I wish y'all a early Merry Christmas, because it'll be a miracle if you see from me anytime soon lol
#########
XXXXXXXXXX
also to note, this is very much a Justice League, Royal Flush Gang, and main antagonist centric chapter. Next chapter we'll be back with Amazo.
#########
XXXXXXXXXX
It was a dark and stormy day in the city of Metropolis, the sky aloft with a thunderous symphony.
And adding to that was the collective groans of six individuals in colorful costumes as they were grasped by the metal claws of a fierce machine, with a serpent-like head housing a red stone of immense power. It was through such power that it could manifest the electricity coursing through its claws, continuously bringing those trapped in its clutches pain.
"The world's greatest heroes," a man said in a mocking tone as he stood before the scene. Right after, the machine dropped all six members of the defeated Justice League before him. Leaving them in a helpless pile atop of each other, all unconscious save for the groans they gave.
"And I thought I'd actually have to break a sweat." he said as he looked down upon the foes that he had single handedly defeated with the machine.
"I'll be doing the breaking," A voice said, drawing the man's attention away from his defeated enemies. The voice was soon revealed to be Superman, brimming with righteous anger as he flew in through the thunderous sky.
The man only smirked in the face of Superman's anger. In response, the man had his machine zap him with its own lightning, causing him to grow gigantic in size, standing well above the skyscrapers of the city.
The man stood proud with a smirk on his face and hands on his hips as he looked down on the Man of Steel. And easily captured him within his grasp once he flew too close,
"Yes, indeed," he replied over the sound of crushing bones and a groan of pain, "You'll break very nicely." He laughed as he dropped the now limp Superman upon the pile with the rest of the Justice League.
As the dust settled, the man was back to his normal size, stomping upon the broken Man of Steel's chest. And to the applause of various members of the heroes rogues gallery.
The Ultra Humanite, Star Sapphire, Shade, Deadshot, Rattlesnake, Gorilla Grodd. Cheetah, Giganta, Black Spider, Queen Bee, Sinestro, Weather Wizard, Music Meister, and various other villains.
"Congratulations," cheered on Lex Luthor himself, "You've done what even I couldn't do. Mister?"
"Dee. John Dee," Dee answered just as a crack of thunder flashed through the sky, as if to emphasize the man.
"Oh, we'll have to do better than that," The Clown Prince of Crime, the Joker, suggested as he slid into view, "Let's see, D… D… Destructer? Demolisher!"
"Time for that later," Lex Luthor interrupted as he pushed the Joker off to the side, "First, Mr. Dee has to tell us exactly how this… thing works."
"The Materioptikon? Sorry, but it's a trade secret." Dee declined.
"That alright," Solomon Grundy said as he approached Dee from behind, "Grundy like you anyway. You one of us now!" he cheered as he patted him on the back rather roughly.
"Easy, easy," Dee winced, proud to hear such words but still feeling the force behind the undead's friendly pats.
"...easy," he mumbled from his mouth. The words stopped as he was roused by the gentle shaking of a hand.
Upon waking up, he was no longer in the desolate cityscape that he had created in his battle. The Justice League was no longer beaten and broken beneath his feet, nor was he surrounded by the admiring gaze of the most powerful and infamous of supervillains. Though of course that last part would never be true.
Lex Luthor was dead after all. Of course he was. The Justice League was not content with sending him to prison, but also in killing the man he admired most in the world.
"Your turn in the barrel,'' a prison guard said, his eyes pointing over to the left to indicate the opening.
Now having fully regained consciousness, he got up from the chair in the waiting room, "What's so easy, John?" the guard asked.
Dee's eyes widened in surprise, with a small part in alarm also, as he turned to the guard, he elaborated, "You were talking in your sleep."
At the sound of the guard's question being that of genuine interest rather than any scorn or accusation, Dee calmed down as he answered happily, "Just dreaming about my parole. I think that it's really going to happen this time."
"I wouldn't bet against it. You're not like the other guys here," he agreed readily as he shook his head, "You've got a future."
Dee nodded as he opened the door to the lab, "Yeah, I've got a real date with destiny."
He eyes glancing at the professor before resting over the machine he would be testing, the very same as the one he was using within his dream, if only a much smaller version of the Materioptikon. Still, it glowed the same esoteric red that it did in his dreams.
"Three, two, one, and stop," A scientist said right when he was shutting the machine down.
"That's it? I don't feel any different." Dee noted with some surprise, expecting more from the experiment.
"You're not supposed to. Just let your mind go blank and tell me what goes into it when I look at these cards," The scientist said as he held up a couple of cards facing the back of Dee.
As the scientist went through each card, Dee managed to get the correct card each time. His answers started off hesitant but became more confident as they progressed.
"And for the last card, a house," Dee answered, stating that this was the final card despite the professor never specifying how many there were.
The scientist revealed the front of each card in the order that he held them out, showing that the machine had work, much to the prisoner's wonder, "Geez, so it's true. This thing really can give people ESP." he marveled.
"Only for a little while and I'm still charting the side effects." The scientist said brusquely as he recorded the results.
"But think of the potential. I'd sure like to keep working with you on this, even after they let me out. See what this baby can really do." Dee proposed enthusiastically.
"What it could do is fry your brain," the scientist warned.
"Hey, sometimes you gotta take a chance. You know, for science." he shrugged off.
"I appreciate your zeal, but-" The scientist was about to say before a few knocks at the door interrupted him. He paused in his response as he went over to open it.
At the door was the same guard who ushered Dee in, but rather than the hopeful look he had on his face before, was a regretful one.
"John, you're parole reports in," Despite the look on the guard's face being a clear cut answer, Dee's face lit up with a smile at what was sure to be good news. That he would be outta here soon enough-
At the lack of an answer, the silence forced Dee to truly take the guard in to understand the absence of cheer from his face. To which he could only close his eyes in sorrow.
It was difficult to move after that, the cheer of what was supposed to be good news and the potential breakthrough in science he was participating in was crushed by the all consuming weight of the denial of his parole.
But despite the difficulty, he forced himself to. He still had to see his wife after all, though it was supposed to be a joyous occasion in which he'd tell her that his parole would've been accepted and that he'd finally be out of prison much sooner than what the full sentence would've had him wait. Two years as opposed to the full twenty, all because of the Justice League interferring with a LexCorp weapons delivery.
It didn't make him happy, but at least seeing his wife would help. After all, despite this struggle she would surely be there for him after all he's done to support her.
"It's just a little setback, that's all." He attempted to reassure his wife through the phone.
"You said that last time, and the time before." she pointed out.
Upon the guard moving out of hearing range, Dee leaned in on the phone as he whispered, "Listen, I'm working on something new. It's gonna change everything."
"You've said that before too."
"Baby, this time it's going to happen. I swear."
"John," Penny started before closing her eyes, building the nerve to say something. She looked at him straight in the eyes now, "I've found someone else."
Without another word said between the two, she hung up the phone and got up. Dee reached out to her as she did, still reeling from the news.
"You can't do this, I'm so close." he called out as he watched her leave.
She gave her former husband one last look, before walking away.
"You can't do this to me!" He cried out as he banged his hands against the glass window. The hand that once crushed Superman now powerless in expressing his grief.
From a man who single handedly defeated the Justice League and earned the respect of the most notorious supervillains, from a man who was set to get his life back together once he got the parole that he deserved and more once he got more involved with the Materioptikon.
To a man who was back to scrubbing toilets, this time without the promise of a parole to get him through.
From that point, John Dee's life spiraled into an unrelenting descent downhill. Each denied parole request felt like another door slamming shut on his hopes. His aspirations for the future, once bright and within reach, now lay in ruins. The departure of his beloved, the one anchor he thought unshakable, left him adrift in a sea of disillusionment. As rejection piled upon rejection, his grasp on reality began to fray, thread by thread.
"Where's that happy face today, Dee?" a prisoner asked as walked by, pushing the mop across the bathroom floor.
"Shut up," Dee snarled, raw and tinged with bitterness.
The physically larger prisoner, undeterred by Dee's hostility, let out a mocking, drawn-out "Oooo." He continued mopping, his movements steady and unbothered, a stark contrast to Dee's simmering anger as his brushes became more forceful.
The sudden wail of sirens pierced the air, signaling the onset of a prison riot. The familiar sound reverberated through the corridors,
"Sounds like somebody's getting out today," remarked the prisoner, his voice laced with a mix of sarcasm and intrigue. He turned, expecting a reaction from Dee, only to find an empty space where the man had been just moments ago. Toliet brush left on the floor.
Puzzled, he scanned the room. Dee had vanished without a trace, leaving no indication of his whereabouts. A flicker of confusion crossed the prisoner's face, quickly replaced by a sly grin. "Heh, Dee tried playing the obedient little dog and didn't get out that way. Can't blame him for trying to hitch a ride out this time," he chuckled to himself.
With the chaos of a prison riot, he had an opportunity to get his hands on some money. Or some contraband that could make his life easier, or perhaps just some fun.
Plenty of opportunity to seize in such chaos.
Where most of the prisoners were facing off against the more high security guards equipped with advanced anti riot gear and such, Dee wasn't there with the rest of his fellow former henchmen.
Instead, he was back in the laboratory.
Back where he belonged. Back where his life would've turned around after he got out. Where it would be turned around now.
Now, in the laboratory, Dee felt a sense of belonging, a fleeting connection to the life that might have been. Recalling the hope that he felt with each visit, before the final one left him devoid of it. Yet it would his greatest one yet, as what he was about to do was fueled by a desperate one.
"I was worried about you, sometimes they like to take hostages. Better lock up," Dee casually remarked as he entered the scientist's office. The scientist, lying prone on the floor, looked up at Dee with a mixture of relief and confusion, mistaking him for an ally in the midst of the chaos.
"Right, right," the scientist mumbled, still dazed from the commotion outside. As he fumbled for his keys, his back turned to Dee, distracted long enough for the man to grab one of his gold statues and swung it to the side of his head, knocking him out as he crumpled to the floor.
Dee looked down at the fallen man, a mix of resignation and determination in his eyes. "With no parole and no wife, I don't really have much left, do I? Might as well take a chance, for science," he murmured to himself as he unlocked the door and approached the Materioptikon.
Setting the machine to its maximum capacity, Dee connected himself to it and took a seat. As he activated the device, a red glow bathed the room, intensifying into a blinding white light that enveloped him completely. He closed his eyes, surrendering to the overwhelming sensation.
He envisioned himself as a child again, spinning under the sheltering sky, only now there was no one to catch him as he fell.
As the blinding light subsided, Dee opened his eyes to a world transformed. The laboratory, once a place of scientific pursuit and an avenue to freedom, now seemed like a narrow cage, one he had outgrown. He could feel the tendrils of his thoughts reaching out, far beyond the walls of the prison, touching minds, weaving into dreams.
'It worked. It actually worked!'
John Dee, now feeling the surge of power coursing through him, reveled in his newfound abilities. Sure, it wasn't the kind of overwhelming strength that he had fantasized about controlling in his dreams, where he had single-handedly defeated the Justice League with the might of a machine. But he was already aware that it wasn't what the machine would have granted him in the first place. After all, he had been tested with a limited version of its power.
But this… this was far from limited.
This was something more subtle, more wider reaching, and in its own way, far more powerful.
In the infirmary, he could sense the minds around him – a swirl of thoughts, fears, and dreams that had been born from the recent riot and potential of escape. It was overwhelming at first, but Dee's prior experience with ESP during the experiments had prepared him. His mind, already familiar with the sensation, quickly adapted to the influx of psychic information.
With just a thought, a mere flicker of his intent, everyone in the infirmary slumped to the ground, unconscious. The clatter of falling bodies and medical equipment echoed in the suddenly silent room. "Heh, I can get used to this..." Dee mused, a smirk playing on his lips as he witnessed the ease with which he could exert control.
But a nagging thought lingered at the back of his mind. "Though, would it be enough for them?" In his dreams, the machine had been the instrument of the League's defeat. Reality was different, yet he couldn't shake off the allure of the machine, as if something within it was calling out to him.
Drawn to the device, Dee felt compelled to return to the laboratory.
It was an easy enough thing to instantly render any guards he came across unconscious on his way.
Once there, his mind focused, he sensed a new presence within the Materioptikon – an essence. An energy. The source behind it.
"The machine has a power source. Something far beyond a mere myth," Dee realized, as the presence touched his mind.
It was alien. Vast and incomprehensible.
It was also incredibly powerful.
"If this is what gives the machine its power, then what else could I achieve by harnessing this energy?" he mused to himself, utterly fascinated.
Dee's hand reached out, and his fingers wrapped around a ruby red gem as he freed it from its metallic confines. As he pulled it free, a surge of energy washed over him, magnifying his powers exponentially. He could feel his abilities growing, not just in small increments, but in leaps and bounds. The gem seemed to resonate with his own psychic energy, amplifying it, refining it.
Now, with this enhanced power, Dee knew he could do more than just manipulate the minds of a few individuals. He could weave illusions on a grand scale, infiltrate dreams across the city, perhaps even the world. The potential was limitless.
With the ruby gem in his hand, Dee stepped out of the infirmary, a new sense of purpose fueling his steps. The prison, with its walls and bars, was no longer a cage that could hold him. He was beyond such physical constraints now.
Using his telepathic abilities, Dee implanted a suggestion into the minds of the guards to ignore him. Allowing him to merely walk to the nearest exit as he spun the keys of some visitor he picked pocketed.
Once outside, he didn't look back. The prison, the symbol of his humiliation and defeat, was now just a speck in his rearview mirror. The world was his oyster now, he just had to crack it open with his hands.
But it wasn't enough. Not nearly enough.
The prison, where John Dee's old life had gone to hell was also where he died, a nobody with nothing to his name. And from his death, somebody new was born in his place.
With the ruby, he had a new chance. To be a somebody.
With the stone, he had the power. He could make the world bow before him.
With the dreamstone, he could have it all.
"Now, what shall I do first?" the yet to be newly named villain said as he drove through the city.
A city that had been his prison.
A city that he could now use as his playground.
'Ah, what better way to test the limits of my new power than on the ones who imprisoned me in the first place. They're the reason I suffered, the reason my life went down the drain. Without the Justice League, I'd still have a family. I'd still have my life the way it used to be.'
A part of him wanted to see the heroes grovel. To make them pay for what they did.
But another part of him, the part that wanted is wife again, the part that still missed the life that could've been. It wanted something else.
It couldn't have that anymore, his wife left him, before the final verdict of his parole had even come out. For another man at that. And even if he did fix it with his power over the human mind, how could he go back to her knowing what she did entirely of her own volition?
No, he could never have that life again. And the best way to finally move on from his old life would be to right the greatest wrongs done against him. First, starting with the one that should've been by John Dee's side until the end.
It would be fitting for him to fix it so that would actually be the case. And it'd certainly help him move on, or at least, that's what he'd tell himself.
If only so he can accept that his old life was only a dream, a fleeting memory, as he embraced his new destiny.
-XXX-
Inside the somber confines of the prison van that was yet to leave, Superman approached the recently defeated Volcana with a purposeful stride, his cape billowing softly behind him.
"Volcana," he began, his voice resonating with a blend of authority and empathy.
She turned to face him, her expression guarded yet curious. "What could you possibly have to say now, Superman?"
"I've uncovered something," Superman said, pausing to ensure he had her full attention. "It's about those responsible for your transformation. The ones above General Ross."
Volcana's eyes flickered with a mix of surprise and bitterness. "You mean you've found those bastards?"
"Not exactly, but I have a lead. Already we found a facility similar to the Institute and saved the five children there, all taken from their families and trained to be weapons for the government."
Her eyes softened as she absorbed this. "So, some got saved..." she murmured, a tinge of sorrow in her voice.
"While I understand it might not change your past, especially since you still committed your crimes on your own and need to do your time for them, I thought you deserved to know at least. These children... they won't have to endure what you did."
"While a part of me is bitter that I had to free myself, I'm happy to hear that others didn't have to. Where are they now?"
"They are undergoing medical treatment, to treat anything that the experiment's may have left in them."
Volcana's gaze drifted, reflective. "Just one thing, just because you freed them from one prison doesn't mean you won't end up sticking them in another. That island was the best you can do, especially when you couldn't go after the ones responsible, I recognize that, but depending on pity like that is no way to live."
"Neither is a life of crime," Superman retorted sternly, but softened as he acknowledged her point, "but I understand what you mean. When we bring the leaders to justice, they'll finally be able to live the lives that were stolen from them."
A faint smile touched Volcana's lips, tinged with melancholy. "Maybe they'll even knock a few years off my sentence when you expose them." she half-joked before turning somber, "Damn you for sending me back to Striker's, but thank you for telling me."
"It's the least I could do," Superman replied, giving a signal to the driver to depart.
As Superman walked away from the van, he encountered Batman, standing silently in the shade.
"She didn't need to know," Batman stated flatly.
"And yet, you didn't stop me," Superman countered, meeting Batman's gaze.
"I wanted to understand your reasoning," Batman admitted.
Superman sighed, a trace of regret in his voice, "If only I had known about Cadmus being behind Project Firestorm, I could've done more to help her by going after them sooner. Perhaps she wouldn't have fallen to villainy if they were brought to justice and she was allowed to live her life without being hunted by the government." his eyes soon had a steely glint, fueled by determination, "But that's enough about the past, we need to focus on the future now, to ensure justice is served for those like her."
Batman nodded. "You couldn't have known. But now, we can make things right. Let's finish what we've started."
The prison van slowly faded into the distance, carrying its burden of regret and lost opportunities. As Superman departed to go after the other villains, Batman went to the Batmobile to head back to the prison to ensure that the process of recollection went smoothly.
Batman, his cape casting a long shadow, stood wearily beside the prison cell as Volcana and Firefly were secured. "Two down, three to go," he muttered, stifling a yawn. His posture, usually the epitome of vigilance, now bore traces of exhaustion.
"Pretty routine stuff for you, isn't it?" the warden observed, eyeing Batman's fatigued demeanor.
"Sorry. Third night in a row with no sleep." Batman confessed. His nightly patrols in Gotham City, coupled with his search for information on Cadmus, responsibilities to the League (part-time or not, the Watchtower's expenses were on his tab), and the recent addition of monitoring Amazo's home, did not do his sleep schedule any favors.
"Maybe you should-" As the warden was about to respond, efore the warden could offer any words of concern or advice, his radio crackled to life, "Warden, Dee's gone," came a frantic voice from the other end.
"What are you talking about? He's catatonic! How could he be gone?" he demanded, his voice rising in a mix of confusion and disbelief.
"You better come to the infirmary." the voice urged.
Batman and Green Lantern walked briskly alongside the warden, their steps echoing in the dimly lit corridors of Striker's Island.
"An ESP machine in a prison, especially one like Striker's? That's asking for trouble," Batman noted, his voice a mixture of suspicion and disapproval.
The warden give a pragmatic shrug, "Where else are you going to find suitable test subjects?"
Green Lantern's voice tone turned incredulous, "You guys experiment on prisoners?"
"Well, what else are we going to use them for besides unpaid labor?" the warden expanded on his previous statement before explaining further, "Besides, we have them read and sign consent forms for their participation to serve as a form of good behavior."
"...of course, that doesn't always guarantee a parole or such, but that's made clear in their contracts."
Batman's gaze hardened. "And who's behind these experiments? Where's the idea originating from?"
"To be honest with you, I don't really know. My job is to be a warden, nothing more. So, I don't bother if some guy above me wants to make lab rats out of these guys," The warden's response was nonchalant, almost dismissive, before hastily adding as he remembered his present company, "Of course, it has to be ethical science, don't want a repeat of that nasty business at Stanford. But if anyone would have an idea, go ask Dr. Kelvo, he's the one running the experiments and the guy they sent over."
Batman and Green Lantern exchanged a glance, their mutual understanding clear. This pointed to deeper, more troubling aspects of the prison's operations, possibly linked to larger, more sinister agendas. For Stryker's was a government owned and operated prison, meaning that only someone with suffiecient authority could have arranged for these experiments.
The situation reeked of Cadmus' handiwork, reminiscent of their penchant for covert and morally ambiguous projects. However, Batman and Green Lantern recognized that, despite the gravity of this discovery, they had more immediate concerns to address first.
In the laboratory, the chaos left behind by John Dee's escape was all too evident. Dr. Kelvo, looking disheveled and shaken, faced Batman and Green Lantern, who had just arrived to investigate.
"Dee somehow overrode the Materioptikon's limits and escaped. The device was only supposed to grant temporary ESP," Kelvo explained, his voice tinged with disbelief.
Batman, piecing together the information, deduced, "We're dealing with an escapee possessing unknown levels of ESP. This aligns with reports of unconscious guards found near an exit."
The warden, visibly disturbed by the sight of the incapacitated staff, stammered, "B-but what about everyone in the infirmary? Was it some kind of poisoning? You'd know about that, wouldn't you?"
Before anyone could respond, Green Lantern's radio buzzed with an urgent message. "We've cornered the remaining escapees at the old oil refinery," Superman's voice reported.
"We'll be right there," Lantern quickly replied, ready to join the fray.
"I'm staying," Batman announced firmly.
"What for? You don't know if Dee did this?"
"I don't know that he didn't."
"Look, whatever he is, he sure isn't in the same league as Grundy and the others."
"Ever read the Odyssey? After Odysseus was caught by the Cyclops, he told it that his name was nobody. So when he poked its eye out and its friends asked who did it, all the Cyclops could say was 'Nobody'."
Lantern nodded, understanding dawning, "Point taken. But still, I'm going to assist the others. You follow your lead."
Batman turned to the warden. "Bring me Dee's file."
As they conversed, a nearby guard stepped forward. "I might be able to help. I knew John Dee better than most here."
Batman's attention shifted to the guard, sensing a new piece of the puzzle about to reveal itself.
-XXX-
As Dee watched from the shadows, the sight before him ignited a tumult of emotions, a cocktail of betrayal, anger, and a perverse curiosity. "So, this is who you left me for. You bitch," he muttered, his voice full of scorn, as he saw some new man drive his truck into the driveway before getting out and hugging his wife before kissing her on the lips.
The happiness Penny displayed with this new man, so starkly contrasting with the last time he had seen her, even more so than when he told of his potential parole and how he could finally get back to her before it was like a ever so slowly twisting knife to his chest.
His thoughts churned as he watched them. Was his imprisonment the catalyst for this new relationship, or had it been brewing even before he was behind bars? The ease of their interactions suggested a familiarity that took time to build, an intimacy that couldn't have just sprung up overnight. The thought gnawed at him, fueling his bitterness.
The tranquil setting of the woods and the distant laughter from the house created a jarring contrast with the storm raging within Dee. He was torn between the urge to confront her, to unleash his anger, and a lingering, painful love that made him question his desire for revenge.
"Could I just walk away? Let her live this lie?" Dee pondered, the power to unravel her new life thrumming at his fingertips.
With his newfound powers, he realized he had the means to confront this situation in a way he never could before. He could infiltrate their minds, unravel their secrets, and perhaps, find some form of closure or retribution.
He moved closer, hidden by the shadows of the trees, his mind already reaching out, weaving invisible threads of influence towards the house. He didn't just want to observe; he wanted to participate, to disrupt, to make them feel a fraction of the pain he was enduring.
As he focused, the world around him seemed to blur, the lines between reality and thought becoming indistinct.
Twirl me about, twirl me around, let me grow dizzy and fall to the ground...
-DDD-
"Couldn't sleep?" Dee asked, his voice a chilling whisper in the moonlit room.
Penny gasped, her glass of water slipping from her grasp and shattering on the floor.
"Maybe it's your conscience? Oh, I forgot, you don't have one." Dee sneered, his tone a mix of accusation and bitter irony.
"How did you get in here?" she stammered, her voice a mix of shock and fear.
"I can go anywhere I want now." Dee declared, his tone laden with eerie confidence. His eyes bore into hers as he continued, wasting no time in launching into a tirade, "You know, one would think that you'd be happy to see me. But of course, I'm sure you expected to never see me again. Seeing how easy it was for you to move on. To so easily lie in bed with another man after having just left your husband."
Penny, gathering a semblance of courage, replied in her defense, "I couldn't spend the rest of my life waiting for you! I had to move on."
"Ever the dutiful wife, weren't you? Couldn't even wait until I couldn't ever get a parole before you left me, before hooking up with…Rick," Dee seethed, "But I suppose that you're right. It's time for us to move on… to better things."
The air in the room grew colder, heavier, as Dee's presence seemed to warp the very atmosphere. "But first, since you're so keen on leaving me. I suppose that we should end our marriage first, and properly. You still remember our vows, don't you? Even if you failed to, I did; for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, to love and to cherish. Till death do us part."
Penny's eyes widened in terror, her breath quickening. She turned and ran towards the bedroom where Rick lay sleeping, her voice a desperate cry, "Rick, Rick! Get up, get up!"
Dee observed with a chilling nonchalance, "Sound sleeper, huh?"
"What did you do to him?" Penny's voice quivered with fear.
"Nothing. But there isn't much that he can do for you now."
"Not even the Justice League can save you now."
Penny realized the gravity of her situation, her voice quivering as she pleaded, "John, please."
"You know, I never really liked that name. It's so… ordinary. Especially for someone who has greater things in store. You know, a destiny. Oh, Destiny, I like it. Doctor Destiny," he said, though it seemed that he was more sounding it out loud than talking to her.
"What do you think?" he asked her.
"You're crazy!"
"I think that you're finally seeing the real me." John Dee declared as his visage began to shift, his form altering as he embraced his newfound identity. Now clad in a blue uniform with a darker blue hood and cape, his physique growing more imposing as his arms and legs expanded in muscle mass, and his fingers becoming claw-like. His face peeled away to reveal a grotesque skeletal visage.
"And now that I'm a doctor, I think I'll perform some surgery."
He said with gleeful menace as he reached towards his ex-wife, who could do nothing but scream in terror at the impending doom with the knowledge that no one could save her now.
Her cries of terror were not as limited as she thought. The moment that she started screaming in terror, Rick was suddenly roused from bed and tried to help her snap out of it. But nothing he could do would break her from her trance of terror.
Immediately he called for emergency services with no other idea on how to help her.
Penny was subsequently admitted to the Metropolis General Hospital, her mind ensnared in a waking nightmare, with the malevolent presence of Doctor Destiny looming over her. In the stillness of her room, with the faint glow of the moon casting shadows on the walls, she was trapped in a horrific reality, a stark contrast to the life she once knew. As the doctors and nurses passed by her door, oblivious to the depth of her terror, a haunting whisper seemed to echo through her mind, a chilling reminder from her former husband:
"Twirl me about, and twirl me around, let me grow dizzy and fall to the ground. And when I look up at you looking down, I'll say it was only a dream..."
-XXX-
In the dimly lit hospital room, Batman stood stoically beside the bed where Penny lay sedated, her expression one of deep distress even in her unconscious state. The Dark Knight's gaze was fixed on her, tense with concern.
Upon discovering her state from the local news report, Batman had immediately rushed over in hopes of finding a lead on Dee, who still remained at large even as the police were after him.
"I got here as soon as I could," Martian Manhunter's voice broke the silence as he phased through the wall, his green form materializing beside Batman.
"Do your thing." Batman instructed, his voice laced with urgency. Martian Manhunter nodded and gently placed his hands on the sides of Penny's head, preparing to enter her mind in search of answers.
-XXX-
Hawkgirl, perched on the console, struggled to keep her eyes open, her exhaustion barely concealed. She was a fierce warrior, but even warriors have their limits. The recent breakout had taken a toll on everyone, and she was no exception.
"You look beat. Come on, time to hit the sack," the Flash said, his voice tinged with concern. He was always quick to notice when one of his teammates needed a break.
Hawkgirl stubbornly shook her head. "No, I'm fine," she insisted, though her weary eyes betrayed her. "But I could use some caffeine."
The Flash, ever the supportive teammate, grinned. "No prob! One triple mocha frappe coming right up," he quipped. In a blur, he was gone, only to return moments later with a steaming cup, courtesy of the high-tech Wayne Enterprises Coffomatic 1200.
"That'll be 7.50 plea—" he began jokingly, but stopped as he saw Hawkgirl had already drifted off to sleep, her head resting against the console. With a soft chuckle, he dashed off again, returning this time with a cozy blanket. He draped it gently over her, careful not to wake her, and took up position beside her, vigilant and ready to take over the watch.
-XXX-
"J'ohn?" Batman inquired, his voice breaking the silence that held since Martian Manhunter had gone into
Martian Manhunter, momentarily emerging from his telepathic state, turned to Batman. "He calls himself Doctor Destiny now," J'onn explained solemnly. "He invaded her dreams, tormented her psyche. He's responsible for her condition."
Batman's brow furrowed under his cowl. "Why can't she wake up?" he asked, seeking to understand the extent of Doctor Destiny's powers.
"She's trapped in a delusional state, a prison of her own mind," Martian Manhunter elaborated, his voice tinged with empathy, "I'm going back in to bring her out of it."
As Martian Manhunter delved once more into Penny's tormented mind, his expression grew more grave. After a moment, he relayed a disturbing insight, "He wants us, too," he relayed.
Batman's gaze sharpened. "Us? Why? I've never even heard of him before this."
J'onn was silent as he went about completing that insight, piecing it together from the chao of Penny's mind, "He… wants revenge against us, against the Justice League. This attack on Penny... it's just the beginning."
-XXX-
The day drew to a close for John Stewart as he closed the blinds to his apartment window, preparing for a night's rest.
Clark Kent finished reading the day's newspaper, turned off his lamp, and settled into sleep, his mind unaware of the impending threat.
Wally West had already dozed off, slumbering next to Shayera Hol, both peacefully unaware of the lurking danger.
In the quiet of the night, a faint yet sinister laugh echoed in the darkness.
-XXX-
The Flash along with a nondescript group of children were watching a cartoon, featuring a much more muscular Flash brawling against Solomun Grundy.
The children cheered at the action, captivated by the exaggerated heroics. "Shush, you'll miss the good part," Wally whispered, though he couldn't help but find the depiction amusing.
That best part happens to be when the Flash becomes even more muscular, exceeding even Popeye in exaggeration, before punching Grundy into orbit before he explodes into stars. The only trace of the man born on a Monday were his shoes, purchased on a Wednesday.
'Take that, you cur!' Show Flash said, letting out a rather British one liner to end the episode.
"That was some sweet banter, Uncle Flash. What's a cur?" a boy (no relation) asked.
"It's, uh, a bad person, I guess," Wally explained, slightly bemused.
"Ok, but why didn't you just say that? the boy prodded further.
"Well, I-"
"And do people really talk so much when they fight?"
Caught off guard, Wally stammered, "I, um—Hey! How about a snack?"
The boy nodded eagerly, and Wally dashed to the fridge. However, instead of food, a giant frog leaped out, its tongue lashing at him. Wally swiftly dodged and slammed the fridge door shut.
"Where's my food?" the boy asked as he walked up to him.
"Are you french?"
"Non."
"Then there's no food." he snapped back, before pausing at what he just heard, "...wait a second."
"Tu le feras." the boy said before his mouth opened in a cartoonishly exaggerated manner to bite on the Flash's leg, accompanied by shark teeth of course.
The Flash yelped in alarm before moving his leg fast enough to throw the kid off of him.
The rest of the previously sweet and adoring children become cannibals as well. They try to corner him, but Flash simply avoids them before running out of the 'Flash H.Q.', though it seems that he may have run too fast.
"Rotten little curs." he spat out.
He then notices that nobody is moving, frozen solid in place.
He ran up to a couple and waved in their faces to gain any sort of reaction from them, "Hey guys. Guys?"
"Hello? Anybody?"
Then, amidst the stillness, a blinding white light flashed, from which a man emerged, "You went too fast. And you're never going to be able to slow down again." he declared ominously as he walked over to the Flash, stopping to look down at him from the few inches he had on hin.
The world then began to lose its color as black and white began to replace it, leaving the world as what most children thought the early 1900's looked like.
A world faded into a black-and-white tableau.
"Now I get it, it's a dream. Same one I've been having ever since I got my speed. And here's where the Swedish bikini team arrives to keep me company." The Flash joked, though the words were more to reassure himself as opposed to any genuine mood.
"Anyway, all I've gotta do to make this go away is-" He tried closing his eyes, only for nothing to happen as he was interrupted by his failure and the skeleton.
"Wake up? The 'fastest man alive", always leaving people like me in your dust. Well, now you're stuck in high gear. And you're going to be all alone, forever."
The words were invoking unease in him, as one of his greatest fears seemed to be coming true around him, and to be trapped in such a fear far from comfortable.
ringadingding
"That'll be for me, it's the alarm next to my bed. And as soon as I get it, I'm outta here. See you next time I eat too many jalapenos." The Flash jested in relief before rushing over to the ringing phone. But as he went to pull the phone handle, he found that it wouldn't budge. He tried even harder, only to have pulled the phone out of existence, it fading into nothing now.
"That never happened before?" Wally uttered in confusion.
"That's because there's not going to be a wake-up call this time," the skeletal figure said before vanishing in a burst of reddish-orange energy.
Left alone in the monochrome world, Wally realized the gravity of his situation - trapped in a never-ending dream, a prisoner of his own fears.
-DDD-
Clark Kent and Lois Lane sat at a table on a balcony of a high-end restaurant in Metropolis, the city's lights casting a soft glow around them. The waiter had just delivered their menus and a complimentary glass of wine for the couple before leaving them to peruse their choices.
"You know, it all looks so good," Clark commented, skimming through the menu. Suddenly, he noticed small burn marks appearing in the center of his menu. He quickly closed it, but not before a wisp of smoke escaped, hinting at the burgeoning heat vision behind his eyes.
Lois, ever perceptive, noted the odd occurrence. "Clark? Your menu's smoking?" she asked, her tone a mix of concern and curiosity.
Caught off guard, Clark fumbled for an explanation. "Oh, uh, I must've held it too close to one of these lights. It's darker than I thought out here," he stammered, hoping to divert her attention.
Lois didn't buy the flimsy excuse as she glared at Clark, "This place doesn't have candles. You're hiding something, in fact, you're always hiding something." she accused as she walked over to him and placed her hands on his, "And I'm going to find out what it is right now."
As she pulled his hands away from his face, the full force of his heat vision, beyond his control in this nightmare, was unleashed. The terrifying energy struck Lois directly, and she let out a scream terror before being incinerated.
-DDD-
John Stewart, once a beacon of hope as a Green Lantern, found himself in the familiar streets of his neighborhood. But something was amiss. As he walked, people around him panicked and fleeing at the sight of him.
"Come back! What are you afraid of?" John Stewart asked as the entire street block fled from him. And as he walked around, he found that many were in a rush to flee or barricading themselves in their homes to be away from him.
"You're not one of them anymore," a mysterious voice echoed around him.
"What are you talking about? This is my home, my community, my people," John protested, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and desperation.
John spotted a young boy walking with his grandfather, he rushed to the boy and grabbed his shoulders before he could join his grandfather in fleeing, "Chris, tell this fool who I am." he asked, pulling off his shades to make it clearer who he was.
There was no recognition in the boy's eyes other than that of fear, "Tu es un déchet sauvage au basket" the boy said in an unintelligible delilect before he darted away, leaving John in stunned disbelief.
"What the hell do you mean?! My three pointers are immaculate!" John called after him, but his words fell on deaf ears.
The mysterious voice taunted him again, "Be it ever so humble. There's no place like home."
John looked around, but the neighborhood he knew so well had transformed into an alien landscape, the signs in languages he couldn't understand, more akin to the far reaches of the cosmos he had visited as a Green Lantern than the streets of his childhood.
"You did this!" John accused his seeming tormentor, his eyes glowing green with the power of his ring as he donned his Green Lantern uniform.
"Wasn't me, you're the one who's changed," the voice countered, indifferent and cold.
Overwhelmed by frustration and a sense of betrayal, John's eyes glowed brighter, the green energy intensifying. Suddenly, it erupted violently from within him, his skin crackling as the power of the Green Lantern surged uncontrollably.
John screamed, a sound of terror and pain, as he felt his very essence being consumed by the power he once wielded with pride. The Green Lantern, a symbol of order and justice, was now a source of his deepest fear, overwhelming him, threatening to consume him entirely.
Of losing his identity, his connection to his community, and being consumed by the very power that defined him.
-DDD-
Hawkgirl was jolted awake from a disturbing dream, her heart racing. She found herself in the Watchtower, with the Flash slumped beside her, seemingly trapped in a similar nightmarish state. "Flash, wake up, Flash!" she urged, shaking him in a desperate attempt to rouse him from his own nightmare.
At that moment, the elevator doors slid open, and Martian Manhunter emerged. Relief washed over Hawkgirl as she saw her teammate. "J'onn, thank heavens. I was caught in this dream, a telepath got into my mind—"
"I'm aware," J'onn interrupted, his voice grave as he asked intently. "How did you break free from it?"
Confused by his intense questioning, Hawkgirl shrugged. "I'm not sure, maybe this mind control stuff doesn't work well on us aliens."
"Whatever it was, we need to put you somewhere safe." he said before grabbing her wrist and dragging her away.
As he pulled her along, Hawkgirl resisted, yanking her hand back. "Are you crazy?" she demanded, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"No, but you're going to be," J'onn replied, his form suddenly shifting, revealing that he was not the Martian Manhunter but someone – or something – else.
Hawkgirl gasped in shock, but before she could react, the imposter clamped a restraining cuff on her wings. She struggled to free herself, but it was futile. The floor beneath her opened, and she found herself plummeting from orbit.
As she descended at breakneck speed, she frantically tried to break free from the confining restraints, her panic mounting. 'Why can't I fly?' she thought in desperation.
The voice of the imposter echoed in her mind. "I'm surprised you could fly at all, burdened by the heavy secret you've been carrying."
"What the hell are you talking about!?" Hawkgirl shouted into the void, her voice laced with fear and confusion.
"That you're just an alien spy, sent to scout us out for a race of conquerors," the voice taunted, twisting her deepest fears and doubts. "Did you really think you could fool us all? You were never a true hero."
Hawkgirl's descent continued, the ground rushing up to meet her. The words echoed in her mind, amplifying her sense of betrayal and isolation.
As she braced for impact, the realization dawned on her, she was not just falling to the ground, she was falling into a hole.
The moment following impact, she was buried alive, trapped with no room to fly and with the suffocation of her secrets.
-XXX-
"You couldn't wake him?" Batman inquired, his concern evident as he observed Green Lantern's still form.
"No. Any luck with Superman?" J'onn replied while carrying the other John's still form.
Batman shook his head. "I gave him some stimulants, but this is someone who could have a building fall on him and still not feel it."
"I'll try the bio-regenerators in the sick bay." J'onn suggested, already moving with the body up the Javelian's ramp.
"Good luck. And in the meantime, I'm going to find this guy." Batman declared, his voice hardening with resolve.
"How?"
"While he's using his powers, his body is likely vulnerable. It can't be easy using ESP on the five of us after all, especially not with three of them in orbit. He's got to be in a place he thinks is safe. Somewhere familiar." Batman theorized, his mind already working through the possibilities and his detective instincts in full swing.
"Reasonable. But once you find him, how do you stop him from thinking?" J'onn questioned, well aware of the challenge they faced.
"I'll just have to improvise."
"Be careful, if you nod off for even a second-"
"Don't worry, I'm used to late hours."
J'onn nodded, then voiced another concern, "And the children? We can't trust Destiny to leave them alone."
"We're the safest place they can be at this point." Batman assured.
"We do have another option. Am-" J'onn started, before he was quickly cut off.
"No." Batman flat out denied, "We can't risk involving Amazo. The situation is volatile enough."
"Besides, there's no other telepath on par with your power that could resist Destiny's."
J'onn reluctantly suggested another option, "There is Ace. Her telepathic powers might surpass Destiny's, they already do my own."
Batman was firm in his response. "Ace's powers are too unpredictable, too uncontrollable. We can't expose her to this, not after everything she's been through."
"Agreed," J'onn said solemnly. "We'll manage without her. Let's focus on our immediate actions."
With a plan set, Batman left to commence his search for Doctor Destiny, Martian Manhunter brought Superman and Lantern to the Javelin, ready to transport them to the Watchtower's medical bay.
Upon entering the Watchtower, Martian Manhunter was met by the group of adolescents and teenagers temporarily under the League's care: Scott, Erica, Ben, Jack, and Ace. The atmosphere was tense, with concern evident on their young faces.
"Hey, Manhunter, what's going on?" Scott inquired, his voice reflecting the group's unease.
Martian Manhunter's expression was grave but composed. "Are you all alright?" he asked first, his gaze sweeping over the group to ensure their safety.
"We're fine, but something's wrong with Flash and Hawkgirl. They're both knocked out! And nothing seems to be getting them up." Jack chimed in, his tone laced with worry.
Martian Manhunter nodded gravely. "We're dealing with a villain known as Doctor Destiny, or John Dee. He has a powerful form of ESP and is currently trapping the League in their minds."
"I'm a powerful telepath; I can help," Ace offered, her voice firm and resolute.
However, Martian Manhunter raised his hand, signaling caution. "No, Ace. I appreciate your willingness to help, but your safety is paramount. I'm informing you of the situation so you're aware of the danger. It's crucial that none of you fall asleep or even nod off, or you'll risk falling under his control and being trapped in a nightmare. Have any of you felt unusually tired or experienced any symptoms of exhaustion? Even something as small as a yawn?"
"No, at least nothing out of the ordinary," Scott replied, the others nodding in agreement.
Relief washed over Martian Manhunter. "That's good. Stay vigilant. We can't afford to let our guard down, not even for a moment."
"So what's going with Batman? He's not here." Scott asked, curious to know why the Dark Knight wasn't around.
"Batman is on the hunt for Doctor Destiny. If we're lucky, he'll find him before any more damage can be done." Martian Manhunter explained, hoping for a swift resolution to their predicament.
"And where's Wonder Woman? We don't see her with you or knocked out like the others." Erica asked.
"Wonder Woman has been summoned by the Greek Gods for an urgent mission before this event has occurred. She won't be likely to return in time to help us." he explained.
"And what about Amazo? He can take the bastard down with a single punch." Jack suggested.
"And he's an android, so he should be immune to this creep's powers." Ben added.
"...I don't know about that." Ace murmured, her voice barely above a whisper.
"What was that, Ace?" Scott asked, not catching what the younger girl had said.
She blinked at being heard, not having meant to speak her thoughts aloud. And very much not wanting to elaborate, so settled on a different reasoning. "Well, um, I don't know for certain, but, considering how this Destiny guy could enter human and alien minds so easily, what's stopping him from going into Amazon's mind? Even if he's an android, who's to say that they don't also dream of electric sheep? Or something like that?" she theorized, her voice carrying a somber tone.
Martian Manhunter sighed heavily. "Amazo's programming is advanced with it being an AI, but even he has his limits. I doubt that the consciousness could ever be replicated in a machine, no matter how human like Amazo can act."
"So, the best chance we have is the dark and gloomy guy?" Erica asked, her tone tinged with doubt.
"He's more capable than most give him credit for," Martian Manhunter defended, "If anyone can find and defeat Doctor Destiny, it's him."
"But why doesn't he just ask Amazo for help? This is pretty big for the both of them," Ben asked, confused at the reluctance.
"Batman feels that this is an issue that the League can handle and us alone, he already was stubborn in believing that he could handle most things on his own before coming to accept us. And I suppose even then, he is reluctant to accept assistance from someone outside the League." he explained, before pausing for a moment. "But there is merit in involving Amazo, especially since he has the means to help us and could have a better chance against Destiny."
"Then what are you waiting for, go ahead and contact him," Jack suggested.
"I would, but..."
"But what?" Scott questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"We still don't know where Doctor Destiny is yet, but I will reach out to him when the time comes. Until then, the most important thing is for all of you to stay awake and alert."
"We can handle that," Scott reassured him.
"Good, now I'm going to make sure that Superman and Lantern are stable and resting in the medical bay. You all continue to keep watch, and don't hesitate to come to me if you experience any unusual symptoms or changes."
With a plan set, the teens and Scott set off to fulfill their role, while Martian Manhunter carried Superman and Lantern to the medical bay for further examination and care.
Martian Manhunter stood vigilantly in the medical bay of the Watchtower, monitoring the vitals of his incapacitated teammates. The calm bleeps of the machinery were a stark contrast to the turmoil unfolding within their minds. Simultaneously, his attention was divided as he listened to the news broadcast, hoping for any leads on John Dee.
The reporter's voice echoed through the room. "In other news, prison escapees; Solomon Grundy, Volcana, Luminous, Firefly, and Copperhead are all now back in custody thanks to the Justice League. But still unaccounted for however is the last escapee, John Dee.
In a related story, there's been a tragic development in the case of Dee's wife, Penny, who was brought to a local hospital in a catatonic state."
A sense of urgency washed over Martian Manhunter. He immediately reached for his communicator, contacting Batman. "What?" came Batman's terse reply.
"Was he there?" Martian Manhunter inquired.
"No. We're back to square one," Batman responded, his tone indicating his frustration.
Martian Manhunter's gaze returned to his teammates. "The situation is worsening. I'm considering entering their minds."
"Too dangerous. You could end up just like them." Batman warned.
"If I don't act, they could die," Martian Manhunter countered, his voice firm. "There was a news report. His wife didn't make it."
There was a brief pause on the line, the gravity of the situation hanging heavily between them. Finally, Batman's voice came through, resolute yet somber. "...then do what you have to."
Disconnecting the communicator, Martian Manhunter steeled himself for the task ahead. He knew the risks, but the stakes were too high to do nothing. He prepared to delve into the minds of his friends, ready to confront whatever nightmares Doctor Destiny had woven.
As he initiated the telepathic link, the medical bay seemed to fade around him, giving way to the shadowy realms of the unconscious. Martian Manhunter was entering a battlefield of the mind, where the line between reality and illusion blurred.
-DDD-
Amidst the chaos and devastation of Metropolis, Superman, now a distorted version of himself, roamed the wrecked halls of the Daily Planet. His new form was monstrous, a grotesque exaggeration of his worst fear: losing control of his immense power.
Within the Daily Planet stood Superman, now clad in his costume while also in a new form. One more fitting what he had become ever since he lost control of his powers, an overgrown and overly strong man, the monster he feared he could be.
"Help me, please!" Superman begged as he wandered the ruins of where newspapers were once made, "Is there anyone-"
"I'm here for ya, big guy." James "Jimmy" Olsen said as he looked at him, hands in pockets with a smile on his face despite all that had happened.
"Jimmy, my pal!" Superman said in relief as he walked over to him, he gave his friend a hug in an attempt to convey his happiness.
Only to realize his folly upon hearing the scream of pain followed by the crack and limping of Jimmy Olsen's body.
"Jimmy, I'm sorry!" Superman tried to apologize, but the body faded away into nothing.
"It's not real, none of it is." a voice called out to him from an opening of white blue light. Out from it walked the Martian Manhunter.
Superman, tormented and confused, confessed his deepest fear. "I started with no power at all, and I've kept getting more. But what if it never stops?"
"You'll handle it. I know you," J'onn reassured him.
"Words, just words." he denied before taking to the sky. Manhunter followed after him, leaving the city of Metropolis behind. Martian Manhunter followed, understanding that the key to helping Superman lay deeper than just the surface nightmare.
Martian Manhunter lost sight of Superman, but didn't need to follow him to know where his destination would be. Where the Man of Steel's fears originated from, and where he had learned to overcome them once before.
Smallville.
J'ohn landed outside of the Kent family farm and walked over to the barn.
Inside, he found Superman, Clark Kent, Kal El, curled up in the pod that he arrived to Earth in as a baby from Krypton.
"We can fight this," J'onn urged gently.
"You'll get hurt," Superman replied, his voice filled with fear.
"I'm stronger here than you are," J'onn reassured.
Reaching out, J'onn's hands were briefly ensnared by Superman's oversized grip, but he persisted. "I can take this from you, but you have to believe in me."
After a moment of hesitation, Superman released his grip. J'onn placed his hands on Superman's temples, beginning the process of liberating him from the nightmare.
Around them, orange energy crackled menacingly, and once more Superman's heat vision went out of control,
"You can't help him~" Doctor Destiny taunted from afar.
but J'onn stood firm, enduring the searing pain. And as he worked, Superman began to shrink from the giant he is back to the man that he was.
An explosion separated the two, knocking the Martian to the ground. And when he looked up, he found the hand of a man ready to help, rather than the hand of a monster that could only hurt.
"Let's finish this," Superman said, his voice steady, his resolve firm.
-DDD-
In front of the Green Lantern stood, a giant Green Lantern. or , to be more exact, a Power Battery that was the size of the Central power Battery of Oa.
"Where else can you go now? You're the lantern and the lantern is you," Doctor Destiny maliciously encouraged as he appeared at his side, "Go in, it's your… Destiny."
As a door opened within the Power Battery, another portal of blue light materialized. Martian Manhunter stepped out, positioning himself to block the entrance to the Power Battery. "You're not an extension of this, you're its master. The Guardians chose you because they had faith in you, not in the ring, but in John Stewart."
Doctor Destiny, infuriated, lunged at Martian Manhunter, knocking him to the ground and away from Green Lantern. "You're good, but I'm better," he sneered.
"That's why I brought a friend," Martian Manhunter replied calmly.
Destiny looked behind him only to see the fist of angry Superman, sending him crashing into the ground. As Destiny tried to rise, Superman pushed him back down. Reacting quickly, Destiny's cape transformed into spectral tendrils, ensnaring both Superman and Martian Manhunter, lifting them into the air and immobilizing them.
Seeing his friends in danger, Green Lantern runs into the Green Lantern.
The Lantern began to glow even brighter in its Green, but rather than an out of control beacon of energy,
Doctor Destiny begins to laugh in triumph, it seeming as if John Stweart had been overcome once and for all. That the Lantern would have been the end of the man.
"In brightest day, in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight. Let those who worship evil's might beware my power… Green Lantern's Light!" he recited, his voice echoing with resolve.
The Power Battery was destroyed, and from it emerged the Green Lantern, absorbing all of the light that once threatened to overwhelm him entirely, now having it firmly under his control. He launched himself at the stunned villain, delivering a forceful blow that sent the villain reeling.
Before Destiny could recover, Green Lantern unleashed a focused beam of energy, slicing through the spectral tendrils and freeing his comrades. As Destiny staggered to regain his footing, Green Lantern blasted him with another powerful beam, pinning him against the wall. A dome of green energy formed around Destiny, trapping him and his malevolent powers.
Destiny glared at the Lantern as he dispersed into a fog of sorts, before completely fading away elsewhere. Only a retreat from the battle rather than a significant loss.
"Can I wake up now?" Green Lantern asked, his voice weary but triumphant.
"There's still Flash and Hawkgirl," Martian Manhunter reminded him, his tone grave.
At the mention of Hawkgirl, and his pal Flash, being in danger had him ready to go.
-DDD-
Surrounded by the world frozen in time, the Flash felt the weight of his unique curse. "I was always afraid of this," he murmured as gazed over at another group of people frozen in slow motion.
"I'm going to live out my whole life in the time that it'll take you to tie your shoes. Come on, say something! Somebody!" he begged.
Suddenly, "Flash!" Martian Manhunter's voice pierced through the stillness as it called out to him, followed by the arrival of Superman and Green Lantern.
His relief was palpable as he got up and headed towards them, "Alright! I knew you'd-" that relief was short-lived as he witnessed his friends begin to succumb to the world's lack of motion as well, their movements beginning to slow down to a crawl.
"You need to look inside yourself," Martian Manhunter's voice blurred out, slowing down each second that passed.
"And then?" Flash asked, desperation creeping into his voice.
Manhunter could speak no further, joining the rest of the dream populous in their motionless existence.
Even Superman, with his speed being the closest to the Flash out of any being he had met, began to slow as well as he tried to finish J'onn's words, "You…must…" and that was all that he could say before becoming frozen in slow motion as well.
He let out a sigh as he sat on the ground and brought his knees up to his chest.
"I'm supposed to look inside myself, right? But what? Well, there's gotta be something rattling around in here."
He closes his eyes and tries to concentrate. He can hear the sound of his beating heart, pounding at a steady yet incredibly fast beat.
"Do you have any idea how stupid you look? It won't work. No way. You're never getting out of here. You're stuck here! WALLY!"
But Flash persisted, his resolve unwavering. He honed in on his heartbeat, striving to bring it back to a normal pace, trying to tune out Destiny's taunts.
Gradually, as he concentrated, a new sensation emerged – a pull, a call from something beyond, something elemental and powerful.
A Force of some kind calling to him…
"There has been an awakening…"
a distant voice echoed in the void,
"Have you felt it, Wally West?"
The beating of his heart slowed to an almost imperceptible pace, yet Flash could feel its rhythm. The world around him, previously frozen in time, faded into darkness. He was no longer trapped in a world moving too slowly; now, he was in a void, a realm of complete isolation.
The problem of being faster than light is that you can only live in darkness.
But beyond a simple truth was something greater, he was on the brink of understanding a part of himself that had always been there, yet just beyond his grasp. A flicker of lightning was his only lead thus far...
He did not know what it was fully, but he had used a portion of its power to aid himself in this dire moment. Or, a deeper connection to the powers he's always had.
As he embraced this newfound understanding, color and motion flooded back into the world.
And upon opening his eager eyes, he saw the brightside once again.
"Whoa, I did it!" Flash exclaimed, exhilarated by his breakthrough.
Green Lantern approached him with a smile. "See what happens when you use your head?"
Suddenly, Doctor Destiny appeared to confront them all. His voice boomed as he addressed the heroes.
"While I had always dreamed of destroying you all at once, I suppose that I can enjoy this regardless of the missing ones."
The air crackled with energy as the Justice League members – Green Lantern, Superman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter – stood poised for battle against Doctor Destiny. The villain, his form more durable than his human self, braced for the onslaught.
Martian Manhunter's voice resonated with urgency. "Everyone, his mental projection is significantly more durable than that of the baseline human that he is!"
Superman, his eyes glowing with restrained power, sought confirmation. "So you're telling me that I can go all out on him and he won't die?"
"Yes," Martian Manhunter nodded.
Fueled by the harrowing experiences of their worst fears, Green Lantern, Superman, and even Flash, who typically restrained his strength, were ready to unleash their full might. Green Lantern's ring glowed brightly, charged to its maximum capacity. Superman, ready to unleash his full strength, radiated an aura of raw power. Flash, tapping into the deeper aspects of the Speed Force rather than just his super speed, vibrated with energy.
Doctor Destiny, facing this formidable array of power, hesitated for a moment, sensing the unprecedented challenge before him. But he was quickly consumed by his own hubris, stepping forward to meet his adversaries.
The battle commenced with a burst of action. Green Lantern was the first to strike. With a thought, he conjured a massive construct, a giant hammer, swinging it with all the force his ring could muster. The weapon crashed towards Destiny, who barely managed to erect a psychic shield in time. The impact sent shockwaves through the area, a testament to the Lantern's immense power. The feedback also dazed Destiny as well.
Before he could recover, Superman was upon him, moving with a speed and ferocity that he had seldom displayed. Each blow from the Man of Steel was like a meteor strike, the air crackling with the sheer force of his punches. Destiny reeled under the assault, his defenses buckling under the relentless onslaught.
Flash, now a blur of motion, harnessed his increased speed to launch a series of rapid strikes. He darted around Destiny, delivering countless blows in the blink of an eye from every angle with precision and speed that defied perception. The villain, unable to track the Flash's movements, struggled to mount any effective counter.
Martian Manhunter, meanwhile, employed his telepathic abilities, assaulting Destiny's mind with a barrage of psychic attacks. He sought to disrupt the villain's concentration, to break his focus and leave him vulnerable, as well as defend his allies from any attempts of a counter mental attack.
Doctor Destiny, caught off guard by the sheer intensity and coordination of their attack, struggled to keep up as he was overwhelmed by the combined might of the Justice League's heavy hitters, finding himself outmatched as he all he could hope to do was defend as any attempt to attack would only leave him open to punishment from any one of his foes. Each strike from the heroes landed with increased ferocity, their pent-up frustration, anger, and sorrow fueling their attacks.
His powers, formidable against a single opponent, were inadequate against such a coordinated and powerful assault, especially when they each provided a sufficient distraction from fully focusing on one of them. He attempted to retaliate, to summon his ESP to its fullest extent in a hope to at least take one of them down, but each attempt was thwarted by the heroes' relentless attacks.
As Green Lantern's constructs battered him, Superman's strength pummeled him, Flash's speed bewildered him, and Martian Manhunter's telepathy invaded his mind, Destiny's resolve began to crumble. He was no longer the confident manipulator of dreams; he was now a cornered and desperate foe, far outclassed by the heroes he had sought to destroy.
As Doctor Destiny staggered backward, reeling from the attack, the heroes did not let up. Their coordinated efforts, a symphony of power and skill, left no opening for the villain to counter or escape.
While it seemed that his defeat was near, he suddenly tapped into a hidden reserve of power as he gained a red glow around his body. With a roar of defiance, he grew in size, becoming a colossal figure that towered over the cityscape like a titan. With each second, his strength and durability surged, turning him into a gargantuan adversary.
"To think that I'd be pushed so much... You're certainly making me sweat for this," Doctor Destiny growled at them. Though inwardly, he was relieved to finally have a break from the sheer pressure that the four of them had been crushing on him. Now he would be the one crushing them!
Martian Manhunter, recognizing the need to match Destiny's newfound size and power, underwent a transformation of his own. His body expanded, growing to match Destiny's immense stature.
"What!? When the fuck can you do that!?" Destiny exclaimed in outrage, his persona discarded in sheer surprise and anger that te trump card from the dream he sought to bring to life was so easily nullified.
The only response he had was a stern glare from the towering Martian. That, and mighty blow he launched at Destiny. The impact was enough to send him stumbling backward, creating a massive fissure in the street from the force of the collision.
Now, as two equally colossal beings, they faced off in a clash of epic proportions.
Superman, Flash, and Green Lantern regrouped, ready to provide support. Superman flew at high speed, delivering powerful blows that, despite Destiny's increased size, still held significant force. Flash, moving faster than the eye could follow even at this scale, ran up and down the giant villain, creating vortexes and using his speed to disrupt Destiny's balance.
Green Lantern's ring flared with energy shining brighter than ever as he conjured massive constructs – giant chains to bind Destiny, hammers to strike, and shields to protect his allies when he could from being struck by the giant that sought to crush them.
Superman, flying at high speed, became a blur of red and blue, delivering punches with the force of meteor strikes. His attacks, though against a much larger opponent, were precise and still held significant force, targeting weak spots that he identified on Destiny's gigantic form.
Flash, tapping further into the Speed Force, moved in a way that transcended conventional speed. He ran up and around Destiny, creating vortexes and using his accelerated momentum to land a series of rapid, high-energy impacts
Martian Manhunter, in his enlarged state, grappled with Destiny, using his immense strength and telepathic abilities to counter the villain's moves. They exchanged thunderous blows, each hit resonating like an earthquake. Manhunter used his telepathy to disorient Destiny, while his shape-shifting abilities allowed him to adapt and counter Destiny's attacks.
As the fight continued, the heroes' resilience and determination shone through. Despite Doctor Destiny's colossal form and increased power, the Justice League worked in unison, their combined strength, speed, and ingenuity making them a formidable force. They were not just fighting for their survival but for the safety of the world they had sworn to protect and their last teammate in danger.
With a final, resounding blow, the heroes delivered a decisive strike that knocked Doctor Destiny down.
But before the heroes could approach to restrain him, his form shifted into a massive mist, retreating through a fissure in the ground created by their epic battle. His voice echoed one last time, "This is far from over!"
The dissipating mist marked Doctor Destiny's retreat, but the Justice League's relief was short-lived. The team regrouped, each member panting and weary from the intense battle.
"Teamwork, what a concept," Flash remarked, trying to lighten the mood with his usual humor.
But Green Lantern, concern etching his features, quickly redirected their focus. "What about Hawkgirl!?" he demanded, his voice tinged with urgency.
Suddenly, Hawkgirl's terror-filled voice pierced the air. "Help me! Lantern! J'onn! Superman! Anybody!" Her screams echoed, filled with fear and desperation.
Martian Manhunter, his expression grave, immediately attempted to connect with her mind. But his efforts were met with an invisible barrier, impenetrable and unyielding. "I can't get through to her," he reported, frustration evident in his tone. "There's a barrier around her mind."
Without hesitation, Green Lantern stepped forward. "Outta the way!" he ordered. His ring glowed brightly as he unleashed a continuous beam of emerald energy, aiming directly at the unseen barrier that entrapped Hawkgirl's mind.
The other members watched intently as the beam collided with the barrier. The energy crackled and sparked upon contact, a visible testament to the ring's immense power. Yet, the barrier held firm, resisting the onslaught.
Superman joined in, his eyes glowing red as he unleashed his heat vision alongside Green Lantern's energy beam. The combined force of their attacks intensified, creating a brilliant display of light and power.
Just as Martian Manhunter prepared to renew his efforts to penetrate the barrier around Hawkgirl's mind, a sudden, chilling sense of dread washed over him. His eyes snapped open, a look of alarm etching his features.
"What is it, J'onn?" Superman asked, noticing the abrupt change in the Martian's demeanor.
Martian Manhunter's voice was grave, tinged with urgency. "It's Destiny. I've found him," he announced, his telepathic abilities homing in on the villain's location.
"And?" Green Lantern pressed, his beam still focused on the barrier.
Martian Manhunter's expression darkened further. "The children. He's targeting the children on the Watchtower!"
A wave of concern swept through the team. Flash's eyes widened in alarm. "The kids!? We have to get back now!"
Superman nodded in agreement, his face set in determination. "Lantern, keep trying to break through to Hawkgirl. Flash, J'onn, with me. We need to stop Destiny before he hurts anyone else."
Green Lantern, though reluctant to leave Hawkgirl's side, knew the urgency of the situation. "Go, I'll handle things here. Get those kids safe."
Superman, Flash, and Martian Manhunter quickly mobilized. In a blur of speed, Flash and Superman raced towards the blue door portal, with Martian Manhunter following closely behind.
Doctor Destiny, his form flickering like a shadow, appeared before the group of young residents on the Watchtower. All five of them in their minds.
His gaze fell upon the children – Scott, Erica, Ben, Jack, and Ace. A sly grin spread across his face. "Well now, what are they doing here?"
A blue door suddenly came into existence as the three heroes rushed through.
Martian Manhunter, standing protectively in front of the children, implored, "Whatever quarrel you have with us, leave them out of it!"
Destiny's eyes narrowed as he contemplated the situation he gleamed from their heads, "Project Cadmus, eh? Perhaps if I bring them back, along with taking down the League, I'll be granted a pardon."
Superman, his voice firm, interjected, "That won't go how you think it will!"
Destiny shrugged dismissively. "Perhaps, you're right. I did everything I was supposed to and I was denied my pardon, I doubt that the government would treat me any better even if I solved one of their biggest problems.
And a pardon for John Dee wouldn't matter much anymore, not when I'm Doctor Destiny now. Not when I can be anybody I want to be now. As for who I'll be, I think that the man who single handedly destroyed the Justice League, the Earth's greatest heroes, will be quite the introduction to the world!"
Pausing, Destiny's expression shifted to one of contemplation before a manic and devious grin contorted his skeletal face. "Although," he added sardonically, "I suppose that Hawkgirl would be removed from that, considering the real reason she's here."
Flash scoffed in response, "Like we'd believe anything you say."
"You don't have to. But it doesn't make the truth any less true," Destiny taunted, "After all, think about it. She's not the last of her race, like Clark or J'onn are." Clark's eyes widened in alarm, fists clenching in a mix of anger and apprehension, a reaction that only elicited a chuckle from Destiny, "She still has her people out there in the stars; a family, friends, a fiance. It's not just her presence here that's questionable. It's her very allegiance. Think about it. Whose side is she really on? After all, what better way to infiltrate an enemy's ranks than as a refugee, or as their hero?"
The heroes exchanged uneasy glances, the weight of Destiny's words causing a momentary rift of doubt. Flash, trying to maintain the team's focus, spoke up, "Don't listen to him. He's just trying to mess with our heads."
Superman, however, appeared visibly disturbed, his unwavering sense of trust momentarily shaken. "But why would she...?" he began, only to be cut off by Martian Manhunter's calming voice.
"Superman, remember who we are dealing with. Doctor Destiny thrives on deception and confusion. We mustn't let his words divide us."
Destiny's laughter echoed through the mindscape, a sound both chilling and triumphant. The seed of discord he had planted was already taking root, causing them to question one of their own. This was the distraction he needed. "Oh, the seeds of doubt are sown so easily. Now, while you ponder your little conundrums, I have children to attend to." With a swift motion, Destiny extended his hand, unleashing a torrent of psychic energy aimed at the heroes.
A blinding flash enveloped them, and the next moment, they found themselves expelled from the mindscape, back in the physical world of the Watchtower.
Destiny found only himself in the minds of the five children, "Such unfortunate fates you've all faced, taken from your families at such young ages." Destiny mused, his tone dripping with false sympathy. "Before the Justice League ruined my life, I too had dreams of a family."
"And like any good villain, I could use some henchmen," Destiny added with a smirk.
Scott, undaunted, stepped forward, "We're going to have to decline that offer. The Justice League helped us; we're not about to repay them by siding with you. Besides, we owe our allegiance to someone who truly helped us."
Jack chimed in, "And you're nowhere near as great as Amazo."
Destiny's scoff echoed in the mental void. "Amazo? A mere android? What a ridiculous name. It lacks the sophistication of Doctor Destiny. And I highly doubt some robot can match the scope of my great power."
Ben spoke up, his tone defiant. "Amazo saved us from Cadmus. We won't tolerate any disrespect towards him. Now back off, or we'll make you."
"How brutish of you lot." Destiny remarked, his gaze shifting to Ace, his expression curious, "And you, Ace, possess a power similar to mine. You won't ever need to restrain yourself around me. Unlike the others, you can't drive me insane."
Ace met his gaze unflinchingly, "And that means you can't just invade my mind either. I'm not afraid of you."
Doctor Destiny, with a smirk bordering on arrogance, merely brushed her capabilities aside, "Heh, a valiant effort, child. Cute even. But I was able to overwhelm Martian Manhunter! My ESP is unparalleled!" He focused his formidable psychic power, aiming to break through Ace's defenses.
However, Ace's mind was like an impenetrable fortress, her psychic shields holding firm against Destiny's onslaught. She gritted her teeth, her eyes narrowing in concentration. "Get. Out. Of. Our. Heads!" she commanded, her voice echoing with a power that reverberated through the astral plane.
Doctor Destiny, caught off guard by her resilience, struggled to exert control or maintain his influence, especially over Ace due to her own formidable psychic abilities. "You...can't...be...this...strong," he stammered, his mental grasp faltering under the intensity of Ace's will.
Ace's expression shifted to one of confidence, a slight grin forming as she felt Destiny's control waning. "You're strong, I'll give you that. But..." Her eyes ignited with a fierce, luminous energy. "You're not stronger than me."
As their psychic battle intensified, Doctor Destiny began to show signs of mental fatigue. He was already taxed from subjugating multiple members of the Justice League all at once and having to counter their resistance as well. Now, facing a fresh and formidable adversary, he found himself at a considerable disadvantage.
And not because the child was stronger than him. Or so he tries to justify, anyway.
His attacks grew more frantic and desperate, his control slipping away under the relentless onslaught of Ace's powers. Unbeknownst to him, his mind gradually succumbed to instability, his thoughts becoming erratic and unhinged as a result of heightened exposure to Ace's psychic ability in the dream world. In a blind rage, he bellowed, "I HAVE BROUGHT THE JUSTICE LEAGUE TO THEIR KNEES! I WILL NOT BE BESTED BY SOME CHILD! THIS IS NOT MY DESTINY!" His fury unleashed shockwaves, echoing his wrath.
In a fit of desperation necessity, at being overwhelmed contested by a mere child, Destiny decided it was time to utilize the potential of the ruby he had acquired from the Materioptikon – the dreamstone of myth itself. "This isn't weakness," he muttered under his breath, trying to reassure himself reinforce his resolve. "It's just a strategic maneuver, a calculated decision to harness greater power and assert my undeniable superiority."
With this self-assurance, he tapped deeper into the Endless power of the dreamstone. Its energy surged through him, amplifying his powers exponentially to an unprecedented level for any mortal, but at the cost of heightened instability. His muscular physique, previously enhanced by his own will, diminished to its original state as the raw energy coursing uncontrollably through his form, while the stone now lodged in his chest continued to amplify this effect. His focus entirely devoted to beating teaching this insolent child a lesson.
Ace's mental defenses shattered under his assault, leaving her vulnerable to his impending devastating attack.
But before he could land said strike, a sudden intervention disrupted his plan.
Emerging as if conjured from the very fabric of the dreamscape, a formidable barrier of gold appeared, shielding the young psychic. There, standing as a towering sentinel, was a 10-foot-tall being of metal, his jagged, fierce flame-like aura cackling with electrical discharge. The aura radiating with a resplendent golden hue, echoing the brilliance of the barrier he had conjured.
"You lay a single hand upon them, within the realm of dream or the waking world, and the only thing that'll be in your destiny will be doctors after what I do to you." the android intoned, his voice as cold and threatening as the void of space. His red gaze, fixed unblinkingly as he looked down on Doctor Destiny, resonated with a power that matched his formidable presence.
###############
Last chapter of 2023! And the longest one I've ever written! (Beating out Cells of Bells chapter 5 by 4k words!)
And to reverse chapter 11, the now third longest chapter, first half of this chapter was mostly done for the past 2 months, while the second half was kicking my ass. Crazy that I managed to finish out a lemon and chapter and 6k words to finish up my 8k doc in the span of 2/3 days! Crack and putting all my 'oh god oh fuck finals are almost here' energy into this does wonders, huh? Some praise and interaction helped too.
For once, I think that I can say that I'm mostly satisfied with this out the gate. Of course I do expect to be making some edits since a few things may have slipped by me in this utter beast of a chapter. God, you can fit 3 or 4 updates in this thing. But a few, 56 or so, of the people have spoken and would like to see this as one big chapter, so I shall give them what they ask. Though anything else from me ain't coming out anytime soon, cause that's gonna take a Christmas musical.
Now, as you could tell, this chapter is a whole lot more serious than the previous ones besides for chaoter 11, I figured that in a life or death situation that there wouldn't be too much room for crack of taste. Though there were a few jokes I slipped in and a reference if any of you happen to have seen or know about a couple of youtube parodies invovling the DCAU. Hint: first half of his name is a character in this chapter, and it's not Doctor to rule out the obvious.
And in here I've tried a whole bunch of experimenting in this chapter, most noticable being te frenquent jumps of POVs as we switch from dreams to the waking world.
Also a notable thing is that we started off with Doctor Destiny/John Dee getting himself an interlude length intro to develop the dude a bit, and he gets buffed to around his comic levels by having a dreamstone that belongs to an Endless with him. Also included a few musical references that are kind of obvious but I doubt that most if any would recognize the lyrics. Hint for that: song name has a dream, and it's not the one by Nelly though I did consider it.
side note to DD, if you guys are wondering why fear plays such a big role in this chapter, besides the fact the antagonists main mode of attack is nightmares, this was supposed to come out in October around, before, or on Halloween. That ship has very much sailed but I didn't want to scrap what I had unless I
really had to. And judging from the response on the snippets thread, it seemed to have worked.
And we have the Speedforce reaching out to Wally. Part of it could be explained that to counteract the mental effect placed on him through the Dreamstone, the Flash had to reach deep enough that he invoked the Speedforce for aid. Another could be that with Amazo and later/currently Kid Flash having access to it, it's more active. Though out of story wise, that's because I plan on having the guy be able to use it without overwhelming himself and never using it again. Eventually, anyway. Same will happen for Amazo later on, some of you may know what I have planned for that or not, regardless I won't be saying so here. Also, I tried to a bit with the text being blue highlighted with yellow but that keeps disappearing on me so i just went with blue, may switch it to yellow later.
And the Hawkgirl being a Thanagarian spy bit gets exposed a whole lot earler than in canon, an end of season event happening near the beginning of it. That, I did for a couple of reasons. To hint at the future for readers who haven't seen the show and because I think that most spys/scouts greatest fears would be being discovered/exposed as a spy, especially in cases where you've gone native/attached, which is both in Hawkgirl's case.
Also, Wonder Woman. I'm gonna be blunt with you, she's not here because she wasn't in the original episode. Now I'm pretty sure that this is because either the writers forgot about her since no explanation was given, they couldn't come up with a fear that worked for her, or did so simply to cut the episode length down by excluding her nightmare sequence. I was feeling kind of lazy after getting this 14k beast out so I borrowed from JLU and had her doing a mission for the Greek gods. Though if you happen to be curious, if she were to be trapped in her own nightmare then I'd think that her greatest fear may be that man would never be able to find peace and would be stuck in continous war, much like how most of the Amazons were prone to believe regarding man and what she wanted to disprove.
Then, we have the Royal Flush Gang (name is still pending even after a year, I'm still no good with them lol. Maybe Wild Cards, Outdraws, Generation Lost, or something idk) get involved in things. They're at the Watchtower and so would already be known by Doctor Destiny and be potential avenues to attack the League with. But DD got cocky and underestimated Ace who kicked his ass for a bit since her ESP was naturally powerful, as opposed to DD being a baseline human before getting his. At least before he further tapped into the power of an artifact belonging to an Endless.
Now, as for Amazo, you're probably curious about what he's been doing this whole chapter and his colors. Well first, I'll just say that much like how DD could fight Bats in the real world and the League in the dream world, its a similar thing. But that will be covered next chapter. Which may or may not be starting from Amazo's POV from the start of this whole mess, some of Batman's POV, then them working together against the real Doctor Destiny. Because as I've said,
he's more like his comic self in regards to his power level. As for the color, I'll just let the text speak for itself. And do expect our boy to need to genuinely try considering what he's up against.
Anyways, with that bout of my author's rambling notes done, I do hope that you guys liked this chapter and leave me your thoughts/critique/feedback on it.
