted to talk to Conner.
Conner therefore opened it, finding D.I. and Arsenal outside.
"Roy?" The half-Kryptonian asked.
"Some of us feel like the Justice League won't go far enough in regards to Luthor." Roy explained. "We're thinking of starting a blood oath."
"Meaning that each person that takes the oath sheds blood in the agreement." D.I. clarified, grabbing a bowl from the kitchen. "Everyone who sheds blood in this bowl will vow to not rest until Lex Luthor is a dead man."
"I would take part in it, but nothing short of a Kryptonite knife will make me bleed, and I'd rather not go through that substance again." Conner rejected.
Roy looked down in shame, as Conner referred to the time that he was incapacitated by Roy when he used Kryptonite dust to keep him from interfering with Roy punishing Wally for two-timing Artemis.
"On second thought, maybe a blood oath isn't a good idea." D.I. reconsidered. "It might end up being for nothing."
"I'm just more surprised that you of all people would consider assassination." Conner admitted. "Why?"
"Luthor's a bigger douche than me." D.I. answered with a half-truth. "I can't allow that."
"Oh, so it's about who's the bigger asshole, huh?" Conner scoffed. "And here I thought you would be returning to your principles from before the middle of February."
"Not all murders need to be personal." D.I. claimed, failing to cover up that something bad happened to him thanks to Luthor.
"And a contest on who's the bigger asshole isn't?" Conner rhetorically asked. "Tell me the truth, now, or I might need to wake up M'gann to read your mind."
"She won't do that." D.I. said. "Not unless if I've given her my approval."
"Okay, guys, chill out." Terry intervened, trying to calm tensions. "We're all on the same team. Let's not pull a Caboose."
"Normally that's the rule with people in general." Conner retorted, ignoring Terry. "But considering how rude you've been to M'gann lately, she probably won't bother asking you, and I'm positive that Nightwing hasn't taught you how to shield your mind."
"Yeah, you've been even more unlikable than Guy Gardner." Roy agreed.
Ouch, that one's going to hurt. Terry contemplated, as D.I. stood agape in shock at how low the comparison was.
"Seriously, what the hell is going on with you?" Conner asked, seriously concerned. "Was this part of you buried beneath your more jovial persona?"
D.I. had no answer, nor did he want to give one.
"Did Luthor blind you?" Conner asked more gently. "Talk to us, please."
"Shit, I think we broke him." Roy realized. "Let's just get him back to the medical bay, again."
Conner and Roy supported D.I. back to the infirmary where Zatanna and Doctor Fate would help with mental recuperation exercises.
Is it just me, or is my idealistic image of the Justice League starting to fade away? Terry asked no one in particular.
He walked over to M'gann's bed, where the White Martian was rising from her brief slumber.
"How long did you hear the arguing, ma'am?" Terry politely asked.
"Too long, unfortunately." M'gann answered with a sad smile. "I appreciate Conner being protective of me, but how violent he can be in doing so... it scares me."
"You're afraid that one day he could accidentally hit you like Roy accidentally hit Donna." Terry inferred. "I attribute that to half his DNA coming from Luthor, who we've already decided is the most evil man on the planet. Thankfully, Conner has Clark's heart and maybe his mind."
"Superman did win half a dozen Nobel Peace Prizes after all." M'gann reflected. "But he politely rejected them all."
"He unified Korea, virtually brought an end to terrorism, and even reforested Africa." Terry stated.
Terry was impressed at how Clark, despite the many traumas in the alternate future, never went bad, which might have restored his faith in humanity.
Watchtower, Orbit; March 21, 2027 17:45
Finally, Bruce had found a more optimistic audio recording from the alternate timeline: he and Wally discussing whether or not Linda could stay on the Watchtower.
"Bruce, you've got a second?" Flash asked.
"If it's about the fact that Barry's gone, I'm sorry about that." Bruce responded. "But I feel like it's something else."
"Yes, it is." Wally answered. "Many of the Justice League are being hunted down, and I'm worried that the death warrant might be extended to their families."
"Iris and her son are already in hiding." Bruce assured.
"Thanks again for that, but that's not who I'm worried about right now." Wally said. "Linda's in danger. She needs to stay on the Watchtower."
"Your girlfriend can just be relocated with your aunt, so why on the Watchtower?" Bruce inquired.
"She's carrying my kids." Wally finally answered. "I'm not taking any chance of a miscarriage because of an assassination attempt. She'll be safe with the other heroes on station."
"A few women I were unable to save in Gotham had died while pregnant." Bruce said, sympathetic of the circumstances. "I'll arrange for her to be transported here, but do not engage in any fornicating while on the Watchtower."
"Thanks, Bruce." Wally appreciated. "I'm not planning on working on any more babies until our twins enter the world."
"She'll stay until we're certain that Luthor has been taken down." Bruce promised. "Afterward, I expect you to raise your new family right."
"Sure thing, Bruce." Wally assured him. "I'm going to treat Linda right."
Bruce smiled in fondness for Wally. Checking the date of the recording, which read "August 16 2027", Bruce determined that Miss Park had been pregnant since February, as D.I. later reported that he didn't see the couple using a condom while engaging in "soap play".
By this time, the majority of the Leaguers were going home, or at least back to Earth. Tomorrow, they would be planning a mission to LexCorp, and ensure that Conner Kent would not be captured.
I know that I've already took a break from writing, but I think I won't return to a schedule anytime soon. Thanks to DC Watchergirl for Beta Testing.