Maxima: a DCAU series Anthology story

by Loki's Son

Maxima and Thara Kal-El have arrived on Earth. Despite wanting a quiet life, everyone has taken notice. For different reasons.

1. Chapter 1

40

Legal disclaimer: I tend to liberally "borrow" DC adapted character profiles and art from the Earth-27 wiki created by Roy Westerman with principle art coming from digital artist Phil Cho. Other creators and artists are found there as well and I will specifically list any original creations with creator citations as I utilize them. In short, this is the single most comprehensive retelling of all things DC and beyond I have encountered. It's worth your time to explore.

That having been said, the properties, and their variations belong to DC Comics through WarnerMedia and its former parent, AT&T, and now the Discovery empire with notable exceptions. More on that in the footnote. I do not own DC characters or their interpretations and re-imaginings. My own characters are implied Public Domain since I have not included a copyright notice as required by the 1974 revisions of the copyright statutes and regulations. While an intellectual copyright is implied without the due symbols and language, all such considerations are generally voided under CC-BY-SA, which governs this site, unless duly noted otherwise.

Open Source attributions are listed after the story concluded to satisfy legalese requirements. And all "super" characters other than Open Source have been seen in comic books before barring any original characters coming from the Earth-27 Wiki or myself. You can look into Public Domain Superheroes Wiki and the DC Database Wiki's own vaults to verify this.

Cover art: by myself through NightCafe StableFusion 1.5. Coming soon free of charge at /users/brinmacen-17542437/ See my other royalty-free commercial use artwork there.

Although this is primarily set in the DCAU, I incorporate attributes of dozens of interpretations of each character, comic telling era, and medium into the telling.

Chronology: this takes place directly after Justice League Beyond Disco Mummy's Revenge: DCAU Series Part 5, the Justice League DCAU series Anthology story Christmas Horror, and Justice League Beyond Evil Incarnate: DCAU Series Part 6.

---

Carol and Jane Kent, identical twins aged four were very invested in meeting their half-sister. Thara Kal-El was two-years old but appeared to be nearly five like the twins were.

Like Maxima herself had, Thara was undergoing the Almeracian growth cycle.

She'd reach young adulthood in nine years. Then the process would reverse and Thara would outlive Clark by a hundred years or more. Just as Maxima herself would.

Despite appearances, Maxima was slightly less than thirty-five years old. She looked barely older than their oldest child, Kalea-El who was ten and looked twenty. The Kent family had had their multiversal memories restored so they knew they were from Earth-2 while Clark was from Earth Prime. But Clark was the father Lord Superman had never been. So despite their mother, Lois Lane, going insane after regaining her memories and devoting her life to ending Clark's, the Kent children sided with Clark.

Even fifteen year old Mia who was the daughter of Lord Superman raping Lena Luthor after killing her brother. Jonathan Lane Kent was Lois' oldest at thirteen. Laura came next at eleven.

Lois had escaped Lord Superman while he was powerless. But he'd found her again after Darkseid reversed what Prime Luthor had done to the Justice Lords. Hence the birth of Jane and Carol. Lana Linda Lang had gotten them all out for good.

Subsequently, Lois and Lana had their Clark's DNA overwritten on their own. They each became Superwoman. Lois manifested Lord Superman's traditional powers. Lana, however, had been exposed to red kryptonite for decades. She developed a new class of solar based powers as a result of the gene splicing.

But it still took Galatea from Earth Prime to kill Lord Superman. Galatea had become Power Girl and an ally of Superman from her position in the Justice Society. Lois, with her years of detention and forced sex, decided if there was even a one-tenth of a chance Superman would devolve into a Lord Superman, he needed to die.

What no one knew yet was that thanks to Saturn Queen and Dr. Ernst Smalley, Lois was effectively immortal now. So she could stand watch over human history and kill anyone attempting to take Superman's place. Even if it was one of her own children. She was that consumed by hate.

Lana, going by her middle name Linda because there was already a Lana Lang on the New Earth left over from the Crisis and Rebirth, wasn't taking Maxima's surprise arrival very well. Then again, she'd just confessed her undying love for Clark. Which came for bad timing from the former Empress of Almerac and its empire.

The elephant in the room was that Kalea was following her mother's trail after "tidying" up on Almerac. Kalea worked for the Ministry of Executions so her ideas regarding tidy usually involved a blood bath. Kalea's change of heart also came as a surprise since it was she that condemned Thara to a life as a figurehead monarch. But it seemed she hadn't killed her mother in the process in the New Universe, unlike events in the Prime universe.

"Maxima, how long do you intend to stay on Earth?" Clark asked as he struggled out of his sick bed.

"I intend to stay here. At least until Thara is fully grown," Maxima told him, "I hear from Kalea that Earth is quite hospitable."

"But Almerac could send forces to acquire Thara?" Lana Linda asked.

"I told you. Kalea is cleaning up those details," Maxima shrugged. She was, after all, the former empress that utilized her half-Kryptonian daughter as a weapon of mass destruction through four successive wars.

"Max, you can't imperil the people of Earth," Clark argued.

"I'm not going to," Maxima promised him, "Thara and I are going to live a very quiet life here."

"Just like Kalea," Karen Starr, the new legal name for Galatea Hamilton, stated.

"Of course," Maxima promised, "Kalea said she had plenty of room in her 'flat in London'? I have no idea where that's at but she's says the people there will let us be. Apparently she owns a bar?"

"Pub," a chorus voices corrected her.

"Of course. A public house. She lives above it," Maxima told them.

"Of course," Clark seized on that. Karen groaned. Kalea had specifically never wanted her father to know that. He had a major difficulties with Kalea's life choices despite never meeting her until she was six and looked thirteen. That experience left her traumatized and a cyborg.

Being a cyborg had been worse then a death sentence in Almeracian society. But the laws changed since the Crown Princess had become one. People across the empire hated her for that and the stigma remained intact. Karen, as a clone of Kara In-Ze, understood prejudices all too well.

"Master Kal-El, a new arrival is seeking permission to enter the Fortress," Kelex reported.

"Who is it now?" Clark wanted to groan.

"Mistress Kara," Kelex answered, "Should I stand down defensive systems?"

"Why would Kara trigger the defenses?" Lana Linda asked.

"She's here in her capacity as a Darkstar," Kelex answered, "She's insisting on taking the Lady Maxima prisoner."

Lana Linda glared at Maxima, "A quiet life?"

"Let her in," Clark said firmly.

"Yes, Master," Kelex bowed and the defense systems went idle again, "I shall inform Mistress Kara that you are all in the med center."

It didn't take Kara long to join them.

"I'm not surrendering to you or allowing you to leave with my child," Maxima warned Kara upon her arrival.

"Relax, I'm not here for either of you. But I had to play it up for the monitors that were assigned to me for my trip here," Kara told her, "This way I can say I interrogated Kal-El, made a search, and didn't find anyone for the official record. Unofficially, what the hell were you thinking coming to Earth? It's the first place they'll look!"

"Kalea is resolving that issue," Maxima said sternly.

"How? By massacring another planetary population?" Kara harshly retorted, "The Guardians are seriously considering calling her into account for literally destroying a dozen worlds."

"It was warfare," Maxima grated.

"'Total warfare' is not a term to justify xenocide," Kara snapped back. Thara, Carol, and Jane all began to cry.

"Take it outside!" Lana Linda demanded as she scooped up Carol while Clark tended to Jane as best he could.

"Hi there," Mia told Thara as she lifted her up, "I'm your big sister, Mia,"

"Laura, get Jane and Carol out of here," Linda asked with some exasperation, "You too Jon,"

"But Aunt Karen gets to stay?" Jon feebly protested.

"Sorry, sport," Karen shrugged and found a seat because she could no longer stand on her own.

"So now the Darkstars operate at the Guardians' beck and call?" Maxima asked.

"You know we cooperate with the Guardians and the Lantern Corps," Kara was getting frustrated.

"Little wonder," Maxima snorted, "You are married to a leading Green Lantern and the Sapphire Queen."

"That's part of it. But it goes deeper than that. The Darkstars are seen as a fairer policing force by systems that won't allow the Lantern Corps access," Kara reminded Maxima, "Almerac included."

"But you're not neutral," Maxima accused.

"Neither is the Manhunter Corps," Kara retorted, "And there's only one member. She's here on Earth."

"Earth also has a dedicated Star Sapphire, Green Lantern, Jade, two rogue Fear Lanterns, two part-time Green Lantern Corpsmen, and a Red Lantern," Lana Linda listed off, "So Manhunter is the least of your worries."

"Except the Guardians, who've always been critical of Kate Spencer being Manhunter, are now willing to look the other way if she delivers Kalea and Maxima," Kara sighed.

"Master Kal-El. I have welcomed…" Kelex began.

"Yeah, yeah, they get it," Superboy said as he, Miss Martian, and Supergirl came in, "Have no fears. We saved the world. Yet again."

"What's she doing here?" Supergirl was immediately defensive upon seeing Maxima in the room.

"Maybe we should take this to larger quarters?" M'gann M'orzz suggested.

"Mistress Mia has diverted everyone else to the communication hub," Kelex happily reported, "The main lounge is still open."

"I'll give you a hand," Linda Danvers offered Karen.

"Here, rest on my shoulder," Conner Kent did the same for Clark.

M'gann knew she couldn't penetrate Maxima's mental defenses without a fight but it was still disappointing to lack a preview of the former empress' planned impassioned speech.

"I have taken the liberty of preparing a meal," Kelex further informed everyone, "Master Kal-El and Mistress Karen need to regain their strength. Refreshments have been served for all others."

"Good thinking," Lana Linda acknowledged his efforts.

Kelex was an AI but he still displayed algorithmic feelings just as Roxy, L-Ron, and J-Lo happened too as well.

---

"Maxima, the former of empress of Almerac is on Earth," the Martian Manhunter warned the Shadow Cabinet, "And she has brought her youngest daughter with her."

M'gann had telepathically flashed J'onn J'onzz a warning. The Cabinet met in Black Adam and Isis' Kanhdaqian palace.

"This isn't a concern for Stormwatch," Weatherman's holographic image said before winking out with a final, "Yet."

"I must confess my own skepticism on why we should be concerned," I-Ching's image faded away.

"You bothered me for this?" Horus' image also faded.

"You'll have to forgive them. They don't recognize the geopolitical ramifications of Almerac pursuing Maxima here," Isis sighed.

"No, Earth has established its ability to repulse Almerac," Black Adam recalled their abortive invasion under Kalea's brief reign.

"The Dominators could use it as propaganda to assemble another alliance," Icon warned them, "Just as Daxam is now free from Almerac's blockade."

Augustus Freeman was lawyer on Earth and in interstellar courts.

"Yet we've tolerated Kalea-El's presence and that of her loyalists since before the Near Apocalypse of 2009, just thirteen months ago," Black Adam replied.

"But they operate as freelancers for the Ministry of Executions on Almerac," J'onn reminded them, "I doubt Kalea is innocent in Maxima's retrieving Thara Kal-El from state custody."

"We also know from Kara In-Ze the Guardians of the Universe had asked the Darkstars to look into the matter as well preparing a Lantern Corps response should Almerac be open to reopening their borders to them again," Icon warned.

"Perhaps we should bribe the Guardians as well," Black Adam said direly.

"We already allow Corpsmen free access to Earth," Isis wondered what their leverage could be.

"Yet we know Sinestro is starting his own, new Corps and is currently on Earth with the Legion of Doom," Icon replied, "The Guardians may be persuaded to remain out of the affair if we hand over Sinestro and reveal the nature of his Ultraviolet Corps," J'onn offered.

"And what do we offer Vandal Savage to keep the Light from interfering?" Black Adam wondered as well, "Lois Lane is a member now."

"Our neutrality towards the bulk of the Light's earthly endeavors," J'onn was quick to suggest.

"He has sought that very bargain," Isis mused.

"We make up a quorum," Icon reminded them, "Our vote would be binding."

"Ever the lawyer, Augustus?" Isis teased him.

"We've avoided the issue of the Light for far too long," Black Adam conceded, "We should offer terms and then negotiate our spheres of influence."

"As far as Maxima goes, I can place the Heroes on alert. Stormwatch won't intervene as per Weatherman's consultation. The Justice League International will be impeded by Luthor. The Justice Society and the Outsiders won't have jurisdiction. But if anyone strikes out at Maxima it will be in London where Kalea-El is known to have made a home for herself and her followers," Icon offered, "Dakota City is in the United States but the Heroes don't answer to any governmental body and we prefer it that way."

"I can also assist," J'onn offered, "It's time the world knew the Martian Manhunter was still active."

"Every Agent of Chaos or Order has been summoned to the Realms of Existence," Black Adam counseled them, "This, so soon after the Evil Queen's retreat, bodes ill for our universe."

"It was before the retreat even occurred," Isis clarified, "What would pit the Lords of Order, Chaos, and Balance against a foe greater than the threat Renfri posed?"

The Evil Queen's foul armies had threatened the entire Earth. Her allies had been amongst the Earth's mightiest sorcerers and the undead. She'd even rallied the forces of Hell against her. Weatherman and Stormwatch were on a vigil to see what, if any, spillover occurred. I-Ching obviously felt the threat could be handled and Horus was always the hottest head in the conference.

"I vote we offer terms and protections as well as clarify our realms of authority," Icon put forth.

"Seconded," J'onn quickly agreed.

"It makes sense to," Isis concurred.

"Then, at long last, the Shadow Cabinet will reach out to the Light and come to a formal accord," Black Adam cast the deciding vote, "I will contact Vandal Savage with the proposal. Icon, you and I will negotiate terms. Meanwhile, we stay ever mindful of the threat Maxima's presence on Earth can bring and be prepared to meet that threat."

"How can Savage say 'no' to such persuasion?" Isis kissed his cheek, "I certainly can't."

"That is well and good," Black Adam fondly told her.

---

"Almerac will not intervene directly," Maxima promised them, "The Guardians will remain aloof. But, hirelings may pose a threat."

"Aliens?" Clark scowled.

"Domestic threats," Maxima allowed, "Such as your estranged wife and her allies."

"You seem well informed," Lana Linda was the one to scowl now.

"Almerac has an intelligence gathering probe in Jupiter's orbit. It's been there for a decade. The government officially shut the watchtower down. And unofficially, it still functions but without technical support so its lifespan is dwindling," Maxima told them.

"Kalea has mentioned it before," Clark admitted.

"Almerac has no vested interest in defending Earth's meta-human population anymore," Maxima explained, "Neither do they wish to antagonize that population given the military's retreat under Kalea's leadership during her first abortive coup. She persuaded Marcus and the Democrats from engaging Earth during the second coup."

"Kalea's the reason you had a throne to return to," Karen said angrily.

"And your assistance and sacrifices for us against Ne w Krypton earned you Almerac's undying gratitude. Don't mistake that for familiarity," Maxima warned her.

"Master! An Almeracian scout has landed and delivered one passenger before departing," Kelex warned everyone.

"That would be our daughter," Maxima said proudly.

"Let her in," Clark ordered.

"She has already entered the fortress. She successfully disabled two of my defensive drones," Kelex sounded disappointed, "I shall be reviewing their designs shortly."

Clark closed his eyes and silently counted to ten. Of all of his children, Kalea was the most problematic and, if he was honest enough, sociopathic.

"Everybody miss me?" Kalea grinned as she entered the space led by a wary drone Kelex commanded,

"Don't get your mainframe in a bunch," Kalea advised Kelex.

Kalea had spent a year exiled to Argo in Krypton's home system. There, she'd learned to speak, read, and write Kryptonian and studied every active data source she could locate. Though the population had frozen to death after the orbital shift caused by Krypton's explosion, their technology had proven more resilient. Like her father, Kalea had been blessed with a photographic memory and she'd had a lot of time on her hands.

Until Marcus located her and freed her from permanent exile before they toppled the imperial government. Before she'd killed him to restore that same government.

"Sorry I wasn't here," Kalea sadly told Karen.

"It's part of the job," Power Girl replied with a shrug.

"So, who all is proposing to kick my mother and sister off the planet?" Kalea snarkily asked

"Kali!" Laura raced into her sister's arms.

"And how are you, Trouble?" Kalea laughed as she squeezed her half-sister tightly. The sight always worried Clark. Laura adored Kalea. As far as he knew Kalea wasn't filling Laura's head with rebellious ideas...Laura didn't need any extras.

"Any sign of pursuit?" Maxima asked.

"Almerac won't press its claims on Thara or either of us," Kalea promised her, "I made my point rather eloquently."

She'd slipped into the Presider's residence, come from behind, and jabbed a knife into his groin. He'd been most cooperative. In fact, he'd thanked her for stealing away Thara. The last thing the fledgling republic needed was reminders of the imperial past

so Kalea's employment with the Ministry was safe. So long as she remained on Earth.

They'd make the useful clucking sounds and fuss over Thara's "kidnapping"

but would report her being reunite safely with her mother and having been moved a secure location. Then silence would loom and eventually Thara and the monarchy would be forgotten. She'd nicked one of his testicles and promised to return should he or members of his government renege on the deal.

During the trip home, Kalea received word from the Ministry that her standard fee rate had been tripled. She'd impressed the Presider, even if he had wet himself during their discourse. Capt. Hero and her crew would share in her good fortune. They all were paid in gold and gems with purities exceeding anything found on Earth. The advantages of asteroid mining and combing gas giants.

Karen found investment capital by bringing down asteroids filled with rare earth metals, silver, gold, or platinum. Starrware was privately held. Much to Derek Powers eternal regret.

Powers had already perpetuated hostile takeovers of Wayne Enterprise, Cale Tech, Palmer Tech, Kord Industries, and Magnus Robotics. Now he had Sivana Incorporated, Queen Consolidated, Smoak Tech, Innovative Concepts, Ryder Corp and Max Cord Industries in his sights. The only corporation with blood in the water was Queen Consolidated as the inheritance battle between the previously unacknowledged potential heiress, Thea Queen, moved a lawsuit through the courts against Emiko Queen. Each with other identities as Sin and Red Arrow. Both wanted women in those guises

Sin was a member of the League of Assassins and the adopted daughter of power couple, Dina Lance and Nyssa Raatko.

Black Canary was now Ra's al Ghul and Nyssa was the Demon's Hand. Red Arrow was a member of the Outlaws, vigilantes posing as contract killers who only targeted criminals and their organizations. Red Arrow was almost a founding member. Jason Todd, then still the Red Hood, had persuaded Ravager, Squire, Green Arrow and Speedy to join him in the venture. Now there were nearly two dozen members. Red Arrow had been the first recruit from those five originals.

"We're safe enough, right Pops?" Kalea smirked at her father. Clark had enough hold against Kalea to warrant ignoring her flippant tone. She'd bribed Saturn Queen into suppressing the Prime Superman's memories of Kalea killing Maxima. But Saturn Queen had built in trigger that if he should learn of the former multiverse, his memories of that event would return.

So he also remembered their duel of honor where she'd begged him to kill her. Kalea naturally remembered those events. Being a rare breed of psychotic that recalled the Multiverse. Eve Aries had unlocked Lois and the kids' memories, and they in turn had revealed the past to him, unlocking his suppressed memories.

But in the New Universe, Maxima was still alive. Instead Kalea had merely kidnapped her sister and sold her into bondage to avoid being the figurehead empress. So Clark was conflicted regarding being angry at her for killing her still alive mother. He did resent the hell out of her for having Saturn Queen suppress a memory he would've lost anyway during Rebirth.

But that was before Final Crisis and Zero Hour erased an entire Realm of Existence. Which Glorith conspired with Dr. Manhattan and the Heckler to restore a single universe made from components of the infinite number that had been lost. Glorith had been so invested in insuring her eventual victory in the 31st Century, she lost sight of how many duplicates she was inserting of certain people. A fact Lana Linda could easily attest to.

Personal histories also got scrambled quite a bit. Lois Lane of Earth Prime had died and Clark had chosen Maxima as his life partner. Lois Lane of Earth-2 had Lord Superman's children and helped engineer his death. These were the histories merged together in the New Universe.

Mia's history had been completely altered as well. No longer Lord Superman's child by Lena Luthor, Mia was a clone derived from Superman and Lena's DNA the same way Conner was blend of Lex's and Clark's. Now they even had a Superman impostor named Bill Dunn who had Daxamite DNA spliced into his genetic code.

Lois had gone off the rails when she recovered her memories. Lana Linda fell in love with Clark all over again. And Maxima sauntered back into his life wearing next to nothing.

"Is this the new normal?" Kara asked.

"Only every other Tuesday," Karen told her "sister".

"How'd you two get so banged up?" Kara had to wonder.

"Yes, how did the vaunted Superman get injured?" Maxima ignored Power Girl.

Lana Linda told the story of the progressive assaults by super villains teams on the Justice League and Justice Society before leading up to a penultimate confrontation with Disco Mummy.

"Several of the Wonder Women were gravely injured as well," Clark added

"Good," Kalea snorted. Kalea hated Diana. She'd even sexually assaulted her Prime Universe stepmother.

"Diana isn't Wonder Woman anymore," Clark told her, "She's Queen over Themiscyra now."

"Someone let that bitch become queen?" Kalea sneered. M'gann tried explaining how Hippolyta had stepped aside from the throne, Artemis had won the right, Nubia had been chosen by Diana, and Donna Troy was Hippolyta's choice to all be Wonder Woman at the same time.

"As if this universe didn't have enough backstory difficulties," Kalea groaned. Mia and Jon brought Carol, Jane, and Thara into the lounge.

"If Laura stays, we all stay," Mia delivered the ultimatum. More seats and a couch formed from smart materials Kelex controlled. He also delivered real meals to everyone.

"I don't think I recognize all of these ingredients," M'gann admitted.

"The Fortress has a greenhouse growing herbs, spices, and veggies from over a dozen worlds," Lana Linda explained.

"She certainly seems to know her way around," Maxima snarked. Even Kalea winced.

"This is Lana Linda Lang," Clark grated.

"And unlike some I was invited," Lana Linda smiled sweetly. The kids looked like they were watching a tennis match and the ball was now in Maxima's court.

"Drop it," Kalea advised, "Look at them. It's pretty obvious."

"So what did you three do while Maxima napped?" Lana Linda asked.

"Like I said, we saved the world," Conner shrugged.

"The Evil Queen attacked most of the planet and we were part of the last line of defense," M'gann explained.

"It got pretty rough," Supergirl admitted.

"Young Justice was called in?" Mia exclaimed, "And Jon and I missed it?"

"Here we go," Jon muttered.

"There wasn't time to get you from here to there and get into position in time," Conner told her, "M'gann and I agreed with Black Lightning's reasoning. Cassie and Luciana were the only ones in favor of your inclusion."

"At least Wonder Girl and Splash showed some brains," Mia grumbled.

"She won't let this go," Jon warned them.

"Look, I just came by to warn you that Almerac is outsourcing finding Maxima and Thara," Kara told them.

"The Presider knows I'll emasculate him if he does," Kalea shared.

"This isn't coming from the Council Advisors or the Presider," Kara warned her, "This is coming directly from the Minister of Executions. Your boss."

"That jealous bovine!" Kalea snapped, "The Presider tripled my pay rate. That means I'm on schedule to make twice what The Minister does."

"Now you know the cost of your pay raise," Kara shrugged, "She's forced to pay out but you'll also be forced to pay up with Maxima and Thara's lives."

"You could quit. Then she wouldn't be jealous anymore," Laura suggested.

"Doesn't work that way, Trouble," Kalea warned her, "Some people hold a grudge no matter what happens."

Kalea and Laura were two of them. That was one of the many secret bonds they shared. The other being, Laura was another of those rare beings that recalled the Multiverse without Saturn Queen's intervention. Eve Aries had left a private message in Laura's mind while she was reactivating memories lost after Rebirth was complete.

Set the world on fire! Saturn Queen had imprinted on her young mind. Laura fully intended to. Kalea understood all too well. That had been her passion since before meeting her infamous father. Having met him, and the tragic circumstances that followed, it only cemented Kalea's resolve.

Two coups and four wars later, Kalea was lying low before enacting her revenge on the universe. Almerac saw her as a hero. Her father saw her as a killer. Her mother saw her as a heroic killer, an untamed weapon. Her mother was partially right. Laura, technically older than the adult Kalea, was just the same as her. The New Universe had no idea what was in store for it.

"You repaired your eye," Clark noted of Kalea's cybernetic eye. It had been damaged and the blue iris lost and the orb itself cracked since before the Crisis concluded. But now it looked as natural as her organic eye.

"I had time to visit the Techno-Organic Union and get fitted with an upgrade," Kalea shrugged.

The Union, a stellar nation of cyborgs had been dubbed a terrorist state by Almerac. It was they that engineered kidnapping six-year old Kalea and making her one of them. She'd lost her right arm, eye, and both legs. She'd visited them frequently through her explosive growth phase. Now she'd undergone the final fittings and received upgrades to all of her cybernetics thanks un part to the Techno-Organic Union's acquisition of Kryptonian prosthesis tech from New Krypton.

Before, her synthetics were paired to natural Almeracian strengths. Now, like Clark's uncle Zor-El, the Cyborg Superman, her entire body functioned at Kryptonian norms. They'd even given her the means to cultivate and apply cloned flesh, her own flesh, to her arm and legs. Just as they'd repaired and restored her ravaged clitoris and vulva, ruined and scarred under weeks of unrelenting torture. She'd never reclaim her uterus though. That was beyond even the Techno-Organic Union's capability to replace or repair.

If it hadn't been for Thara, the imperial line would've died with her and Maxima. The imperial line being a matriarchal line. So it was good that Clark's son, Jonathan, was born from Lois and not Maxima. Males born to the imperial line were treated a little less than unacknowledged bastards. Clark and Conner accepted each other as brothers rather than father and son. Just as Kara and Karen were Clark's "cousins". M'gann would be the children's aunt. Linda Danvers was also consider a cousin.

Everyone had a clearly defined familial role except for Maxima and Lana Linda Lang.

Even Lana Lang's role was more clearly defined as an honorary Auntie. Lana Linda Lang had moved into the Kent home right after Lois went on her first rampage. She'd stayed while Lois threatened the lives of her own children, losing Mia as an ally in the process.

She'd began a career at Galaxy Broadcasting Corporation as a science reporter. Her engineering background invaluable to the multimedia giant in a city that boasted LuthorCorp's headquarters, and had Wayne-Powers, Queen Consolidated, Smoak Tech, Sivana Industries, and Max Cord subsidiaries as well as STAR Labs, Mercury Labs, and Iron Works' headquarters. Metropolis also boasted over a dozen tech startups that Starrware had invested in or purchased outright.

It also helped that Dr. Tina McGee, STAR Labs' Director, personally liked Lana Linda and gave her exclusives on nearly every new project in the pipeline. Lena Luthor was also surprisingly candid with Lana Linda. Studious research had also given Lana Linda an advance report ahead of everyone else that Wayne-Powers was reopening its Aerospace Division as well developing a nautical branch.

With Bruce Wayne now a minority shareholder, Powers was freed to pursue military contracts again. So Lana Linda's career trajectory was orbital. In the eyes of the Kent children, she'd become a second mother. So her confession to Clark and his reciprocation of her feelings, as leveraged over Christmas by Music Meister, had come to a rude, screeching halt as Maxima made her appearance.

"We're safe enough from Almerac," Kalea promised, "The Khunds are too busy rebuilding and the Dominators are still struggling to hold their own. But that doesn't exclude proxies operating on their behalf. Mother did piss off half the galaxy."

"Thank you for that," Maxima sighed.

"Likeliest candidates for trouble are the Shrike Queen of Thanagar and the Dark Circle," Kalea assessed, "The Circle is still under the control of certain key members of Darkseid's Elite. But I can't get to them while they're protected by a trillion devotees."

"Don't forget the Daxamites," Maxima chided her.

"And the Presider shut down the coalition blockade around Daxam," Kalea sighed.

"And the New Kryptonians of course. Their terrorist faction is still trying to kill me," Maxima added.

"You're not helping yourself," Kalea warned Maxima.

"They'll think I'm holding something back," Maxima shrugged.

"We already do," Lana Linda stated.

"See?" Maxima asked almost accusingly. Kalea face palmed and let out an audible groan.

"You should eat something," Karen suggested to her.

"Try this, it's the best," Laura pointed at a green meat.

"How'd did you know that's my fave?" Kalea teasingly asked her. Clark still worried about Kalea's influence but she always seemed restrained around her "older/younger" sister.

"Kal-El, We have to live somewhere. Rann obviously is no longer an option," Maxima stated without knowing that in the Prime Universe, he'd gone with them to live there with them. Unless Kalea had told her. Liklier, it was Kalea's abducting Thara out from beneath Rannian authorities that proved it wasn't safe. Kalea was the best there was at what she did. Which was make trouble for everyone. Still, she and Power Girl were honorary member of the Sovereign Seven.

"What about Crossroads Coffee Bar?" Clark inquired, "They always have rooms to let."

Kalea actually looked sheepish, "My so-called 'flat' is connected by a Crossroads' portal to a room there."

"So that's where you were all going to live anyway?" Karen was amused.

"The portal is ID specific so it empties out into two adjoining bedrooms. It's also secure because only my relatives can gain access," Kalea explained, "And you too."

Karen smirked, "Thanks."

"I take it that's why the European Union authorities can't find Hero and her crew?" Linda Danvers asked.

"Similar idea. Different destination," Kalea shrugged. Linda's sister, Alex Danvers, was the Director of the US based DEO. They were also looking for Hero and the crew on unspecified charges. Though the portal likely shifted jurisdiction over to Stormwatch

their bailiwick was interdimensional and interstellar incursions.

"That's privileged information by the way," Kalea cautioned Supergirl.

"I won't tell if you won't," Linda Danvers promised.

"Cool," Kalea made the pact.

"Kalea, we need to discuss you're own living arrangements on Earth," Clark insisted.

"Technically the rooms aren't on Earth but they have access to Crossroads. The coat closet that leads to my pub is a separate portal to Earth," Kalea corrected him, "And you seriously believe the Sovereigns would allow an attacking force enter through to Crossroads?"

"And God forbid any intruder pisses off Violet Smith or Pansy Jones," Karen added.

The others were unaware that the sisters embodied life and death itself. Violet had been the death within the multiverse and now New Universe while Pansy was life itself. Their teenage cousin, Daisy Miller, was the life of the universe as it grew older throughout the eons.

the fact that Daisy was only a jr. higher spoke well for the age of the universe before Violet dealt it its final blow. Before, the Crossroads Coffee Bar was tied into a network spanning the infinite Multiverse, then the 52 surviving worlds of the Multiverse, and finally, the New Universe brought about after the death of the old Multiverse during the Crisis itself and the Zero Hour it spawned. The Sovereigns had come from alternate Earths but their worlds no longer existed as such. Now they were just different planets in the scope of the New Universe.

Because Crossroads existed within a literal crossroads next to Crossroads, Vermont and inter-Realm crossroads, it existed outside of space-time when the Multiverse was destroyed and before the New Universe was born. The Sovereigns remembered the past as it was and now as it is. Power Girl herself hadn't remembered until Violet and Pansy unlocked her memories and Galatea Hamilton remembered how she'd met the original Power Girl on Earth-2 had taken up her mantle after the original had fallen in battle against Lord Superman.

She also remembered killing him. Which changed her relationship with Superman.

Although the Prime Superman had been the most powerful of them all, compared to Lord Superman, Ultraman, Overman, and Red Son Superman, amongst others she had the confidence that came with knowing she could render their Superman helpless if she had to.

In the New Universe, Ultraman and Ultragirl were Daxamites. Lord Superman had never existed. Overman and Red Son Superman were Majestic-class humans. Overgirl was still Overman's daughter. As Majestic-class humans, they were immune to red suns and kryptonite but they also lacked a Kryptonian or Daxamite's esoteric powers. Maxima, Supergirl, Superboy, Miss Martian, and Darkstar were the only ones left out of the ultimate truth.

Not even Dev Em, the Daxamite Darkseid loyalists renamed Brutaal, seemed to recall that he was the Prime Dev Em not the original acolyte code-named Supreme from Earth-52. Instead, Darkseid had resurrected Dev Em and changed his code name from Supreme to Brutaal in the Rebirth time line. Which only affected those players from the Multiverse found within the Fourth World. So Brutaal's BDSM obsessed lover, Lashina, remembered the difference even though he himself did not. Either way, she had Dev Em under her lash and strapped to her bed.

"The portal to Crossroads sounds contrived," Lana Linda stated, "I thought Crossroads' portals were random."

"The portals go wherever Violet and Pansy need them to go. I just lucked out," Kalea confessed.

"We are honorary Sovereigns," Karen reminded the group again, "And Violet and Pansy look after their own. My spare coat closet is a portal to Crossroads."

"Does Mary know?" M'gann wondered about Mary Bromfield, Karen's roommate who was also Lady Marvel.

"Our pantry leads to the Rock of Eternity," Karen said drolly, "So we're just chock full of surprises. Stinky gets everywhere."

Everyone knew Karen loved her cat but he was a one-eyed former stray and did smell badly as well as was missing half an ear and had a broken tail that never healed up straightly. She continually bathed him and he continually found ways to get into trash and reek again. So far Stinky was winning the war.

"So are done casting aspirations or can I move in to my new abode?" Maxima picked up Thara is a display of maternal attention and love Kalea had never received. If she was jealous it didn't show. But her guilt over handing over her sister to her oppressors was absolved now.

"I say 'yes'," Kalea asserted. Clark and Karen both looked fatigued.

"I'll visit you as soon as I get Mother and Thara settled," Kalea promised Karen

"No, I'll visit you in Vermont," Karen promised.

The coffee bar technically sat on the literal crossroads where three state lines met

the city of Crossroads was just near enough nearby to pretend to give the coffee bar its name and still stay out of the city's legal jurisdiction. Nor did they neatly fit in anyone's particular county jurisdiction because different pieces of the property sat in different states and counties. The coffee bar itself at the apex of the convergence.

Crossroads was neutral territory, so declared and recognized by every Realm of Existence and even by such notables as Darkseid, Grail, and the Evil Queen. Vandal Savage had warned every member of the Light of Crossroads' special exemption and exclusion from their usual hi-jinks. Stretching back to when the colonies were first founded. Violet and Pansy had kept similar establishments elsewhere in space-time until then. Of course, the coffee bar development had pushed customers away from liquored drinks and created a more restive environment.

"How would you even reach Crossroads?" Lana Linda asked.

"From this position it's fairly equidistant to London or Vermont," Kalea shrugged,. "It's probably better for appearances to enter through my 'flat' above my pub."

"But Thara? And you?" Clark made an implication to Maxima only wearing a brassiere top and a loincloth.

"I'm Almeracian. I'm nearly an invulnerable to the elements as you," Maxima smirked as she jostled Thara on her hip.

"I'm still bundling her up," Lana Linda insisted.

"Karen's back to her sun room," M'gann reported as she and Conner returned. Given Young Justice's close association with the Justice Society, they had the closest ties to Power Girl other than Kalea herself or Kara. Darkstar stayed with Karen to discuss a few private matters regarding the Kents. All of them, Clark included.

"I should really get back to National City," Supergirl admitted, "Alex will be worried out of her mind that I've been out of contact for so long."

"Have Kelex get you in touch with the DEO before you leave," Clark offered.

"We really need to get Mia, Jon, and Laura back in the program," M'gann advised Clark and Lana Linda, "Carol and Jane are safe with you here. But everyone else has rooms available in the K-Star dorms. We can get everyone packed up and moved in before nightfall in upstate New York."

"We really could've used their help against the Evil Queen. Most everyone doesn't know why she retreated while she was winning and no one that knows is talking," Conner told them.

"A superior foe retreated before an inferior enemy?" Maxima was astounded.

"And took every sign of her forces ever being in Earth away with her," M'gann added.

"All because two little girls showed and threatened to sing to her," Conner elaborated, "Or so Black Alice will tell anyone who will listen. Everyone else in Dark Justice is trying to hush her up about it."

"You said 'girls' and they wanted to sing?" Maxima looked worried.

"It can't be," Kalea promised her mother, "They don't exist anymore."

"But if they do and have taken an interest in Earth," Maxima was horrified at the prospect.

"Care to share with the group?" Mia asked.

"Myths and legends. That's all it is," but Kalea was still wary.

"That's what they said about the Evil Queen too," Superwoman reminded everyone.

"I'm sure it's nothing," Maxima promised, "You were interested in dressing Thara for the cold?"

"Follow me," Lana Linda urged and rose from her seat next to Clark.

Kelex intercepted them and provided weather gear perfectly sized for Thara.

Maxima dressed her daughter, "This wasn't necessary."

"I think it is," Lana Linda said.

"I see you and Kal-El have grown...close, once again," Maxima noted with emphasis.

"We have a long history and Lois is busy trying to kill him. I didn't mean for these feelings to reawaken. But it happened," Lana Linda explained.

"Kalea told me of your Earth-2 and how only she and Thara are truly Kal-El's biological children," Maxima said warily.

"But he accepted Lord Superman's children as his own after he learned the truth," Lana Linda replied.

"Just don't try and deny him the same with Thara," Maxima warned her.

"The thought never crossed my mind. I'm surprised it did yours," Lana Linda confessed.

"I grew with court politics and favoritism towards selected elites. I don't want my youngest daughter facing the same when it clearly damaged Kalea," Maxima divulged, "I want Thara to be more than a living weapon. I want her to grow to be like her father. Give her that chance."

"I'd never dream of denying it to her," Lana Linda pledged.

"Then we have an accord. You have Kal-El and he has Thara," Maxima pledged as well.

"He has room in his heart for the entire world. He was denied that chance with Kalea. He won't let that happen with Thara. I'll see to it," Lana Linda promised Maxima. They returned to the main living space. The older Kent children were dressed warmly.

"I can assist Laura," M'gann offered.

Laura was poised to speak up but a warning glance from Kalea stifled her impulse. Conner noted the exchange and gave a telepathic nudge to M'gann through their bond.

"I'd get to bed, Pops," Kalea told her father. She gave Laura one last meaningful glance

then she and Maxima were led off by a Kelex avatar. Another arrived to shepherd the Kents and the guardians to the main exit. Supergirl had already departed.

Kara appeared, "Karen's asleep. But the sun room is already accelerating her healing again."

"Something you need right now," Lana Linda gathered up Carol and Jane and escorted a wearied Clark back to his sun chamber. The twins fell asleep nestled in with their father. A second bed had been provided for Lana Linda.

"Lana, can I have a word?" Kara asked.

Lana Linda was startled by the use of her first name, "Of course."

Clark was asleep in seconds.

"What is it, Kara?" Lana Linda saw the pain in Kara's eyes.

"Did Ma Kent reject my marriage to Kyle and Carol in the Multiverse too?" Kara asked.

"How do you even know…?" Lana Linda stumbled over that.

"It doesn't matter," Kara said firmly, "Please answer the question."

"In the Prime Universe, where you're templated from, yes. She rejected you. On Earth-2, in my universe, Lord Superman killed Kyle and Carol for trying to help Lady Supergirl break free from the Justice Lords. He exiled her on a barren world with a red sun. She died there when my universe was destroyed," Linda answered.

"So Kalea and Thara are the only ones that are really Clark's kids," Kara looked troubled.

"You know that isn't true," Lana Linda vowed to her.

"I just had to be certain. Those children Conner mentioned. There's legends about them throughout the universe," Kara told her, "Probably are throughout every Realm."

"I've met them. Clark met one of them twice now," Lana Linda confessed, "I don't understand why everyone is fearful."

"Because they're powerful. More powerful than even an 'Evil Queen'. They reshape reality to their whim. Music is the key to their power. Eliminate that and they're powerless. Just in case you ever need to know that," Kara advised Lana Linda.

"I don't think I ever will," Lana Linda confessed.

"Then explain to me why Music Meister and Upbeat are associated with the Injustice Society," Darkstar challenged her.

---

Miss Martian let Laura fall after relaxing her TK grip on the girl. Laura fell and when she saw M'gann wasn't coming to her aid, she flew up to meet the Martian.

"How did you know?" Laura asked sullenly.

"Conner's been digging into strange happenings in Albany. People going missing. Are you involved?" Miss Martian asked as Jon and Mia were agog at Laura's control over her flight ability while they still struggled to fly rather bound.

"Read my mind and tell me," Laura smirked.

"You know I can't," Miss Martian said dourly, "I don't know why that is or how you knew it, but it's troubling that that's you're only reply."

"It is what it is," Laura said glibly.

M'gann flashed Superboy her disturbed thoughts regarding his suspicions. He still shared them, even more so now.

---

Having endured several catcalls and drunken leers passing through Kalea's pub, Maxima was relieved when Violet Smith and Pansy Jones personally met her outside of Kalea's room in the Coffee Bar.

"Of course you're welcome, Lady Maxima," Violet promised her, "Besides you're obvious connection with Kalea, you've been a business boon."

"I didn't realize coffee was that universal," Maxima confessed.

"She isn't talking about the coffee business," Kalea murmured.

Kalea was one of the few that understood Violet, Pansy, and even Daisy's true nature. They'd all been born slightly after the Creation spark and the birth of the Multiverse.

They'd remain in existence between Final Crisis and Rebirth because the New Universe was essential to the Balance of Existence. Even Glorith had remained unaware of how much so.

Despite Crossroads Coffee bar still being in existence in its current location in the 31st Century. Daisy wasn't much older 1000 years later than she was now. It had taken her 14 billion years to reach her current jr. high eligible age. And it would take billions more to reach adulthood.

Theoretically, in the far, far flung future when Daisy was elderly, the heat death of the universe would collapse it in on itself, ending Violet, Pansy, and Daisy's roles practically, the universe would be refreshed and recreated again with a New Heaven and yet another New Earth united as a single Realm of Existence before then by the Source.

The remaining Realms would likewise be dealt on an individual basis

The Source was the Fourth World name for the one triune God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

Of course, the "Father" was spirit and used the imagery to describe His relationship with humans. Jesus, the Son, had made Himself flesh incarnate or the Son of Man for the point of sacrificing Himself for mankind's evil. His male-ness a nod to the patriarchy of the day. He atoned for the evil God had known mankind would inflict upon themselves before they were created and the Son was chosen as the sacrifice to atone for that evil before the creation of the Realms of Existence.

the Holy Spirit indwelt and empowered believers to eventually stop their evil ways

But was God that transformed the human not the human fixing themselves

an vain and useless effort on the human's part. Everything that the Holy Spirit inspired within humans pointed them to the Son, to glorify His name.

The power of the Son wasn't just in incarnation, it was that He'd risen from the dead, being the Second Adam and the first to break the power of death on mortal man.

Thereby the first to escape Hell, the judgment confines of the evil and the damned.

Lucifer Morningstar permanently lost his grip on saved humanity at that point. A grip he desperately attempted to re-establish or pretend he still had.

So the Source would re-arrange Reality when He deemed fit to do so. Until then, Violet Smith and Pansy Jones continued in their work. With Daisy Miller counting down the long millennia as she slowly aged. No one in her outer life beyond Crossroads every noticed that she was nearly ageless and repeating activities for thousands of years.

It was little wonder she got up to mischief across the New Universe utilizing Crossroads portals. Never more so than during the Flashpoint Paradox in the coming 29th Century.

"This is perfect," Maxima declared as she beheld her room for the first time.

"We'll make room for Thara as she quickly comes to age," Pansy promised.

"Capt. Hero and the crew dropped off your belongings earlier," Violet noted, "The Sovereigns volunteered to bring them up. Network put many of your things away but you'll have to personalize the system for yourself," Pansy reported.

Maxima looked around the room and in closest and bureau drawers, "It's perfect."

"Taryn is a very powerful telepath so she could've skimmed your memories of your suites on Almerac," Kalea explained.

"Terri also has a way of passively intruding without asking permission first," Violet advised Maxima, "But only Eve Aries and Imra Ardeen will ever rival her power."

"Or her passion for telepaths' rights," Pansy warned Maxima, "She can be a little...zealous on the topic."

"Speaking of whom…" Kalea cocked her head to hear better what was occurring downstairs.

"This is neutral territory even in your time!" Pansy was yelling as she tore off.

"Pansy can get a little passionate herself," Violet shrugged, "Saturn Queen's arrival was not wholly unexpected. You may want to change into something less evocative before you come down to meet her."

Violet dismissed herself.

"I'll give Pansy a much needed voice of reason," Kalea dismissed herself as well. Maxima found it an odd role for her daughter to take. But even she'd heard of Saturn Queen's time traveling escapades. It seemed Saturn Queen hadn't come alone. With her were the space pirate, Capt. Alicia Frake, the Asteroid Witch, and Spider Girl who all came from the 31st Century as well. Sussa Paka, the Spider Girl, being the only other member of the Legion of Super Villains alongside Saturn Queen.

Pansy was all up into Saturn Queen's face. Violet stood resolutely by. Kalea pulled Pansy back. The tourists gawked and the locals took it all in stride. Such was life in and around Crossroads. The coffee bar and the township.

"I'm just here to pay my respects to the Lady Maxima," Saturn Queen promised.

"Or you're scouting for Lois Lane," Kalea grated.

"Did I hear my name?" Lois asked as she entered in.

The distinctive pink dyed into her hair and diagonal facial scar from Bill Dunn's Flash Vision searing her "invulnerable" flesh would have made her unmistakable had she still possessed them.

That and the fact Lois was flaunting her Superwoman suit again now that her powers had been restored from Dr. Ernst Smalley's gene repressive therapy. Lex Luthor's early work focused on the mental conditioning a meta-human or alien had to use their powers.

Smalley actively suppressed the genetic expression of those abilities. But his treatment seemed short lived since both Lana Linda Lang and Lois Lane were both operating as Superwoman again. Smalley himself was now deceased and unable to pursue his work any further.

"Lois," Violet warned her off from doing anything rash.

Superwoman just wore an oily smile, "Fine. The super-brat and I can discuss things some other time."

"We do and you die," Kalea vowed.

"See? I'm not the hostile one here," Superwoman acted aggrieved.

"We. Have. A. Weapons. Locker," Pansy grated at Capt. Frake.

"Do as she says," Saturn Queen instructed.

"It's next to the coat rack," Pansy anticipated Frake's impending question. The pirate hung up her sword and plasma blaster. Spider Girl snaked out a bundle of hair to snare a coffee and a sandwich. Violet slapped them both. Although Sussa didn't physically feel anything, she instinctively recoiled her hair back to her. It shrank, like Goldilocks', as it returned to her.

Goldilocks' great regret was that her sister Dora Leigh was alive as Godiva in this New Universe and still thought Goldilocks was a criminal. It was true she was technically culpable for the deaths' of their parents and abusive uncle. The technicality being that she'd beheaded them, staged their bodies around the tea set, with the heads on their biscuit plates, and then set the manor house on fire and torched the estate. And so fell the House of Leigh.

In the Rebirth history, Goldilocks and Godiva had never reconciled. Goldilocks had never taken up her sister's duties and joined the Justice League Unlimited. And most importantly, Godiva had never been murdered by the Legion of Super Villains supporting Lightning Lord, Cosmic King, and Saturn Queen's ambitions in the past.

"You had your eye repaired," Saturn Queen noted.

"Everyone seems to notice," Kalea admitted.

"It was rather outre before. By human standards," Saturn Queen replied.

"And what would you know about those?" Kalea quipped. Asteroid Witch snickered and Superwoman wore a ghost of a smile. Capt. Frake was schooled enough to keep her expression unchanged. Spider Girl was still lustfully looking at the deli and grill. Pansy chortled though and even Violet wore a sinister smile.

"It seems you choose your battlegrounds well," Saturn Queen allowed.

"You screwed me over," Kalea advised her.

"I'm sure I'd remember that encounter," Saturn Queen hit her with a rejoinder.

"You undid my father's memory wipe when Laura reactivated his Multiversal memories," Kalea reminded her, "That trigger wasn't part of the bargain we made."

"But Rebirth erased those events, obviously," Saturn Queen nodded at Maxima coming down the stairs from the second floor with young Thara alternating between walking them and flying passed them.

"You and I both know that wasn't a condition of our deal when I released you," Kalea stated, "We agreed he would never recall my killing Mother."

"So I fibbed," Saturn Queen shrugged.

"I let you go once. Not happening again," Kalea warned her.

"I won't be in this century much longer. So no worries there," Saturn Queen laughed. Kalea's hand went forward at super speed. Her organic and slightly stronger hand and it had a grip on Saturn Queen's throat. Even Lois couldn't dislodge Kalea's arm.

"Just a demonstration of what awaits you," Kalea had never applied pressure before she released Saturn Queen, "No worries, Smith and Jones. I won't break neutrality."

"We trusted you," Violet replied evenly.

"`Sides, her head woulda popped off by now," Pansy snickered.

"No one touches me!" Saturn Queen hissed.

"You'd best send Lois after me. At least she stands a chance against me," Kalea was naturally closed off to telepathy and immune to Eve Aries' super hypnosis.

"Am I interrupting?" Maxima smirked, "I dearly hope so. Lois, you've certainly looked more original."

"And you're wearing...a jacket and jeans. And winter boots. Going native?" Lois inquired.

"I'm trying to maintain a low profile. With your by-line photo plastered across the Daily Star I'd suggest you try the same. But I think you want the world to know you're Superwoman so you can reveal Kal-El's other life to the same world," Maxima said with sugary sweetness, "I won't let that happen."

"Carrying a torch?" Superwoman sneered, "He does have poor Lana Linda Lang on the hook right now."

"You were tedious before but your insolent now," Maxima arched an irked eyebrow, "I have no designs on Kal-El other than for him to be a father to Thara unlike my mistake with Kalea."

"Dissing her right in front of her?" Lois mocked Maxima, "Cold blow."

"Kalea and I have dissected her childhood so that I would know where I made my mistakes in order to avoid them with Thara," Maxima revealed, "She and I have been in a good place since the Democrat disaster."

"Or so she says," Lois taunted her.

"Make your point or shut the futz up," Kalea told Lois sternly.

"Futz you!" Thara cheered her sister on.

"You're certainly her role model," Superwoman rolled her eyes.

"That's right. The way you never were to Lucy," now Kalea hit the sore nerve. Lois threw a super speed punch only to have it blocked by Kalea.

"Out! Now," Violet growled.

"Lois, I can manage from here," Saturn Queen promised her.

"Whoa, cowgirl!" Pansy blocked Kalea from following Superwoman out, "Let the town remain un-rubble-ish."

"Captain, please make certain Superwoman keeps her deadline," Saturn Queen requested. Frake moved off to have word outside with Superwoman. A move engineered to place them within range of Kalea's own super hearing. A provocative move by Saturn Queen who could've easily accomplished the task with her telepathy.

"Yes, Sussa," Saturn Queen, "Go buy yourself some coffee and a grilled sandwich already."

Spider Girl scampered off. It was odd that the professional thief deemed it necessary to pay cash for a meal. But Crossroads' neutrality demanded it.

"I'll be outside," Asteroid Witch offered.

"You wished to speak with me?" Maxima allowed as Pansy took Thara away to feed her.

Violet maintained her vigilance from a nearby counter. Daisy came home from soccer practice and made her herself a prime witness nestled in a recliner. A loud clamor was heard upstairs. The Sovereign Seven had returned.

"I'll make this quick, I offer a detente of sorts. Not a truce but a purposeful staying clear of one another's purposes," Saturn Queen said swiftly while Sussa got her order to go.

"I agree," Maxima said quickly as well.

"And you?" Saturn Queen asked Kalea.

"Not a chance in hell," Kalea said coldly.

"Don't think your recent work for the Light shields you from me in any way," Saturn Queen warned.

"Good," Kalea said resolutely.

"Very well," Saturn Queen gathered up Spider Girl and departed while Frake gathered her stowed gear.

"Where'd she go?" Network snarled as she stormed down the stairs in full regalia.

"Terri, she already left," Kalea told Network.

The local junior high and high school girls gathered in Daisy's wake, oblivious to the departing spaceship as Rampart came down the stairs. He was used to the fawning attention.

"Oh, for the luvva God," Daisy grumbled as her own friends were amongst the smitten crowd.

Cascade was worried about her best friend's agitation, "What is it, Taryn?"

"Saturn Queen was here when we arrived," Network fumed, "She does more to besmirch my kind of people than any human alive and this isn't even her century!"

"She won't be back," Kalea told her, "And her work here is almost done. As soon Vandal Savage offers or denies his support, she'll return to the 31st Century."

"Why doesn't that seem to bother you?" Cascade wondered.

"Because Rhian, I know what Glorith has offered him in exchange for an alliance through time itself," Kalea smirked.

"I take it this fair lady is actually your mother?" the giant called Reflex asked.

"I'm the Lady Maxima, former Empress of Almerac," Maxima allowed.

"You could be taken as sisters," Reflex was astonished.

"Coming through," Cruiser needed carbs and protein to refuel his bodily fed telekinesis.

"You'll have to forgive him," the blue skinned, androgynous Indigo cautioned, "He had to use a lot of power and his body can't sustain itself much longer."

"Plus he's a glutton at heart," Finale dismally assessed.

"Not all of us have the virtue of being self contained," Cascade reminded the full body suited swordswoman.

"Violet is giving us the eye," Network said glumly.

"Change clothes and get to work people. The after work crowd is coming!" Cascade announced to the Sovereigns. In exchange for room and board, the Sovereign Seven worked for Violet and Pansy.

"That means you too, Walter," Cascade advised Reflex, he was still staring agog at Maxima.

"Finale, the guests in 203 and 207 require special delivery. Please assist them," Violet requested.

"Of course," Finale came from an aquatic world but was deathly afraid of water for some strange and unspoken reason. Nor would she remove her skin suit in front of anyone.

"Mother Ocean, it'll take us days to repay his bill," Finale grumbled as Cruiser piled on the food and visibly gained weight while doing so.

"I've actually stolen a dozen or so of Pansy's recipes to introduce in my pub," Kalea confided with her mother, "Thara seems taken with the food."

"She isn't fussy and seems to be able to consume anything," Maxima seemed amazed.

"It's Pop's genetics," Kalea told her, "You'd be amazed what I could eat on Argo."

"Do you ever resent us for sending you there?" Maxima finally asked.

"No, but sometimes I resent Marcus for taking me away," Kalea confessed for the first tiem aloud.

"That's…a surprise," Maxima was floored, actually.

"Life was simpler on Argo," Kalea told her, "Everything was a fight to survive or to learn how to use salvage."

Maxima knew Kalea had taught her self to read, write, and speak Kryptonian using educational primers as means to alleviate boredom. She had to confess her own admiration for Kalea's resilience. Rather than waste time in regrets or recriminations, she'd striven to learn.

"There was no time for hate or anger," Kalea told her, "Not when the only surviving creatures were all apex predators."

All Maxima had given Kalea going into exile was her own father's dagger that Kalea had cherished since childhood. Now she was finally learning that Kalea had fought to survive in a red sun environment, on a frozen planet with billions of dead souls, the system and planet littered with green kryptonite. It was miraculous that she'd survived long enough for Marcus to track her down since her location was a state secret.

Of all the courtesans of varying genders that Kalea had bedded, she'd only ever loved Marcus. They recreated the empire in their image after deposing Maxima. That was why Kalea knew Maxima had to be restored to the throne. Democratic reform needed to be taken slowly rather than as swift revolutionary imposition. Frankly, the masses didn't know what to think of their newfound "freedoms".

In order to save Almerac and its empire, she'd killed the man she loved more than her own life. She did so to place her mother back on the throne. A throne Maxima abdicated several years later. Marcus' dream had come true without the stain of unnecessary bloodshed. The people rejoiced in their liberties. The slave classes were emancipated and made subjects with the opportunities to become yeomen or even citizens.

Marcus hadn't survived to enjoy the fruits of his ambitions since his own implementation of them had been treacherous and blood soaked. Kalea left Almerac rather than take part in the new environment. She'd become the Hero of Almerac through four devastating wars. She'd committed atrocities every Lantern Corps in existence wanted her to suffer for. She'd been tortured and maimed more times than she cared to recall. All for Almerac...and now she couldn't bear to return.

"You said there's a town nearby," Maxima brought Kalea back to the present.

"Yes, Crossroads is just a few miles away," Kalea answered, grateful for the distraction.

All of that blood and all of that pain and Kalea didn't have a single regret. She'd committed genocide on global scales and still slept like a baby. She supposed there was probably something wrong with her in most people's eyes. She simply didn't care a whit. When they came to take her, she'd fight to the death...just like always.

"I'd like to see this town. Meet some of the locals," Maxima decided, "Thara will need friends."

A vastly different life than Kalea had led.

"We'll start with Michelle and Jack," Kalea offered, "They're good friends of Violet and Pansy. They watch out for Daisy a lot of the time. Michelle can plug you into the local scene."

"How messy was it?" Maxima dared ask, "Cleaning up our trail?"

"It took a special Sanction from the Ministry of Executions," Kalea revealed, "I had to kill the entire guard rotations and the serving staff."

"Their families?" Maxima hesitated.

"Sanctioned," Kalea said stiffly.

She didn't need or want her mother's approval or disapproval. It simply was what had to be done.

"I've never thanked you for your sacrifices," Maxima realized.

"You've never had to or will ever need to," Kalea replied.

"I never helped you become a person," Maxima said softly so only Kalea could hear, "I weaponized you. You've become the most potent weapon Almerac has ever fielded. Even War World pales in comparison."

"Am I supposed to thank you now?" Kalea wondered.

"No, but I regret my choices," Maxima shared.

"It's too late for regrets," Kalea hissed and then said in a speaking voice, "You should peruse the menu. I have local currency although my credit with the owners is also good."

Maxima discovered she liked what Kalea termed as "pub grub". Meanwhile, the Sovereigns filled in where the staff needed help.

---

Vandal Savage took Saturn Queen's audience, "So, you've brokered neutrality between yourself and Maxima?"

"Superman is unaware of Almerac's rejuvenation process. Lois Lane has been dosed and is virtually immortal now. Maxima and Kalea-El will live well past the 31st Century. I wanted them removed from my chessboard," Saturn Queen explained.

"Yet you failed with Kalea," Savage assessed, "You actually provoked her even further. Perhaps far enough for her to abandon her own neutrality towards the Light and its mission."

"She failed you," Saturn Queen accused, "Members of Darkseid's Elite openly operate within the Dark Circle yet she lets them live."

"Because I told her too!" Savage suddenly raged at Saturn Queen, "The Light needs an enemy without Darkseid. What better than a Dark Circle?"

"You didn't consult me," Saturn Queen said impertinently.

"I don't need to," Vandal Savage snarled, "For all you power and technological advancement, you still do not see the advantages laid out before you. Glorith is right about you. You waste my time with your scheming and petty brutalities."

"Glorith has been here?" Saturn Queen's green eyes lit with inner fire.

"I've sided with her in the conflict to come throughout the ages," Savage informed Eve Aries, "Return to your time or stay in this century. It doesn't matter. But you will not remain on Earth throughout the remainder of this century. I've seen to that."

"You've made what will be your last mistake," Saturn Queen vowed.

"Have your pet pirate drop you off elsewhere. You're no longer welcome on this world or in this time," Vandal Savage declared.

"You'll live to regret this when I burn the universe down," Saturn Queen promised him.

"We'll see then, won't we?" Savage's voice was filled with quiet menace and a long memory.

"She's gone," a masculine voice broke the silence after twenty or so minute s passed

"That Daxamite hearing of yours does wonders," Savage admitted to Brutaal, "You're certain you can bring the self-proclaimed second 'Superman' to heel?"

"Bill Dunn will join the Legion of Doom or die," Brutaal vowed.

"I just need him pointed, not even more vindictive. Ever since Dr. Smalley died, Dunn has been a loose cannon interfering in the Light's affairs and making people reliant on entities such as the Justice League."

"Consider him tamed," Brutaal began to stride away.

"I'm curious Dev Em, Darkseid was your god yet you didn't avenge him. What's more, my associates and I hunted the Elite down and killed those that wouldn't join my cause. You truly have no issues with that?" Vandal Savage asked.

"Grail defeated Darkseid, proving she is more worthy. Those of the Elite are too short sighted or petty to join the Light and those who were too powerless to resist you deserved to die," Brutaal stated.

"You were aptly renamed," Savage grunted.

"I'll fetch and carry this would-be Superman now," Brutaal exited the tower Savage operated from in plain sight. The hacktivist named Oracle had penetrated Savage's organization despite being confined to a wheelchair. She'd uncovered the existence of the Light and had merely parlayed the continued existence of Arkham Knight and the Outlaws when she confronted him. Such wasted potential. Still, Oracle Corp had been developed out of respect for her. He hoped she took it as a compliment.

---

Superwoman knew what she had to accomplish approaching the Immortal Dr. Fu Manchu. Fu Manchu was orchestrating a silent takeover of the Legion of Doom while Lex Luthor was officially divested of the leadership role while operating as Secretary-General of the United Nations. Luthor's time was wasted by one revenge scheme after another. Lois knew Fu Manchu wasn't much better. But he'd lived a helluva lot longer

So he had to be doing something right, right?

Lois knew that Nyssa Raatko had recruited Bill Dunn to the Injustice League. But Brutaal had been dispatched by Vandal Savage to co-opt Dunn's participation in the Legion of Doom as well. Earth's Fear Lantern, Hal Jordan, and Red Lantern, Spencer Hawke, enjoyed dual membership since the two entities were closely aligned through the Light.

Gaining Superman II's allegiance to the Legion of Doom would enrich the Legion's power projection and place yet another of Nyssa's moles in the ranks. Sinestro had recently reappeared as well representing a nascent Ultraviolet Lantern Corps. Harder to evade was the growing eyes of the New People's Heroes and the Justice League China.

Each time they had specific powerful threats they'd won.

Col. Valentina Vostok, the Russian Firestorm, was the most powerful known Firestorm in existence right then. But her matrix was seemingly unstable since Valentina herself looked different every time she transformed into Firestorm unlike the far stable American Firehawk. Lady Flash was also a member of the New People's Heroes. Col. Ivanka Christina Borodin Molotova was the only survivor from Russia's early Speed Force experiments. Black Eagle was a throwback to Soviet days refashioned for a Russian Federation but he was still a powerful Russian super-soldier. The Black Shield was a young woman and a young man intended to eventually replacing the aging Black Eagle. Vostok X was a fission powered version of Firestorm rather than Multiplex and she relished her power. The Negative Man was Russia's answer to, and successor of, Larry Trainer of the Doom Patrol.

Rocket Red wore the most advanced model of powered armor the Russian Ministry of Defense could provide. Together they alongside Red Star, the inheritor of the mantle of the USSR's first superhero from the 1960s. His success had bred inheritors exposed to the same power granting meteorite. The current Red Star was the first Russian woman to carry the mantle.

The Chinese had a Majestic-level Super-Man and Wonder-Woman as well as three veteran operatives in the form of the Chinese Bat-Man, Darknight, and Ri. Ghost Fox Killer was the only survivor from the Great Ten and a mythical figure all to herself.

The other mythical figure was Sun Wukong the Monkey King. Finally, a seemingly powerless Bauhinia the "Redbud Woman" had joined but Bauhinia wasn't a single woman but a veritable army of them operating throughout China's provinces and cities. She was everywhere all at once or maybe she was an army or just one woman.

No one knew her secret. Not even her teammates.

Lois could hear Fu Manchu raving at the eternally calm Ultra-Humanite. Her Kryptonian-based super hearing had let her know when she emerged from the teleporter network that the Humanite had just delivered the Justice League's "secretive" decision.

This morning, East Coast North American time, Maxwell Lord and Claire Montgomery, the Justice League International's United Nation's ambassador and press agent, announced the formation of two subsections within the JLI.

The first was called Dark Justice rather than the Justice League Dark as Secretary-General Luthor was found of calling them. The second was a revival of the Super Friends Initiative re-termed as the new Global Guardians subset. These regional heroes would handle international crises not requiring the full might of the JLI. Rather than be derogatory, the new group was even more international in its membership.

Only the team leaders, Owlwoman, Apache Chief and Black Vulcan were US citizens.

The others drawn from south of the US border. from Asia, Australia, Oceania, the Middle East, and the north of the US border. El Dorado, La Espirita, and Suprema were from Mexico. Arcorisa, Mariposa, Fenix, and La Luz were from Ecuador. La Cachilla was from Honduras.

The veteran Samurai and the newcomer Red Demon were from Japan. Jack of Lantern, Vztek, and Golden Eagle were amongst the European veterans. Vztek being a Czech heroine from the post-Cold War era. Her name literally translating as "Rage".

Devee, Parjeerin, Panajenm, and Taajakaimaaree were all from India. Lame made up a heretofore missing Canadian element from Quebec. The current, and only initial, group skewed highly female. They would be the front line defense for most situations.

Behind the scenes, Dick Grayson and Ulla Paske-Grayson, volunteered to be peer mentors to those just emerging into an international scene. As the original Nightwing and Little Mermaid, the couple had plenty of experience with the Justice League and previous Global Guardians. Dick was also the Bludhaven DA while Ulla was now the Mother of two and the step-mother of Mar'i Grayson, Dick and Koriand'r's daughter.

International Operations was divesting itself of its meta-human agents. So the heroes from across the world were being recruited for the Justice League Global Guardians by Max Lord and Claire Montgomery. Claire being an expert at persuading people to join teams.

Her corporate, privatized teams were gaining good marks amongst their clientele that distrusted the altruism of most superheroes that showed up during or after the fact. Paid heroes were already present as a deterrent as well as a response. IO agents had security backgrounds as well covert ops experience and the cast truly was international.

Fu Manchu was enraged that Luthor hadn't warned the Legion about this upcoming development. He was screaming about how now the League was three times as powerful as before.

"With the additions of the Injustice League and Injustice Gang, the Justice League was pressured into an evolutionary response. In doing so, they forced the JLI to expand its International roster or face irrelevancy," the Ultra-Humanite still tried to reason with Fu Manchu. The Humanite was carefully avoiding mentioning the Justice League Outsiders, the domestic US arm of the agency or the Justice Society and its Young Justice Program. God forbid this be the time to mention Homeland Security's the DEO, and SHADE and their varied meta-human responses.

"Don't get your robes in a twist," Superwoman demanded as she entered the Operations Center, thankfully only currently occupied by Fu Manchu and the Ultra-Humanite.

Dr. Fu would be even more tantrum filled in front of audience seeing how a "mere" woman spoke to him. Superwoman didn't have time for his tantrum. Sp she slapped him across the face, sending him sprawling.

"You dare touch me?" he railed.

"I'll dare a lot more of you don't untwist your shorts," her eyes began to glow red.

"By the gods! I don't care how much Luthor values you! You'll die for this!" he twisted a ring, one of many, on a finger and green kryptonite beams hammered away at Lois. Her powers diminished but her human DNA resisted the onslaught so she wasn't dying.

The Ultra-Humanite deactivated the security device, "If we could all refrain from the histrionics?"

"Good suggestion," Superwoman conceded.

"Of course you hide behind this animal," Fu Manchu sneered.

"Really? You want to go there, you uncultured cad?" Ultra-Humanite was finally irritated.

"Now boys," Superwoman interposed herself, "Don't make mommy spank."

"You dare speak of motherhood?" Fu Manchu spat at her, "You? Who would kill her own children?"

"If any of them are stupid enough to follow their father's example," Superwoman said coldly.

"We both know Superman is not the father of your children," Fu Manchu gleefully revealed his hidden knowledge of events.

"You know?" Lois was taken aback.

"I thought Clark Kent was Superman," Ultra-Humanite was confused, "Isn't he your husband?"

"Damn you! How do you know?" Superwoman demanded of him.

"I've always known, dear," Fu Manchu gloated, "Even before Saturn Queen offered to open my mind to...alternatives."

"You're one of them," Superwoman was horrified.

It took a special breed of psychotic to remember the Multiverse that was and no longer is without Saturn Queen's imprinting that data on a mind, that is. Lois had been imprinted as had the man that proved multiverses were an impossibility. And so they were. Now, thanks to Glorith.

There were no more alternate realities or time lines. That was all part of a past that had never been after the Rebirth event following the creation of the New Universe. It had sealed time-space and memory. Yet Saturn Queen, a product of the New Universe had had the Multiverse shown to her by the Blue Flame of Chaos and sent on a mission to impart such knowledge upon chosen minds.

The Kent Family had been chosen precisely to tear them apart. Lois Lane's abiding rage against Lord Superman brought to the surface once again. No matter what Music Meister had attempted to do to bring them together.

"I do not understand why you do not expose his secret!" the Immortal Dr. Fu Manchu raged again.

"I will. I've slowly been building up to it. As though I'm carefully investigating the matter. But the Daily Star has been promised an exclusive expose on Superman's true identity and how he deceived poor, little old me," Lois laughed.

"The Daily Star will run photos I've collected of Clark changing into his Superman uniform, even that drab black and white version he wears now." Superwoman promised, "Afterwards, I'll take my revenge on that slut, Lana Linda Lang by exposing her as the fake Superwoman. Be patient boys, my revenge is coming. And Clark Kent will die!"

"What about this Eradicator?" Ultra-Humanite inquired, "Is she truly what she appears to be? Another you?"

"From Earth-52, where Supreme killed Superman," Fu Manchu sneered, "Aren't you keeping up, Monkey Boy?"

"And who is Supreme?" the Humanite grated.

"We know him now as Brutaal," Lois answered, "But they're still Dev Em from different universes."

"But for some reason, this Eradicator doesn't recall being you," Fu Manchu noted, calming somewhat, now engaged in an intellectual conversation.

"Her mind was broken by her Clark dying," Lois shrugged, "The Eradicator is a Kryptonian AI system. This world's Clark never lost containment of it."

"So, there is an Eradicator for this New Earth as well?" Fu Manchu stroked his beard.

It was so cliché both Superwoman and Ultra-Humanite struggled to contain their mirth.

"Why are you even here?" Fu Manchu suddenly landed on the salient point.

"Maxima has landed on Earth. And she has with her, Thara Kal-El. Clark's second child by Maxima and his youngest daughter."

"Pah! Daughters. Worthless except in negotiating terms," Fu Manchu had had many daughters over the years but only one son and he'd died over a century ago. Dr. Fu currently had one living daughter.

Oddly enough, Fu Manchu had a living daughter ardently devoted to him despite his cavalier attitude. She ran his Si-Fan criminal drug trade and human trafficking operation based out of Shanghai. The People's Republic of China had trade deals with Si-Fan the way they did with the Triads. Even the Triads and the Si-Fan enjoyed many joint endeavors and operations.

Now the Triad's burgeoning alliances with the Yakuza from Japan were beginning expand and pacify the contentions between criminal empires. They were swallowing up the Korean Peninsula, Mongolia, Southeast Asia, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, and Indonesia as well as strengthening in-roads into New Zealand and Australia. Now they were focused on hardening their holdings in the Western cultures and developing new markets in Africa and the Middle East.

Si-Fan had found they made the most profit trafficking tween girls between ages 11-14

especially amongst members of ISIS. The Americans also highly valued their tweens.

Tween and teen girls were moved all across the world and sold off to wealthy sex addicts who disposed of them or made them servants as they grew "too old" when they reached their twenties.

Many times handing them off to underlings as rewards for loyalty and silence

the Luthors knew many of the 1% that collected girls and disposed of them however they saw fit when they "aged out". Lex tolerated the practice but Lena made a habit of deploying Infinity3 and Team Luthor to breaking low level street criminals who trafficked in such girls.

The American ICE grated under the pressures of attempting find homes for these Eastern European and other nationality young women since their families and home countries didn't want them back. Then there was the medical treatments of psychological therapy and combating forced addictions. LuthorCorp gave billions to such programs and Lena herself oversaw many aspects of the charities since the Republican controlled House refused to fund social programs and medical aid.

Lex paid the programs lip service but felt Lena was wasting family funds. He had enough to deal with with his wife, the Contessa Erica Alexandra de Portenza, and his older sister Luna's daughter, Lori, as well raising his own son, Luthor El-Fadil, born to him by the Crimson Queen before he'd killed her in a custody dispute and her corpse was then possessed by a succubus. The trials and tribulations of being a Luthor.

Lex and Lena's older sister was an autistic savant. She almost singlehandedly designed every consumer product the subsidiary L Corp manufactured and sold and those they didn't sell themselves they licensed the patents to other companies. In fact, keeping up with Luna's innovations had become an international obsession. Of course, Sony Corp often times pressed legal challenges since they had "patented" the concepts decades earlier. Internationally brokered lawsuits that were beginning to lose steam and potency.

But Sony clung in there with their legal challenges and royalty demands for products they didn't have preliminary designs for. Just an intellectual patent.

The very same way Sony had crushed Magnavox over the VCR. Magnavox got there first but had to pay Sony exorbitant royalties and legal fees because the conglomerate had patented the concept twenty years earlier. So Magnavox lost the legal challenge and their company while Sony completed their prototypes based on Magnavox's research and designs.

The Dutch manufacturer, Philips, bought Magnavox for a pittance in 1974 and used the well trusted American name to introduce Philips products to the United States. But eventually even Philips audio-video brands and name would be sold to Funai Electric of Japan in 2013. They were just two years away from that point.

It had been thirteen months since the Near Apocalypse of 2009 had struck in December, as the Final Crisis of the Multiverse and Zero Hour were referred to. 2010 had proved a tumultuous year centered on Gotham City, New Jersey. First Luthor had deployed the United Nation's elite peacekeeping army, the Pax Mundi to Gotham, which the new Scarecrow had capitalized upon to dose Gotham with a persistent cloud of fear toxin.

Then the Fourth Reich and the Imperialist Forces of Nippon had occupied the city and racially segregated it for over ninety days while Stormwatch was subverted into taking the Pax Mundi's traditional role.

The fascist bid for an independent city-state failed when the Masked Leader and the Dragon King were assassinated. Leaderless, both the Fourth Reich and the Imperialist Forces withdrew before the UN could ratify their independence. Luthor had to swallow a bitter pill since he'd just secured the votes necessary to grant the fascist proposal and have Gotham internationally recognized as a Nazi and Imperialist state separate from the United States and New Jersey.

But he managed to redeploy the Pax Mundi into Gotham for a limited duration before even the ever loyal Dagar the Desert Hawk begged for the army to be deployed elsewhere. But Luthor had ordered Miles Craven of the International Operations to insert Captain Atomic into Knightfall's organization. Her license structure, designed to moderate and regulate crime, had become city ordnance once again and was now being exported to NYC and Metropolis.

A version of which already existed in Superior City under the Injustice Society's legalized supervision. Knightfall was enraged that someone had beaten her to successfully implementing the program. Goldilocks went a step further and the Injustice Society contracted with Superior City as their meta-human defense force. An outcome even Charise Carnes hadn't anticipated in her campaign to regulate Gotham...and then the world in her utopian quest.

"So why bother with this 'Maxima'?" Fu Manchu asked.

"The Khunds and the Dominators would pay hefty bounties for her head as well as the Thanagarians, the Daxamites, the renegades from New Krypton, and a thousand other worlds," Ultra-Humanite bothered to explain, "The potential payouts are all listed in her file. It is marked 'highest importance'."

"And the daughter?" Fu Manchu began to see the advantages now.

"We raise her as our next generation weapon. And thanks to her Almeracian physiology, she'll reach maturity in less than ten years," Lois explained, "Ten years of pure training and indoctrination into the Light's cause."

"Or ours," Fu Manchu chuckled.

Superwoman and the Ultra-Humanite exchanged wary glances.

---

After over four centuries of having the Crossroads establishment near town, Crossroads, Vermont was very blasé about having two women and a toddler fly in and land on the sidewalk in downtown. The fact that Thara frequently floated along rather than walk with her mother and big sister hardly registered with the locals. Kalea was a familiar enough sight that they simply smiled and/or waved greetings.

"These people seem friendly enough," Maxima acknowledged the truth of Kalea had told her earlier.

"Just wait until you meet Michelle and Jack," Kalea told her, "Of course, it is a full moon so Jack will be...a little different than his usual self."

"Meaning?" Maxima asked.

"He'll be a lot hairer than usual," Kalea smirked.

"A public library?" Maxima asked as they stopped to enter a building.

"Michelle has been the town's librarian since there was a library," Kalea told her, "She's held the post for the last one hundred years."

Maxima was startled to meet Michelle, who appeared no older than an Earth woman in her early forties.

"I see Kalea told you how long I've been librarian. I was the school marm when Crossroads was first settled," Michelle chuckled.

"I understand that was over four hundred years ago," Maxima was amazed, "Are you human?"

"As far as I know," Michelle openly laughed. A large, unusually large, wolf came padding up to Michelle's side.

Kalea knelt and began scratching the wolf's neck, "Hullo, Jack."

"I was under the impression Jack was human as well," Maxima admitted.

"He's that too," Michelle was openly amused.

"I see now that Kalea has set me up," Maxima frowned.

"Let's find you something to entertain you," Michelle guided Thara to a group of children watching a video.

"He morphs?" Maxima asked archly.

"Lycanthropy," Kalea shrugged, still smirking, "Only occurs under a full moon. Three days a month he's a wolf. He's been in town for as long as Michelle."

"What manner of beings are these humans?" Maxima wondered.

"I've found it's easier not to ask," Kalea shrugged. Jack wagged his tail in approval.

"Does he understand us?" Maxima asked.

"Every damn word," Kalea laughed.

"I'd scold you for making noise in a library but laughter is welcome anytime," Michelle returned while Thara, hypno trained in every Earth language, made friends with locals that appeared to be a similar age. By next year, Thara would have grown twice fast as they would've. Even in Crossroads that would take some explaining.

"There's only person in town to avoid," Kalea advised her mother.

"Michelle! You loaned out Stoker's Occultic Lexigon again!" Toby Merlin was having his daily fit.

"And you should buy your own copy," Michelle chided him, "Your name was hardly at the top of the wait list. You know we sell books on the side. I can easily acquire a new or used copy for your very own."

"It's a conspiracy to sell books," Merlin accused.

"It is what it is," Michelle shrugged.

"Why the family resemblance?" Merlin cast his eye on Maxima and her daughter.

"Toby, this is my mother, the Lady Maxima," Kalea grated.

"She's aging well," Merlin himself was aging in reverse. He'd been born an old man. Now he was barely in his seeming twenties.

"You're one to talk," Michelle scolded him again.

"Don't you understand?" Merlin was astounded, "They've come back! And two of them are situated out of Superior City."

"Whose the latest 'them'?" Kalea drolly asked.

"I can't say what they are! They'll overhear!" Merlin scoffed.

"Convenient as ever," Michelle rolled her eyes.

"You should warn the Sovereigns," Merlin begged Kalea, "Only Violet, Pansy, and Daisy stand a chance of stopping them."

"So I should tell them an unnameable threat is listening in on us?" Kalea asked.

"Yes! Precisely!" Toby snapped his fingers, "They'll make you sing and do things."

"I think you spend much time worrying about events out of your control," Michelle advised him, "Remember the last time you were this overheated? Darkseid himself came to collect the debt."

"This is different!" Merlin raged as he exited the library.

"Now that that occurred like clockwork, what I can help you find to read?" Michelle brightened.

"I've never read a...book?" Maxima confessed, "I had people to read to me."

"It's never too late to start. And you've got centuries ahead of you so it's best to start now," Michelle advised her, "What are your interests?"

"I want to know about Earth and her people," Maxima confessed.

"I'm guessing history, political science, and a crash course in travel, customs, and current affairs," Michelle ticked off her fingers, "Best follow me."

"I'd do what she says. It's easier that way," Kalea advised.

"Thara looks captivated, care to go for a brief walk, Jack?" Kalea asked. He wuffed his approval. Even without Jack standing guard, the children would be safe enough long enough for him to relieve himself. Maybe he could also wrangle a treat out of Kalea while he was at it. The meatball sandwiches being made at the deli down the street smelled especially delicious in his wolf-form. Jack was polite enough to urinate on an unmarked section of wall in the next door alleyway with several dumpsters that served local businesses. Then he trotted purposefully to the deli.

"Philly cheesesteak or meatball?" Kalea was familiar with Jack's tastes. He wuffed twice.

"Meantball it is," Kalea grinned, "But only a six inch. Michelle will kill me otherwise."

She ordered one for each of them, asking for extra cheese for Jack's. He literally wolfed it down. He rewarded Kalea with a fervently wagging tail.

"Let's get you back, big guy," Kalea suggested. Jack wuffed his approval.

Michelle had finished setting up Maxima's library card account, checking out her selections, and giving Maxima a daily schedule of children's activities. The movie had ended and now Thara was picking out books that Michelle selected for her choices.

"This woman is amazing," Maxima confided in Kalea.

"Which is why the town looks the other way when it comes to her and Jack. They put up with Toby Merlin," Kalea shared. When they gathered their selections in conveniently provided tote bag, a Sheriff's Department Jeep Cherokee awaited them outside. Sheriff Molly Savoy herself waited for them. The Japanese law enforcement officer shaved half of her skull bare and let the rest of her hair cascade down one shoulder.

"Ladies. Just who I'm looking for," Molly told them. When the Sovereigns had first arrived, Sheriff Savoy had worn her hair in a severe buzz cut. Times had changed despite the fact that her son. Cullen, still worked at Crossroad's Coffee Bar despite her worrying about him there. Molly's mind was so disciplined that Network couldn't read it and she could telepathically read people on other planet's or Realms of Existence if she so chose.

"How can we help?" Kalea asked.

"You can get out of my town," Molly told them.

"Why you impudent…!" Maxima began to get angry.

"Sheriff, the deal is as before," Kalea interrupted Maxima's mounting rage, "Everyone expects my mother to live at my flat in London. No one knows she's here. The portal door there only opens for us."

"You sure about that?" Sheriff Savoy asked sharply.

"As sure as Violet and Pansy can be," Kalea smirked.

"That's not a comfort. Too many threats come out of those portals unexpectedly," Molly complained. She'd fought quite a few of them herself.

Maxima glared at Kalea, "Threats?"

"The Sovereigns have it under control. Besides you'll spend most of your time in London," Kalea breezed it off.

"It could make for some long days given the time difference," Molly warned Maxima

"Almeracians only require four hours of sleep. Thara needs six since she's still growing," Maxima explained.

"That'll help," Savoy admitted, "No naps?"

"None," Maxima boasted

"Tough kid," Molly remarked, "That Supergirl outfit mean what I think it does about her parentage?"

"Of course," Maxima sniffed.

"Good to know," Savoy groaned, "Now every two-bit Luthor acolyte is going to come gunning for her."

"No one knows Thara's parentage on this planet except for select trusted individuals," Maxima announced

'I'm glad I made the list," the Sheriff snarked.

"Kalea said you could be trusted. She doesn't trust easily or often. So you must be extraordinary," Maxima told Molly.

Savoy eyeballed Kalea, "Also good to know."

"Can we skip to the end?" Kalea asked, "The part where you give us an unofficial ride back to Crossroads since my sister is too young to fly back there and my mother and I have our hands full?"

Kalea had bags of takeout for the Sovereigns ranging wide and far across their favorites from outside the coffee bar's menu. Big Belly Burger topped the list.

"Hop in," Molly chuckled, "On the way there you can tell me how extraordinary I am."

"Never happening," Kalea vowed.

"I thought as much," Sheriff Savoy laughed.

---

"I must have order!" Fu Manchu slammed his fist against the conference room table

assembled were the Legionnaires' Brain Trust. Holographically attending were Arvell Hauser, Candace Zither, Dr. Clarissa Clemens, Dr. Sivana, Mr. Mind, Dr. Veronica Cale, Blackfire, and Ivana Baiul. Also in remote attendance were Blackstarr, Dr. Jamie Moriarty, Ethel Boston, Irene Adler, Crime Doctor, the Other, Anne Droid, Baron Bedlam, and Crimesmith. Only Lois, Master Terrific and the Ultra-Humanite were in actual attendance.

A special attendee was the South Seas Girl. Alani was the Queen of the Vanishing Isles and was the Legion of Doom's host. The primary Hall of Doom was presently located in the Vanishing Isles and the arrangement between Lex Luthor and South Seas Girl was holding but she'd demanded, and received, further concessions from Fu Manchu regarding the increasing threat posed by the potential discovery of this Hall of Doom.

There were also several subsidiary Halls of Doom as well from which many of the Legionnaires leadership were conferencing from. Superwoman preferred the fact that only Terry Sloane and the Ultra-Humanite were with her here with Fu Manchu. Dr. Fu responded better to live company and insaner heads wouldn't prevail today.

"So it is agreed, we shall attempt to retrieve Maxima and Thara Kal-El from Kalea-El's custody," Fu Manchu announced before an actual consensus was reached.

"To what profit?" Hauser demanded to know.

"Besides the blackmail potential, Maxima is a ruler without an empire. Let's cut her in for a share of this one and see how she responds," Master Terrific proposed. Terry Sloane had been the mastermind behind Earth-3's Crime Syndicate and their coming to Earth Prime. Glorith's laziness regarding Rebirth being the reason Ultraman, Ultragirl and Deathstorm still existed on the New Earth. That was also why now there was a united Power Ring Corps in the New Universe all armed and afflicted with and by Rings of Volthoom. It was also why a Red Lantern Corps still existed.

The Rings of Volthoom opening the doorway to the eventual creation of the Eyes of Ekron the Emerald Empress commanded in the 31st Century. Using the same power source as the Starheart the Oans had developed and dispatched as an experiment before it became damaged and stranded on Earth to merge with the Earth Elemental to forge the Green Flame that powered the planet's first Green Lantern named Alan Scott, Jade, and Fire.

Despite two Green Lantern Corpsmen basing off of Earth, Alan remained Earth's Green Lantern. Jessica Cruz and Simon Baz were simply GL Corpsmen in JLI press dispatches. Jessica formerly being Power Ring. Her GL power ring liberated her from her Ring of Volthoom when it chose her and it chose her because her unconquerable will had eventually tamed the Ring of Volthoom. Soon, the Justice League Press Corps would redub Jessica Limelight to differentiate her from Green Lantern, Jade, and Simon. Poor Simon would remain "GL Corpsman".

Kyle Rayner was rarely seen on Earth these days and largely forgotten by the public. He spent most of his relaxation hours with his wives, Carol Ferris and Kara In-Ze. Carol especially appreciated the arrangement because Kyle remained her husband and now Kara was also her wife. All perfectly legal for the Sapphire Queen of the Star Sapphire Corps under Sapphire law. It also cut down on a lot of marital strife and included some mind blowing sex.