...And Injustice For All

Chapter 20: Who Betrayed Whom?

Three hours before before the Watchtower's destruction, Insurgent Lex Luthor is fixing up his suit wih a weapon given to him by Insurgent Deathstroke. He heard the news of a war taking place on Stryker's Island. He also sees Chris and his allies tearing the Regime soldiers apart.

Luthor (Insurgent): Seal appendage armor. Activate reactor core. Begin pre-flight check.

Machine: All systems nominal. All inputs tethered. Neural command schema online.

Insurgent Lex was heading toward Stryker's, but two homing missiles. Lex tried to avoid them, but the missiles made contact as they hit their mark. Insurgent Lex's flight was cut short as he landed hard on a Regime truck. He recovered to check his armor.

Luthor (Insurgent): Damage assessment.

Machine: Reserve energy drained. Engaging solar recharge. Propulsion system offline.

Luthor (Insurgent) How long?

Machine: 15 minutes.

Luthor (Insurgent): Damn.

And it just got worse. Another Regime truck arrived, but the driver who shot him down was none other that the Joker with Insurgent Harley.

Joker: Humpty Dumpty fell through a truck, Humpty Dumpty's suit is all f...

Harley (Insurgent): Love the color. It matches your eyes.

Joker: It is quite spiffy.

Luthor (Insurgent): Unless you want Superman to succeed, step aside, both of you.

Harley (Insurgent):You trying to beat Superman? Your bestest buddy?

Luthor (Insurgent): A deception, created so I could aid the Insurgency.

Joker: How about we share? Harley, be a doll and help Mr. Luthor our of my suit.

Harley (Insurgent): With pleasure, hun.

Luthor (Insurgent): I don't think so.

Insurgent Harley may be formidable in terms of fighting style, but she can't take Insurgent Luthor, much to the Joker's dismay.

Luthor (Insurgent): Do yourself a favor, stay away from him.

Joker is fed up.

Joker: She can't quit, she's fired! Can't have her stink rubbing off on me!

Now that's just hurtful.

Harley (Insurgent): What?

Joker: Don't worry. There's a generous severance package.

Luthor (Insurgent): JOKER!

Joker holds Insurgent Harley down.

Joker: No no. Go on and save the world. I've got this.

Joker was going to stab Insurgent Harley but Insurgent Luthor stopped him by tossing him aside.

Luthor (Insurgent): You'll thank me for this, Harley.

Despite the fact that Joker took the pill that makes him indestructable, it did not however save him from Insurgent Luthor's assault.

Luthor (Insurgent): Maybe Superman had the idea about you...

Insurgent Harley picks up Joker's knife and prepares to kill him.

Harley (Insurgent) You tried to kill me? I'll slice that grin off ya face!

Luthor (insurgent):Harley, no.

Harley (Insurgent): I can't believe I fell for him again.

Luthor (Insurgent): He knew exactly what buttons to push. It's not your fault. It's what he does. You've outgrown him.

Just then the Joker Clan arrived, aiming their oversized M4A1's at Insurgent Luthor.

Harley (Insurgent): Easy guys, he's on our side. Turns out he wasn't.

Luthor (Insurgent): Take care of him. Keep him locked up this time.

Harley (Insurgent): That'll be the least of it. These guys will keep causing trouble. Go get Superman.

Back in the battlefield, both Hals are battling each other using their power rings. Yellow Lantern creates a machine gun resembling a KPV heavy machine gun, but Green Lantern creates an aircraft. Yellow Lantern tried to shoot it down but gets taken out of the air. Regimes Black Adam and Hawkgirl attack Green Lantern. At that moment, missiles were fired at them, courtesy of Insurgent Luthor.

Luthor (Insurgent): Lantern, go help Wonder Woman.

Green Lantern: Really?

Luthor (Insurgent): I'll handle them two. Go!

Insurgent Luthor flies past them, forcing them to give chase.

Meanwhile, Chris and Tanya wiped the floor with the Regime soldiers.

Tanya: This was fun!

Chris: War is never fun when there's casualties involved, but I will agree.

Yellow Lantern falls down towards them. Chris points his Glock 19 at him.

Chris: Stay where you are!

Yellow Lantern: YOU! You're one of the Insurgents, are you?

Chris: No. I am my own soldier.

Yellow Lantern: Time to end the Insurgency!

Chris had no choice but to fight Yellow Lantern. Unfortunately for Chris, Yellow Lantern is a superhuman. He creates a choker around Chris' neck. A fireball landed on Yellow Lantern's chest.

Tanya: I got this, Chris.

Yellow Lantern: Well, hello, beautiful.

Tanya: Sorry, not my type.

Taking Chris' place, Tanya battles Yellow Lantern. She quickly shows him how a Pyromancer performs. Yellow Lantern makes a shield, but Tanya has other tricks. She demonstrates the strength of those amazing legs. Yellow Lantern was instantly caught off guard.

Tanya: So clumsy.

Tanya checks over to Chris.

Tanya: You ok?

Chris was coughing hard.

Tanya: Let me help you.

Tanya laid him down and kissed him, but she also held her lips on his long enough for him to breathe again. She lets go and he was breathing again.

Tanya: You ok?

Chris: I gotta tell ya, Tanya. That was one hell of a kiss.

Tanya: I had to, Chris. You weren't breathing, but thank you. Come on, we need to join the others.

Sinestro (Regime): I do not think so!

Chris: Sinestro!

Sinestro (Regime): So this is the young lad Nightlight showed interest in. She is dead for her betrayal. And you...

Regime Sinestro walks over to Tanya.

Sinestro (Regime): Such grace and beauty. You can definitely instill fear.

Tanya: The only fear I instill is when you see this...

Tanya's body enveloped a pyrokinetic insignia, representing her powers.

Sinestro (Regime): Fascinating...

Tanya: You hurt this man, you have me to fear.

And Regime Sinestro learned that lesson the hard way. Tanya had no problem punishing him for attempting to hurt Chris.

Tanya: Begone, snake!

Regime Sinestro flew away in fear. Chris and Tanya left to join the others.

Insurgent Luthor was flying while Regimes Hawkgirl and Black Adam were giving chase. He turns around and firesa series of missiles, which hit them both. Regime Hawkgirl went crashing near the Hall of Justice Insurgent Luthor kicks her mace away.

Luthor (Insurgent): The Nth Metal. Give it to me.

Hawkgirl (Regime): The source of my powers? Like hell.

Luthor (Insurgent): I'm giving you a chance. End this without further bloodshed.

Hawkgirl (Regime): Too late.

Regime Hawkgirl grabs her mace and avoids Insurgent Luthor's lasers. She tried to charge at him, but Insurgent Luthor knocked her down with his shield.

Luthor (Insurgent): You're done, Hawkgirl. Overmatched.

Insurgent Luthor made good use of his words as he defeats Regime Hawkgirl.

Luthor (Insurgent): Like I said, overwatched.

Insurgent Luthor was about to take Regime Hawkgirl's Nth Metal belt whe he was ambushed by Regime Shazam.

Shazam (Regime): Since when are you with them?

Luthor (Insurgent): Since the day Superman decided to herd us like sheep.

Shazam (Regime): He only wants what's best for us.

Luthor (Insurgent): We are not his playthings... and he's no god!

As Insurgent Luthor battles Regime Shazam, he developed a interest as to how Regime Shazam survived the destruction of he Watchtower. Regime Shazam explained that both he and Regime Flash lost consciousness thanks to Insurgent Deathstroke. When he and Regime Flash came to, Regime Shazam found Cyborg, possibly mistaking him for a duplicate but Regime Flash stopped him and reminded him that they are to protect people, not to kill, unlike Regime Superman at the beginning of this story who killed the Joker the day Metropolis was vaporized, while trying to explain about the current situation. Cyborg apologized for failing to see a trap that was set up by Insurgent Deathstroke as payback. Regimes Flash and Shazam made a temporary truce until everyone has evacuated due to a reactor core meltdown. This might explain Regime Shazam's appearance. Even so, Insurgent Luthor reminded him that what Regime Superman is doing is wrong.

Luthor (Insurgent): No good comes from hero worship.

He stands near Regime Shazam.

Luthor (Insurgent): Status?

Machine: Internal circuitry 60% damaged. Flight mode offline.

Luthor (Insurgent): Again? What did I miss?

Suddenly, he heard a explosion coming from outer space. The Watchtower was destroyed.

Luthor (Insurgent): Watchtower?

Machine: Affirmative.

Luthor (Insurgent): Casualties?

Machine: All personnel safely evacuated. Superman was caught in the blast radius but is unharmed.

Luthor (Insurgent: Well... may fortune favor the foolish.

Back in space, Regime Superman heard a familiar voice.

Luthor (Insurgent): SUPERMAN! YOUR TIME IS OVER!

Chris and his allies have finished dealing with the remaining Regime soldiers. Tanya heard a explosion from the sky.

Sonya: What was that?

Tanya: I don't know.

Liu Kang: Look.

Liu Kang sees something falling from the sky at a incredible speed. A few seconds later, they see someone using a lighning bolt similar to Raiden.

Sub-Zero: Raiden?

Scorpion: It can't be.

At that moment, Regime Superman crashes into Insurgent Luthor. Chris pulls out his Glock 19.

Superman (Regime): I trusted you. You betrayed me!

Luthor (Insurgent): Who betrayed whom?

Regime Superman pulled Insurgent Luthor out of his suit by his throat.

Superman (Regime): I gave you peace!

Luthor (Insurgent): Your peace...your peace is a joke...

Aw, shit. Regime Superman used all his strength to strangle him to death. Chris was about to act but it was too late. Insurgent Luthor is dead. Regime Superman could hear many voices of the civilians, shocked to see what has transpired, and it was all recorded live!

Chris: STOP RIGHT THERE!

Regime Superman sees Chris aiming his Glock 19 at him.

Superman (Regime): Who are you? Are you one of them?

Chris: I'll ask the questions, "High Counselor!" You murdered your best friend on live TV!

More voices can be heard. Regime Superman screamed as he flies off. Tanya came out.

Tanya: What was that about?

Chris: He's been exposed. The media will be all over this. Guaranteed.

Tanya: We could've saved this man.

Chris: His fate was already sealed. If I tried to stop him, he'd come after us as well. I wasn't fast enough...

Tanya: What's our next move?

Chris looked at Tanya, then looks back at Insurgent Luthor. Now with Regime Superman's recent exposure to the media, all hell will break loose. Chris thought quietly with that premonition.