Author's note:
An elated RIP to the fantastic Kevin Conroy, the one and only true voice of Batman in my opinion. I don't think anyone else will ever match him in that regard.
This took very long to complete, and I am very sorry, in the last year, I have had unending University work, I'm set to graduate this week and will soon be starting a new job. Just happy I finally managed to finish this, now onto Year Two!
Thank you for people who have read, reviewed and followed this story. I hope to continue it going forward. If anyone would like to talk back and forth about this fic and pitch any new ideas, my PM is always open.
All the best and on with the story of Vengeance!
*Munich, Germany*
17th of September 2013
The Street Demon's Motorcycle gang didn't know what had hit them until it was too late.
One moment, they had been storing their illegally imported firearms and drugs in the warehouse, and the next, some sort of phantom had single-handedly disarmed the entire Munich chapter, bound them, and called the local police to the scene.
They had no chance, he had even planned out his takedown to avoid unnecessary injuries or risk to any nearby innocents.
And yet Barry Allen, the Flash, the Fastest Man Alive, capable of outrunning any living being, absorbing energy itself, hell, changing entire timelines if he tried, felt as impudent as a child.
For a whole week, he had his communicator switched off, totally free from League duty, and from Superman.
The Flash felt bitterness as he recalled his last encounter with the now Batman-run League.
He glared at Starfire as she spoke about "the Bigger Picture", that this new way of tackling crime and the world's problems could be solved by acting as a police force, changing the system itself instead of merely responding.
"Wasn't crippling that kid in Australia a crime too?" he had pointed out, to glaring eyes. Memories flooding in of that young man, laid flat within the crater where Martian Manhunter and Hawkman had slammed him into at near full force, the will to live nearly drained from his eyes.
Galaxor may have started the fight and been hot-headed, but he was only doing so because a foreign occupying force of unstoppable beings had barged into his country and started making demands as to how it should be run, and experienced heroes like Jon'zz and Katar would have known plenty of ways to resolve the dispute without unnecessary violence, instead, they had chosen to destroy him, body and spirit, as if the send a message to the people of Melbourne and the entire world – this was the price of going against Batman and the Justice League.
Bruce and his followers may still have the best intentions in mind, but now they seemed to resort to force more quickly and more often than they had once done. These days… it seems they are almost happy for an excuse to act out, relish it even. He no longer felt he belonged there.
After the invasion by Kalibak and his army of Parademons, Barry had decided he needed time, for what, he was not sure at that point, only telling Batman and Superman respectively that he needed a period of introspection as to what was best for him, which they had granted.
The last of the gang were being put in the back of the police van, soon to be taken to prison, which would soon fall under a Wayne-run private security complex, state facilities seemingly on their way to extinction.
And yet despite the act of good he had done, it felt so insignificant in the grand scheme of what was happening in front of him.
This was not the right place to think, and within less than a half a second, he was already gone from Germany to the one place where he knew he could be when impossible situations like this were happening.
2 minutes later
*Central City, Ohio, USA*
He was in the graveyard, a tombstone marked in front of him:
In loving memory of Nora, a loving wife and mother to Henry and Barry, 1959 – 1998.
"I'm sorry-"the Flash hesitated, "I'm sorry that I haven't visited you much these last few months, mom."
He sighed. Eyes downcast as he sunk to his knees.
"I don't know what to do anymore. Things are broken, seemingly beyond repair. I'm the fastest man alive, and I feel completely useless to stop it."
What could his super-speed do when the two men he had looked up to were at complete odds? an immovable object and an unstoppable force.
He wanted to believe in Batman, it was him who had brought him into the League in the first place, been like a mentor in his earliest days, now, day by day, he could no longer recognise the Dark Knight he once aspired to follow.
When Gotham died, it seemed that so did Bruce's soul, his faith in people.
"Knew I would find you here." Came a familiar female voice from behind.
As he turned, he smiled weakly, "Hi Iris."
Iris West had been a source of stability and love that he had cherished since they had met nine years ago, not just his girlfriend, and fiancée, but his best friend in many ways…
She brushed back a lock of her red hair, "I haven't seen you with Batman lately…" she paused, "Or Superman, and you haven't called or texted for a week." She chastised, voice turning slightly harsher.
The Flash nodded, "I'm sorry, its just… I've been doing a lot of thinking."
Iris paused for a moment before nodding, seemingly in understanding at her love's plight… but it then somewhat hardened.
"Barry." She folded her arms, "I understand your struggle, but while you've been going nomad, things are getting worse. You realise this conflict between the League is coming whether you like it or not, right?"
Barry let out a defeated sigh, "Yeah… I can't do it though. I can't pick between my friends."
Iris clearly was not buying it.
"You don't need to pick. You know in your heart what the right thing is, or at least it did."
Her tone was judgemental, and some could say unfair, she was not in his shoes after all, but the Flash knew she was right all the same.
She continued, "I was there in Melbourne. Hawkman and Manhunter hurting that guy for defending the rights of his countrymen to protest. The Barry I knew would never have hesitated to risk himself for someone who needed help, and you did nothing when those two bastards crippled him for life."
There was no point in defending himself or making excuses, it was the cold hard truth that even the Scarlett Speedster could no longer outrun.
"Batman is wrong, Barry, you know it."
His silence was all Iris needed to confirm her statement as fact.
"I can't fight him." it was a pathetic admittance, Barry knew it, selfish, but he found himself unable to face the idea of battling Batman.
Suddenly, Iris grabbed the back of his head and brought him in for a kiss, one in which Barry did not fight, welcoming it.
"Please Barry." She looked into his beautiful eyes, "Do the right thing, I know what your heart tells you, follow it."
*The Fortress of Solitude, Northern Arctic*
10:51 GMT, 17th September 2013
Superman weaved out of the way of Batman's hard punch as open warfare waged all around the Fortress of Solitude, now stained by this war of heroes.
His former friend was in a state of almost feral fury. Clark could only use his superspeed to avoid the Berserker style attacks.
It was one of the advantages he enjoyed over the Dark Knight. It was when he had attempted to charge and subdue him after Batman had given his team the order to attack that the truth had been revealed.
Batman had created pills that could enhance an average human's strength to superhuman levels. It had caught him totally off guard at first, but the enhanced physical attributes and durably were the sum of what it provided, and Batman was unable to match Clark whenever he used his freeze breath, speed or laser vision.
"THEY'RE BOTH DEAD!" Batman yelled in fury as he threw another punch, "TIM AND STEPHANIE ARE DEAD BECAUSE OF YOU!"
Superman blocked it. "I didn't get them killed, Bruce." He pushed the Dark Knight onto his backfoot, "This entire crisis did." He glared at his former friend for the first time, now done with any further attempts to reason with him. "A crisis you started!" He headbutted Bruce back who then flew into crystalized wall, connecting with a sickening thud and grunt of pain. Although it would not kill him, Batman knew it would be sore for some time.
"Their blood is on your hands, Bruce, you need to accept that."
Superman allowed himself a moment to observe the conflict going on around him, as well as think back to Tim and Stephanie, it pained him to know they were both dead, it did gladdon his heart to know that Spoiler had seen the light though, risking her life to redeem herself. On a wider level, he also knew that with their deaths aboard the shuttle, the data Tim had told him about was also destroyed, although the Red Robin had been unable to tell him specifically what it was, his last message was that it would be enough to tarnish Batman in the eyes of the people if they knew about it, the more he thought about it, the more disturbed he became.
Had Batman ordered Red Robin and Spoiler to be killed to protect that secret? It could not be, he realised, no matter how twisted Bruce's mind was, he would never hurt his own family, not after what they had been through.
Down below, Superman briefly observed the battle, where there were already many concurrent personal vendettas and rivalries between figures on both sides, so some were obvious. Others who had no previous enmity fought anyway.
On the lower levels, Red Arrow was engaged with Nightwing, a close fight between two equally skilled combatants, but Nightwing was simply better as the protégé of Batman himself, as a result, Roy Harper wisely kept a distance, using his skills with the bow instead.
The unusual tag team of Aquaman and Vixen battled Martian Manhunter, the powers of the animal kingdom and sea putting up a valiant effort against the might of the Martian's endless list of powers.
Miss Martian was holding her own against Cyborg and the powers of Raven. The young white Martian's power had come a long way since her debut into the world of heroism a little over three years ago, and she showed it.
The Teen Titan's Beast Boy, even with his powers of changing into any animal, was visibly struggling to hold off the well-oiled machine that was Batgirl and Robin.
Cassandra Cain managed to hop into Beast Boy in his rampaging elephant form and blind him with a flash grenade, leading the youngster into an explosive gel ambush laid by Robin, knocking him out.
Elsewhere on top and in the skies, other fights took place.
Hawkgirl and Hawkman fought with an intensity that appeared to be unrivalled by all, even Superman and Batman themsleves; a flurry of large white wings and streaks of clashing Nnth metal energy were seen and heard by all.
Their respective Nth Metal Mace and Axe clashed, with the contact producing a piercing shriek each time. The two Thanagarians were equally matched. They had known each other for a thousand years. Fought in hundreds of battles and trained together. They knew each other and knew the other's moves better than the other did at times.
As they clashed in the air once again. Neither could hold back the venom that the idol battle couple once felt for the other.
"I can't believe I ever loved you!" Shayara cried as she lunged in for another strike, mace overhead, which Katar blocked with the sharpest side of his axe.
"I never hid who I was, woman." spat Katar, He landed a serious of heavy blows, forcing Hawkgirl to go on the defensive, "You'll learn my way is the correct one. This planet and its people have just made you soft is all." He gave a malicious grin under the mask, the Axe coming up to it "Consider this your first day of retraining."
Green streeks of energy formed diverse and outlandish shapes as the two Green Lanterns of Earth, Hal Jordan and Guy Gardener fought tooth and nail – sometimes not even metaphorically.
Guy formed a freight train running at high speed straight towards Hal, who in turn, created a falling ton of bricks that fell atop the creation before it reached him.
"What the hell are you doing, Guy?" Hal exclaimed. "You've exceeded your orders. When the Guardians find out-"
"Find out what, man?" Guy cut him off, "We're bringing peace and security to the entire planet. That's what we are meant to be doing as Lanterns. Since when you have been a yes man?"
Hal gritted his teeth, "Not this way we don't." charging straight at his former comrade in the Green Lantern Corps. Taking off into the air and out into the icy environment on the outside of the Fortress. "The Guardians will never stand for a dictatorship!"
Guy glared back in turn, "If they're too stupid to see what we're trying to do, then I won't waste my time!"
In the far corner of the interior chamber, Donna Troy was thrown headfirst through a concrete statue of Jor El, the biological father of Superman.
Damn it, Donna muttered to herself. Eyes hazy after being driven into the hard statue made of an unknown material that was painful even for an Amazon.
Then she looked at Starfire in the eyes once again and any concern for her own pain forgotten.
Hate replaced all of it, like a burning lake of lava through her bloodstream as her eyes were again focused solely on the princess from another planet.
Starfire, now airborne, shot a stream of emerald bolts below. Although the Wonder Girl was quick to dodge them and ducked behind the destroyed remnants of the Kryptonian statue.
She jumped into the air and landed a devastating punch to the face. Drawing blood from the mouth in the process, the Tamaranean hit the ground hard, turning the icy ground into a crater.
Donna allowed her no time to recover, pouncing on top of her, blue ground under them breaking even more from the impact, she proceeded to and landed several more blows to the face of her foe.
"That was for Tim and Stephanie, you murdering bitch!"
Flashbacks to her two now deceased friends came crashing into her mind. Happy and smiling, little moments that she now selfishly kept as close to herself as Plutus kept his wealth.
Starfire spat out blood, circling Donna, "This isn't about them, it's about Dick, isn't it, Wonder Girl." A cruel smirk came to her features as she wiped the crimson from her mouth, "You're just green with envy, Donna, because you know he prefers me to you. He always has, and my love is making him stronger!"
Donna growled and Starfire equally hateful, Amazon and Tamaranean both were matched strength for strength, but the Wonder Girl had the advantage in a physical fight from training directly under Wonder Woman's tutelage, whilst Starfire knew she was better off at a distance where her firepower would be more useful, Donna only able to block with her wrist cuffs, and unable to return it.
All around, the former heroes fought one another, friendships long held and valued, now broken.
When Batman had crashed into Superman and the battle had begun, Wonder Woman had gotten into a confrontation with Power Girl and in the process, Wonder Woman was the far more experienced and battle-tested opponent, honed and perfected over more than five-thousand years not been up to scratch, Starfire would have burned her face off with the sheer power of her bolt.
"I expected so much more from you, Karen." Diana exclaimed sorrowfully.
Karen said nothing, instead only giving another glare before she shot a red blast from her eyes, before flying right into Diana, both flying out into the great white arctic.
Even with the enhanced super pill, Batman could not match Superman's strength, and the effects meant that it caused intense fatigue and consummation of energy, Superman meanwhile, had no such limitations.
Clark grabbed Bruce by the shoulder and threw him straight through the ice wall of the Fortress.
Batman was thrown deeply, smacking into the hard ice surface, wheezing at the impact.
Superman hovered over him, arms crossed, a daring glare on his features.
"End this now, Batman. Call your followers off!"
Bruce never had the chance to respond (not that Clark envisioned he would have given the desired answer either way) as a figure in white and red, faster than a speeding bullet slammed into his side.
Power Girl.
She proceeded to throw him against the exterior of the fortress at full force. '
Clark knew he would feel that for the next couple of days at least.
"How does it feel?" Karen spoke, bite in her tone.
Superman quietly got himself back up, looking up towards Power Girl floating above him.
"You know in your heart that Kara would never want this."
Power Girl closed her eyes for a moment, before refocusing.
"All that matters now is preventing any more deaths, Clark. Kara would want that."
"Tim and Stephanie? At the hands of Starfire? Seems there's a lot of death under Batman's rule lately."
Power Girl glared, "Because of you!"
The former Supergirl of Earth-2 once again tried to slam into Superman, but this time, he was ready, using her momentum to toss her through the Fortress wall.
This would take some weekend repairs, Clark thought wearily.
Elsewhere inside the Fortress, Batwoman attempted to fight off two members of the Birds of Prey, Huntress and Catwoman.
Above in the skies, Magic fought Science, as Shazam battled against Captain Atom, the signs of their battle could be seen in flashes of golden light and blue energy in the skies above.
Dinah and Ollie fought, but in contrast, they suppressed their emotions. Masking the pain of their mutual loss of the other in an indifference as cold as the arctic itself.
Green Arrow flocked a side kick from Canary, grabbing her foot mid-air, "You can't really believe in this Dinah!" he spoke, practically pleading in his tone for the woman he loved to see reason. One last effort to reach out to his Pretty Bird.
Canary ignored her former boyfriend's pleas, instead unleashing a cry that threw him back, hitting against the wall.
"Believe me, Ollie." She said sadly, taking a breath as she walked up to the now incapacitated Green Arrow, "I wish I didn't have to."
Before Canary could work to apprehend the groggy Arrow, she was stopped by a flying kick from the Batwoman, now the last remaining member of the Batclan alive who stood against the Bat himself.
"Never took you for someone who wished for anything." Batwoman glared as Canary got back to her feet in a fighting stance, circling each other. "The Dinah I thought I knew never used excuses. She always knew right from wrong."
"Pfft, at least I'm loyal to my friends, Kate." Canary spat back.
The cousin of Bruce Wayne only glared through her cowl.
"You're a coward, Dinah."
Elsewhere, Batman had finally regained his bearings and batclawed his way back inside the Fortress through one of the many holes of the said structure, landing on an overlooking balcony, where he had a perfect view of the entire interior. Analysing the space and seeing who he could help out the most.
He never got the chance to however.
"Batman!" he heard the voice before he felt the body crash into him, before he knew it, he was being taken up to the sky at breakneck speed.
Billy Batson, or better known as the hero, Shazam.
"I'm stopping you, Batman!" the self-proclaimed Earth's Mightiest Mortal announced, trapping him in bearhug, Batman futilely trying to get the champion of the Wizard to release him.
"Shazam, don't try to do this yourself!" Wonder Woman pleaded from a distance, but she was ignored – the pride of a young eager boy overriding any sense he had to listen to the wiser and more mature Diana.
"Let me go, Billy, you don't know what you're doing." Yelled the Bat, attempting to muster the authoritarian tone he would often take with younger heroes, and was almost always enough to get them in line.
It seemed to have no effect on young Billy Batson.
"No, Batman." Shazam spoke back, "You're not acting like a hero. We don't hurt people like that, and we don't tell them what to do. I'm taking you in to face justice."
"Don't make yourself a threat, Shazam." Batman warned, still making every effort he could to weasel his way out, no use, he was far too powerful.
"He won't be a threat now!" it was the voice of Hawkman.
Neither Billy Batson nor Bruce Wayne had any chance to respond, as the Thanagarian drove his axe right into Shazam's back. The power of the Nnth Metal breaking through the magical barrier of the Wizard's ancient magic and into his flesh.
Shazam spat out blood from the wound.
"You… you killed me?" Shazam asked, the voice of the boy beneath the spell coming through.
"It's on you, not me." Hawkman coldly responded to the boy, blooded coated on his axe.
Shazam said nothing, one hand letting go of Batman, but still holding onto his neck.
Then suddenly, with a face and roar of unhinged anger, Shazam launched a painful barrage of lighting directly from his chest at Hawkman, knocking him back for miles upon miles.
Turning his attention back to Batman, who now realised the boy hero now wore a blanket expression of rage and desperation, once again began to squeeze Batman against him, Bruce Wayne shrieking in pain, the only reason he was alive was the effects of the super pill.
"No!" it was a cry from Superman, "Shazam, don't do it. You'll kill him and risk everyone else's lives!"
The Man of Steel stopped a distance away from the two, holding out a hand, "We have to do it correctly, make sure he see's justice. Not this way."
The electricity of Shazam began to go near ballistic, uncontrollable, sparking from every sector of his body, eyes going a golden energy, it took Batman and Superman both to realise what the former Captain Marvel was doing.
He was prepping to end himself and Batman.
"If I'm going to die." Shazam gritted in pain from the mortal wound he had been dealt, "I'm taking him with me. The world is better off that way!"
Superman floated there watching, mouth agape, unable to comprehend what was happening, "Billy, please, don't do this!" he yelled below as the boy hero lifted to the air, as fast as he could to avoid any other casualties or environmental damage below.
Shazam ignored him, instead letting out a yell which seemed to exhilarate the power surge. Clark was near frozen as a figure that only he could make out sped out to save Batman, quickly taking him into his arms.
Power Girl He realised.
Batman was taken so quickly that Billy Batson did not realise he no longer held the Caped Crusader, himself briefly discombobulated by the transition, but soon pieced together what had happened as he looked up at Karen Starr who had snatched him away – saving his life.
Superman and Batman both immediately turned back to Billy.
"NO!" they both yelled at once towards the boy hero, but they were ignored.
With a final breath, the World's Mightiest Mortal cried out his last word:
"SHAZAM!"
Superman was blown back as a massive orange gold explosion rocked the surrounding area. Far away, even the Fortress of Solitude was rocked, parts caving in on itself, without a hesitation, he rushed back.
Everyone stopped fighting once the massive explosion had taken place, and as they all realised who it had been caused by, people were stunned in silence at what had happened – Batman and Superman's supporters alike.
Billy Batson, Shazam, a boy no more than 14 years old was now dead, another casualty.
Batman opened his eyes to see that he was in Power Girl's arms, she was taking him back in the direction of the Fortress of Solitude, before either speak or acknowledge the other, the sheer force of the suicidal explosion by Shazam was enough to both cause an earthquake that rocked everyone and everything.
"I can't-"it was so strong that Power Girl dropped him in mid-air, nearly crashing down to the earth until he managed to get control of his cowl at the last possible minute, landing atop the structure.
There was near silence for a full minute, before under the mass of crystal walls and thick ice, life began, and signs of life of heroes of both sides could be seen. The fighting ended, at least temporarily as both sides began searching for the other or helping them up to their feet.
Both Green Lanterns immediately worked side-by-side to block and remove any incoming debris, helping those trapped underneath. Raven used her powers to heal an injured Vixen and Black Lightning. Superman too was there, first helping Black Canary who was trapped between two huge blocks of ice, easily pushing them apart, and then helping Green Arrow, who had gotten separated behind a large curtain of crystalized material, when Dinah had pushed him out of the way to stop him from getting crushed.
On the other side of the Fortress, Donna Troy used her Amazon strength to pick up a massive crystal piece that pinned Hawkgirl down, allowing Red Arrow to help her up, eyes always on Starfire, who simultaneously aided Aquaman and Canary, weary at the treacherous princess even now.
Before Batman himself could go to aid one of his allies, he felt a creeping, soft but forceful sting inside his very mind, causing him to immediate hit the floor.
"Bruce Wayne." He heard a calm girl's voice inside his head, it was the voice of M'gann M'orzz, Miss Martian.
Bruce grunted in pain; she was communicating him telepathically.
"I know what you're doing. It comes not from malice, but fear. You have succumbed to it in a worse way than any could imagine. I must show you this."
Batman yelled in pain, going down to his knees as the White Martian used her powers to transport his mind back into a bleak era on Mars. Visions she had inherited from her people who were there, the perpetrators of a terrible genocide that had left the Green Martian race all but extinct, save for one, Jon Jon'zz.
Across the red planet, White Martian soldiers rounded up the Greens: men, women and children, executing those too weak to be worked to death in the mines, even the elderly and infirm were not spared. He saw the rise of the work camps that eventually transitioned into pure death camps.
A horror show that was the stuff of nightmares.
"This is what it feels like to be weak and helpless, Batman. This is what it feels like to be on the other side of oppression. And it all started with the will of individuals, obsessed with power and control…"
At a distance, both Robin, as well as Huntress and Catwoman spotted Batman, on his knees with Megan standing over him with her hand placed on his head. They looked to each other and nodded before grappling their way there.
"You have a choice, Batman. Despite all you've done, the lives lost, there is still time to put an end to this. Just-"
The White Martian girl was interrupted as she felt an arrow bolt in her back, yelping in pain. Causing her telepathic link to Batman to be severed as it disrupted her concentration.
"Get away from my father!" Damian Wayne demanded, he, Catwoman and Huntress all tackling Megan to the ground.
Megan pushed them back, an almost mocking tone in her voice, "You realise that your strength and gadgets won't work on me, right?"
Before anyone could retort, Miss Martian transfomed into a giant, green liquid-like substance, and before the blink of an eye, it now entangled all three of the vigilantes into its mass. Holding them all firmly in place, even their super-strength proving unable to get out of it.
"Let us go!" demanded Catwoman, panic seeped in her voice, as she attempted to claw in vain in order to try and remove the green substance now enclosing itself around her throat, allowing her just the barest of space to continue breathing, as was the case with both Huntress and Robin, themselves panicking.
"You all know I would never seriously harm any of you if I could help it." Miss Martian called out via a new telepathic link to all three.
"But all of you are filled with such… violence. Such hate. Calm down, If I wanted it, you would be dead already. Perhaps the world is better off, if we follow your logic."
Seeing three of his loved ones in danger – his son, Damian especially, one of the last links he had to Talia, it triggered something in Batman, immediately, he went to his wrist, authentication and coordinates for the Prometheus sun weapon, the very same one he had used to best and kill Kalibak and Parademons of the Apokoliptian invasion force.
Batman knew the implications as to what he was considering at this moment, hand trembling as it hovered over the fire button, what it would mean – he had known Megan since she was a teenager of Young Justice and the Teen Titans, J'onn's own adopted niece.
A teenager.
"Batman!" Catwoman pleaded, "We're-" her voice struggled under the pressure of the tightening green mass, she was still conscious enough to see what Bruce was considering, "We're all protected by the pill… it… won't kill us…. Do it, do it now!... no… no other way!"
The desperation within Selina's dark cowled eyes was the last straw Batman could take, the beam would hurt them, but at least they would be alive.
He activated the beam right on top of Miss Martian.
Within seconds, the designated spot in front of began to rapidly get unnaturally hot, as if they were in a giant oven at full temperature, then, the orange beam came through the broken roof.
"AHHHHHHH!" Cried Miss Martian, sounding as inhuman as she was, her green body soon turned a pale white, her true form revealed and began to liquefy and melt.
Catwoman, Huntress and Robin too were not spared, and they cried in agony as they too were burned, and if they had not ingested their pills, would have burned into nothing but ash within less than ten seconds, but they would survive thanks to the nano pill's abilities.
M'gann M'orzz, the White Martian turned green, former hero and sidekick of Martian Hunter, was reduced to nothing, her face, coated in fear and pain was one Batman would never forget.
"NO!" Martian Manhunter screamed, using Superspeed to dash over to where the blast had taken place, paying no heed to anyone else around him, taking what remained of M'gann in his arms as the last bit of life left her body.
"Niece…"
She groaned in pain.
"Uncle… please… please…" Miss Martian was unable to get out her last words, as she succumbed to her injuries, slipping away to death's cold embrace.
By now, everyone had forgotten whatever they had been doing – be it preparing to continue the fight or helping each other up from the now wrecked Fortress – all in stood in silence, shock at what had just happened, nobody offering to say a single word.
The youngest of the vigilantes especially, Beast Boy, Raven, Nightwing, Starfire, Cyborg, Cassandra, were especially distressed at the site, M'gann had been their teammate across various teams for years, fought hundreds of battles together against threats of all sizes, risked death even more times than they were able to count against an array of supervillains… and in the end, instead of dying at the hands of an enemy, it had been at the hands of another hero.
All throughout, Batman had said nothing, frozen in place as he watched the site before him, seemingly paralysed at what he had done.
Wonder Woman and Superman both flew over, both standing beside Batman at Manhunter.
"J'onzz…" Diana called out, seemingly lost for words, her wisdom and compassion feeling helpless in this nightmare; So many had died already, Supergirl, Red Robin, Spoiler, now Shazam and Miss Martian.
J'onzz did not respond to Wonder Woman, nor look up at anyone, eyes downcast, fixated on the corpse of the girl who was once a daughter to him.
"I will return her to her parents." He said simply, "Ensure she is buried as she deserves, upon Martian soil. I owe her that much."
Silenced engulfed the ruined fort once again, nothing more than the faint sound of tears from various members of each team – Wonder Woman and Black Canary.
Them, it was broken.
"You're all under arrest." Batman spoke, solemnly. To the shock of the Resistance, unable to comprehend that he could still be fixated on forcing their submission after the deaths of two people.
Even some of his own allies looked aghast and hesitant, most notably Nightwing, Cyborg and Raven.
"You bastard!" Red Arrow growled, himself bruised and battered throughout the battle.
Once again, both sides separated – even J'onzz reluctantly left the deceased body of M'gann and took up position.
Powergirl and Hawkgirl now flanked Batman, pain raw in his voice "There's been enough death, I don't want anymore... please just surrender."
The rebels responded by closing ranks: Superman, Wonder Woman, Red and Green Arrow, Vixen, Aquaman, Hawkgirl, Batwoman, Beast Boy, Black Lightning, Hal Jordan and Donna.
Surrounding them, Batman, Hawkman, Powergirl, Nightwing, Starfire, Manhunter, Black Canary, Guy Gardener, Raven, Cyborg and Captain Atom. Damian, Huntress and Catwoman remained injured on the ground, Batman having already contacted Oracle for them to be taken to medical immediately.
Although they had the slight numbers advantage, Superman knew that most of the injured were on his side; their enemies less likely to hold back in sheer brutality.
"You want us." Black Lightening half chuckled with an edge, body radiating power, "You'll have to come and take us. We won't surrender to a murderer."
Instead of continuing the battle though, the rebel vigilantes would instead find themselves far, far away.
As if by pure teleportation, all twelve vanished.
"They're gone!" Atom exclaimed.
"Who did that?"
As everyone outwardly wondered, Batman, Nightwing and Powergirl all knew the answer before anyone else.
Flash.
As if on quo, the Fastest Man Alive brought himself before them. A defiant glare aimed towards Batman; arms crossed.
"I took them away." He spoke, "I saved them from you. Don't bother trying to guess where they are now, by the time you figure it out, they'll be far away and in-hiding."
"Traitor!" Hawkman exclaimed, leaping in for an axe strike, unfortunately for him, Barry saw it fifty miles away, and landed close to five hundred hard punches on the brute of Thanagar, before hitting him with a right hook that sent him flying through the wall into unconsciousness.
"Better a traitor than a killer of kids." He spat back.
Captain Atom and Powergirl sized Flash, who put up no further resistance.
Batman came face to face with the Scarlett Speedster: "This was a mistake, Barry. One you will come to regret."
There was no fear upon Flash's face: "I came back because this is not my fight, but it doesn't mean that I won't do the right thing, helping the others get away to continue to stop you. Do what you want to me, Bruce. Lock me up or burn me alive. At least my conscience will be clear, I can't say the same for you."
Batman glared.
"No…" came the faint voice of J'onzz. Drawing everyone's attention once more as his expression went from confused to started and then scared.
"What is it?" asked Nightwing.
"His mind, I hear only recitation of Weathering Heights… Batman, he is hiding something from us."
Within seconds, Batman's hand enclosed around Flash's neck, squeezing to the point he began to choke, going to his knees.
"WHAT HAVE YOU DONE, BARRY!? he growled, mind going to a hundred different scenarios as to what could have happened.
Eventually, the pain became too much, allowing Martian Manhunter the chance he needed to inspect Barry's mind with his telepathy.
Flash grunted as his mind was penetrated.
J'onzz turned to Batman immediately, a panicked expression on his face.
"He gave Superman the codes to the Watchtower and Batcave!"
Batman yelled in anger, punching the Flash once more.
The Flash coughed from the impact.
"They'll find what you're planning, Bruce. And they'll expose your plan to take over the world to everyone." Barry managed one last smile, "Good thing I bought them some time, and I didn't let Superman tell me which one they would target."
Batman fury… and fear, for he knew who also resided inside the Batcave. Someone he could not let them hurt.
"I'LL HEAD TO THE BATCAVE. THE REST OF YOU, THE WATCHTOWER, NOW!" Batman grappled onto the Batwing, already speeding towards the Manor, not bothering to acknowledge or respond to any of his teammates.
Someone he had to save.
*Somewhere in the Wilderness of Northern Canada*
The Flash had saved them.
Now free from the fight, some of the heroes simply broke down.
Vixen went to her knees, thoughts going to both Shazam and Miss Martian, both were too young to have been so cruelly taken away from this world.
Green Arrow too simply sat upon a rock, dropping his bow, hands covering his face.
He thought of Dinah, of what could have been between them, now just a fantasy that would never be.
Donna tried to swallow how she felt, but Diana could see it how truly broken her sister was about Dick Grayson; and immediately placed a comforting hand on the Wonder Girl's shoulder.
All were unaware of what Superman had been informed.
Whilst he had been taking them away from the battle, Flash had spoken to Superman, indicating that the two main bases of the BatClan: the Watchtower and the Batcave at Wayne Manor were undefended.
They still had a chance, but they had to hurry.
"Everyone, please listen." The Man of Steel called over, knowing they had little time, Flash's delaying tactics would only prolong Batman for so long.
"Flash has given me the codes to get into the Batcave, I can get the plans, and show them to the rest of the world. But I have to leave now."
"Just you?" Hawkgirl asked.
Superman nodded, "You all need to go into hiding. Batman will not stop for long. He will come for all of you. I need to do this myself."
"No, Superman." Hal Jordan spoke up, drawing attention, "I agree we're all in rough shape after that, but you need backup. I'll come with you."
Clark paused for a moment as he looked at the Ace of the Green Lantern Corps, one of their finest, he could tell by the look in his eyes, Hal was not going to take no for an answer.
"I'll lead them to safety, Superman." Wonder Woman spoke up, "We'll see you both again."
Superman nodded back.
"Let's go Hal."
*Wayne Manor, outside of the remains of Gotham, New Jersey, USA*
*11:41 EST 17TH of September 2013*
Both Superman and Green Lantern flew as fast as they could, although Superman clearly had him beat, with Hal having to catch up until they finally reached their location.
Wayne Manor.
Neither wasted any time in crashing down to the Batcave hidden under the old Estate home.
Nobody was here, they had gotten lucky beyond believe, Superman used his superspeed to patch in each set of passwords that Flash had told him; eventually coming to Batman's personal terminal:
"My God…" said Lantern, shocked at what the Dark Knight was working on, seeing it for the very first time. The same as Superman.
Mercs, nano tech, robots and advanced surveillance.
"Just the kind of thing that Tim was talking about." Added Clark.
Project Nightfall was the name of the file, and it was a lot.
A private army under the directive Arkham, drones, new prisons… even lists of potential enemies to detain.
Superman put the drive into the Batcomputer, which began to download the plans, all signed and logged by the Caped Crusader himself.
Upon the work desk, they spotted a handful of the super pills that Bruce had been working on, enhancing steroids which helped even non-powered beings be at a level to physically be a match for a superpowered being.
Superman quickly took four, there may be ways to counter them if he could get them to Mr Terrific.
Green Lantern nervously paced around, ring glowing in anticipation.
After five minutes, the download was half-way complete, just needed-
Superman's hearing picked up footsteps, someone else was here.
Lantern heard the footsteps behind them too, and raised his ring ready to attack.
"Hal-"he did not finished, as a person came from around the corner of the cave.
A gentle and kindly older woman, grey haired and with glasses – and like Clark, she looked distressed.
No Clark thought, this was not good.
He, nor anyone else had known that Dr Leslie Tompkins was here, the woman who had been a close college of Thomas Wayne and had been a second mother to Bruce when his parents died. Now hidden away by Batman to avoid being used against him after the US government's kidnapping of Damian Wayne in a failed plot to use his family members as leverage.
"Superman, you both need to leave, now." She spoke in a tone of fear.
Hal was oblivious to it all, "Superman, who is this?"
"She's right." Superman, the Man of Steel, and potentially, most powerful man on earth spoke… fearful.
"Batman is not thinking clearly, if he see's us here with her, he could-"
It was too late.
A missile blasted open the entry and take-off point for the Batwing – the plane storming through.
Superman took off to meet the Batwing as it now hovered above, lights on and focused onto the Man of Steel.
"You…" Batman growled through the intercom, voice almost primal, savage, wrath personified.
"Bruce." Clark held up his hands, "This is not what it looks like. Don't do this, there has been enough- "
There was no chance to further talk as a military grade missile was fired directly at Superman's head. knocking him down in a concussed state.
Bruce turned the Batwing at the Batcomputer, switching to the machine gun. Hal was there, Leslie at a distance right behind.
"Shit." Hal realised; He's going to destroy the evidence. He formed a large medieval style shield that began to block the relentless bullet fire from the minigun.
Frustrated within the cockpit, Batman also began to fire his medium and heavy rockets. The Lantern grunted as he took the extra strain.
"Bruce!" cried Leslie, now standing far ahead at an edge, "Stop or you're going to kill him!"
Luckily for all, Superman had recovered, immediately slamming into the left wing of the plane, causing it to begin descending into a crash against one of the cavern columns.
"Lantern, get Leslie to safety, I'll get Bruce!"
Hal took hold of the older lady, creating a green bubble around them to shield from the explosion, as well as around the computer and global transporter, the download now within seconds of being completed.
Superman ripped off the hood of the Batwing.
The Dark Knight glared at his former best friend.
Superman only gave him a look of disappointment but said nothing. The Man of Steel tore Batman from the Batwing, holding him, dropping him without a car to the main platform, seemingly beaten.
Both Green Lantern and Superman circled around the fallen Dark Knight, now seemingly trapped.
"Its over, Bruce." Superman declared with a glare.
Batman lowered his head, looking back and forth between Superman and Green Lantern, "Maybe for you, Clark, do you truly think I haven't planned for something like this. You're both exactly where I want you."
Before either Clark or Hal could respond, Batman taped onto his wrist pad.
"Batcave protocol 4012: Code word: Last Sun."
With the command, hidden sun lamps were activated, from the ceiling to the sides, and from the floor, red beams shot out, hot and focused.
Superman immediately doubled over in pain, as the artificial heavy lights simulated the effects of a red sun, as it was on Krypton, that drained him of his powers.
Batman landed a kick squarely Superman's face, now weak with no more strength than a regular human man.
Green Lantern made a giant green fist that smashed Batman against the side of the wall.
Bruce wiped a drop of blood from his mouth, glaring down at the man of the Corps.
Leslie went over to Superman's, kneeling as she checked on him.
"Are you ok."
Clark grunted, "I'm fine, Mrs Tompkins, you need to get away from this."
Suddenly, a voice crackled from a nearby screen of the Batcomputer, the screen was static, and the voice was distorted, but still able to be made out.
"Please listen. You must leave." The person said, "They know you're at the Batcave, reinforcements will soon be there."
Superman stumbled up to his feet, careful to not let Batman notice him.
"Not yet, I have to get that data." He informed the voice.
He was silenced as Batman and Green Lantern battled.
Hal continued to fight, In the corner of his eye, he noticed Superman making his way towards the data stick.
He realised he had to keep Batman distracted.
"Hey so Bats," he quipped, Hal Jordan used every ounce of imagination that he could muster to counter Batman. Pinning him with a pair of pincers, attempting to hit him with a hammer and sending green missiles at him.
"Ya know." Hal spoke as the two continued to fight, grunting as Batman laid a spray of explosive gel on his shield which sent him back some ways, "I always thought it was Superman we ought to watch out for, never figure you'd be the one to snap this bad."
He chuckled dryly, "How ironic, the most dangerous of us is the guy with no powers."
Meanwhile, the figure behind the monitor spoke to Superman once again, who had reached the Batcomputer, "Get the data, Superman, I will open the teleporter."
"Who are you?" Superman asked the voice, unsure as to who this could be and if he could trust them, but at this point, he knew he had little choice with the later.
"A friend. " was the cryptic response, and Superman knew he had no more time for he and Hal to get out.
Batman had yet to go after Clark, but Hal knew that it was only a matter of time until he switched focus.
"I may not be a murderer like you, Batman." Hal spoke, "But it doesn't mean I'll regret disabling you for a long time." and with that, he began shooting sharp, concentrated energy blasts from his ring, aiming for the leg.
Batman was too quick though, grappling from point to point, and began to throw Baterangs, razor sharp and pointed in retaliation.
The exchange was brief until a fatal misfire which stopped them both.
As Batman flung a Baterang, Hal saw it and shot a green beam which deflected it… but this time, by sheer disaster, it went straight into Leslie Tompkins direction, the edge of the blade going into her shoulder.
"No!" Hal shouted out, concentration shifted to the innocent old woman who needed help, attention that left him vulnerable.
Having lost focus for a few precious moments, it was all Batman needed to snatch away the green ring from the distracted Lantern.
It was then that Hal realised the true horror of his mistake.
"AHHHHHHHH!" yelled a near animalistic Batman, now a monster who smelt blood, unleashed at the sight of his maternal figure wounded, all thoughts on anything else; Clark, the data stick, reinforcements were forgotten about now. All he cared about now was making the man he blamed pay.
Lantern had not even lost his power when a massive fist pummelled his unguarded face.
"Bruce stop, please!" Leslie screamed from the side, running over.
Superman was about to string into action, but Hal lifted a hand to not interfere.
"Go." Whispered Hal.
"Go now!" The voice spoke, "Green Lantern cannot be saved, the rest of them will be here at any moment!"
Superman, torn apart inside, reluctantly went into the gate, patching in the coordinates to where he needed to go, even as he listened to the horrifying beating behind him.
Meanwhile, Batman remained remorseless and without mercy. His punches and knees; unrestrained, unrefined and rage behind each one to Hal's ribs, chest, face and head.
Hal Jordan was no pushover, he could handle himself in a fight, had always done since he was a boy, but against Batman, he stood no chance.
It was not long before Hal's face looked unrecognisable, barely conscious at the beating anymore, legs wobbly and on the verge of giving way.
Despite this, despite the pain, the bleeding wounds, internal injuries he did not want to think about, Hal put up his hands, defiant until the end.
He spat out multiple teeth, "Come on… I can, I can do this all day."
Batman roared as landed a knee to Hal's face, who collapsed.
Like with Kalibak, Batman mounted the now barely breathing Lantern.
Hal Jordan of Sector 2814 lived and loved without regret. A boy who overcame his fear of flying when he saw his dad die, a boy who became a man, with his willpower and courage having earned him the right to become the first ever human to ever become inducted into the Green Lantern Corps, feats placing him among the greatest Lanterns of all time.
But it was the woman of his dreams he thought of, as the light left him, hard, armour-clad fists raining upon him – he smiled as he thought to that day they met; that purple shirt, arms folded, glare and chastising him for breaking another damn prototype plane.
Her smile was his smile, her love was all he ever needed.
The most perfect woman in the whole damn world.
Goodbye Carol Ferris, I'll always love you.
And then, everything went blank.
Batman's face, fists and suit were covered in blood, the blood of his former Justice League comrade, and yet he could not stop himself.
Until she appeared in front of him.
"Stop Bruce!"
Leslie had thrown her own body over the now dead Hal Jordan, his face unrecognisable, mashed and destroyed to the point he no longer looked like the man he once was.
"Please." The old woman whispered, fear in her eyes as she looked into his own, "Please stop, Bruce."
It was enough to bring him back.
And at that point, the others arrived from above the destroyed roof. Some from the battle, others had only just made it.
Hawkman, Guy Gardner, Starfire, Red Hood, Black Canary, Captain Atom, Zatannah, Wally West and Nightwing
As they all made there way to their ally and leader, everyone, save for Hawkman, looked on shocked at the horrific sight.
Batman, standing over the body of Hal Jordan, whose face was pummelled almost to the bone on one side of his face. Dr Tompkins, a baterang imbedded in her shoulder, covering the dead former Lantern.
Nightwing immediately ran over, "Leslie" he cried, taking the older lady into his arms, and checking over her wound, while also shielding her any further from the scene before them.
Guy Gardner could not believe it, dropping to his knees next to his former friend.
"What did you do." he whispered, with Batman giving him no response, "What did…" he looked directly at Batman, burning anger in his face, his ring burning green, "WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
Starfire immediately stood in front of the still numb Batman, putting her hand out, "It was an unfortunate accident, Guy. They came here to attack his home. Batman only defended himself." she rationalised.
"HE KILLED MY FRIEND!" the rage-filled Guy exclaimed, "HE MURDERED HIM, AND HE'S GOING TO PAY!"
Captain Atom put a hand on the Lantern's shoulder, warning clear, "I wouldn't do that, Guy. This was bound to happen. Superman and his allies caused this. The best way to ensure Hal's memory is honoured is by ensuring the planet he loved and protected remains safe. We can only do that together." He emphasised.
Guy gave one more grunt before standing down, eyes downcast as he realised one of his best friends was now gone forever.
"Hal…" he mourned.
"Clark…" everyone turned back to Batman, his face, had finally snapped out of his passive state and into one of utter panic.
For the first time, he realised that Superman was nowhere in sight, and the teleporter had recently been used.
"BARBARA!" he roared into his earpiece as he looked toward the teleporter.
"Bruce." The former Batgirl answered from the Watchower command centre, "Someone cut me off from you and my command and monitoring of the Batcave-"
"SUPERMAN USED THE TELEPORTER TO ESCAPE THE BATCAVE!" he interrupted, yelling "GET ME THE LAST TRIANGULATED POSTION, I HAVE TO FIND HIM!" he paused, taking a breath, regaining control "And figure out who helped him escape."
Barbara was taken aback, rarely having been spoken to by Batman, and even rarer was it to hear him with such fear.
"Ok, Batman, looking back, I can trace it to…"
*The Kent Farm, Smallville, Kansas, USA*
12:47 CDT
17th of September 2013
Clark sat at the desk in his old room upstairs, typing quickly. The four little green pills by his side.
He had little time to change or take a breath as he charged up his reporter work laptop, the files on his PC, and copied onto the Email drop boxes of every reputable newspaper in the world.
Once the people saw what Batman was planning, they would see him for what he had become.
They had to. After all he and the others had lost, they had to see the truth.
Sent.
Like that, the information as to Batman's plan to turn the world into a prison was out there, and nobody would be able to deny it.
Clark almost collapsed out of his seat. The synthetic red sun had taken a heavy toll on him, it may be hours before his powers could be fully restored, and with the Fortress of Solitude now destroyed, he would need to heal naturally.
He managed to pick himself up.
"Not feeling well?"
He looked behind to see a black clad fist smash him directly in the face.
Batman, he had managed to find him, as expected.
The state of the Caped Crusader was something else: he was covered in blood, his armour dented and scratched, and part of his cowl had been destroyed below the right eye, somewhat exposing his face.
Superman was in no shape to fight back, and Batman knew it.
The Bat wondered over to the laptop, looking over and seeing that his plans had indeed been prematurely exposed. A potential problem he would need to deal with later.
Batman sighed, "I took away all the criminals of Metropolis."
Superman attempted to crawl, which got him a kick to the face, further busting his face up, blood dripping to the floor.
"But I left you. The Big Blue Boy Scout, who invited trouble when you began wearing that S. Who doesn't know what it means to fear for his safety, who's power gets allow him to live in blissful ignorance as monsters roam the world."
"You're delusional, Bruce." Clark shot back."
Batman roughly grabbed him up by the collar of his suit, the Man of Steel, even without his powers, still facing down the fallen Knight.
"Be careful how you speak to me." He warned.
Superman glared in defiance, "Why are you here?"
"To put an end to this."
"No, you're not." Superman dared, "If you were going to kill me, you could've done it by now. You didn't even have to face me, especially in my current state. You could have snuck behind me without me even knowing and slit my throat with a Kryptonite blade.
Then, Superman truly looked him up and down, his glare turned to horror… and grief.
"That's Hal's blood." He stated as fact. Batman's silence was all the confirmation he needed.
The previously dominate and confident Batman now hesitated, head down, no longer willing to look him in the eyes.
"Hal was one of the best." Superman carried on. "He risked his life for you, me and everyone else a thousand times, and he would have continued to do that, if you had any mercy in you."
"I don't lie, Bruce, you know that. So, I'll tell you: I'll never give up trying to stop you, perhaps I'll succeed, perhaps I won't. And I think deep down… you want me to stop you."
"ENOUGH!" Bruce yelled.
The last words seemed to reignite something, and with a rage-filled yell, Batman threw Clark through the glass window, shattering on impact to the front of the Kent home, and sending the Man of Steel shoulder first to the floor, dislocating it in his current state.
Superman wailed in pain as Batman gracefully landed, walking up to the vulnerable Kryptonian who tried to get away.
"I'm not going to fight you." Superman declared, "I'm sure it would be easier if I did. How else could you justify another death among the other three today."
Batman clenched his fists, teeth gritted, "Those are on you, Clark. You brought them into danger, Billy, Megan, Hal… you left me no choice."
"You know that's a lie, no matter how many times you tell yourself."
Superman wiped more blood from his nose, "I'm sorry to disappoint you with such an anticlimax, but I'm not going to do it, Bruce. If you want to kill me, it won't be against A Man of Steel, if you want this, you're going to have to kill an unarmed man."
He coughed.
"Do you still think this is what Thomas and Martha would have wanted?"
At the mention of his parents, Batman punched Superman again, and then mounted him.
Clark coughed up blood, "I guess it makes sense, doesn't it. You lost them and became Batman… but then you lost the very city you swore to defend, and you failed again."
Those words earned him another flurry of punches: unrelenting and vicious.
"Thank… thank God, neither of them, any of them can see you now. Your parents, Alfred, Jim Gordan…Talia-"
"SHUT UP!"
Clark did not fear death, ready to die knowing that there would be others to stop the delusional knight of Gotham.
But it did not happen. He did not meet the same fate as Green Lantern faced.
Batman got up, reaching for his belt.
"I'm not going to kill you, Superman. There's been enough death today."
Out of the back of his belt, he revealed a shard of Kryptonite, the crystal glowing in the sunlight of middle America.
"But I can't have you interfering any longer."
Now, Clark struggled to get up, but Batman got him in a stranglehold, from behind. One arm around his neck and the other with the green sharpened blade in hand.
"Bruce-"
"This is for the good of everyone, Clark."
"Sto-"
Superman wailed as the man who had once been his best friend stabbed him in the back, shoving the Kryptonite in far enough, before snapping it off.
Upon letting him go, Clark collapsed, face in the dirt.
Batman could not even look.
"Don't think this was easy for me." he said. "I'm going to put you in the prison I've constructed, built to keep people like you."
Superman tried to get up again, but the pain was unbearable, "Don't get up." Batman told him, "It will only make it worse; I'll have it removed as soon as you're in full custody."
"I know something that can make it much worse, you bastard."
A female voice from behind drew Batman's attention.
It was Lois, and both of Clark's human parents: Jonathan and Martha.
And they looked pissed.
"Lois?" Batman said, this time feeling self-conscious as to how it all looked.
She said nothing as with inhuman power, she headbutted him.
Batman landed on his ass, the mask nearly shattered, his nose broken as the interior of the cowl began to turn into a crimson mask.
The pills He realised.
Jonathan was next, grabbing the Caped Crusader up by his neck as if he were a pillow.
The normally mild-mannered and kindly farmer's eyes burned with utter contempt at the Dark Knight.
"You son of a bitch" he punched Batman hard enough in the face that the cowl broke off. Gone was the mask of the dreaded Bat of Gotham, now was the broken and bruised face of Bruce Wayne.
"You dare hurt my son!" he slapped him into the dirt, with a boot to the face, "God damn you!"
It was Martha who to everyone's surprise – even her own – who was the most vicious.
"No more!" she cried, kicking him, before picking him up, "You don't get to hurt this family anymore!"
It was then that all three members of the Kent family formed a semi-circle and with their strength, began to beat the shit out of Batman in a way he had not experienced since the likes of Bane or Killer Croc.
Truthfully, if it were not for the effects of Batman's own pill, granting him extra durability, he may have died then and there as all three punched and kicked.
After nearly a minute of beating down the former protector of Gotham, Martha rushed over to her son, now in need of help.
"Mom?" he wheezed.
She picked up, gently, the sight almost comical, the small older lady, manhandling her giant of a son, "I'm here, Clark, I'm here. We all are."
"The other pill?" he asked.
"We have it." She assured.
Lois and Jonathan truthfully might have continued even further, but they knew they had to get their husband and son help immediately.
They just looked down at the disgraced hero, now trembling in a pool of his blood and broken mask.
Jonathan picked up the broken Bat one more time, too dazed to even think.
The old man simply glared at him in disgust, as did Lois, "I'm so disappointed in you… if Alfred could see you now, he'd be ashamed."
Jonathan then threw him at full force into the side of the empty barn, the impact bringing the entire complex down.
"You two, okay?" asked Martha, paying no heed to the thing who had once been a dear family friend.
"Fine." Answered Lois, going over to see her wounded husband in concern.
The three got into their family car, Martha carefully laying her son on the backseat, head in Lois' lap.
"Come on." Martha spoke, the matriarch glaring towards Batman as he slowly crawled out of the wrecked barn, "There's nothing here worth saving."
ONE DAY LATER
*United Nations, Manhattan. New York City, NY, USA*
*12:00 AM EST. 18TH of September 2013*
The bright lights of the UN General Assembly in New York City blazed upon the podium, and the current speaker as he prepared to address the whole world.
Reporters shoved and shuffled around the main chamber, all eager to get the best shots possible at the row of assorted heroes, and more importantly, all wanted to get the answer to the question everyone was dying to hear from the Dark Knight's own lips.
Were these allegations of a secret army and planned takeover by the Batman true?
Bruce Wayne stood at the podium in a fine tailored suit, seemingly looking the same handsome and groomed head of the Wayne Conglomerate and vigilante he had become known as.
Unbeknownst to them, his seemingly normal façade hid the extent of his injuries; Zatanna had used a glamor that hid his naturel and bruised and battered face and body, his allies having found him in the aftermath of his failed effort to capture Superman at the Kent Farm.
The Guardian of Metropolis having disappeared, as had the other heroes who had followed him.
Bruce gripped the podium, feeling a wave of pain, although the glamor hid his appearance, it did not diminish how he physically felt, but he continued to fight through the pain regardless.
To his left, Nightwing, Starfire, Martian Manhunter, Red Hood, Guy Gardner, and Zatanna.
To his right, Hawkman, Batgirl, Captain Atom, Black Canary, Cyborg, Raven and Kid Flash
Further behind and standing to the left was Ra's Al Ghul, placing a comforting hand upon the shoulder of his son-in-law.
Damian, Helena and Selina were all still too injured to appear, recovering back at the Watchtower.
Bruce Wayne began without any more hesitation:
"You will have all heard of these reports within the world's press – which I will address shortly. Regarding our current world peacekeeping efforts. First, I can confirm that will not change, our goal remains the same as it was when I unmasked myself upon this podium five months ago. Nothing will change that." He emphasised.
He paused, taking a breath and looking outwardly to the main camera, speaking directly to the world.
"As to the reports on the Wayne Conglomerate developing advanced weapons technology and forming a private armed force to deploy…. They are entirely correct."
The hall erupted with protest. Shouts and exclamations of how this was illegal, or an invasion of sovereignty were heard in a variety of languages and accents.
"I have ordered the creation and deployment of a new force that will bring total peace and security not just to the United States, but the entire world as well. All under my direction and command."
Then, he glared down at all assembled world leaders.
"As for your protests, I apologise for nothing. It is not me who has failed, it is you who have lost the right to govern. You, who have failed your people. And where states and governments have failed, I will succeed."
At that signal, the wooden doors to the Assembly burst open, delegates and reporters alike backing away terrified.
Men with assault rifles began to encircle the stage and flank the chamber, blocking any from leaving.
They wore red, white and black military style fatigues, as well as armoured bullet proof vests, more expensive than any within the world's current state armies.
Some were hooded, or wore gasmasks, helmets, or beanies whilst others wore side caps, and a few wore no head dress at all, going bare.
Each one wore a white diamond shaped patch upon each of their shoulders, including upon the side caps, the symbol upon the patch was the logo of the infamous former Arkham Asylum in Gotham.
They were professional and they looked deadly serious.
"Where you have failed." Bruce continued, "We will succeed. Where the world's armies and police forces have been unable to protect the innocent and maintain peace, the men of the newly organised Arkham Private Military Company, under the authority of the Wayne Conglomerate, will be deployed to all corners of the globe, to ensure a safe and secure world, where no man, woman or child will ever need to fear harm again."
Bruce sighed, "I would like to also address the current status of Clark Kent, also known as Superman. It is to my great regret, that a man whom I once called a friend, has now gone rogue, as well as the others whom we once thought of as heroes, including Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, and Hawkgirl. Others, we have been fortunate to detain before they were able to afflict too much damage, including Barry Allen, better known as the Flash.
These are dangerous fugitives – Superman especially - has the power to destroy our planet and threaten our very way of life. I tell you now, I will not let that happen. To my eternal shame, already, the terrorist actions of Superman's forces have led to the deaths of a number of heroes, these include Shazam, Miss Martian and Green Lantern."
Many of the Heroes upon the stage closed their eyes or expressed sorrowful expressions at the mention of their dead friends and allies – especially Martian Manhunter and Guy Gardner.
"We stand here today to tell you that we will fight for each and every one of you. We will fight for your right to peace against this menace, so that there will never be another Gotham ever again. My…" he hesitated, "my late wife, Talia, once talked to me of a better world, a better future for our children. And that is what I intend to create, not only for her, but my entire family too, Alfred, my children, and my parents."
Bruce's eyes burned through the camera, "Whatever it takes, we will save this world."
END: YEAR ONE
Author's note: and with that, keep an eye out for Year Two of Vengeance: Men Among Gods Year Two.