Notice: All characters are owned by DC Comics. This is an original story based off those characters and storylines.
Author's note: Thank you very much for the warm reviews I have received recently, they truly mean a lot.
On another note, just to clarify, the "Super Pills" in this universe are not as powerful as the ones in Injustice. So although these ones give strength and durability, its not on the level of Superman or Martian Manhunter etc.
I understand why its like that, how else could you make a game where Batman or Catwoman could stand less than five seconds against Supes? but for the sake of the semi realism of this story, the pills only give about 50% of the power that a being like Superman has, they can land a blow that can hurt, and take a good amount of bullets, but don't stand a chance purely strength to strength. When you can see Black Canary, Harley or Batwoman easily deck Superman or Wonder Woman, its hard to take them as threats. Hence why even when they use the pills, non-powered beings still rely on their combat skills as opposed to their strength.
Sorry for the ramble, just wanted to clear that up.
Hope you enjoy :)
Chapter 4: Plans
*Themyscira, Mediterranean Sea, off the Coast of Greece*
16th October, 2013
*12:23 AM, GMT*
"Ahhh!."
Superman groaned in agony as the last shard of green kryptonite was finally removed from his back, all part of a surgery he had been anticipating for some time now.
He lay on his front, fists clenched, beads of sweat on his brow as the pain went from numbing to overwhelming.
The Amazons of Themyscira were not just great warriors, but equally skilled in the arts of medicine too, able to treat even a species not from this world.
For those who knew how to harm best, also knew how to heal too.
Lois Lane was always by his side, holding the hand of the man she loved as the final few operations to rid Clark of the combined red solar and kryptonite infection took place. Although they would be gone, it would take time before his full strength returned.
The operation took a total of three hours overall, and when it was over, the last son of Krypton felt like passing out then and there.
"It is almost over, Kal-El of Krypton." assured Epione, the best healer on the island with a comforting and warm smile, young looking for an Amazon, blonde of hair with a white robe.
Kal returned the smile before another surge of pain followed, he braced and as the last piece of green crystal, no bigger than the size of his little finger , and twice as thin, came out of his back, bright and crimson, and the Amazon quickly set it with the others in a small wooden bowl.
Despite the shards being removed, and his body working overtime to reject the artificial red solar, it would still take time before he would be up to his full capabilities once again.
It was days later that Superman was able to greet the others within the palace, Lois helping him along as he limped into the main chamber with a wooden cane, they came to the great hall, overlooking the island with a gorgeous balcony at the deep blue ocean and white sandy beach. Within were the likes of everyone who had escaped the Fortress, as well as some new additions.
Green Arrow was the first to great him with his trademark cheekiness, "Heeyyyy Superman, we were wondering where you were. Figured you were beginning to enjoy the bed and breakfast treatment too much to lead this merry band."
Clark only smiled back, "Good to see you as well, Ollie."
Oliver then gave a firm handshake with a hand on his shoulder, "Yeah, good to see you too, Big Blue. Glad to have you back." He looked to Lois, "Oh Ms Lane, ugh, remind me to never get on your bad side, ever." the Emerald Archer recalling the super-pilled beatdown she and the Super family had dished out to Batman.
At least they had one thing to raise a celebratory toast to on that grim day.
The raven-haired reporter only grinned with a raised eyebrow, "Don't worry, Ollie, just avoid more than ten wisecracks a day and keep me away from any super pills and we'll be golden."
All around, Wonder Woman, Vixen, Arsenal, Hawkgirl, Donna Troy, Black Lightning, Batwoman and Beast Boy all welcomed him back (Roy Harper himself gruffly only giving a nod, but Clark knew he meant well all the same). As well as the original members, they had recently been joined by others, pushed by the deaths caused by Batman and his followers.
There had been at least one loss, in Arthur Curry.
The king of Atlantis had left days before, making his way down to towards the beach, Wonder Woman having taken the initiative to talk him out of it. A futile gesture, for nothing could change his mind.
"I see no benefit in aiding in this fight." He told her with a sigh, "We will keep out of the surface world's affairs and focus only on our own. It is the best way forward for my people." He gave her a final look of regret, "Regardless… I wish you the best of fortune in the war to come, Diana."
Aquaman's parting had been unfortunate, with him gone, so went any hope for potential Atlantean aid.
On other more positive points, the actions of Batman had led to heroes who had once desired to stay neutral to see him for what he had become and realise that he had to be stopped.
Two of them were here now.
"Diana." He came up to Wonder Woman, to whom Superman considered one of his closest friends, and second-in-command. "I didn't get the chance to thank you for getting everyone to safety and convincing more people to stand with us."
The princess laid a hand on his shoulder, "I did what you would have done, Superman. And with you back, I know we can win."
He paused, "And… thank you again for ensuring my parent's safety." He sighed, "At least I know they're okay."
"Do not worry, they are with a friend who we can trust, one who Batman won't think to look at."
Kal nodded, and looked to his wife, "I still think you should have gone with them, Lo. If Batman-"
"Screw the Bat." She interrupted, before her expression turned serious, "He hurt you, hurt our family, maybe beyond repair. Its our fight, Clark. So unless you're planning to tie me up and send me to join Martha and Jon, we have a dictator to take down and a lot of work." She stared up into the eyes of the most powerful being in the world, challenging him to suggest differently.
Superman only smiled and kissed the fiery reporter.
Unfortunately, other reunions were less upbeat.
Carol Ferris, the former Star Sapphire, and Michael Holt, AKA, Mr Terrific had arrived in the days before after managing to contact Wonder Woman, and this was the first time that Clark met them face to face.
Carol herself was not how he had last seen here. On her right hand was a green ring, the same one that had left Hal's still warm hand at the Batcave…
Clark embraced her, and she returned it in kind.
"I'm so sorry, I couldn't save him…" he muttered sadly, a tear falling from his bright blue eye. Memories of his friend, Hal, a man who he had known for ten plus years being beaten to death as he could do nothing haunted him even now.
Green Sapphire as she was now known only shock her head, face a mixture of pain and still raw grief, "there was nothing you could have done. It wasn't your fault, Superman." Her eyes hardened, "All that matters is bringing the man responsible to justice, who acts like ruling this planet is something he has a right to. If we get to take him down, count me in this fight for the long haul."
Clark nodded in understanding, "When the time comes, you'll have your chance. I promise you."
As the day went on, Superman took time to fully catch up to the events of the world in the last several weeks.
It was not good, he supressed a feeling of anger in the pit of his stomach as he heard of what had happened to Metropolis, how Batman was now punishing the city's inhabitants to get to him, to make him vulnerable.
Feelings of impatience and caution were made in the first meeting of the Resistance that very day within the great hall, now converted into their new headquarters to oppose Batman's rule.
"- Its bad. Leaguers now patrol their own sectors of the planet. all have iron authority to do as they please." Donna Troy explained, having taken the lead in studying the structure of this new regime, laying out a map with detailed information as to how their patrols worked.
"All coms, no matter who and where, for any purpose, are now closely monitored by Oracle." She continued, "And with Cyborg on their side, its only becoming more efficient. We can't even send an emoji without them knowing who sent it, where they were when it was sent and anything they or anyone they know said or did, all controlled from the Watchtower."
"Good thing we have one of the smartest men in the world to counter it." Smiled a jolly and upbeat Green Arrow, looking across at Mr Terrific, who nodded in appreciation. Someone who could help counter Batman's overwhelming technological advantage.
Mr Terrific spoke next.
"It's taken me some time to craft a counter-Oracle system for wider use, but its possible." He looked to Superman and everyone else, "Until then, I'm afraid to say any direct effort to contact loved ones outside of this island will have to be put on hold."
"And knowing Batman, he's already working on keeping ten steps ahead of us on that front." Added Kate Kane, also known as Batwoman. The one member of the Bat family who had stood against the tide since the start.
Michael nodded with a smirk, "I always liked a challenge. We'll see who gets the title of the smartest man."
As time went on, the issue went to what the next step would be. The plot to overthrow Batman had been foiled once, and now he was in a much stronger position than before.
"We must be cautious." Diana warned, the voice of reason as they sat at the ancient table that would function as their new group meeting hall, she did not miss the handful of heads shaking and looks of irritation, the princess put her hands up, "I know it's not what anyone wants to hear. And trust me, I want to leave the island and take the fight to Batman again just as much as any of you. But we need to wait for the right time."
"I agree with Wonder Woman," concurred Green Arrow, "It's not just Batman or the League now, they have an army out there in full occupation."
Arsenal shock his head at the two, "And we let them do that. It's no different than last time. We're waiting here and letting them get stronger again."
Vixen sent a disapproving look at the younger man, "Storming headlong in with a vengeance won't help anyone either, Roy. And with Superman soon to be at full strength, we have a fighting chance again. We just need more time."
Black Lighting chipped in, "She's speaking the truth, son."
Arsenal slammed his fist on the table, "Well its better than just sitting here! Every minute, people suffer, innocent people under that maniac's fist!"
"I…" it was Beast Boy, by far the youngest person in the group, only nineteen.
This was clearly not his preferred environment, his career having been spent around people his age with the Titans, who were as silly as he was, not those who he once hung posters of in his bedroom, and who he looked up to as role-models.
He hesitated, "I know where you're coming from, Roy, we all feel useless right now, and doing nothing sucks... We've lost friends, either killed, or because they've become people I can't recognise anymore." He paused, mind remembering all their faces, and the precious memories that came with them in times long past, "I wanna get out there too. But Batman is counting on us making that mistake. We beat him at his own game by attacking when we decide."
Donna, Lois, Diana, Ollie and Clark all smiled at him warmly, proud at the young man's thoughtful and mature attitude in these trying times.
Roy sighed with his eyes closed, "Ok Gar, as a fellow Titan, I'll follow your lead."
"And Arsenal." Mr Terrific smiled, "We never said we didn't have a plan."
Michael's face darkened suddenly, dropping into a look of shock, "No…"
"What is it?" asked Hawkgirl.
"I'm connected to the current world news via a T sphere." At an unsaid command, one of the floating dark balls came into the room.
A small hologram flashed out, showing a news broadcast from Washington DC at night, the city having experienced widespread damage in some sort of recent battle.
Before anyone could ask or question, the report answered it all… including the news nobody wished to hear.
"- The battle raged for hours, including many of Batman's enforcers, including Mr Wayne himself. It was ended in front of the Washington Monument…"
Everyone looked on with expressions of horror.
"- Martian Manhunter himself was responsible taking down Conner Kent, better known to the public as Superboy, now confirmed dead as of-"
"NO!" Superman yelled, collapsing to his knees, punching the ground as he did, leaving a massive dent in the pristine marble floor, an act made more shocking for the Kryptonian was not yet at full strength, such was the level of his anger.
Conner was the last.
It never mattered to Kal where Conner's origins lay; a secret Cadmus project, fused from both his own and Luthor's DNA. As far as he had ever been concerned, Kon-El was as much a Kryptonian as himself, forged in his acts of valour over the years.
Now he was alone again.
Kara was gone. Karen was now another criminal.
The last thing he remembered was both Batwoman and Ollie rushing over to him as he passed out.
LATER THAT NIGHT…
Arsenal leaped from each white marble building, slowly making his way down to the dock area, rowing boats and oars rocking against the wood.
His stealth training, perfected under his mentor, Green Arrow, serving him well as he did.
Roy Harper tried to revisit those memories, before his time with Big Bow, the father he once knew, to meeting Oliver, stealing his wallet during a day around Seattle.
Instead of chastisement and punishment… Oliver Queen took him in, aimed his rage and sadness to something productive. Something he needed…
The first night as Speedy, stopping a bank robber, a mugger, and two arsonists.
But there was only anger, anger at what had happened to one of his best friends: Conner Kent. And he had been the latest.
M'gann, Billy, Kara, Hal.
The red headed hero with the cap and quiver had never been one to be too sentimental… but he valued every single one of his fellow heroes and would've given his life for anyone of them.
Memories he once held sacred, now poisonous. Rage was all he could feel anymore.
"Arsenal!"
He heard the voice, but instead ran faster, shooting a rope arrow to get over a massive distance.
"Roy!"
It was a voice he knew.
"Batwoman! Don't try to stop me! I can't wait anymore! He has to be stopped!"
He landed and rolled onto a large white building, and ahead, the feminine shape of Katherine Kane also jumped down, blocking his path.
"Roy…" Batwoman said with a puff of breath from the chase, "You have the wrong idea… I don't want to stop you. I want to come with you."
That caught the former sidekick of Green Arrow off guard. Kate Kane, Batman's very own cousin, continued, "You're right, he has to stopped now. Every minute we wait, he only gets better at finding new ways to stop us… we just need to get him alone."
Batwoman continued, "I respect Superman… but just hiding here won't change anything, and if they knew we were going, they'd stop us from leaving this island. Superboy almost had him, but he was alone. If we work together. We can do it."
"Better that than head straight into danger." quipped Roy with some self-awareness.
Arsenal slowly smiled a rare smile. Genuine and warm.
"I'm glad you have my back, truly." Then it soured somewhat, "But still, just the two of us… I'm not sure." He paused, "
"Don't worry, we have some friends who'd be willing to help." Kate explained.
*Oa, Sector 0. Centre of the Universe*
*Headquarters to the Guardians of the Universe*
"I just can't believe it." Simon Baz said as he shook his head. still in disbelief as to what he had just been told.
He was standing before the Guardians themselves, all towering over him from their respective podiums.
"Regrettably, it is the truth." Sighed Ganthet, "you are the first Lantern to be told this, Baz."
The Lebanese American still looked puzzled, "But why me?" he looked around to the small beings above, "I'm… I'm just a rookie ex car thief and street racer. There has to be a better candidate than me."
"Because we have deemed it necessary." Answered Ranakar, "You are to go to Earth, with Ganthet. We must see for ourselves before a specific action is taken, for the sake of your people, see if this can be resolved peacefully. You may be new to us, Simon Baz of Earth, but you have proven yourself that we can entrust you with this mission."
Where it under normal circumstances, Simon would allow himself at least some credit, but instead all he felt was a crushing uncertainty in his stomach for maybe the first time since he put on the green ring two years ago.
"Batman of all people… the guy who faced the damn Joker, Bane, Penguin and Poison Ivy, but he never killed them, I always… I always respected that about him. Even when he could've, he didn't because he was always trying to save even the worst. Now he's killing good guys." he looked up, determination on his face "why not someone more experienced? John Stewart, or why not send Jessica as well-"
"Stewart is unavailable at this time… and we feel it unwise to place such a burden on Lantern Cruz."
"I've always worked alongside her." He argued, "And we always make a good team." Something which if anyone said to him a long time ago, he'd think was crazier than Harley Quinn.
Simon and Jessica couldn't have been more different. Where as he preferred taking action and powering through, Jess was painfully cautious as a person, her anxiety from her past always casting a shadow even now.
Those first few months, they were oil and water; unable to communicate or adapt to each other.
Like a jackass, he viewed her struggles as slowing him down, and for her, his blunt and unrestrained honesty never helped. Simon would wonder openly to God why the Guardians had thought it smart to pair them as a duo on missions.
Jess even admitted years later over drinks that she even went to bed a couple of times hating him (and the feeling was not exactly one-sided)
And in the end, their diametrically opposite personalities and strengths ended up saving their skins more times than was possible to count.
Today, Simon Baz would never ask for a different partner.
"We are aware." Ganthet answered his query evenly, "But Lantern Cruz's history with Guy Gardener, as well as Batman means we cannot allow her own perceptions to interfere in her duty. Afterall, it was Gardener who was her mentor, as he was yours, and it was Batman who brought her back from the brink when she was a prisoner of the Ring of Volthoom during the Crime Syndicate's attempted takeover of Earth. In that regard, We have decided that it will best for her to be kept away from this crisis. Her feelings may impair her judgement."
Simon sighed, but nodded, it was not unreasonable, or too outrageous. He knew she would understand.
"Orders are orders I guess."
"There is something else." Ranakar spoke again, "Kyle Rayner is dead." and on quo, the image of one of the longest-serving human Lanterns showed up, confirmed to be deceased, with his ring travelling across the universe in search of a new replacement.
"Shit..." Simon muttered, "does it have something to do with Batman?" he feared what the truth would be...
Ganthet sighed, "We do not know. Only that he disappeared and lost his life along the trail home to Earth. Although there is no evidence. I sense the hand of Sinestro in this."
Baz now only had one thing on his mind.
"When do we leave?"
Ganthet's eyes narrowed.
"Now."
*Outside the Justice League Watchtower, Space. *
*15:33 AM, GMT* 17th October, 2013
"Are you sure about this?" Lyssa Dhark asked in a husky whispery voice against his shoulder. Close enough to feel the tingle of her breath on his ear as they observed the station ahead.
Sinestro only grinned like a Cheshire cat as the Watchtower continued to rotate above the Earth, which functioned as the headquarters of the Justice League, or at least those members who had finally seen the wisdom to bring true order to this planet.
His plan would not fail.
On the right, his second in command of the Corps, Arkillo grumbled, "As much as I hate it, I must concur with the Talokite, Sinestro. We have no reason to trust Batman or his soldiers. Just because they inflict fear as we do may make no difference."
"They may well still see us as enemies." Lyssa added.
Behind them were three hundred strong members of the Sinestro Lantern Corps; the most feared and depraved beings from every corner of the known galaxy, united in their ability and desire to inflict fear across every sector they could reach.
"Have faith, my friends." Thaal declared, floating above his followers, "We have observed long and fruitfully. They may not see it now, and in all likelihood, it will take some… convincing… but they are becoming more like us every day. They no longer hesitate to inflict death on those oppose them and have realised the failure of allowing a populace unrestricted free will."
Lyssa tilted her head slightly, the Keeper of the Book of Parallax spoke up once more, "It is true, Sinestro, that their embrace of fear makes a truly remarkable, and delightful story… but even the Justice League, even now as they have crippled, killed and terrified across this planet… in their continued self-righteousness, would they accept our aid?"
Sinestro turned to her, completely self-assured, "I know they will, dear Lyssa. if not for the great truth that now binds my Corps and the League, then certainly the Batman will be eager to hear of the gnome's plans to have him taken for one of their shambolic self-rightious trials on Oa, and to have him confined to that damned prison."
And it was true, across the Galaxy, Sinestro knew the Guardians were planning to have Batman arrested, for the "crimes" of bringing efficient order to his planet and ridding it of one more disgusting human lantern.
Now, Thaal turned to both his lieutenants and the rest of the Corps:
"You have followed me and trusted my judgement, our history, and our cause have led us to this moment. A moment that will allow us to finally cripple the loathsome scum of the Green Lantern Corps, and their pathetic little overlords on Oa… under no circumstances are any of you to interfere in what comes next, if you do, it will ruin any chance of establishing this alliance." He eyed both Arkillo and Lyssa, "I will go alone, put the first phase of our plan into motion. Remain here until you are given the signal and not before."
The Koraguran put his arm in the air, the Qwardian power ring bleeding yellow energy.
"Take head! here and now, we will eradicate the authority of the Guardians! Fear, will be the new currency that will seal the universe under one united banner of order and obedience!"
The crowd of Lanterns cheered and roared in approval, following their leader in raising their own ringed hands, claws or versions of limbs in the air in salute to their leader.
They all chanted as one single symposium of terror.
"In blackest day, in brightest night, before your fears made into light. Let those who try to stop what's right, burn like my power! Sinestro's Might!"