With A Snap
Disclaimer: Yeah, I really don't own marvel or any other series.
Chapter 05: Crisis
Possibilities were endless. There were countless worlds and each with their own uniquene knowledge to collect.
Brainiac had been known to travel to world and destroy them, saving one city from each world into his collection. To preserve their knowledge.
As his ship cross the distance between the stars he scanned signals from passing ships and his own scouts. He was looking for the next planet to visit.
As he waited for results he looked over the various functions of his ship. It took a millionth of a second to make sure everything was working properly. But the green alien blinked something was wrong.
That itself was uncommon, there were usual errors and perfect as his equipment was there was always faults to correct.
No, the issue was coming from his cities. He walked over to the room filled with countless cities in bottles. His scanners were detecting changes. He pulled up a screen and he check the numbers, suddenly the life signs on the words were dropping in remarkable rates.
That wasn't uncommon, sometimes the cities would try something drastic to escape and they would regret it. But this was happening in all the bottles.
As his mind absorbed all the data he realized a strange yet simple pattern. Half the populations were vanishing.
Before he could do anything his system blared. His ship was getting distress beacons from all over, Thanagar, Tamaran, Rann, Daxam, and even his own homeworld of Colu.
The same message was coming across. Brainiac's mind race with all the data he was collecting, the population all across the universe was dropping at the same rate and the same percentage.
His mind raced with the possibilities, what would be able to cause that?
Then terror struck him, he felt his hands start to dissolve.
And for the first time in a very long time he felt true terror override his mind. He couldn't come up with rational thought. And as he faded away leaving his ship alone but various trapped cities in a panic.
0000
Barry Allen was the fastest man alive, he raced across his city on patrol he did so in spectacular speeds. For most going such speeds they would miss the world around them.
But not Barry, he saw the world in a much faster rate than anyone could hope. So for him it was worse as he suddenly saw people all around the city fall apart and turn to dust.
Panic struck him as he raced around in horror, he needed to help them.
But what could he do? What could possibly do this?
He couldn't do this alone, he'd have to find his friends? The Justice League had saved the universe countless times before, he was certain they could save them. He needed to act quickly, he needed to get everyone not affected to safety. This could be some sort of pathogen or something and he couldn't let-
Barry didn't finish that thought going as fast as he was he didn't slow down to realize he too was falling apart. As he took a step to run his leg grumbled to the ground and so did the rest of him.
No one even notice a red blur suddenly turn to dust in the wind.
0000
Hal Jordan was a man without fear and one of the greatest green lantern if not the greatest.
He was flying in deep space, next to the green Lantern known as Mogo. He liked to check in on him. Some saw it as a strange action as Mogo was a living planet, but Hal thought he liked the company.
That was when their rings rang out. It was loud and so strong that it gave him a headache.
It was distress call, as a green lantern he always had the ring on alert for them, but he was suddenly getting swamped with thousand and the number was rising. It looked like the whole universe was going crazy.
Hal tried to get a handle of what was happening.
"Attention: All Green Lanterns!" The Ring started to project images of the Guardians. "We are in the midst of an unprecedented event. Distress calls from all around the universe are being received. We must-"
Hal's eyes went wide one of the guardians started to dissolve before. The other guardians around him looked just as surprised and that was only made worse as half their numbers began to vanish. The signal cut off before anyone could ask anything.
"Green Lantern 2014.1" The Planet's voice rang out in his head.
"Mogo?" Hal turned his attention to the planet and he was speechless. "Mogo!"
The whole planet was turning to dust, Hal gasped as whole continents were suddenly converted to dust,
"I'm going to stop it!" Hal raised his hand and raised his ring shooting energy all around the planet trying to hold it together. Trying to run scans. Trying to-he didn't know what but he was not just going to stand there and do nothing.
"Endure." His voice was clear. "The Universe needs you."
As the world turned to dust Hal dropped the shield around him and a glowing green ring flew through the dust and past Hal.
Hal barely heard, "Looking fro new ring bearer. Scanning."
0000
Clark Kent. Kal-El. Superman.
He was a hero that inspired, a hero who gave hope to people.
Not just on Earth but across the universe.
He floated above the Earth, with his hearing it gave him some semblance of quiet. Though even now hundreds of miles above the Earth he could still hearing people talking. He opened his eyes and looked at the blue pearl before him, for all its troubles and everything he was still in awe of the world he called home. A smile spread across his features and vanished quickly.
Suddenly he heard pained scream and shouts of terror all across the world. Every corner, in every nation.
Terror struck his heart, he didn't know where to start or what to do.
"Clark!" A voice rang out clearer then any other.
"Dad!"
Without another thought he sped across the sky, it took seconds before she rushed into his apartment through the window.
"Clark." Her voice cracked.
The man of steel trembled, he wasn't used to hearing Lois' voice sound so weak and defeated.
"Dad?" John Kent their son, was there looking so scared and Clark pulled him back.
Lois forced a smile her eyes filled with tears as her body was turning into dust before them.
Clark hopefully scanned her with his microscopic vision but only saw her cell dry and up and turn to ash. There was no reason for it, it was just happening.
Silence struck them, it took them a moment to remember the panic and screams outside. But Clark only focus on the sobbing next to him, of his scared son. He pulled him closed and held him tightly afraid that he would vanish too.
0000
The cave was a strange home, not for bats but for people. Yet somehow despite all the darkness in his life it was sort of a home.
Or maybe it was because of certain changes in his life. Selina Kyle, the catwoman, had agreed to marry him and maybe that why the dark knight was starting to find some light in his life. As the bat-mobile rolled into the cave and the Batman and catwoman got out they found Alfred brining some food to the current Robin Damien Wayne, Batman's son with another one of his rogue.
He was only ten and he had a chip on his shoulder that would give his father's a run for the money.
The boy was raised by killer and taught to kill and if not for his father's influence he would be a monster. Though there were former robins that would argue. Honestly, they gave the kid a lot of slack but it would easier to deal with him if he had some better people skills and didn't think he knew everything.
"Master Wayne. Miss Kyle." Alfred greeted the pair.
"Father." Damien said in his usual almost emotionless tone.
Damien had expressed some concerns over the recent engagement of his father, but what child doesn't have feeling of his parent getting married.
He paid them no mind as he watched a computer screen as Alfred brought over a snack.
There was a clatter and as Damien turned around he was surprised, Alfred's body was turning to ash before his eyes.
Batman moved over to him to try and help him in anyway he could but Alfred held out his hand. More and more of his body was turning to dust and he felt himself fading away, just vanishing. "Stay back… stay back… if it's an infection you can't come-" Alfred never finished, his last thoughts being concern for those he'd cared for all these years.
Those in the cave remained silent unsure of what to make of what they saw. The cave began to buzz with sounds as the bats all around the cave began to screech in panic, Selina to her horror saw several but break down into ash in mid air.
The computer scream into life as countless reports and signals filled the screen showing images of the same thing happening all around the world.
"Bruce…" Selina said, her voice shaking with worry.
Bruce knew it had to be bad if she was using his real name.
"What's happening?"
"Father!" Damien yelled out.
Bruce looked at his hand as it began to dissolve before him, bits of his clothes and body were starting to turn. Bruce had always had a keen mind, he could feel his just all vanishing the rate it was happening he didn't have long. His mind came up with one thing to say, "Selina don't let him."
Terror had struck her but she understood his concerns, she grabbed Damien and pulled him away. She blocked him from his father and held him tightly, they boy tried to pull away but she didn't let him go. Selina knew the request, Bruce didn't want his son to watch his own father die. Bruce had been through that and would never want his son to go through that.
Selina closed her eyes not being able to bare to see what was about to happen.
"I love you." Filled the cave.
What followed was the sound of a boy crying and a woman trying to hold back a sob.
0000
Arkham Asylum was crazier than ever, as inmates and staff started to dissolve at random. It started out with a pained scream from Mister Freeze, when the orderlies arrived they found only dust amidst frost and snow.
No one really understood what was happening until the Scarecrow cried out.
His body slowly dissolved, he felt every ounce of his being vanish into nothing. He stared dumbfounded watching his body turn, he was a scientist but all he knew failed to provide any answer to myriad of questions. He often questioned how he would feel upon his death. Would he scream? Would he beg? Would he delight? Would he feel nothing? Exposure to his own gas had left him empty, unable to feel even fear. Only the Batman able to truly bring out that primal emotion in him.
He gasped as he felt something rise in him. "The unknown… man's earliest and strongest fear….Is this true fear? The inability to do nothing against an overwhelming power, so… beautiful…" He smiled, "to not even know the cause or the reason… just to be torn apart like this….But what feels me with dread … is that I will never feel this fear ever again."
He turned to dust without so much as a pained whisper.
Bane struggled in his cell, beating against the glass barrier that held him back. It was shaking but as his hands shattered into a burst of ash. He fought to escape until he longer couldn't.
One of the orderlies opened a cell door to check on the man, and they yelled out in pain as a blade plunged into his gut.
Victor Zsasz was a mad man and killer, he'd smuggled a knife from the kitchen a while ago and hid it. He had saved it for the right moment and with all this chaos he could easily escape. He stood above his latest victim, he enjoyed the kill but now he felt an urge bubble up in him. His body was covered in scars, each one was made by himself, for everyone life he cut his cut into his flesh like a tally. It was too hard for him to resist and dug the knife into himself.
He didn't feel the regular pain, as he looked down into his arm he didn't see blood but dust. This wasn't right, he stabbed into himself over and over again as his body dissolved as he tried to make another mark. He continued wildly desperate to cut into his flesh.
Soon enough his cell held only a corpse and some dust.
Two-Face continued to flip his coin, it mades to do that for him. That was his order his mania and his sense. He drew comfort in it especially when the world was turning into chaos around him. After a moment the coin tumbled to the ground as dusted settled around it.
"Haha ahahah haha!" Across the hall in his own cell the Joker laughed, "I guess you lost that coin flip, Harvey." He looked around in glee watching people randomly fade away. The chaos and the sheer amount of death. "Oh! I can really get behind this. I could really go for some pop corn for this show." Slowly the Joker noticed his body slowly turning to dust, "Huh? Too bad I always wanted Bats to be the one to do me in. Oh well, can't have everything. HahahahahahaahaHAAHAHA!"
The Joker cackled until the very last ash fell to the ground. His laughter echoed through the asylum.
Nearby Killer Croc Remarked, "Can't say I'm going to miss him."
0000
"Red? I don't feel so good."
"Harley?" Poison held Harley Quinn as the blonde started to fade in her arms.
"Come on, smile for me," Harley said weakly as more of her body turned to dust.
Poison Ivy, Pamela Isley, looked at her and tried to give her a smile. Before she could say anything she found Harley Kissing her.
Harley pulled way smiling to her, "You always had a nice smile…"
Ash crumbled in her hands, Pamela Isle could only stare dumbfounded after a moment she broke down and sobbed.
0000
"Something is happening! Something is happening! Make it stop!" Raven screamed out in pain.
The Titans and the Teen Titans had gathered for a training exercise and not disappointed that Damien didn't show up. He just wasn't a team player and made team exercise like this rather fruitless.
That had all been broken up with Raven falling to her knees screaming. The Empath was sensing something and considering she didn't usually show emotions getting this reaction got everyone attention.
Beast Boy went to her side in an attempt to comfort her. "Raven," he took her hand, " I'm here, we're all here."
The alien princess, Starfire, floated towards the empath, Tell us what's happening, we can try to help."
They had been friends for a long time and she knew she was often a calming influence on the young half-demon girl.
"No," Miss Martian looked around, "I'm hearing screaming… a psychic scream…" she tried to explain, "something is happening and minds are… blinking out on a massive-"
The Martian failed to finish her thought as she was quickly consumed by ash.
The teams were silent except for Raven who collapsed at the strain.
Dick Grayson AKA Nightwing looked on trying to make heads or tails about what was going on. "Stay calm." He tried to keep them calm.
"Dick!" Roy Harper let out, "What's happening?"
Roy along with the young Titans Crush, Roundhouse, Djinn and Donna Troy had started to turn to ash.
"Nat!" Nightwing let out. "Do you have anything?"
Natasha Irons was the hero known as Steel used her steel suit to scan them, "I'm not picking up anything. No exotic energies or biological-"
Natasha's words died in her throat as she watched her friends and team mates dissolve into nothing.
"What just happened?" Beast Boy ask holding Raven close, almost afraid that she would be next if he let go.
"They're gone." The Kid Flash Wally west moved closer to a pile of dust, he half expected the dust to reform but nothing.
"It's happening every where." Natasha admitted, the computers in her suit blaring, "I'm getting reports from everywhere-"
A blur of light and crimson, a red haired man in a suit ran in, "I can conform it. I just ran from Central City."
Dick looked at the other Flash and other Wally West and his long time friend. Dick was revealed that he was safe but considering the news her brought he couldn't feel anything but dread.
"Everywhere," Wally repeated, "I ran here and it was just people falling apart and there was nothing I could do."
Dick looked around, the flashes, Starfire, Beast Boy, Raven, Steel, himself were the only Titans he knew were alive. He hoped that they weren't the only ones.
0000
Wonder Woman was fighting Cheetah on the streets of DC. They had been fighting for the last twenty minutes. Cheetah had trashed Wonder Woman into a nearby Police car. She raised her claw ready to slash at her throat.
Diana was not wonder woman because she had power but she had skill. The moment that Cheetah shifted her weight Diana turned the table and flipped away. Mid air Diana wrapped her lasso around her to bind her. The fight was done.
"Let the lasso calm you." Diana tried to soothe her, the lasso glowed with power but it dimmed a little.
Screams filled the street, at first Diana thought they were in panic because of the fight but she was corrected. Cheetah screeched as her body began to dissolve until only ash filter through the binds.
Diana looked around confused as people around the city began to dissolve into ash. She was loss at what to do, fear entering her heart. As she held the lasso, a gift from the gifts she felt its power waver, she felt the gods were dying along with the mortals.
0000
Lex Luthor never held much trust in the heroes. Still he knew the importance of such powers. When he watched members of his companies board of directors start to turn to dust in his office he thought a power might be useful. He had countless plans for attacks from force shields focused on his seat to assault rifles hidden in ceiling.
But for a wide scale attack powers were the best way to go. A streak of lightning rushed into the room and pulled him away and quickly ran him down to the hidden bunker below the buildings.
Luthor was mildly impressed he didn't have to reach for the hidden button. Lex Luthor had on is security staff a speedster. This speedster had no illusions about using their powers to be a hero and had enough morals not to use them to try and become a criminal mastermind. They were easy to hire, their main job was if such a large scale attack were to occur they were to take Lex to safety.
Lex made a note to send them a bonus for quick work, for all the things that Lex was he knew to reward good work.
He settled into the computer in his bunker the doors closing just giving the speedster enough time to escape. Well, that was the plan as the speedster collapsed to the ground, it was as if their feet turned to ash. The doors seal close as they crashed into it as a splatter of ash.
"Hm, I suppose I don't have to worry about that bonus." Lex mused to himself, he wondered about possible contamination. His computer were scanning the remains and detected no virus or chemical that could cause such a thing.
He looked at the ash, "Maybe they will be a sufficient sample at the very least."
Computer were blaring with news about this global pandemic. Lex Luthor was not considered a hero by many but if someone was as foolish as to attack his world they were certain to learn the error of those actions. After all when the heroes failed to save the world Lex Luthor was more than happy to prove who was the real superman.
0000
Barbra Gordon was as much a shock as everyone as people all over the GCPD started to turn to ash. The phones ringing with emergencies and the TV reporting the news of how wide spread this was.
She had only come to check on her father when this all happened.
She couldn't help but feel proud as he remained calmed. "Listen! I don't care what is causing this. What I care about is that people need help, people need us to keep things from falling apart. I don't care what new madness is happening in this city, we've seen worse. Take a breath and then I want every uniform out on the streets and helping out where they can." He glanced at the car crashes being reported in, "We need to clear the streets to let emergencies services through. We need to turn on the signal, I'm sure he's busy doing his part but that light is a symbol that we in Gotham don't have to be afraid. That everyone one of us can stand up and do out part. So let's get to it."
Jim Gordon clapped his hands to break up the meeting and his just collapsed into ashes all at once. All the hope and courage he managed to raise were dashed in and instant.
Barbra Gordon looked and the fear she felt she crushed it down. He was gone but he was right, the city needed help. The signal was going to be the start.
0000
In El Paso at the family home of the Reyes the current Blue Beetle sat along with his family and friends around the dinning room table.
Jaime Reyes was the keeper of the scarab and the Blue Beetle.
His parents were having a nice dinner with everyone because he brought over his girlfriend Traci 13 a magic super hero.
They wanted to meet her properly since the first time had ended with their house being blown up by an alien invasion.
"Jaime," was scolding him in the way mother's do, "why didn't you introduce us earlier?"
"Yes, why not?" Traci teased him.
Jaime buried his face in his hands.
Milagro, his little sister jumped in, "Is she because she's too pretty for you?"
The group broke out laughing at the young girl's comment, Paco Jaime friend said, "That viscous, I love it." He offered the girl a high five which the smiling girl was happy to return.
Alberto, Jaimes father, smiled after all he was proud of his son. He had grown up in to a fine young man, the superhero thing was a surprise but he was more than he could ever ask for his son. That what father didn't enjoy seeing their son squirm in moment like this, his own mother pulled this on him too when he introduced him to Bianca.
"Actually," Traci finally stopped laughing, "I can't really blame him. Every time we seem to get together the world goes nuts."
Brenda sat nearby, "Alien invasion, the former spirit of vengeance, demons, yeah I noticed the pattern."
The mirth died down as the blue scarab armor grew around Jaime blaring alerts.
"Jaime?"Alberto asked, "What are you doing?"
"It's the scarab!" Jaime answered, "It's not me! It's screaming!"
"Something is happening." Traci agreed summoning up her staff. "I can feel is, something washing over-"
"What's happening?" Brenda yelled out her hand turning to ash before them.
"Jaime!" Alberto yell out as he collapsed onto the chair as his lower half began to turn to dust.
"Mommy!" Milagro ran to her mother's arms as she started to turn to ash.
Traci began to try and use a healing spell.
Jaime was scanning them, "What's happening? Stop it!"
The beetle in his head was already scanning them trying to understand the phenomena and to undo it. But it had no answers.
"My magic isn't working."Traci admitted.
"Jaime do something." Bianca told her son as she held her daughter.
"I-I don't know-" Jaime went silent as he watched his friends and family fade in front of him.
0000
Booster Gold the hero from the future and a secret defender of time sat in the time vault, it was the hidden hideout of the time master Rip Hunter.
"I'm bored," Booster let out. "We haven't had a mission in ages."
Nearby his twin sister Michelle looked on, "Isn't that good. No one is messing with time."
A gold orb like drone floated nearby, this was Skeet and personal assistant replied, "I must agree, less time distortions are for the best. After all the last one nearly resulted the Dominator Invasion succeeding in the elimination of all Meta-human life."
"Right," Booster conceded, "I'm glad we stopped a genocide but I'm just bored. I need a little action. Anything new Rip?"
Nearby a man wrote on a chalk board, "Nothing, if you're that bored why don't you-"
The chalk fell to the ground, a moment paused where Booster looked on confused, "Rip, you going to pick that up?"
"I can't." Rip turned around to show half his body fading.
"Michael!" Michelle let out as her body dissolved.
"Skeets! Scan them and tell me how to stop it!" Booster ordered.
"On it!" Skeets let out, "Ah, sir all scans are coming inconclusive.I am not detecting anything to explain this" Alarms rang out, "Sir, I'm getting reports of this happening everywhere! And I do mean everywhere, I'm picking up alert and distress calls from other worlds!"
"Skeets! Historical reports! What caused this!"
"Sir…" Skeets was unusually somber, "I have no reports of this. No historical record has ever indicated anything like this. This is - I don't know."
"Micheal," Michelle chocked back her tears as Rip faded away, she reached her brother and stroked his face, "I love you."
"No, don't say that. I'm going to figure out what did this, I'll go back and time and make sure this never happens and-"
Booster stopped when he and Skeets were the last ones there.
0000
In a bar a blond in a coat slept half drunk.
"John," A man came over to wake him up. "Let's get you home."
"Chaz? Oh hey." John Constantein noted it. "Where'd you come from?"
"The bar called him, it really says something when a bar known your designated driver's personal number."
"What Can I say? I'm a good tipper?" John tipped over. "Watch it mate. No need to drop me."
"John…" Chaz let out.
"Chaz?" John looked on stunned as he watched Chaz turn to ash, all around him half the people turning to ash.
"What the bloody hell?" John let out, getting sober real quick.
0000
Desaad collapsed to the floor as his body began to turn to ash, "Lord Please-"
The whole throne room was filled with chaos as like the new god turn to ash as did many slaves and other gods.
From his throne stood and looked at the computer screens revealing to him how this was affecting the whole world. More to it that it was affecting all worlds including New Genesis.
He cared very little that Desaad was gone but it was an insult that his own people were being killed. No one stole from him and didn't suffer for it. Darksied stood over the console and his eyes glowed red, the universe quivered as his goals were focused on fiddling the source of this and crushing them.
Author's Notes: There you go. I've been meaning to write this for the DC universe and finally done. Okay few notes. I hate the Nu52, the whole flash point thing was a mess and I hate it. Not going to lie that is 100% why Barry dies here. And yes I know they are claiming Doc Manhattan is really behind it and let's face it that is just DC's attempt to shift the blame after they had to get rid of the reboot.
That being said most of this is based on the new Rebirth world, mostly i taking elements from the pervious world like Jaime and booster, since I loved those incarnations and their supporting casts. I really think the recent writers have screwed them over. Though I do accept that DC is trying to fix things which is why I added bits of the new Titan teams, Superson and the Wallys. Still for the most part can't stand it for the most part, why why the CatBat wedding! Why? You promised us!
Okay, rant over. What did you guys thinks. I couldn't have gotten very character I wanted in here. I wanted to do stuff with Doctor Fate, Swamp Thing, the Marvel Family, the Legion of Super Heroes, Gem World- gak there is somuch in this world. I do love it which is why I get so upset when it seems like character are getting for no reason. yes, the irony doesn't escape me here. Anyway let me know what you guys thinks and what other worlds you'd like to see deal with the snap. I got ideas it's mostly finding motivation and time to write thats the problem.