Author's notes: Were you expecting Harry and Superman to fly in this chapter? Well, sorry. They are still on their way with the Earth-3 Luthor. But Batman and Luthor are ready to invade the Watchtower and fight the Crime Syndicate. Hermione... is she still Hermione?
Captain Cold is played by the same actor as in The Flash tv-show, Wentworth Miller. Deathstorm is Timothy Dalton.
Deathlocked
Earlier, in Hogwarts
After Black Adam had drawn Ultraman away from Hogwarts, Shazam had turned back back into Billy Batson and ran back to Gryffindor Tower. As no ones' wands were working, the hole that Ultraman had made pushing Shazam out was still there and those who could were manually trying to build a railing to block it.
''Billy, what happened to you?''
''I was caught the big red cheese,'' Billy said waving his hand at the matter and went back find Rose and Hugo. ''Hey, guys. Another flying man came and ran that Superman-wannabee away.''
''Why did he say dad was dying?'' Hugo asked. ''Did that man take our magic away?''
''And why would Superman even be doing this?'' Rose asked.
''That was not Superman!'' Billy said firmly. ''We all heard him say Crime Syndicate rules this world now. What do you think they did to the Justice League?!''
CRAAAAH!
Ultraman crash landed through the roof destroying everything and everyone under him. More evidence to differentiate himself from Superman, Ultraman was holding a big chunk of green rock to cover his bleeding nose.
''That me before,'' Ultraman spoke behind the rock as his eyes glowed red, ''that was me being nice.''
Happy Harbour
It was the knowledge Element Woman had told in Starfire's ship that kept John Constantine safe from the wrath of the Queen of Atlantis. Letting Mera know that Justice League and Aquaman were alive were enough to convince her to help Constantine up the cliffs with her water bending powers and to a safe distance where to wait for Batman to return. The water bending also helped drying Constantine's clothes and what he was carrying on himself, almost everything.
''I don't suppose any of you got light?'' Constantine asked gesturing a cigarette at arriving Batman, Element Woman and Lex Luthor's team. ''Lost my lighter when they threw me in the ocean.''
''Batman,'' Mera said nodding at Batman, but looking at Black Manta with hostility.
''Your highness,'' Batman said acknowledging Aquaman's wife. ''Constantine, what happened here?''
''Light!?''
''BLAAARGH!'' Bizarro burbed out fire like the Dragon's Breath and lit the cigarette, making Constantine look like he had sobered from a hangover.
''Thanks, ugly. So,'' Constantine said taking a deep breath, ''before the little mermaid dug my sorry arse from the waves, the last thing I remember was Zee gasping for air and their 'bad you' clogging me out.''
''Owlman has Zatanna, but he might be selling the Syndicate to us,'' Batman said taking binoculars form his belt and looked at the Watchtower. ''He contacted us with Zatanna's communicator, but that doesn't mean we can fully trust him to keep his word.''
''So what defenses do they have?'' Luthor asked stepping forward and looked at the area between them and the Watchtower. ''US Army sent a team to attack there and they were turned inside out-''
''By their evil Flash,'' Constantine said taking another inhaling. ''They don't need anyone but him and their evil Atom to ran and jump from one poor bastard to another.''
''So,'' Captain Cold said reloading his Cold-gun, ''when is back up coming?''
''Penny-One, Red Hood'' Batman said taking his Tamaranean communicator, ''report! Where are you?''
''Doing great,'' Red Hood's voice answered. ''We got Red Robin and Black Bat. Nightwing is stuck helping Oracle and GCPD, but Starfire managed to get through to OA. Green Lanterns are on their way.''
''Forces of Atlantis are also at our disposal,'' Mera said pointing at the ocean. ''I can have battalion of our finest soldiers here in short time.''
''More bodies we have to throw in the better!'' Batman said putting down his binoculars. ''Red Hood, what is your estimated time of arrival here?''
''We'll land Starfire's ship in 10 minutes and beam out there after that.''
''Good, everyone listen up, this will be our plan of attack,'' Batman said keeping the communicator near his mouth so that Red Hood heard him as he spoke to others present. ''Constantine's expertise as an exorcist is our best chances right now in getting Justice League freed from inside the Firestorm Matrix. If Johnny Quick is the Crime Syndicate's only line of defense, taking him out has to be done without them noticing. However, from analyzing their characteristics, watching him dispose any attackers could possibly be observed, so it has to be done in an unexpected way.''
''Which is probably my job,'' Captain Cold said with his hands crossed. ''Right now, they can't be expecting the Rogues to come here after we disobeyed their orders.''
''Plan A, insert this into the back of his neck to paralyze him,'' Batman said showing the tic and then the lightning rod. ''Plan B, use to stop him on his tracks.''
''Why do you think I carry this?'' Captain Cold said showing his Cold-gun. ''I'll be fine with it. Save those for the others.''
''After you're done,'' Batman continued turning to Mera, Sinestro and Black Adam, ''they could attack back at any way possible, so we need to move in right there. If Atlantis can assist us, that is more power to us. But those of us with powers need to attack first on, while those of us obsolete in the battlefield sneak into the Watchtower, with Constantine.''
''That is an ideal plan,'' Luthor said nodding, but seemed to think there could be a better way. ''Where do you assume they are keeping Firestorm, if they even have him there?''
''Owlman will lead us him,'' Batman replied quickly. ''If his is as smart as he shows to be, once the Crime Syndicate charges those of us charging at them, he expects us those of us smuggling Constantine to sneak in and wait for us.''
''So, which of you will fight and which of you will smuggle me in?'' Constantine asked getting on his feet.
Watchtower
''And where were you?'' Owlman asked Ultraman who was sniffing Kryptonite fumes like junkie. ''You were supposed to go to Kahndaq for those terrorists, but Grid says you went to Scotland.''
''It was a damn 3rd world country,'' Ultraman grunted sniffing fumes and his own blood. ''It wouldn't have gone anywhere and their stupid enforcer is lying in the ocean.''
''What the hell were you even doing in Scotland?!'' Owlman said biting his teeth. ''Were you there for those children? Did you just fly in and grab them? Because I didn't expect you to have enough brain cells to-''
''You know what, Thomas?'' Ultraman said taking his last sniffing. ''That 'smartest one in room' bullshit is getting old and one of these days you forget where to stop and I forget why you are important.''
''Sure, just remember that I'm the only one here who always thinks where this organization is going while everyone else just improvises and goes on a whim,'' Owlman said turning to Grid and the machine's work station. ''Has there been any word from my Talons?''
''Still-enforcing-Gotham's-underworld-and-following-your-plan'' Grid answered only acknowledging Owlman.
''At least someone is,'' Owlman muttered, before seeing Outsider entering the room. ''What so good did you find at the house?''
''Differences mostly, but this was something I thought I should take with me,'' Outsider said carrying a framed portrait that was covered with a white cloth. ''It is still unfinished and lacks some people, but I can imagine the story it is trying to tell.''
Owlman took the portrait that looked like the ones back on his Earth of his family. Except this one was done recently and wasn't done yet. It had Bruce in it, older Bruce than the one Thomas Jr had been forced to kill younger, his Alfred, without the bleached skin condition that the Joker had given to Outsider, four boys, unfinished in details but enough to see one tall, two average height and one short ten year old. In the corner there was also a sketching of a girl with Asian heritage in her facial structure. Where Batman had never taken over the Court of Owls, he had built himself a small group of potential subordinates in his own faction in the other side of the law.
''I can see why you took it,'' Owlman said putting the cloth back on it and put it down. ''I now realize I should have had one made too with Annataz.''
''Wouldn't have made any difference, Master Thomas,'' Outsider replied. ''It wouldn't have the trip here with us.''
''Hey, look who playing brave!'' Johnny Quick said leaning to the windows and before speeding away said: ''Make sure you have popcorn!''
Eternal night as the Sun was blocked by the Moon. There were a lot of cadavers in the ground as Leonard Snart walked towards what he understood was a certain death. All alone with Cold-gun, he walked closer and closer until he was in close enough proximity to be heard inside the Watchtower.
''This is Captain Cold of the Central City Rogues!'' Leonard called out, pulling of the hood of his parka. ''I have come to tell you we are resigning from your employment, as your orders go against our code of conduct!''
Nothing happened, yet.
''The Rogues won't working for the Crime Syndicate anymore! Is that okay with you!?''
Nothing, again. Leonard kept himself ready with his Cold-gun already out of holster. The gamble was a big one. He had hoped that if the not-Flash would be in charge, he would have known a version of Leonard Snart in his world and so wouldn't kill him straight out. As paranoia of not-Flash probably moving to fast for blind eye, Leonard exhaled while sweating and tried one last attempt.
''If you're okay with this, then cool. It's nice to know you're not that huge douche-bags as you let us know here later-''
ZOOOOM!
''Lenny, Lenny, Lenny,'' Johnny Quick gloated running in circles around Leonard. ''You you actually were a police officer in where I came from. Partners with Mick Rory.''
''Heatwave,'' Leonard said recognizing the name of is fellow Rogue.
''Rhonda and me got the upper hand on you two back home and gave you the chance to walk away alive, if you fought to the death. Winner was killed any way.''
Leonard lifted up his Cold-gun on reflex, but Johnny Quick's speed was faster and he pushed Leonard down and grabbed off the Cold-gun.
''And in this world you're actually a criminal with silly freeze gun,'' Johnny Quick said standing over Leonard, playfully handling his-
''It's not a freeze gun, it's a Cold-gun,'' Leonard said from the ground.
''Pfft, like there's a difference,'' Johnny Quick said pushing Leonard to stay on the ground with his leg.
''There is a huge difference,'' Leonard shot back. ''Mr. Freeze has freeze gun, Killer Frost has icing powers, but I am the master of absolute zero. I specialize in slowing down movement of atoms and molecules, stopping them cold on their tracks. You and the Flash move at high speeds for me to stop you from moving.''
''Huh,'' Johnny Quick said thinking about what Leonard had said. ''That actually does sound different. You're not as dumb as you look, but you were still stupid enough come here.''
''Oh, I'm many things, like a heavy metal fan for example,'' Leonard said, trying to keep Johnny Quick from killing him yet. ''You know this Swedish band called Sabaton? You're in the sniper's sight, the first kill tonight, TIME TO DIE!''
Raising his voice helped Leonard from letting Johnny Quick hearing the bleep-voice from the Cold-gun as the voice activation was turned on.
''You're in the bullet's way, YOU'RE WHITE DEATH'S PREY, SAY GOODBYE!''
TZAAAAAP!
''YAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!'' Johnny Quick screamed in agony as the Cold-gun fired on voice activation and hit both of his legs, putting them on icy necrosis just above the knees. ''Snart, SNAAAAARRT!''
BLAM!
A shot was fired from the distance, shattering Johnny Quick's icy necrosis to millions of tiny pieces od cold ice. All the pain he was now suffering, including the phantom pain of not having his legs, made Johnny Quick make a very horrified face as he was shaking.
''I let the Flash sometimes call me and the rest of the Rogues by our real names,'' Leonard said getting back up and looked down on Johnny Quick. ''That's because of professional respect. But since you're not the Flash-''
STOMP!
CLAASH!
Leonard stomped on the remains of Johnny's legs on the ground, making them even smaller and then hit what was still left of his legs with the Cold-gun's handle.
''-that's Captain Cold for you.''
Gatekeeper was occupied, this was her chance. The power the robes had given her were extraordinary. Not only could she use her wand again, she could apparate longer distances than she could have before. And that wasn't all, it was like her stamina had increased too as she could run faster and longer than she had actually bothered to before.
With what she had been given to, she had made her way to the enemy stronghold where her husband had was kept as hostage. Getting past the gatekeeper wasn't an issue since he had been occupied with the Rogue and now she needed to get to her husband.
Where to start? Where could Ron possibly be? This tower had once been where their friend had worked from wit his allies. Why had she not ever tried to ask to get to see it first hand? It would have been easier that way. Why-
''You are feeling it, aren't you?''
Phantom Stranger, he was following her.
''Feeling what?'' she asked still moving on.
''When I was sent here to carry out my sentence, I could feel His presence when I put on my robes,'' the Stranger replied following her. ''It was then when my eyes lost their color and my hair was also stripped of it. I can imagine you must be feeling as if you have lost something with what you have gained.''
''As long as I'm still fighting for something I haven't lost anything yet,'' she shot back, without turning back to Phantom Stranger. ''And only thing I feel right now is the love for my husband and the need to save him from here!''
''That must be what she felt when she was returning to her village,'' the Stranger muttered behind her. ''She had a son and a mother.''
She shook her head and waved her hand at Phantom Stranger. Whatever he was trying to tell her didn't matter to her. Only thing that mattered was getting to Ron.
''Point me!'' she said pointing her wand in front of her, making a very advanced version of the Four Point spell to. ''Point me to Ron!''
Moving to where her wand was pointing to, she ran to a large metal door.
''Alohomora!'' she snapped at the door, which didn't open. ''Alohomora! ALOHOMORA!''
The door didn't bulge.
''EXPULSO!''
BOOM!
The door exploded open and she ran inside to see Ron hooked to a machine of some kind at the end of the room. Most of his body was covered in a cocoon-like shell and his arms were spread to Y-position. The screens on the machine looked like they were monitoring his heart beating. But then she saw something more horrible. Her children were hooked to the machine as well through some kind of cords in their chests. The heart monitors showed them to still be alive, but unconscious.
''Ron?'' she asked trying to awake her husband. ''Ron! Wake up!''
'''Mione?'' Ron said waking to her voice. ''What has...?''
''Don't bother to release him!''
She turned around to face Deathstorm.
''I though I had all the magic drained of this world, but somehow your's still works,'' the burning nuclear death spoke to her. ''Somehow you escaped.''
''First Pandora was your prisoner here?'' She asked standing between her family and Deathstorm.
''Death is the only escape,'' Deathstorm replied, but for some reason didn't attack her, yet. ''She killed herself and you are here in her place.''
''I'm here for my family!'' She yelled and pointed her wand at the living dead nuclear storm. ''How do I get them freed from this!?''
''You can't. They are locked to their own lives. This is machine is deathlocked to keep their prisoners alive. As I said,'' Deathstorm said pointing at the heart-monitors: ''Death is the only escape. His death will release the children and the children's death will release him.''
Now she got worried and scared. She could not possibly choose the between killing her children and her husband. This was cruel and evil, and judging by the grinning look of the skull face on Deathstorm, he knew this too.
In that distance, Deathstroke held up his rifle and looked through the skope with his still functioning eye.
''Johnny Quick is down. Captain Cold did it,'' he told to Batman and Luthor standing behind him, ''and I just finished it.''
''Inform your troops in Atlantis to rise from Ocean as soon as possible,'' Batman said turning to Mera. ''We need to move this before they get the chance to retaliate.''
''You heard the man, powerhouses,'' Constantine said gesturing his cigarette at the battlefield. ''So now we need to- JESUS!''
Between the two cliff-sides around the Watchtower there was a dark green movement raising from the ocean.
''Those look like Atlanteans,'' Batman said pulling back his binoculars and looked in their direction.
The beings raising to the shore were dark green and they looked like human sized, humanoid sea-monsters.
''No,'' Mera replied shaking her head. ''It's the Trench.''
''The What!?'' Luthor asked threatened. ''What is coming at us!?''
''Get John Constantine to free my husband and the Justice League!'' Mera yelled as orders while raising he arms in the air, beginning to draw as much water to weaponize with her hydrokinesis. ''Those things need to be be thrown back to the waters.''
Author's notes: If you have read Aquaman comics, you should know what the Trench are.
Red Hood and the Outlaws have recruited those that they have could, Atlantis is rising, and the Green Lanterns are on their way. What could go wrong here?
Replies to reviews:
Wonderbee31: We will hopefully know soon. With Ron and their kids hooked to the Deathlock machine, she is already going through emotional struggling and it is only going down hill here.
Miss Singing in the Rain: I did not referrer to Hermione by her name. All she was was 'she' and 'her'. And with what she ignored from Phantom Stranger, could this already be it?
Tiger5: I'm not sure, but from where we are going, that could happen now.
ultraguyver: Again, did you have something to say or did you just press the button by accident?