AUTHOR'S NOTE: I just got done watching 52 episodes of the Justice League. And yes, a power nullifier conveniently exists. In the series Superman does take it, and so far as I know you never see the machine again. It was during the episode "A Better World part II" it was used. Figured Superman had it laying around somewhere. One more chapter to follow after this one, will try to post it today.

Chapter 13

When Flash entered the Watchtower he was greeted, as always, with the usual nods of greeting from the other members. However when Batman walked in after him head held high there was a struck silence throughout the group. J'onn was one of the first ones to land beside their lost member but Batman had only to look at him before the green Martian frowned, but went away without so much as a word. Diana, better known as Wonder Woman, was the second member to come up to Batman.

"Batman! Where have you been? Everyone in the Watchtower has been looking for you. When Flash came telling us you were missing we all thought the worst had happened to you." Diana exclaimed angrily but deep down she was relieved. The man turned his head to fixate her with a white slitted glare before brushing past her. All around them the other members had begun to voice their opinions as well of shock and greeting at their masked member returning but still he said nothing.

Flash kept a constant vigilance at Batman's sighed eerily silent for his usual bubbly demeanor. John frowned as he came down landing lightly on his feet as he matched Batman's stride. He glanced at Flash, but the young man remained tense and silent. Almost as if he were expecting be hit.

"We've all been worried about you. Care to tell us where you've been?" John demanded of him. Batman only frowned as if the Green Lantern were bothering him as he went over to the computer panel, his usual spot as he sat down and seemingly began doing a system's check of the Watchtower.

"Vacation. I needed some time off to think."

"Bullshit! You've been missing for several months and you just expect to waltz in here like nothing happened?"

Batman remained silent seemingly absorbed with his system check. John grabbed the man's shoulder meaning to force the crime fighter to face him but Flash touched his elbow. Shaking his head at his comrade. John hesitated but then slowly let go of Batman's shoulder. Backing away he went back to his post but continued to steal glances at him. Hawkgirl as well had gone silent as she gazed at him from up above like a guardian angel. None of the league knew what to make of one of their founding members returning so silently into their midst. Slipping in like the mist and resuming his duties as if he had not been away.

They didn't have long to wait until there was a beep on the console indicating Superman had returned. Flash tensed clenching his fists as he glanced at his lover, but Brue gave no indication he had noticed any other difference. Flash flitted away a second later just as Superman came in looking upset as he headed straight towards the masked crime fighter.

"Where have you been? I've been looking for you all over the world and you decide now to just show up without any explanation?"

"Anything I tell you you'll only deny, Clark."

"Try me, Bruce." Superman said harshly. The rest of the League had fallen silent listening intently to the argument below. John and Hawkgirl exchanged worried looks with each other. They knew what it meant when the two began to refer to each other by their secret identities.

Batman got up and turned around his eyes narrowed at the superhero. Already up close Superman could see the other man had begun to shake as he tensed up. On the outside it was nothing more than a slight tremble disguised by his cape which had fallen around his shoulders. Superman frowned as he came closer to the other man reaching out for him.

"Bruce, what aren't you telling me? You and I need to-"

"You and I don't need to do anything, Clark. Except for you to turn yourself in to proper authorities."

"Why?"

"You know why. You've known ever since the day I've disappeared, you just refused to acknowledge it. Now either turn yourself in before I make you." Batman snapped harshly. Superman stared at the other man as if he were crazy. Up above Flash appeared cradling a small box in his hand. He leaned over the railing of the catwalk as if to get a better view of the fight going on below. Casually letting the box fall from his hands.

Reaching up Batman easily caught it. The lid had fallen off in the fall and now Batman reached into it. Superman's eyes had widened as he began to back away just as the masked crime fighter drew out the small piece of kryptonite coming forward holding it out in front of him. The rock let off a soft glow pulsating softly when Batman held it closer to Superman as if sensing the kryptonian's distress.

"Bruce, what are you doing? Put that away!"

"I would if it weren't an act, Kal-El. I can tell when you take control. You can't hide any longer. Not from me."

"I wasn't. I just wanted to see how long it would take until your last hope was gone." Kal-El said with a sharp laugh. The blue of Clark's eyes had gone away replaced with the emerald gaze of the alien. Reaching over he grabbed Batman's wrist twisting it sharply so the crime fighter was forced to let go the green rock. The kryptonite tumbled from his grasp in between the two heroes, but Kal-El took no notice of it. Smirking down at Batman whose face had fallen at the failure.

"Did you really think that would work? I gave it to you the first time. Just because Clark is weak against doesn't mean I- ARRGHH!" Kal-El roared when suddenly he was hit from above by a piece of equipment. Snarling he turned to glare up at a grinning Flash who waved down at him then flickered away. A second later a green shield from Green Lantern's ring swiping down from the side.

The shield hit Kal-El full on knocking Batman out of his grasp. Batman fled in the opposite direction as fighting erupted all around him. Flash flickered to his side having retrieved the green rock as Green Lantern and Hawkgirl fought to keep the kryptonian under control. Within moments however the alien had risen back up shaking them both of as if they were nothing more than fleas. When J'onn rose up to attack Kal-El had only to use his heat vision to send the Martian tumbling back down to the ground below. Leaving him fallen on the catwalk as he turned to engage Wonder Woman.

"They can't hold him off!"

"Yes they can! Go get it, I'll distract him until you get back." Batman yelled above the chaos. His heart had begun to pound as he skidded into a hallway his side slamming against the wall as he took off down the passageway. The entire Watchtower shuddered with the sounds of battle as Kal-El and Wonder Woman fought. They could easily throw the Watchtower out of orbit causing them to crash into Earth.

Batman made it to the medical wing where he stopped allowing for the door to close behind him. He went over to another console and began to mess with the controls to make sure the Watchtower could adjust to the fight going on inside. A second later he heard a low groan and then a ripping sound as the door was torn off its hinges. Kal-El came in his eyes blazing with hellfire, Wonder Woman slumped in one hand and the door in the other. The alien tossed both away as he stormed up to Batman who had straightened up from the console.

"Nice try, Bats, but you know how it goes. I never expected you to get this far. I'm impressed, you're far more resourceful then I give you credit for." Kal-El said with a smirk as he came further into the room. Batman stood his ground his mouth set into a determined line as the alien came towards him.

"I just wanted another chance…"

"A chance of what, my pet? To prove you won't ever disobey me again? You've done far more than enough to prove to me you would like to do nothing more. And what was the price of your escape?"

"My life."

"Not quite, Bruce. Not quite, someone else's however. Because I know for a fact you would like nothing more than for me to kill you. To end it all here and now so you don't have to suffer any longer." Kal-El glanced down at the prone figure of Wonder Woman and smirked.

He came closer to his pet bat as Bruce began to back away. His face fell as he shook his head beginning to panic. Kal-El laughed as he reached out grabbing his pet easily by the throat and dragging him forward. His eyes burned as he glared down at the masked man he sneered shaking Batman as if he were nothing more than a rag doll.

"I'll drag their death out. Make them suffer as you did before finally, slowly, they fade away. With you, though? Oh, I have something much worse in mind. A way you can never escape me again. Tell me, Batman, you always did like going into the dark. How would you like to live in it for the rest of eternity?" Kal-El hissed as his heat vision began to glow.

Then he screamed as a golden beam hit him from behind. He dropped Batman who dodged to the side out of the light. Turning around Kal-El made to fly to at the red and gold clad figure holding what looked like a laser beam cannon. Flash's eyes were narrowed as he turned the beam up to full throttle. For a moment it seemed as if Kal-El would be able to use his heat vision to burn the device. Then he collapsed clawing at the ground as Flash turned the Power Nullifier off glancing at his partner.

"What did you do to me?!" Kal-El demanded as he got back up. He swayed uncertainly from side to side feeling tired and exhausted. When he tried to fly there was no sensation of a sudden lightness. He staggered up turning to glare at Batman who had come forward. The crime fighter's eyes were narrowed as Flash appeared at his side still holding the white cannon keeping it trained on the alien.

"Remember, when you took the Power Nullifier from Lex Luthor? You and I are the only ones who know where it was hid. I told the rest of the League to put up an act of trying to defeat you when I appeared to lure you into a sense of security. But who can defeat the Man of Steel?" Batman said shrugging his shoulders. Kal-El glared his eyes sparking as he stood up drawing back a fist.

"You damn bastard, I'm going to-" Kal-El began but was caught off. In one swift motion Batman had buried his fist into the alien's stomach. Kal-El's emerald eyes widened in shock as he glared up at the crime fighter. Then with a soft sound he slumped knocked out. Batman kicked his body away as Wonder Woman got up with a groan from the passageway sitting up to hold her head in her hands.

"I didn't know you told everyone else. When did you get the time to do that?" Flash asked glancing at his lover in awe. Once again Batman's mouth was set in a grim line but he only shook his head as he took out a pair of cuffs. Kneeling down to cuff the limp figure of his former friend on the ground. When he awoke Clark would not remember anything. The truth would have to be explained to him.

"I didn't." Batman said calmly. Flash made a choking sound as the rest of the Justice League began to awaken from being knocked out. Of course, they would want answers. Batman would have to tell them everything that had happened. Show them the files he had been shown by Lex Luthor. Then what would he do next?

Rebuild.