The New 52 Redux

by YouKnowItMakesSense

What if Flashpoint hadn't changed reality and the New Earth continuity had persisted? Time and space still tried to assert itself in the form of Eobard Thawne returning to the present as Eddie Thawne, a messiah of resurrection for the world six months after the Blackest Night. And he really does want to change the world.

17. The Stuff of Nightmares

Metropolis

Practicing archery in the park with his daughter, Lian, was a new high in the life of Roy Harper. Teaching her how to aim with trick arrows like his old man used to made things a little safer for everyone else. "Dad, when are Robbie and Aunt Donna coming to see us again?" Roy smiled a little as he pointed out three figures walking towards them. Donna Troy and her son were with Jason Todd who had met them at the train station. Robbie was only starting to learn how to fly and Donna didn't like taking him on long flights, so it was decided they would take the train. Lian hadn't shut up about seeing Robbie again since their last play date. Roy was happy to see the two children he and Donna had lost getting along so well. Jason carrying a picnic basket and smiling like a buffoon was a sight not many people had seen before, but he had good reason to be happy knowing the likes of Roy Harper had accepted him when his own family couldn't. Donna had to laugh a little, knowing that things could be so happy again. Jason and Roy rooming in Metropolis with Jericho had made things a little easier. But Joey had seemed to head off with Wintergreen a while after that and never come back.

As they sat and had their picnic, Jason and Donna reminisced about their time in the multiverse with Kyle Rayner. "None of that trip made any sense," Red Hood said, his hands rising in animated frustration, "We arrive on Earth-51, find Ray and then…" "Bob is all 'time to die!'" Donna laughed awkwardly at her own bad impression of the Monitor. "It didn't make any sense," Jason laughed, "then when we get back home, it's a trip to Apokolips. This is why I stick with merc work, no more of this cosmic crap. I'll leave that to you and Kyle from now on." "Then why are you at the head of the Suicide Squad?" Roy asked. "Pfft. It's the Secret Six these days. You know, the villains who aren't really villains. And Thawne says he wants me to whip them into shape for black ops work." Roy and Donna both looked at their feet. Robbie ran along to the picnic then from playing, seemingly alone.

"Where's Lian?" Roy asked. "She's gone back to practicing," came the innocent reply. "On her own!" Roy freaked out and ran before the others could stop him. "Mom, did I upset Uncle Roy? Robbie asked, tears in his eyes." "No, Robbie…," she said holding him a little closer, "just he's very protective of Lian these days. With good reason." Jason then ruffled the little boy's hair. "Say, Don, do you know what's happening with Diana and the Amazons?" Red Hood asked, trying to change the subject. "I—" "I think Mom should be the new Wonder Woman." That earned a slight chuckle from the boy's mother. "Don't be silly, Robbie," Donna said, "There's only one Wonder Woman."

"Yeah, and she's exiled," Red Hood pointed out, "Face it, Don, you're the most qualified with—" Jason looked at his feet in embarrassment upon realising he had put his foot in it by making Donna think of Cassie. "Sorry, I didn't mean…" "Well, hopefully Cassie's alright," Troia said with confidence and kindness, "But you're right, Jason. Even if she's not gone, I'm older than her. I should take Diana's mantle. But for what reason? The world is safe." "Safe? Why do you think the Suicide Squad's back? Or that there's talks of a new Justice League. Donna, you should join. Maybe you can rehabilitate the Amazon image."

"Here's hoping. Okay, Jason. I'll think about it. See what Father Thawne thinks."

As they were talking, Roy had run over to the tree Lian had been practicing at and started shouting for his daughter when he saw she wasn't there. He thought she must be terrified but not half as much as he was at the thought of his only child dying on him again. Then he saw she was with a man he recognised. A blonde man with a beard that looked scragglier than a branch of vines. The man looked up at Roy and smiled. "Roy, hello," came the polite and relaxed tone, "Fancy seeing you here." "Eddie Thawne? It's…it's good to see you, man. Lian, run back to Aunt Donna and Uncle Jason okay?" "Okay, Daddy." As Lian went off, Roy turned to the preacher who appeared more than a litteinterested in his child.

"What are you doing here?"

"Just a flying visit, I assure you. Tell me, Roy, have you been having bad dreams?"

"Bad dreams? I—Yes."

"Dreams about failing Lian. About failing as a hero again and losing the person you love the most in the world."

"Yeah. How the hell—"

"I just know, Roy. I have an empathic gift as Donna and others will assure you. This world needs protecting. You saw what happened to the Teen Titans, of course."

"I did. But why—"

"We need a hero as brave and caring as the father of Lian Harper, is why. I know you will do nothing to fail her again, nor will Donna Robbie. Which is why I am asking you to join the new Justice League, Arsenal. Donna can be the new Wonder Woman. And one day, when the world is a better place, your children can join the Teen Titans and continue your legacies."

"This is a big ask, Eddie."

"Do you want to fail Lian again?"

"I failed her when I was a hero, how is me being in the League going to change anything?"

"Well, there are ways and means of perfecting the human condition." Eddie withdrew a vial of green fluid from his jacket. "What the hell is that?" "It's a serum developed by the DEO based on Deathstroke's abilities," he lied, though Roy could not discern, "It will allow you to be as capable a hero as you've always wanted to be, Roy. It will allow you to protect Lian again." "Eddie-I—" he hesitated. "Trust me…" Roy thought back to his own addiction to heroin and how it had broken him. The abuse had been because of his own feelings of inadequacy. He hated himself for letting his daughter die once, and he wasn't going to stop himself again. He took the vial from Thawne. "Remember to take it before missions only," Thawne wagged his finger, "Can't have you always being superhuman now can we?" Roy pocketed it and nodded before walking away. "Put in a good word for me with Donna!" "Of course, Eddie." Thawne then began laughing to himself ever so maniacally once Arsenal was out of earshot. Why was he laughing? Well, it's not every day you get a superhero addicted to Venom.

Jerusalem

Being walked to the Wailing Wall in a wheelchair was not an uncommon sight. But the man pushing Freddy Freeman through the streets of one of the world's oldest cities was just as uncommon as Freddy had once been when he had been Captain Marvel. They had been enemies once. The man in question looked younger than he should. He was Teth-Adam, and he was determined to help this young man to atone for what he had done to the boy's family. Passing by the Abbey of the Dormition as they ascended Mount Zion, they came to the traditional resting place of King David, father of the man whose wisdom had empowered the Marvel Family. At the tomb, Adam cut the palm of his hand and made a Kabbalistic symbol on the altar. "O, David ben Yishai, King of the Twelve Tribes of Israel…I, Teth-Adam, son of Ramses, beseech thee to speak to us mere mortals." A ghost appeared before them of a bearded man holding a harp. "What?," was the angered query of the disturbed spirit, "I was busy playing the harp to these angel girls. I've only been up here 3000 years, you know, and they're very particular." "It is not you we seek, your highness," Freddy said while coughing, "but your son."

"Absalom? I banished him to Hell for betraying me."

"No. The one you liked."

"Nathan?"

"Solomon!"

"No need to be rude, mortal. Why did you not go to Solomon's Tomb if you seek him, then?"

"We don't know where your son is buried. No one does."

"Oh. Well then what do you expect me to do?"

"Find him for us so we may commune with his spirit."

"He's busy with all his women. Takes after his old man." Adam lost his patience then, since Freddy's questioning was getting nowhere. "Listen to me! We invoke your son's wisdom in order to better fight forces that threaten reality. Freddy wishes to commune with your son to personally receive his wisdom. Now, bring Solomon forth!" David's ghost seemed to retreat and he was instantly replaced by a darker skinned man who was surrounded by women. "What is this? Who dares disturb I, King Solomon?" Adam then physically gripped the ghost using his power after screaming 'SHAZAM!' and transforming into Black Adam. "I do, King of Israel. I am the King of Kahndaq, and a Prince of Egypt. Teth-Adam. Now tell us of your wisdom?"

"My wisdom? Oh, you're some of Jebediah's followers. The Wizard on the Rock of Eternity. He's sent some more of you on a trial then. What makes you think you are deserving of my wisdom?" Freddy blanched a little at actually being asked that. "Because I have served the mortal world as Captain Marvel and used your wisdom to better judge my enemies and friends. Through reflection on your wisdom, Black Adam has become a better man, when he was once a tyrant. He has found love for both his new wife and the people of the Earth. He has brought honour to the Power of Shazam. The Wizard has unduly stripped me of powers I did not abuse, because he lacks your wisdom. I need to help save the Earth from the forces of evil, and I can better do that with your wisdom, King Solomon."

"But you are a cripple, boy."

"I am. But I got to be amazing as Captain Marvel, with your wisdom being as much a part of that as my powers from the other gods, if not more so. It was by not consulting your wisdom that Mary Batson, a girl with similar abilities, turned to the darkness. The Wizard has lost your wisdom in his anger. I need to redeem that."

"But you are not wise yourself?"

"No truly wise man can appreciate their wisdom without acknowledging their lack thereof and considering the point of view of others. Socrates of Athens, who was a bit after your time was famed for his intellect, and once said that all he knew was that he knew nothing. I know nothing, and neither do you, wise King Solomon. But your wisdom was still a valued part of my power. And I, humble as I am, would like to be able to utilise it once again."

"Very well. Freddy Freeman, I grant thee the wisdom of King Solomon! May your mind forever judge things as I would have, with care and consideration!" In a flash of light, King Solomon's ghost disappeared and Freddy suddenly felt, more mature, like he was one step on the way. "Well, that was pretty easy." "Count yourself lucky we came here first," Adam sternly strode towards him, "You won't like where we're going next." "And where's that?"

"Achilles is dead and the Titan Atlas sealed beneath the Earth. We're going to the Underworld, Freddy."

The Daily Planet, Metropolis

Ouch! Another paper cut. Clark would never get used to these things now that he was depowered. Still, he knew he should feel safer in the knowledge that he couldn't murder an entire city if he lost his mind. The nightmares had abated as well. Lois hadn't taken the news too well, being as skeptical as ever and said he was disrespecting Conner and Kara's memories. Clark didn't expect her to understand. Only Eddie possibly could. Eddie Thawne. What a fine young man. And he had found a replacement Superman. Clark wondered who he meant. Billy Batson? Mr Mxyzptlk? The possibilities were endless. Lois then landed up at his desk and slammed down a series of photographs.

"Who gave you these?" Clark said as he looked through the photos at a pace which to him seemed as slow as a snail. The photos were of children being rounded up in the Suicide Slum and put into trucks. "Jeff Pierce," Lois curtly answered, "Says he's been staking this stuff out. Wants some of it in the press. Clark, now's a time we could use Superman, since not even Steel's out there." "Lois, don't you think I appreciate that Superman did good?" Clark sighed in pure exasperation, removing his glasses and furrowing his brow, "It's just that he's too dangerous!" "You should have asked me," his wife replied without missing a beat. "No, I shouldn't," Clark firmly retorted, "I know you're my wife but you don't know the first thing about having my powers. No one does…anymore."

"Yeah, well I can guarantee you Conner and Kara would have told you not to do this. Because it's insane."

"It's not. You don't know what it's been like living on a planet made of cardboard. You never have. And if there's a remote possibility that Superman could snap that cardboard in two from loss of self-control, then he needs to be shut down."

"You sound just like Luthor, you know that?"

"Well, maybe Lex had a point. I can be a threat if I want to be. The problem is I don't, but I could still be a threat. You didn't see what I did to J'onn."

"The Superman I knew would have always fought back and tried to do the right thing."

"Yeah, well you always loved the super part of me more than the Clark part." Lois gave him a look that could bend steel itself at that. "How dare you!" her rage was incandescent, "I dated you before I even had an inkling you were Superman. I stood by you for a whole year when you lost your powers that time, and it was the happiest time of my life. I only think you should be Superman because it's the right thing to do. The world needs Superman. Do I want it to be someone apart from my husband? Sure. But there's never going to be another Superman apart from the amazing man I married."

"Lois, I did it for the kids. Thawne has a new Superman in hand. Trust me."

"Oh, Clark. Using our unborn children as an excuse. Just admit you did this because you were afraid. Nothing more, nothing less. Just look through these for a minute, I'm going to get some coffee with Jimmy."

"You never—"

"I just can't look at you right now."

As Clark looked through the photos, he noted how the Intergang members seemed to be picking random children all of whom had shaved heads which made identification more difficult. He found it odd that so many children could be so easily rounded up. Then he noticed how they were wearing collars on their neck, and how heavily armed the Intergang members seemed to be. Were these children metahumans? Lois hadn't said anything but Clark was determined to get in touch with Black Lightning as soon as possible and see what was really up. Then the television overlooking the journalists at work began blaring a Breaking News alert.

"This is GCN. It seems Gardner Fox over in Washington D.C. is coming to us live with President Eiling's emergency speech at the front of the Washington Monument from Father Thawne's podium."

"Gil, this is monumental stuff. President Eiling has behind him a group of superhumans many speculate to be the new Justice League of America. The President is approaching the podium with First Lady Eliza beside him looking gorgeous as ever. Just giving my customary salute to our dear leader there…Now the President is about to speak."

"My fellow Americans. This last fortnight has been a troublesome one for all involved. Father Edward Thawne and I have been discussing the attack on Titans Tower in great detail, as well as the continued terrorist offensive in Gotham City, which Mayor Niland assures us all is under control. The fact that a superhero of great renown like Power Girl could go rogue like that and murder several teenagers, makes all of our bloods boil, no doubt. But the fact of the matter is that a hero should be held accountable for their actions. What if Superman, which I very much doubt, were to turn into a villain in the morning? Slaughter each and every one of us? There'd be no way of stopping him. No way that is...unless we had him vetted by our government every single day as safe. Now, Superman's a private citizen, we can't do that, unless he agrees. And he has, at least the new Superman has. As have the other people behind me. Our people need a team to protect ourselves from further Atlantean/Amazon attacks. And we have that team with me here today. The new Justice League of America!"

Eiling gestured behind him to a gaggle of heroes Clark recognised. In the front was Superman, who seemed to be wearing Kon's old earring from his early days as Superboy. Was it Kon? There were two Flashes standing proud together, a man and a woman, who Clark figured must be Barry and Iris' resurrected children. Beside them was Wonder Woman, unmistakably Donna Troy, and Roy Harper back in his Red Arrow garb. But strangely at the very back of the team was of all people, Cyborg. Vic Stone was alive and well but looked slightly less like his usual self. His smile didn't contain the warmth he was known for, but instead a bitter cynicism. Not to mention his design had been changed altogether, with an Omega symbol in the middle of his chest similar to Darkseid's. The new Superman walked up and took the podium.

"Thank you, Mr President. My name is Kon-El. I recently survived the attack on Titans Tower barely with my life. Thanks to Father Thawne's healing powers, I survived, but he was unable to save my teammates, including my beloved Wonder Girl, who died in my arms. Kal-El, my father, has decided to retire in order to be a father for his children yet to be born. I took up the mantle of Superman with his blessing and am now proud to say I will be the first Superman to officially serve the United States of America." Cheers and chants of 'USA, USA' came from the crowd as the impostor moved his hands down. "I wish Kal all the luck in the world raising my little brother and sister. I promise to do right by him and his unborn children as the new Superman. No more than our new Wonder Woman, and the new Flashes will honour their predecessors. We will protect this country so that what happened to my team, doesn't happen to the rest of the world. We will crush the forces of villainy in the name of President Randall Eiling and Father Edward Thawne!"

The crowd went wild as Gardner Fox took over reportage duties once again. "Well, there you have it, Gil. A new JLA for the modern age. It seems Kon-El being the new Superman explains a lot about his survival being kept hush hush if his condition was that critical. It is sad to get a confirmation of the fate of the Titans in such a manner. But thankfully we got the genuine mourning of our new Man of Tomorrow to tell us that. Make sure to tune in this evening at 9 for our memorial documentary for the Teen Titans. Then at 10, I'll be giving an exclusive interview with Father Edward Thawne, the most popular man in the country, and a man of true faith. All this on GCN!" Clark smiled to himself slightly, and then thought to himself why Kon wouldn't have contacted them if he was alive? Oh well, he figured Eddie must have had good reason not to tell him.

Sector 666

Sailing through the stars always impressed Carter Hall, even though he'd been travelling through space for months now. He'd headed to Thanagar first and had demanded some kind of resurrection of Shiera drunkenly before the government. He'd gotten himself escorted out by the local Green Lantern and officially exiled. Then he decided to stop off on every spaceport he could before leading his protests to Oa. Being a gladiator had earned him coins on various planets, and then he had ended up on Sol Bogdanus after wasting his winnings on booze. Not a fun planet, and a very wretched place to find oneself in, but with the state Carter was in now, he always felt wretched. Not only did he grieve his wife who had only come back from the dead, but her grandniece who had died to do it. Kendra had been Shiera's reincarnation, but the problem was Carter had lost the ability to age like his comrades on the JSA, so there was no younger reincarnation for her to fall in love with, just an old-fashioned man who acted like he was her great-grandfather. And that was the problem, since they didn't really pursue romance until just before she was killed, trying to deny the dormant spirit of her grandaunt by entering relationships with men like Roy Harper. Carter had wanted her to do that. The problem was destiny fated her to always love him. He hoped one day Kendra could live again, so he could let her live her life without giving into his own selfish needs.

"Are you alright, Carter?" Koriand'r said as she walked into the cargo bay where Hawkman was drinking bottles of grank from Lobo's stash. "It takes a broken man to drink Lobo's liquor," she remarked, "And you have been doing that since we left Sol Bogdanus." "Well, you said we have to head to this Mir'an of yours slowly," he hiccupped, "Got to find something to while away the time." "Yes, but excessive consumption of narcotics has damaged friends of mine in the past," Kory wistfully replied, "I do not want to see it happen to you. I am truly sorry that you have lost Shiera once more. I know what it is like to lose someone you love. I have lost two husbands myself, and even if one of them was not of mine or his choosing I still felt it keenly when he expired."

"Yeah, I know. But I have no right to be upset, you see. Shiera and I are basically immortal. We're reborn in new bodies and find each other again and again. The one I feel really sorry for is Kendra. She died because she loved me, and then when I came back it was Shiera not her who lived again. I know Kendra was Shiera in a way, but she didn't have her memories. She was essentially a different person. I feel responsible for the death of a young girl before her life ever really began. I was too selfish and happy when Shiera was alive to appreciate that, but now she's gone I realise what an ass I've been."

"Well, alcohol is not the solution to a broken heart. Not that no one should drink it, but if you are using it as if it were some form of medication for your pain, that is not the answer."

"I know, Kory. Anyway, it doesn't do to while away about myself all the time. Tell me about this daughter of yours anyway."

"In truth, Carter, I know nothing of her. I thought I was pregnant once, but the father was my husband. Phy'zzon. At least I thought it was. The night before we married, Dick and I, had a little reunion. But I lost the baby and my doctors told me it was Phy'zzon's. But sometimes I have dreams. Dreams of giving birth to a child not long after I first joined the Titans haunt me. I have dreams of Dick and I…being married and having a family. A daughter and a son. But then we ended our marriage and I went to live with Ryand'r and our son. Our daughter stayed with her father. None of it makes any sense, Carter. I have never had a child."

"Maybe timelines are getting skewed again. It's a bit like how I remember my and Shiera's son, Hector, marrying Wonder Woman's daughter. Except she wasn't Diana's daughter. But I remember Diana and Steve Trevor being her parents. She was called Lyta after Diana's mother. But then neither of them were their parents at all, and she was the same age as Diana. I had a grandson, but now he's gone. Daniel, his name was. I never really talked to Diana about it. In other words, Kory, I know what it's like to have your family torn apart by…changes in reality. Daniel, Lyta and Hector all thought I was dead for years and that the real Hawkman was some alien. And when I came back, Hector was alive for a time but no longer. So, let me tell you, you need to find this little girl and let her know you're there for her. Because even if reality has twisted it so you never had her…you are her mother, and she wants to know you more than anyone else in the world."

Kory hugged Carter then and began to cry a little. In the cockpit, Merand'r sat beside Adam Strange while Lobo snored behind them. "You'd think the King of Tamaran would have had more bedrooms on this thing," Adam moaned, "But no, there's only two and Koriand'r and Ryand'r get them because they're royal." "It's what he would have wanted," Merand'r frowned, thinking of his late father, "Not to mention they're willing to share if we make a sleeping rota. I just think no one should have to share with that thing going like a jackhammer behind us." Dex-Starr flew in and rested on Lobo's lap. "So, why'd the Red Lantern come with you then?" was Merand'r's first question. "Said he was interested in an adventure," Adam shrugged, "Can't blame him. Lantern business gets boring. It's better being a bit of a cosmonaut like myself." "He should take up smuggling if he wants some excitement," the Tamaranean laughed.

"So, how far are we from Mir'an?"

"Another day or so at this rate if Father gave me the right coordinates, which I have no doubt he did. You should get some sleep, Adam. By the way, how can you speak Tamaranean?"

"Just the translation software in my headset. Carter must have a smattering of it from his time out in space. Can't speak for Lobo. He surprises me how he can be bright at times. Wait a minute, what's that?"

In the stars before them on the windscreen was a large ship appearing like it was designed for battle. "It looks like a Psion battlecruiser," Merand'r intoned, "Oh, darn it. Is the cloaking back functioning yet?" "No, Lobo wasn't able to fix it," Adam annoyedly answered, "Hell, he made it worse. Told him he wouldn't be patient enough to be a mechanic. He just punched me in the face then." The battlecruiser then emitted a green swathe of light around all the visible space. "X'hal, they've picked us up already!," the old soldier cursed, "Alright, battle stations! Get Lobo up and in one of the guns. I'll try and activate the warp drive, see if we make it to Mir'an in time."

"We don't want to lead the Psions there."

"It's one ship, I'm sure the Sisterhood can handle that much. Send that Thanagarian wannabe through the airlock with you and attack them before they can prep missiles. Quickly, Adam!"

"I—wait, look!"

A large green ray burst through the Psion ship and it collapsed from the sky. "How the hell?" The green ray then flew towards them and before they could react, Kyle Rayner was tapping on the windscreen. "Merand'r, let the Lantern on board," Adam calmly sighed in relief, "We can trust him." Merand'r radioed down to the cargo bay which led to Carter and Kory allowing Kyle access. "Kory? Carter?" the Green Lantern was befuddled, "Didn't expect to find Hawkman here. We heard reports from Sol Bogdanus that a Tamaranean ship got some fugitives offworld. Then we hear of a ship of the same description en route to Sector 666. I convinced the Guardians to send me, because I had a feeling you'd be involved, Kory. Lucky, I got here when I did, or those Psions would be making mincemeat of you. What are you doing here? Intel says you're working with the Red Lanterns…Guardians can't be appreciating that, now can they?"

"Atrocitus aided us in a little predicament, Kyle, after we saved him from the Psions. We are looking for my people."

"Your people are on Rann at the moment."

"No, we are looking for my people's lost paradise. Mir'an."

"Mir'an? As in Heaven?"

"We found a man who knew the way there and he says my grandmother leads the colonists now."

"Colonists? Kory, are you sure?"

"Kyle, we would appreciate your assistance in this. We were driven from Rann by my sister. She wants to kill me so that she can be the Hybrid Madonna."

"Hybrid Madonna? More legends, Kory. You were never this superstitious."

"Well, my sister has forced my hand. But I was told my child is there."

"Your child?"

"Kyle, please. Help us. We would like your protection in case my sister or her people come."

"Well, I am on duty. Fair enough. You're lucky I found you. And if this planet is real…Sector 666's going to need a Green Lantern."

"Thank you, Kyle."

"Please, it's the least I can do for a mother looking for her child, let alone a friend. But you better start explaining…"

"Very well. It began on Rann…"

DEO, Washington D.C.

In their little changing rooms, the new Justice League were preparing to be demobbed after the spectacle that was their debut before President Eiling. Donna Troy and Roy Harper were processing what was about to befall them. "Are we sure we can trust him, Don?" Roy asked with some sincerity. "I feel like we can trust Eddie, and he advises Eiling," his former girlfriend answered him unconvincingly, "But I don't know." "Whatever he's done, he's still denounced your people," Roy whispered, "Your way of life." "He denounced the fact that the Amazons have attacked our people and that Diana can't live here until Hippolyta makes proper overtures to apologise for that and the terrorism," was the robotic reply of someone he thought was very much a free spirit, "Cassie and I are American citizens, she was always a diplomat. If she'd go back to being Diana Prince and work for A.R.G.U.S. or something we wouldn't have this problem."

"Yeah, but you've known Hippolyta for years now. She's not the aggressive type. And it's been established that Darkseid and Granny Goodness caused that attack, not her. Didn't really make sense why they did that, but there you go."

"Yeah, but their evidence about…magic being used to turn Karen evil seems pretty convincing. Jai and Irey said they didn't see who attacked the place so they can't confirm or deny anything. But why did you join anyway?"

"I owe Eddie a lot, as do you. I just think you should ask yourself is he your enemy just because he's Diana's?"

"He knows Diana's a good person. It's just Hippolyta he doesn't trust. I don't even know anymore. All I know is that he's a good man who gave me my son back. And joining a team he made is the least of what I owe him."

"Have you spoken to Dick since the Gotham bombings started?"

"Yeah. He says they're fine, but they're missing Bruce's mind for coordinating everything. Barbara's doing a good job, but no one's as dedicated as the Batman to stuff like that."

"Listen, Donna, just know that it's an honour to fight by your side again. I'm doing this to protect Lian, pay Eddie a favour and so…I can see more of you."

"Still haven't gotten over me, have you, Speedy?"

"That's Arsenal. I get enough of the Speedy shit from Jason thank you very much."

"Haha. Do you know what's going on with Vic?"

"I'm assuming Eddie's guys rebuilt him somehow. He says that what Kon is saying is the truth. But that guy really doesn't act like the Superboy I remember. Then again, I only really knew him when he was a bit of an ass and he seems like that at the moment. Can't say we were that well acquainted around the time he died, but everyone insists he was a nicer guy."

"He's probably grieving. Poor Cassie. That must have been hard. He's lucky to be alive, but it's like she was when he died. It's hard to cope with someone you love like that dying when you're both so young. We'd know all about that with the kids."

"Absolutely, Don. But Vic is all weird too."

"Rachel and Gar died in that accident, as well, Roy. God, we've lost so many friends. This is why the world needs the Justice League. So, people like us can save the world. So that we don't see what happened to all those poor souls at Titans Tower happen to the rest of us." The two former lovers hugged as the weight of their new responsibility seemed to sink down with them all of a sudden. Eddie Thawne sensed this and blew some of his thought pollen in the way of their cell before his troops demobbed them. The thought pollen made things work just right, in that Donna and Roy eased their burden with a hookup that night. Sex, it can answer a lot of psychological questions with a wrong answer. Bit like drink.

At the lab, Cyborg was being deconstructed and placed into stasis by none other than his new controller: Noah Kuttler, the Calculator. "Ah, hello, Father Thawne," said the hacker in his rasping voice, "I must say the new Mother Box integration is working spectacularly. Mr Stone here can produce a Boom Tube at will, it's extraordinary. Which means he can lead us to anywhere in the universe. We've just given a human being the power of the New Gods, and he's ours. Isn't that just amazing?" "Pfft. Boom Tubes are all the rage where I come from," Thawne rolled his eyes, "Glad I'm a bit of a pioneer at the moment though for you primitives. And you, of course, Noah." The Calculator found himself unnerved in this position, despite the fact Thawne was clearly offering him a small hint of respect. "Um, quite. Thank you, Father Thawne. When will I be expecting payment?" "Your daughter is going to be picked up by our agents in Gotham tonight. I trust once we have her in your care you will continue to provide our cause with additional services."

"Of course, Father. Absolutely."

"Good. Now where have you put Superman?"

"He's with the Malthusian in the other room. They're discussing fulfilling your contract. Thankfully, there's enough red sun filters in this building to turn him into a damp squid before he does anything wrong."

"Damp squib."

"What?

"The phrase, Kuttler, is damp squib. Not squid."

"Oh…I see, very droll, Father Thawne. Mea culpa."

As Thawne departed from the little laboratory, Kuttler began seething with anger. First, this man patronised him about being a well-educated primitive now he had the audacity to employ pedantry against him. The Calculator! The most gifted mind for computer science on all the continents. Why, Thawne would rue the day he mocked him. Thawne could hear these thoughts echoing through Kuttler's head and smirked slightly. Close range telepathy was an excellent gift the Entity had given him. Almost as good as his ability to take powers from others. That made the Gold Kryptonite great insurance. Not only did it drain Superman of his powers, but also stored them within the crystal. All he needed to do should the situation demand it, is absorb the crystal, and he would have the power of a Kryptonian. Parting a pair of double doors, he was greeted by the arrogance that was Superboy-Prime bellowing at Krona.

"Where's Laurie! I want her here! There's no point in this Earth without her!"

"By all the sectors, I can see why my brothers and sisters forsook emotion when I look at you, brat!"

"Shut up! Your people locked me up for a year. I'm gonna' kill them all when I get the chance."

"And Krona would be more than happy to give you that chance sooner rather than later," Thawne placated the young man, putting his arm round his shoulder, "Now tell me, Kal, why are you so frustrated."

"I want my girlfriend! I want Laurie Lemmon!"

"From your universe? Is she alive or dead?"

"Alive. But not here…"

"Yes, but she must hate you."

"What?! How dare—"

"Who couldn't hate you, boy. You are the most insufferable being I have ever met. Whatever possessed I or the Entity to revive you beyond your useful abilities and invulnerabilities I will never know. Now show some respect to Krona. He is older than both of us, and in your case, I would definitely say, wiser."

"You can't talk to me like—"

"You forget how much power I have, boy, don't you? I could send you back to the Source Wall whenever I like. Or make you drop dead on the spot."

"Then why not do that to every hero?"

"Where's the sport in that? And you can't make a decent omelette by breaking every egg at your disposal. Games of manipulation are so much more fun. Now, this girl, Laurie. The Entity tells me she doesn't live in this universe. There's no equivalent of her. But I can create one. One who loves you unconditionally. Wouldn't that be nice? A wife for the new Superman. She can be the Juliet to your Romeo. Do you want that, Kal?"

"I…I would like that."

"Well then…never ever talk to Krona or I like that again. Because I can give her to you, but also take her away. Kneel before me, Kryptonian. Abase yourself. Show me humility. Are you capable of that, Kal?"

With the anger of a thousand suns, Superboy-Prime reluctantly bent the knee before Eddie Thawne and kissed the ring on his finger. Eddie then raised his fingers and snapped them. "You know you should have just asked before getting all rude, Kal. We could have done this when we first picked you up." "Clark?" a sultry, delicate voice said as a gorgeous eighteen-year old girl with long brown hair appeared between Thawne and Krona. Superboy-Prime and her immediately embraced and began kissing. "Aw, isn't that sweet?" Eobard smirked, "How come I never get any of that, Krona." "Because you're a monstrous megalomaniac, Thawne." "Good point."

The Clocktower

Sitting on the couch watching reruns of Game of Thrones was the only time Babs and Dick were getting to spend alone together since they had wed, apart from sleeping in the same bed. With no bombings in the past couple of days, the Birds of Prey had taken the evening off. Steph and Cass were at the movies with Damian, Helena was on patrol all the same and Cissie was busy at the gym. Dick and Babs were too busy making out like a pair of teenagers instead of actually paying attention to the show. Dick liked watching this show with Babs because all the love scenes got him a little aroused, and all this time of not being alone had made them both long for a bit of physical solace to their newlywed life. Of course, as soon as things were about to get interesting Oracle's computer went off signifying a bombing had happened downtown. "Dick, call Damian, he's with Steph and Cass," she shouted, simultaneously disappointing and impressing her husband, "Cissie too if you can. I'll get Abuse and Ragman to do a swoop." "Can criminals in this town not take one evening off?" Dick shouted at the heavens, "Just fucking one!" "Oh, calm down, Hunk Wonder. I'll still be here tonight when you get home," she said, placing herself in her chair and heading for the computers, "Probably in something…a little more comfortable." "Okay," Dick's voice broke a little with the excitement, "I'll get suited up and head out. I'll call Batwoman so she's able to expect something from the Mutants."

By the time Dick had left, Oracle saw another bombing occurring on the other side of town on her radar. And then another before she could even call anyone. She called Steph. "Batgirl, there's one gone off in Old Gotham near the theatre. Can you, Black Bat and Robin make it there in time?" "Already on it," came the reply over the comms, "Could see it from outside." "Cool. Abuse, this is Oracle. Try and check out Miagani Island, sending you the coordinates now." Before Colin could reply three bombs went off simultaneously in three remotely disparate areas of the city. Before she could radio anyone in those areas, she got a call from the Question. "Oracle, it's Renee. The Mutants are rioting in the Narrows. They're killing all the cops on the beat. It's a bloodbath out here. They're actually organised!" This was all getting too much. Then, a call from Cissie came in. "Babs, the gym's under attack from…Tweedledum and Tweedledee! And not just them, Maxie Zeus is across the street." Babs then thought back as the stress seemed to overwhelm her. These attacks had never happened all at once like this.

Then she saw a bomb go off simultaneously on every bridge in the town. Startled, she tuned over to the news on her desktop screen. "This is GCN! We've just seen the Crown Point Bridge collapse. Thirty cars have fallen under, ten destroyed in the initial blast. We expect casualties to be in the hundreds!" Babs slammed her fist on the table in anger. She got her phone and rang of all people, Donna Troy. "Troia, this is Oracle. I know you're in this new League thing. We need you guys down here, pronto! Help some people with the bridges. We're all swamped down here." The line went dead before Babs could say any of that. Then all the power in the city seemed to just shut down. When her computer restarted, a large question mark was on the screen in front of her, accompanied by an annoying and familiar voice. "Riddle me this? What's so fast it cannot be seen, yet to everyone it's transparent. It won't stop for any one person. What is it?" "Time. You're going to have to try harder than that Nygma."

"Okay, then. I'll do you one better, since you got that one so fast. There are three men on a boat with a pack of cigarettes and no matches. How did they manage to smoke?"

"They threw one cigarette overboard and made a cigarette lighter."

A flame suddenly appeared beside her. "Good timing, Jonny boy." "How the hell did you…" "I am your nightmares made manifest, Barbara Gordon," the darker, deeper and more haunting voice echoed all around the room, "For too long have you stopped the plans of I and my ilk." Babs looked into the flame brought by the cigarette lighter and saw a patchwork mask and straw hat. The Scarecrow. "Crane, how did—" The lighter snapped shut and the menace seemed to slink away with the noise a mouse would make when scurrying over floorboards. His voice lingered, however. "My latest toxin will work wonders on you, Miss Gordon. Just breathe deeply and you will enter your nightmare tinged with desire."

Babs then saw the lights come back on and of all people to walk through the door it was Tim Drake carrying two bodies. Not just any bodies. Dick and Damian's. "Tim! Oh God, no! Dick! Damian! How?" He laid them on the floor of her apartment and stared at her with sheer contempt. "You killed them, Barbara. You should have known it was the League. Ra's butchered them where they stood. Then again, why would you care? We all know you've never really wanted to be Oracle. You want to be Batgirl again, deep down and for all your responsibilities to just fade away." Dick's face was contorted in pain and pale with flies swarming out of his mouth.

"That's not true, Tim."

"It is. You only do this because you feel you owe Bruce something, not because you want to."

"No, that is bullshit. Bruce wanted me to retire and I wouldn't let him."

"Yeah and look what happened. Because you tried to prove yourself, your husband and a thirteen-year old boy are dead. I hope you're happy."

"Tim, why are you talking like this?"

"Because I just watched my brothers die. And then Ra's shoved his sword through me. I died too."

"What?" Then Babs saw Tim fall to the ground blood gushing from his mouth with a scimitar distinct to the League of Assassins through his back. "Tim, oh no. Aw, Hell!" Then crows began ramming on the windows behind her. Crows with the eyes of some kind of Satanic monster upon them with blood dripping from their lips as they seemed to lick them. In terror, Babs raced toward the lift door, only to be greeted by a clown in a Hawaiian shirt. "Here's to crime," he said as he shot her while maniacally laughing. The room went white, and regaining her senses, Barbara began to see once more within ten seconds. Sitting upright, no...standing, she was standing. This couldn't be real. She had run to the lift door, but she hadn't been able to walk since the Joker...except didn't that just happen. In all this confusion, Oracle found herself surrounded by Steph, Cass and even Jason of all people judging her. Batgirl was holding Robin and Nightwing's dead bodies while Red Hood was pointing a gun at her, his helmet obscuring his face.

"They died, Barbara," the Red Hood said to her with the venom of a cobra, "You're not Bruce! You thought you could take charge and you killed my brothers! Now I'm going to kill you!" "Go ahead!" Babs shouted as she punched the weapon out of his hand in anger, "It doesn't matter who I let down, because you can't judge any one of us, Jason Todd." Tearing his helmet off, she saw the Joker's face underneath once again. "Oh, I'm not judging, dearie," he laughed, sinister as ever, "I'm complimenting. You're responsible for the death of more Robins in one night than I could have hoped. And you're actually not proud of it? That's hilarious!" Somehow Barbara was standing now as she began punching the clown in the face through his laughter until eventually it was a puddle.

Turning around she saw Cass staring at her angrily and remaining characteristically silent. Steph decided to speak for her friend, since her command of the English language was significantly better. "You piece of shit, Barbara! How could you let them die! And now, you've killed Jason with your own hands!" "That wasn't Jason," Babs shouted, but a sympathetic plea came from her next, "Steph, I'm sorry." "No, I can't believe I used to look up to you. Cass and I were idiots to think the mantle of Batgirl was something worth holding." "Steph…no, please," Babs sobbed, "This is not on me." "No, it is Barbara. You stepped up to the plate as our leader. You know yourself that all of these deaths are on you." Cass had moved her eyes away from Barbara to begin crying herself in Dick's chest. "Your own husband, Babs," Steph shouted, her voice demonic, "The man who loved you the most in the whole world. Not to mention the poor kid we all tried to help because of who his mother is and what she wants to do with him. And then, Tim. The poor guy you sent into the League." "He went by himself!" Barbara shouted through her tears. "Yeah, and you should have stopped him!" Steph screamed as she lunged at her mentor. Her once straight hair seemed to move likes the snakes of Medusa for a moment before Babs kicked her away and she landed on top of Cass.

Upon blinking, Babs saw that Steph and Cass were now lying with their throats cut as Bruce stood in full costume at the other end of the room looking disgusted. "Barbara, how could you fail me like this? You've let my children all die. You're not fit to be Oracle." "No, Bruce," she shook her head refusing to accept these visions as best she could, "I want to…I want to be Oracle. I'm sorry." "Get out of my sight." The Batman turned, his cape swaying behind him, and walked out the door. When Babs tried to follow him, she suddenly fell as her paraplegia returned. She saw that the Joker's bullet wound had returned to exactly where it had been and the pain of her shattered spine returned. The body of Dick then walked up to her and began laughing as he tore off his Nightwing suit and revealed a Hawaiian shirt. Babs screamed in anguish upon seeing that and shut her eyes.

"Oh, Jonny. Don't you think she's had enough?" came that annoying voice again, "I mean, we have her where we want her." "Very well," the more serious and menacing voice of the Scarecrow said through the fog as Barbara's apartment vanished and she saw she was in of all places, the Batcave. The giant penny and the Batmobile made her feel pretty certain that was where she was anyway. She didn't know how Crane or Nygma had broken into the Clocktower or even tracked her down but they had. And now Crane had just subjected her to an unholy nightmare even worse than any of his previous uses of the gas. Babs was trussed up in a chair in front of the Batcomputer as the Riddler laughed like a lunatic in front of her. "Nobody likes a clever clog, Miss Gordon. Now, let's just hope your husband comes to your rescue soon." "Or what, you'll kill me?" "Oh, no. I've got to keep you alive until he gets here. Then, I'll kill you all."