M'gann and Conner arrive in Metropolis and meet up with Martian Manhunter.
"Uncle J'onn!" M'gann says enthusiastically.
"Hello M'gann, I hope all is well." J'onn says.
"As well as it can be." M'gann says.
"Where's Lois?" Conner asks.
"She is at the Daily Planet. Mr. Perry White has hired a security detail for her. The belief is Luthor will have some sort of retaliation in response to her story." J'onn says.
"But nothing yet?" Conner asks.
"Not that I've heard about." J'onn says.
"We better hurry up and get over there." Conner says.
The three of them set off for the Daily Planet. The building is under tight security.
"Sorry green guy, can't let you in without an invitation." A guard says.
"Tell Mr. White J'onn J'onzz is here to see Lois Lane." J'onn says.
The guard radios it over. After a few minutes of waiting, J'onn, M'gann, and Conner are allowed entrance. Everything inside the Planet is on lock down. The were no reporters scurrying throughout the hall. It was so different than what J'onn had become accustomed to in his months disguised as Clark. The three are taken to Perry's office. Inside is Lois, Perry and a guard.
"Lois, are you okay?" J'onn asks.
"I'm fine. I'm just going crazy waiting around." Lois says.
"Luthor hasn't made a move yet?" Conner asks.
"Not yet kid." Perry says.
"What do you think he'll do?" M'gann asks.
"That's just it. We don't know what he'll do. Based on these stories he could do anything." Perry says.
"The people had a right to know all of this." Lois says.
"I agree with you Lois, but we know retaliation is coming. I've been on the phone with lawyers all morning, but so far nothing has come out from Luthor's side." Perry says.
"Then perhaps it's time we pay Mr. Luthor a visit." J'onn says.
The three of them head out.
"Be careful you three." Perry says.
J'onn nods as they leave.
Lois then gets a call. It's from Steel.
"Hello." She says as she answers.
"Lois, are you okay?" Steel asks.
"I'm fine." Lois says.
"I'm on standby if you need anything." Steel says.
"Thanks, I appreciate that." Lois says.
J'onn, M'gann, and Conner head to Lex's campaign headquarters. The Metropolis PD is out front. At the front of the line is Dan Turpin and Maggie Sawyer.
J'onn heads up to Maggie.
"What's the situation Captain?" J'onn asks.
"We're just waiting right now. We don't know what he has in there." Maggie says.
"I would like to go in." J'onn says.
"No way, we've got no idea what we're up against. You could mess up the whole operation." Dan says.
"Captain please." J'onn says.
"With Superman off world, I'm the closest thing you have." Conner says.
Maggie thinks for a moment.
"Alright fine. We have to make a move eventually." Maggie concedes.
J'onn walks up to the door. He tries to sense any minds inside, but he senses nothing. He's not certain Lex is here. He knocks on the door. After a moment it automatically opens. The three enter and then the door shuts. The hallways light up directing the three where to go. They lead to a door.
"I can't sense anything inside." J'onn says.
"Me either." M'gann says.
"He's in there, I know it." Conner says.
Conner walks forward and punches the door down.
"Conner wait!" M'gann warns.
But it's too late, Conner has smashed the door into saw dust. Once the dust settles, they can see Lex sitting at his desk.
"You know it was unlocked." Lex says.
"It's over Lex, you're coming with us." Conner says.
"Is that anyway to talk to a father?" Lex asks as he rises to his feet.
"Luthor, we're bringing you in for several accounts ranging from arson to your most recent murder." J'onn says.
"I haven't murdered anyone recently. Though I did hear of Mr. Sage's passing and would like to offer my condolences to you, John Jones." Lex says.
Martian Manhunter puts his hands on his head and prepares a psychic blast. He directs it right at Lex. Before it reaches, Lex hits a button on his belt. A wave of psychic energy appears around Lex and reflects the blast right back at J'onn.
"YAAAA!" J'onn screams as the blast hits him and begins to tear his mind apart.
"Uncle J'onn!" M'gann yells.
She gets down and tries to reach into his mind. But it's completely scrambled. J'onn twitches on the floor. M'gann's eyes glow green as she preps a psychic attack of her own.
"M'gann no! Get him out of here, I'll take care of Lex." Conner says.
M'gann uses her telekinetic powers to lift J'onn up. She then flies them out of there.
"I'm disappointed with some of the choices you've made in life son." Lex says.
"Don't call me that." Conner warns.
"But that's what you are. And let's face it I've been more of a father to you than that blue boy scout has ever been." Lex says.
"Stop. You wanted to decommission me." Conner says.
"Yes, well." Lex says with a shrug.
"AHHH!" Superboy yells as he charges forward at Lex.
"Red son." Lex says softly.
Superboy stops in his tracks. He is frozen. He can see, he can hear, but he can't move.
"We often disappoint our parents. I know my father was never fond of me." Lex says.
Lex goes around to the far side of his desk and grabs a metal briefcase. He opens it and pulls out a gold crown.
"Do you like it, I had it custom made." Lex says.
Superboy struggles with all his might but he still can't move.
"As you know I've been studying kryptonite for years. I've even attempted to create several variations. This is my favorite. I call it gold kryptonite. It won't kill you, at least I don't think. I've never had a chance to test it. And with Superman gone, I thought I never would. But with you here, I've been given the perfect opportunity."
Superboy can grunt and puff, but he can't move. Lex puts the crown atop Superboy's head.
"It will drain your powers permanently." Lex says.
Lex heads over to his laptop. He opens up a meeting page with a few shadowy figures.
"It's time." Lex says.
Slade and Terra begin their assault on Titan Tower. Dr. Sivanah begins his attack on the Shazam family. The Dark Archer in Star City begins his attack on Green Arrow's operation as well. As far as Green Lantern, Aquaman, and Wonder Woman are concerned, Lex had other plans for them.
Maggie sees the front doors to the building open.
"We've got movement." She says, as the officers take cover behind their cars.
M'gann comes out carrying J'onn.
"Hold your fire." Maggie calls out.
Maggie rushes up to M'gann.
"Conner, he needs your help." M'gann says.
"Alright team, let's move move move! Maggie calls out.
The officers enter the facility. They make their way to Lex's office. All they see is Superboy wearing a crown made out of gold kryptonite.
"He okay?" Dan asks.
"Superboy can you hear me? Superboy!" Maggie calls out.
Dan takes the crown off his head.
"What's this all about?" Dan asks.
Behind the building they can hear a helicopter fire up. The officers run out back, but Lex's copper is already high in the sky.
"Next stop, Washington." Lex says.
The Flash arrives home. He was exhausted. Weeks of battles with the rouges and he had nothing to show for it. The only one he had captured in that time was the Trickster. Little did he know Lex was behind every one of the rouge's recent schemes. He was basically just hiring the rouges to carry about robberies. Just something to keep Barry distracted.
"Barry, you look awful." Iris, his wife tells him.
"Really, cause I feel lousy." Barry says.
Iris looks at Barry's torso.
"You've been burned." She says.
"Oh yeah, Heatwave caught me a little with his flamethrower. I'll heal though." Barry says.
"You need help." Iris says.
"From who? Superman is off world and Batman is in worse shape than I am. Maybe Martian Manhunter." Barry says.
"I don't think so." Wally West, Iris's younger brother, says as he enters the room holding Barry and Iris's daughter, Nora.
"Hello baby girl, did you miss daddy?" Barry asks as he grabs his daughter.
"I take it you didn't see the news." Wally says.
"Why?" Barry asks.
Wally turns on the news.
"Once again this is Snapper Carr reporting for GBS News. The big story of the day comes out of Metropolis. The Metropolis PD went to Lex Luthor's campaign headquarters to talk to him about the piece Lois Lane released in the Daily Planet this morning. The piece accused Lex of years of high level crimes. The police were accompanied by a few super heroes: Superboy, Miss Martian, and Martian Manhunter. It all went south for the heroes though as Lex was able to incapacitate both Superboy and Martian Manhunter."
"What, how?" Barry reacts.
"I have to get to Metropolis." Barry says.
"No, you're in no condition to go anywhere." Iris says.
"I'm fine." Barry says as he stands up.
"Ow." He then groans.
"Barry, you need to rest." Iris says as she puts him back on the couch.
Wally walks out. He can't stand to see this. He heads home. Wally had been studying the Flash's accident for years. He put together all the chemicals that were present during Barry's accident. He then pulled a lightening rod into his back yard. It was a rainy night in early November. He arranged everything perfectly. He knew this plan was crazy, but he didn't care. He sat in a chair in front of the lightening rod, surrounded by the chemicals.
"Come on, come on." Wally says as lightening strikes all around him.
Finally a beam strikes down and hits the lightening rod. The rod comes down and strikes all of the chemicals and finally strikes Wally. Wally is blasted back and falls to the ground. He doesn't move.