Metropolis

"Here is evidence of a hundred children being kidnapped across the country on average per week," Jefferson Pierce presented to Clark Kent, the journalist visiting him at his home. Sitting down from him with a tray full of biscuits, coffee and tea which had been brought to them by Virgil Hawkins, Jeff's new charge who had come to live in Metropolis for tutelage of late. The thing he presented to him was a folder containing names, dates and photos of various kidnappings throughout the past few months. "Here in Metropolis it seems to be Intergang," Jeff continued, "Sources in Gotham say the Riddler and Victor Zsasz were behind the events there, and random mercenaries in Central City." "Your source from Central City is Leonard Snart?" Clark asked matter of factly. "Whether or not it is…is hardly relevant, Mr Kent," Jeff replied. "Some would deem a source like that unreliable," the bespectacled journalist reminded the teacher, "Mr Snart is well known as the super criminal, Captain Cold." "Yes. Of the Rogues," was the pointed reminder the journalist received in turn, "Guilty of many heinous crimes, but kidnapping children is not one of them. Anyone worth their salt in Central City, particularly the Flash, will tell you that the Rogues have a code of honour, which would make them very much valuable allies in this cause."

The interview was being conducted with 'Black Lightning' so Clark never referred to him as Jeff or Mr Pierce, and likewise Jeff pretended to not know who Clark was. "What leads you to believe that the government is behind this?" was the next question delivered in a matter of fact manner. "For the simple fact that no one is reporting on it," Jeff shook his head, "It's too well covered up to be done by anyone except our government, which now has the resources of a cult behind it on top of the military and all the other branches of our country the state has charge of. Not to mention they've their own Justice League. Speaking of which, Snart also revealed to us that the Flash did not intervene in events concerning the children because the government won't let him."

"These claims are quite outrageous, Black Lightning. President Eiling would never-"

"President Eiling has no more power over our government than I do. Our country is really being run by Simon Hurt, Eddie Thawne and the leadership of the DEO. They want to fuel a war between us and the Atlanteans and Amazons. I don't know why. Maybe Thawne is a paid shill of arms producers and they want the government funding so they arranged this massive cult as a front."

"You're a sounding a bit like the late, great Vic Sage."

"I don't believe that's the reason, Mr Kent, but it's one theory I've heard floating around. I think it's something you or I can't possibly understand without more information. But all I know is he's kidnapping children. Specifically, kids who are metahumans."

"You have no evidence the government are behind this!"

"Virgil, get Harry!"

Virgil walked in, his girlfriend, M'Gann who was visiting with him, by his side. They had a small child by their side, with a shaved head, though his hair was growing back. He was holding M'Gann's hand tightly as she gave him a kind maternal look. "Miss Martian here can verify everything the boy is saying," Jeff spoke to Clark, "Can't you, M'Gann?" M'Gann nodded. "Harry's a little shy so he'd like her to speak for him if that's okay, Mr Kent?" Jeff looked to Clark, expecting a 'No' response. "That's okay," the skeptical journalist said, giving the boy a reassuring look as he sat beside him and Miss Martian. Harry recoiled a little looking at him. M'Gann then looked Clark in the eye and said, "He doesn't trust you, Mr Kent. I'm sorry." "Does he say why?" Clark asked. "Because you were touched by the man who wants to hurt him," the Martian girl told him, "The man who wants to hurt him and anyone like him. The one who told those bad men to put a collar on him."

"Who's that?" Clark asked. "Eddie Thawne," she told him without batting an eyelid. Clark tried to be nice again and got a little closer to the young boy. "Harry," he said, giving his signature, kind smile, "Why did this man want to take you?" "He says the men wanted to sell him," M'Gann answered, "To some other country. As a slave." Clark put his hand on his mouth and rubbed it slightly in deep thought. "Who saved your life?" he continued his questions. "Captain Cold," was the simple reply. "Okay," he bit his lip, trying to wrap his head around all this, "I'm sorry to hear of what's happened to you, young man. But my paper and I will do everything in out power to help you." It was with that that Jeff reached over and turned off the tape recorder.

"But you can't help him can you, Clark," he shook his head in disappointment, "Not really. You're not Superman anymore. Superman would save this boy. And don't tell me Clark Kent is going to save him. Clark Kent is going to write an apologetic op-ed for Perry White that's going to be buried somewhere deep in the next edition of the Planet. Actually, no, probably not. Clark Kent is going to sell his own work short, and Perry's going to not even read it then throw it as a column in Sunday's paper. Clark's probably going to say this to Lois Lane, and yeah, she will kick up a fuss like the good journalist that she is. But next thing you know she's going to be dead in a ditch, because guess what, Superman can't save his wife anymore. Superman can't save anyone anymore. You know I used to respect Clark Kent and Superman because I thought they were the same person. A wise, noble, kind individual who was as brave in writing damning articles against the corrupt, against those who have done wrong, as he was in fighting those same people as the Last Son of Krypton. Now I know that Clark Kent is the spineless fool he wants everyone to think he is. Superman is dead. And you let everyone down by doing that, Clark. Don't interrupt me! You let Lois down, you let your kids down and worst of all…you insulted Kon's memory and your cousin's. You stopped believing in Superman. And because of that, we're all doomed. Now get out of here, Clark. Get out of here while the world's still standing. Go back to your paper and your gorgeous, pregnant wife and leave the rest of us who still have a pair to do your job for you."

Clark was going to answer that. But as usual, he just took it on the chin. He picked up his coat and gathered his materials. "Can I keep the folder, Jeff?" he asked. "I don't think that's wise, Clark," was the more understanding reply, "I don't think coming here was very wise at all. I'm sorry if I was harsh, but I don't want you or Lois getting hurt. I realise that now. Just please, don't interfere in what we're trying to do with these kids. And if you're smart, you won't trust Thawne again." Clark just raised his hand awkwardly in a customary sign of departure. Once he was gone, Harry looked up at Jeff who smiled at the boy. "Was that man really Superman?" the child asked him. "Couldn't you tell?" Jeff asked, smiling. "Not really," Harry shook his head. "That's because he wasn't," Jeff frowned, "Not anymore."

Ryut

Atrocitus sat on his throne of bones adorned with the skin of the remaining four of the Five Inversions, a terrorist cell he had founded millennia ago to avenge Sector 666 on the Guardians of the Universe. Now he was master of the Red Light of Rage. Undisputed commander of the Red Lantern Corps. All would follow him or die in this corps. But he was not without reason. He had thanked the Tamaranean for her help and formed an alliance with her. Little did he know what had become of her and who was coming for him now that they were planning their grand assault. Dex-Starr had gone with them and he had yet to hear back from his trusted corpsman after months away. He had moved the Red Lantern Central Power Battery to this planet from Ysmault in Sector 2814 as a reminder for what he fought for. The Red Lanterns were initially disgruntled by this action, but Atrocitus took it as his new homeworld. All of a sudden, he thought, news of-Dex-Starr would be forthcoming. He believed this because across from him he saw Lobo, the Czarnian who the cat had left with. The Red Lantern known as Bleez approached him then. "My lord Atrocitus," his underling began, "It seems the Czarnian has returned. Alone."

Atrocitus silently made his way towards the grey skinned inanely smiling creature. He seemed to lack his trademark cigar for once. "What is this, Lobo?" the red skinned behemoth asked, "I received no notification of Dex-Starr's death." "Not Lobo," the creature said, "Psions." "But how," Atrocitus moved to react, "Your army were destroyed." "Mr Thawne kindly brought us back," the Lobo impostor droned on, "Hive mind and all." "Oh no," Atrocitus bellowed as he saw the Central Power Battery being dragged up by a large tractor beam onto the Psion fleet and red rings flying into it denoting the death of his corps members. Swiftly decapitating the giggling Lobo clone in front of him, Atrocitus rushed over to Bleez. "We must flee here," he screamed, "Immediately!" "But my lord-," Bleez began. "No time for questioning," Atrocitus was desperate now as he saw the Lobo clones murder his fellow Red Lanterns, "Gather who you can. We must find Sinestro. Find Ganthet. We need to put our rage aside…and save the universe!" With that, Atrocitus flew into the sky at top speed and headed straight for Odym, where he knew all would be well.

Central City

Waking up in your own urine is never a pleasant experience for anyone. Children do it all the time. So do old people. For everyone it's demeaning. As soon as kids know how to think they're embarrassed by it. Of course, it could happen to anyone and there are various causes, a lot of which are psychological in children. For elderly people it's usually a weak bladder of some description. Then there are some people who just end up that way because they're very drunk. It's very rare for someone to go to bed inebriated and wake up in their own filth like that. It's a shame that this happens to some people but it can happen quite frequently to alcoholics. And Barry Allen, as a result of losing his nephew and grandson was very much an alcoholic. He'd recently been given extended leave from the CCPD on account of grief for Wally and for the fact Bart had been officially declared missing through unofficial channels. And how had he spent what was left of his money? On booze. Lots and lots of booze. When he woke up, he saw he was on the couch, the television at full volume with his daughter, Dawn near him, having adjusted it. Gaining a bit of clarity, he saw what he had done to himself and sighed in self-loathing.

"Proud of yourself, dad?" she asked. "Of course, I'm not, Dawn," he frankly replied, somehow hungover despite his metabolism, "Now fix your old man a coffee." Barry sat up and took his pants off nonchalantly seeing that his underwear was obviously soiled too. He paused remembering Dawn was in the room. "Go ahead, take it off," she said without a hint of prudishness but plenty of annoyance, "I already saw you naked three nights ago. I got you a pair from upstairs. Make your own coffee." She tossed trousers and underpants towards him. "Thanks," he said rubbing his eyes after taking his soiled undergarment off, "What time is it?" "2 o'clock in the afternoon," she answered, "Mom's already gone to work. I told Don to take her out for lunch so she didn't have to come home, after I saw you wet yourself at about half nine this morning." "Half nine?" he laughed, "How long have you been home?" "Since 7am, Dad," Dawn shouted, "I had to turn you over so you didn't choke on your own vomit."

"Thanks, kid," he chuckled, defusing the situation, "Always looking out for your old man." Now fully clothed, Barry sped his way downstairs to make a cup of coffee in the kitchen. "Jay and Joan called over," Dawn said, "They wanted to see how you were doing. Then they saw you lying in your own piss and I felt I didn't need to answer that." "Language, darling," he wagged his finger playfully. "Dad, I'm twenty-seven," she bit back, "And still ten times more mature than you." "Hey, don't give me grief if that's alright, thanks," her father shouted, "You and your brother chose to live here if you remember. You wanted to be with me and your mother." Barry prepared two mugs of coffee and handed one to Dawn. "Well, it looks like Mom won't be here for much longer anyway," she said upon reception of the beverage. Barry slurped his coffee and eyed her seriously from over the mug. "What do you mean by that?" he asked, curiously. "I mean she's not coming home, Dad," Dawn shook her head, "Don and I packed her bags last night, after we saw her crying from you screaming at her about Bart the other day." "What are you talking about?" Barry asked, barely remembering that incident. "Dad don't try and deny it," Dawn laughed in disbelief at how he seemed to be feigning amnesia, "You might not remember it but it still happened. She's going to stay with Linda for a while. And if you don't stop drinking, she's not coming home."

Barry was speechless, and Dawn was there to remind him why he should be. "Mom's grieving too, you know," she coldly told him, "You gave her so much attention over Wally dying because of how strong she was for you and Bart. I wasn't there but she said so herself. Now that Bart's missing, you're acting like you were the only one who loved him. Well, the way Mom, Jay and Joan tell it you were the last person to even think twice about him. He seemed to hate you if what I heard about Wally's funeral is true. I don't know why he did and he was probably wrong, because at the end of the day, Dad, you're not a bad man. And I'm guessing you're drinking to cope with that. Mom mentioned how Diana had to fly you guys home from that Wayne gala because you were too drunk to run. Said you were okay after that, but then with Bart dying you went back on the booze."

"There's nothing wrong with having a drink, Dawnie."

"I know there's not. But some people shouldn't drink, Dad. Some people have a disease that makes them depend on alcohol. Not everyone has it. And not everyone who binge drinks has it. It's infinitely more complicated than that, but, and this is a very big but, there is still a fine line."

"I know what alcoholism is!"

"Yes, and I'm trying to say you might need to consider that you are an alcoholic!"

"I'm not, Dawn! I've been drinking since I was younger than you. I've always been fine and handled my liquor."

"Except you haven't since Wally's been gone. Sometimes…sometimes grief is a trigger for people, Dad. Something traumatic like that can drive you into hitting stuff like booze hard. You're wounded internally like the rest of us from losing Bart and Wally, except unlike us you feel the need to fill that hole in your life with drink. You're trying to stop your grieving by filling yourself with a depressant, and it doesn't work, Dad. It just leaves you pissing yourself in the bed, not brushing your teeth and looking like a tramp."

Dawn picked up a hand mirror and passed it to her father. Barry stared intently into the man's face looking back at him. Blood shot eyes, a brown beard much scragglier than even Eddie's contrasting to his blonde hair and his teeth were blackened from not brushing them in over a month. He looked truly distressed. Barry dropped his mug of coffee and fell crying into his daughter's arms. "Dawn, I'm so sorry," he wept, "I'm sorry." "Hey, don't apologise," she stroked her father's hair, "You're sick, Dad, it's okay. It's okay to not be well. Me and Don aren't going anywhere except for work, but we're gonna' get you booked into the church's AA meetings, alright? I don't want to see a man I came back from the dead to meet keep waking up in his own waste, if that's okay. I love you, Dad. And I'm glad I finally got to meet you, even if it is at such a low point in your life." Barry held his daughter tightly as she begged herself internally for things to improve. For Bart to come back to them and for Eddie to get her back to Jenni. Because right now they really needed a miracle.

The Phantom Zone

The boy lying before Lex was about eighteen or thereabouts. He had expected someone younger or older judging by the time differentials his genetic makeup was unable to cope with. Not at this crisp age coming into manhood. Young Lor-Zod was a handsome fellow, certainly better looking than his stern father. Apparently, the place they were in was called Fort Rozz, and had previously been the spearhead for Zod's last escape from the Zone, but the technology to do so was long worn out by now. Lex managed to fashion a primitive IV tube to successfully give human DNA to the young man via his own blood. It was going to work. He knew it had to work. Otherwise the boy's father would rip his head from his shoulders. Not a pleasant way to go. The problem was, Zod didn't realise Luthor was not really responsible for Kon-El's creation. The scientists he had hired at Cadmus Labs were, he'd just contributed the genetic material. He had a bad feeling simply injecting the young lad with human blood might be fatal, but it was the best he could do with the tech at his disposal and Jax-Ur pointing a gun at him. Not to mention there was still a good chance this would succeed. The boy was not typically Kryptonian due to being from the Phantom Zone, and his physiognomy would likely adapt. But it was still a long shot and the best Lex could do.

"I will enjoy dissecting you when you fail the general, Luthor," Jax-Ur hissed. Zod turned to his chief scientist with a bit of anger. "I hope you're not expecting this experiment to save my only child's life to be doomed, Jax-Ur?" Zod stared him down. "No, of course not, excellency," the cyborg twitched as his artificial eye blinked a little. "So, Luthor," Zod turned his attention to the human, "Are things looking up for my child?" "Of course, General," Lex replied evenly, "There is every chance he will make it through this operation a new young man." Then Lor started coughing and spluttering as Lex's blood entered his system. "What have you done to him, fool?" the general asked in disbelief, ready to pounce on the human. As they were confused while Zod went to tend to his child, Lex reached for Jax-Ur's gun as insurance against the two criminals, when suddenly Chris arose. "Funny of you to remember my blood type, Lex," the boy spoke, noticing Lex's movements, "Now how about you put that gun away and we can talk to my father like civilised people." "You're alive?" Zod said incredulously to his son. "Of course, General," Chris neutrally replied, "I'm alive. No thanks to you or Kryptonian genius, but human ingenuity." Zod then started laughing brilliantly. "Luthor, for that you will be upgraded to the highest class of cell in the building," Zod's gratitude was apparent in his jubilation, "No expense shall be spared in maintaining your luxury. Though you will remain confined."

"I wouldn't have it any other way."

"Don't lie you'd rather you were free and I was dead. I despise dishonesty. A trait your kind seems to have in abundance."

Zod then brought Chris out to meet his mother, Ursa, but she wasn't too excited to see him healthy again. "General…we have a visitor," she informed him, after a time. "Who is it this time?" Zod spoke, suggesting people from outside the Zone arrived as emissaries often, "Hank Henshaw?" "No…he's a young man with a scraggly beard," she spoke with disgust, "A human. I don't know how he got in here." In Zod's throne room, standing in front of it was indeed Eddie Thawne toying with a staff he had just picked up. "You know, I'd look good with this," he smiled, eyeing the staff from tip to bottom, "A Kryptonian staff. That will appease the Raoists who follow me. Ah, General Zod. It is an honour to finally meet such a famed butcher." "Butcher?" Zod exclaimed as he took his throne with Ursa on one end and Non on the other, "I am no butcher. I am the liberator and natural ruler of all Kryptonians in the wake of our world's destruction." "You're right, not butcher, but like it," Thawne corrected himself, feigning apology, "What's the word? It's on the tip of my tongue. It means you kill people but you don't feel bad about it because you're serving something you think is greater than yourself." "Soldier," Non blurted out with his limited vocabulary. "That's it," Thawne indicated Non was correct, "Soldier. Doesn't seem all that different to butcher in my experience."

"What a diplomat. One who moralises before the court who hosts him."

"Oh no. I speak from a place of admiration, general. And I have come to apologise for what has been done to your newfound homeworld by some of my fellow apes."

"Humanity has only one thing to give me. The courtesy of bowing before me prior to my decapitating every single one of them!"

"There's the fire I've been looking for in a soldier. While I can't provide exactly that, General, I'm here to make you an offer."

"Kneel."

"Oh, of course where are my manners. One must kneel before Zod."

Thawne gave a deep genuflection before the general who smiled a little. "Now, I might remind you that I am a messenger," the prophet spoke quickly to avoid further hostility, "I would rather you didn't have Non or someone decapitate me. That and I could probably crush all of your brains in an instant if I didn't enjoy this so much." "Crush our brains?" Ursa scoffed. The three Kryptonians began laughing with great mirth, but Chris, watching the proceedings from afar, keeping himself silent as he mistrusted this foolish man, and suspected an act. "What you don't believe me?," Thawne clapped his hands together and laughed a little, "Well, I can see I will have to demonstrate." Thawne's eyes rolled into the back of his head as a white light surrounded him and all of a sudden, all four of Zod's men at arms nearby grabbed their heads as their brains exploded from within them. "Satisfied by my abilities yet?" The general was shocked by the display of wanton homicide.

"What manner of witchcraft is this?"

"I thought the wise, all-knowing general believed in science. I am simply exercising the power which I…or that is to say a passenger of mine…can utilise by the very nature of their existence."

"So then, why not kill me?"

"Because that would be too easy, and because I enjoy playing games. I've come to make peace with you, General. I've come to offer your people a new homeland."

"A new homeland? From a human? I find that even less believable than I found your little trick with my guards."

"And yet that happened. Surely by now you comprehend that I am far more than just another one of those apes who adopted Kal-El."

"Do not mention that name in my presence."

"Ooh touched a nerve. You don't have to worry about him. Kal-El won't bother you. I have already disposed of his clone and the daughter of Zor-El. Both of her. My terms are this. I will give you a new homeland on the Earth, where you will live separately from humanity. An island held off from the rest of the world's landmasses and difficult to access."

"What sort of island is this, warlock?"

"An island given to the female ape exclusively. By some of the gods of their primitive years. An island which is a threat to me and everyone else on Earth. I need it to be staffed with allies. And those allies need to be someone like you, general. Someone all-powerful who I will gladly have at my side as an equal in ruling the Earth."

"I will not rule with a human!"

"Your bigotry does you no favours, Zod! I would have thought the leader of a race as advanced and noble as the Kryptonians, would not be so small-minded as to judge someone of great power by their species of origin."

"I do not judge you, warlock. I judge the matter from which you sprung. The ape creatures who will pay for their genocide of my race with one against their own."

"You are a benighted fool, Zod! You know that? You are not negotiating from a position of strength. I am giving you free real estate here, as well as a position which you have not earned. I could do with a little respect."

"If you really had infinite power you wouldn't need me."

"I don't have infinite power, and neither do you. But evidently, I can do more than you, Zod."

"I require a further demonstration."

"A further demonstration? You know Zod it must prove to you how willing I am to work with you that I didn't blow your head up."

"I will settle for no less than a use of your power for my amusement, ape. You should count yourself lucky I did not have Non rip you apart as soon as he smelled the filth you dragged in from that primitive rock you call home."

"Where is your son?"

"You dare make demands of Zod."

"General, I am not known for being a patient man. Bring your son before me now!"

"Why should I do that, ape?"

"Call me ape again and you'll be cleaning your mate's head from your hair."

Thawne raised his fingers as if to snap them while Ursa and Non tensed themselves for combat. Zod raised his hand then to stay them. "At last some fire," the general chuckled, "What do I call you then if not your genus? Human? Tramp?" "Just Thawne will do," the prophet lowered his hand and feigned civility once more, "Eddie Thawne at your service. Now bring me Lor-Zod." Chris then walked in himself, suspending his eavesdropping on the entire conversation. "I'm here," he assured the human, "Just don't…kill anyone else." "A squeamish son, Zod?" Thawne mocked the military man, "Are you sure he's yours and not…Kal-El's?" Zod's knuckles cracked in fury as Thawne beckoned Chris closer towards him. "Come to me, Lor-Zod, son of Ursa-Nal," he said, beginning his affectation of a saint once again, "Or is that Christopher Kent, son of Lois Lane? Regardless of who you are, I need to show your father a demonstration of my power. You were the righteous known as Nightwing once, correct?"

"I was."

"And you had a woman you loved."

"I...Yeah, I did. How did you-"

"I know many things, boy. Tell me of her.

Thara...Thara Ak-Var. She was...amazing."

"Did you really love her?"

"What? I mean, yes, yes, of course, I did. I really did. But she died...she died saving Earth from…him."

"Your father, you mean?" Thawne turned to look at the malevolent tyrant seated behind them, "Yes, he's not the most reasonable of men, but I'm almost done impressing him. I've already used violence, now I'll show him something else I can do. Something a bit on the softer side." Placing his hands on Chris' temples, Thawne began muttering something in Kryptonian to himself as somehow the Phantom Zone rocked. As if an earthquake would split Zod's fortress in two without a moment's notice. Then, suddenly it stopped and a beautiful, blue-eyed, brown-haired girl walked out before them. "Thara?" the look on the younger Zod's was one of disbelief and delight. "Chris?" she ran straight for him. Thawne smiled to himself as the two lovers reunited in a passionate kiss. "So beautiful," he smiled to himself before turning to his host, "Don't you think, Dru-Zod, son of Lyta-Zod." Zod merely scoffed at that and began to treat Thawne seriously. "So, you can raise the dead?" he tutted. "Only if I want to and it's not easy," he sullenly informed the Kryptonian, "Look." Thawne pointed to the fact he had lines around his eyes all of a sudden as well as white in his hair. "Gets harder with each go, but I have ways and means of working around that," he reassured the man, "I've just told you my weakness. Because I trust you're a man I can work with. Now, do you trust me Zod?"

Zod walked slowly towards Thawne then and outstretched his hand. "What do you need, Thawne?" the general eventually acknowledged, still not shaking the hand of a mere human. "Like I said, I need some of your soldiers for a personal mission dealing with the Green Lanterns," Thawne said, putting his hand down, "Meanwhile, you and your army will attack Paradise Island once my agent activates the Phantom Zone Projector there. You will know the signal. Have them mobilised. Oh, and do us a favour. I know the man you're holding here. Keep him under lock and key. Under no circumstances is Lex Luthor to be allowed to return to his homeworld." "Consider it done," Zod said as he and Thawne entered a fraternal kiss, an attempt to disarm the prophet that didn't work. "Very enjoyable, General. Now I am afraid I must be going," Thawne told him abruptly as he removed a Phantom Zone projector from his pocket and then stepped through it back into his own dimension. Chris and Thara basked wonderfully in the fact they were together again while Zod smiled confidently feeling he had gained an invaluable ally. Little did he know he had only wrought his own downfall.

Hub City

Aristotle Rodor had been asleep at his desk for a while now awaiting news from his new comrades in the JSA about intercepting the recent attempt at trafficking metahumans. He supposed in a way they weren't the JSA. More like a rebirth of the Outsiders of old. The Outsiders who had served Batman for more covert operations over the years had now merged with the JSA at the suggestion of the former's old leader, Black Lightning and his new protégé, Static Shock. Jay Garrick was out with Stargirl, Doctor Mid-Nite and Citizen Steel trying to break some metahuman teens out of a warehouse. Ari was roused slightly by what sounded like the scurrying of a mouse behind him. He headed for a nearby kettle and made himself a cup of coffee. His phone rang then and he was glad to hear the voice of Renee Montoya. "Ah, the Question," Ari smiled into the receiver, "Voice of a nightingale. How goes it?" "Thank God," Renee replied in that thick New Jersey accent of hers, "You're one of the few people I can get to from Gotham, Ari. You at the lighthouse?"

"Yeah. Haven't seen you in weeks. Was wondering why you weren't back yet. Thought you'd eloped with your ex."

"Well, I am working with Kate at the moment, but there's no wedding bells in the air yet."

"Oh well. I was hoping to become a kind of father-in-law at some point. Vic was so bad at getting with girls. How's that Italian broad he liked?"

"Helena died saving Gotham last we were there."

"Damn. There goes another one. And yet I'm still here."

"Ain't that everyone's problem?"

"It's worse when you're older."

"Yeah, I can imagine. How goes the work with Jeff anyhow?"

"Not too shabby. We're investigating someone with connections to the League of Assassins doing work here. You told me when you went to Gotham you suspected Ra's was involved."

"He is involved. I've fought a few fuckers on the streets here. They're League. No question. Tell Jeff all this as soon as you can. Otherwise the team is screwed."

"Fine, Renee. I just—"

A massive blackout swept across the lighthouse. Ari grabbed a gun from his desk and began walking with trepidation after cocking it. "Who the hell's there?" he queried into the blackness, "I'm warning you, punk, I'm armed. Come on. I'm not afraid." "You should be," a deep voice uttered just as a spiked boot kicked Ari in the back and knocked him to the ground, "Mr Thawne and the Demon's Head told me to let your little agents find the Hub City base. He already seized it for the purpose of Venom smuggling a few months ago, and it's only one of Thawne's warehouses across the country. We've already smuggled hundreds of children out of the country." "Who are you?" Ari managed, struggling through the pain he had as he bled out from the entry wound the man had delivered to him.

"My name is David Cain. Recently paroled from Belle Reve. One of the greatest assassins in the world. And I love kids. They're so…impressionable."

"What the hell are you on about?"

"What I'm 'on about' is that kids are very easy to shape in your own image. Very, very easy. Tiny brains trying to grow. They look to us as adults to teach them. So, it's feasible to teach them whatever we'd like. Personally, I wish Thawne could get some infants for me, but until Eiling and Waller sign off on the meta breeding programme that's not possible. Got to work with what we have?"

"Breeding programme…for the military?"

"You didn't think we'd just sell as valuable a commodity as a metahuman? Maybe some of the more useless ones. That's what Thawne's been telling the grunts, but only the kids with useless powers like super cleaning abilities. And for the adults, we're going to send them to a place designed to crush souls. And now that we have your laptop, Mr Rodor, the game's completely in our favour. This 'Outsiders' operation is very soon going to be on the ropes."

"Go to Hell!"

Cain shot Rodor in the head immediately and picked up the laptop before contacting Thawne. "It's Cain. Their little false Oracle has been dealt with, sir. Indeed, indeed. Very well, like you said. Nothing left." Cain then left the lighthouse as promptly as he had entered. Ari's corpse lay prostrate with a packet of cigarettes beside him and a photo of the old man with Vic Sage lying broken on the ground. The phone blared out as Courtney Whitmore tried to call him and it went to voicemail. "Ari? Ari? The kids here, they're all dead. Oh my God. Someone cut all their throats. Jay wasn't able to save any of them. Who the hell could have done this? Ari, come on pick up?" Neither the JSA nor the Outsiders could comprehend the psychopath behind this attack. In a way though, there was only one man who could be behind this. The man who had trained his own child to know only the language of violence.

DEO, Washington DC

"How was Zod?" Hurt asked Thawne as he arrived through the projector, they had obtained from S.T.A.R. Labs. Thawne just rolled his eyes in response. "Arrogant," he answered, washing his hands of the blood of the Kryptonians whose heads he'd exploded, "Even more than Prime. At least Prime has the excuse of being an idiot. He won't see their mutually assured destruction coming. Not for one second. I will give him his New Kandor in the form of ashes." Hurt smiled as Amanda Waller walked in. "Father Thawne, the boys from S.T.A.R. Labs are here," she informed the chaplain, "They brought the containment unit." "Perfection," he said as his phone rang, "Sorry for getting you to work late again, Mrs Waller, I've just had the busiest of days is all. Take a three-day weekend when we're done with Operation: Phantom. Fully paid. Sorry, Simon, I've got to take this." Waller smiled and said, "Thank you, sir," as Thawne answered his phone and she left the office.

"Thawne. Ah, Mr Cain. So, he's no longer a problem then? Good. We'll start the military breeding programme as soon as we have some of the prisoners rounded up from Operation: Phantom. You will get to have your metahuman children, Mr Cain, do not worry. Excellent. Many thanks."

Thawne pocketed the phone and grimaced at Hurt. "You know, Simon, you and Ra's are the only psychopaths I work with who are in any way charming," he honestly informed him, "It took me a long time to develop this rudimentary charm. It seems to come to you naturally." "I was a devil worshipping loner until I got immortality," Hurt conceded, "Trust me. When you've centuries to perfect it, charm is nothing." They walked outside of the office after respectively lighting up one another's cigars and saw Cyborg outside standing by an iron containment unit. Inside the unit was a man with half a face, the other half being cybernetic yet resembling a human skull. Hank Henshaw. The Cyborg Superman.

"The perfect warrior for our grand assault I should say, eh, Dr Hurt?"

"Of course, Father Thawne. Of course. Who better than the destroyer of Green Lantern's home to destroy the home of his corps?"

Mount Olympus

"Wine needed?" a fat man with a goblet said to Freddy as he, Ares and Black Adam passed through the partygoing area of Mount Olympus. "Ignore my half-brother," Ares scoffed as he pushed the fatter gentleman away. "I'm not your half-brother," the overweight god stood up through his inebriation in protest, "I'm your great-grandson." "You're both, Dionysus," Ares retorted, "Try not to advertise that in front of the mortals." Freddy was a little baffled as he looked at Ares from over Black Adam's shoulder. "Is he for real?" the former Captain Marvel asked the War God, "Your dad banged his great-granddaughter or some shit." "Which one?" Ares shrugged his shoulders, "Hercules' mother was another great-grandchild. Lord Zeus isn't exactly concerned about the whole incest thing. I mean he's married to his big sister. You mortals wouldn't understand." "The only impression I'm getting Ares is that this is some kind of trailer park shit," Freddy said. "Ha! The courage of Achilles comes out," Ares had to admire the boy's gall, "I've heard it all from you, Christian types of the modern world. It's sinful. Yeah well sex in general is a sin according to your Bible. I think I'd prefer to live in sin than go one day without it. And since I've been dead, I've gone several days without it." Ares then grabbed a random nymph and they began kissing passionately. "I take it that's a niece," Freddy said confidently once again when Adam gave him a stern look. "It does not do to continue antagonising the God of War, Freddy," Adam shook his head, "Besides, Ares has a point. My mother was my father's niece. And my first wife was my half-sister."

"Adam, that's sick."

"How? We thought we were gods like the Olympians and that's how gods behaved. It may not have been wise but it was our culture. We thought it lesser to have our queen, our equal, be anyone but one of our blood. I know that to be folly now, because I know I am not a god. But my father believed in it wholeheartedly and so did all our forebears. Be they Pharaoh or commoner they understood that royalty carried a certain appearance of acting like the gods. And judging by gods such as Ares, we were not imitating them inaccurately."

"Freddy," Ares continued, dragging himself from the nymph, after downing some of Dionysus' wine, "Are you sure you don't want to taste some of my father's nymphs? They are literally the playthings of the gods." "And yes," Adam whispered, "Like them we treated women who weren't our sisters as sex objects." The sights around him earned a shudder from Freddy. "I think I'm fine, Ares," he nodded reassuringly, "We're here to find Hermes and Zeus anyway." A curly-haired blonde man with a helmet similar to Jay Garrick's in that it had wing tips appeared before them. He had two nymphs around him and a goblet of wine. "Someone called for me?" the divine messenger asked. "What are they celebrating?" Freddy asked Adam before acknowledging the messenger god. "They're the Greek gods," the Kahndaqi king replied, "They like partying and having lots of sex. That tends to happen when Dionysus recovers from one of his hangovers. Suddenly the Bacchic frenzy occurs en masse."

"It's a shame isn't it," Hermes said groggily as he dismissed his two nymphs, "That Persephone wasn't clued in enough to realise how easy it is to deceive brutes like Atlas and Achilles. Particularly when one has the wisdom of the fabled Hebrew king, Solomon. My half-sister needs to work on being Queen of the Underworld a bit better." "Just a touch," Adam said before hugging Hermes in a show of camaraderie, "It is good to see you, Mercury. Freddy, I think it's time you got to know the most reasonable of the gods we will be dealing with. Hermes." "How is he more reasonable than the others?" Freddy asked. "Because, my lad," Hermes began explaining, "Unlike other gods I know I am not as important as mortals seem to think I am. I helped my sister goddesses create the Amazons after all. In spite of what my half-brother, the fool Ares, desired to do with mortals. I take it you are acquainted with the Princess Diana, Mr Freeman."

"We've met before, yeah. She told Billy once you had a thing for her."

"Yes, well…quite. You're here for my speed, I take it."

"If you wouldn't mind."

"Well then, you shall have it. For too long have I sat and seen that old fool on the Rock of Eternity deny heroes like yourself what they deserve, Mr Freeman. Allow me to give you this gift."

Hermes touched Freddy on the chest and he felt the agility of the messenger god course through him. Now he was as fast as Superman once again. "Oh wow, Adam! I've got the speed back! What the hell? This is amazing! We've got to find Zeus right now," he uttered all those words in a split second, not realising himself. "Calm down, Freddy," Adam laughed as he gave the boy a shake, "You're still adjusting to this new divine ability. This will pass. We can take our time finding Zeus." "Um, actually," Hermes gulped, "my father has already come to find you." About fifty nymphs were tossed aside as a large man with a grey beard riding a cloud and holding a lightning bolt in his right hand descended before them. "Who dares to take from the gods?" the Skyfather bellowed, "I sense a mortal leech here." Zeus then looked at Black Adam with recognition and Freddy with a realisation that he should know him but couldn't quite place him. Zeus fired a lightning bolt at Adam before he could speak and Freddy fell on the floor.

"Why do you dare steal from my son, boy?"

"I did not steal, Lord Zeus. Your son, Hermes, granted me his speed of his own free will."

"Ah, I take it like the Egyptian prince you are another follower of that accursed wizard!"

"No! I will never follow him again. He forsook me and the people I loved simply for trying to carry on without him. The woman I love with all my heart is now an emotional wreck because in his absence she lost herself, and he has only punished her further."

"The wizard is an affront to all I hold dear, boy. But he is necessary. He and his champions defend the mortal realm from the Seven Deadly Sins."

"His post was taken admirably by my friend, Billy Batson. Why can Captain Marvel not take it up again? I would be more than willing to do so."

"I gather then that you long for my strength as well as my son's speed, boy. And Herakles' strength will be granted to you, no doubt. He hasn't much of anything to give you."

"Your son is a fine warrior, my lord. He is one of the greatest heroes in the memory of many a mortal. He is deserving of godhood. I would do anything to regain it for him."

"Prove it."

"What?"

"Swear that you will defy the wizard's edict and serve as a soldier of the Olympian gods. Pay homage to those who give you power since we make up 50% of it. When I call you to arms, you will answer that call, Freddy Freeman. Or should I say Captain Marvel?"

"I-I—"

"You will not have my power otherwise, lad."

Freddy turned to Black Adam who seemed as anxious about this as he was. "I don't think we have a choice," Freddy frowned, "You'll help us won't you, Adam?" Adam nodded. "Freddy, you are my family now," the Kahndaqi told him with deep sincerity, "I have learned that by seeing how you defy all adversity. You will make a fine champion for the human race." Freddy inhaled deeply and then shook Zeus' hand vigorously as the god raised him up with his divine power. "Very well, Zeus," he acquiesced, "I accept your offer. I will serve your will as Captain Marvel, soldier of Mount Olympus." Zeus smiled. "I was hoping you would say that, Mr Freeman. Herakles!" Hercules then appeared kneeling before his divine father out of thin air. "You have summoned me, father?" the demi-god asked. "Give this lad your strength as I give him my power and I shall make you a god again," the divine monarch told him. Hercules smiled and said "Of course, father." Father and son then each took a hand of Freddy's and they both ascended into the sky together. A yellow light emanated from the two gods first which seemed to enter Freddy, whose eyes widened as he started shouting down to Black Adam, "I can feel it. I can feel the power flowing through me again, Adam. Everything I was. Everything I can be. I am Captain Marvel again!"

"Well then, Freddy. You know what to say."

"SHAZAM!"