With a sudden flash of dark energy, Raven arrived back within the confines of her room. Wasting no time, she hurried to her shelves and began snatching up bottles of various potions and ingredients. After marking out some Azerathean symbols on her bedroom floor and preparing a mysterious concoction, she was ready.
Hovering a foot off the ground in the lotus position, she centered her mind and deeply inhaled the incense rising from the concoction. Slowly, methodically, she began reciting her mantra.
"Azerath Metrion Zinthos."
Gradually, she felt the burdens of the world disappear as her ethereal form left her body and began drifting amidst the sea of reality. Countless dimensions and realities each containing billions of life forms passed by in the blink of an eye, and in no time Raven found herself at her destination. In front of her, floating in a sea of light, lay a shimmering portal. Behind it, a dimension of endless black and nothingness, devoid of any life. Save for one. One Raven prayed was still there.
Readying herself she crossed the threshold into the void. Casting her eyes about the environment or lack thereof, she soon spotted a tiny spec in the black. Flying full speed, the object soon began to take shape until hovering before her, in the lotus position with his four eyes closed and his head down turned, was the demon, Trigon.
The demon had changed somewhat since the last time Raven had seen him. Not the hulking giant he had once been, Trigon had substantially decreased in size, both in height and muscle mass, yet this did nothing to take away his ferocity. He was indeed smaller, but no less terrifying.
Raven was overcome with both relief and confusion. She had distinctly sensed Trigon's presence emanating from Solomon Grundy back in Metropolis, yet here he was right in front of her.
"Trigon," she spoke after gathering some courage.
Trigon said nothing.
"Father," she said, a little louder than before.
Again the demon king remained silent.
As Raven studied her father's form, realization hit her. Slowly she reached out a hand to the motionless demon, but stopped just before making contact. Preparing herself for the worst, she thrust forward and penetrated the monster's skull with her intangible fingertips. Other worldly energy coursing through her, her soul screamed as hundreds of images flashed before her eyes.
His reflexes were so sharp and fast, it was very difficult to believe he was only a man. The few people that really knew him knew that this almost inhuman speed and agility was gained slowly over a relative lifetime, and honed through incredible amounts of practice, and unwavering dedication. The reason for this being that the life he was preparing himself for was one in which he couldn't afford to make mistakes, and if he did, he wanted to be fast enough to make up for them. Approaching Superman despite his gut instincts warning danger was his mistake; when the possessed Kryptonian attempted to burn a hole in him with a deadly blast from his heat vision, the reflexes he dedicated his life to developing allowed him to make up for it. The next couple shots he avoided were just luck.
"Hmm, amusing," smirked the Trigon possessed Superman at Batman's acrobatics display.
Batman readied himself for another attack, but it never came. Instead Trigon paused for a brief moment, as if in deep thought before he simply lifted into the air, up to the skyline, and sped off faster than a speeding bullet.
Batman narrowed his eyes as he watched the Kryptonian go while Beast Boy just stared in disbelief.
"Dude, what just happened?" exclaimed the changeling.
Batman offered no answer, and instead pressed a switch on his utility belt while putting his hand to his ear, activating his headset.
"J'onn, I need a lock on Superman's transmitter. Tell me where he's going."
Despite Batman ignoring him, Beast Boy's sensitive ears were able to clearly pick up the conversation.
"Why? What happened?" came the martian on the other end.
"Things have just gone critical. Something's wrong and I need to know where Superman is.
There was a brief silence.
"It would seem Superman is leaving Metropolis and heading west.
"What's west of Metropolis?" asked Beast Boy.
Batman pulled out a remote from his utility belt and pressed a button.
"Star Labs," he said bluntly. "J'onn, thing's have changed. Superman needs to be stopped. Tell Dianna and Flash to meet me at Star Labs. Send the coordinates to the Tameranean and also try to get in contact with Lantern."
Suddenly Beast Boy became aware of a fast approaching roaring noise. Looking up he saw the Batplane race though the air, stop overhead and come in for a landing.
Batman quickly leapt into the driver's seat as Beast Boy watched in amazement.
"Come on if you're coming," said the dark knight sternly.
Not wasting another second, Beast Boy quickly hopped into the passenger seat.
Despite their expeditious arrival, it was obvious Superman had gotten there long before them. The entrance to the secret laboratory in the middle of the rural lands west of Metropolis had been ravaged, leaving just a huge, gaping hole.
As the Batplane set down, the duo of Batman and Beast Boy noticed the arrival of Flash and Wonder Woman. After they exited the plane, a Nightwing carrying Starfire joined them.
"Yo Bats, what's the scoop?" called Flash.
"J'onn said you didn't give him any details," added Wonder Woman.
"Something has gotten control of Superman," replied Batman.
"Something not good," added Beast Boy.
Collective looks of concern filled the group.
"So that means…?" began Starfire.
"We need to take him down as fast as possible," finished Nightwing.
The group gave a solemn nod and took off running for the entrance to the labs.
As Batman ran, Nightwing pulled up along side him.
"You shouldn't have come," said Batman suddenly.
"What?" replied Nightwing confused.
"You would have been of more help rounding up the rest of the escapees back in Metropolis."
"Well, excuse me for thinking you needed help," shot Nightwing bitterly.
Batman said not another word, and instead quickened his steps.
Starfire, having overheard the conversation between the two men frowned at Batman's back as he dashed away. It appeared Nightwing was right about Batman not wanting him in the Justice League.
As the heroes went deeper into the lab, things became more and more grim. The bodies of Star Lab scientists lay strung about every room. Interestingly enough, for the most part all of them seemed to still be alive, though they were definitely in desperate need of medical attention.
Then they found him. Harshly gripping a scientist by the throat and with a look of pure malice on his face, the evil infused Superman placed a hand on the poor man's head. There was a flash of red energy, which seemed to render the man unconscious, and then he was haphazardly tossed clear across the room.
"So it's true," Trigon snarled in Superman's voice. "This planet doesn't have the proper technology."
"Stop right there," demanded Wonder Woman as the group burst through the entrance.
"Supes, can you hear me in there?" called Flash.
"You insects would be wise to not get in my way, lest you want you're deaths to be slow and painful," growled the Trigon.
"You will release Superman immediately," demanded Starfire.
The monster's wicked laughter filled the room.
Not wanting to waste another second, Starfire and Wonder Woman flew straight for the cackling Kryptonian. However, before either one of them could land a punch they were snatched up by the throat. Trigon effortlessly tossed Wonder Woman clear across the room and then leveled his gaze at Starfire.
"The Tameranean," he growled.
"Let her go," demanded Beast Boy quickly morphing into a rampaging elephant and charging with abandon.
This proved to be a mistake, as the demon simply outstretched a hand, and upon impact, Beast Boy felt as though he had just run headlong into a six-inch thick, steel wall.
"The green clown," laughed the demon wickedly.
"He knows them," whispered Batman to himself as he watched the display.
Tossing Starfire away, the Kryptonain monster turned his attention to Beast Boy. Intending to end the changeling's life he raised a foot only to be interrupted by a sudden barrage of red fists.
"Knock, knock. Anybody home?" mocked the Flash as he circled the Trigon, pummeling him repeatedly.
The Flash's attack; however, would not last long as the monster simply stuck out an arm, cloths lining the speedster and sending him crashing to the ground.
An exploding birdarang suddenly caught the demon in the face, though it had no effect. Redirecting his gaze, he spotted Nightwing readying another. After throwing the weapon, Nightwing's eyes widened in surprise as the Kryptonian effortlessly caught it and sent it hurdling back at him at blinding speed. Nightwing was barely able to get out of immediate danger and was sent flying from the force of the blast.
This left just Batman who made no move to escape nor did he say a word. He instead simply bored holes in the possessed Kryptonian with his intense gaze.
"You don't seem to understand," smirked Trigon as he approached the dark knight. "You are just as much insects to him as he is to me."
As fast as he could, Batman went for a pocket on his utility belt only to have his arm suddenly twisted behind his back and his body forced up against the wall by the demonic possessor.
"I was stopped once before by pitiful specs like you," sneered the beast. "It will not happen again. "I will enter this dimension and you will know me as your ruler."
"Trigon," Batman whispered in agony.
Trigon smirked.
"It seems my reputation precedes me."
Without another word, the demon viciously slammed Batman's head against the wall, knocking him senseless.
The beast's eyes began glowing as he readied a heat blast when suddenly a revived Wonder Woman and Starfire grasped him around the throat and arms and a giant squid shifted Beast Boy wrapped him up tight in his tentacles.
The possessed Kryptonian roared in anger as he flailed about struggling to free himself.
Nightwing, recovering from the blast, ran to Batman's side.
"Batman? Batman, are you okay?"
Batman only moaned in response.
Upon inspecting his body for injuries, Nightwing suddenly noticed a glow emanating from an open compartment on Batman's utility belt. Closer inspection revealed just the weapon they needed.
The enraged Kryptonian shook violently, but the heroes held tight. However, it was becoming more apparent with each passing second that they could not hold him for much longer. Starfire's grip was ready to slip when suddenly the monster stopped struggling. Looking over his titanic shoulder, the Tameranean spotted Nightwing, and in his hand a glowing chunk of kryptonite.
With each passing second, the Kryptonian beast grew weaker as the radiation tore through his body, robbing him of his strength, and eventually rendering him unconscious on the floor.
As the group collectively caught their breath they looked about the room at one another.
"So what now?" asked Flash.
"We need to get him back to the watchtower," commanded Wonder Woman.
Keeping the piece of kryptonite in close range to Superman, the group finally managed to get everyone back to the watchtower. Unfortunately there were no cells they were capable of holding Superman, so they were forced to simply keep the kryptonite piece in close proximity to him in a normal holding cell with Green Lantern keeping guard. This solution; however, could only be temporary. The longer the kryptonite stayed focused on him the more the risk for permanent damage became. They needed to figure a way to get whatever was inside Superman out.
Meanwhile, Batman was quickly rushed to the medical wing and treated for a dislocated shoulder and a mild concussion.
"Oh man, some first day," said Cyborg remarked Cyborg to the rest of the team as they gathereed around an unconscious Batman in his hospital bed.
"Time is running out," said Wonder Woman firmly. "We need to find a way to help Superman."
"Yeah, just one problem," said Flash. "We have no idea what we're up against."
"I do," came a voice.
The group turned to suddenly find Raven standing in the doorway.
"Raven," exclaimed Beast Boy with relief.
"Raven, we did not know what happened to you," added Starfire. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," answered Raven softly. "I know who's responsible for this."
The group perked up and gave Raven their full attention.
"It's…" she began hesitantly. "It's…"
"Trigon," finished Batman, groggily but firmly.
Raven and the rest of the group gasped at Batman's intuitiveness as he struggled to sit up in his bed.
"Bruce, are you okay?" asked Nightwing.
"It was a mistake," muttered Batman.
"What?" replied Nightwing in confusion.
"I told Kent it was a mistake. Letting all of you join when it was obvious not all of you deserve a place here. And now look what's happened."
Starfire felt anger flare up inside her. Now the dark knight had gone too far.
"You will stop right this instant," she demanded angrily. "If it had not been for Dick you would not even be alive. How dare you claim he is undeserving."
"Who said I was talking about him?" said Batman plainly.
The group watched as Batman then leveled an accusing stare at Raven.