Chapter 36: Justice Dads go to War Part 3
Bruce gripped the steering of the Batwing tightly, anxious about the battle with Darkseid and about returning to his little boy. At that moment Batman and the other team members were about ten miles out from the galactic tyrants base. Their team consisted of the original seven as well as Zatara, Green Arrow, and Green Lantern. They were the smallest team, but by far the most powerful in comparison.
Batman had those who couldn't fly in the back seats, but you wouldn't know it with how quiet they all were. Whether it was nerves about the upcoming battle or thoughts of poor little protégés desperate for their fathers to return, no one could utter a word. That was until Wonder Woman's voice came on the speaker system.
"This is Wonder Woman to Batman. What's the current arrival time appearing to be?"
"At our current speed we will be docking the ship in about five minutes."
"Any sign of enemy forces or other defensive measures that could impede us?"
"So far my radar is showing nothing. Superman, are you sensing anything?" Batman then asked knowing his senses could be a little more trusted in a situation like this.
"I don't see anything so far, but my ears are picking up some weird buzzing noises. This might indicate some sort of cloaking or camouflage, so keep your eyes open and senses alert." Superman responded with great focus, well aware of the danger they were walking into.
"Are we sure we don't want some sort of cover? I could easily cast a cloaking spell on us." Zatara suggested from his seat in the Batwing.
"No, save up your energy, we're going to need every last drop of it to pull this off." Batman answered quickly.
"But wouldn't a sneak attack be more effective? I think it's..." Green Arrow started to argue till J'onn's voice was suddenly in their heads.
"I see Darkseid's ship up ahead. Perhaps one kilometer in distance."
"Thank you for the update Manhunter, I'll set the Batwing for docking speed and..." Batman started to reply before the Batwing shook violently as if someone ran into them.
"Batman you've got a horde of Parademons on your rear, you need to take evasive action!" Superman called out over the speaker.
"I'm working on that Boy Scout!" Batman growled as he immediately began to spin the Batwing around in a crazy fashion to dodge the parademons coming at him, now from all sides.
The heroes outside weren't in any better condition. Wonder Woman was using her lasso to swing the creatures out of her way while also using her brackets to deflect the blasts from their plasma guns. Superman was using his laser vision to assist Batman by taking out the Parademons chasing him while also trying to dodge them himself. Zatara was casting defensive spells every which way to neutralize Darkseid's minions as well as defend his comrades.
It was an absolute mess of a fight and it was clear that Darkseid was just trying to distract and exhaust them. They needed a way out and fast, but how? As the pressure of dodging the parademons and hiding his team pounded Bruce's brain, an idea finally came to.
"Everyone, make your way to the designated docking bay, don't worry about the Parademons, we'll let Darkseid's defenses deal with them." Batman commanded as he changed his course.
The Batwing bulleted through the skies with Parademons only feet away from the back engines. Then flying heroes were in no better state, with Wonder Woman even using her lasso to keep Zatara close as his flying was not built for speed. Soon enough the League Members were within a mile of Darkseid's base and just as Batman predicted the ships defenses came on. Now they were being rained on by blasts of energy determined to knock them out of the sky. However, thanks to Batman's excellent pilot skills and the nimbleness of the solo flyers they managed to dodge the barrage of gunfire and simultaneously let it take out their chasers. When all seemed clear the group flew into the landing dock like a bat out of hell taking temporary refuge from Darkseid's attacks.
"Well that was an exciting start." Green Arrow said snarkily as he got off the Batwing and crouched, feeling a bit sick after the herky jerky rollercoaster of an escape he just experienced.
"Yeah that's one way of putting it! If this is how Darkseid defends the outside, what is it going to be like inside." Flash said as he leaned against the Batwing to get his bearings.
"We don't have time to worry about that, we need to get a move on. The rest of the league is counting on us to finish up the job." Batman said frankly, seemingly unfazed by the last few minutes.
Knowing the Dark Knight was right, the rest of the group sucked up the stress from the last few minutes and followed him. As the rest of the league followed him, Batman followed the map he had managed to steal of the ship's layout. After thoroughly scanning and studying the map, Batman determined the route that would best support his plan.
"Alright, if we follow this corridor, it will lead us to a hallway that's a few rooms away from an elevator that goes right into the main control center. I have full confidence that is where Darkseid will be commanding his armies from. This means we will likely be facing greater defenses than those outside. So keep your guard up and be ready to fight for your life at any moment." Batman instructed the group.
Everyone nodded in compliance and readied themselves to fight again. Batman held up his hand to prepare a signal to attack on his count. Then he slowly held down his fingers as a count down until he reached zero signaling everyone to run into the hallway. Immediately they were met with parademons shooting at them with brutal ferocity as well as a few soldiers.
However they were not too powerful so the Justice League easily overcame them and continued their journey. At nearly every turn the small group was met with Darkseid's forces, but continuously they defeated their foes. For all the other members this gave them hope that they could defeat Darkseid more easily than they thought and rescue their children from being taken by him. However for Batman, this made him deeply suspicious. Why was it proving so easy to get to Darkseid, this was his ship after all, would there not be greater defenses.
Nonetheless not wanting to risk his paranoia being the downfall of his plan he fought on, determined to keep his son and lover safe. Eventually they made it to the elevator only slightly winded, but still with enough strength to take on Darkseid himself. They then entered the elevator and Batman made quick work of hacking the system to make it take them to the control room on the top floor. As they felt themselves rising Batman couldn't quite his nagging suspicion about the whole situation leading him to actually voicing it.
"Does anyone else think this has been too easy so far?"
"What are you talking about? We were just met with hoards of Darkseid's forces. What about that seems easy to you?" Green Arrow answered back with a questioning chuckle.
"We made it here in less than twenty minutes and barely used even ten percent of our power. Does that not seem suspicious to you?" Batman reasoned back.
"I'm sure Darkseid has a majority of his army out there wreaking havoc on the world right now. I'm sure his own personal safety is of little consequence with his own power." Wonder Woman added in agreement with Green Arrow.
"Exactly, while he may be a hyper intelligent and powerful intergalactic dictator. He still can't read minds or know his enemies plans before they are executed. I think we will genuinely surprise him especially since our numbers have grown significantly since his last attack." Green Arrow added in again.
"I suppose." Batman responded though still not convinced by his team's confidence in their strategy.
Soon enough the elevator stopped and the doors opened prompting the League to move carefully out of the elevator as to not fully alert Darkseid of their presence. They made their way down a small corridor that led into the control room where they saw soldiers and Parademons either operating the ship or acting as guards. Thinking they had the element of surprise the league made a full frontal assault on the control room. They were met with resistance as they fought off the parademons and soldiers. Everyone was so taken in by the heat of battle they didn't even realize that Darkseid was not attacking as well.
However soon enough they had defeated all the goons in the control room and turned to the center of the room to realize why. There in the middle of the room sat a large dark metal throne that was completely empty.
"What! Where is he?!" Green Lantern yelled as he frantically looked around for the intergalactic dictator.
"I don't know, but stay alert he could appear anywhere." Aquaman advised as he poised his trident to attack.
"Manhunter, do you sense him anywhere?" Flash asked as he looked around with great intensity.
It was quiet for a moment as Martian Manhunter tried to sense the malice filled mind of Darkseid.
"No, I'm not detecting him anywhere." Manhunter said with great concern.
"He has to be here, this is his ship!" Superman cried from the air, his eyes glowing red with lasers ready to blast at Darkseid.
It was then that the glass windows surrounding them went dark and a glowing red hologram of Darkseid appeared on the throne.
"Ah Justice League I see you have made your way to the control room of one of my ships." Darkseid taunted with a devious grin.
"Show yourself Darkseid! Don't do us the dishonor of hiding like a coward." Wonder Woman demanded as she readied her lasso.
"You know far too well Amazon that I am no coward who hides from his enemies." Darkseid chuckled menacingly.
"Then come out and face us!" Superman bellowed angrily.
"I'm afraid that is impossible, Son of Krypton. For I am not on that ship or else I would happily fight you."
Everyone's hearts sank, especially Batman's as he realized that his information was wrong.
"What do you mean you're not here?! This is your flag ship!" Zatara asked as he tried to maintain his composure."
"Do you really think I would repeat the same plan twice? That I would not take my defeat from last time and learn from it to improve my chances at victory. You have clearly grown stupid in your time of peace Justice League and in more ways than you even know."
"Even if we miscalculated on your location, that doesn't mean you've completely beaten us. As we speak our hundreds of other members are attacking your other ships and defeating your armies." Batman finally added in as he internally was trying to see where he went wrong and how he was going to recover from this.
"That is true and I must compliment your success in that regard. However there is one grave misstep you clearly haven't thought of yet. One that means a greater victory for me than simply taking over your planet."
"And what would that be?" Batman asked, his heart pounding in his chest.
"Did you not leave your children all in one place before you came to this base?"
If their hearts weren't sunken enough this last revelation threatened to send them into the abyss and freeze the blood of the League members in that moment.
"While I do want to dominate your little planet, the acquisition of fresh blood for my armies is far more enticing. Especially with the potential your little protégés possess, their raw power is simply too much to resist. I made the mistake of thinking that only two of my furries would be enough last time, but this time I will not make such a mistake."
"Don't you dare touch them! If you so much asâ." Superman began to bellow before he was interrupted.
"I'm afraid it's too late, no doubt by now my Furries have already arrived at your little mountain hideout and are retrieving them for me now. Under my tutelage they will be made into beings of pure destruction and power, capable of taking over entire planets single handedly. Farewell Justice League, I hope you find the ship I am commanding my armies from. I would be so disappointed in not getting to destroy you in person." Darkseid said maliciously as his holographic form disappeared.
The league was speechless and frozen for a few earth shattering moments. Then without any warning the League ran back to the ships and booked it back to Mount Justice hoping and pleading their babies were still safe and that it wasn't too late to save them. Batman was pretty sure at one point he even broke the sound barrier as he pushed the batwing to go faster than it ever had to get back and save his son.
Soon enough they had arrived in the hangar of Mount Justice and practically sprinted to the inner sanctum of the mountain. What greeted their eyes made their hearts stop, the absolute destruction and disarray of the base was all the proof they needed to know that they were too late. As the League took in what they were seeing they also heard a voice coming from the medical center. Despite their grief the League made their way cautiously to the medical center, doing all they could to not make a sound. However when they eventually reached the med center, both to their relief and added shock, they saw Catwoman caring for all the other women who were left to care for the kids.
To say they were in bad shape was an understatement; Selina, Mira, Lois, and Iris looked like they had been in a one-sided boxing match, which was honestly not too far from the truth. Though the one who looked the worst was Dinah who looked like she had gotten into a fight with a wild animal.
"Dinah!" Oliver cried out as he ran over to his horribly brutalized lover and took her into his arms.
Tears leaked from his eyes as he looked at her mangled body, only somewhat comforted by her warmth and pulse he could barely detect. All the other men acted the same was as they ran to the sides of their women in pure concern, leaving just Bruce and Diana in the doorway.
"She was attacked by some feral henchwoman of Darkseid, I managed to stop the bleeding and wrap her up but she hasn't woken up since the attack." Selina tried to explain though her own tears threatened to spill out from a mixture of sadness and shame of her failures.
"Selina what happened? How did they get in here?" Diana asked gently as she took a seat next to Selina and put her arms around her comfortingly.
"I don't know how they got in, some sort of teleportation. But I do know we were powerless to stop them. It was like trying to fight forces of nature, they were practically unstoppable. One of them even fried up Red Tornado. Once they were finished with us they then took theâ" Selina explained as her tears made it nearly impossible for her to speak.
"We know, Darkseid told us himself. We hoped we could make it in time, but it looks like we were undermined by him twice today." Diana explained depressed by their failure.
"I'm so sorry, I know you trusted me to take care of and protect the kids. But I was just too weak and I failed!" Selina full on sobbed out of pure disappointment with herself.
Unable to take it anymore, Bruce took Selina into his arms and held her tightly. Selina sobbed into her lover's chest, her perceived failure filling her with shame and dread especially as she remembered Dick calling her mommy. All the while Bruce, tears threatening to leak from his own eyes, just stroked Selina's hair trying his best to keep it together.
"We can't give up so easily, Selina! We have to believe we can get them back! No, we have to get them back, because they're not just prisoners to him, they're fresh blood for his elite army."
"But how Bruce? We don't even know where the real ship is!" Selina retorted, finally gathering herself enough to speak.
"We'll find a way! We always do." Bruce said as he took off his cowl and kissed Selina's head.
With the simple reassurance of Bruce's touch, Selina pulled it back together. Remembering that he always had a plan even in the bleakest of situations.
"So what is the plan then?" Barry asked as he and Iris held each other on her bed.
Bruce remained quiet as he contemplated their situation, trying to think of something that might help them find their babies. He had no access to one of the Consuls on Darkseid's ship, to try and hack into their system and track him. He also didn't have a motherbox to try and teleport to Darkseid, or really any sort of technology. All he had were his wits and tools in his belt, but nothing in there could possiblyâ.
It was then that Bruce remembered something very important, something that might just help them rescue the kids. He let go of Selina and frantically dug through his belt for his mini computer. Once he found it he opened up the paper thin piece of tech and typed away at its tiny keys. Within minutes he finally found something that filled him with hope.
"I found them!" Bruce declared a slight smile on his face.
"Where!?" Selina asked desperately as she grabbed onto Bruce and looked intently at the little screen.
Everyone else in the room tensed up, eager to hear where their little protégés had been taken too. Bruce took a few seconds to really study the location pin before he told the equally worried parents/mentors.
"It looks like they're in the atmosphere above Metropolis." Bruce said with a sense of both great relief and paralyzing fear.
"So what's the plan to get them back then?" Oliver asked earnestly, still holding onto Dinah's hand.
"It will be the same plan as before, but it will need some major adjustments. We will also need to find an alternative way to get onto the ship. Darkseid is already expecting us to come, so we need to think of a new way to gain back the element of surprise."
"That isn't a plan! And even if we do somehow get on the ship, how are we going to take Darkseid down? He knows we're coming already, so I'm sure he will be more than prepared for us?" Hal asked, a defeated tone in his voice.
"I am aware it's not a real plan, but we don't have enough information or time to thoroughly strategize a plan of attack! We will have to play it by ear and adjust as we go along in order to defeat Darkseid and save the kids. Now are you willing to work with me or not?" Bruce asked with a stern look in his eyes.
Immediately Hal realized he was coming off as if they already lost and that there was no hope. Bruce had always led them to victory in the past even in the bleakest of situations. This was not the time to doubt him, especially with the kids future at stake.
"Yes, you're right, there's no way we can have a totally solid plan with what's at stake. But I still don't get how we're supposed to get to the ship without detection." Hal answered but still confused how they would pull this off.
"I think I might have a solution to that." Zatara said suddenly.
"You do?!" Selina asked desperately.
"Yes, though I must warn you I have never done it before. Not to mention if it does actually work, it will make me virtually useless to you once we are inside Darkseid's ship." Zatara forewarned the League.
"What is this method?" Superman piped up.
"A powerful teleportation spell I came upon in my early studies of magic. It can get us directly in and out of Darkseid's ship, but it will make me useless to you until it's time to return."
"Why?" Bruce asked, puzzled.
"Because this spell requires a lot of power to cast, crossing between the planes into a different space is no simple feat. Especially with a group this large, my magic power will be cut in half. This means I will only have enough power to get us there and back, and thus can not assist you in fighting Darkseid and rescuing the children." Zatara explained frankly.
Everyone was quiet for a moment taking in Zatara's idea and its consequence of leaving them with one less person able to fight the intergalactic dictator they would be facing. After a while of pure silence Diana spoke up.
"You're absolutely sure you can get us into Darkseid's ship?"
"Yes, all I need is a specific location and I can get us there."
"Bruce, do you think you could manage that?" Diana asked directly.
"Yes, but I'll need a few minutes on my computer in the Batcave."
"I'll come with you then for back up!" Selina declared as she dried her eyes and straightened her spine.
"Alright, Hal you should join us too. If we get attacked, Selina can't handle them all by herself."
"Ok count me in!"
"Then it looks like we have a plan, Selina, Hal, and myself will look for schematics for Darkseid's ship. Zatara you prepare everything you need for the spell and the rest of us will care for the wounded here. Everyone in agreement?" Bruce asked confidently.
"Yes!" Everyone answered in unison.
"Then let's move on. We have children and a world to save."
Darkseid's Ship
"Let us out of here you bunch of assholes!" Roy shouted out, completely forgoing his usual restraint he had in front of the younger kids.
"Roy stop shouting, it is clear they stopped listening a long time ago!" Kaldur commanded as held Dickie in his lap.
The poor little boy was quietly sobbing, missing his mommy and daddy, wanting nothing more than the comforting paradise of their arms. He wasn't the only one, the other little ones felt the same way as they all sobbed into themselves. Conner, M'gann, Zatanna, and Wally were all beside themselves as they cried out for their mommies and daddies. Kaldur himself was barely keeping it together, but he knew the others needed him and Roy to be strong as they were the de facto leaders in this situation.
At the moment the children were in a creepy circular dungeon with some sort of metal bars surrounding them except for a large thick wall behind them. The room was only lite by a single bright red light in the middle of the room, leaving an ominous atmosphere.
"What, you want me to do nothing!? Sitting here waiting isn't going to get us anywhere! If anything it's going to get us either enslaved or killed!" Roy said in an absolutely irate state.
However the preteen soon realized he totally messed up as all the little kids looked at him in shock and then proceeded to cry louder. Roy slapped his forehead in chastisement as he thought over the fact he just said killed in front of the babies of the group.
"Roy are weâreally gonnaâdie? Will I neverâsee myâmommy an daddyâagain?" Dick managed to sob out as he lifted his head from Kaldur's chest.
Taking a deep breath to compose himself, Roy then picked up Dick from Kaldur's lap, wrapped his blankie that he had when they were taken around him, and cradled Dick as best he could in his arms.
"No Dickie, we're not gonna die! We'll see our mommies and daddies again I promise! But we have to be brave, we gotta remember what Batman taught us alright?" Roy asked as he lightly bounced the tiny boy in his arms to help comfort him.
Dick sobbing subsided a little bit as he looked into Roy's eyes and nodded.
"Good boy, now can you be a brave big boy for me. At least until we get out of here?" Roy cooed as he stroked the soft ebony hair of little Dickie.
"Ah huh." Dick answered as he started to whip away his tears and straighten up a bit.
"Good boy Dickie, now let's all think of a way out of here." Roy said as he sat down on the floor, Dick cradled in his lap, now serving as the calming presence in the room.
All the other little ones gathered over to Roy, whipping away their own tears ready to help him come up with a way out. Kaldur looked at his senior with pride, as he watched the raging preteen evolve into the strong leader they needed at that moment.
"Ok everyone, let's all think, what is going to get us all out of here?" Roy asked calmly.
"What if we steal the key when the guard comes back? I can try to phase through the bars and take it while he's not looking!" M'gann suggested as she thought of the guard that locked them up in the cell and would come back to ensure they weren't trying to escape every fifteen minutes.
"But M'gann you've never been able to phase your entire body through walls yet successfully. Besides, he would quickly notice you weren't there and sound the alarm before you could even take the key." Roy told the little Martian girl frankly but kindly.
M'gann immediately slumped knowing the older boy was right.
"What if we lured him to the bars and I electrocuted him till he was unconscious! Then we could easily steal the key and escape."
"That's not a bad idea to get out of this cell, but then how do we get out of this ship? We need a complete plan if we're going to get out of here together without being recaptured." Roy established, though, liking Kaldur's idea.
"Oo! What if weâ" Wally began to suggest excitedly before he was interrupted.
"Awe how adorable the little ones are planning an escape!"
Everyone turned their heads to see Granny Goodness looking down at them with a condescending smirk.
"What, did you expect us to just sit here like good little boys and girls for you?" Roy retorted as he held Dick close to his chest.
"No, but you should know it's futile to even try. This ship is an impenetrable fortress both inside and out. A mere gaggle of infantile sidekicks is not going to be able to escape these walls so easily. You should simply accept your fate, and consider yourselves lucky that Lord Darkseid has chosen you to join his army. Under my training you will grow to be more powerful than you ever could with those weaklings you call the Justice League."
"My daddy is not weak! He's gonna get here and kick your butt!" Dick yelled angrily as he let no one insult his daddy.
"Robin shh!" Roy scolded, not wanting his baby brother to be possibly taken and punished.
"My my what a fire this one has inside, that's good, you'll need that to survive my training. We've never had males be more than just common soldiers before, we find them too hard to control once they've gained power. But you lot might just be worth the risk, not to mention two new females to add to my Furies. Rest well children, training begins the morning after we leave earth, and you will need it." Granny Goodness chuckled maliciously as she turned and left the dungeon.
It was quiet for a moment before Kaldur finally spoke up.
"We have to get out of here, I know it would be best done with a plan but I don't think we have time for that." Kaldur said frankly.
"I know but we have no real way out of here."
"I could maybe bend the bars apart!" Conner then suggested as he then tried to pry them open only to be electrocuted.
"Conner!" M'gann screamed as she ran to the little Kryptonian who kneeled and grunted in pain as he held his hands to his chest.
"Conner, are you ok?!" Roy asked concerned.
"Yay, I'm fine! But that hurt really bad." Conner grunted as M'gann hugged him for comfort.
"Well I guess that takes out Kaldur's idea, but there has to be some other way out!" Wally complained.
"I know baby flash but we just have to keepâ"
"Wait!" Dick squealed as he remembered something.
The little boy left his big brother's lap and unzipped his footie pajamas to reveal his utility belt.
"Daddy made me put it on before he left! I got so used to wearing it I didn't even notice it there! We can use this to escape!" Dick squealed excitedly as he pulled out a little bomb.
"Nice job baby bird! But the only problem is they will hear it when it goes off." Roy said at first excited only to face reality set back in.
"I can fix that!" Zatanna squealed so excited her pigtails flew up as she jumped to her feet.
Zatanna took the bomb as Dick gave it to her and closed her eyes.
"Ecnelis!"
The bomb sparkled a bit and then stopped as she handed it back to Dick.
"Now it should go off without making a noise." Zatanna explained.
"Alright then, Dick whenever you're ready!" Roy instructed.
Dick nodded and then set the bomb down near the bars to avoid electrocution. He as well as everyone else stepped back as Dick also pulled out a little detonator. Taking a deep breath the little boy wonder pushed the button and just as Zatanna said the bomb went off without making a single noise, even the debris fell silently. Everyone cheered as they saw the doorway to freedom open, but they were promptly shushed by Roy.
"Remember we have to be quiet. Now come on, let's go!" Roy commanded.
Everyone started to make a break for it except Dick who was promptly grabbed by Roy with his bat blanket. The preteen quickly fashioned a baby sling, securely strapping the six year old to his back.
"Roy put me down, I'm not a baby!" Dick protested as he tried to escape his fuzzy shackles.
"I know baby bird, but you're the littlest here and we gotta get out of here quickly. This is just to make sure you don't get lost or left behind." Roy explained as he then ran to keep up with the group.
"But what about Zatanna she doesn't have to be carried and we're both little!" Dick whined.
"You know what you're right, Kaldur have Zatanna ride on your back! We gotta make sure the youngest don't fall behind." Roy commanded once more.
"Got it! Come on Lady Zatanna I've got you!" Kaldur said as he squared down for her.
Without complaint the little girl hopped onto the Atlanteans back and was happy to be piggybacked. While happy he wasn't the only one being carried, Dick still huffed at the fact he was being carried the more infantile way. With the littlest taken care of the kids made a run for it desperate to get back to the safety of the Justice League.