Chapter 19: Somehow we'll find a way…

(Superman monologue while opening his eyes after the blast)

A warrior must always keep in mind that a path is only a path; if he feels that he should not follow it, he must not stay with it under any conditions. His decision to keep on that path or to leave it must be free of fear or ambition. He must look at every path closely and deliberately. There is a question that a warrior has to ask, mandatorily: 'Does this path have a heart?'"

He remembers the quote from a Carlos Castaneda book he read a while back, when he was sometimes just a reporter looking for a story, now he is writing the history and maybe, just maybe the future writers won't be kind to him…he has just leveled part of New York, something that resemble the 9/11 that ignite this fascination with security until the Justice League itself became a political risk, we have gone to far, too many thing too explain…we just don't have enough time.

Superman tried to stand up, he collapsed at first, he felt unsteady and nauseous…then he took control of his inner fear and pushed himself up once again, this time his legs found their strength and a couple of steps later he expanded his chest trying to make room for his shoulders…he felt something hot and strange running around his lips…he look some of it with his left hand, he couldn't believe it….it was blood, he looked at his mangled suit and saw scratches, cuts and bruises all around his right arm where most of the hit took place…he felt his right wrist open and tried to put it back in place…it hurt and he moaned… he told himself: How could Bruce endurance such a punishment time after time? What is he made from? He looked around looking or hearing for survivors to see five city blocks leveled, he couldn't use his super hearing since there was too much audio traffic… the electromagnetic blast probably took out half the city electronic and most of the power supply…he felt like the plague…like those old Romanian folk tales of pestilence with a purpose they used to call upir or vampires.

(1 minute before the blast)

Batman could felt the air crushing his suit against him, he could feel the pressure in his triceps and in his chest…the pain is going to be excruciating in a couple of minutes, but he has to get close to the ground of else he can play his chances against the huge antennas on the top of the buildings, he hate New York because he wasn't as comfortable jumping over rooftops and mobility was impossible, especially in the "Batmobile"…

Oliver was right, there were some many things they could have done differently; Angela wasn't supposed to die but he never expected to see "Cain" again and that was a big complication, the corticoids given to him in the helicopter would help him cope with infections and radiation for a while but he has to think of the damage done to the tissue in his injured arm…not a good diagnostic for the near future.

He was now closer to the ground, it was almost the moment to open the parachute, he had to execute perfectly or else he could be impaled into an antenna…and then "Diana" came to his mind; he felt his neck muscles tightened around the mere mention of her name… What is happening to you? Are you getting old and sentimental? He realized that their relationship was not casual, there were too attracted to each other to remain as friends; that a hidden relationship could destroy the justice league…but what am I thinking, we are already cracking up...it's just a matter of minutes now…this is too big.

Then he felt an expansive wave that threw him away a muttered a prayer in silence.

The helicopter…around the same time

The electromagnetic pulse took out the electronics in the chopper and began the free fall, the pilot was killed instantly and Oliver Queen formerly known by the "Green Arrow" was trying to control the chopper and woke up Diana at the same time, he was not very successful…so he kicked her…didn't work… she is too strong.

-Damn you Diana! - Oliver was almost hysterical, cruel jokes would not help you now…he told himself and throwing arrows was not an option…he had no time…they were going down… he tried another approach towards Diana.

-Diana, Batman is in trouble- Oliver screamed again.

Diana opened her eyes, she felt drowsy at first but quickly regain consciousness…she saw Oliver trying to break free the body of the pilot…he tried but he couldn't…it was stuck…she stood up and put a hand on his shoulder.

-He's dead, let him be…now let's get the hell out of here- Diana's eyes were icy blue.

-Ok, let me cut the gasoline supply too avoid the explosion- Oliver was trying to cause the minimum damage to the surrounding area…a true hero.

-It was an atomic blast, I can feel the electromagnetic pulse, there is nothing down there- Diana was trying too explain the situation to Oliver, she had keen senses…more than the average human and she knew that Bruce was not in the helicopter it means he was out there when it happened at that is something she would have to deal with...in time.

-Let's go- Oliver hold Diana's arm closing his own eyes and feeling her power while getting yanked outside the helicopter….a moment later he felt the heat underneath him as the chopper exploded…he was too tired, reality has become too dreadful to be true.

1 minute after the explosion (New York, Ground Zero)

-Is anyone there alive? - John Stewart was lying down close to the blast zone…he was covered in mud, cement dust and glass…but he was still alive.

-Is the pope catholic? - Q responded from 10 yards away….ok, Maybe he is not catholic…we all know he had ties with the Muslims but… Q was ranting nonsense again, which means he is totally fine.

-OK…dead people don't make bad jokes- John was happy to be alive…he tried to free himself up but a powerful pain came through his right ribs and cut his breath...he had something stuck in the back…he shouldn't move…he remember the basic training, he then muttered –Help-

Q quickly got to him….he looked around only to see the destruction around him; so the Big Fella finally lost it, Batman was right all along…but there almost nothing we could do to stop this mayhem, but now a have to find a fallen comrade…

-How do I look? - John asked the masked vigilante.

-I always knew that white was your real color- Q was making a remark about the dust around John.

-I thought that too- John tried to laugh but the pain got to him…and he blood started to pour down his mouth.

Q moved him to the side to see the extent of the injuries, and then he added: "Damn"

-Is it that bad? - John was really concerned; he was feeling dizzy and cold… not good symptoms.

-I've lost my fedora hat; it was my favorite- Q responded without hesitation or emotion.

-You crazy cracker- John was almost losing his mind because of the pain.

-How do you know I'm white? …I have no face- Q responded with sarcasm.

-Vic Sage is a white boy's name…sounded like a pornographer or a pedophile- John was getting weaker.

-You're right, want the real scoop? - Q was looking around trying to find flash.

-Please- John's voice was almost inaudible.

-You have at least a four inch steel bar trapped in your back, the good news is that it didn't got you right in the middle of the back so sex is ok, and you may possibly walk again...the bad news is that it possibly puncture or collapse your lungs so that blood coming out of mouth it may be more than a sore throat…you dig- Q was almost desperate, he knew that his buddy was dying and didn't have enough time.

-I dig, and I thought you were giving me bad news- John started to have a sad laugh and quickly passed out.

-Flash! - Q started to scream in a dead town were everything even hopes lies dead.

End of chapter. Please review.