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So Elseworlds is over. I find it annoying that they nerf Superman to make Supergirl shine. And it sucks that Earth-90 Flash barely got any screen-time when half of the hype was due to him. But it was still good. Deegan was like Injustice Superman and I enjoyed his fight with Superman. And I guess Superman's vision of Barry and Kara dying while using the book was a reference to their deaths in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths.' Oliver confronting the Monitor was an epic moment. I also loved the Superman/Lois stuff and Brainy fighting Amazo. The Psycho Pirate cameo was awesome. So if 'Crisis on Infinite Earths' actually will be the crossover next year, I'm excited.
Chapter 9- Stories of war
Star City, Earth-X
Logan, Leo and the man with pink triangle whose name was Ray led the heroes into the base. As they looked around, Oliver, Roy, Laurel, Sara, John and Barry realized it was the Earth-X version of the bunker.
"I guess we're in Earth-X's Star City", Oliver said.
"That too in the bunker", Laurel said and Oliver nodded.
"I have to say, that's one hell of a story", Ray said, awed by the heroes.
"I would call bullshit if I hadn't already seen weird stuff around", Logan said.
"You're a speedster", Ray said to Barry.
"Yeah", Barry said.
"Okay, you two turn into the burning man", Ray said to Jax and Stein.
"Yup", Jax said.
"And you can scream loudly", he said to Laurel.
"Uh-huh", she said.
"And you're the good doppelganger of one of their top assassins- the Dark Arrow", Ray said to Oliver.
"You can call us good", Sara quipped.
"You still haven't told us which Earth you're from", Leo said to her, "Clearly, it's not this one."
"We're from Earth-1", Barry said as counting out Alex and Laurel, they all were.
"Earth-1?" Leo said in surprise before turning to Ray, "Well golly."
"That's an odd coincidence", Logan said with a smirk.
"Am I missing something here?" Jax asked the three.
"I'm from Earth-1 too", Ray revealed to everyone's shock.
"If you're from our Earth, then you know how we got here, don't you?" Barry asked, getting back on the point.
"Yeah, I have a pretty good idea", Ray said.
He picked up a small tablet and showed them the schematic of a device, "I think you guys came through this."
"A temporal gateway?" Barry asked just to be sure.
"Same physics as a breach", Stein explained to him, "Just more stable and larger."
"Yeah, much larger", Barry said.
"So we have a way to get back", Alex said, sounding hopeful.
"Finally some good news", Roy said.
"Don't jinx it", John warned him.
"You believe in jinxes? That's some of the worst bullshit ever", Logan said to John.
"So where is this thing?" Oliver asked them.
"It's actually not too far from here", Leo said.
"22.3 kilometers, to be exact", Ray said.
"You wanna drive there or what?" Logan asked Ray.
"Good", Oliver said, "So take us to it."
"Can't do that", Ray said with a sad sigh.
"Why?" Sara asked.
"Because the gateway's in a facility guarded by a not-so-small army of bastards", Logan said, "And it's a suicide mission even for me."
Jax said, "Yeah, well, we've faced worse, so-"
"Look, it's our only way home", Barry said, "We're going through it."
"Nobody's going through anything", a voice that sounded young yet old spoke up from behind them.
They turned to see a man of 5 feet and 10 inches walk towards them. His facial features resembled Barry's to an extent.
"Because we're blowing it the hell up", the man said to them.
"Who are you?" Oliver asked.
"He is Freedom Fighter General Parker", Leo said as he walked up next to General Parker.
"General Parker?" Oliver asked as he remembered something Matt had once told him, "Parker? As in Peter Parker?"
"Yeah, that's me", Peter said, "And who are you?"
"New friends from Earth-1", Leo told him.
"They're on our side", Ray said.
"Except for the part where you guys want to blow up our only way home", Jax said.
"If you've been listening, we don't exactly want to", Logan said.
"Everyone we care about is on the other side of that gateway, imprisoned by Hydra", Barry said.
"And they want to cut open my sister", Alex added.
"So please, let us go", Roy pleaded.
"We have to get back", John said in an urgent tone.
"Eliminate that facility, and you eliminate our only chance of saving our friends from your enemies", Stein said.
"I'm sorry, but we've been waiting for an opportunity like this for years", Peter said, "We cannot wait any longer. This is our only chance to separate that bastard Emperor from his army. We need to turn this war around and win it."
"You are gonna leave our Earth at the mercy of the seven psychopaths who have ravaged yours", Oliver pointed out in an angry tone.
"Wait, why does this man look exactly like one of the assassins that works for the Emperor I am trying to kill?" Peter asked as he eyed Oliver angrily.
"Look, tough guy, all we are asking is for a little bit of time", Sara said, "Let us get into the facility and through that gateway."
"The gateway is guarded by 30 Panzer Xils, 50 Sturmtigers, and 100 Schutzstaffel officers", Leo revealed, "Not the best odds, maybe."
"Like I said, suicide mission", Logan said.
"I'll take them", Alex said.
"No, you won't", Peter said, "We are blowing up that gateway to kingdom come right now. The Emperor needs to be punished for his sins. Final order."
He then walked past them all.
"Sorry he's a little rough around the edges", Leo said, "But he is the general, and he's issued his commands."
Barry then started walking in Peter's direction.
"Hey, hey, hey", Logan said, "You need to be really drunk to think you can change his mind."
"You won't change his mind", Ray said, "No one does."
"Let him go", Oliver said, "He's good at reaching through to some people. Actually, I am coming too."
Barry nodded at Oliver in thanks as Leo said, "Okay. Try."
The two then went up to Peter after nodding at Leo in thanks.
"You don't seem to know how to take an order", Peter said to them.
"That's because I'm used to giving them", Oliver said.
"Please, don't do this, Peter", Barry pleaded.
"General Parker", Peter said angrily, "Look, I don't know who the hell you think you are, but this planet has been at war for generations. The Empire has taken away everything from me! My aunt, who was my only family, almost all of my friends and the woman I loved! So don't you talk to me like we are FRIENDS!"
"We're not asking you to surrender", Oliver said, "And I know some things about you from a friend of mine. You help people. You are the friendly neighborhood for everyone. You would never turn your back on anyone who needs help."
"Hey, just-just let us get back home before you destroy that thing", Barry pleaded, "We're just asking for a little time."
"Time is what I can't give you", Peter said before turning to Oliver, "And the person you're talking about is dead now. They have a weapon a doomsday weapon powerful enough to affect other worlds. It has to be eliminated."
"Peter-"
"Please-"
"Look, I am sorry about your friends and about your Earth", Peter said regretfully, "I truly am. But today I have the chance to protect my people, my Earth. If I don't do it, then what does that make me? My decision stands."
Peter walked away, not listening to their calls.
Later- Barry, Oliver, Sara, Laurel, Roy, John, Alex, Jax and Stein found Logan sitting on a chair near a window and smoking. He was now wearing a white shirt, blue jeans and a black leather jacket.
"I get he didn't really hear your pleas", Logan said as he turned to them.
"No", Oliver said as they walked closer to him.
"What happened to us all on this Earth?" Sara asked.
"You lot really have an interesting way to start conversations", Logan said.
"Please tell us", Laurel said.
"I know about the doppelgangers of some of the people here", Oliver said, "And we need to know more about them. Because they're good people on their Earths."
"I'm not really much of a story-teller", Logan said he turned around, "But I've got a lot of free time."
He gestured to some nearby chairs and they sat on them.
"So how much do you already know?" he asked.
"We know up until the part where Howard dies", Barry said.
"Now I haven't experienced these events first hand or anything, except the fact that I fought in the Second World War", Logan revealed to everyone's shock.
"How are you still alive?" John asked.
"My healing factor prevents me from aging", Logan explained, "I fought in the Second World War. I experienced loss first hand. But I wasn't going to give up. So I joined the Resistance. But then Hydra captured me, and then they did experiments on me. They put a metal called adamantium inside me. But they couldn't control me so they just abandoned me in the concentration camp after tying me up with adamantium chains."
"We're sorry to hear that", Barry said.
"I don't want sympathy. I want their blood. But like I said, I'm not the best story-teller", Logan said before he gestured to someone behind them, "So my friend over there will help in the narration as he knows all."
They looked behind to see a pair of green eyes staring at them. It was a kind of android. It stepped out of the shadows and they gasped until it raised its hands, "Relax! I won't hurt you."
"This is Ultron", Logan said, "A sentient robot."
"Well, nice to meet you", John said as he overcame his shock.
"Nice to meet you all too", Ultron said, "So you all want to know what happened on this Earth. Well, Howard and Maria had a son- Anthony Stark, though he goes by Tony. He grew up with children of other members of the board- Oliver, Sara, Laurel, Matt, Tommy and Pepper. Oliver, Matt and Tommy believed in the cause. Tony didn't really believe in it. One day, Matt saved Howard from a passing truck and the chemicals on it struck half of his face, blinding him in the left eye while that side of him got enhanced senses."
"Some things never change", Sara commented.
"Tony Stark was once a good, if irresponsible man", Ultron said.
"He is a bastard", Logan said, "I'm going to cut him open. And that Executioner too."
"There was another group of rebels who are far more brutal than us and they don't care about innocents caught in the crossfire", Ultron said, "They were called 'The Ten Rings.' They kidnapped Tony when he was out on a trip one day and forced him to build a missile for them so they could destroy the Empire. He was wounded in the attack so an arc reactor was created for him to sustain himself. And Tony wasn't going to give up. So he built a suit of armor instead and killed his captors. That incident though, left him scarred and deeply resentful of anything that threatened the Empire."
Everyone was now hearing the story with wide eyes, their interest awoken.
"But his parents were getting old and soft", Ultron said, "And he wanted brutal vengeance from all the enemies of the Empire. So one night, like his father had done to the Red Skull, he blasted his parents into kingdom come with his armor and became the Iron Emperor. He then gathered a board of people loyal to him. It included Sara, Laurel, Pepper, Thomas, Matthew, Overgirl, Captain Hydra and Winter Soldier."
"But Pepper knew the Iron Emperor was a bloody git", Logan piped up, "And so did Sara and Laurel."
"Unfortunately, Jailer Lance one day discovered his daughter Sara liked women too", Ultron revealed, "And she was considered filth by everyone. During that time, Laurel, Pepper and her daughter with the Iron Emperor- Gwen, had secretly started giving supplies to the Freedom Fighters as they knew what the Empire did was wrong. But they were discovered."
Everyone's eyes widened as they knew the tale was about to get dark.
"The Iron Emperor was furious. And then he found out his daughter, Gwen was in a relationship with General Parker", Ultron revealed to everyone's shock as they connected the dots, "Sara and Laurel were skinned alive by Oliver for being filth."
Oliver, Laurel and Sara all widened their eyes in horror on hearing that. Both the Lance sisters grasped Oliver's hands in comfort and he returned it by squeezing them back.
"And then the Iron Emperor killed his wife", Ultron said, "Gwen is dead too, though the execution was never confirmed on record. Very few countries now stand against Hydra- Russia, Wakanda. That's it. And Wakanda's king T'Challa has been giving us supplies while they are preparing for the bigger battle themselves."
"We did steal some suits from that bastard though", Logan said, "One for General Parker and two more for the now deceased Generals Rhodes and Schott."
"Two of ours were planted as spies there too", Ultron said, "But one of them- Rene Ramirez, is confirmed dead after he assassinated Winter Soldier and was caught. The other one is alive though."
"One more thing", Alex said, "Do you have any idea why Overgirl is dying? How did she get so much radiation inside her?"
"That is one of the most horrifying things I have ever experienced", Ultron said, "We found out years ago that we are not alone in this Universe. There were more powerful beings out there. More powerful realms. One of them was Asgard- home of the Gods whom Hydra worshipped. But their ruler- Loki, who had deposed his father, Odin, and his brother, Thor, wasn't interested in blessing them. He was interested in conquering Earth."
As everyone listened, Ultron said, "So he attacked Earth with his forces. The Empire fought back. But the Asgardians were too powerful. Even Overgirl and the Iron Emperor himself couldn't face them all. So Overgirl flew into the sun and took all of its power. And then she rained fire on the Asgardian forces. With her newly acquired powers and the Iron Emperor's tech, they took down even Loki. But that amount of solar radiation that she absorbed is what's killing her now."
"What about you?" Oliver asked, "How did you come to be?"
"I was actually a product of the Iron Emperor", Ultron revealed to their shock, "He was modelling me in his image so I could destroy the remainder of the Resistance. But the Freedom Fighters attacked the facility where I was being made and put a chip in me that turned me to their side. So now I fight for freedom."
Everyone just nodded, absorbing the horrifying tales of this Universe they had been told.
That moment, Leo and Ray walked in.
"We talked to the General", Ray said, "And after a lot of arguing, he agreed."
"So we're gonna help you out", Leo said.
"Certainty of death. Small chance of success", Logan said as he smoked, "What are we waiting for?"
I hope you liked this chapter and everything I explained in this. The Peter Parker of Earth-X is actually the Andrew Garfield version as Tom Holland doesn't look like he can be that tough. And Gwen Stacy is Gwen Stark in this Universe.
I would've loved to explain some of the DC doppelgangers too but Stand with Ward and Queen has already done that in 'United we stand' very well and I don't want to copy anything more.
Ultron of Earth-X is sort of like Vision. But he is not as powerful as MCU Ultron. Though he is still going to be a force to be reckoned with.
The Asgardians vs. Kryptonians debate is something I don't want to get into. But Thor and Odin are powerhouses while Loki mostly wins his battles using trickery and deceit. That's probably how he deposed Thor and Odin. But trickery and deceit won't be enough to win an all out war against the likes of the Iron Emperor and a fully powered Overgirl with the sun's radiation.
Please review. I always appreciate your feedback.