The nuclear missiles soared across the sky. Those who saw them from below assumed it was simply another plot by some supervillain or another, and simply ignored it. No one yet knew it was an attack ordered directly by the United States government. Those like Lois Lane, who openly spoke out against the government in hopes of saving the Eldian people, were swiftly dealt with. All those who would stand up against the United State Government and its puppet master, Batman, had been dealt with a long time ago.

All except one.

Superman stood high on top of Wall Maria, right on top of where the titans had filtered in from the outside world years before. The people behind him were milling about, going about their daily business with no idea that they were about to be completely destroyed.

I have to help these people.

Raven had had little success in convincing the townspeople to flee: With no orders from their government, most Eldians were content to assume that all was well. There was also, she quickly realized, the issue that they were on an island. There was simply no place to flee to.

So she had no choice. She would have to defend this island to the best of her ability. Even if it killed her.

She landed on the wall and looked up. Countless missiles were flying her way. She tried not to let herself feel overwhelmed as she tried to rationalize a plan of action.

Before she could, however, something darted in front of her. She turned, whirling, as her cloak billowed wildly in the wind.

Superman

Even as cynical as she was, Raven found herself feeling comforted by his presence. She leapt up and flew after him.

Although she was sure that he had noticed her, he had not turned around. She was beginning to wonder whether she was simply getting in the way when he came to a stop, took in a deep breath, and breathed.

She had heard stories of how Superman's breath could move entire planets. She hadn't been sure if it was true, but the intense burst of air that erupted from him seemed to indicate that it was. Dozens of missiles were pushed backward and upward, into orbit and out of trajectory of their target.

"Incredible." Raven whispered, as she came to a stop right behind him. Superman turned to face her, and smiled.

"Ah, Raven." He said pleasantly. "You've decided to protect the island as well?"

"With my life."

"So have I." Superman said. "We'll make a-"

A great flash of light erupted from the sky. At first Raven assumed it was nothing more than the nuclear missiles exploding in orbit. But she let out a cry as a streak of energy shot from the sky and slammed right into Superman.

Raven did not have time to react as the object hit Superman. He reeled, and began to fall.

Raven, acting instinctively, flew after him and managed to catch him. She had to stop herself from panicking as the cold hard truth hit her instantly.

He had been killed on impact.

"Following an extensive investigation by Batman and the rest of the Justice League, we have concluded that the Eldians killed Superman."

Lex Luthor adjusted the microphone in front of him.

"This atrocity demands retribution. As President I call on the entire world to-"

"Silence."

A dark shadow enveloped the entire hall. The lights above shattered, one after the hour, showering glass onto the people below. There were a handful of screams from those impacted, but the rest of the crowd watched in an cowed silence.

Lex stood impassive as a young woman stepped out of the shadows. Four glowing red eyes glinted from under her hood, and vast shadows thrashed under her hood.

"And you are…?"

"Present at the event in question." Raven rasped. "You did not call me as a witness, Luthor."

She was very much aware that she was already being surrounded. The security detail for the President in this day and age, the era of superhumans, had become far more trigger happy than before.

"Superman was not killed by the Eldians." Raven said, her voice icy cold. The cameras around them were broadcasting this event all over the world. "It was by a Government Satellite developed and released by WayneTech."

There was no use arguing, no use in making the situation political. Raven knew it was time to expose the truth.

"Nonsense."

As she knew he would, Bruce Wayne, who was among the crowd, stepped forward, adjusting his tie.

"We do not produce military technology." Bruce said. "I don't like guns… I don't even believe they should exist in this country."

He speak freely and casually, and it was all Raven could do to restrain herself from attacking him right there.

"The technology you produce is not designed to deal with the military." Raven said. "It is designed to subdue and control superhumans… It is beyond what the military would deem necessary. You have been preparing to kill Superman before you even knew his name."

It was not Bruce Wayne who was glaring at her now, but it was Batman. The mask had fallen completely and he was glaring at her with an intensity that he had never given to even his most hated adversaries.

"Bruce Wayne is Batman!" Raven screamed, to the crowd around them. "I am the Morning Sun, come to vanquish his horrible night!"

The security team fired at her. Her emotions were so unstable that her powers shot them off trajectory without her. The bullets swerved off target and slammed into the crowd. Journalists and government workers alike were killed instantly by the attack, but Raven felt no remorse. She had delivered her message, and she allowed her rage against Batman to envelop her completely.

She grew even taller, her cloak billowing, as Lex Luthor rolled his eyes and stepped off the podium.

"Great." He muttered. "Superman dies and everything immediately goes to hell."

He adjusted his tie and walked off the stage. The people in front of him, however, including Bruce Wayne, paid no heed to his disappearance. Instead they faced down the monster in front of them. Batman stared her down, his eyes narrowed, and then turned away.

"Where is the Justice League?" He asked pompously, as he again adjusted his tie. "If this creature wants to come after me, she can speak to my lawyer."

Barbara Gordon leaned back in her chair, watching the conference unfold before her very eyes.

"Everything's falling apart." She said irritably. "Everything we've worked for… it's all been for nothing."

Jason Todd shrugged.

"As long as it's fun, who cares?"

Barbara glared at him.

"Without Bruce you wouldn't be where you are."

"Without Bruce you'd still have your legs." Jason fired back. Before she could respond to this, however, a shotgun blast went off behind them.

The two of them whirled to see Alfred Pennyworth thrown down the stairs to the Batcave, the gun in his hand spiraling out of his grip and into the cavern below. Behind him stood Cyborg. Tall, powerful, and imposing, and floating right next to him was Starfire… who looked angrier than they had ever seen her.

"Fuck." Jason said. "They're on to us, huh?"

Alfred let out a moan of pain as the two of them stepped past him up to the two of them. Barbara, almost instinctively, rolled her wheelchair behind Jason.

"Explain yourselves." Starfire said coldly. Both of her hands were glowing with a bright green energy.

"Raven sure is something, huh?" Jason asked. "I had no idea she was secretly the daughter of-"

"We know who she is." Cyborg cut him off. "Stop the act. It's true, isn't it? Batman killed Superman."

Barbara pushed herself forward.

"To be more accurate, I killed Superman." She said. "You see, Bruce doesn't actually have the passwords or the training to operate the satellite. I had to hack into it and leave behind evidence that the Eldians did it, but…"

She shrugged her shoulders.

"Unfortunately it seems lately that we've gotten a little sloppy."

"Why are you doing this?" Cyborg asked, his voice cold. "Batman helped found the Justice League."

"What is Justice?" Barbara asked coolly. "That organization was founded to bypass world government's and influence global events outside of the control of the establishment. Ever since the Justice League was formed, the traditional power holders in society have their power and control over ordinary people. The government is nothing more than a shell of its former tyrannical self, corporations exist only to advance technology and progress. This was the vision of Batman since its beginning."

"You're insane." Cyborg told her.

She smiled at him sweetly.

"As I understand it, you like crazy, Victor." She said.

He gave a slight lurch. Starfire gave him a concerned look.

"Cyborg, what-"

Jason leapt forward and attacked her. She darted backward, hands raised, as he attacked her. Cyborg stood completely still, unmoving.

And at last, he spoke.

"Why can't I move?"

"I've been planting viruses into your systems ever since you arrived." Barbara explained, as she turned around to the Bat computer. Jason and Starefire were fighting amongst themselves haphazardly. "I was concerned that something like this might happen, so I implemented a bunch of software updates to your systems. You're mine, now."

Cyborg said nothing. Doubtlessly his human half was still trying to fight the overwhelming persistence of the machines. But thankfully, she had implemented a method of forcing his human half into unconsciousness. His machine half would pick up the slack.

He turned, raising his sonic boom cannon, and fired straight at Starfire. She narrowly avoided the attack, glancing backward at him, when a heavy blow from Jason caught her unawares. She fell to the ground in a heap, as Jason grinned wildly, pressing his boot into the back of her head.

"Pretty little thing." He crowed. "But not a great fighter."

She struggled vainly under him and he laughed uproariously.

"Can I keep her?"

"No, Bruce wants her off the planet." Barbara said dismissively. "Earth doesn't need her kind."

Starfire struggled and fought, but soon she was overpowered and made unconscious.

Raven advanced on her target with nothing but rage in her heart. Powerful bursts of magic shot out from her, exploding nearby cameras and throwing desks into the air. Bruce Wayne was nonplussed.

"I've seen worse." He told an attractive young reporter. He was completely unconcerned with the approaching giant mess of shadows. "Living in Gotham how could you not?"

"Baaaaaaaatman!" Raven screeched, as she leaned over to him.

Before she could attack, however, a flash covered both him and his reporter friend and he was gone.

Raven reeled backward, unsure of what had happened, when a yellow boot caught her in the forehead. She crumpled to the floor, the entire mass of shadows evaporated under her, as Wonder Woman landed neatly next to her.

"What is the meaning of this?" Wonder Woman asked quietly, as Raven rolled over. She was bleeding from the head. She had been hit so hard that she likely was suffering from a concussion.

"The Eldians… framed…"

Wonder Woman reached for her lasso, but before she could get a more clear answer Batman swooped down next to her.

"No need for that." He said. "I know her very well. This is the daughter of Trigon, Raven. She was destined to destroy the world before Robin stopped her."

Wonder Woman placed the lasso back in place.

"Is that so?" She inquired. "Why then, did she accuse you of killing Kal-El?"

"That I do not know." Batman said. He glared down at her hatefully. "But I will find out."

"You did it." Raven rasped. "You… monster…"

"I help people." Batman said coldly. "I don't kill them. I'm not like you, demon."

"You're worse than that, I daresay."

Batman looked up. His expression tightened. In the center of the hall stood Eren Jaeger.