12

Downtown Metropolis, triangulated between The Daily Planet, Galaxy Broadcasting, and Mercy Corp, the Dark Side Club rose as a sleek, modern edifice with a throwback to futurism, art deco flair. Darkseid had erected the monument to serve as Luthor's future palace. But for now it served as the last fortress of the newly resurrected Legion of Doom.

Besides a few core members from the old Legion, the membership was entirely filled with new faces. Many of whom were only infamous in their own minds. Grodd's Secret Society and the subsequent destruction of the original Legion had depleted the well of truly competent super villains. Some of whom had merely disappeared rather than be killed.

Luthor divided up the Legion along two lines. The first was a cabal of scientific and technical advisors. These men and women would build Luthor's kingdom. The second was the tactical cadre. These were the door kickers who'd inflict terror upon the world. Everyone would rush into Luthor's fist to earn safety and security.

The technical group included one of Luthor's former rival industrialists, Arvell Hauser. Hauser Industries was one the nation's leading weapons manufacturers. Hauser had quickly filled the void Wayne Enterprises had left when Bruce Wayne assumed his Board position and utilized his majority shares to force the company out of arms production. Thus paving the way for second tier companies like Hauser Industries and Caldwell Arms the opportunity to rise to the top of the dung pile. And much to everyone's relief Wayne-Powers Technologies had no interest in chasing abandoned markets.

Candace Zither ran the Zither Group. Zither was a security consultant. Which basically meant she operated a mercenary contracting company. Lloyd's of London was one of her major contractors. She'd practically cornered the insurance market. With the disappearances of Mr. Thunder and the Monitor, Zither's major competition in global contracting was the mysterious Meridian. Once Luthor dismantled the United Nation's security forces, Zither would supply all of the UN's peacekeeping needs.

Ultra-Humanite, Dr. Sivana, and Mr. Mind remained as Luthor's valued brain trust. Joining Sivana were his children, Thaddeus Jr. and Georgia. Prof. Anthony Ivo had proven himself. Blackstarr had also proven her loyalty during the recent crisis. A new technical expert had been to the folded. He called himself the Thinker and he was a traditional foe of Firestorm and Firehawk.

Luthor called the council of advisors together and convened their inaugural meeting. Thinker was the first to speak, "I think an accommodation with Saturn Queen can be reached."

"Do tell," Luthor seemed amused.

"There's always room at the top," Thinker opined.

"Saturn Queen would disagree and I do as well," Luthor coldly replied, "And everyone at this table has proven themselves…except you. So why would I listen to you?"

"I…" Thinker began his protestations.

"Shut up, boy. You'll live longer," Ivo counseled simply because he was tired of listening to Thinker.

"He's right," Luthor wore a smug smile, "Have no illusions that this is a democracy. You are advisors simply because you might, almost inconceivably, have an idea regarding a given topic that I haven't already considered."

"A competitor named the Global Concern hires out henchmen and woman as well as superhuman operatives," Zither pointed out, "I could approach its director and arrange for them to eliminate their contracting employers upon command."

"The bulk of the crème de le crème of villainy has been killed. But our frequent nemeses have also suffered significant losses as well. Which means we can proceed accordingly knowing the diminished quality of our operatives is paired by the losses inflicted upon our enemies."

"That may be true but we must still be cautious," Hauser interrupted, "Our plans are only as good as our tools."

Hauser appeared to be in his seventies but he was really much older. He'd been a weapons developer for the Kaiser. He'd gone out to test artillery shells when an enemy bombardment shattered the class capsules within shells that housed various chemical weapons. The same mix that killed everyone else in the area hit an extraordinary ratio that slowed his aging process down even as it increased his immunological factors and regenerative capacities.

The Kaiser pressed Hauser to deduce and replicate the mixture for the Imperial line. But the process of torturing and killing German soldiers in the most horrific ways sickened him. Once the Armistice was signed, Hauser immigrated to England. After the worldwide Great Depression began, Hauser travelled to America with the money and gold he'd earned as a weapons developer for the British. And he quickly founded an arms company. The same company that brought him to Luthor's periphery when Luthor had been a corporate giant.

"Agreed," Luthor conceded, "Sivana, what is your progress with the Mother Box?"

"Mr. Mind and I have completed our calculations. The equipment we designed will suffice and our volunteers for the process are prepared," Sivana boasted.

"And this imparts Marvel-like abilities to your children?" Luthor wanted guarantees.

"And the process will alter their appearances to their idealized versions of themselves," Sivana promised.

"They could use it," Thinker muttered.

"Heh, heh, heh, heh! I'll tell Georgia you said so," Sivana cackled, "With Shazam only empowering Black Mary, this process will leave the Sivana Family unparalled by any save Superman and Fourth World natives."

"What happens when Saturn Queen learns of the Sivanas' transformations?" Dr. Clarissa Clemens, the silent member in the room asked. Clarissa was Dr. Martin Stein's ex-wife and an expert in genetics, particularly the meta-gene and gen factor activation.

"Ideally, she'll seek them out," Ultra-Humanite replied.

"Dangerous gambit," Mr. Mind's synthetic voice complained.

"I've activated Cluemaster and his original Kings of Catastrophe to eliminate Disco Mummy's replacements," Luthor announced, "And I've duped Disco Mummy and Ruby Ryder into attacking Intergang."

"Your brief indicates the Gang hasn't delivered Intergang into your hands," Zither spoke out.

"But soon Intergang will owe their continued existence to the Legion," Luthor promised.

"Der Fuhrer also had delusions of omnipotence," Blackstarr warned him.

"I'm not Hitler," Luthor succinctly assured her.


Unidentified meta-humans were lending support to local antigovernment forces on the island nation of Corto Maltese. The insurrection had successfully toppled the elected government in two hours time. The country only had one military general and he'd turned a blind eye to events as they unfolded. The four colonels under his command divided their loyalties between El Presidente and the General. Unfortunately for government officials, the loyalists lost their struggle against the General.

The insurrectionist leader had already announced the formation of a provisional government until elections could be reconvened. Elections no one expected to ever happen. The UN Security Council had failed to pass a resolution to send in the Justice League. Russia and China had each used their veto powers to quash the proposal.

China was utterly lacking meta-human agents. Russia had promoted several human gen actives in light of the loss of the Rocket Red Brigade. And both had recognized the provisional government before its existence was even announced. It smacked of collusion but there wasn't any hard evidence. So the Secretary-General decided to send in the JLU without approval.

Steve Trevor described the locations of the nearest active ARGUS units, "We have assets based in Peru, Bolivia, Columbia, Panama and Guatemala. The Mexican navy has also pledged support despite this action having divided the Security Council and the General Assembly."

"The Justice League is being dispatched because foreign meta-humans are involved. The leadership may be native but the insurrection never began until these foreigners arrived," Shayera reported, "All we've heard from the loyalist forces is that the foreign elements are swift and deadly. They'd ruthlessly decimated the loyalist factions of the army before the self appointed leadership seized control of the government."

"And the clock is working against us because of the planned Russian intervention on behalf of the rebels," Shayera warned them.

"This has heightened tensions between UN member nations to an unprecedented scale," Hula Hula observed, "We're looking at a Cuban Missile Crisis on a global scale. Your mission is to stabilize the situation. Your secondary objective is to apprehend the foreign nationals who participated in this coup. Finally, you're paving the way for World Court investigators to determine the legality of the ouster and amass evidence of potential war crimes."

"I'll be feeding live intelligence reports to the Invisible Jet. Similarly, the Invisible Jet will continue to relay that information to each individual while they're deployed," Shayera pledged, "So you won't be blind going into this."

"How can these interlopers have remained unknown thus far?" Barda wanted to know.

"Unless they don't leave witnesses alive to testify as to their identities," Wonder Woman ventured.

"And they know exactly when a satellite is in range to identify them," Hula Hula added, "Even when the satellite has been retasked into a new orbit to do so."

"But discretion hasn't made them any less lethal," Trevor neglected to mention several gen active operatives were missing along with their handler, Ivana Baiul.

Shayera was reaching out to Fairchild, Rainmaker, and the merry band that made up Gen13. The hope was their familiarity and contempt of Ivana's brood would convince them to surrender information. The fear was that they would travel to Corto Maltese and complicate things even further.


On a tarmac in SeaTac Airport, White Rabbit had just brokered a deal for Red Hood and the Outlaws to work for Knightfall. Of course, the team had left on a Queen Consolidated corporate jet two hours before. White Rabbit gave Nyssa Raatko the news and Nyssa informed the Outlaws.

"I think we've both seen who is really in charge of that merry band," White Rabbit remarked over a flute of champagne, "Drat! I still can't get inebriated but I like the bubbles."

"Beryl Hutchinson is no longer Red Robin or the Squire but she has grown rather than be diminished by it," Nyssa remarked.

"Too true," White Rabbit cheerily agreed, "So, who do you see is dominant or submissive in her relationship with Ravager."

"I think they trade off at any given moment," Nyssa observed.

"Like you and Dinah," White Rabbit smirked.

"Is nothing sacred?" Nyssa groaned.

"I pride myself in that what I don't already know I can discover," White Rabbit winked.

"Like that Charise Carnes is the face behind Knightfall's golden mask," Nyssa mentioned.

"Precisely," White Rabbit said sagely, "And Ruby Ryder is getting assistance for her increasingly hostile takeover bid of Carnes Developments."

"Why do you even care?" Nyssa wondered.

"You first," White Rabbit said cagily.

"I like Knightfall's business model as a tool for the League of Assassins to use in the future," Nyssa allowed, "Its viability just needs to be proven."

"Charise Carnes can prove to be the power behind a public throne," White Rabbit replied, "Her father was considered a political kingmaker. Charise can become the real thing."

"I thought you and Jaina wanted to be the women behind a throne," Nyssa dryly remarked.

"We can settle for being the prop behind the woman who props up a visible throne. First we'll start locally, then move regionally, and then expand nationally before going international. There will always be those who resist buying into the program but the hordes of criminals fleeing our cause will flood those countries. And finally they'll come groveling, begging for help," White Rabbit declared with clear vision.

And Nyssa saw it too.


The Court of Owls ordered Katherine Webb-Kane to deploy Batwoman, Talon, and Hawkfire to quell matters in Gotham City. Knightfall was dangerously close to unearthing the Owls' remaining operations in the city. Talon was understandably motivated. Batwoman and Hawkfire accepted the reinterpretation of the real facts as a motivator towards a successful completion. The Court of Owls didn't want the Five Families to fall, for the Syndicate Underground or Intergang to rise ascendant, or for Ruby Ryder to forget her place as Charise Carnes had.

But Black Canary and her lieutenants in the League of Shadows led the League of Assassins in worldwide strikes against the Court of Owls. The only place of safety the Owls found was their central nest in Gotham. And only then because Nyssa had promised Dinah Lance they would be dealt with by forces outside the League. But Black Canary sent in Lady Shiva and Bronze Tiger to specifically target Lincoln March.


The Mighty Crusaders returned to Liberty Station. Once there, Web relentlessly drove a team to track his Web Hosts as they narrowed Brain Emperor's location to Summit, Colorado. Which worried Joe Higgins. His mother worked and resided in Summit. And thanks to the Department of Defense, Joe's identity as the Shield was public knowledge.

Latham assembled the remaining Project CRUCIBLE staffers still with the MLJ. And he ordered them to revive Steel Sterling and Lancelot Strong. The Fly and Fireball were lost causes. And he discovered Lancelot Strong was as well.

But John Sterling's powers had activated by an alien encounter ending a smelting accident. His gen factor was theorized as being capable of converting Steel Sterling's body into organic metal, being both resilient and malleable. But the gen activation process was incomplete.

The CRUCIBLE Project had theorized about completing the gen activation process but no one could agree on whether or not John Sterling would survive. Now it wasn't an issue. So they prepared to proceed.


Horus reveled in the use of his power derived from the Lords of Chaos. It had been a hard sell to persuade Teth-Adam and Adriana Tomaz to take the power of Black Adam and Isis once again. Osiris would be given the choice as a teenager. A side effect was Black Adam, Isis, and Horus no longer had mortal forms unless the Lords of Chaos completely revoked their power.

Black Adam and Isis were under the delusion, provided by the Lords of Chaos' lies, that they were presenting a kinder side of Chaos. In reality they were meant to destabilize regions of national boundaries and borders. Horus had no delusions regarding the nature of his power and why he had it. He just chose to revel in it instead.

Deathstroke had provoked the would-be rebels in Corto Maltese into striking out. Horus enjoyed leading them to their ultimate destruction. Because despite Russia and China's promises, the United Nation would send the Justice League Unlimited. They had no other choice.


Saturn Queen summoned the Other, Ultraman, and Ultragirl. The Other had dispatched Atomica on Saturn Queen's behalf earlier in the morning. This grouping represented the known survivors from Earth-3. But Saturn Queen was about to summon a fourth.

"Atomica is within the Hall of Justice. I need you to retrieve Richard Grayson in Bludhaven where he operates as both Blackwing and Charles Bullock, attorney at law. Atomica will retrieve something for me and Blackwing will serve as her distraction," Saturn Queen announced.

"We don't need Talon's help," Ultraman boasted. Owlman had been partnered with Talon on Earth-3 but Talon had never been a member of the Crime Syndicate.

Stabbing pain pierced Ultraman's head and Saturn Queen looked every inch the killer she truly was, "Never question my orders again. If you two can deign to serve me in this, I am setting up to deal with Power Girl and Black Mary. They remain random variables I can no longer endure."

As Alfred left to collect Blackwing, the Ultras flew to Manhattan as instructed. Then Saturn Queen reflected on Virtuoso and Hazard's defection to the Injustice Society. Saturn Queen knew she was drawing short on willing minions. But there were still allies to be had, both in the 21st Century and the 31st Century.

The Legion of Super Villains failure in this time altered history enough the LSV never came to be. Every member was conceivably imprisoned on individual merits. But there were others who would remain untouched by the time ripple. Others in whom Saturn Queen could place her trust and shared a fanatical hatred of Imra Ardeen, also known to the United Planets as the Legionnaire called Saturn Girl.


Calvin Rose, a former Talon of the Court of Owls, arrived at Wayne Manor to petition Batman into intervening as the Court scrambled to dispatch forces and influence across the globe. Rose felt, correctly, it was time to end the threat of the Owls once and for all. Rose brought another former Talon with him.

Mary had been a child disfigured by a lantern bomb on the Oregon Coast during World War II. The Japanese weapons hadn't been very effective overall, but it maimed Mary and orphaned her as well. So she ended up in a carnival freak show where she was found by the Court of Owls, taken in, and trained as a Talon. She was the lone Talon liberated by Calvin Rose. And she went by the name "Strix". A name she had communicated through writing because she was incapable of speech.

Rose quickly deactivated the advanced security system Jaina Hudson had installed after Alfred left Wayne Manor and Bruce Wayne buried himself into Batman. But Jaina's unrequited love for Bruce prompted her to secure the manor. Bruce went along with just to appease her in an effort to keep Jaina and the White Rabbit out of Batman's affairs.

Rose was startled to find the grandfather clock door open, inviting intruders down into the Batcave. Rose and Strix were always cautious but when they found an unmasked Bruce wearing a new Batman suit replete with a red Bat sigil on his chest.

"Careful, it could a trap," Rose counseled Strix.

She pulled a notepad out of a pocket and wrote, "Always."

Calvin Rose knew how hard even that was for Strix. She'd never even finished the second grade before she was orphaned. Her schooling afterwards was nonexistent except in the arts of killing.

"You were sloppy. And, you're going to repair my security system on the way out," Batman told them both as they reached the bottom of the stairs found their objective behind them.

The insurgency within the Court of Owls following the Matron's death had left Lincoln March in control of most of the Courts' assets. But a number of Owls had formed small factions of independent operators bent on reclaiming the Court of Owls and reshaping it in their images. But Lincoln March couldn't abide dissenters so the Court of Owls was going to war with its disaffected members. Which left them completely vulnerable to the League of Assassins' worldwide campaign of eradication.

"I didn't think it was wise to sneak up on an ally," Rose replied to Batman's criticism.

"Are we allies?" Batman's flat inflection worried Rose. It was like a resurrected Talon's when they managed to speak, breaking through the mental conditioning.

Strix cuffed his shoulder. Batman wasn't amused, "It seems she doesn't hold to that bravado laced assessment of your entrance."

Rose studied the Bat Computer's displays, "You know the Court of Owls is mobilizing."

"The Court of Owls is dying," Batman said without emotion, "Black Canary has pitted every member of the League of Assassins against the Court of Owls. Even as Lincoln March was determined to reign in delinquent members."

"Why now?" Rose wondered.

"Because of the ongoing power struggle," Batman assessed, "It blinds Lincoln March."

"Who is leading the League's push?" Rose asked.

"Black Canary herself," Batman sounded slightly puzzled, "But she isn't attacking Gotham to eradicate the nest. My guess is Nyssa Raatko has something special planned. But Dinah Lance is no fool. She tasked Bronze Tiger and Lady Shiva with personally eliminating Lincoln March."

"I thought they were tasked with eliminating Richard Dragon," Rose commented.

"They've both tried and failed, separately and collectively. They have the scars, and they're just as visible as Dragon's. Don't let his disability fool you into complacency. He can still focus his chi to overcome his injuries for limited durations," Batman advised them both.

"No wonder he's feared," Rose remarked and Strix nodded.

"His students have become respected, or feared, masters as well," Batman informed them, "Bronze Tiger and Lady Shiva were both former pupils. So was the Question."

Strix furiously wrote a word and showed it to Rose, "She's referencing Lincoln March as your brother. Shouldn't that count for something?"

"Thomas Wayne Jr. died in a car accident. Lincoln March is former friend who betrayed me and tried to kill both Alfred and I," Batman grated.

Strix wrote and Rose elaborated, "Where is Alfred? I didn't see him on the way in."

"He left," Batman was actually agitated.

That rattled Calvin Rose, "So what happens with the Court of Owls?"

"The League exterminates them," Batman replied coldly.

"I thought your goal is to save lives," Rose remarked.

"I'm getting more circumspect now," Batman revealed, "I can't save everyone. And I don't think I should. Whatever Nyssa has planned for Gotham it's a safe bet she isn't working alone. And both Nyssa and the White Rabbit will try to prevent civilian casualties from mounting up."

"What happened to you?" Rose was aghast, "You can't just sit here."

"I'm going to," Batman declared, "There's more happening then you're aware of. Red Hood and the Outlaws have arrived to defend Knightfall and Charise Carnes' assets."

"Why would these people defend both?" Rose asked at being nudged by Strix's elbow.

"Because Charise Carnes is Knightfall," Batman told them.

"And Knightfall is defended by the Disgraced," Rose swatted away Strix's pumping elbow.

"And Knightfall is the vigilante savior of Gotham, the newly crowned kingpin of crime, and sits on the board of Intergang's controlling 100," Batman recited, "Ruby Ryder has employed mercenaries to seize control of Three Towers to force Carnes into signing away her company. This was after a measured attack of legalities and financial methods to attempt to bankrupt Carnes. Ryder has no inkling that Carnes is Knightfall or that she's connected to Intergang."

Batman was scowling now, "In addition, the Patriarch of the Syndicate Underground has persuaded the Jokerz to attempt to wrest control of Knightfall's criminal assets as well."

"And everyone is converging on Three Towers," Rose realized.

"Including Spyral agents acting on behalf of the Court of Owls," Batman shared.

"And you're just sitting here?" Rose was angered beyond reckoning.

"I'll step in if the situation becomes hopeless," Batman decided.

After Strix and Rose began their heated exit, Batman irritated them even further, "Fix the alarm on your way out."


Then he clutched his chest and waited for the pain to ease. He affixed his mask and made a phone call.

Barbara Gordon, Gotham's youngest ever Police Commissioner, answered her phone, "What is it?"

"Barbara," came the artificially gravelly voice.

Barb wanted to shoot the phone at hearing her ex-husband's voice, "Can't you even pretend to be Bruce Wayne anymore? And clever ruse calling me on Harvey Bullock's ID."

"The League of Assassins has declared war on the Court of Owls. The principle battle will be at Three Towers. Nyssa Raatko and her Injusticers are also in play along with Bronze Tiger and Lady Shiva," Batman reported.

"Of course," Barbara groaned, "When?"

"Tonight," he revealed.

"Is it too much to ask for twenty-four hours notice?" Barbara was flippant.

"You'll b e ready. You always were and you always are," Batman declared and then fell silent.

"Will you be gracing us with your presence as well?" Barb asked acerbically, "Hello? Jerk off."

Then she used the interoffice phone to call Bullock, "Harvey? We have a new life or death disaster headed our way."


Selina Kyle's conversation went just as well. Kitrina Falcone noted it, "Batman?"

Selina looked like she had a migraine, "Batman."

"You could say 'no'," Kitrina suggested.

"He knows what were up to," Selina sighed, "He hasn't busted us in order to have leverage for moments like this."

"But it's bad," Kitrina asked.

"This stuff could get us both killed," Selina warned.

Kitrina fist pumped, "Awl right! About damn time."

"The life of a jet setting jewel thief doesn't appeal to you anymore?" Selina was irked by this revelation.

"Selina, we went to thievery to afford to fight crime. So far it's been all thieving and no vigilante crime busting," Kitrina pointed out, "Even Holly Robinson is doing both under pseudonym 'the Cat'. Face it, Selina. You're not alive without a cause to fight for."

"And you're irritated Knightfall left Carmen Falcone standing when she decimated the Five Families," Selina pointed out.

"Exactly," Kitrina agreed.

"Argh, here we go again," Selina complained as she relented, "I'll try and get us some help."

Selina's first and only call was to Kathy Duquesne, "Surprise! It's me."

"Should I ask why?" Kathy sounded reluctant.

"I need Batwoman's help," Selina admitted.

"No go. Rocki Ballantine and I both retired our little pink capes," Kathy shared.

"What about your protégés?" Selina inquired.

"They're using Sonia Alcona's old hide out. I could call them but I'd advise them to turn you down regarding whatever it is you need help with," Kathy admitted.

"Kitrina will ask them without you or I prejudicing Stephanie or Harper," Selina offered.

"Fair enough," Kathy agreed, "You really should have stayed a jewel thief."

"Tell me about it," Selina concurred before she hung up. The conversation had been on speaker so Kitrina was already advised on what would happen next.

She finished donning her Catgirl suit, "I'll get Spoiler and Bluebird's help. It's guaranteed."

"Well, your lack of confidence and enthusiasm will be a detriment," Selina sarcastically predicted.

"Piss off," Catgirl shot back as she exited out into the balcony and then took off across rooftops.

Selina transformed into Catwoman once again. She affixed a note to Catgirl to meet her at Three Towers. Then Catwoman decided to change up the usual plays. She'd approach Duela Dent and persuade the Jokerz to earn Knightfall's patronage and protection. Otherwise it was obvious the Disgraced were hell bent on destroying them.