Author's notes: So, what should I talk before we move on? First of all, Lex Luthor's team of supervillains will be included by the cast of Mark Strong and Stephan Lang. Second, Owlman is still played by Mark Walberg, if you want to complain about that. Third, Hermione is getting nearer to getting something to fight with from character played by James Caviezel, who took it from a character played by Sarah Shahi.
Those last two actors being mentioned, should tell you I'm a fan of Person of Interest.
Beware my Power
''Phantom Stranger,'' Pandora said raising her head to face the fellow sinner in her cell, ''why are you here?''
''Your sentence has been revoked,'' Stranger answered with an sympathetic whisper, ''and your sins have been forgiven?''
''What?!'' Pandora said looking at the Phantom Stranger. ''What the hell are you talking about?!''
''The resent events surrounding your current imprisonment has made the Voice see the truth behind your box,'' Stranger said gesturing his hand at Pandora's bindings. ''It would have opened any way had you found it or not. It was never your fault.''
Pandora kept looking at the pale eyes of the Phantom Stranger and in her eyes there were many conflicted feelings. She was angry for if her punishment was truly falsified and being blamed for something she had had no power to affect, she was sad for being tortured with these accusations and for the death of her family because of the box and she had no idea would what Phantom Stranger was now telling her a good thing or a bad thing.
''I'm not a sinner?'' Pandora asked trying to keep back her tears.
''I betrayed my teacher and best friend for thirty pieces of silver. I am a sinner,'' Stranger said walking closer to Pandora and put his hand on her shoulder. ''You were a curious young girl, who was at the wrong place at the wrong time. You are not a sinner.''
Thousands of years in her sentence for opening the Box had built Pandora a harsh and tough emotional exterior, that was now opening to a softer side due to Phantom Stranger's words.
''So what happens now?'' Pandora asked. ''If I'm freed?''
''You can go to son and your mother,'' Stranger said very sorry, ''but you know what has to happen for that to come true.''
''You have to kill me?'' Pandora said looking at Phantom Stranger's face, which looked very apologizing.
''It is the only you can move on,'' Stranger said looking away from Pandora. ''I am sorry.''
''If that is what it takes, then do it,'' Pandora said making Phantom Stranger look at her again and she looked at his necklace. ''You can be forgiven soon too-''
''I can repay for Sin, but I will never be forgiven,'' Stranger said with a heavy voice, taking one of the pieces on his necklace and it took a shape of a sharp object. ''Not even by Him.''
The sharp piece was stabbed into Pandora's abdomen and the Phantom Stranger held her in his arms as long as she could hold onto him. He felt compassion for her, knowing she was going to a better place now and small amount of jealousy, knowing she would be taken in with open arms, while when his time would come, there would be no one happy to see him.
As this chore was done, the piece of silver stabbed into Pandora dissolved taking her with it. All that was left of Pandora in her cell, were her clothes and weapons. As the Phantom Stranger was about to leave, another piece in his necklace begun to glow and it directed him to take Pandora's clothes with him.
''That was fast.''
S.T.A.R. Labs Metropolis, Red Room
S.T.A.R. Labs' Red Room didn't look so much to it's name by anything else, but the red lighting it had in there due to the emergency generator. It was also filled with all kinds of different technological paraphernalia that made Hermione question how much magic and technology had being brought closer into being almost the same thing. The only people holed up in the Red Room were two scientists Doctor Thomas O. Morrow and Doctor Silas Stone, Victor's, or Cyborg's, father. It had been Batman's belief that here Victor could be put back together and turned in Cyborg again.
As Victor was getting new augmentations installed on himself, Batman briefed Doctor Stone and Doctor Morrow on their current situation and explaining how Hermione was the wife of Crime Syndicate's exampled prisoner. While Zatanna and John Constanine were scouting the grounds around the Watchtower, Alfred(or Penny-One as Batman called him) had gone with the Red Hood and the Outlaws to find and recruit Batman's other allies for taking the Watchtower back.
''So the Justice League is alive?'' Dr. Morrow said as Victor was being put into some kind of machine.
''But not for long and neither will we,'' Batman said looking at Victor with his hands crossed. ''According to Element Woman they were sucked inside the Firestorm Matrix and it's currently approaching critical mass.''
''How many people are currently inside the Matrix?'' Dr. Stone asked turning to Emily. ''The Matrix is usually fine with just the two people inside it but if it is reaching critical mass, we should be able to calculate when it happens by the number of people currently inside it.''
''Um, with our League members,'' Emily said looking nervously at Batman, ''and the reinforcements the U.S Government sent us it should be… um, something about…''
CRACK!
The floor next to them suddenly cracked and made a hole. Batman immediately reacted by stepping between the others and the hole, as there were people climbing out of.
''Luthor?'' Batman said recognizing the bald head in dark green armor among the supervillains climbing out.
''Batman?'' Luthor said as shocked wiith surprise as the other supervillains, seeing Batman and Emily, alive members of the Justice League before them.
''ELEMENT WOMAN, CREATE A SMOKESCREEN!'' Batman yelled to Emily, who complied, and then looked at Hermione. ''GRANGER, STAY CLOSE TO CYBORG AND KEEP YOUR HEAD DOWN!''
''This exactly what the world has come to,'' Dr. Morrow said to Hermione as Batman and Emily charged at Luthor and his team of super criminals.
''What do you mean?'' Hermione asked.
''Heroes had to win all the time to keep the world safe,'' Dr. Morrow replied as green glow suddenly begun to emit in the Red Room. ''All villains had to do was to win just once and everything turned to hell.''
CRAAASH!
A wall broke and more supervillains barged in, led by the Crime Syndicate's Power Ring. Having worked most of her life in the Ministry and with wizards, Hermione kept on feeling even more out of place being caught in the middle of this war between superheroes and supervillains. With her wand not working properly she kept looking everywhere in the Red Room for her own safety to stay away from the fighters and if she could see anything she could use to defend herself and the S.T.A.R. Labs scientists attempting to rebuild Cyborg.
''BEWARE MY POWER, YOU REBELLING TRAITORS!'' Power Ring yelled shining light from his ring as he ordered the supercriminals with him to attack Luthor's team, but then suddenly panicked when he saw Batman. ''BATMAN IS ALIVE!? KILL HIM!''
Happy Harbour, Watchtower cells
''Would you like to have some water?''
Zatanna lifted up her head to see Owlman standing in front of her, holding a glass of water while she was tied to a chair in a dark room. After she and Constantine had done what Batman had told them to do and scouted the area around the Watchtower, Zatanna did remember as numbing sensation being felt on her throat and then John being brought down by Owlman, who had then attacked her and then… brought here.
Immediately Zatanna attempted to use her magic to free herself, but no words came out of her mouth. As her mouth was dry, she couldn't even cough out any syllables and Owlman took this opportunity to giver Zatanna some water.
''The reason you are unable to speak is due to a controlled dose of altered muscle relaxants for cricopharyngeal spasm, otherwise known as tightness on throat,'' Owlman said looking down on Zatanna gestured to scratch his throat with hit taloned glove. ''Instead of curing the spasm, it causes one bu numbing your vocal cord and I need you not attempting fight me, until you have heard what I have to say.''
Gulping the water, Zatanna tried to say something, but again, there were no words.
''I have plans for this world that are more sophisticated than the once initiated by Ultraman and the other members of the Syndicate. My ways would ensure more survivors than the barbarics Ultraman is currently doing,'' Owllam said kneeling to Zatanna's line of sight. ''In other words, this world can either be take over by Ultraman and the Crime Syndicate and they bring this world to a state of extinction. Or alternative, this world can be taken over by me and there will be more of similar order you had before we arrived, with more people alive.''
Zatanna looked back at Owlman and shook her head. No, whatever Owlman was telling her, he was an evil version of Batman and whatever he was saying had to be lies.
''You don't believe? I don't expect you to, so let me be honest,'' Owlman said loosing his goggles down to his neck, pulled off the chin cover and the cowl part, revealing his face to Zatanna. ''My name, is Thomas Wayne Jr, and I'm asking you to help me taking down the Crime Syndicate.''
''How can Batman be alive?!'' Captain Cold asked aloud firing his Cold-gun at Power Ring's forces. ''If he is alive, what about Superman and the Justice League-''
''THEY ARE NOT RELEVANT!'' Luthor yelled firing a beam of concentrated radiation energy at their opponents.
After Black Manta had brought Black Adam to them, Luthor and his team had moved to the severs in hopes that the lead lining was still blocking any kind of vision powers Ultraman had and and if getting to S.T.A.R. Labs to find a chin brace for Black Adam. Thanks to Black Manta, their route to S.T.A.R. Labs was secured and with Captain Cold's Cold-gun the ceiling was weakened and broken through by Subject B-Zero. But seeing Batman and whoever metahuman he had with him had brought them to stand off further escalated by the arrival of Power Ring and the supervillains joinde with the Crime Syndicate.
B-Zero, or Bizarro as Captain Cold had called him, was fighting against Giganta, Cold was fighting to freeze the Shade's shadows, Manta held up against anyone coming at him with Aquaman's trident and his optic lasers while Luthor had his hands full with Deathstroke and Copperhead while Black Adam was holding his jaw together with one hand and shooting dark blue lightnings from another. Batman and his metahuman companion were fighting in the mists created by the metahuman and running from one place to another, fighting strategically.
''Deathstroke! How much is the Crime Syndicate paying for your services!?'' Luthor asked when Deathstroke got his huge rifle pointing at his face. ''Because I know your business can't be good under their rule and you know I will pay you whatever price-rate you charge for-''
''Ssshoot him already!'' Copperhead hissed forcing herself on Luthor. ''Traitorssss must be killed-''
BLAM!
''Five billion dollars after we have terminated the Crime Syndicate,'' Deathstroke said kicking Copperhead's body off Luthor and pulled him on his feet. ''Just keep away from the green light.''
''Green light? All I can is yellow,'' Luthor said looking around. ''What the hell is Batman wearing!?''
''Beware your power!?'' yellow glowing Batman called out to Power Ring while floating in the air in yellow and black variation of his costume. ''TIME TO BEWARE MINE!''
A large yellow bat was sent barging at Power Ring from a ring on Batman's left hand. Power Ring answered the fire with a green construct of a giant snakes that killed the bat and then moved to remove Batman's ring.
''Snakes eat bats!'' Power Ring gloated gleefully at Batman landing to the floor with his cape. ''And this is what you were trying to hurt me with? A yellow ring? A YELLOW RING CAN'T HURT ME!''
''A yellow ring cannot hurt you?''
THOOM!
Another yellow construct, this time in a form of a celestial being, barged in through the hole Power Ring had made and threw Power Ring through another wall as another yellow and black suited man with a ring flew in to the Red Room.
''I beg to differ,'' red skinned man with black hair and thin pencil mustache said pointing his left ring and at Power Ring, ''my friend.''
''I missed seeing that,'' Thomas Jr said looking at Zatanna eyes that had widened to what Thomas Jr had just told her. ''I missed seeing you after what happened with… You and I, we were partners back in my world and I'm not sure what your relationship is with ths world's me is, but-''
Thomas Jr cut his sentence due Zatanna shaking her head in casual denial. Her face wasn't horrified or filled with disgust for Thomas Jr's words, but like she was trying to say he was wrong.
''You have no relationship with me in this world? But I know you have worked with Batman,'' Thomas Jr said puzzled. ''Wait! You have worked with Batman, but if you don't have any relationship with this world's me. Batman is not me, but-''
Thomas Jr raised up as he came to a realization. This was truly a different world from his old home. His mother had been power sucking harlot living of with being the wife of surgeon who had twisted fetish of letting his patients die on the operation table. And his younger brother, Bruce, had been nothing but a rat living carefree and ignoring the reality around him. Thomas Jr had been the only one with a spine and only one he had to trust was Alfred.
Together with the family butler, Thomas Jr had staged his parents to have that accident shooting in Park Row so that he and Bruce would inherit what was left of their parents money. But then Bruce had changed his mind and Alfred had been forced to shoot him as well. Rat or no rat, Bruce had still been Thomas Jr's little brother and having been forced to kill him too was something he did not enjoy remembering. Looking at Zatanna, Thomas Jr was reminded of his friend, partner, lover he had met when Alfred and him had traveled out of Gotham to change scenery and found hiding in one of Alfred's safe-houses in London.
And now Zatanna was telling that in this world, Thomas Jr's brother was alive in this world. Bruce was Batman here, and more of a man than the rat Thomas Jr had had to shoot down with his parents. Thomas Jr knelled back to Zatanna's line of sight and kissed her.
''Thank you, for the good news,'' Thomas Jr said pulling his cowl and goggles back on, before taking Zatanna's Tamaranian communicator Batman had given her and and activated it. ''Hello, brother.''
Yellow beams and constructs kept flying at Power Ring as he kept trying to keep himself covered with his ring. The damn this was running out of energy again and charging it felt torturing just to imagine. The yellow ring bearer kept approaching Power Ring intimidatingly by floating towards him with his hands crossed and looking aggressively disappointed.
''Your constructs are weak and your ring appears to be running out, which makes me curious,'' yellow ring bearer said floating towards Power Ring, ''you appear to be Hal Jordan, but clearly you are not a Green Lantern.''
''I AM NOT ANY LANTERN, I AM POWER RING!'' Power Ring yelled firing green missiles constructs at the yellow ring bearer, who caught them to a construct of a brick wall. ''YOU ARE OPPOSING THE CRIME SYNDICATE'S RULE! STAND DOWN AND YOU MAY WALK AWAY!''
''Charge me!'' voice of the entity inside Power Ring's ring yelled. ''This is Sinestro you are facing and my power levels won't be enough against him, CHARGE ME!''
''Even your ring is telling you what to do,'' Sinestro said getting nearer. ''The Hal Jordan I know is not this pathetic.''
''CHARGE ME! CHARGE ME YOU PUNY-''
The ring went silent as Sinestro beamed at Power Ring and took a firm grip of Power Ring's ring finger, looking at deep inside him with his black and yellow eyes.
''Are you afraid, Power Ring?'' Sinestro asked as his ring was creating yellow hanging noose around his ring finger.
''CHARGE ME!''
''As you wish,'' Sinestro said as his ring and eyes begun to glow yellow. ''In Blackest Day, in Brightest Night, beware your fears, made into Light.''
As Sinestro spoke his oath, the noose grew in shape and got tighter. It hurt Power Ring's finger, but not as much as the ring usually when it demanded to be charged.
''Let those who try, to stop what's right, burn like my power-''
''CHARGE MEEEEE!'' The ring yelled as Sinestro was ready to pull.
''-SINESTRO'S MIGHT!''
Power Ring's ring finger was cut off and the ring sent itself to fly away, cursing it's former host on it's way.
''The ring, it's gone… it's finally gone…'' Power Ring said crying relived relieved looking at is hand and then at Sinestro. ''It doesn't hurt anymore… thank you…''
TSAAAP!
''You are welcome,'' Sinestro said after creating a construct of spikes coming out of Power Ring's body and turned away.
Hermione, Doctor Stone and Doctor Morrow came out of their hiding place as the situation seemed to have calmed down, only to see Batman and Emily being confronted by Lex Luthor and his team. At least no one was fighting anymore, but Batman was still keeping his fighting stance and Emily looked ready to follow orders. The stand off was broken by yellow light and Sinestro landing in front of Batman.
''You have the proper means to instill fear in your enemies, but your ways of channeling it is blocked by emotions,'' Sinestro said floating over Batman intimidatingly. ''You would make a fine specimen for my Corps.''
''Power Ring?'' Captain Cold asked pointing to where Sinestro had came from.
''The Green Lantern impersonator is dead,'' Sinestro said ready to leave. ''Do not consider this a favor. I only came here for the unaccounted ring from my Corps.''
''Then do something selfish and unselfish at the same time,'' Luthor said asking Sinestro to stay. ''No Green Lantern has been spotted on the planet for the last 36 hours. If they are not here fulfilling their duties, snap back at them by doing their job better.''
Sinestro looked down on Luthor and thought for a few seconds chuckling and doing an evil grin under his pencil mustache. Seeing Sinestro's acceptance of joining them, Luthor turned to Batman, Emily, Hermione and doctors Stone and Morrow.
''I don't know why you are here, but seeing you tells me that Crime Syndicate lied about killing the Justice League.''
''They haven't done it yet,'' Batman grunted. ''They have been trapped inside the Firestorm Matrix. If you are smart enough, Luthor, you know what happens when the pressure inside it reaches to critical mass.''
''Existential extermination,'' was Luthor's answer. ''That puts us all on the same side.''
''You expect me to believe you to-''
''This is our world too!'' Captain Cold said. ''And the Rogues never wanted take over the world or destroy it. We just wanted pull a heist on it.''
''As the third party here, I say you should compromise and pool in your resources,'' Hermione said, unintentionally pulling attention to herself. ''You said it yourself, we need people to go to war.''
''I know you,'' Luthor said walking towards Hermione and pulled out a photograph. ''This is you isn't it? And the red haired man is Weasley, the man Crime Syndicate is holding at the Watchtower.''
''Where did you get that?'' Hermione said looking at the photo Luthor was holding, that was from her fifth Hogwarts year, a DA meeting.
''That's my sister, Lena'' Luthor said pointing out a red haired girl Hermione didn't remember. ''And the only reason for you to be here, would be if you had something personal stake. No magic to power your wand… You are Weasley's wife.''
''Enough, Luthor!'' Batman said stepping between Luthor and Hermione. ''You want to throw yourself into this with us, fine by me. But she is staying here.''
''What!?'' Hermione asked. ''Why!?''
''Without magic to power your wand, the only good thing you can do is stay here for Victor,'' Batman told Hermione in the same tone she remembered Professor Snape using from Hogwarts potions classes before turning back to Luthor. ''I sent people to scout the area around the Watchtower and to recruit people to fight with us against the Crime Syndicate.''
''Sinestro, if you could use your ring to transport us,'' Luthor said turning to Sinestro and then back to Batman, ''you should call your people to rendezvous with us near the Watchtower.''
Sinestro used his ring to create a yellow orb around Batman, Emily and Luthor's team and sent them to fly out of the large hole in the wall, leaving Hermione behind to see the debris being pulled back to cover and fix it. It wasn't just seeing all the technological things doing miracle that rivaled with magic and now seeing that ring turn fear into energy, it was the fact she had been called useless that got to her. Turning to the machine rebuilding Victor back into Cyborg, Hermione watched at doctor Stone caring about his son and Doctor Morrow shaking his head. What was she doing here indeed?
''Hermione Granger,'' she suddenly heard someone calling to her and turning around was faced by fedora hat wearing Stranger, in a blue suit, traveler's cloak a necklace made from pieces of silver, handing her wine red colored robes and twin pistols, ''you can be useful.''
Author's notes: Hermione will be given the powers burdened to Pandora for opening her box, but because this power is presented to her by the Phantom Stranger, what will be the cost? Owlman is planning to betray the Crime Syndicate for his lost love and his brother, where could this be leading? And Batman has agreed to join forces with Lex Luthor.
And on a personal note, while the 2011 Green Lantern movie did pretty much suck compared to the source material, like Green Lantern: Secret Origin, Mark Strong was the perfect actor cast for Sinestro.
Replies to Reviews:
JamesTKent: Welcome aboard and thank you very much.
tiger 5: Hermione is just being handed with powers belonged to a former sinner. You bet she will find Ron in a bad situation.
Wonderbee31: Gene Hackman was the best Lex Luthor by my approval. He may not have been the mad scientist from the comics, but his portrayal and his voice, as you agreed with me, made him the standard every other actor still as to look up to.