24
OmniTech was a recent arrival in the Los Angeles cityscape. Most were unaware that OmniTech was a wholly owned subsidiary of LexCorp. Fewer still understood that Lex Luthor personally held all of the public shares in the company. Luthor remained hands free regarding OmniTech's operations with one caveat. He'd insisted they build an operations center in Los Angeles.
Rather than endure the cost overruns and delays surrounding original construction, OmniTech had purchased an existing skyscraper and renovated it to taste. As per Luthor's demands, OmniTech only occupied the lower half of the building. Those floors were filled with engineers and developers. Which many had found strange that the corporation would separate their design process from their manufacturing hubs outside of Silicon Valley and Seattle.
The upper half was divided into quarters. The lower quarter was apportioned into apartments. The uppermost quarters was an operations center tied into Brainiac and the Hall of Doom. The top floor itself was a luxury penthouse replete with a swimming pool. It was here that Saturn Queen and Lightning Lord took their repose.
The Justice Leagues currently shared the residential floors with the Legion of Doom, the Crime Syndicate, and now the Rogues. Brainiac observed them and felt compelled to report the developing situation to Eve Aries and Mekt Ranzz. But first, they had questions that needed answering.
"Has Luthor deduced the nature of our private arrangements with you and Grodd?" Lightning Lord asked.
"No, but he is aware that arrangements have been made. Luthor has always suspected Grodd of eventual treachery given the history of their relationship," Brainiac revealed, "However, I remain Luthor's blind spot. He trusts me implicitly."
"You only need to endure your servitude to him until our goals are reached," Saturn Queen promised, "The Legion of Superheroes has tamed Computo and made him their servant. The Legion of Super Villains offers you the chance to become our ally. We will give you access to the databases and libraries of the complete universe."
"Such has been my destiny since Jor-El constructed and programmed me as Krypton's central artificial intelligence," Brainiac boasted.
"How are all our teams doing? Playing well together?" Lightning Lord inquired.
"The Legion and the Crime Syndicate are angry that the secret identities of the Justice Leaguers are to be preserved," Brainiac reported, "They are discussing forcibly revealing them."
"Inform the conspirators that defiance against our edicts is defiance against us personally. And defiance warrants mind wipes," Saturn Queen instructed.
"It is done," Brainiac informed them both, "They are complaining but no longer going forward with their ambitions."
"What of those JLers wounded in combat?" Lightning Lord inquired.
"Booster Gold is responding to tissue regeneration and will make a full recovery within twenty-four hours," Brainiac stated, "However, the stroke Thunderlord suffered has caused irreparable damage. He will not make a recovery at any time. Should I terminate him?"
"Yes," Lightning Lord commanded.
Saturn Queen gave him a quizzical glance.
"We need to cut any dead weight, Eve," Lightning Lord insisted.
"Do it," Saturn Queen concurred with Lightning Lord.
"It is being done as we speak," Brainiac explained, "Devil Ray is maintaining a presence at the international boundary. He is dispatching a crew to retrieve the body and will dump it outside US territorial waters."
"Excellent," Lightning Lord was pleased, "That makes up for Sparrow Hawk's idiotic attempt to kill Booster Gold."
"And why is Booster Gold vital to your endeavor?" Brainiac hadn't been informed of Booster's significance yet.
"Booster Gold will be contacted by Rip Hunter, a member of the Time Corps, and together they will deduce the exact moment when Saturn Queen, Cosmic King, and I conceived this little plan and they will make certain that moment never occurs. So with Booster under our control, we can kill Rip Hunter and gain access to the Time Corps so we can then terminate the entire membership and secure the timeline we will have created," Lightning Lord explained.
Brainiac had never attempted to calculate the permutations of time travel. He set his processors to it, "Cosmic King has arrived."
He had indeed showed up and alighted next to the pool, having received telepathic instructions of where the new base was located from Saturn Queen the night before. He looked exhausted.
"Were you successful?" Lightning Lord demanded to know.
"They were gone and had been gone for several weeks. Even the locals still avoided the site," Cosmic King said wearily.
"Would you estimate that it had happened within the last two weeks?" Saturn Queen wondered.
"No, well before that," Cosmic King told her, "I staked out the locale for sixteen hours before departing. The Injusticers won't be returning there any time soon if ever."
"We may have to move our timetable ahead," Saturn Queen frowned.
"Why?" Cosmic King really didn't see a threat.
"Nyssa al Ghul and Deathstroke were Batman's lieutenants in those timelines where there were pockets of resistance against our regime," Saturn Queen reminded him, "Even with Batman dead or dying, those two individuals must be killed."
"Try getting accurate information regarding where they are next time," Cosmic King grumped, "Where's my room?"
"Let me show you," Saturn Queen volunteered despite Brainiac's expecting to be assigned the task, "You look exhausted after your two-fold campaign. How long have you been awake?"
"Forty hours," Cosmic King admitted. When they were alone, he spoke quietly to her, "About our conversation yesterday…"
"Your secret is safe with me, Laevar," Saturn Queen promised him, "Mekt and I are still struggling with what happened to us as well."
"I thought you'd understand," Cosmic King gratefully admitted.
After she'd returned to rejoin Lightning Lord, he asked, "Does Laevar seem edgy to you?"
"No more than either you or I," Saturn Queen replied, "He has a right to be, Mekt."
"He was like this when he found me and helped me…remember," Lightning Lord sounded disturbed.
"Our minds were violated," Saturn Queen pointed out, "It was a crime akin to rape but on an even more fundamental level. We've all been traumatized by it. And the crime was ordered by the United Planets' government."
"Yet you do the same every day," Lightning Lord reminded her.
"Mekt, I'm considered to be a criminal. This was essentially the crime they convicted me of. And then they returned the favor," Saturn Queen argued, "The sanctimonious sons of bitches have to pay."
"They will," Lightning Lord promised, "We'll erase them from history itself."
"Pardon me, my Lord and Queen, but I have determined the whereabouts of both Nyssa al Ghul and Deathstroke," Brainiac announced.
"First, where is Deathstroke?" Saturn Queen inquired.
"He has arrived in Paris. He has accepted a contract with ARGUS to assist the Justice League of America," Brainiac answered.
"I knew he'd be trouble sooner than later," Saturn Queen growled.
"And where is Nyssa al Ghul?" Lightning Lord asked.
"Gotham City," Brainiac succinctly replied.
"She never left," Saturn Queen admired the Injusticer leader's audacity.
"So how do you want to respond?" Lightning Lord wondered.
"Simple, I'll take the Justice Leagues into Paris. It'll be a good field test of their loyalties," Saturn Queen explained, "You'll take the Crime Syndicate, the Rogues that have now joined us, and the Legion to Gotham and kill Nyssa and her Injusticers. You can make inroads with the Court of Owls while you're at it."
"The JSA All Stars are in Gotham on ARGUS' behalf," Brainiac reported.
"It just gets better," Saturn Queen decided.
Deathstroke and his Titans had reported to the Dome. Trevor was less than pleased by their arrival, "Wilson."
"Trevor," Slade Wilson replied, "You may as well drop the attitude. Waller hired me and she still holds your leash."
"She told me she hired you," Trevor admitted, "I told her you weren't necessary."
"And she is?" Deathstroke stared at Killer Frost.
"She's the JLI's problem," Trevor shared.
"I understand the JLI's primary issue is staffing," Deathstroke drolly replied.
"Tell me why you accepted the contract and I'll let you know whether or not you're staying," Trevor offered.
"I was paid in advance," Deathstroke told him, "So all we'll be sacrificing by leaving is the completion bonus."
"Ahem, Steve doesn't speak for us all," Nightshade pointed out.
"Good to see you, Eve," Deathstroke nodded her way, "Someone has to have a sense of reality around here. Because the odds are not in your favor."
"As much as I hate admitting it, we need the help," Vapor opined.
Trevor looked to Black Canary, who knew Slade Wilson as well as he did. She nodded her approval. Trevor made up his mind.
"You're in," he told Deathstroke.
"Then get everyone in the briefing theater," Deathstroke commanded.
"If you don't mind, I'll keep monitoring," Vapor declared.
In the briefing theater, Ravager operated the Power Point file she'd loaded into the computer. Deathstroke removed his helmet. Trevor, Black Canary, Starling, Bat-Girl, and Nightshade were all stunned by his new, youthful appearance. Slade signaled Ravager.
"Start it up, Rose," he instructed.
An image of the Hall of Doom appeared on the screen and Deathstroke began the briefing, "This is the Legion of Doom's new headquarters. It's named the Hall of Doom to counterpoint the Hall of Justice which you all have taken possession of. It's currently located in the Florida Everglades. I say currently because the base is mobile."
Deathstroke signaled Ravager and the image changed to a large chamber, "This is the means of transportation. This is deep within the Hall of Doom. I was unable to access this chamber before being forced to withdraw. But it is occupied by a lone person. This occupant can manipulate chroniton fields and hold the Hall in stasis while the Earth rotates underneath thereby relocating the entire headquarters to a different locale within seconds to minutes."
Ravager shifted the image to a man strapped to a chair fed by IVs and utilizing a catheter. Deathstroke pointed him out, "This is the living technology that drew your three threats to the Legion."
"But you're not just presenting this for grins and giggles," Trevor realized.
"Someone else has developed technology revolving around chronal fields," Deathstroke informed the group, "That person could pose as a replacement to the living tech presented here. They could even produce a working time machine therefore sending the trio back to the future they create here in the present."
"What exactly are you suggesting?" Trevor wondered.
"We eliminate these two people and buy time to liberate or neutralize the captive Justice Leagues," Deathstroke elaborated.
"We'll take it under advisement," Trevor said curtly.
"It's our best option," Deathstroke retorted.
"Best isn't always the first," Trevor threw back at him.
"Attention all personnel. A boom tube has opened outside our spatial disruption field. Members of our own Justice League as well as the Justice League Unlimited have exited the tube," Vapor announced.
"Time to earn your paycheck, Slade," Trevor led the procession out of the briefing theater.
Deathstroke hung back and strapped his helmet back on, "You know what needs to be done, Rose."
As Trevor led one team of JLers into the field, Azrael intercepted him, "Colonel, it appears I have arrived just in time."
"Glad to have you back," Trevor admitted, "Have you concluded your business with the Order of St. Dumas?"
"The Order is aware of our predicament and is investigating potential solutions," Azrael informed him, "In the interim; I am free to act as your agent. They are also offering to send heralds to every super team across the globe to alert them to the danger."
"I appreciate the offer but I have to clear it with Director Waller," Trevor replied.
"I've taken the liberty of informing the director. She has already approved the measure," Azrael told him, "Which was an interesting distraction since the Order has already sent the heralds."
"Then why bother asking at all?" Trevor was irritated and it showed.
"Because Director Waller enjoys the illusion of choice even when there is none," Azrael observed.
Trevor had to admit it was a keen insight into Amanda Waller, "We'll call it a courtesy then."
Deathstroke approached, "I've deployed my people with the other two teams. What do you say to my joining yours?"
"These people are friends, Slade. Whether they remember it or not. Lethal force is authorized by me alone. And not before," Trevor demanded.
"And if you're incapacitated?" Deathstroke wondered.
"You'd best make certain I'm not," Trevor retorted.
"Deathstroke," Azrael offered his grudging respect.
"Azrael," Deathstroke allowed the same.
"I take it you've met," Trevor deadpanned.
"In the field," Deathstroke wouldn't elaborate and Azrael was keeping his silence as well.
"Colonel, I know about your sanction to issue death warrants and enforce the sentences," Deathstroke stated, "So don't act pious with me."
"Gentlemen, the fight is in front of us," Starling reminded them.
"So it is," Deathstroke conceded.
Trevor joined Starling and Bat-Girl in converging on the Atom. Atom employed size changing tricks to pummel Trevor and Starling. They found their firearms to be useless in the close quarters fight when all they could threaten was each other. But Atom ambushed them both frequently enough to knock them each out.
He suddenly received a kick in his lower spine and managed to roll with it. Atom gave Bat-Girl grudging notice, "Nice kick. You almost paralyzed me. Who are you anyway? Batgirl grown up?"
"I'm a Bat-Girl. Just not the Batgirl you're familiar with," she informed him.
"I hate semantics," Atom altered his size again.
Bat-Girl felt her foot lift and she spun off and swung around with a left cross, almost taking Atom's jaw off. Staggering away, he sneered, "You don't get it, do you? I'm a Justice Leaguer."
"So am I," Bat-Girl replied.
"In your dreams," Atom size changed again.
She felt her foot lift again so she back flipped off of Atom and delivered a right cross when he presented himself as a target. Then she landed a left jab into his gut and boxed his ears before driving a knee into his chin. He vanished from sight once again.
"That's certainly annoying," Bat-Girl muttered.
Atom appeared between where Trevor and Starling lay, "Pick who dies. Shall it be the fearless leader of the so-called Justice League of America or will it be the new girl with the tats? Your call but someone dies."
Bat-Girl leapt into a flying kick, but of course, Atom was already gone. She knelt next to Starling, "Don't be in her, you bastard!"
Unseen, Atom grew behind her. The he drove his knee into the back of her head. While she tried to recover, he beat her into the ground.
"Who's first to die?" he gleefully asked the downed JLers.
Superman came at Power Girl with the ever predictable roundhouse. She easily blocked it and responded with a right cross that rattled his teeth. But she didn't expect him to execute a perfect punch with that same hand. She rolled with the right cross and spun around into a backhanded punch of her own.
Next she delivered a round kick into his ribs. As Superman listed to one side, Power Girl unleashed a second right cross into his jaw. Which she followed with a left cross straight into his nose.
While his eyes watered, she gripped his head from behind the ears and bent him over and repeatedly drove her knees into his face. The resulting crunch of the cartilage in his nose breaking was satisfying for her. Of course, under a yellow sun, it would heal in minutes.
Gripping his tunic, she unleashed three consecutive right crosses. Finding one eye swelling up, she didn't expect the flash of heat vision from the other. Angered that she'd been caught by the same trick from essentially two versions of the same person, Power Girl blindly threw him into the street below.
Superman held back while he healed up while Power Girl swooped in, pointed her toes, and kicked his ball sack as hard as she possibly could. The blow would have shattered a dwarf planet and Superman went down in mindless agony. Saturn Queen decided to intervene.
"Tessa?" Power Girl still couldn't quite grasp the new "old" reality.
"Hardly," Saturn Queen snorted, "But why don't you pay homage to your Queen?"
Power Girl found herself wanting to even though she resisted. Saturn Queen scowled, "If you won't serve, you'll suffer."
Power Girl's mind felt like it was being torn apart. Then every nerve felt like it was on fire. Between the two realities, Power Girl became catatonic.
"In a thousand alternate time lines you were always a thorn in our side," Saturn Queen sighed as she eased Superman's pain.
The Martian Manhunter came directly at Black Adam. J'onn fought him physically and psychically. But Black Adam's mental capacities were as hardened by the Egyptian gods as were his physical attributes.
But that wasn't to say he didn't feel the assault. Black Adam felt closer to defeat than ever before in his thousands of years of life. Not even madness had threatened his well being to this degree.
But every time his mental defenses began to crumble, the god Zahuti bolstered them once again. So Black Adam decided to distract J'onn from his telepathic attack by waging an all out physical war. Black Adam was undeniably stronger than the Martian despite J'onn robust might. And the Black Marvel had the speed of his gods at his disposal.
J'onn was stunned by the ferocity of Black Adam's assault. They'd never been friends but they had been teammates. An element J'onn had felt would play out in his favor. He was shocked that it wasn't.
J'onn transformed into an alien dragon and coiled himself around Black Adam. But the Black Marvel shrugged the Martian aside. J'onn suddenly halted all activity.
"Black Adam?" he uncertainly asked, "What am I doing? Why are we fighting? Why do I wish to harm you?"
"I suppose I'll have to intervene with you as well," Saturn Queen released a longsuffering sigh.
Black Adam had thought J'onn's mental attacks were threatening. Saturn Queen bested even Zahuti's efforts. But still, Black Adam refused to surrender.
She acknowledged this with one swift thought. Black Adam cried, "Shazam!"
Transforming back into Teth-Adam found himself several stories above the streets below. And as he fell, he found himself unable to say the wizard's name. There was no fight left in him after he impacted.
"Now I have to delve into your mind again, Martian," Saturn Queen said with disgust, "And it's such a horrific place to be."
Isis simply concentrated on avoiding Green Lantern's constructs and traps. And she threw the full might of her elemental powers at John Stewart. Where Power Ring had been a terrified young woman, John was an experienced veteran of a thousand campaigns with a mind that had formerly been his own.
But as their conflict waged, she sensed John was holding back. Suddenly he looked around in a daze, "Isis?"
John's indomitable will had reasserted itself. And then he simply shut down and fell to the street. Isis found herself confronted by Saturn Queen herself.
"I suppose I'll have to deal with you as well," Saturn Queen sounded weary.
"I am Isis!" she found herself inexplicably saying. Adrianna Tomaz found herself where her husband had earlier. With the same bone crunching results.
"Marvels," Saturn Queen snorted derisively.
Azrael found himself confronted by Templar Knight. Templar Knight spoke first, "It seems we finally meet, heretic."
"We needn't be enemies. Ancient divisions have no place in today's events," Azrael counsel him.
"Oh come now, need there be two secret brotherhoods of knightly standard bearers?" Templar Knight asked scornfully, "You know in the end there's only room for one Order."
"Our two Orders have kept the peace for three hundred years. That doesn't need to end today," Azrael cautioned Templar Knight.
"Yes, it does," Templar Knight declared, "After today, the Knights Templar shall have one true Queen and we shall crush the heretic followers of Dumas who left our brotherhood centuries ago."
"There is no reasoning with you," Azrael extended his flaming blades.
"No, there isn't," Templar Knight drew his flaming sword.
As Templar Knight swung for Azrael's head, the Champion of the Order of St. Dumas ducked low and lunged forward, sinking his blades into Templar Knight's torso. Templar Knight beat between Azrael's shoulder blades with the hilt of his sword. Azrael withdrew while shielding himself with one blade above his head.
Templar Knight came at him in a frenzy. While Azrael defended himself with one blade, he cut away at Templar Knight with the other. As his opponent slowed, but refused to back down, Azrael finally disemboweled him.
Templar Knight finally halted his abuse, dropped his sword, and fell to his knees clutching at his hanging intestines. A familiar voice called out Azrael's name and he saw a cloaked figure standing in the doorway of a nearby shop. Azrael sprinted to it and followed the figure inside. Inside, she threw back her cowl.
"Sister Lilhy," Azrael bowed his head in greeting.
"I'm here to assist you, Jean-Paul," Lilhy announced, "The Order has located a potential threat here in Paris. She has the ability to control temporal fields thereby posing a risk of assisting our foes."
"I'm in a battle," Azrael protested.
"A battle is hardly the war and I'm talking about winning the entire conflict in one fell swoop," Lilhy told him.
"The person is here in Paris?" Azrael asked.
"Precisely," Lilhy smiled.
The Super Friends had been keeping Deathstroke moderately entertained. He had to give them the credit that they were definitely trying hard enough to stop him. Black Vulcan was the first to succumb to frustration. Deathstroke's new armor was forged from Nth metal. Therefore it was nonconductive.
Black Vulcan left himself wide open and Deathstroke used his power lance, its power depleted, like a bat and Black Vulcan's head was the ball.
Apache Chief plucked the lance away from Deathstroke and bent it in half. Deathstroke's response was to pluck a 40mm grenade from his bandolier and throw it at Apache Chief's feet. The grenade was originally intended to be shot out of a launcher but Deathstroke simply relied on his own strength. Apache Chief was forced to shift his density so that he phased through the explosion.
Deathstroke leapt into a high arc over the flames Samurai projected. Those same flames forced Apache Chief to remain intangible. Deathstroke twisted in midair and he delivered a kick to Samurai's head. Landing on his feet, he lobbed a second grenade at Apache Chief and then utilized a right cross to neutralize Samurai.
Throwing a third grenade at the Native American, Deathstroke insured that Apache Chief, unable to breathe while phased, was growing desperate for oxygen. Deathstroke lobbed his final grenade and it spewed forth gas that Apache Chief was finally forced to inhale deeply. He found himself knocked out by the gas.
Deathstroke spotted Azrael and Sister Lilhy departing the scene. He knew it had only been a matter of time before the Order of St. Dumas, obsessed as they were with technology and the scientists and engineers that created it, would learn of the specialist that had developed chronal technology here in Paris. But Deathstroke had his own countermeasure in play as well.
The he spotted the results of the action against the JLI and JLU. Atom threatened Trevor, Starling, and Bat-Girl. Slade had recognized Bat-Girl as being Elizabeth Kane. Elizabeth and Starling had once been members of the Black Razors. When Slade had been with Team 7 the two outfits had frequently supported one another. So Deathstroke owed Bat-Girl and Starling a debt of honor. Trevor he could care less about.
So while Atom was playing pin the tail on the donkey to decide who to kill first, Deathstroke simply drew his pistol and shot him from across the range between them. Then Slade advanced on the wounded Atom. That's when the Martian Manhunter interfered.
Deathstroke holstered his pistol and drew his sword, "You want to become involved? Fine, you're involved."
The second team of JLers exited the Dome from the rear entrance and was confronted by a team of…JLers. Question and Huntress found themselves confronted by Mr. Miracle. Huntress was less than impressed.
"Puh-lease. Mr. Miraculous here is nothing but a circus performer," she snorted.
"No, Mr. Miracle is a performing escape artist stage performer," Question corrected her, "And he's a New God."
"Don't. Correct. Me," Huntress grated, "I hate it when you do that."
An oval shape rolled in between them. Huntress looked puzzled, "Is that a…?"
"Grenade?" Question asked, "I believe it is."
The stun grenade's detonation flattened them. Mr. Miracle stood by to see if they'd even twitch.
"Who the hell are you guys?" Speedy asked about Dark Ranger, the Knight and the Squire.
Black Canary knew the answer but she couldn't speak. And probably never would again. Her only regret was that her wound had cost Oliver Queen, Green Arrow, his life.
"Batman wannabes," Speedy said scornfully, proving to Dinah Lance that Mia Deardon had more than an inkling of who their foes actually were.
Dark Ranger attacked Black Canary leaving Knight and Squire dealing with Speedy. Black Canary was actually impressed by Dark Ranger. The Australian displayed more talent than she would have otherwise assumed. It seemed Batman was far choosier than any JLer had guessed. Which given his choice of Batwing shouldn't have been surprising at all.
Black Canary held off Dark Ranger and then finally decided to fight for real. She subdued him within a few minutes afterwards. Then she heard an explosion.
Speedy had used an explosive arrow against the Knight. His armor protected him exactly the way she'd intended. But now he was irritated and she was putting up with the ninja-boy Squire. She beat him back by using her bow as a sword/club. Pushing him into a partial retreat, she netted him with a snare arrow.
"Have you guys ever looked in a mirror?" Speedy taunted them.
"Set down your bow and remove your quiver," the Knight ordered, "The days of rogue bowmen running amuck in this land are done with."
"I'm not the rogue, you dimwit," Speedy grated.
Black Canary intercepted the Knight. His armor was perfectly sculpted and fashioned, much like Batman's lighter weight variant, so that the Knight had ease of movement. And he knew exactly how to move in order to trouble Black Canary. But she still inflicted a great deal of punishment. After a well placed kick to his back, Black Canary knew he'd be pissing blood in the morning. And now the stitch in his side would hamper his movements.
"Canary, break off!" Speedy called out. Her stunner arrow was conducted by the Knight's own armor rather than it shielding him. He quickly passed out.
Black Canary applauded Speedy and the archer took a bow. As she looked up she pointed, "Waitasec! Who's that?"
Black Canary saw the same brightly costumed figure access the Dome. Speedy shook her head, "That can't be good. The only one inside is Vapor and she's wounded."
Black Canary gave her a grim look and Speedy groaned, "And Killer Frost is alone with her."
They sprinted for the door and utilized the temporary pass code they'd been given.
"I think we make a very good team, don't you think?" Crimson Fox inquired of Animal Man as Man-of-Bats and Raven Red positioned themselves to strike out at the pair.
"We do seem to get paired up quite regularly," Animal Man admitted.
"I think if you wanted a new partner, you would simply object and find a new one," Crimson Fox smirked, "Non?"
"Don't read everything into that," Animal Man advised her.
"Oui, because you are still married and respect the sanctity of the marriage bed," Crimson Fox teased him, "But who says we require a bed just yet?"
Animal Man stared at her. Crimson Fox grew embarrassed, "What? You suddenly find me attractive?"
"Perhaps you could have your domestic moment later?" Man-of-Bats wearily asked.
"One minute," Animal Man protested, "I just have to know something before I make another comment."
"Feel free to ask away," Crimson Fox told him.
He took hold of her shoulders and brought her a long awaited kiss. At first she was stiffened by her surprise. But then she melted into him.
When they broke apart, Crimson Fox actually wore a shy smile, "It seems we think alike after all."
"We're on a schedule," Man-of-Bats nagged them.
"Which one do you want?" Animal Man sighed.
"You are my brave, strong hero. You take the adult," Crimson Fox decided, "I will deal with mon petit."
Unfortunately the battle was completely lopsided. And it didn't go well for the JLA.
"Down boy," Batwoman urged the hulking Tasmanian Devil.
"Crikey lady, I ain't a bloody dingo," Tasmanian Devil protested.
"But you're from Australia," Batwoman realized.
"And they say Yanks don't even have a grasp of the obvious," Tasmanian Devil snorted.
"I hope you have a good dental plan," Batwoman warned him.
"Bring it, Sheila," Tasmanian Devil began to look forward to this fight.
He easily swatted aside her early attacks. Then he went on the offensive. He backed Batwoman up to the shops across the street from the Dome. He caved in bricks as his fist pounded them free from their mortar.
Batwoman pulled out a chunk of smart metal and hit it with an electrical probe. Then she slapped it against Tasmanian Devil's chest. It changed shape and wrapped itself as a band across his arms and chest. He found he couldn't break free.
Kathy Duquesne promised herself she'd take Rocki Ballantine out for a "thank you" dinner and night on the town when she returned to Gotham.
Fire and Ice tried using their powers to neutralize Goldilocks. But one of the chief requirements for being a cat burglar was possessing a high degree of agility. So Goldilocks continually dodged flames and cold waves while lashing out and striking back with her hair.
What she found was Fire was a difficult target because she could fly. But Ice was much more sedentary. So she smothered Ice by wrapping Tora Olafsdottir's head in her hair. Fire tried burning it away but the magic imbuing the hair protected it.
Fire eventually landed in her desperation to assist Ice. And Goldilocks snared her as well. Ice succumbed first and then Fire joined her friend in enforced slumber.
At Nightshade's behest, Black Orchid flew up to meet Firestorm…and hit him. His fusion derived body had the wherewithal to withstand her super strength so he took flight after her as she led the chase. At a signal from Nightshade, Black Orchid streaked by her friend. And Nightshade created a rift that swallowed Firestorm into the Night Force as he pursued.
Afterwards, Black Orchid felt compelled to ask, "Is he and the Flash really going to be okay in there?"
"They'll survive," Nightshade said evasively, "They might require a few decades' worth of therapy afterwards but they'll be all right physically."
"That's what I was afraid of," Black Orchid confessed.
Enchantress unleashed a slew of spells against the Israeli known as Seraph. In his honor she recreated Biblical plagues which included, but weren't limited to, boils and sores, flaming hail stones, locusts that could sting, and torrential downpours. Seraph weathered it all.
He threw the rod of Moses on the ground and it transformed into an automobile sized serpent. Enchantress turned it back with the wave of her hand. Seraph summoned a fireball from the heavens which Enchantress shunted aside.
Seraph then afflicted Enchantress with the plague of leprosy. Enchantress threw it from herself to him with a thrust of her hands. Seraph's final exertion after healing himself was to utilize the strength of Samson himself as he marched towards the witch. He was exactly where Enchantress wanted him.
She opened a massive pit beneath him and then buried him underneath the street. Cracks appeared in the blacktop as Seraph resisted his condition. And then finally he fell silent.
Silver Swan tried to stay aloft as Sandstorm blew himself all around her. He managed to drive her out of the sky. As she alighted before Tundra, he left her and Sandstorm recomposed himself.
Tundra created an Arctic vortex around Silver Swan. The biting winds and snow bit at Silver Swan but they couldn't kill her. But in the end, she'd withstood enough misery.
So she sang her swan song. It blew Sandstorm apart and almost liquefied Tundra's flesh from her bones. Afterwards Silver Swan was left wondering, yet again, why Ares hadn't revoked her powers when she left his service. What did the god of war still have in mind for her when she no longer fought Princess Diana? And in fact, Diana had returned to self-exile amongst the Amazons. All Silver Swan knew for certain are that she wouldn't like whatever task he would demand of her.
Horus had been found in Egypt and recruited into the Titans by Ravager. He was empowered by the same Egyptian gods that gave their might to the Black Marvels and now Mary Marvel. And Isis had just spotted him and had no idea he was really her brother.
He knew his benefactors had slightly altered his appearance and that because Shazam didn't channel the gods' power to him, there would be a distinct difference in the magical taint that the carried. Rather than receive his power through Shazam, he got it from the wizard's children, Satanus and Blaze.
But even their spell, fashioned by the two of them cooperating, couldn't match the potency of the father despite emanating from the same originating source. So while Horus was still stronger than Maxi-Man, it was only by a marginal degree. And Horus found himself enduring a great deal of punishment because he knew nothing about the art of combat whereas Maxi-Man had trained for the last three years in various fighting techniques. He knew just where and how to hit someone.
Horus was driven into a frenzy and he turned on Maxi-Man like a madman. And even the greatest fighters can be overwhelmed by insanity. Horus simply beat Maxi-Man into the ground before Cascade turned herself into water and formed a bubble surrounding Horus.
Finding himself unable to breathe or speak, Horus took flight hoping to shake Cascade loose. He accidently flew into overhead power lines and the electricity jolted Cascade into unconsciousness. She reverted into being human before she hit the ground.
Horus struggled to regulate his panicked breathing. He'd thought himself immune from all harm. Evidently he had limitations Satanus and Blaze had neglected to warn him about.
Cheshire was impressed with Fleur-de-Lis. The French woman moved with a deadly grace that mirrored Cheshire's own. Centrix, on the other hand, was a brief distraction. She finished him rather quickly with her poison laden fingernails. But the poison was specifically mixed to only subdue and not kill on this outing. But Centrix would wish that he were dead upon reviving.
Fleur-de-Lis actually pushed Cheshire to her limits. But in the end, Cheshire was still the deadlier of the two. But, as before, she spared Fleur-de-Lis' life. Until such time as she was ordered to kill her.
Arsenal simply shot Jet in the chest before he could attack. While he was reloading his crossbow, Arsenal found himself under attack from Manticore. The mythical man-beast engaged Arsenal but Roy Harper just evaded while he loaded a quarrel and cocked his crossbow. Once that was accomplished, he shot the bolt into Manticore's eye. The JLI member fell as if dead.
The third Justice League and Titan team had exited into the Dome's gardens. Katana was beginning to believe Black Bat was telepathic. No matter how or where Katana struck out at, Black Bat was already there with a defense. Black Bat responded just as Katana began to move. Her speed was incredible and her insight uncanny.
But, fortunately Black Bat wasn't as nimble on the attack. Katana managed to deflect, block, or parry nearly every blow Black Bat utilized. But Black Bat slipped under Katana's defenses and threw her across the way.
But Katana tucked and rolled onto her feet, drawing the SoulTaker from its scabbard as she did so. Black Bat retained her enigmatic silence as she flicked two collapsible batons into their full extension. Then the combat began in deadly earnestness.
Black Bat proved to be just as accurate in predicting where Katana's sword stroke would fall. While she blocked with one baton, Black Bat attacked with the other. Katana tested her defenses a few times before Black Bat shifted into offense.
She was swift and brutal but Katana countered every attack, surge, and lunge. Finally, Katana decided to bring the matter to a close. Her sudden onslaught required Black Bat to use both batons in tandem. In order to stay alive.
If Black Bat couldn't read body language like a hidden script, she would have been killed right away. But she managed to endure. Black Bat managed a few rallies before Katana forced her back into a defensive posture.
Time had become meaningless as only survival mattered at that point. Suddenly though, Black Bat went rigid and then keeled over. Batwoman stood behind her grinning while she held a taser in her hand.
"I'd say I didn't mean to interrupt but I'd be lying," Batwoman admitted.
"My thanks," Katana said with equanimity.
Batwoman knelt and rolled Black Bat onto her face. She cuffed the girl's hands behind her back. Katana shook her head.
"Those will not hold her," she warned.
"Humor me," Batwoman requested.
Batwing had never been given the opportunity to retrieve a spare flight pack. So he fought Darknight and Ri on even ground. The couple thought they had strength in numbers but Batwing was efficient in the use of his batons. Darknight fell before him first and Ri was a close second.
They'd recognized elements of the blend of martial arts that Batwing had used but they had no idea that he'd received several months of intensive training from Richard Dragon at Batman's behest. Even if they had known they would have been woefully unprepared for his attack.
Hawkman bore Starman no ill will. But he and Gavyn had never been close even in the JLU. But then again, Carter hadn't been close to anyone. He'd been too busy trying to determine where Carter Hall began and Khufu ended.
But Starman's insistence on trying to fry Hawkman with solar energy bolts soured Carter's disposition. Gavyn could fly but his element was outer space. Atmospheric conditions hampered him.
But they were Hawkman's true element. So he flew circles around Starman before he finally finished the prince off with a blow from his Nth metal mace. Landing beside Starman's fallen body, Hawkman applied another blow to the head just to be certain.
Reverb couldn't fly but Goldstar could. So Troia's options were narrowed down. Every time Troia tried to put distance between her and Reverb, Goldstar hemmed her in with energy blasts.
Reverb's powers seemed identical to Vibe's. And he could nearly shake Donna's bones apart. But then Hawkman swatted Reverb from behind and Troia knew the battle was hers.
Seconds later, Troia dropped the unconscious Goldstar at Hawkman's feet, "Notice anything peculiar about these two?"
"They're not dead?" Hawkman ventured.
"She's a Booster Gold clone right down to physical resemblance and he's the same with Vibe," Troia pointed out.
"I still hear fighting," Hawkman observed, "Care to investigate?"
"I'd love to," Troia confessed.
Godiva found Echo could deflect her hair. Something that had never been brought up in Global Guardian or JLI training sessions. Blue Beetle was simply a nuisance. She took hold of him and bounced his head off of a lamppost a few times and he was defeated.
Godiva sent multiple waves of hair at Echo but she knew Terri Eckhart's secret. So while she staged a frontal assault, Godiva snuck tendrils of hair between Echo's legs and finally wrapped them around the pop star's throat. It was simply a matter of time after that.
Little Mermaid was hard pressed trying to defeat the Olympian. The demigod was a match for Ulla in strength and both could fly. But the true kicker was that the Golden Fleece made him invulnerable to harm. Ulla thought about luring him to the Seine and half drowning him.
"Astrides," Godiva called his name as she approached.
"Dorcas?" he grew confused as though warring within himself.
"Precisely," she plucked the Golden Fleece from his shoulders with her hair.
Ulla stepped in and beat him senseless. Ulla eyed Godiva, "That distraction was…effective."
"One night together and he thinks we're soul mates destined to spend our lives together," Godiva huffed, "You're lucky you never slept with a teammate."
"Does this explain Killer Frost?" Ulla wondered.
Godiva wondered that as well.
"I can feel you, little Gypsy," Praxis warned her, "You're nearby."
"That's great. Because I can actually see you," Gypsy retorted.
"Let's not argue. Come with me and Saturn Queen will realign your priorities," Praxis offered.
"That's generous but I like my priorities just the way they are," Gypsy countered.
"J'onn would disagree," Praxis played his trump card.
"J'onn is currently out of his mind," Gypsy snorted.
"I have you!" Praxis cried.
His mind filled with an image of Gypsy. And she suddenly tore his mental shields apart. He was drowning in his own mind when the psychic serial killer that bestowed his mental powers upon Detective Jason Praxis before he died, rose up, and consumed Praxis's soul.
Gypsy blinked to find Praxis out cold, "Now that was…interesting."
Ravager faced down Hood, Nightrunner, and Wingman. She smiled, "Now boys, there's only one of me to go around. So you'll have to share. Care to take a turn apiece?"
Hood lunged at her and she grabbed his head and drove her knee into his gut. Flipping him onto his back, she stomped on his breastbone and broke it. Nightrunner sprinted towards her and she kneed his face as he charged. She threw him down and locked her leg beneath his armpit and yanked his arm out of socket.
"I'm beginning to think Batman's recruiting standards were pretty low," Ravager grinned at Wingman, "What do you say?"
Wingman assumed a boxing stance and Ravager yawned, "Old school."
She locked his wrist and hyperextended his elbow before using the heel of her hand to knock him out. Afterwards she drew her twin swords and stabbed each man in the ribs and both legs, "That'll keep you staying put."
Then Ravager set out to obtain a vehicle. She had a date with a scientist here in Paris.
Tattooed Man's shadowy tattoo creations fought Rising Sun and Dr. Light. The struggle between light and dark raged unabated while Mark Richards approached the Japanese couple on foot. He easily knocked Rising Sun out before attempting to do the same to Dr. Light.
She panicked when Rising Sun was subdued and began emitting a flurry of photon bolts. But they represented the ultimate expression of her power so she quickly wore herself down. Kimiyo Hoshi practically fainted before Tattooed Man applied the nerve pinch that knocked her out.
Gunslinger shot both of Freedom Beast's hybrids with her submachine gun. The she stitched a couple of bullets through his chest. El Gaucho got close enough to rip the gun from her hand. But she pushed him back with a kick to the chest before drawing her magnum revolver and putting a round through his side.
An invisible arm wrapped around her throat. Gunslinger holstered the pistol and drew one of her knives. Slicing across the arm, she felt Mr. Unknown release her. And then the blood from the wound gave him away as she drew her pistol again and dropped him.
Vapor watched Tuatara's egress through the Dome. She reset the security defenses and then grimly observed as his precognition abilities allowed him to sidestep every automated defense. Finally he reached the command center.
"I've got you now, Vapor!" Tuatara exclaimed.
"But what about me?" Killer Frost inquired.
Tuatara looked confused, "What?"
Ice formed over his body but she left his head unimpeded. Black Canary and Speedy arrived moments later and Speedy couldn't help but exclaim, "What the hell? I thought you were on his side."
"Actually, I'm on my side," Killer Frost sounded like it was the simplest notion in the world, "And my goals and his goals don't match up."
"What goals?" Speedy was confused.
"She's got a hard on for Godiva," Vapor sighed.
"Vulgar but true," Killer Frost agreed.
"You realize you're a villain and she isn't?" Speedy wondered.
"And what were Goldilocks, Enchantress, and Silver Swan before they switched sides?" Killer Frost wondered, "They joined the Justice League Dark. I'm still shopping out which Justice League I want to work for."
Speedy could see Dinah shared her doubts.
While Guy searched for his missing power ring, he knew with a dread certainty it had abandoned him. Red Lanterns couldn't survive without their power rings. The mere fact he wasn't dead told the story.
"I'm gonna make Beak Brain squeal every time he sees me, from now on," Guy vowed.
He was bathed in a yellow light. He looked up to see a yellow power ring floating before him. And Guy knew he's been chosen.
Before, Guy had worn Sinestro's own ring. This was a yellow ring but it most definitely wasn't Sinestro's. Guy knew it was his alone.
He held out his hand and the ring landed in his palm. It sized itself for him as he slipped it on, "Oh yeah, baby. We're gonna bust some heads."
Guy's Red Lantern uniform altered colors and became a Fear Corps uniform. But the Corps' emblem wasn't present on Guy's chest. Instead a "G" stood in its place.
"Now ta make `em all suffer fer laughin' at me," Guy promised.
He lifted into the air, but the ring defied him and took him high into the atmosphere. Then he broke earth orbit before a wormhole opened up. When he emerged from it he saw the planet Qward, which meant he was in the antimatter universe.
Qward was the home to the Thunderers. It was also where the Fear Corps made its home. Here Guy would face the perils of the Fear Lodge where he would either triumph over his own fears or die in the attempt.
"Okay, let's bring it!" Guy whooped as he soared on towards Qward and his destiny.