ANN - Melbourne

'As if adding insult to recent injury to the country, several major bush fires have started in Victoria. The County Fire Authority is already on site and stretched thin.'

GBS News – Gotham – Jack Ryder

'It's arguable that something like this happening was only to be expected. After weeks of living in tents and having to rely on food packages, the refugees from Metropolis have had enough.

'"I've paid my taxes, we all have, but the Government's treating as non -Americans, forcing us to come here, making us suffer."

'"My kids don't deserve this. This isn't America. This isn't American. We're supposed to be looking out for our own, not suffering in filth and disease!"

'"Look, Gotham has been good to us. The people here have tried, but there are limits to what we can endure. All these weeks and the sanitation facilities are barely existent. We eat the same food over and over again. There are even reports – not rumours, reports – of cases of TB."

'As the displaced population continues to struggle with their new living conditions, both city councils have been meeting in order to try to find a resolution. With Metropolis' Central Park also filled to capacity, it's likely a further outreach may be attempted in order to relocate at least a quarter of the displaced to alternative towns and cities.

'"We came to Gotham because we had no choice. We don't want to stay here. We want to be able to go home."

'"The longer this continues the more of a drain on resources this will be. Some people are saying this could go on for a year. Superman was here earlier, bringing in food and water, but what about Metropolis? When will they start fixing the city? We have our own homeless, we can't be expected to look after another city's."

'In what some have called a "desperate move", a very public appeal was made by the Governor, which Congress has set-aside pending assessment. The American people have been stunned by this seemingly dismissive attitude, resulting in protests and marches across the country.

'"We, the people. That's what it comes down to. Time and time again, our representatives have abandoned us and made excuses. They've let our industries rot while they lined their own pockets and now, since there's no perceivable financial gain for them in saving Metropolis, they're letting one of our nation's greatest cities fall to ruin. We, the people, have had enough."

'"Say what you will about Superman, but he's the one who's been rallying people together. Not just here but across the world. It's pretty clear the Government's stopping him from helping us more. We heard he helped build half a dozen sanitation plants in South East Asia. Maybe he just dug the ground or whatever. He could easily do that here, but they won't let him."

'We've just received word of…yes, it appears there's currently a riot in the Narrows. We're transferring over to our Eye in the Sky.'

The Narrows is renowned for being part of Gotham's 'dark heart', with what used to be decaying and dilapidated buildings. As much as Gotham has changed in recent years, the Narrows is still an area many prefer to avoid, yet it's been an area of revival and the sense of community has been inspiring.

Helicopter footage shows dozens of people, brandishing clubs and crow bars, fighting through a small crowd and rushing at a building. Huddled in small groups in the street, the injured shout out to the riot police gathered at one end of the street. As the police move forward something is thrown out of one of the windows of the building and the people in the street help each other up and try to get away.

A large armoured vehicle turns into the street and the canon on top of it turns towards the people standing in front of the seized building.

"Lay down your weapons and return to the camp!"

"No, no, we won't go! We deserve to live in homes, y'know!" they begin to chant.

A man pushes his way towards them and shouts, "That's my home, you-" and is shoved to the ground, and the crowd of residents swells. A blast of water keeps the two sides separate just as they try to rush each other, and the police begin to move in.

'Josuae Devlin Davenport, speaking on behalf of the Daven-Wayne Narrows Initiative, said, earlier today: "These are innocent people being targeted. We understand that the refugees are facing harsh times, but that does not justify their behaviour. Yes, The Narrows are still a dark part of Gotham but no city is perfect, and Metropolis certainly never was. This cannot be allowed to continue. The police must intervene."

'Some of the refugees in Robinson Park had this to say when they heard of the incident:

'"We are good people. The ones living in The Narrows, they're drug dealers and pimps. Gothamites should be helping us get rid of them, not crying foul."

'"Are some people living there decent folk? Sure, good people are always found stuck in places they would rather not be. We're not going to force out those kinds of people because we are those kinds of people."

'"People are tired and they're desperate. They want to go home and they want a roof over their heads. They don't want to be in The Narrows, but some of them feel it's a better place to be than out here."

'"At least the toilets work there, right? No need to queue for three hours."

'As the day progressed and more, from both sides, joined in the clashes, the police resorted to using gas alongside the water cannons. Eventually, with their numbers thinned, the rioters stopped and made their way back to Robinson Park.

'No arrests have been made as, according to Lieutenant Hennelly, "While there was clearly malicious intent for some of those involved, it does us no good to clog up our cells with the displaced. It's better that they go back to the camp. There have been some injuries and they're being attended to but, I have to say, it would have been nice if Superman had lent a hand in all this."'

A placard behind Jack Ryder says: "I Believe In Batman".

ANN - Melbourne

'It's an astonishing sight. Despite the protests of the firefighters, Superman walked straight into the heart of the inferno. Clearly, the reports of him being impervious to fire were not exaggerated. The winds have been in excess of a hundred kilometres per hour and, as he stepped into the flames, several gum trees exploded!

'Seconds later, the Man of Steel returned, with his cape bundled in his arms and fury in his eyes.'

'As the people of Gotham take to social media platforms to vent their frustration over the actions of the Metropolitans, there are some who have started looking to the sky around the main building of the GCPD.'

Sounds of controlled breathing drift through the air as Alfred walks across a metal platform. 'There's no need for this,' he mutters to himself, as he turns a corner and stops. The platform meets with a concrete floor and, at the end of the flooring, glass panels separate the area from the dark cavern beyond. Alfred takes in a deep breath, walks to the glass, and looks down on the spotlighted areas

Bruce is training. High from the ground, he holds himself in a planche position on the rings before slowly moving into a handstand and then an inverted cross.

'The Mayor has imposed a curfew around the Robinson Park area.'

'Reports of violent crime and assaults have increased by 72%.'

A tangled mass of metal and concrete the size of a small office block rises up from the ground, revealing a ruined subway station. Pieces of concrete and metal fall away and sunlight begins pouring in as ropes are thrown and workmen begin making their way in in order to examine and shore up the area.

'We have some more down here,' shouts one of the workers, and there's silence as Superman descends and, solemnly, begins clearing away more of the rubble. 'Lead,' he whispers to himself. 'It has to be.'

Bruce continues training. Tyre-pulls, automaton combat, parkour, and batarang exercises. He has various sensors stuck to him and screens monitor and display all sorts of readings: speed 60%, strength 70%, stamina, 35%, and so on.

Alfred steps away from a table where a series of disassembled items have been placed, and picks up a stopwatch.

Despite increased pressure from local and national leaders, the funerals continue as more bodies are identified and brought to the various funeral sites:

"…make this child a source for our salvation and make her a source of reward and treasure for us and make her an intercessor for us and one whose intercession is accepted."

"…from untruth lead us to Truth. From darkness lead us to Light. From death lead us to Immortality. Om Peace, Peace, Peace."

"…they have found the Imperishable Supreme Being, the Transcendent Lord God, and they receive great honour throughout all the world and realms. I am poor and meek, God, but I belong to You! Save me, please save me, O Greatest of the Great!"

"…for those who have died, those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith, and those whose faith in this life was known to You alone. Have mercy on them all and bring them into Your kingdom of peace and light without end…"

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, no pan anymore, for the former things have passed away."

Channel 52 News

'"We are human." That is the chant being raised by both sides in the conflict currently raging through Suicide Slum. After weeks of patience, hundreds of the thousands of displaced currently residing in Central Park have decided to take matters into their own hands. Much like what occurred in Gotham a few days ago so, too, have citizens tried to seize an area and occupy it and, much like those in Gotham, they likely didn't expect any resistance from the authorities.

'"I've lived in Metropolis my whole life. I was born here. The people in the Slums are outsiders. Most of them aren't even American. They sneak in to the country and then try to claim citizenship. Well, I am a citizen, I am an American, and if I have to push out a gangbanger in order to put a roof back over my head, I'll damn well do that."

'"I was born here, too! You can't just come here and try to take our homes!"

'"Listen to you. You can't even speak properly and you try to claim to be from here! Those apartments you all live in, they were paid for by the taxes people like me have been paying for years. We have every right to take back what's ours."

'"Yours is out there, you self-centred ingrate. Just because your place got trashed don't mean you can come pretend ours is yours."

'"You hear that? And she claims to be from Metropolis. It's pathetic. And the police are pathetic for helping them. We're human beings. We're American citizens. We deserve to be treated better."

'"Then what the hell are we?!"

'As the clashes continue, the chant is maintained:

'"We are human!"'

17 months ago

There is a satellite by the roadside in what looks to be a quiet area of desert. A car pulls up alongside it and General Swanwick and Captain Farris get out of the car and approach the silent object. Superman steps out from behind it, his arms crossed, and he frowns at the General.

'That's a twelve million dollar piece of equipment!' shouts Swanwick.

'It still is; it's just not where you want it to be. I know you're trying to find out where I hang my cape. You won't.'

'Then I'll ask the obvious question: how do we know you won't one day act against America's interests?'

'We've been over this before, General, and my answer is the same: don't do anything that would make me want to work against you.'

'You're threatening.'

'No, it's not a threat and it's not a promise. I grew up here, and I'm as American as it gets, and I'm here to help. But it's going to be on my own terms and Washington is just going to have to accept that.'

'And if they don't?'

'Then perhaps my positive actions will speak louder to them than the fears they whisper among themselves,' says Superman, shrugging. He rises into the air a little, hovering, and, despite his aggressiveness towards him, Swanwick can't help but smile a little. Superman nods and then flies away, breaking the sound barrier when he's higher in the sky.

The First Church of Superman – webcast lead by Pastor Papp

'One of the prophecies across many of the old faiths is that God's arrival would be announced to all at the same time. This prophecy was fulfilled, and to deny this truth is pure foolishness. It's beyond this prophecy that the faiths begin to differ, with each one claiming to be the truth, but as the signs of our Lord continue to spread across the world, we know that more and more people are awakening to his Godhood.

'His symbol was hidden from the world and known only to a few. It used to a curiosity and an enigma, and even considered a hoax, but it has now been revealed to be true.

'Villages in Nigeria swell with the cheers of the faithful as He descends with the sustenance they need, while those who would otherwise oppress cower in fear. Parts of Mexico City that were considered 'no-go areas' now have civilians rallying together, inspired by Him. The abandoned factories in Detroit have found new life through Him. Russian farmers have carved out His symbol in their harvestless fields, and conflicts in the Middle East have quietened as those in command realise their temporal power has come to an end.

'Kneel in obeyance to Kal-El.'

Themyscira

A young man lies in a bed and looks to be sleeping. Purple energy washes over him and he stirs a little.

'The trauma to his head is almost healed,' says a female voice. She's speaking in Greek. 'I believe he will awaken in the next day or so.'

'Good,' says another female voice, in a much firmer and more authoritative tone. 'Perhaps then we can get some answers.'

Slow-motion footage of Zod's fight with Superman in the Grand Canyon is being displayed on dozens of screens in a massive and otherwise dark room. Supercomputers analyse points of impact and display various readings.

Footage from the Battle of Smallville is also being displayed, with the focus being on the energy output that had turned a large part of Smallville's high street into a pseudo-glass floor.

Other screens display various manuscript pages and diary entries, from 1980 to some time in the 90s, of notes, formulae, calculations, and the S-shield doodled all over the place.

An angry mob attacks the food lines in Robinson Park and chaos erupts. Gas canisters are fired into the park from the watchtowers that have been erected at various intervals. Hundreds of people hurry away from the scene but the mob continues its assault on the food kitchens. Light from searchlights flood the ground, aiding those trying to get away and disorienting those attacking.

Some of those fleeing look back and stop, and silence spreads through the crowd. The mob notices the quiet and their stillness and, confused and curious, look around themselves. Some of the crowd point up to the Clock Tower looking out over the park. A thick mass clings to the spire and, even from so far away, it looks like it is pulsing.

'He's not real! There's no Batman any more!'

The mob roars and the crowd cheers and the shadow rises into the sky and spreads its wings. It disappears from sight, the light from the search lights obscuring anything beyond them, and screeching noises fill the air. The shadow swoops down and splinters into hundreds of bats. The rioters run.

16 months ago

Although there are still vast areas of rubble throughout the ruined section of Metropolis' New Troy, there is an air of things now being more organised rather than chaotic and ominous. Huge earth-movers sit silent at various sites.

On a platform just inside the destruction zone stand a small group of men. On the ground and around them are dozens of reporters and camera crew. To the edges of the crowd, and interspersed among them, are various security personnel. A hush falls on the gathering as Gerard Shugel, a bald, well-dressed man, raises his hands for quiet and steps towards the lectern. He waits for the jostling reporters to settle and looks at the various suited men standing behind and to the side of him.

'It is not with pride that we stand here before you in order to make this announcement. Being here, under these circumstances, is something none of us had ever dreamed, yet I cannot deny that I do have some element of pride. In us. In all of you. I am proud that we have been able to come together in so many ways in order to at least begin to bring this city back from...from the destruction that was visited upon it.

'Congress has agreed to allow our companies to take the lead – yes, there were tax breaks for us in doing so, but none of us have accepted those proposals. Instead, we have decided to come together in a way that will, in years to come, benefit us all. It is with great pleasure that I announce that Metropolis will be the home of various aspects of Stagg, Queen, Wayne, Kord, LexCorp and others, forming the collective we have dubbed the Scientific and Technological Advanced Research Laboratories – S.T.A.R. Labs.

'This city – and many of you know I have often called it my city – was the city of tomorrow, and it will be the city of tomorrow again.'

Documentary

Decades ago, and more so after the murders of various members of the city's leading families, Gotham was considered a lost cause. It is with a relief of freedom that we can now openly state that, throughout those years, various crime families – from the Falcones to the Rileys to the Ibanescus and so on – ran the city. Twenty years ago, despite the denial of Commissioner Loeb and others, a challenge was made and, for the first time, secret camcorder footage of the incident has been made available:

May 19, at a dinner party at the Mayor's mansion, a smoke grenade was thrown into the dining room through a window, and the lights were cut off. The darkness is incomplete – there is light from a flambé and the alcohol in the dish is burning quickly – but its suddenness is disorienting and panic-inducing, and voices can be heard off-camera:

'Settle down, damn it! It's just smoke!'

'Some stupid prank-'

'Poison! It's-'

'Shut up-'

There's an explosion and bright lights from floodlights set up in the mansion's garden flood into the room from a huge hole in the wall. In the middle of the hole, a dark, caped figure steps over the debris.

'Ladies,' rumbles a voice. 'Gentlemen. You have eaten well.'

The dark figure approaches the flambé and takes the metal lid from the waiter.

'You've eaten Gotham's wealth. It's spirit. Your feast is nearly over. From this moment on, none of you are safe.'

It covers the dish and, simultaneously, the lights from the garden and the light of the burning alcohol are extinguished, and there are screams and shouts.

None of what you have just seen has been shown to the public before, but the results of what started as a one-man war against crime became apparent a few years ago. Before that, however, was a period of escalation – as stories of 'The Batman' began to spread so, too, did stories of the Croc in the sewers, the murderous puppet imbued with the spirits of those hanged at the old Gotham Gallows, the Jester of Crime with his Laughing Fish and flesh-chewing wind-up chattering teeth, and the laughing boy in pixie boots, who made children smile and wish to fly.

Time and again, despite thousands of witness accounts, the GCPD denied the existence of all these things.

During this time, steadily rising through the ranks, the late Commissioner Gordon and his comrades-in-arms – Harvey Bullock, Renee Montoya, and others – began cleaning up the GCPD, precinct by precinct. The GCPD Brotherhood made dozens of attempts to put an end to Gordon and his team but were foiled, time and time again, by Gordon, his colleagues, and by The Batman.

The very public capture and arrest of The Joker, after the murders of Commissioner Gordon and twelve other people, finally settled the then decades old question of the Gotham Urban Myth – The Batman was real.

Then The Batman disappeared.

Rumours spread, fuelled by The Joker's muttering of 'flailing the Little Bird', that the death of his oft-rumoured companion and protégé was the reason The Batman was no more.

Mountains of evidence was presented and the corruption of scores of city officials was exposed, and arrests were made. The Hill was raided and 'cleaned up' and, despite protests from human rights' groups, previously de-commissioned freighters were converted into new prisons to house the massive number of Gothamites arrested during this period and, later, jailed.

Wayne, Davenport, Kane, and dozens of other billionaires and companies came together, pooling their various resources, and the city was rejuvenated.

For almost five years Gotham has enjoyed the honour of being among the safest cities in the world – a status that would have been considered laughably impossible before, and a status that changed overnight as a result of the Metropolis Incident. Now, barely three months later, anarchy rules the streets.

Themyscira

'It was basically a war,' says the blond man as he sits by a window and looks out over the view of mountains and lush forest. 'Aliens had come to Earth and they wanted to get rid of us and make the planet their new home.'

'This much we have been able to ascertain; the questions, for us, are how you and your craft were able to cross the barrier and whether we can and should send you back.'

'Should?'

'We have been hidden from Man's World for a long time-'

'I'm sorry, Your Highness, but "Man's World"?'

'It is a translation of what we call it, in your tongue. A world ruled by men, made comfortable for men, geared for the interests of men.'

'With respect,' says Steve, standing up, 'perhaps you're a little out of touch with the way the world is.'

'With respect, Mr Trevor, my people and I have kept an eye on your world for a long time.'

'We're not perfect by any means, but we've come a long way.'

'"A long way"?'

The Queen waves a hand and images shimmer in the air between them: images of children being buried alive; of young women being abducted and herded; of money changing hands in a lavish apartment as subdued men and women are bartered and sold; of acres of trees being felled and water being polluted.

'Infanticide. Mutilation. Abuse.'

'I...we're not perfect but we're not the monsters you make us out to be.'

'There are many different kinds of monsters, Mr Trevor. Many kinds. We Amazons know them all too well.'

'I don't understand how this place can exist. How no one knew.'

'People knew. People forgot. It is the way it is meant to be and it is better that way.'

The Queen gestures again and images appear on the large wall.

'We have protected the world for hundreds of years. We protect the world now. Millennia ago we were scattered.' She gestures at a wall and women of different races flash across it. 'Tribes guarding, protecting, fighting, for the sake of all. This world, your world, would not exist if not for us, Mr Trevor.

'We were scattered but we began to learn of each other and the burdens we all shared. In time, we found a way to bring the dangers together, here, on these islands. We found a way to be united and stronger. We embraced our title of Amazon and strived to bring peace.'

Images of various civilisations rising and growing appear on the floor and ceiling, and The Queen and Steve watch in silence as the civilisations crumble and fall.

'There are dangers out there that have been forgotten or relegated to myth. Dangers we cannot destroy but have safeguarded the world against.' Images begin to dance on the walls and ceiling and floor.

'Laestrygonians,' she says, pointing to the images of huge 'men' hurling boulders at ships. 'Giants who would wish nothing more than to chew on your bones.'

'Fee-fi-fo-fum', whispers Steve.

'There are demons created from broken souls, when their lives have been twisted and their hopes torn away from them. They gather in strength and number as Men continue their oppression and manipulation, but there are those here who can call them to the islands and assuage their pain.

'Gugalanna, whose feet made the earth shake,' and the images are of a massive bull and a man striking it with an axe. 'Slain yet always returning. Chained, yet always escaping. It drinks the waters of the world and eats everything that grows, and the people starve and suffer.

'Minotaurs and Jidra and Imbunche. The list goes on.'

'I've never heard of most of those, and the ones I have are just stories.'

'Indeed. As we had intended. Here, on these islands, we imprisoned them and lure them and set to protecting the world.'

'But no one knows about you!' shouts Steve, exasperated. 'I...I still feel that this is all a dream. A fantasy of paradise.'

'We discovered that...suffice to say, Mr Trevor, with so much evil in one place the protection has to be greater, for the sake of everyone. Many of our sisters have given up their lives for the sake of the Great Barrier – the wall that shields the world from the horrors hidden here.'

'And hides you from the world.'

'For now, Mr Trevor, but that may have to change. Again. The events that culminated in bringing you here – much has changed in the world beyond the barrier.'

'What do you mean "again"?'

'One of us ventured out before, when the balance shifted and threatened to engulf the world.'

'The one who saved me? Did she succeed? Did she come back?'

'She did, but maybe…perhaps it was not enough. It is strange. It was not so long ago, and yet the state of the world never quite righted itself and now, now it has shifted once again.' She turns away from Steve and looks out through the window and over the large island. 'It is as if Eris has been given freedom over everything while Aneris stays silent. Since you arrived we have looked out further and wondered if Limos and Algos, along with Hysminai and Makhai are also not out there sowing their seeds.'

'I'm sorry, your Highness, those names…I don't know them.'

'I pray you never will.'

14 months ago

Several large crowds have gathered outside the Metropolis Courthouse. Their chants are loud and passionate. Barriers have been set up in order to separate the various groups and keeping back the steps to the courthouse.

One group brandishes placards with slogans such as:

Superman = Illegal Alien
Aliens are Un-American
Earth belongs to humans!
God Hates Aliens
Aliens Doom Nations

Another group has:

Thank You Superman
We Are Grateful
You Are Not Alone

Another has:

The Savior Is Here
He Walks Among Us
We Are For Kal-El

'Today is a day for truth,' says Senator Finch, addressing the Committee members and the public observers. 'For months, there have been stories and rumours and supposition. All those things have led to division and distrust, anger and hatred. The world has changed. The world needs to know what happened, and to know what he stands for.

'We have extended an invitation to him and he has accepted. We have also extended invitations to some of those who were directly affected by his actions in Metropolis and some of them are here today.'

Outside the building, Superman descends and lands in the cleared area in front of the steps to the building. The chanting crowds are silent for a few seconds and Superman takes in a breath and begins to walk up the steps.

The crowds roar and surge and some of the police horses whinny and snort. Policemen hold on to the barriers and try to push people back and, the further up the steps he walks, the crowds begin to calm and revert to their various chants.

'…yet, so far, it seems it seems he has been using that power to do positive things,' says Senator Stearns. 'I firmly believe this being could be our greatest ally. He has saved hundreds of lives in such a short time. Is there potential geo-political impact? Of course, but we can all, collectively, work through things like that. We can.'

'One could well argue that the world has been so caught up with what he could do that no one has asked what he should do.'

'Is that the reason for this committee? To put forward ways of policing this man.'

'He isn't a man, despite the name he has been given. He is, in essence, the most powerful being on the planet. That kind of power is very dangerous.'

'Perhaps, yet what right do we have to stop someone from doing what they can do naturally?'

'The same right we have when we discover someone is inclined towards murder.'

'That's a preposterous comparison to make.'

'Senator, what happened in Metropolis changed the world more so than any event in history. In less than a day, the world and the human race learned how powerless we are. People have dreamed of flying under their own power long before Daedalus and Icarus, and people have dreamed of having the strength of Samson long before there was ever a form of writing.

'Since that day we have learned that not only are there beings out there who are immensely strong and can fly, but that they can scorch the planet with a glance, and our weapons do nothing to them. More than that, the best minds from across the globe have been working tirelessly to find out what these beings did to our planet with their machine. As much as many people dismissed the threat of global warming, there is now no denying that the world is falling apart.'

'Or it's correcting itself. We can't let fear and arrogance blind us or lead us astray.'

The doors to the courtroom open and the Committee falls silent. The press and the members of the public in the room turn and watching as Superman is ushered in. He walks tall, looking straight ahead towards the Committee members, his head turning ever so slightly as he looks over them. Senator Finch gestures towards the lectern and Superman makes his way over to it.

'Superman, thank you for coming. I'm Senator Finch, Chair of this Committee.'

'Senator. Committee Members.'

'Given the nature of scope of this Committee there are certain things we cannot address at this point in time and, for that, we have had no choice but to request your presence.'

'I'm here to help, Madam Chairwoman.'

'Thank you. For the record, please state – sorry, let me rephrase that: what is your name?'

'The whole world heard my name, Ma'am.'

'"Kal-El", yes, but what is your actual name. The name you use when you're not flying around or wearing that…suit?'

'With respect, I don't think that is relevant.'

'With respect, you told military personnel you have been living on Earth for thirty-three years, I believe it is absolutely relevant that the world knows who you really are.'

'I decline to answer.'

A murmur spreads through the room.

'Will you at least explain why?'

'I think it's pretty straight forward. What you're asking me to divulge doesn't just affect me. It will impact every person I have ever interacted with, and that is not fair on any of them.'

'Because they believed you were human rather than what you actually are?'

'Because they have a right to their privacy.'

'Very well. Kal-El it is.

'Months ago, the world was attacked in a way that it had never been before. Within the space of a handful of hours, thousands of lives were taken and a city was almost wiped off the map. The lives taken were not just American, and the impact of the attack continues even now, with tens of thousands of people displaced across the world. One of the reasons we've asked you to be here is so that we can hear from you what happened that day.'

'One of the reasons?'

'We will now hear from some of the survivors of the attack in Metropolis. People who have been impacted significantly by what happened.'

My name is Jeremy Miller.'

'Cynthia Rose.'

'Omar Hussain.'

'Rebecca Forester.'

'Kent Matthews.'

'Kasia Erickson.'

'When the broadcast happened we thought it was a hoax.'

'It was something out of a movie.'

'My parents were visiting me.'

'When the news channels started reporting that that broadcast had been heard around the world.'

'We were scared. I'm not ashamed to admit that.'

'We didn't think anything would happen, though. Why would it?.'

'They wanted this "Kal-El" person and it was obvious that the world would hand him over.'

'It was the simplest and easiest thing to do.'

'When the spaceship came down and hovered over Metropolis.'

'We ran,'

'The roads were jammed.'

'There was no way out of Metropolis then.'

'Should we have tried to leave sooner? Perhaps.'

'My fiancée got pulled from my hands and I saw her fly up into the air.'

'And then down.'

'I heard the…'

'I'm sorry, I need a moment.'

'Then he came and put a stop to everything

'I heard some people say that he had saved us but I could only wonder

'Where had he been when they were using that beam?

'What took him so long?'

'Thank you,' says Senator Finch. 'I can only imagine how hard this has been for you. For all of you.

'And that brings us to one of our main questions, Kal-El: where were you when Metropolis was being attacked.'

'The Kryptonians were attacking on multiple fronts, Ma'am, and it was agreed, with certain members of the US military, that I would tackle the problem South East Asia.'

'And what problem was that?'

'An immense machine called a 'World Engine' had been deployed and it was believed I was the only one who could handle the situation there.'

'Believed. Based on what?'

'The relative ineffectiveness of the military weapons we used earlier in Smallville. Nothing had been able to affect them and with the machine being what it was it was reasonable to-'

'What was the machine? Why was it considered so dangerous?'

'As I'm sure you've all seen in the reports and the various articles, the machine was designed to and capable of terra-forming the planet. It was the intent of the Kryptonians to change Earth so that it would be like Krypton.'

'And how would this machine have done that?'

'By breaking down the structure of the planet on a molecular level and then rebuilding it. By increasing the planet's mass and its gravity.'

'And what of us, or the ecosystem or-'

'Everything would have been wiped out. It's what some called an "Extinction Level Event".'

'But what tactical reason was there for you to attack that machine and not Zod and his ship?'

'Even if I had stopped Zod directly the World Engine would have continued. It needed to be destroyed so that the gravity beams and other effects would then be stopped. The Black Zero – Zod's spaceship – tempered the World Engine.'

'So you chose to abandon America,' interrupts one of the other Committee members.

'Excuse me?'

'You brought the Kryptonians to our homes and then left us to deal with them.'

The First Church of Superman – webcast lead by Pastor Papp

'They seek to besmirch our Lord.

'They accuse Him and blaspheme and He holds back His Righteous Anger.

'They fear Him, as well they should, but show folly in their hubris.'

'By your own admission,' says Senator Finch, 'the Kryptonians came here because you activated an ancient scout ship and it sent out a beacon.' She holds up a hand before Superman can interject. 'That the ship may have been activated after we excavated it from the ice is something we can never know. The advanced nature of Kryptonian technology is such that it is unlikely that that would have happened.

'Your escape negated any tentative peace agreement that had been achieved through your surrender to General Zod, and it is arguable that he would have chosen an alternative planet to terraform.

'You knew of the existence of World Engines but did not inform the likes of General Swanwick or Emil Hamilton until after it had been released.

'I think we are in agreement here, Kal-El.

'Let the record show that this committee holds him responsible for the deaths and injuries that occurred in the Metropolis Incident. Let the record also show that this committee holds him responsible for the destruction and damage to property and infrastructure in Metropolis and elsewhere in the world.

'This committee hearing is adjourned. Thank you.'

One Year Ago

Themyscira

The temple of Dione has been frequented less and less since the Great Barrier was erected around the islands, but the Amazons continue to honour the traditions they have maintained for millennia and ensure the upkeep of all the temples on the islands. The two priestesses who reside in the temple grounds have been friends long before the Amazons came together and founded Themyscira, but their bond has never been tested the way it is now.

The sacred fire before them emits purplish smoke and, lost in their trances, the two friends, sitting on either side of the flames, have been breathing in deeply and, steadily, digging their nails into each other's hands as they rock back and forth.

A mile or so away, the young woman with the gift of flight is deep in conversation with a deer and some birds. 'It's unlikely that Mother will allow me to go again,' she says in Greek. 'If they hold the contest again she will do whatever she can to make sure I don't take part so, no, I don't think either of you have anything to worry about, my friends.'

A distant sound catches her attention and the birds dart into the air, chirping loudly. 'Hurry. I'll be close behind,' she shouts out, as she dashes into the trees. The further she runs the clearer the sound becomes, and she begins to run faster as the screams begin to overlap each other.

Energy crackles around the priestesses and their laps are soaked red. The purple smoke thickens and darkens, and the priestesses' heads snap back and they scream again.

'Sisters, please,' says the young woman, uncertain as to what she should do, and then, suddenly, the priestesses are silent and still and the smoke hovers in place. Tears streak their faces as their eyes open and they stare at nothing. 'What did you see?' she whispers, and then nods at one of the birds and watches it for a second as it hurries away.

'The Oracles of Dione are tied to Zeus,' says the Queen. She watches as other priestesses from other temples examine the two of Dione. 'But his will has never been expressed like this, and certainly not in Themyscira.'

'Perhaps it is because we have a man on the islands,' says the armoured Amazon standing to her right.

'Perhaps, but unlikely as he has been here for many months now. No, this is something else. Something from beyond the Great Barrier.'

Energy crackles from the still hovering smoke and the armoured Amazon steps in front of the Queen. The smoke expands and envelops all of the priestesses, holding them in place, and they speak and the Amazons see:

'Darkness is coming, and with it Light.' The sky is filled with figures wearing capes and beings of shadow and demon-like wings.

'The Scythe cuts through and all comes apart.' A tear appears in space and stars and systems are pulled towards it and then spat out.

'The Alphas will rise as the Omega descends but together or all will fall.' Beams of light of a myriad of colours clash and explode and a plain of fertile land becomes a pit of fire.

'The False God will show his colours and the sun will shine.' A red cape flaps in the wind, torn and dirtied.

'Men of Metal thirst.' Shadowed beings with red and purple eyes look down on Earth from within a skull.

'A Great Eye will open and the Sea-King will call.' The infinite void tugs at some of the Amazons and they step towards the smoke. The image then becomes that of millions of sea life fleeing something and the Amazons are released from whatever had pulled at them.

'The Hand. The Great Hand. Crushing all!' Worlds are held like marbles in the palm of massive hand, and the hand closes and clenches and everything explodes.

'Too much! Too much!' scream the priestesses, and they cling to each other, eyes wide and fearful, and try to breathe. The thick smoke rises and begins to fade, showing shadowy images of an Omega symbol, an eye, and a hand.

Temporary Structures of S.T.A.R. Labs, Metropolis

'This,' says Dr Stone to a group of teenage students touring S.T.A.R. Labs, 'is Lab One. I know, I know, you're all probably more interested in the genetics research in Lab Thirteen, but this is also something special.'

They're standing on a viewing platform, looking down on a room large enough to house half a dozen 747s. The room is sectioned but it's clear that there are dozens of projects going on – from reaction chips to energy weapons to reverse engineering wreckage.

'This is all one lab?' asks one of the students.

'It's sub-divided to around a thousand smaller labs, but we group them as one. Overall, this area deals with cybernetics. It's early days yet but we were all eager to get started, so that's why it looks a bit…crowded.'

'Do you get to look at alien tech?' asks another.

'We do,' says Dr Stone, pointing over to an area where a team is examining a piece of wreckage. 'Contrary to what some in the media have been saying, that's no secret. It's one of the reasons why all of us have come together. It's also the reason why some of us hardly go home.'

Istanbul Ataturk Airport

Turkish Airlines flight TK007 to Washington DC is finalising boarding and, in the Economy cabin, Steve Trevor and Diana of Thymescira are getting ready to settle in for the eleven hour flight.

'Are you ready to go home, Mr Rogers?'

'Diana, please, call me Steve. At least out here.'

'Maybe in time,' she says, smiling. She turns to the lady ahead of her and offers to help her with her overhead luggage, smiling more when the lady tells her that it's heavy.

'I still don't understand why we ended up in Turkey.'

'This is where we needed to be. That's all we need to know.'

'It doesn't make sense.'

'Steve, trust me. The Fates will guide us.'