ONE DAY FROM NOW…

*Fortress of Solitude*

10:43 GMT 17th of September 2013

"Everyone gather around please, we need to talk." Spoke Superman. Voice heavy, but ultimately controlled and rock steady.

The massive mess of conversations within the Fortress died at once, all eager to hear from the Man of Steel as to what their plan of battle was.

Almost every vigilante and hero who had formally declared their opposition against Batman stood looking towards The Kryptonian and the Amazon as they stood side by side to the statue pillars where they now overlooking all other heroes who paid attention: Green and Red Arrow, Black Lighting, Hal Jordan, Hawkgirl, Miss Martian, Shazam, Vixen, The Atom, Batwoman, Donna Troy and Beast Boy.

Aquaman was also there, and he did not hide his glare from the two. His dissatisfaction with the direction of the group had been clear for some time.

Superman continued, "We have tried to end this takeover by Batman via every peaceful method we could." He sighed "But we have come to a point where we must act now, or forever look back in shame as democracy came to an end."

Diana's expression was grim but also determined, "Make no mistake, none of us could ever have dreamed it would come to this, nor do any of us wish it had to be this way. Batman is… was my best friend. But I cannot allow that to stop me."

Clarke continued, "We must finally do what we should have done at the very beginning: we will arrest Batman and have him brought to trial for his crimes." He sighed, "Whats more, we've recently been informed that-"

Superman suddenly went silent and his advanced hearing ensured that there was time to yell out a warning to everyone.

"Get down!" he screamed as the explosion ripped off a large chunk of the frozen roof.

The heroes all looked up to where the explosion had gone, the sun illuminating through the hole.

It was Batman, he looked angry, almost as he did when he had killed Luthor, and he had not come alone.

Nightwing, Robin, Starfire, Captain Atom, Green Lantern, Raven, Cyborg, all of The Birds of Prey.

To his own despair, Power Girl was also here. As was Martian Manhunter and Hawkman, who had been freed from their confines.

Bruce seemed to have brought his full strength. Besides a few faces who seemed to be missing.

"Where are you, Tim?"

Spoiler was not among the faces either.

They all flanked Bruce, who simply glared down at them from above with his arms folded.

"Superman, I'm disappointed. I've given you chance after chance to adapt, but now you stand there, plotting to take me out and hurting my family! "

Superman did not have a chance to ask Batman what he was talking about before being cut off.

"But that won't happen, you'll be confined in a Kryptonite cell for as long as it takes for you to finally understand why this is necessary, however long it takes."

He looked around towards the others, especially Wonder Woman.

"As for the rest of you, Diana, come quietly and you won't get hurt."

Nobody below moved an inch aside to take out their weapons and form a defensive line.

Green Arrow spoke up, "Sorry pointy ears, I'd rather fight crime than become some jerky emo dictator."

His eyes went to Black Canary who was standing right next to Batman. They went from playful to sad instantly.

"I'm sorry it came to this, Pretty Bird

"As am I." she stiffly responded.

"Niece…" called out J'onzz, looking directly towards his adopted family member from among the crowd. She did not respond, only with a glare.

He floated down, carefully walking to M''gann, arms raised, "Why do you fight against this? Batman fights only to preserve life. Your assistance to Superman and Wonder Woman only undermines this." He gave a death glare towards Superman and Wonder Woman, eyes glowing a blood red "You used her, you put her at risk. That is something I cannot forgive."

With hurt in her eyes, Miss Martian responded, "No Uncle, I chose to oppose you, I came to Superman to offer my help willingly, not the other way around. Batman is wrong, I thought you, more than anyone would have seen it. I cannot believe you could ever stand with him."
Seemingly taken aback himself, J'onn shock his head, "You are mistaken, young one. I know it seems uncomfortable. But these last few months have confirmed that the world needs a stronger hand, a stronger League, if it is to rise to its true potential."

"That's the same excuse the White Martians used when they seized power! I've seen the people Uncle, they're scared of us!"

From afar, Superman could see the tears in M'gann's eyes, there was a hurt and betrayal that appeared indescribable. To have the man she had so admired and moulded herself on to fall so far as the enforcer of a tyrant.

Only after that moment was Miss Martian able to regain her composure, taking a breath and putting on a neutral expression, she looked dead eyed at the last Green Martian.

"I'm so disappointed in you, J'onn. You'll always be my family, but I now, I will stop you."

J'onn looked destroyed… but he held out his hand.

"M'gann… please" he begged "I have no wish to fight you, Niece."

"Neither do I." she solemnly responded.

"I feared as much" came the voice of the Batman. He took time to look over all of them, as if for the last time.

A fellow comrade, a co-worker, a hero. A Dark Knight.

A friend.

No more

"Take them down." He ordered.


12 hours before

The Watchtower

Tim Drake walked fast and without looking over his shoulder, heart pounding and blood pumping like it never had before.

He had to get off this station now. His only route was via the teleportation device in the Tower's ship docks.

Batman was never going to just let him leave, at best, this was simply a head start. He needed to get to Superman as soon as he could. Before Batman learned of what he now possessed.

He turned corner after corner, empty.

"Good" He thought to himself, "Nobody to stop me so far."

Bruce's words still echoed in his head, "If you ever try to hinder me, I will have you arrested."

He clenched his fist and swallowed hard at what had occurred just minutes ago:

His mentor, his teacher… his father, had declared him an enemy for refusing to go along with his insanity. This man wasn't Batman, he wasn't Bruce Wayne… not anymore.

This been Lex Luthor's true goal all along, he now realised in hindsight.

Gotham's destruction and even his own death had been nothing more than a sideshow. It was the death of everything Batman had ever stood for and represented that he wanted, to prove even the greatest man could be reduced to nothing more than a vessel of hate… and he had been proven right.

"Tim!" a voice called out. One he knew too well.

He looked behind him to see Stephanie Brown, AKA Spoiler running towards him. She was not wearing her mask. But her purple cape flickered as she ran to him.

"That's cruel, Bruce. Send one of my best friends to take me down? Even for you, that's harsh."

As he got into a familiar fighting stance, she raised her hands as if to not appear as a threat

"Wait! I'm not here to fight, I- I want to come with you."

Tim raised an eyebrow, not letting his guard down. But he could not help himself but feel a sting of curiosity, could this have been a trick… or was Steph being genuine?

"Okay…" was his only response. The mood between them awkward and he was beginning to feel like an idiot now.

"I –"she stumbled, "I kind of eavesdropped on your conversation with Bruce and Dick." She awkwardly shuffled on one foot to the other, "I want to come with you, Tim. Batman has gone too far, and I can't be part of this anymore either the same as you."

Damn it he thought to himself. What should he do? true, the answer appeared obvious. Steph was one of his best friends, a fellow member of their crew… but could he trust her? He had once thought he could trust Batman and Nightwing without any hesitation, two of the best and most incorruptible men he knew.

Barbara too he remembered wearily. He would have liked nothing better than to go and get her. In his heart, he wanted to save her… but his head knew she would not agree, he could not convince her now, at least not now he told himself.

Still in his stance, he examined Spoiler, her expression one of anxiety, probably the kind as his own.

"I'm going to Superman and Wonder Woman. It means that if you come, we'll be fighting our friends. Are you sure you want this?"

"Yes" was her only answer. Her voice was hard, her expression under the hood as solid as stone.

"Okay then." He lowered his own stance, "lets get out of here."

They ran hard to the camera, eager to avoid anyone else. The hanger was close by, but Tim felt watched. No doubt Bruce was watching their every movement as they went. Tim briefly wondered just how his former mentor had truly taken his declaration.

Nobody hid their true emotions like Batman could. There was still a small part of him that wanted to remain with Batman, still wanted to try to steer on back on a better path. It was foolish, futile. It would be easier to rebuild all of Gotham alone with his bare hands in a year than to ever convince Bruce away from a bad choice he stubbornly believed. An even smaller part wanted to remain at his mentor's side no matter what. But he shut that off very quickly.

There was the hanger he thought, just ahead of them.

Just as the automatic doors opened, he heard an audible thud on the metal floor.

It was Power Girl.

She looked to have been in one hell of a fight very recently, her nose, bottom of her face and parts of her white costume were soaked in a bloody crimson.

The teleportation gate was just behind her.

Oh no… he thought to himself.

"Hey, you two, is Batman around? I need to speak to him now."

He did his best to remain calm, Batman had shown him one of the most difficult techniques he had ever had to learn.

Slowing his own heartbeat to a avoid the detection of panic, that even the senses of a Kryptonian could not pick it up.

Batman had utilised the trick many times in the past, especially in instances he and Superman had disagreed on plans, and it had only recently begun teaching a few months before Gotham.

Now, this was the first time he would use the trick in the field, and in front of a Kryptonian at that.

"Yeah, he's here… we're off to cover a patrol…" he tried to say as causally as possible.

Please work, he thought to himself. Outside of practice, he had never deployed it in the field until this moment. Robin would've preferred a much calmer and easier situation, but instead, he was faced now with a bloodied Kryptonian.

Karen said nothing but only gave what appeared to be a confused nod…

"Fair enough, I'll catch up with you later, you won't believe it though, Miss Martian was Hawkman this whole time." her face turned angrier "Superman was playing us. Katar and Jon are still being held"

Shit

Megan was compromised, their last path to a non-violent end to this crisis was gone. Now it was certain to be war.

And soon the others would know that as a spy, he would have been aware the whole time.

A traitor.

His eyes flickered to Steph who seemed to be in a state mix of fake and genuine shock. Playing it up sure, but it was still news to her as it would be for the others when they were informed.

"Unbelievable." Was Stephanie's only response. Short and simple.

Karen nodded. "Catch you around. If we move quickly, we can go in with an advantage."

Yes, just in time, thought Tim. They'd be gone by the time it would take Power Girl to report her discovery to Batman, just as it would take him to regroup with both Superman and Wonder Woman who would no doubt be preparing a counterattack.

"Just one thing, Stephanie." came Karen's stood frozen, "Why is your heart beating so loud?"

He had neglected to remember he had someone else with him. As far as Tim knew, Spoiler did not possess the same training as he had been given. No wonder Power Girl had been able to pick her out.

He looked into Steph's eyes, she muttered a sorry under her breath.

Before either could respond. The iron doors opened once again, this time, they revealed Damian, Cassandra Cain, Dick, Starfire and Black Canary.

Batman's voice came on the intercom.

"I've changed my mind Tim, its better to keep you from making a terrible mistake." There was a moment of silence, "And you, Stephanie." Batman's tone of betrayal was clear for any to hear, "I'm disappointed in you as well."

Nightwing had his sticks out, fully electrified, one pointing towards them, "Come on you too. No getting out of this."

"Sorry, brother. Can't that do." he threw a grenade that released a green gas into the air.

The others began coughing, almost brought to their knees as Tim and Stephanie made a break for the nearest ship.

The ships doors opened, and they both ran in as two red beams pierced through the cloud of Smokey gas, hitting the doors they snapped shut just before they could hit either Tim or Stephanie. Tim dashed to the command centre and set coordinates for anywhere else but here.

"What was that? "Asked Spoiler, who was quickly strapping herself in just as he was.

"A gas grenade, mixed with Kryptonite. Figured it would come in handy.

They blasted away out of the Watchtower without looking back.


*Hal Jordan and Carol Ferris Apartment*

*Coast City, California, USA*

10:02 GMT

17th of September 2013

"Superman is calling us over to the Fortress of Solitude." Said Hal Jordan, the premier Green Lantern of Earth.

"So, this is it?" Carol asked, leaning back against the apartment wall. She could not hide the look on her faith, wrecked with concern as much as she tried to hide it. "You take him down for real now?"

"Yeah," sighed the Lantern, "I'm afraid it's come to that. No more options are on the table. I hope it doesn't end bloody."

"You know I have faith in you right," she grabbed his ringed hand, "And this too, not just the power, but what it stands for."

That got a smile from him, "I know I can always have your assurance, Carol. I'll see you later."

They kissed before he flew out of the window.

"I'm sure he'll be okay." came a woman's voice from behind her.

Her appearance was different. Gone were the suit dresses she was famed for as Luthor's famed assistant and now she wore regular clothes. Today was a simple white T-shirt and dark jogging pants, with white sneakers she had borrowed from Carol herself.

Her formerly long red hair was now a boyish short trim.

Carol only glared. Her unhappiness of having to shelter the fugitive had not died down.

"I didn't ask you for comfort." She coldly rebuffed, "You're the reason for all this, besides your dead boss."

Mercy made no attempt to argue, the defeated look she had whenever her sin was brought up was on again, "I know."

When this scene had played out for the past previous weeks. It would usually end there, with Carol walking away. Not wanting to socialise with this murderer who they were forced to shelter.

For some reason though today, she did not wish to let it go, she decided she needed some more answers as Mercy looked to walk away, likely to the spare room where she now spent most of her time.

"Why did you help him?"

Mercy stood frozen by the entranceway.

"He was my boss." She replied stiffly.

"Bullshit!" anger filled Carol, who had never been one for excuses.

Excuses to her were unacceptable.

They had been as far back when she was a small girl, where her father did everything, he could to try to prevent her from inheriting the ownership of their family's business.

This is not for you, Carol. Were her father's words when she had first told him, excitedly when she was only twelve that she wanted to do what he did.

This business is a man's business. You're better off doing something else. I'm telling you now. I won't allow you to do it. Bury it now and move on.

It was out of an unhealthy mixture of desire to prove him wrong and to earn his praise and pure spite that had led her to scratch and claw her way to where she was now. The CEO of Ferris Aircraft.

How could she possibly excuse being Luthor's henchbitch for all those years?

"I understand why you say that" answered the young woman, "He was a monster. I know its difficult to believe, but of me is happier more than anyone that he's dead."

Carol raised an eyebrow, "Really? He was your employer and your beloved boss. I'm sure you wont think that way when the last Paycheck dries up."

For the first time in their frosty living situation, Mercy bit back. Visible anger in her features.

"Its not like that. It never was."

"Well maybe you should tell. Three million people won't be able to."

"You don't think I know that!"

Now there were tears running down Mercy's face. The stone-faced former enforcer of Lex Luthor never showed emotion, much less this.

She collapsed down against the white wall.

"He was all I ever had. Since I was seven years old. I never knew who my actual Dad was... Probably one of the dozen guys my mom saw a day. Anything for a fix, right? I was lucky if I had a meal once ever couple of days, if I could get Mom to remember on the rare days she wasn't out of it, I was a skinny thing. Of course, they took me out of there, and the orphanage. Got moved around a lot, the years… they're still hazy. I think I blocked a large part of that period out of my mind. Gotham, Boston, New York… can't even remember all of them. That was before I ended up in Metropolis. You had to fight just to survive, didn't matter if you were younger or older.

It carried onto everyday life too. I must have been expelled from eight different schools in just two years. I was twelve when they were about to just kick me out of the home…"

Her face seemed blank, as if paralysed.

"Mercy?" That might have been the first time Carol referred to her by her name. "Luthor?"

The bodyguard only nodded her head, "Yeah… he came by one day, looking to adopt. Of course, he wanted a malleable bodyguard, not a child."

She gave a light laugh, but it was not a happy one. An undercurrent of bitterness, hollowness, rang out.

"Me meeting him wasn't like you would think. I was fighting in the hallways. A girl called Heather, she bigger than me, meaner too; but she stole some money from me. It was all I had for the next couple of weeks to eat. I took her to the ground, bit right into her cheek. Can you imagine? This skinny brown-haired girl, clothes too small for her, blood in my mouth, straddling this big screaming girl… he immediately said he'd have me."

"So, he took you in and raised you, that's why you were so loyal?"

"I guess so… I mean, he was the first person who ever treated me with any kindness. He took me with him that day. This was Lex Luthor after all, so the usual paperwork and waiting time was not a problem. Bought me Pizza, fudge cake… he bought me new clothes, I binged through his movie collection in his private theatre room. I had a soft silk bed, and a warm shower for the first time since I could remember…"

There was a moment of utter silence between the two.

"That was before he then packed me off to some remote training centre, basically assassin school, no warning. I screamed for him to help me as they dragged me out of the doorway, but he just stood there and told me to not complain. They knocked me out and next thing I knew I was on a plane to God knows where. Lex wanted only the best; you see. And those fucking places… they made the cold, locust filled hallways, and the other kids who'd stab you for your lunch look good.

I knew how to get and take a hit, hell, more than that, at least that's what I thought…if I wasn't fast enough, I'd get lashed. If I didn't hit hard enough, I'd get the skin torn from my fingers and knuckles with rusty pliers. If I hesitated in the kill, I'd be thrown into a concrete cell at 80 degrees, isolated for ten days, no food or water. Lex would come by, he another saw it all. By the time I left, I could shoot any weapon, knew every martial art, could drive any vehicle. Plan and escape any operation, memorise any numbers, knew exactly how someone smelled and kill anyone without a moment's hesitation. And I prized being loyal to my boss at all costs. Everything Lex wanted from me. But even Lex knew that taking and turning a kid into an assassin was bad, to the public and even by most of the other bad guy's standards. So he cooked up that story of me being a former professional thief who tried to rob from him, and that being how I met him and got the job."

Mercy clenched her hands, digging in so much, Carol was sure she'd draw blood.

For the first time, Carol was speechless.

"He took everything from me in time. And I mean… everything, nothing was off limits, I was his possession… he… I was fourteen the first time. it went on for years after that."

"Oh my God." Was Carol's only reply. Disgust and shock emanating.

The tears kept running down Mercy's cheeks. Carol had never seen such a broken woman.

"I knew he was evil. What he did… but I helped him do, the things I went along with willingly. I could've run… but I didn't. Every time he used me, every time I got arrested for helping him… he was all I had."

"I never knew the whole plan. Lex never told me, and I didn't think to ask. If he ever needed me or I was essential, he would always tell me. I thought the plan was to hold Gotham hostage, humiliate the Bat, lead him and his team on a wild goose chase for a non-existent nuclear bomb before showing who he was to the world. Destroy his reputation. Revenge for stealing his company… I… I never knew she was pregnant. It was me who struck the blow that knocked her out. I went in the backway while Luthor killed the Butler-"she hesitated, "Alfred at the front door... when he told me we would take her down to the Batcave, and wire a nuke to her heartbeat, that was the first time I ever hesitated before we began the operation, and he had to tell me twice. But I still did it. We only just finished when Batman arrived…"

Another silence overcame the two. This one felt like it lasted an eternity.

"But you're right, it's no excuse. I've reminded myself every day what I helped him do, always will. The millions of people whose lives were stolen. Millions more wrecked, I still see their faces. I don't deserve forgiveness, I'm a monster like he was… and I always will be."

"Why didn't you ever tell this to Superman?" asked Carol.

Mercy only chuckled bitterly, "I doubt Superman would ever care to hear my stupid sob story. Hell, you're the first person I've told this to."

"I've probably contemplated walking out into the open and letting Batman or his people do what they will a hundred times by now. I still might."

"Try it and I'll physically restrain you if I have to."

"Think you could really stop me if I wanted to?" Mercy shot back.

"Probably not… but for Batman's own sake, I won't allow him to make another mistake if it can be avoided… and I won't allow you to make a mistake either."

Carol gave her a defiant, almost daring look. The broke, tear-streaked woman looked more defeated than at any point in the years she had been caught along with Luthor by Superman.

"Maybe you are a monster, Mercy, and those people, those victims and relatives have every right to hate you for the rest of their lives, but you don't get off that easy… and whether you or they know it, you're still a victim too, and a life. And all live is worth saving."


"It's a good thing we got out." Said Red Robin. The ship now on autopilot, the course set for the Fortress of Solitude."

"I'll say." Steph responded; her face no longer covered with her mask. Her golden blonde hair was messy and tumbled down her back and the seat. Feet up on the deck. "Thought I was going to have a heart attack."

Spoiler looked to Tim in concern, "Why was Batman so eager to stop you all of a sudden? its not like him to just change his mind like that."

Tim's face went solemn. He retrieved a cryptographic sequencer from his pouch.

"Batman isn't looking to just monitor the world anymore. He's looking to fully control everything."
He took out the data chip and plugged it into the terminal computer.

"This is what Wayne Industries has been working on. Its been top secret for months, but I managed to get a full list."

On the screen came images of what looked to be advanced weaponry came on screen: tanks, aircraft, secretly trained armies, exo-suits for soldiers to get abnormal strength… new designs for battle drones to monitor and terminate, literal humanoid robots to act as foot soldiers.

The most insane part was this "Super Pill" Batman was personally overseeing the development of. It would give those who took them near-Kryptonian level strength for a short-time.

A way to gain an edge over the dissenting heroes he had realised, who were mainly the ones with the super-human powers. Batman only having a handful to call upon.

He was recruiting and training soldiers – millions - in secret across the world in Wayne Conglomerate Facilities. Many were true believers in Batman and his new methods, desiring to help him achieve a better world by force, others were simple Mercenaries looking to get paid.

Unsurprisingly, Steph was in shock "Jesus… do you think anyone else knows about it?"

"I don't know. Knowing Bruce, nobody… we still have time to stop him. if we can-"

The ship rocked hard, making them both fall down from their seats.

They were under attack.

Steph went to see who was on their tail.

"We're screwed… Starfire and Captain Atom."

Starfire shot a bolt and now the engine was aflame.

"Come on out you traitors!" cried Atom.

She landed on the side of the wing and began pulling the aircraft down to the ground.

"Sorry about this, Star!" Red Robin said solomly as he pressed a button which unleashed a near inhuman level of electrified voltage on the ship's surface.

Starfire yelled out in pain as she was blown back.

"We're still functioning." Said Steph, hurriedly attempting to stabilize the ship from going down.

On the other side, Starfire recovered as Captain Atom came up to her.

She gritted her teeth as she eyed the ship.

"You alright?" He asked in concern.

"Yes. We cannot let them get away with that data." She looked into his eyes, "No matter what."

Before Atom could respond. Starfire had sent a massive beam into the ship, crippling it further. Unlike her normal firepower though, this was unrestrained and designed to burn up and destroy. He could hardly believe it.

"Wait, what about Tim and Stephanie?"

Kori did not even turn around to address him as she went for another blast.

"They made their choices."

The next blast absolutely obliterated the aircraft into a massive explosion.

"You… you killed them." Atom said with disbelief.

"We had no alternative, Nathaniel." Starfire insisted.

A voice came from their earpieces.

"Starfire, Captain. Do you have Red Robin and Spoiler?"

Atom had no chance to answer before Starfire cut him off.

"Batman, I… I'm sorry. We tried to take them. But the ship was destroyed. We tried to rescue them… but we were too late."

There was only silence on the other end. But Atom could sense the feeling of loss.

"… They were my son and daughter. Tim… if only he had seen the truth."

"Batman… it was Superman who manipulated Tim. He must be stopped." Said Starfire. Captain Atom opened his mouth to say something but did not.

Bruce's mood changed almost instantly.

"Superman… he's gone too far. Meet us on the way to the Fortress of Solitude, Superman and his followers are there." These were not requests, they were orders to be obeyed.

"We end this once and for all." Were his final words.