In those days, Kara instituted the first Hunger Games. Among the most dangerous death-row inmates across the galaxy, twenty-one champions were chosen and put into three-man teams. If any of them succeeded, their death sentence was commuted to exile on an uninhabited world. The Hunger Games were enthusiastically watched by all the planets in the Galactic Federation. The games were to be hosted on Earth, specifically, in Australia.

Kara gave an interview on Galactic Federation TV on the matter. "I think it's traditional, it comes out of our willingness to give even the worst people a second chance. Now, I know that there's been a painful history between these inmates and the victims, but I feel this is a way to heal. I want to remind the galaxy that crime doesn't pay but there's more to it than that. I think what nets us all together is the power of forgiveness," Kara said to the applause of a handpicked audience.

"This is your third Hunger Games?" Caesar Dickerman asked.

"Yeah, the last two didn't work...it did not work," Kara admitted.

"What defines your personal signature?" Caesar asked.

"Truth, Justice, and the American Way," Kara smiled.

In the middle of Australia, the alien death row inmate facility was located. The facility was remarkably similar to the DEO of the 21st century. By lottery, seven three-man teams were selected. The inmates were then sent to the capital of Australia under the leadership of Prime Minister Coriolanus Snow. The inmates, now called champions, were put on a bullet train going 320 kilometers per hour. Upon the train arriving at Melbourne, Australians cheered for the chosen champions just outside the station.

"So, now that you have seen this cropful of troops, are there any surprises we can expect?" Caesar Dickerman asked Kara in an interview.

"It's really hard to tell just yet, but I think they're an interesting mix," Kara smiled amused.

The champions were cleaned up, treated, and made to look professional. They were then placed on chariots for the parade. Kara and PM Snow watched the parade together. The champions were dressed up according to their weird-ass alien fashion. One was even wearing a suit that was on fire. "Holy shit," Kara said amazed.

The crowd cheered in the spirit of hope and forgiveness for these killers and rapists. "Welcome, champions. We welcome you. We salute your courage and sacrifice, and we wish you a happy Hunger Games, and may your odds be terrible," PM Snow declared.

The champions were then given their own penthouse suites to enjoy and an exquisite meal for dinner. For the time being, they were given O-10 accommodations and service.

The next morning, the champions were given a briefing on the weapons and supplies they were going to be given. They were then given training by martial arts mentors. Occasionally, security drones had to intervene when the champions fought with each other. It became obvious that certain champions were well-trained in killing while others were amateur.

Kara eyed these training sessions with some amusement and took some notes.

As the Hunger Games were about to start, betting began on which champions would succeed in the capitalist cities of Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau, Atlantic City, and Las Vegas. The elites followed the champion's training and performances closely for their bets. Kara had dinner with several of these elites. They were mostly ignoring an obvious loser who couldn't shoot a bow and arrow properly. Suddenly, the apple from the roasted pig's mouth ended up on the wall with an arrow through it.

"Holy shit," Kara said surprised.

"Thank you, for your consideration," the champion rolled her eyes and walked off.

"Who is that woman?" Kara asked curiously.

"Kat Nyss Everbean," Brainiac 5 informed her.

"Keep an eye on that one," Kara said, seeing a bit of someone...in her.

Instantly, Kat's betting odds improved.

After twelve days of training, the betting analysts scored the champions on a scale of one to ten. Kat ended up with a score of eleven which meant she was hot-shit. Afterward, Kara and PM Snow had a chat. "Eleven? Isn't that a bit cliche?" he critiqued.

"She earned it," Kara shrugged.

"She shot an arrow at your head," PM Snow reminded her.

"It was an apple," Kara downplayed.

"What is the point of all this? Why not take all of these death-row inmates and just shoot them?" PM Snow asked.

"Hope, my friend. It's the only thing stronger than fear. A little hope is effective. A lot of hope is dangerous for our enemies. I'm all about that hope and change," Kara explained.

"I'm concerned with containment. If any of these assholes escape, they're in my country. Some of these people are dangerous mother-fuckers," PM Snow said.

"You're Australia. Even if they do escape, they're contained," Kara said dismissively.

The champions continued to receive first-class treatment and then showed up in fashionable uniforms for Caesar's show. Kara eyed Kat's interview in particular. Kat appeared awkward and nervous but she amazed the audience with her dress that caught fire when she twirled around. "So, I have to ask. What possessed you to slaughter your entire village including your parents?" Caesar asked seriously.

"I did it...to strike a deal with a terrorist organization," Kat admitted.

"And what deal was that?" Caesar pressed.

"That my sister be spared. Otherwise, they would have killed everyone," Kat said.

"Well, that's very moving," Caesar allowed. "When you were convicted and sent to death row, what did you say to your sister in the courtroom?"

"I'll fight to see her again," Kat replied.

"Of course, and try you will," Caesar nodded.

Kara eyed Kat with sympathy, turning away from the screen, and then back to Kat.

Finally, the champions were led to the arena on the Tasmanian Island. The arena was 25km in diameter and 3km high. The roof was made of glass allowing the sun to shine through. The terrain was largely flat but was covered in dense vegetation and rivers. The trees were massive and dominated most of the arena giving significant amounts of cover and concealment.

In the basement level, Kara and twenty other Vindicators appeared before the champions. Between them was a table with white and tan scrolls. "I'd have you all sign release forms but I'm actually above the law and you're all death-row inmates so whatever," Kara said dismissively.

"What about us?" a few of the Vindicators asked.

"Shut the fuck up," Kara chuckled amused.

"You will all be divided into three-man teams for a total of fourteen teams, seven champion teams and seven Vindicator teams. Each team will be given one scroll, the white heaven scroll or the earth tan scroll. To make it out of the arena and to freedom, you will need one of each. That means you're going to have to take a scroll from another team to win. You are not required to work together as a team but each team will be given only one scroll so it behooves you all to work together. If you lose your scroll to a team, you'll need to steal two different scrolls from other teams, obviously," Kara began.

"In the center of the arena is a high tower. Bring the two different scrolls to the tower and you're done," Kara told them.

"Champions, you may use all weapons at your disposal against each other and against my Vindicators. My Vindicators, on the other hand, will not make any kills but they will defend themselves," Kara said and then turned to her Vindicators. "Is that clear?"

"Yes, Supreme Leader!" they all shouted.

"Now, some of you value your freedom and some of you are psychotic assholes that just want to kill and prevent others from succeeding. We'll see who ends up on top," Kara said to the champions. "You have one hundred twenty hours to get the correct scrolls either as a team or as an individual. No one is allowed to quit until the time is up."

Kara then turned to her Vindicators. "I've already arbitrarily decided who your teams are going to be so organize yourselves accordingly," she ordered.

Team 0: Kara, Kon, Mara

Team 1: Saturn Girl, Shadow Lass, Bouncing Boy

Team 2: Cosmic Boy, Brainiac 5, Nightwind

Team 3: Lightning Lad, Karate Kid, Phantom Girl

Team 4: Timberwolf, Light Lass, Insect Queen

Team 5: Tyroc, Echo, Triplicate Girl

Team 6: Lemnos, Parasite, and Elastic Lad

The Vindicator teams then all picked up heaven scrolls requiring the champions to engage them at some point. "Champions, choose your weapons and equipment and make your way to your tubes," Kara ordered.

The champions, organized in teams of 3, picked up their shit and went to their designated tubes. Some teams took a lot of gear that would compromise their speed and some took very little which would expose them to the elements, hunger, and injury. Instead of having all the champions and Vindicators enter the arena in one spot creating a total clusterfuck within the first five minutes, each team was positioned in various locations around the arena. It would take considerable time before any team managed to run into another.

As they reached their spots in the arena, the Vindicators had various reactions to the situation. "Survival is our forte. Light Lass, don't show your weaknesses," Brin said to her.

"Shut the fuck up before I send you through the roof," Ayala told him off.

In another location, Chuck started eating potato chips. "Good thing I brought snacks," he said cheerfully.

"You really are a fat-ass," Imra chided.

"This is such a drag," Tasmia rolled her eyes.

In the center of the arena were Kara, Kon, and Mara. "I'm not going to lose. I'm ready to kick some ass on anyone near me. Alright, let's go!" Kon said obnoxiously as he did shadow punches at a quick speed.

"Hold your horses, Kon. We're way OP compared to these guys. We're playing defense," Kara told him.

Elsewhere, Val was enthusiastic about his mission. "Supreme Leader, I'll do my best. I'll definitely succeed!" Val declared to his teammates.

"What a hot-blooded fool," Garth rolled his eyes.

Team #1

In the middle of the forest, Chuck munched on another bag of chips. "What the fuck are you doing? You're giving away our position with all of your chewing," Imra chided.

"Just taking a break. I'm tired and hungry," Chuck complained.

"It hasn't been five minutes since we started," Tasmia pointed out.

"I can't help it," Chuck said lamely.

"They're nearby," Imra sensed. "Take cover."

"Huh?" Chuck wondered.

"Get your fat-ass over here," Tasmia said as she placed a shadow hand around his neck and dragged him into the bushes.

The champions walked by, didn't notice a lone potato chip on the ground, and walked off. "So damn unprofessional," Imra scolded Chuck.

On a hill overlooking a large section of the forest, Kat, Peta, and Gale hung out. They were assigned together as a team for these Hunger Games. Peta went out to scout a bit with Kat and Gale stayed behind to contemplate the ridiculousness of their situation. "What did you do?" Gale asked disgustedly as he sniffed a few times. "It reeks."

"Oh, well, I got the squirts," Kat admitted.

There was an awkward silence between them. "You know, where you make fudge puddles...in your pants?"

"Way too much information. I did not need that visual," Gale protested.

"It's horrific," Kat remarked.

"Can we forget about it?" Gale asked desperately trying to change the subject.

Team #4

"Let's start making traps around the tower," Brin said ambitiously. A team of champions approached them as they were out in the open. They were suddenly attacked by leeches courtesy of Lonna. When they tried to get the leeches off of them, they ended up in a net constructed by Brin.

"Holy shit, those things are big," Brin remarked of the leaches that were the size of cats.

"That's Australia for you," Lonna smiled amused.

"One team down. Too easy," Brin smiled as he took their scroll.

Team #0

Kara, Mara, and Kon walked away from the center and into the forest. "We're making excellent progress, kids," Kara said as she looked over a map.

"I got to PISS!" Kon said suddenly and opened his pants.

"Kon, do your business away from us, God damn," Kara scolded.

Kon walked off and returned moments later. "That was so much better," Kon said relieved.

Mara suddenly backhanded Kon hard into a tree. "What the hell?" Kon said as he was getting beaten up. Kara watched as Mara and Kon punched and kicked at each other at low power.

"Talk, where is the real Kon?" Mara demanded.

"I don't know what the fuck you're on about," Kon denied.

"We have X-ray vision and can see through shape-shifters. Also, you're fighting style is left-handed. Kon is right-handed," Mara said obviously.

Kon then morphed into a Durlan, one of the champion inmates. "Okay, you got me," he said sheepishly

"Give me the scroll and I'll spare you," Mara offered. "Looks like I'll have to use force," she said after the Durlan hesitated.

Mara fired heat vision beams at the ground near the Durlan forcing him to retreat. Mara immediately pursued in the air. The Durlan threw several blades in her direction, one of which was a bomb. The bomb exploded as Mara landed on a tree branch. Mara landed on the ground slightly disoriented. The Durlan was already on her with a blade to her throat. Kon fired a beam distracting the Durlan and forcing him to disengage. Mara punched the Durlan into the air where he quickly blended in with the environment like a chameleon. Mara scanned the area with her falcon and X-ray vision but found nothing.

Kara then casually walked over to Mara and Kon. "You have fun?" she asked them. "No injuries, right?"

"I'm fine," Mara said, slightly ruffled by the explosion.

"How about we have a password in case we get separated," Kara suggested. "Listen closely: The planes in Spain mainly fall in the rain."

"Got it," Mara said instantly.

"Memorized it perfectly," Kon said confidently.

A howling wind picked up blasting the trees apart. Kara, Kon, and Mara scattered before they could be hit. Upon regrouping, Kara ordered the password. Mara recited it perfectly as did Kon. Mara immediately fired heat vision on Kon nearly hitting him. "What the fuck?" Kon asked outraged.

"I knew an idiot like you wouldn't have memorized it," Mara said and then scanned the fake Kon with her eyes.

Kon then morphed into an orange-skinned Durlan. The real Kon got eaten by a monstrously large snake. Reep, the Durlan, then addressed Kara and Mara. "You're not getting the Earth scroll...unless you kill me," he said and then ate it. Mara made a face as Reep's mouth and throat opened wide to accommodate it.

There was a sudden explosion in the distance as Kon incinerated the snake that had eaten him. His uniform was covered in snake gore. Kon then rejoined the group. "What did I tell you about killing the inmates?" Kara scolded.

"It wasn't an inmate but a giant snake, an animal," Kon said defensively.

"We're up against shape-shifting Durlans, so any living thing could be an inmate," Kara lectured.

Reep snaked himself around a tree branch like a weirdo as mother and son argued over the matter. Finally, Kara lost her cool. "Okay, I'm done with your shit," Kara said and then punched Kon in the gut with five extended fingers. Her fingers closed Kon's energy circulatory system dropping him and depriving him of his power temporarily.

"Mara, take care of our guest," Kara ordered. Mara faced off with Reep with battle intent.

"Just what I expected from an Insane. Her blood has begun to stir," Reep noticed.

Mara leaped into the air and fired low-intensity beams at Reep which he dodged. Mara then came down with a physical attack. The two engaged in physical attacks in the trees until Reep sped around Mara becoming snake-like as he did. Mara dodged Reep's snake-like attacks and blasted him with her hand creating a forest fire. When the fire died down, Reep was gone. Mara suddenly jumped out of the way as Reep emerged from a tree branch to strike at her. Mara then took hold of Reep and slammed his head down on a lower tree branch.

Reep was momentarily stunned but then his body liquified into the tree branches. Mara looked around but was suddenly ambushed by Reep. He punched her to the face and kneed her in the gut. Due to Mara fighting at such low power levels, she actually felt the blows. "You're too easy. The name of Insane weeps," Reep said of her.

Mara quickly got up and fired energy rings around Reep's limbs pinning him to a tree. She then fired a beam straight at Reep blasting through the tree he was pinned to. Reep screamed in terror and pain as he was hit. Kara winced thinking Mara might have killed him. Reep sizzled for a few moments until the fire died down. Reep's face looked fucked up for a moment but then he quickly regenerated back to his usual self.

"My name is Reep Daggle. I enjoyed witnessing your various powers," he said and then liquified into the vegetation out of sight.

"Well, that was weird," Kara said as Mara met up with her.

Team 3

As it became night, Garth, Tinya, and Val hung out near a stream. "We've secured food and water. Most teams have stopped their activities, so this is the time to attack," Garth said. "Split up and find the teams. Then, report back here."

"Okay," Tinya shrugged.

"Roger!" Val said enthusiastically and then took off.

While on his scout mission, Val went through the trees and practiced his ultimate technique of catching 20 leaves in mid-air when he jumped off a tree branch. After completing this feat, he found a squirrel with an explosive on it. "What the fuck?" he wondered as he took the explosive off the hapless squirrel.

Meanwhile, Garth easily found Imra, Chuck, and Tasmia hanging out in the bushes. "Come out. I found you," Garth said to them.

The three emerged from the bushes. "Hey, Garth. It's been too long," Imra smiled.

"It has," Garth agreed. "You, two, get lost," he said to Chuck and Tasmia.

Chuck and Tasmia took a hint and walked off before Garth could shock them away. Garth and Imra then got closer, made out, and then made sweet love in the forest.

Val and Tinya met up at the meeting spot, but Garth was missing. "It's not like him to be late," Tinya said annoyed.

"We must go out and search for him," Val said resolved.

For the night, Kat, Gale, and Peta took shelter in a small cave underground. Peta had been injured in the fighting between the other teams. Kat looked after him while Gale kept watch. "When I'm gone, I want you to hold every night Marvin the cat," Peta requested of her. Kat simply stared at him. "He's not a real cat," Peta admitted finally. "Just a figment of my imagination."

"You're stupid," Kat critiqued.

"You're dumb," Peta countered.

"Well...whose father is on crack?" Kat pointed out.

"Give me a good time?" Peta requested lamely.

"Gross," Kat refused.

"Please?" Peta asked pathetically.

Kat finally kissed him. "And that's how babies are made?" Peta asked ignorantly.

"The fuck?" Kat shook her head dismayed.

"It's not?" Peta asked confused.

Team 2

The next morning, Rokk, Brainiac 5, and Berta Skye Haris aka Nightwind faced off against three human inmates holding deadly umbrellas. "You should know how to pick your opponents. We're going to beat the shit out of you and take your scroll," the human leader said.

"Let's get this done quick," Rokk said annoyed.

The three human inmates took out their high-tech umbrellas and threw them into the air. The umbrellas began to spin showering the battlefield with hundreds of needles at fast speed. Instead of the needles hitting the three Vindicators, they instead hit the ones that cast them. There was a red mist as the three inmates were blasted with a rain of needles. When the dust faded, the three human inmates were dead.

"Is that it?" Rokk asked disappointed.

"They look like pin cushions," Berta laughed.

"You're not supposed to kill the inmates," Brainiac 5 reminded them.

"What do you mean? They died by their own hand," Berta smirked.

Brainiac 5 couldn't be certain whether Rokk had deviated the metal needs back on the humans or whether Berta had manipulated the wind or a combination of both. He was only certain the humans did not just kill themselves. Brainiac 5 went over to the bodies and found their Earth scroll. "We can head to the tower now," he said to them.

"Very well," Rokk agreed.

At the tower, Team 2 and Team 4 met up with their scrolls. The tower held luxury conditions for them all.

Team 0

A few days later, Kon went to the stream and used his legendary technique to get fish. He fired a beam into the stream causing the stunned fish to rise to the surface. "That's cheating," Mara scolded.

"Get fish on your own then," Kon told her.

"I don't kill or hunt. I delegate others to do that for me," Mara refused.

"Quit your bitching, you two," Kara scolded. She took the fish Kon had caught and fried them with her heat vision.

"I can't believe it's been four days," Mara said, the longest she had ever been in the field.

"I wonder how many teams have already finished," Kara mused.

"What if there are no more scrolls to find?" Mara asked.

"There has to be at least one scroll out there," Kara said obviously.

"The next enemy is our last chance," Kon said as he obnoxiously ate a fish whole.

Lemnos then casually joined them. "What are you doing out there alone, Lemnos?" Kara asked.

"I'm not after your scroll. I already have them both," he said showing the scrolls to them.

"Oh, really? How about we fight?" Kon said aggressively.

"Fight you? An Insane prince?" Lemnos wondered.

"Kon, don't be an ass," Kara scolded embarrassed.

"We're out of time," Kon argued.

"Kon, it's not about winning. It's about how you play the game. You don't just attack a fellow Vindicator who came out to chat with us. It's bad form," Kara told him.

"I don't think it's right either," Mara chimed in.

"If we don't beat his ass right now, we might as well give up and go home," Kon said.

"That's not entirely true. There is another team out there," Lemnos revealed.

The four then walked together in the forest toward the tower. "The tower is in the center of the forest. That makes it the best place to ambush a team," Lemnos reasoned.

"Well...no shit," Kon rolled his eyes. "Other teams will have the same idea. That means lots of enemies to fight."

"There are also the collectors, those with both scrolls that lure out others to fight them to manipulate the game," Lemnos added.

That night, the four reached an area close to the tower. Kon suddenly fired on a large bug causing it to explode. "Oh, just a centipede," Kon remarked of the human-sized bug.

"God damn, Australia," Kara said stunned by its size.

"You should avoid careless actions that give our position away," Lemnos lectured Kon. "Walking around making a noise like an elephant will attract negative attention."

"That's the whole idea," Kon argued.

The forest then became alive as a forest fire appeared around them. The fire roared around them in a circle indicating it was man-made. A beehive suddenly dropped down around the group. Kon flared his aura incinerating the bees before they could be an issue. "You, alright?" Kara asked Lemnos who had been stung.

"I'll be fine. The sting of the Trackerjack isn't lethal but it can cause hallucinations," Lemnos said.

"What if one already suffers from hallucinations?" Kon asked wide-eyed.

"There's someone here," Mara sensed as she scanned the forest.

An arrow hit a leaf pile causing a massive explosion. Kara shielded Lemnos with her cape as the explosives inside the leaf pile detonated. Scraps of supplies and equipment went everywhere. A net then dropped over Mara. As she was tangled in the net a spear went straight for her heart. Kon grabbed the spear before it could impact and fired on the source creating an explosion. Mara melted the net off of her with a flare of her aura.

Kon formed multiple clones of himself to try to find the unknown enemy. Each of the clones was hit and destroyed by an arrow in quick succession. "Holy shit, it's like a warzone," Kara remarked.

The attacker came out of the darkness and whacked Kara to the face with an ax, withdrew into the dark, and then attacked again from another angle. Kara tried to look for the attacker but found it impossible; the attacker was covered in some kind of lead paint. Kara listened for the attacker's heartbeat and fired heat vision at its general location. The attacker retreated and fell to the ground stunned. Kara casually walked over to the attacker; it was a young woman. It was Kat. She took Kat by the neck and threw her aside.

Kara casually walked up to Kat and gave her a beat down with a kick to the chin and a punch to the chest. Kat got up and whacked Kara with her ax repeatedly. Kara waited for the ax to crumble to pieces after several impacts. Kara took Kat by the neck and held her in place. "Where are your other teammates?"

"They didn't make it," Kat said honestly.

"That's a shame," Kara said with false sincerity. "Of all the teams, why did you go after us?"

"I knew I couldn't win, none of us could. I don't even want to live, to be free," Kat revealed.

"Why?" Kara questioned.

"Everyone in my village sees me as a mass murderer of my clan. Even my sister wants to kill me. So...kill me now. It would be an honor to die by your hands," Kat said.

Kara gave her a sympathetic look. "You're not going to win my Hunger Games, but I will find a place for you."

The next day, Kara, Mara, Kon, and Lemnos arrived at the tower. Kara had taken Kat's scroll allowing her team to win. Lemnos rejoined his team, Parasite and Elastic Lad. "You're late," Parasite said displeased.

"I got a bit involved in something," Lemnos excused.

"But thanks to you we got the scroll," Kon said appreciatively.

"No, it's because you all fought hard," Lemnos said condescendingly. "You were amazing, Kon-El." He then turned to Kara. "I wish you the best of luck."

Lemnos, Parasite, and Elastic Lad then entered their door of the tower while Kara and her children went through another door.

The winners of the Hunger Games assembled in a large hall. Brainiac 5 quickly briefed Kara on the situation. "That is a shit-ton of fatalities," Kara said concernedly.

"Better than the last Hunger Games," Brainiac 5 pointed out.

"True...true," Kara agreed. She looked upon the crowd and only saw Vindicators. None of the inmates had won which was expected. With seven teams, there were twenty-one Vindicators present.

"I'm hungry," Chuck said totally starving.

"I'm going to shine. I won't lose again," Val said resolved.

"Only the outstanding players are left," Garth mused.

Kara then addressed her Vindicators. "The next phase is one-on-one battles until we have a champion. The true purpose of these matches is to avoid war between worlds within the Galactic Federation. As the great Rocky once said, 'It is better for two men to kill each other in the ring than twenty million.' You represent the pinnacle of superhero strength of your respective worlds."

"One of you will be promoted after this competition. Ironically enough, it's not whether you win or lose but how you play the game. Obviously, if you win at this level, you'll make it to the next level a month from now and will be given another opportunity to show your stuff. I expect you all to do your best, but I will step in before anyone gets killed," Kara continued.

"The Vindicator Exam begins," Kara ordered.

Author's Notes: Ah, the Hunger Games is remarkably similar to the Naruto Chunin Exam and Battle Royale.