Part 2: When Worlds Collide
Writer's Note: I blame any errors, screwups, people in the wrong or different places, all on Superboy-Prime. He made it so punching a wall excuses mistakes, now I'm gonna milk it for all its worth.
Time.
It's money. It heals all wounds. It flies when you're having fun. Only it tells. You can cherish it. Waste it. Kill it. It tells you when to play ball, to call it a day, a night, and when to pay the piper. You have plenty of it. You don't have enough of it.
It's fluid.
That's not an expression mixed in with all the previous ones…usually. In this case though, it's horribly true.
And it may be the only thing that can save us.
"…again express my consummate onus with this preposterous and ostensible theorem that you are utilizing due to the Brobdingnagian amount of discombobulating events and imbroglio we have just suffered…"
"Birdbrain, stop talking and keep calculating."
"But, but…"
"I know you're scared. You don't have to hide it. Both at what's happened and what we're doing. You don't have to be. What we're doing…all the things that have happened…this is the only way. We can't just sit around and wait. Not after what happened last time."
"Sigh. It is therefore an insurmountable task to talk you out of this cockamamie daftness you call a plan?"
"You have a better one, Birdie?"
"…Very well, I shall continue. But I must insist you stop calling me by avian pseudonyms."
"…I agree…on some of his…worries. This is…quite risky."
"That's our life though, big guy. You knew it when you signed up for this."
"I'd like to note I never did."
"Believe me Adam, maybe if this works we can start to get some answers."
Somewhere else.
Titans Tower.
"These vital signs continue to dance on the barest edge of life." Viridian commented, as if she was describing the weather, a common habit of robots that were humanoid in design and manner but lacked the inborn factors that humans possessed, like emotion. She continued typing away, while Nigel paced furiously in front of Superboy's medical capsule, the hybrid clone floating there like he was Mark Hamill's stunt double in The Empire Strikes Back. While his wounds had been minimized, his body continued to self-destruct, a condition Nigel couldn't do a damn thing about, and it drove him utterly mad. He was a battlefield doctor, and a warrior, he should have been able to do more…and he'd been able to do nothing. Superboy-Prime had savaged him and tossed him aside like garbage, Sophie had vanished into thin air, the world was going to hell, there was another Earth in the sky, and what had he been able to do? Threaten a helpless Elijah Versaw, until his superpowered possible girlfriend had shown up? That had felt good, briefly, but Nigel had swiftly sunk back into self-loathing over his helplessness…
"A notice Mr. Hastings: such rapid, jerking movements will only increase muscle tension and slow down your own healing process, which is something that would be impractical to say the least."
Nigel cursed at Viridian in Blacktrinian.
"It was unnecessary for you to counter my advice with the suggestion to place such a thing in such a way inside me, Mr. Hastings."
Nigel growled loudly.
And then, suddenly, the door to the medical facility snapped open, and Nigel spun, going for his glaive…until he saw it was Robin, with Beast Boy, Wonder Girl, and Speedy III.
"Success!" Beast Boy crowed.
"You found something?" Nigel asked.
"Something, yes. Don't know if it will work, but it's better then nothing." Robin said as he walked in. He'd located and led an assault on one of Lex Luthor's genetic research bases, hoping that Luthor's hand in the hybrid's creation would mean he might have some type of a cure. He had, or he dearly hoped he had, as losing Conner would be another blow that he wasn't sure if he could recover from. Bludhaven…gone, just like that…
Robin shoved his feelings down. He had to act. He'd keep moving forward, just like during all the other tragedies in his life. He'd survived seeing his city brutally battered and half destroyed three times, he could stomach this as well. He had to act.
And so he did, as he administered the antidote, and stepped back as Nigel and Viridian began doing scans and calculations to check its effects.
"…Preliminary reports show great promise. It appears the antidote given is indeed reversing the effects. Chances of full recovery: 73 percent. And climbing." Viridian said, as Robin, Wonder Girl, and Scalpel all visually relaxed, Robin for not failing, Wonder Girl for her feelings, and Scalpel because he took it as a sign that while he may not be much help at times, he wasn't a complete waste.
"All right then. We'll stay a short while to make sure there isn't a drastic turnaround, but we all have to get to Bludhaven as soon as possible. They need every body they can muster."
"I have some notes and reports you may find useful, collected during our observations of Conner." Nigel said.
"Good. Bliss, come with us." Robin said, addressing Viridian.
"Query?" Viridian asked.
"We need EVERYONE, Viridian, including you. You can take your eye off Superboy for the moment. Come on."
"As you wish." Viridian said, as the small group left the room.
Perhaps not the best idea.
No later then ten seconds passed before he emerged.
Robin was right on Bludhaven needing all the help it could get. It had dispatched a few dozen superheroes already to join rescue operations already on the scene. The group had arrived as fast as possible, ready and eager to help.
And even the most battle scarred of them were struck silent as the ruins came into sight.
"…My god…" Bumblebee said, as she looked at the blasted wasteland that had once been a city. She'd had some hard times in Steel City, but nothing like this, looking on the flaming mass of steel and concrete, more destruction then she'd ever thought possible.
"It's the Final Night all over again." Savior heard someone say, though he couldn't make out just who. And even he wasn't cruel enough to reply that this was worse: as mad and as murderous as the Lord of the Night had been, at least his destruction had been, for lack of a better term, clean. Chemo's impact on the city hadn't just ravaged it, it had bathed the whole downtrodden metropolis with toxic waste and radiation, blighting the land, poisoning it, possibly forever.
"…Ok…" Savior said, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant. "Here's the general plan! For the moment, we need to focus on rescue! BE CAREFUL! There's radiation and all kinds of poisonous garbage everywhere! I can't really say where to start…" Savior said.
"So let's not debate. Come on!" Gauntlet said. "N-Savior, we're going to take Lyn-Lyn into the city, at least look for survivors, she can take radiation, no problem."
"You do that. But Rob, be careful. Your artifact…"
"Will cover it." Gauntlet said, and then was gone, without a quip or a pun. If anything, that made Noel feel worse: you knew it was a crisis when Gauntlet wasn't making jokes.
Savior took a step back and gathered his thoughts. He had to help, and he still had to get his information to the right sources, and there was also…so much…he felt overwhelmed…
A comforting hand was laid on his shoulder, and Savior glanced at Raven, who looked fresher then she'd been when they'd set off.
"I don't know if you should go in Raven. Your powers may be back, but I don't want them fading out in the middle of a waste dump…"
"That's a risk I'm willing to take." Raven said. "I'll be ok. Just…"
Noel almost felt the surge himself, as something flashed over Raven's eyes, making them go as wide as saucers, before she groaned and stumbled, putting her hands to her head.
"Uhhhhhhh…nnnnn." Raven hissed.
"Raven!"
"I know…ow…well Noel, the good news is the Spectre has been reigned in. He'd been bonded to a new host, I don't know who…but he's out of our hair…but magic's still in utter entropy, now my empathic abilities are spiking without me being able to reign them in-ARGH!" Raven yelled, as her head was barraged with thoughts.
"The Brotherhood just dropped Chemo on Bludhaven like a bomb!"'They burned right up, right in front of me…!"
"That Earth in the sky, what does it mean…?"
"I'm looking for my wife! Has anyone seen my wife…?"
"MY WIFE!""We have to save her…"
"WE HAVE TO SAVE LOIS!"
"Raven! Raven!" Savior was yelling, and Raven realized she was on the ground, as she finally managed to get her powers under control again…not that it helped.
Not with the flashes of what she had seen.
"Raven? Are you all right?" Savior asked worriedly.
"…No." Raven said. "My powers are settled but…Noel. A great love…it's dying. And it could destroy us all."
"What?"
"…I can't explain. We don't have time anyway. We have to go help that city." Raven said as she got up and lifted off the ground. She had no idea if she, with her fluctuating abilities, might leave it alive, but then again, this wasn't the first time such a possibility had been posed to her.
So she went.
"…might never come back. You may just exacerbate our problem…"
"Hey Birdbrain, what part of less talking, more working don't you understand?"
"Yes ma'am…"
"He has a point. This is something none of us might come back from. For one reason or another."
"And since when has that ever stopped us before?"
"Nothing can be said that will prevent me from going. After what I did, and what you did for me…I have to. I have too much to make up for."
"Right, but keep it cool, Jack. You can do a lot more good if you're operative for the next 30 years."
"If…this works…if it doesn't we may not…be operative for the next 30…seconds."
"Eh, I always came out ahead in gambling."
"You would say that Miss Without Fear."
"What are you afraid of, tubby?"
"THAT'S IT! YOU…"
"GUYS!" Thundered a voice that was never meant to thunder anything. "We're ready."
Titans Tower was well defended. It would take a truly brilliant mind to slip through the defenses unnoticed.
But the man who had come from the shadows, who now stood in front of the glass cylinder that held the recovering Superboy, had such a brilliant mind, and so much more.
"Hn." Lex Luthor said, as he looked upon the recovering clone. The outfit he wore could only be described as anachronistic: a purple and green bodysuit with a flared collar, a far cry from the expensive power suits he had, until recently, always draped his form in. But times had changed, indeed, this outfit was a costume of times past, a time that should have faded from history and memory…if not for a few beings without memories. And with great power. Perhaps the fact that Lex Luthor was actually sporting a five o'clock shadow, once an anathematic thought to him, was no greater example of what they had wrought.
From President to this, all in such a short time…but Luthor, despite lacking Noel's inside information, had more then enough brains to put most of the puzzle together, and Luthor had a feeling that his downfall might be intricately linked with the actions of the others, including his other self. And he hadn't run out of options yet, even if this, one of his best, had proven to be such a disappointment. First breaking his control…and now this.
"You should've been stronger." Luthor said. "You were MADE to be stronger then this. That's what my father used to say to me. Stand up. Face your obstacles. Don't run away from anything. But you did. You ran away from me, from yourself…"
Luthor trailed off, as he placed a hand on the cool glass tube.
"Look at what that doppelganger did to you." He continued. "And mine. He thinks he's smarter then I am….They always do."
Especially Superman. Luthor thought, as he briefly allowed himself to be lost in memory. Of how it all started with Superman's supposed death, how that allowed Luthor to help create the clone that floated before him, the clone that should have been his greatest weapon…but it had all gone wrong. All of it. And at the heart of it all, Superman.
Luthor was far too intelligent and refined to let his hatred do anything like seethe in him…but it burned there all the same. And in the moment, had anyone been watching, perhaps someone might have found the stalemate counter argument to Noel's "We're only human" one, noting that Luthor too was human, indeed, was perhaps the highest example of what separated homo sapiens from the rest of the animals: intelligence. Luthor had perhaps the most brilliant mind on Earth…and it did nothing but drive his dysfunctions, fuel his hate for Superman, and deep down, could never dispel the notion that Luthor would never admit: that for all he could do, even kill Superman and make him stay dead…Superman would always be better then him. No matter what history or society said, Luthor would know it. Just by existing, he was better…and for that, Luthor would hate him until the end of time, perhaps even beyond.
Humanity. Such a wondrous being. Such a terrible creature.
No wonder the world was so messed up, now moreso then ever. Only that fact drove Luthor's assistance. Only naked self-preservation could dispel his usual furies. Once it was over, he'd go right back to it. Even with the intelligence he possessed, he seemed helpless against the darkness in his own heart. Humanity's greatest tragedy.
"But for all my trouble up north…" Luthor said as he produced a small crystal from within his outfit. "I got a look at their technology."
Locating Superboy's clothing, laid out for him, Luthor slipped the crystal into one of the pockets there.
"So should you…" Luthor said, and then, just for a moment, a spark of human emotion crossed his face, the faintest trace of tenderness, but for a brief moment. "My son."
"He's not your son, Luthor!"
Luthor's body snapped to face the door, as he saw Robin, Wonder Girl, Scalpel, and Viridian begin to advance on him, weapons drawn. He thought Wonder Girl had been the one to speak.
"If you hurt him…" She threatened, her golden lasso coiled around her hands.
"Hurt him?" Luthor said, sounding honestly insulted. "I'm here to help. When he needed someone to protect him the most…HE wasn't there. Where was he?"
"Where was who?"
"Where was SUPERMAN!" Luthor snapped, now sounding honestly angry.
"Off helping others. Something Superboy would understand. And so would you, if you had a spark of humanity in that black heart of yours." Nigel retorted.
"Yeah! Don't pretend like you actually CARE about him, Luthor!" Wonder Girl snapped, tossing off her lasso. Her powers might be fading, but she could probably deliver enough of a jolt…
Luthor moved faster.
"Don't bother with your lasso, Wonder Girl." Luthor said, as he grabbed his left wrist with his right hand. "When you have an evil doppelganger trying to tear you out of history…" Luthor hit a button inside his wrist with his thumb. "You learn not to stand in one place too long."
And Luthor vanished, his form disappearing as Wonder Girl's lasso fell over where he had been. Sensing movement, Robin whirled around to find Luthor standing behind the four.
"A short range teleporter?" He said.
"You really were trained by Batman." Luthor said with a touch of wry sarcasm.
"I am commencing to put Titans Tower under lockdown." Viridian said, as she went for her own wrist device, even as Wonder Girl whirled around, clearly wanting to take another crack at Luthor.
"Hold it! Cassie, Bliss, wait." Robin said.
"For what?" Cassie retorted.
"He's not here to harm Superboy."
"How can you be so sure?"
"…Because Luthor was the one who supplied me with information on how to keep Superboy's cellular structure from deteriorating." Robin said. He was loathe to admit it, but it was true: he'd have had no idea where to look otherwise.
"He's right, Wonder Girl. If I wanted to hurt Superboy, he'd be dead by now." Luthor said matter of factly.
"That doesn't mean we let you walk out of here." Wonder Girl growled, as she started forward…before Robin restrained her.
"Children. I'll do whatever I please." Luthor replied arrogantly. "And right now, believe it or not, I'm on your side."
"Robin!" Came a new voice, and then Beast Boy entered the room. "We heard you arguing. Is everything all…LUTHOR?" Beast Boy said incredulously as he saw who had snuck into the Tower.
And was now leaving, as he once again pressed the button on his wrist.
"Like you always say, Titans. We're in this together." Luthor said, as he faded from sight, as Beast Boy's eyes darted back and forth, wondering if he should be doing something.
"It's ok Gar. He's leaving." Robin said. Indeed, Luthor was gone.
"It's okay?" Beast Boy still asked. "What the hell was Lex Luthor doing here? Dropping off a Get-Well card?"
"No. It's unimportant. Luthor's not behind these disasters." Robin said.
"That doesn't mean we just let him go!" Wonder Girl protested.
"Bludhaven, Cassie. That's priority." Robin replied.
"Hey. While you guys were out, Gar and I got a message from someone named Skyrocket." Speedy III said, having entered the room with Beast Boy. "It was scrambled, there's hardly any communications getting out of Bludhaven…all we know is that rescue operations are officially under way. As best they can be, and from what I gather, it's not very good."
"And considering Noel's there, that's probably really saying something." Beast Boy said. "Elastigirl and the Doom Patrol are going to meet us there. So are Toni and Tara. We should hurry."
"Agreed. I think we can leave Conner here for now. The rest of us will take the T-Ship and…" Robin began.
"No Tim. I'm going to stay with him." Wonder Girl said. Tim blinked.
"…All of you, nothing's changed, go on, go! Including you, Viridian!" Robin said, and everyone quickly left the room. "…I suppose you have your reasons. You're sure you're staying?"
"Since Paradise Island vanished, my powers are fading…you saw it Tim. I can barely fly any more. I'd just get in the way. Conner needs me more then you do. Someone has to stay and make sure he's really all right. Someone has to be here when he wakes up."
Robin didn't know what to say, so he said nothing.
"Just go. Don't dawdle for me."
"…Ok Cass. The Titans communicator probably won't work in Bludhaven, but if you need anything, just call. Good luck. On everything." Robin said, and left.
"I will…thank you Tim." Wonder Girl said.
She heard the ship take off less then two minutes later, as she knelt and looked at Conner's floating form.
"…Why did all this happen?" She asked. "That freaky Superboy said we were ruining everything. He acted like all the bad stuff going on was our fault. It was like…he missed the simpler times…I do too."
Wonder Girl got up, turning away from the capsule, as if she didn't want Conner to see the tear welling up in her eye.
"I miss the way things used to be…I miss the way we used to be…" Cassie whispered.
And by being turned away, she didn't see Conner's eyes blink open. But she heard him.
"MmmGg…"
"Conner?" Wonder Girl said as she turned around…and saw the teen rearing back with his fists. "CONNER?"
With a crash of glass and a rush of medicine-scented liquid, Conner smashed his way out of the tube, collapsing at Wonder Girl's feet.
"Conner! Are you ok?" Wonder Girl asked, as she got on her knees and lifted Conner up, smiling despite the suddenness of it all.
"Mmmgmgggf…" Conner mumbled through the breather on his face.
"What?"
Conner pulled the mask off.
"I said 'Get me outta here.'" The teen breathed, as Cassie smiled again and helped him up. "Whew. Smell that? It's like taking a bath in Nyquil. What happened?"
"You had to undergo some genetic treatments, but they said you were going to be ok now. You just need some time to recharge." Wonder Girl said, as she helped Conner from the room.
"I'm good enough…nnn…"
"Take it easy Conner."
"I gotta help…whoever I can…where's Robin? Where are the other Titans?" Superboy asked, as the two left the room.
In the end, the two would leave the Tower, but not to join the others. Conner was too drained, and Cassie too weak from her fading powers. They would go elsewhere. But what they did is a tale for others to tell.
Let us turn to more pressing matters…
Bludhaven.
There were some things Noel Collins never admitted, to himself much less to others, and one of those things was that in certain cases it didn't matter how much you trained, how much you learned, how much you prepared, or even how much you experienced. When it came down to the crunch, you either had it or you didn't.
Noel had been in disaster zones before. His city had seen multiple attacks from extremely powerful villains, and not all of the damage had a Deus Ex Machina attached to lessen or nullify it. Not to mention his aiding in various natural disasters. And unlike most, he'd actually spent time trying to harden his heart to such things so he could function efficiently in them.
But, as he landed on a building that looked stable, he was wondering if all of those things simply wasn't enough for what he had seen for the past several hours. He was soaked with sweat, filthy with dirt and other containments, and his head was spinning at the sheer scope of it all. It didn't matter that by then plenty of other heroes had shown up, and were doing their best to aid them. Their communication was minimal, distorted, worthless, because the city was still festering with toxic and radioactive pollutants, Chemo's final 'Screw you' to the city it had destroyed. Some of the areas were so intensely irritated not even the armored or robot heroes could get in them, not like they would find any survivors there anyway, but it disrupted their communication lines, and besides, anything pumping out deadly amounts of emission waves like the kind Chemo emitted wasn't good in any location. Noel had seen the Metal Men, some defunct superhero team called the Power Company, and had seen John Stewart and Plastic Man off in the distance a few times, and he'd tried to give some of them suggestions, but unlike the teenage heroes Noel carried no weight with them, and they were too busy doing their own thing.
It was something he couldn't take control of. Noel let that bother him for about a minute, and then went back to work. He could still control himself. He could still do some good.
But without any support (even Raven had left, telling him he was too busy hovering over her to do his job), it was all starting to bear down on him.
"…Damn it Collins, you will not be proven a hypocrite." Noel growled to himself. "Illegitimis non carborundum."
" 'Don't let the bastards get you down.' Nice." Came a voice, and Noel glanced to the side as Green Arrow landed nearby. Of all people, Speedy II was with him.
"Well I'll be damned." Noel commented: the two of them didn't hate each other, but there was a lot of bad blood nonetheless.
"That kind of stuff doesn't matter here. What's going on in your end?" Green Arrow asked.
"We're doing what we can…"
"Yeah, that seems to be the catchphrase here." Green Arrow said, as he cocked another arrow. "Do more!"
Noel let him go without a snarky counter. This wasn't the time and place, and besides, Ollie was right, as Noel swung off in another direction.
Nearby, the 'Hero Club' was doing what it could to get survivors out of a dangerously listing building, but even Paragon and Legend didn't have the proper strength to hold up hundreds of tons of stone, and the building began to buckle…
"THAT'S ALL OF THEM!" Gauntlet yelled as he leapt from a window holding a family and two teenagers unrelated to them. Paragon flew as fast as she could, grabbing Legend and pulling her away as the building went down, thick dusty smoke enveloping the group and filling their lungs.
"Ok…now we…need medical…" Gauntlet coughed, wiping at his eyes…and spotting a figure above them. "HEY!"
Savior dropped down.
"Savior, where are the doctors?" Gauntlet snapped before Noel could say anything.
"…Wha…uh…" Savior said.
"Doctors! Now!"
"…I…I can't…" Savior said, as he tried to put his frazzled brain in order.
"Damn it Collins, now is NOT a good time to be falling apart!" Paragon added. Savior stared at the two. This was the goof and his pining girl next door? Where was THEIR inner crisis?
Not letting it control them. That was clear. And Noel would rather put up then shut up.
"Hang on, give me two seconds…"
"We don't have two seconds!"
"You just WASTED two seconds saying we don't have them!" Noel retorted. "Ok, I remember now. What're the exact injuries…"
Gauntlet wasn't the only one hunting for medical aid.
"Hey, where are the med units set up?" Skyrocket yelled to her group as she cradled an injured, elderly man, her group currently consisting of Green Arrow, Black Lightning, Dr. Light II (The good female one) several of the Metal Men, and a few others.
"I think just over the water…west? Anyone know for sure?" One of the Metal Men replied, Skyrocket couldn't remember which one.
"Signals are too weak. I'm not having any luck reachin' Doc. All communications are down!"
"Just keep the building standing, Lead. Doctor Light and Black Lightning are shinin' a spotlight inside, trying to find survivors."
"My daughter! Where's my daughter!" A female bystander cried, just one of many voices raised in anguish as the heroes desperately tried to snatch order from unimaginable chaos.
Fortunately, more help was on the way, as the T-Ship flew over Bludhaven, put in autopilot as the cockpits opened.
"Let's go Titans!" Beast Boy said as he flew down as a hawk, the rest of the Titans swiftly following.
"Ok guys, priority is getting people out! We don't know just what the radioactive levels are…" Robin began.
"Robin, is that you?" Sparked Robin's communicator. "John Stewart here. I'm trying to tap into all available communication devices with my ring, overheard you…the radiation levels are deadly in the heart of the city! And they've contaminated the water supply!"
"Who's in charge here?" Robin replied.
"Believe me kid, your guess is as good as mine. I'm just trying to get people out of this death zone…!"
Chaos.
"Someone help me…"
"Total casualties for 7th street, not even the cockroaches survived…"
"Tin went WHERE? Those temperatures will turn him into molten slag! I know he was jealous of me, but that's just stupid!"
"He was brave. He found six survivors, Mercury."
"After we're done here, we go find HIM."
"Hey, anyone see Metamorpho? These people are parched! We need drinkable water!"
"Gar? The fire's spreading!"
"That's the last of them Speedy! Just hang on to Dumbo, kids!"
"I turn INTO water Plastic Man. I don't make it."
"Well why the heck didn't anyone bring some? Anyone seen Firestorm?"
"He's in space. I think. Or helpin' find the Spectre."
"Well, where are those medic units? I thought someone said they were north."
"I thought they said west? Who's in charge of this rescue operation anyway?"
"Hey Noel, why don't you have everyone running in lockstep by now?"
"Amy, I know you don't like me, but now's not the time. I tried, now we're doing this. And don't use…actually forget it."
"Mom? I need to find my mom!" A random female bystander cried. "She needs medication…"
The bystander's words cut off as she saw the car, out of control, careen at her, and she began to scream…
And then Robin swooped down, snatching the woman up and out of harm's way, even as the driver crashed into a brick wall. Robin saw the body fly through the windshield and hit the wall as well, and grimaced to himself.
"I got you." He said to the woman, more for his own benefit then hers.
"Why? Why would anyone do this?" The woman cried. "Who would want to hurt so many people?"
Robin had no words for her.
And somewhere in the city, looking at the burning ruins that it had become, another hero had no words for it all.
Nightwing stood there, stoically, his face not betraying a whit of the storm of emotions that stirred within him.
Deathstroke. He never should have listened. He should have realized he'd offended the madman's twisted sense of pride. But he thought he'd had it covered. Thought there was enough honor in among the madness to keep Slade Wilson at bay. But he'd been wrong, and his city had paid a horrible price.
Nightwing had already struck back to some degree, but other things were more important now. He'd take the rest of his pound of flesh from the mercenary later…if there was a later.
So much chaos…
And for the moment, all Nightwing could do was watch.
He was too far away to aid the people anyway.
"Help! Somebody please…!" The father of a family begged.
"No one's coming! No one can hear us!" The mother said cynically, even as she clutched her young daughter to her, as the roof caved in and rubble plummeted towards them…
"Do not be afraid."
The shadows enveloped the three. The rubble struck nothing but air and floor as they were spirited away.
"I hear you."
The shadows remerged outside, as Raven unwrapped her cloak from the three…and then collapsed to her knees.
"Th-thank you." The father said, apparently not realizing what was going on. But the daughter did.
"Mommy, is she okay?"
No, Raven wanted to say, she was not ok. She had been another flux, or spike, or drop, or something in the fields, and Raven was once again being barraged by thoughts and experiences, and due to the irregular eruptions in the fields of magic Raven had no idea if she was seeing present thoughts, echoes of past thoughts, or ripples of future thoughts, or all of the above mixed together, and then some.
"I need to help my wife."
"It's going to be ok now, Lois. We're home."
"Nnnnn." Raven hissed, holding her head as she tried to collect herself. She had to help people, not lie here paralyzed by ghosts of memories…
"Please! Help me!""Help!"
"Tap into whatever magic is left and summon the Spectre for help."
"Why would he help us? He changed magic."
"None of our powers are working right."
"We can't just sit here…"
"I'm so afraid…"
"Afraid…"
"AFRAID…"Raven's eyes snapped open. This wasn't the echo of thoughts. This was something more powerful, more purposeful, and more malignant.
"Are you afraid too…daughter of Trigon?""What's happening to me…" Raven whispered.
What was happening was simple: a direct assault on Raven's mind…albeit a relatively mild one.
"Heh." Chortled a man dressed in relatively normal clothes and a long green coat…and with the top of his head composed not of skin and hair but seemingly crystal, showing his brain, pulsing with some kind of strange power.
"What's so amusing, Psimon?" Shimmer asked.
Heroes were not the only ones in Bludhaven. The Society, the cause of the disaster, had sent its agents too, with its far less altruistic motives. In one realm, their grouping went one way…but in this, perhaps due to another punch on the crystal wall of time, things were a bit different.
"I can sense Raven in proximity." Psimon chuckled, enjoying his cruelty. "She's nearly overwhelmed by the chaos around her. I'm just pushing some more buttons. You mention Trigon and her pulse quickens by ten percent." The master psychic said. "She's not the only one. Their 'rescue operation' is a disaster."
"Don't forget why the Society sent us here." Said Sabotage. In another world, perhaps someone else said that…but not here. Mammoth stood silently in the background, arms crossed, as if waiting.
"Of course, Sabotage. To collect the genius that was dropped on this fair city." Psimon said, as he turned his attention to what lay before him.
It looked all the world like a floating head with faintly human features, except this head was the size of the average person. And made of some kind of clear plastic, which was cracked. Which didn't stop it from slowly sucking up the green poisons around it, the liquid already having filled the first third of the strange cranial construct.
"Chemo." Psimon said, for that was what it was. "But there's not much left anymore. I sense a few raw thoughts. Some confusion." Psimon said, and chuckled to himself. "Like a child who spilled some milk. He's actually SORRY for what he's done."
The good humour vanished quickly.
"Well, you'll have to do it again, Chemo. The Society says Gotham City's next."
Maybe Psimon shouldn't have spoken so loudly. Some people have big ears.
"MONSTERS!" Came a bellow, and then Scalpel's form leapt over some rubble, his glaive snapping out. "YOU WILL PAY!"
"Oh, please." Sabotage said, as he snapped his fingers, activating his probability altering powers as Nigel was suddenly seized by agonizing stomach cramps, aborting the alien's attack as he crashed to the ground. "He should talk about monsters. Hey Mammoth, don't you have…"
Sabotage was still too young to realize that just because an attack has come doesn't mean that one wave is it, as Robin dropped down from another angle.
"Actually, I think he's quite apt." Robin said, as he hurled down several orbs. A knockout gas exploded from them on impact.
"Why do you want to do this?" He snapped, landing, as the gas claimed Sabotage, Shimmer, and Mammoth before they could react…but not Psimon, he'd escaped the narcotic effects, which was bad: his mental powers far outweighed Robin's combat ability, even if Nigel got back up. He didn't back down though. "Why? Money? Power?"
Psimon glanced back at his fallen companions, though his expression remained unconcerned.
"Oh, we HAVE those already, Robin." Psimon said, as he looked back at Robin with a cruel half-smirk. "We're doing this for fun."
Robin barely dodged the blast of mental energy Psimon sent shooting at him.
"And fun is listening to all the thoughts of all these naïve people in spandex." Psimon said, as Robin barely dodged a second shot: he wouldn't dodge a third. "You actually believe you've been put on this Earth to HELP people."
"Yeah, we do." Said a new voice. Not Scalpel's.
Psimon didn't even get a chance to look, as a pair of lips pursed and then blew, exhaling a hurricane force wind.
"AKKK!" Psimon yelled as the wind easily picked him up and flung him into a nearby building with bone rattling force, the impact scrambling his brain as he fell, crashing down on some rubble.
He never even got to look up at the tall, muscular figure, clad in red and blue, the yellow and red S on the shield still standing tall in the face of all the devastation.
"Sorry to interrupt Psimon." Superman said. "I thought you were Brainiac."
Psimon had no reply: he was unconscious.
Superman rejoined Robin, who had by then been joined by Beast Boy, Speedy III, and Raven, who was checking on Nigel (who was, as usual, insisting he was fine).
"How's Superboy?" He asked.
"He's doing better." Robin replied.
"And the situation here?"
"Actually…" Robin said, as he tried to find the right words…and did. "It sucks."
"Um, can you say that to him?" Beast Boy asked his companions.
"There's no organization. No supplies. Despite several efforts." Robin said.
"But there is a lot of confusion." Raven added, her powers now calmed once more.
"Someone has to take charge." Robin said, as Beast Boy recognize the Batman starting to come out in Tim. "So that's what WE'RE going to do." Robin said, as he actually pointed at Superman as if he was issuing him commands. Which stunned the Titans there.
"Did Robin just point at Superman?" Raven asked. Superman said nothing, as Robin realized how presumptuous he was being. It faded…somewhat.
"I…it's frustrating Superman." Robin said.
"I know it is. But you're right. They need a leader, and you're more then qualified." Superman said. The Teen Titans stared. "I've discovered that Chemo is trying to gather himself back together, and as he does he's removing all the toxic and radioactive wastes in the area. If I attack him, he does this faster to defend himself. Once I get him all together, I'll deal with him…but I can do something to help you first."
Another Earth, floating in the sky.
And on it, things were much more calm. Much more peaceful. But not entirely without strife.
"Are you sure she's going to be ok?" Floral asked, as Sophie wiped the sweat from her brow.
"I've done what I can…her metal body is much more of a hindrance then a help." Sophie said, looking down at the still form of Platinum Blonde, who had suffered a devastating, face shattering blow at the hands of Superboy-Prime. "But she'll be able to breathe for now. We'll worry about her eating and…"
The words were abruptly interrupted by an unexpected thing: Rocko fell apart.
"Lorant!" Scorcher said, as she ran over. "What's wrong?"
"Ugh…magic…going wacko…" The golem said. "When my soul…ended up in this form…it was magic that kept it here, magic that kept it together…magic's going down the tubes. I'm not sure if I can hold myself together…if I can even stay alive…"
"Don't talk like that Lorant. You're tough. Just rest. We're in no hurry." Scorcher said, as she turned to Zippy. "Sal, search for others. There must be SOMEONE else here. I want to know how we got here, why, and just where HERE is. Hurry!"
"Youbetcha." Zippy said, as she raced off. She was never so glad she didn't rely on the Speed Force as she was now.
"I guess we wait…damn. What's going on?" Scorcher asked.
"If I had to guess…that's our Earth. It's like we're on a copy or something." Sophie said, pointing at the Earth in the sky, a sight mirrored on this new Earth-2. "But…why us? Why aren't all the Titans here? What was the selection process? I can't say." Sophie said. She wished Nigel was here, less because she wanted him then she knew he'd be going insane with her fate so up in the air. But all she could do for now was keep an eye on the injured Platinum Blonde, and hope that the next surprise she got wasn't in the realm of her last one.
"Ok, listen up. I don't want to have to repeat myself so really, listen. Now…I'm going to be the tether."
"I still think that the idea you can do this because you came out of her is stupid…"
"No one asked you! I'm the tether! Tubby here is going to use her old powers to augment me and her new powers to augment the whole process, something that you, greenjeans, are going to aid with with your shiny things. D-Man's hammer is going to act as a focuser and a key, and Birdbrain is going to make the whole thing flow smoothly with what he build. The rest of you are going to cross your fingers, hang on, and hope that I know what the hell I'm talking about so we don't blow most of our city off the map or get permanently phased out of sync with reality or end up in the Dimension of No Shrimp or do something more ordinary like die. Now, we do this, as said before, there may be no coming back. In all kinds of ways. So if anyone wants to back out, do it now. We won't hold it against you."
Silence.
"I thought so. Ok now, Jack and I…we're going to be the leaders."
"What?"
"That's what I've decided!"
"But…"
"Jack, you want to make up for your sins? Then get on the front lines."
Silence.
"This is crazy."
"So's our life. You should know that by how you got here, pinky."
"MY NAME IS…"
"IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOUR NAME IS!"
"If you people are done reciting the former apophthegms of a supposed practitioner of Greco-Roman close quarter combat, we're ready. I just need the word."
"All right then. Off into the wild blue yonder."
"Up up and away." Someone else said grimly.
And speaking of the man that phrase described, he had been very busy, as he flew to every single hero in the Bludhaven city limits. The Green Lanterns (Hal Jordan had joined John Stewart), The Outsiders, and dozens of superheroes Robin had never met or even heard of. They had all briefly taken the time to regroup in the park.
And Superman had said, to more then a few people's surprise, that the Teen Titans were in charge.
Robin expected questions. Disagreements. Arguments.
There were none.
Everyone listened to Superman.
And Robin was reminded, once again, just what made him the one who stood above all others. Because it meant that everyone listened to him, in turn.
Sometimes, Robin didn't feel comfortable taking the lead. Sometimes he butted heads with others, sometimes he wondered if he was qualified, and sometimes he wondered why he, little more then a child, should be so foolish to think he should be doing this.
This wasn't one of those times. He wanted to do it, and he was comfortable doing it. And so he did.
A reformed for the moment group called the Ravers headed off to get fresh water and medical supplies. The Metal Men continued to repair the bridges in and out of the city. Others went back to their tasks of search, rescue, and in a few cases, assisting Superman in his regathering of Chemo slash leeching the poisons from the ruins. Everyone got to work, organized at last.
"Great work Tim. Always knew you had it in you." Savior said as he dropped down next to Robin.
"Then I suppose you have a valid reason for not listening?" Robin replied.
"Yes, actually…look Tim, I know this is a bad situation…but you've finally gotten it together. And I still have that information I need to give."
"Noel, is it really…"
"YES, Tim. I'd stake my life on it."
"…Ok, you can go then."
"Tim, not just that. I need two things. One, Superman's going off to regather Chemo. Do you think you can get his attention when he's done? I'd like to ask him to give me a lift to Gotham City, if he can manage it. I'd ask Raven, but her powers are too unsure. Better someone else, or at worst, on foot."
"I can probably manage to ask him. As fast as he is probably won't take more then five seconds. What's the other?"
"…Tim, under any other circumstances I would never ask this…"
"This isn't any other circumstances. Out with it."
"…Batman." Savior said. "Tell me who he is."
Robin went silent.
"I have to tell him what I've learned. But I don't have time to set a neutral ground. I need to find him as soon as possible, and chances are, that's on his home ground. And only you can point the way Tim. Please. I NEED to know."
"…How do I know you're Noel Collins?"
"That's a stupid question. You're stupid Robin." Savior replied. That was the code phrase the two had.
"Hang on." Robin said, as he pulled Savior aside. "This is not the same as when I revealed who I was to you Noel. Batman has spent most of his life thwarting geniuses who have tried to figure out who he is, and he mainly does that by only telling people he can trust. So Savior…I need you to swear. On everything you have. Your honor, your future happiness, your children's heads, EVERYTHING."
"Everything. I swear on it…" Savior said, as a Shimmer blade formed in one hand…which he ran across the palm of another, cutting a shallow wound. "And my own blood, may any and all beings strike me down if I violate this trust."
"…All right." Robin said, and pulled out a strange device from his belt. "Sound baffler. No one within a foot of us hears this." Robin said, as he leaned in.
And he whispered four words into Noel's ears.
Noel's pupils dilated, just a bit.
"…You know, that's perfect hindsight bias sense." Savior replied.
"Robin!" Came a yell, and then Speedy II swung down on a cord, holding a child with the other. He set it down, and as the child ran to his parents, the archer turned to face the teen. "I just saw that kid Hotspot. He spotted some more Society members around. Close."
"All right then. Let's go." Robin said.
"Until Superman's done, I'm all yours." Savior said, as he went with Robin and several others. He hoped Superman took a few more minutes: he had some aggression to work out.
And so the Titans, and all the heroes, did what they did: they saved people. They stopped evil. And while maybe they didn't do it with a song in their hearts, they did it anyway.
Considering that they eventually had to work with the background eventually coming to contain a reformed Chemo, a giant toxic monstrosity of viscous green ooze, as it traded blows with Superman, that was saying something.
When Superman finally picked up Chemo and hurled him into space, that did wonders for morale.
It didn't last long. Reports were coming in, all around the world. Bludhaven wasn't the only city in crisis. The world was going to hell in a handbasket, and the heroes couldn't stay concentrated in such numbers for so long, as they began to depart, for various destinations.
Savior was hopping across some buildings and wondering what time it was when Superman suddenly popped up in front of him, causing him to stop dead.
"Robin informed me. Form something to protect your face and fasten your clothes to you, and then hold your breath." Superman said. Savior didn't ask questions.
Earth-2.
The gathered heroes had plenty of questions, but they had no one to ask them of. Zippy had managed to locate the remaining heroes who had been warped to the Earth: the vigilante Flamebird, and the Justice Society members Wildcat, Hourman, Sand, STRIPE, and Jay Garrick, who had been known as the Flash until the death of the Speed Force, and the Elementals, carefully carrying Platinum Blonde, had made their way to them. Rocko barely made it, her body seemingly failing more by the minute. Scorcher had sent Zippy out to search the city for anyone else, and then retired to look after Rocko and Platinum Blonde. The other heroes didn't have any better ideas on what to do.
"…Where'd everybody go?" Flamebird asked for roughly the 17th time.
"Well, from what I've seen, I think it's more about where we went Flamebird. I'm bettin' that Earth up there is ours." STRIPE said, indicating the Earth floating in the sky.
"Well, why did WE come here?" Flamebird asked.
"Where is here?" Hourman echoed.
"I can't tell you that Hourman, but I can tell you something." Sand said, as he examined some dirt. "It's not natural. It looks more like this place was manufactured. The amounts of oxygen, silicon, and aluminum are in perfect balance. All the pollution in the ground is…"
"Gone." Jay Garrick finished.
"…He speaks the truth…I can…sense it too." Rocko said from where she lay on the ground. "Not…natural…just…gone."
"Just like the people." Wildcat said. "But why do I got this funny feelin' in my gut, Jay? Like we ain't the only ones here?"
"We were selected by some process. It stands to guess that others could have been, as well." Sophie said. "But who?"
Sophie could not have known the answer, could not have seen another city elsewhere, on that same world. Only two people were there, before a building called the Daily Star. Unlike the heroes in Keystone, they knew only joy.
It would not last. And it would only be the beginning.
The journey was so brief that as soon as it had begun, it had ended, as Savior found himself floating with Superman above a giant mansion on the offskirts of Gotham City.
"Here we are." Superman said, as Savior dismissed his protection. "Just go in and ask for Alfred. I have to be elsewhere."
"Yes. Go." Savior said, as he dropped down. Within a second, Superman was gone.
Savior realized it six seconds later as he was hunting for a door.
"ARGGGGH! YOU IDIOT!" Savior yelled to himself, as he realized that he could have given the information to Superman as well. He was sure he would find it useful…but it was too late. With the speed at which he was moving, he could already be across the United States, out of earshot even for him.
Kicking himself, Noel kept looking. How could he have made such a slip? Well, too late now. He was here, and he had a job to do, as he found a patio door. It was locked.
Then, with a Shimmer pick serving as a key, it was unlocked, as Noel made his way into the shadowy innards.
"Hello! Anyone here? HELLO!" Savior yelled. "Hello! HELLO! Damn." Savior said, as he looked around. "Is no one upstairs? Assuming Tim didn't lie to me, there must be a concealed entrance somewhere in this house, but I don't want to tear it apart to find it…"
"That won't be necessary." A refined British voice said, and Savior whirled to see the form of a semi-elderly butler standing in a nearby doorway. The fact he was holding a shotgun somewhat ruined the welcome.
"You're Alfred?" Savior asked.
"Yes. Alfred Pennyworth, at your service. I believe I do not know you though…"
"You don't have to playact for me, Alfred. I know. I know who Batman is." Savior said. Alfred's facial expression didn't change at all, so Noel kept talking. "And in a way, it makes perfect sense. People always talk about how dark and how dangerous Gotham is and how it's filled with lunatics, and all that, and people when they talk about that stuff always ask "How did this happen, where did it begin"…well, a lot of people settle on one event: when Thomas and Martha Wayne were shot in front of their son, in Crime Alley, by a killer who was never caught." Savior said. "Knowing that…it's almost easy to know who Batman is. Who else could he be, but their son, Bruce Wayne?"
Alfred remained silent, and he held the gun steady.
"Look, I can understand your actions, but I need to speak to your master, PLEASE. I have vital intelligence, so to speak, and he's probably the best one who could use it. If you want I'll let you hold a gun to my head the whole time and pull the trigger if you get even the slightest inkling that I…"
"No need for that, young sir." Alfred said, lowering his gun. "In my early youth I spent a fair bit of time on the stage…and I know it is virtually impossible to act such outright distress. Come with me." Alfred said. Savior sighed in relief, and followed the butler. "I assume young master Timothy provided you with this information."
"Only because I begged him too."
"He was quite clear on the specifics of such a gift?" Alfred said as he went to a grandfather clock and began adjusting the hands.
"Yes."
"…The master may not be pleased."
"He can get mad at me later, if there's still an Earth left." Savior said, as the springs on the clock sprung open and slid aside, revealing the door.
Batman didn't much care for waiting, but at the moment, he didn't know what else he could do.
He was to blame for much of this, in some ways. He had built the Brother I satellite, and while he had no hand in it becoming Brother Eye and unleashing the OMAC threat, he had put the game in motion. Now he had to end it.
And much to his surprise, others knew as well. Like Booster Gold, the hero from the future, who had shown up with someone Batman had never seen before: Jamie Reyes, the new Blue Beetle. Gold claimed that being from the future, he knew that Batman was going to hunt down Brother Eye, and would fail to find him…but things had changed. Batman might not be able to locate the cloaked satellite and its malevolent AI program, but Jamie supposedly could.
And considering Batman's brooding ignorance had led to the death of Ted Kord, the Blue Beetle before Jamie, Batman could at least include them in his battle plans. But they also required other superheroes and metas, not all of whom had arrived.
And Savior wasn't on that list, so it was understandable that he wasn't exactly pleased when he just popped up. Coming down the stairs. With Alfred.
"…Collins." Batman said. "What's the meaning of this?"
"I'm sorry sir. But this is definitely a desperate time." Savior replied. "…Robin told me your secret."
Batman's eyes narrowed a bit.
"…Look, afterward…"
"Forget it. You clearly have a very strong reason for coming here, what is it?"
"Well, knowing you you may already have this information already but…"
"Out with it."
"You know of that other Superboy I assume."
"Yes. He also destroyed the Watchtower and took J'onn. I know of him and his companion, a doppelganger of some kind of Lex Luthor."
"Alexander Luthor." Savior replied. "Batman, while I was fighting that Superboy, I inadvertently read his mind. I found out his memories…and stuff Alex Luthor told him. An inside line, you might say. I thought you might find it useful."
"…I've learned much myself, but there are gaps that I do need to fill in. So tell me then. Start from the beginning."
"Well, that's the thing sir. If I just talk, this will take at least an hour, time we don't have. And if I type it up, even if I use my powers to speed it up, you still have to read it, more time we don't have…"
"What are you suggesting?"
"…I put the information straight into your synapses." Savior said, as he formed a Shimmer tool. "No reading your mind, just inserting information. It will take, at most, thirty seconds…but there's a chance of brain damage. A small chance, very small…but a chance. So I'll understand…"
"Do it."
"Are you sure sir…"
"Do it…" Batman said, as he gestured for Booster Gold to turn the new Blue Beetle away. Savior wondered why he did that…until Batman reached up and pulled back his cowl to give Savior easier access.
He looked so tired. So…human. And yet he wasn't slowing down in the slightest.
Neither could Savior, as he sent out the Shimmer, inserting it through Batman's ear canals and nostrils.
"This will hurt, just a bit. Ok, here we go sir." Savior said, and began the 'download'.
Since the brain wasn't exactly designed to undergo such a process, Batman didn't get so much a coherent line of events as he did a storm of emotion and image, and he winced, just a bit, a slight trickle of blood flowing from his nose.
"Don't worry, it will clear up. It did for me, it should do so swiftly…" Savior said, as he kept pumping it in.
It actually took 26 seconds.
"Are you all right sir?" Savior asked.
Batman said notice, as he replaced his mask, as he let the new information flow over him, as he took another look at the puzzle…
"…Thank you. This will help." Batman said, as he turned away and headed for the computer. He could make a few adjustments…
"I am glad sir…but I need to return to Bludhaven, and my mode of transportation to get here has already left. If I can borrow a car or something…"
"Go with Alfred, he'll provide you with something. I do not need you any more." Batman said. Savior took it in stride.
"…Good luck sir." Savior said, as he hurried off.
"…You too, child. You too." Batman said, more to himself then anything, and then went back to work.
In Bludhaven, the Titans and remaining heroes continued their work, ignoring their need for rest or release. Elsewhere on the planet, other heroes did the same.
In Wayne Manor, a car that cost more then most people earn in five years roared out of an aboveground garage, Alfred looking after it with a slightly stunned expression. And he had thought the master could drive recklessly at times.
And on Earth-2…it was all about to fall apart.
As a promise was revealed to be false, and a destiny, one that had long been denied in the good intentions that pave the way to hell, came to pass.
And in that, a great love died.
And in that, something terrible began once more.
"Did you hear that?" Sophie said. Everyone looked at her. "No one?"
"Heard what, miss?" Wildcat asked.
"I don't know…it was very faint but…I'm not sure. Sounded like a drawn out O…maybe another syllable in there…"
"Hmmmmm…" STRIPE said, as he checked his systems. "Could just be background noise of some kind…but to be sure I'd have to sift through it all…"
"Hey." Zippy said as she suddenly appeared. "GuysI'vegoneoverthewholecityand…"
"Whoa! Sal! Please…try and speak slower for the people who don't know you." Scorcher said.
"Ohsorry." Zippy said, and concentrated. "Guys…I've checked the whole city, even the areas around it. There's nothing there. No people, anywhere. This place is empty. We're the only ones here."
"Of course, this doesn't answer the question of why." Scorcher said. "Zippy, did you by any chance hear anything lately?"
"Hear…nonothingspecial…"
"Guys." Rocko said. Everyone turned to the teen turned golem turned rock pile, only a few traces of humanity left. "Feel the ground."
Confused, the heroes did just that.
"Um…feels…a bit warm…not really anything besides that…" Hourman said.
"There." Rocko said. "Did you feel that?"
No one had…except Sand, who thought he might have felt something.
"I'm more connected to the ground, and its vibrations, due to my nature…just REALLY concentrate." Rocko said. The heroes did, but they didn't feel anything.
Well, Sophie thought she might have, but it was up in the air: it had seemed like a very faint buzzing under her hand.
"I think I see what you mean, Miss…Smith wasn't it?" Sand said. "Very minor Earth tremors."
"Sowhatwe'rehavinganearthquake…" Zippy said.
"No. These aren't tremors from within the Earth. Those are different. These are tremors caused by outside forces. We're apparently quite far away from wherever ground zero is so that only I and Sand can really feel them…but I can." Rocko said. "I could be wrong, but somewhere, close enough, someone is hitting the Earth, or worse, hitting something ABOVE the Earth, with such strength that it's making the Earth shake to the point that you can feel the faintest vibrations here. So you might want to ask just who has that much power…and just how, and why, they're releasing it."
Sophie had been right: she had heard something. Her bat mutation had allowed her hearing to pick up a trace of it. A name. A name mournfully called so loudly it had shattered the windows of a whole city.
A name that Superman had heard clear enough, even on another Earth. How it had crossed the airless vacuum of space, he had no idea. But he had heard it. He had been drawn to it.
If Noel had given him the information, perhaps he might have had a much better idea of what to expect. But he hadn't. And so he had been taken by surprise.
And he had once again found himself in battle, with a man who wore his face, albeit older, more worldy, and racked with terrible pain…pain that swiftly transformed itself to rage.
And so Superman and his other battled, and throughout this battle, somehow Superman saw the other's life. It did not slow his fists, as he did not agree with what he saw.
And hence the battle went, each utterly believing themselves to be in the right, each commanding the power of a god.
Their blows shook the world.
Quite literally.
And all the while, a pair of blue eyes watched it all.
Clad in an outfit of gold, a head of short cut curly red hair on his face, and a relatively handsome visage pinched in thought and study, Alexander Luthor stood and watched this latest event unfold. He was not surprised: he had predicted it happening, as he had predicted most of the crisis. It was all part of his master plan, the one that had resulted in so much trouble and sorrow for the DC universe, and had unleashed Superboy-Prime on the teenage heroes with devastating results.
He only had one companion now, in the arctic lands that held his reality-altering tower: Roger Hayden, aka the Psycho-Pirate, one of the few beings who naturally remembered the original Crisis and its full extent. Hayden had served the Anti-Monitor, and now in turn served Alexander Luthor, his emotion-warping and controlling powers having proven immensely useful in Alexander's machinations. Hayden, clad in his red and black outfit, the golden Medusa Mask covering his face, was not as sure as Alexander was, but then again, Alexander mused, that was no surprise.
"The Lois Lane of Earth-2 has died?" The Psycho-Pirate asked.
"She was never going to survive. A price for the future." Alexander replied. "I will miss her."
"I sense very little sorrow in you, Alex." The Psycho-Pirate replied. Alex shifted his position, just a bit, and in turn Hayden shifted his.
"Watch yourself, Psycho-Pirate." Alexander said. "The tower has been activated. You move too far away from it and you'll be transported back to Earth-2 like the others on this planet."
"Um…and what about Superboy-Prime? Does his disappearance not concern you?"
"Superboy served his purpose. I have everything I need." Alexander replied. He could tell the Psycho-Pirate was still disquieted by his emotions, but he didn't care. Hayden was pathetic, and a lunatic on top of it. His unrefined mind could never understand Alexander's motivation. What it was like to be created simply to save the universe and then forced to watch everything you had never had and everything you never would.
True, once he would have cared about Lois' death. But those days were gone. His time in that heaven that was anything but…it had cleared his vision. For that, he had manipulated Superboy-Prime, as well as Kal-L and his wife Lois Lane-Kent. Indeed, Kal-L never realized that the reason his wife grew weaker in the heaven, a weakness that had allowed Alex to manipulate him as well, was because of Superboy-Prime's actions, pounding on the crystal wall of time in blind, adolescent rage, changing events in the universe, causing events to secede and supercede each other, and resulting in alterations and changes and contradictions and other such events…punches that were also affecting Lois, sending out waves of power that struck her body, making her weaker, making Kal-L, who somehow could not sense the waves, more desperate, having spent too long with her, unable to accept there were some things even he could not best. Alexander had known this, and used this, as he had used everything.
He had no regrets. Indeed, it was something Kal-L had said himself.
"We sacrificed so much for this universe. When is it going to do something for us?"
Alex knew. Never. It was damaged too much, shot through with taint and weakness. It was useless to Alex, except as a tool. Like Superboy-Prime, now lost, maybe forever. Like the Psycho-Pirate. Like the Society and Maxwell Lord and all the rest.
He would use it all to get what he was owed: a perfect Earth.
No matter the cost.
And he would succeed. This he was certain of. True, there were blips on his radar that he hadn't foreseen, but even he couldn't predict everything. They were just a few bumps on his road.
He waved his hand, calling up a myriad of screens of Earth-1, as all his labors shook the planet and brought disaster to it, and the so called heroes tried their best to stop them and save people.
Who did they think they were kidding?
Time for the next step, as Alex cast away the viewscreens and opened another…never noticing the one that showed Noel driving like a maniac through Gotham before it disappeared. Indeed, Noel Collins was so far off Alex's mind in importance that he probably wouldn't have noticed if Noel had been waving a big sign saying "HEY ALEX, I KNOW YOUR SECRETS! SORTA!"
Of course, such a thing could very well prove irrelevant…
Noel really wasn't surprised he found it, but he was outraged anyway, as he stomped on the brakes. The street was in chaos, as people took advantage of the troubles of the world to serve their primary interest: themselves.
"HEY!" Savior yelled as he jumped on the car to get the attention of the looters. "Stop it! For once, just ONCE, can't you face a disaster with your better sides rather then immediately giving in to…"
That was as far as Noel got, as the crowd drowned him out with their own yells of outrage as they pelted him with debris. Noel growled and formed a shield. They were yelling about the Maxwell Lord video, of course, and how he had no right to tell them what to do. Though he didn't know it, Wonder Woman had faced a similar situation, and gotten the same reaction.
"Oh, THAT'S the way it's going to be, huh?" Savior yelled over the crowd. "We save your lives over and over, but the second some video without the proper context pops up, you think it was all a front! That we're only out for ourselves! Well believe me you goddamn hypocrites, if we ever decide to act only for ourselves, you BETTER PRAY…"
A Molotov cocktail flew through the air, catching Noel by surprise as it burst on one Shimmer shield and sprayed flaming gasoline at him. Savior jerked away, trying to avoid it, and then a gunshot slammed into the hood of the car. He couldn't stay here: he was far too exposed, and though he hated to leave the car he had no choice, as he retreated to the rooftops. The mob fell on it, tearing it apart. Noel grimaced again: damn it, that had been a gift, and it was such a nice car.
"Lousy ungrateful pieces of garbage." Savior seethed. "Such magnificence in their design, so much time to perfect it, and yet test it and they revert right down to pigs groveling in the mud. Why do I put up with it?"
"Because you can see through your own darkness to know it's the right thing."
Savior jerked as Raven emerged from the shadows near him.
"Raven! What the hell did you do?"
"I warped."
"You what? Raven, you…"
"At the moment I am feeling fine. I figured that it would be the best time to retrieve you. Bludhaven still needs help."
"…Of course." Savior said, even as he glanced down at the mob. "…Raven, why can't they do more? Why do they just have to offer more supposed evidence that this is all hopeless? Why is it that when we need them to stand, all they do is seek a dark corner to act on their basest impulses? Why is it always us who have to do the work?"
"You know there's no real answer to that Noel, and if you try and find one you'll drive yourself to distraction. We have to act the best we can, and hope others rise to the occasion. And even if they don't, we can't change them."
"Sometimes I wonder if that would be for the best." Noel muttered, and then walked over. "But we don't have the time to debate it. Let's get back to Bludhaven while we're still able."
Famous last words.
The war between Supermen continued, even as a mighty Amazon sought to end it…
And out in space, Cyborg wondered just what he was accomplishing. He had joined this mission, along with his teammate Starfire and other heroes, lead by the recently returned Donna Troy, to supposedly keep the peace between two hostile alien nations and deal with a strange rift in space that was sending out destructive energy waves, but half the time Cyborg didn't know what he was doing, which was not a good thing, people were DYING. The hero called Air Wave had mysteriously 'spontaneously combusted', something had happened to the matter controller Firestorm, though Cyborg wasn't sure on the details (he was still here, empowered, and fighting though, so hopefully…), and in an attempt to hold back the power of the rift the heroine known as Jade had died.
And then there was that giant pair of hands that had emerged from the rift, briefly causing chaos before withdrawing. What the hell was with that?
Well, whatever was going on, it seemed to be getting organized, and it looked like Kyle Raynor (had he gotten a makeover mid battle? Weird) was in the lead. For the sake of feeling like he was doing something, Cyborg would follow.
He hoped his teammates back on Earth were all right…
A golden lasso tried to end a fight, and while it stopped the blows, it did not stop the words.
"You had the opportunity to make this Earth into the perfect world it had the potential to be and you wasted it! That's why I had to come here. That's why my Lois died!"
"To bring back YOUR perfect Earth?"
Until the right words were finally set to make it clear.
"If you're from this Earth, it can't be perfect. Because a perfect Earth doesn't need a Superman."
And in those words…realization.
But too late.
"Power Girl from Earth-2." The Psycho-Pirate said, looking at the men and women sealed in the side of Alexander's golden tower, build from the remains of the Anti-Monitor and his focus rod for his plans. "Nightshade from Earth-4. Lady Quark from Earth-6…" The Psycho-Pirate trailed off as he came across an unfamiliar face. "But what about this one?"
"Breach. The Captain Atom of Earth-8." Alexander said, and cut Psycho-Pirate off before he could make the obvious question. "An Earth that, if the Multiverse had continued to exist, would have been home to Kyle Rayner, Helena Bertinelli, and Jason Rusch." Alex said, naming the fifth Green Lantern, the Huntress, and the latest Firestorm.
A Superman, still in shock from his realization, begins to move…"The men and women plugged into the tower will help me reform the core Earths." Alexander said, as he floated up to his center of power, crackling in the mouth of the Anti-Monitor's discarded armor, purplish-red power erupting from his body. "But I need the rest of the Multiverse back as well. I need thousands and thousands of worlds. Worlds I can sift through like sand, one grain at a time, combing and mixing until I find it. Until I find the perfect Earth."
And out in space…
"Uh…Professor Stein?" The hero known as Firestorm said to his, quite literal, inner voice. "Those hands are back."
Indeed, the gigantic pair of hands was emerging from the rift again, Alexander's hands, his warping of time and space apparent in the size difference.
"What should we do?" Firestorm said.
"Follow us, Firestorm." The Red Tornado said as he flew past. "Kyle Raynor has an idea."
Not quick enough.
"Brother Eye! Prepare to receive and redirect." Alexander ordered.
SYSTEMS READY. VIBRATIONAL FREQUENCIES CATEGORIZED AND PROCESSING.
"I still don't understand!" The Psycho-Pirate called. "Why go to all the trouble of hiding your actions from Superman? Although I love a good masquerade, why play it for so long?"
An elderly hero, looking over the body of his lost love…"I needed him alive." Alex replied.
As he spoke one word.
"Alex."
"The Superman of Earth-2 is the key to the return of the rest of the multiverse." Alex said, as he felt the power course within him, as he prepared to bring it to bear. "For some reason I can't explain or understand, and probably never will…"
The power shot from Alex, into the heavens, striking the satellite of Brother Eye.
PROGRAM EARTH SPAWN ACTIVATED. REDIRECTING FUEL FROM EARTH-1 TO EARTH-2. TARGET SUBJECT FOUND AND LOCKED.
"…EVERYTHING comes from Superman." Alexander Luthor finished, as the power shot down.
And why wouldn't it?
He was the very first. He created the entire genre. He was the original.
He is the key.
As the power struck him.
"ARRRRRRRGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Kal-L bellowed, as the power surged through him, and he fragmented, one becoming many, as he became every aspect of himself he ever could have been, some seen, many never, so many possibilities, all realized…
As the two Earths followed suit.
A great crisis had made one Earth two.
And now it made it many once more.
One for every star in the sky, and beyond.
All existing together.
"AIIIIIIIIIIUUUUAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!" Raven screamed in the darkness of mid-teleport, as Noel felt her body go as rigid as steel, as the sheer shock and backlash of Alex Luthor's rebirth slammed through all fields, tearing through Raven like a wrecking ball, as she began to lose her concentration, to dissipate before she had finished, causing her and Noel to scatter and become nothing, and she couldn't let it happen but it hurt so much she had to get back anywhere anyway…
And all Noel could do was hold onto her and keep the faith, as Raven tried to use the immense surge in power that came with the distortion to her advantage but it was…
Black. All was black.
BOOM. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA…
"What the hell was that!"
"It sure didn't sound good!"
"HOLY…!"
"X'hal."
"…WALT! START IT! QUICKLY! WE CAN'T WASTE ANY TIME! WE HAVE TO GO! GO! GO!"
"Starting!"
"All right everyone, we only get one crack at this, so don't let me down! GO!"
And even as outside a city began to vanish, the abuse of time having altered its existence, a group focused their powers to escape and try and stop it…
"Walt come on!"
"…I'm sorry guys. I have to make sure everything goes smoothly here. Besides, I'd be no use there. Just go."
"But…"
"I know you'll succeed. So no goodbyes. Just…see you later."
"Walt…"
And black. All was black.
Except for one, as he gazed at a laboratory that was collapsing around him, and wondered why he was so strangely calm.
Earth-1.
Where did the time go? It was supposed to slow down in the bad times. Then again, maybe that was just another side effect of it all.
"…repeat, this is Nightwing…" Nightwing said into the communicator. In all the chaos, in the rescues and the actions and whatnot, he'd somehow ended up in the place where it all really began for him: Titans Tower.
"Everyone's gathering at the Tower…"
Nightwing's speech was abruptly interrupted as a figure suddenly ran into the room, causing him to start.
"…Dick?" Noel said, cradling the body of Raven. "How…never mind. Help me. She's dying."
Chicago.
"Did you hear that? Over the communicator…" Geo-Force said, as he and other heroes fought to contain a devastating earthquake.
"We'll respond with the others as soon as we get these people to safety!" Replied Katana.
In another world, Dick was not interrupted. This is not that world.
"Someone went wrong as she was warping us. We nearly got lost in mid-motion, as it were…Raven has an artifact here, in her room, it serves as a beacon just in case…but to make it all the way from there to here, her max range is only about a hundred miles, she tried to ride the surge…but I think that just added to it…we made it, came out in her room, but she collapsed, I can't get a rise out of here even with my powers…" Noel babbled, a very rare occurrence, and one Dick stopped by putting a finger up. They were in the Titans' med-room, Raven on a bed, as Dick tried to do what he could to help…which wasn't much.
"…She's burning up, but her pulse seems strong enough. Lungs are clear, right?" Nightwing asked.
"Yeah…"
"Look Noel, I hate to sound heartless, but I can't focus on this. I need to get in touch with people. She probably just wore herself out. And if she is dying, it isn't something I can do." Nightwing said, as he got up. "But I think it looks good, all things considered. The rest is up to her."
"…Of course. Go. We interrupted you." Savior said, and Nightwing hurried from the room. He hated to leave a teammate down, especially a Titan…but he had to focus on the here and now, not the mystical mumbo-jumbo he knew little about.
"Raven…" Savior said, as he sat down next to her, smoothing her hair. He took his pulse himself, and it was firm enough. He hadn't found any nerve or brain damage in his own scans, so…
He gave her something to help with the fever and kissed her forehead, and then left the room, hoping and praying that it wasn't the last time he saw her.
"Everyone, repeat, this is Nightwing." Dick said into the communicator, starting over. "To all who hear this. Everyone's gathering at the Tower. We're going to take on those responsible for threatening our home together."
New York. Sadly, there, Dick's request went underheard.
"Down there!" Mary Marvel called, pointing, as flood waters swept the city.
"I see them Mary!" Firehawk replied, as she swooped in with Captain Marvel Jr.
"Don't worry folks, everything'll going to be all…" Captain Marvel Jr began.
And then, much to Firehawk's shock, he vanished. As did Mary Marvel.
After all, their old home, Earth-S was back in business.
"This is our last stand." Nightwing went on.
Bludhaven.
"I can't do this…I can't do this…I can't do this…" Argent whimpered into the arms of Bumblebee, the stress having finally taken its toll.
"We need more ambulances Robin!" Speedy III called.
"Communications are down throughout the city. We have to make do with what we've got." Robin replied: the battle to save Bludhaven was still on.
And Tim had long since lost his communicator.
"…This is it." Nightwing finished, as he looked up.
At the empty room, no one in it but him.
"…This is it…" He whispered to the room, and then put his hand on his forehead.
Just for a brief moment, he flirted with despair.
Noel ran into the room, catching Nightwing in the act, so to speak. He was just about to ask what was wrong.
He never got to.
KRRRRRRRRSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
The shockwave was so strong it shattered every window in Titan Tower and nearly threw Savior on the ground, Nightwing's years as an acrobat giving him better balance as he whirled around, looking at the broken windows. Savior ran to his side, looking out to see what was going on.
He saw nothing, when he looked down…left…right…up…
Nightwing wasn't at the right angle to see Savior's jaw drop to the ground and his eyes dilute to pinpricks…and then Savior was gone, as he went out the window and yanked himself up the Tower side.
"Hey! What the…!" Nightwing yelled, as he debated following, and then decided that since he didn't have a grappler as versatile as Noel's Shimmer he'd just stick to the stairs, which he took three at a time.
He found Noel on the roof as he slammed out through the door…and stopped dead in his tracks, as shocked and as horrified as Noel.
The sky was filled with Earths. You could barely see any space, the horizon was so thick with them.
Once, all these Earths had existed in parallel dimensions. At most, five had existed in the same small space.
There appeared to be thousands of them now, all filling the sky.
And they were dying.
Some were crumpling, shattering themselves in explosions beyond human capacity to measure, and others were crashing into each other, breaking themselves to bits, the sky filled with destruction on a scale beyond anything humanity had ever witnessed.
Worlds had lived once more, and now they were dying before the eyes of the Earth…and the two heroes on the rooftop. It was their destruction that had sent such waves of force that had rattled the tower.
"…My god." Was all Savior could say.
Nightwing blinked, as his mind tried to wrap itself around it all…and couldn't. So he didn't, as he turned and slapped Noel on the shoulder.
"I don't think he's involved. Come on. We have even less time then before."
"Hey, guys!" Came a voice from the sky, and then Superboy abruptly dropped down on the roof.
"Conner!…You're ok?" Savior asked, a bit surprised by Superboy's abrupt entrance: talk about dropping out of the sky.
"A day in the sun did me good. Now…what the hell's going on?" Superboy asked.
"The skies are filling up with parallel Earths." Nightwing replied.
"I can see that. How?"
"I'm not exactly sure, but it's got to be connected to that Superboy that attacked you. He's the one that blew up the Watchtower…"
"And kidnapped Martian Manhunter." Savior finished. "And you're right Dick. It is."
"I know Noel. I spoke to Batman. That Superboy…he was involved in some kind of plan to replace our Earth."
"Before the Flashes kicked his ass and disappeared." Superboy said, as sorrow crossed his features. "He kept telling me I was a failure."
"If it's any comfort, he knows two things. Jack and…" Savior began.
"He's not just talking about Conner. They're judging ALL of us." Nightwing said.
"You know who these psychos are, right?" Superboy asked.
"Yeah." Nightwing said.
"Yes." Savior echoed.
"Well…" Superboy said, as he reached into his pocket and took out a shining crystal. "I know where they are."
"…Uh, good." Savior said, as he kicked himself for not checking the memories to see if he had that knowledge.
"Everybody else inside?" Superboy asked.
"Only Raven, and she's ill. No use at the moment. Everybody else is trying to keep our Earth from falling apart." Nightwing said
"If it wasn't for a freak teleportation shift, I wouldn't be here either." Savior said.
"It's just us." Nightwing finished.
"Us? You mean you Dick…and just you, Noel?"
"Hey, wouldn't be a story if I wasn't around to Stu around with the proceedings."
"What?"
"Nothing."
"…So…just us….You gotta be kiddin' me."
"Yeah. The three Musketeers. One for all and all for one." Savior replied, clearly not happy with it either.
"What do you want to do?" Superboy asked Nightwing.
"What we have to." Nightwing replied. "Let's take these guys down."
"…What? You mean alone?" Savior said, as Nightwing started heading for the stairs again, and Superboy followed.
"Unless you want to back out." Nightwing replied.
"No! But…Nightwing, you clearly checked with Batman, but…do you know just who we're facing?"
"It doesn't matter." Nightwing said as the three of them headed down the stairs.
"Nightwing, believe me, it does."
"Just who ARE we facing?" Superboy asked, not in on all the info.
"Noel, would you?" Nightwing asked. "For both of us."
"Argh. Ok. Please note I am making none of this up…" Savior said, and proceeded to try and explain the whole Crisis in two minutes, as the three of them made it back into the main room and Nightwing headed for a bag. Apparently for some reason he wanted to change outfits.
"…I think I liked it better when I didn't know." Superboy said.
"So you see my hesitations." Savior said to Nightwing.
"Not really."
"Argh. Dick, this is madness. Alexander Luthor didn't draw this plan on a napkin an hour before showtime, and I didn't read HIS mind. I have no idea of the extent of the defenses he could muster." Savior said. "At the very least, he controls Brother Eye, who controls the OMAC's, who are specifically designed to terminate metahumans. A group of a few dozen nearly killed all of my fellow Titans and me. Alex could potentially send tens of THOUSANDS of them at us. At least. And let's not forget he masqueraded as Lex Luthor to the Society. Is that subterfuge over? Or could he potentially access the Society members and send them after us as well? How many could he send? A few? A third? Half? More? Worse, what if he sends BOTH? I am quite willing to die, Dick, but I'd rather not pointlessly die!"
"I know." Nightwing said. "But we're out of options. This, for now, is the best…"
"Titans…"
The low whisper caught the three's attention, and they turned to face the source.
Raven was in the doorway, leaning on one arm, her cloak down and her hair over her face, as she stumbled forward into the room.
"Raven!" Savior cried, running over and grabbing her. "What are you doing? You should be in bed!"
"No…Noel…"
"What?"
"…Not…flux…all…call…I…am the…doorway…all will…" Raven babbled, as Noel stared helplessly at the woman he loved, not knowing what to do.
Then he felt her whole body grow rigid again.
And then she threw back her head and screamed, and she was utterly enveloped in darkness, darkness that hurled Noel away and made Superboy and Nightwing recoil violently, as Raven continued to shriek in the pitch black shadows, which surged out and clustered in the room like it was a living thing.
"RAVEN!" Noel shrieked.
And then the scream cut off, abruptly. Noel's heart plunged to roughly the level of the outer core of the Earth.
And then she emerged from the shadows and fell into his arms.
"Raven!" Savior said.
"…It's…ok…done…they…done…" Raven whispered, her forehead beaded with sweat. But she was no longer burning hot, and her eyes looked peaceful.
"Uhhhhhhh…" Superboy said, as he looked at the clustered darkness, still seething in the middle of the room. "Dick?"
"You guess is as good as mine." Nightwing replied, staring at the darkness.
Which abruptly spoke.
"Whoa, he's a hottie here."
"You still say hottie? Do you have any idea how shallow that sounds?"
"Does it matter? Did we make it? Are we alive?"
"Wow Conner, you didn't change much…" Said a female voice, as Superboy's eyes widened. He did not recognize the voice. Nor did anyone in the room.
"We made it. It worked. It's so great to have a mother whose body also functions as a dimensional gateway…" Came another female voice, as the shadows began to fade.
Noel stared, as the darkness stripped away, revealing a cluster of bodies, as if they'd rode the shadows out of Noel and into this room.
There were ten of them. Seven males, three females, of all shapes, sizes, and costumes…as a green energy field flowed back from where it had apparently served as a force field to keep it steady, back into the ring, a Green Lantern ring, of a girl in her late teens, dressed in green and white, a long white coat trailing down on her feet, and her full head of red hair done up in a complicated Mohawk esque style, as she smiled and looked down on the crouching Noel and Raven.
"Hi Dad!" She announced.
Had DC been an anime, Nightwing and Superboy would have facevaulted. They settled for looking surprised. Noel just looked stunned.
"Wh-WHAT?" He stammered. "Who the hell are you?"
"What, the costume isn't obvious?" Kyra Collins said. "We're the Teen Titans!"
Time is on your side.