Author's Note: Alright guys! This is the moment you all had been waiting for! I hope...with a short A/N, let's get going!
Shout Outs: Thanks to Mangalover4321 for favoring the story. Thanks to ellebeangirl for favoring and following the story. Thanks to The Story's Shadow for reviewing. Thanks to Nightwing1796 for favoring the story. Thanks to SaiyanWarLord for favoring the story. Thanks to
Summary: The group found out the location of Darkseid and they send out after Tim have a speech of hope to the citizens. As they arrive at Apokolips, complications are ahead of them.
Chapter 19: Bittersweet Part 1
All of the members were back at the Watchtower under the command of the Justice League. They knew it wasn't good and the silence had fallen among.
Batman stared at the upset team with a hard look. All of them are quiet, esp Tim. He was the most broken one but what also puzzled Bruce was that how did he got healed quickly?
That thought made his gaze hardened.
"I know Nightwing's death was hard and unexpected. But you need to let go. What's done is done and you can't change it no matter how much you wanted to."
Tim looked up and narrowed his eyes, staring at his mentor. Was that an emotion he saw?
"He saved us. Saved the cities. His death will not be in vain. If he was here, he wouldn't want us to mourn over him. He wanted us to continue with this mission. And that's exactly what we're going to do." Batman gave a glance at Batgirl. "Batgirl told me that you had found the location of Darkseid?"
She nodded. "Yes. I-"
She got cut off when the screen turned on, revealing nothing but static until it got cleared. Tim clenched his fist when it showed Darkseid who grinned nastily.
"Oh, did I catch you at a bad time? My apologies." he sneered.
"Darkseid." Tim snarled.
"Aww, is the little birdie upset that his big brother died? Such a shame..."
"What do you want?" Kal'dur seethed.
His dark grin grew. "Nothing much other than at the fact that your people are losing hope. They saw what had happened and now they are scared." he then showed the clips of his minions intruding the streets.
It was chaos. There were fires everywhere, people losing hope, dark clouds storming in...it was terrible.
Darkseid smirked, enjoying the fallen faces. "As long your people continue to lose hope, I will only grow stronger. You may as well give up now because you have nothing worth fighting for." he laughed, coldly sending shivers down their spine and then he vanished.
No one spoke. No one even wanted to. They knew he was right. Hope was losing.
But not all.
Being sick of this silence, Tim walked up to the keyboard, raising attentions.
"What are you doing?" Batgirl asked.
Tim raised his hand to slam a button as he spoke. "Giving people hope."
The screen flickered after he slammed the button and then it showed the city from all over. He was on screen.
He took a deep breath before he began.
"Citizens of Earth, I come with no harm and right now I need you all to listen to me!"
As he spoke, one of henchmen started to reach for the off button but Darkseid dismissed him, narrowing his eyes as he was curious of what this young one has to say.
"I know these are dark days. Its scary, frightening and feels like you can't do nothing other than wishing for this day to be over. I know that feeling. We all had been there. But you're not alone. You have us. The Young Justice team," Tim took a side step, showing the rest of the teams. "And the Justice League (the League took a step forward) who are willing to save your cities and you. You can trust us. You do not need to be afraid."
Down below, the people of Earth stopped what they were doing and all of the people looked up to the screen.
"Fear is what causing the evil be stronger. As long as there is fear, there will be evil. As long as there is evil, there will be chaos. So I need you all to be with us. I need you all to put your hope and faith into us. We will protect you. That I promise. These dark days will be over. We will defeat this evil. Have hope. Because hope is the strongest feeling of all."
Tim took a breath, cutting off the communication. After he regained himself, he turned to the team.
"Now, where is Darkseid?"
:(/\):
Darkseid was deep in thought, thinking over the speech the young one gave. He admit.
It was inspirational but it was weak. If he think that some will help the citizens then its a laugh.
This is a mere child's play.
Two of their members had fallen. He can easily wipe them all out; one of them is injured but "healed".
The screen flickered to life, showing Lex.
"Lex, how can I help you?" he rumbled, not even looking up at the screen.
"I want what belongs to me. That deal we made at the beginning."
A small spark of recognition sparked in Darkseid's eyes.
"Ah, yes. Your fees."
Lex narrowed his eyes. "I have done what you wanted me to do. I held up my part of the bargain."
Darkseid sneered. "Pity how your plans don't go the way you want to, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You indeed held up your part of the bargain but you see, things change. I have what I wanted. I don't need you anymore."
Lex's eyes grew wide with rage. "What?"
"Isn't it funny how you always lose? Goodbye, Lex."
"No! Darkseid, you will pay!"
Like that, the screen went off since Darkseid shut it off. The silence didn't even had a chance to settle since his henchman came in.
"Sir, if I may report, I had indicated that there are intruders coming into our atmosphere. I am assuming that it is the Justice League and the Young Justice. Of course, I can arrange for you to have them be annihilated-"
"Let them be." Darkseid interrupted him.
The henchman stumbled, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "I beg your pardon, sir? This is our enemies we're talking about."
"I am aware of that," he rumbled. "Are you judging my reasoning?"
"Er, no sir." he stumbled.
"Then let them be. After all, this is their own downfall. They're the ones who are falling to their doom."
:(/\):
A group of ships entered the Atropolis's atmosphere but not without some complications.
"We're going down fast!" Tigress exclaimed.
"Pull up, Tim! Pull up!" Cassie shrieked.
"I'm trying!" Tim strained, trying to pull the wheel.
Alarms of the ship rang through, blaring as to indicate the ship was in danger of being overheated.
Realizing that he has no control, Tim did the only thing he can do.
"We're going to crash hard!"
The ship reached the bottom but not by having a rough impact, having the ship to skid on the ground then slid on the road, roughly.
The engine whined, indicating that it died down and everyone groaned from the impact; some were hanging from the chairs.
"You really a terrible driver." Cassie moaned. "I think I'm going to be sick."
La'gann agreed then paused. "Say...isn't this a second time you crashed a ship?"
Irritated, Tim quirked an eyebrow. "Alright. Everyone out!" he snapped, kicking the door to be opened.
"Is everyone alright? We saw the ship crash." M'gann said, flying towards them.
"Yeah, we're fine." Tim muttered before giving a behind glance to the ship. "The engine's overheated..."
"Well, Batman isn't going to like that." Superboy muttered.
"Uh..."
Raising an eyebrow, Conner looked to the side and gave a startled look, sweat-dropped.
"Uhm, hi." he sweat-dropped.
And of course, Batman gave his infamous glare.
The rest of the group came, joining them as they stared the dull view that was ahead of them. There were red lightning flashing here and there but it was not of nature.
"We should split. There is a lot of land to cover and we're most likely going to run in a few enemies." Batman stated. "We're a large group; anything with unusual activities report to me. Beta team, go with Black Canary, Flash and Captain Marvel. Gamma with Manhunter and Superman. Alpha with me and Wonder Woman."
Everyone nodded and they all went their way. Tim stared ahead as they were the only team left.
"You really think we can this war?" Tim asked, gazing ahead. "We barely won the last one."
Batman said nothing as he too stared ahead. He wants to say that everything will be fine but Tim isn't that stupid.
Nothing's ever fine when a horrid war comes.
"We have to or everything of what we had fought for will perish. Your speech of hope isn't just to give people hope. Its to let them know that there is something worth fighting for."
Silence settled them, to each their own thought. Images of Nightwing flashed in Tim's mind which made him tightened his fists.
We will win this war. Your death will not be in vain. Tim thought.
"We should go." Cassie said, interrupting the silence.
The group walked in silence, each to their own thought. As they were a third of the path, something was following them from behind. Batman stopped walking as he thought he had heard a sound.
He turned around, eyes narrowed as he stared at the view.
"What is it?" Tim asked.
"We may be followed by something or someone." he answered.
Just as he answered, something had rammed into him from the side unexpectedly making him grunt from the impact. The rest of the group jumped in startle from the unexpected attack and they all took out their weapons.
As the tackle happened, Tim got out his staff, twirling it at the side.
Batman clumsily landed on the ground, stumbling backwards until he awkwardly halted. Tim then charged forward with his staff in hands. He jumped into the air, raising his weapon to strike.
As though the creature had sensed it, it quickly turned around and smacked at Tim hard from the side, throwing him off course.
The beast was hideous. It had eight tentacle-like at the face with two beady eyes. The skin was a dull red color and hard.
It had two arms and two legs; the claws were sharp enough to draw out blood if got scratched. It was also medium sized.
Batman got up, allowing his cape to drape over.
"Tim-"
"The creature is of this place, his home. It's a Ylt; they're known to kill with their claws within a second." Tim stated, already knowing what Batman was going to say and had already done it.
"Claws, huh?" La'gann said.
"That's the thing. They may look innocent but if extended, they're deathly." Tim said.
As he said that, the creature made an odd noise and started to run.
"Its coming." Cassie exclaimed.
"What's the weakness?" the dark knight asked.
"It can't attack what they don't see."
The group went their ways, attacking from each side. Cassie just managed to dodge an attack from the creature by placing both of her hands in front of her face as a shield. The beast's claw took a swipe at her two bracelets but no damage was done.
She then made a powerful punch, having the creature stumble backwards. Without losing a second, La'gann (in his beast form) attacked.
And then, Batman took out a smoke pellet and threw it at the ground, letting the group to use this advantage.
Tim walked around in the smoky area, narrowing his eyes. He stopped, staring ahead. As though by some luck, the creature lunged from the fog and pinned down Tim at the arms, forcing him to fall to the ground; his staff flying out of his hand.
The fog cleared out and Tim squirmed under its tight grip, raising its claw in a threatening way.
And then, a sharp object sliced in half from above, letting its out blood which sprawled on Tim.
He slightly lifted his head to Cassie placing away her rope after she cleaned it.
"Ungh, did you had get it on me?" Tim whined, trying to get himself cleaned. When he lifted his cape, La'gann made a vomit sound as blood dripped from the edges.
"You owe me a new rope." she scowled. "Its going to take forever to clean it."
"Same as mine. It's one of a kind."
"How convenient. Mine is too!" she snapped.
Batman gave an annoyed look as the two tried to clean it.
"Let's move on."
Tim narrowed his eyes, glaring at him. "Thanks for your sympathy." he muttered.
:(/\):
The group walked, having their feet crunch against the gravel.
"How do you suppose the others are doing?" Beast Boy asked.
"I'm sure they will be fine." Dinah said.
"I hope you're right." the green one spoke, his ears down like how a puppy would do.
Giving a look, M'gann responded reassuring the boy even further.
"They're strong, Beast Boy. As long we continue to put our faith into them and theirs into us, they will win."
Beast Boy gave a small smile. As they took another step, Superboy stopped and turned to the side as he heard what he thought was a distant sound.
The green alien also stopped.
"Superboy?" Megan asked.
"I thought I heard..." he started. Everyone else tried to listen what he was listening; Beast Boy could hear it but it wasn't powerful enough as Superboy was.
And like that, a whizzing sound came but Beast Boy shouted: "Superboy, look out!" his warning came too late as the arrow had already struck him from the back, piercing at the back of his shoulder.
He grunted, making his hand grab the arrow.
"Superboy!"
Canary started to make her way to pull the arrow but he stopped her.
"No, get back. This isn't any normal arrow. Its filled with kryptonite."
The Flash slightly widened his eyes. "Kryptonite? Where would they get kryptonite?"
Curious, M'gann walked towards the arrow after Superboy pulled it out. She carefully lifted up, her face glowing from the green mineral.
There, on the wooden stick, a symbol was craved in.
"LexCorp..." Beast Boy said, recognizing the symbol. "But where would Darkseid..."
Images of unusual activities of what they had encountered ran through his head until he figured it.
"They had been working together." he concluded, eyes wide. "They were in partnership this whole time. Lex wouldn't be able to have all of those fancy equipment if it weren't for Darkseid and vice versa."
"And since Darkseid had already have what he needed, he no longer needs Lex." Marvel replied.
Beast Boy activated his ear com. "Batman, we figured out how Lex was getting unusual technology. He was working with-"
His answer was cut short when another arrow shot through him, rendering him into unconscious.
"Beast Boy!" Canary exclaimed.
It wasn't too soon that the rest of the team were all got shot from arrow, having blackness taking over them.
As they all fell to the ground, few shadows loomed over them.
:(/\):
"Beast Boy? Batman to Beast Boy!" Batman exclaimed. He gritted his teeth after not hearing a response from more than a few minutes.
"What happened?" Wonder Woman asked.
"I don't know. Beast Boy was starting to tell me about how Lex was getting the unusual equipment but he was cut off before he could finish. His team might've been kidnapped."
La'gann frowned. "How was Lex getting the equipment?"
Batman narrowed his eyes. "I believe he was going to say he was working with Darkseid. He was cut off since obviously the enemies weren't too keen on having their secrets spilled."
La'gann quirked an eyebrow, being puzzled on how the dark knight already knew. Yet again, he was Batman. He knew everything.
But someone wasn't happy with the answer. A sharp object twirled in the air and it landed in front of Batman's feet.
"You used them?!" Tim exclaimed, furiously.
"They agreed."
"I don't care! You used our friends just to find out how Lex was getting the technology!"
Batman narrowed his eyes. "This is war. To find out what you want, you have to go to certain lengths."
Tim clenched his fists.
"Besides, I thought you already knew how I work."
Sensing what he was going to do, Wonder Woman placed a hand on his tense shoulder and it seemed to work as he was slightly eased.
While Batman was walking forward, Diana spoke.
"Let it go. What's done is done."
"This isn't right. It never is." he responded, lowering his head down.
They resumed walking but what it seemed for hours, they had finally stumbled upon an enormous ship with an unwelcoming aura.
The group stayed silent as they watched the huge ship that gave out dark vibes.
"This is it." La'gann said, quietly.
They all stared at the ship, all of them thinking the same thought.
This is the ship who will determine the victory. This is the ship where good and evil meets at last.
The group stared at the ship, a hard face expression was put on all the faces.
"Tim-"
"There are ten security cameras aboard the ship. Two at the left, two at right, two down, two at the upper level and two near the throne room. There are also armed rooms with securities. They need to be disabled before we can make a move. They are in the control room to be deactivated. One wrong move and it will enable the alarm and we're done. The control room is on the main floor, to the south side. There will be people there controlling the ship. You will only have about ten seconds to disable everything."
As Tim spoke, the group could be seen that they were already inside the ship, performing their actions.
"They also have a weaponry room located at the north of main floor. Its a big one. Find it and destroy it. It will make them less vulnerable."
"Alright. Thanks, Tim." Batgirl spoke.
"Justice League will bring down the guards. Young Justice will do the cameras and the necessities." Batman spoke.
:(/\):
Tigress and Cassie were lined up behind; Tigress being first. She peeked her head out, making sure that the security guards were gone. She then went back, turning her head to the side to face the other two and gave a sign that indicated it was clear.
Cassie confronted the large metal door and she placed both of her hands on the door. Using her super strength, she grunted a bit before a loud scrap of the metal was heard and was torn. Cassie threw the door away which left Tigress.
Using her aiming, Tigress released four arrows that struck the lens.
Once that was done, the two gave a glance at each other. They then went further into the room only to discover that they were in a large room.
It was then that they realized they were in the control room.
Like Tim had said.
"Tim, we're in the control room."
"Alright. Now, listen to me."
:(/\):
"The war between good and evil will come at last, Master." the henchman said, bowing.
"I am aware." Darkseid answered, gazing out at the window. "How are the guests doing?"
The henchman shifted nervously. "Um...well...you see..."
Just then, the lights started to flicker off which grabbed Darkseid's attention and he soon saw his cameras and security were going offline.
"What is this?!" he roared as he punched at the static computer screen, breaking it. "What else do I not know?" he hollered.
"U-um...as we speak, we got reports indicating that our weaponry room is being destroyed." the henchman gulped, trying not to stammer and hoping to stay alive. "Many of our defense and security cameras are being disabled. Naturally, someone with a genius mind is behind this and that is who we must capture-"
Having enough, Darkseid twitched violently and gave himself a good roar.
"I want them found! Bring every single one of them here! I want them here and captured. Kill them all! I want their bones to be covered by their blood!" he snarled.
"Y-yes, Master." the henchman stammered.
Once he was gone, Darkseid breathed heavily. He should've let them be annihilated when he had the chance but instead he was...soft.
"Having problems?" a smirking voice called out.
Darkseid simply narrowed his eyes at the figure that was in the shadows.
"What is my business is nothing of yours."
"Aww, is the big boy upset?"
Growling, Darkseid walked towards the person, stopping in front of him. He then punched him painfully in the stomach, giving a terrible blow so the person had his air out of his lungs.
But before the person could even grab some air, Darkseid automatically grabbed him by the neck tightly.
"Talk to me like that again and I won't hesitate to kill you, Earthling." he let go of the grip, leaving the person breathe. Darkseid gave a nasty grin.
"And just remember that I still have you."
:(/\):
Half of the Gamma team went inside the weaponry room after blowing up the door with one of Batgirl's explosives. The other half went to disable the cameras; Tigress joined Batgirl's half.
"Woahhhh." La'gann exclaimed, eyes sparkled with delight. "Look at all these! Its paradise."
Beetle snorted. "Yeah when you're not going to blow yourself with it."
Lagoon boy sneered.
"Don't get distracted now. We won't have much time after these goes off. Put these at each of the four walls and one at the ceiling." Batgirl replied, handing Beetle and La'gann two explosives
"Once done, get the hell out of here so I can pull the trigger."
"Yes, ma'am." Beetle said.
They got to work, placing each of the objects on the walls and ceiling. As they did, a small beep was heard which indicated that it was ready.
The group ran off and as they did, Batgirl pulled the trigger and a loud explosion was heard followed by a huge crashing noise.
Batgirl smirked. "Nice work, team."
"Ha as if there were any doubt of failing." Beetle proclaimed.
Batgirl activated her ear com. "Tim, we got it."
:(/\):
"Tim, we got it."
Tim smirked, a gleeful expression on his face. So far, everything is going good.
"Excellent! I just need the others response and we're good to go. Head on to the throne room. All of us are meeting there." Tim cut off the communication and started typing away on his mini-computer, checking the progress. As he did, someone was walking behind him but Tim froze as though he had sensed the presence. Quickly, he took out his staff as he twirled around to get up, being ready to strike.
But the other person was much quicker. Knowing where he was going, the person grabbed his staff before he could even attack and then from behind Tim, another shadow loomed over him but when Tim turned his head to the side, something hard struck at his head, rendering him into unconscious.
The two people dragged him away...
:(/\):
A sudden whoosh sound followed by other various noises.
"This is the door alright?" La'gann announced, quavering a little.
"Is everyone here?" Batgirl asked.
"Uh...sure?"
Beetle narrowed his eyes.
"Where's Tim?"
Batgirl groaned. "If he got captured, I swear to God I'll tear that boy apart!"
"Maybe he's in there?" Cassie suggested.
"One way to find out."
Cassie pushed the two doors opened and a loud groan came as it was opened.
Once they entered, they were immediately met with darkness and all of their footsteps echoed.
They walked forward a bit until they heard a dark, rumbling voice.
"Welcome to Apokolips."
Author's Note: Dun dunnnn...alright fellows! This is it! The final battle between good and evil is here! This will be in two parts. Who will win? Will there be sacrifices? Find out!