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.

40. The Dying of the Light

Central City

"Is she going to have that dumb angel at her do like Wally did?" Todd Rice impatiently asked his sister, Jennie as she straightened his tie. "Yes," Jade all but spat with annoyance at him, "And Zauriel is not a dumb angel. He's a hero. He was on the JLA. Not to mention, he's doing this out of respect for Jay. And respectful is something you should be too, Todd. Please tell me you took your meds today?" Todd always blanched at the mere mention of his schizophrenia from anyone except his twin sister. "Not yet," he sheepishly avoided her gaze. "Well, then have them right now," she finished with his tie, "I'll get you a glass of water. It's going to be a long day, Todd. And we don't want to upset Jay. He's the only mourner here you know. He and Joan were only kids. Closest thing they had to a son was Barry and the rest of the speedsters. And Jay was so good to us when Dad died, we owe it to him to do right by him when he's lost Joan." "I know," her twin apologised, "I'm sorry. I forgot, honestly, I did." "I know, Todd," she sighed with shame at her impatience, "I'm sorry." Jennie fell forward and cried a little into her brother's chest, "I know you don't mean to…it's just…you're sick, Todd," she sobbed, "And I don't want to have to remind you to work on that every second."

"It's okay, don't worry. I'll take them now."

Todd led his sister downstairs where Al Emerson and Courtney Whitmore were waiting for a lift to the cemetery. Courtney moved up to comfort Jennie when she saw she was upset, but Todd put a hand up to her and got the pills for himself, swallowing them. "They still taste like shit," he bluntly told her. "Good," she rebutted, "Reminds you they're not placebos." Todd sat beside Al as Jennie went over to Courtney. They had a pot of tea ready for chatting as they all thought of Joan then. "I'm sure she went peacefully," Al said trying to add to the conversation but felt shot down by all the sadness around him. "No, she didn't," Todd added in his blunt manner, "She died babbling about Bart Allen to Jay in a lot of mental and physical pain." Jennie leered at her brother disapprovingly for again being socially awkward, but Al just laughed knowing the way Todd had always been.

"It's not going to be the same…everything's turning upside down and Jay just lost his wife," Courtney bemoaned, "As soon as this is over, Jeff's going to have us on the go looking for metahumans. Fun." Jennie put her hand on the young girl's shoulder. "Hey, we've got each other," Jade reminded Stargirl, "Joan was…old. And she'd lived a full life and loved an amazing man. I don't care about what's happening in the outside world so long as for one day Jay gets to mourn her properly." "She's still at the funeral home yeah?" Al asked. "Yep," Jennie responded, "She's being removed in a couple of hours. Jay wanted as many people to see her face before we buried her as he could. He wants to bury her with Dad. So he and Molly can share a plot with the Garricks when this is all over." Everyone just kind of blankly looked at one another then. Jade had been so matter of fact in her reply that they just sat and thought of Joan for a little bit.

At Ted Grant's house, Michael Holt was sitting on a bed wearing a black tie while Sasha Bordeaux got ready in the room nearby. All the work the two of them had with Checkmate, and now he was sitting here with his old friend, Pieter Cross, doing his tie. "All good, Michael?" Pieter asked. "A blind man is doing my tie because I'm too exhausted to know how to tie a knot," Mr Terrific shook his head, "Yeah, Pieter, all good." "Ah, the lowest form of wit being used by the supposed smartest man in the world, yet again, Dr Holt," Doctor Mid-Nite chuckled, "Whatever will the critics say?" "Probably that they're sick of seeing a man juggle so many balls," Michael nodded, "Lord's cagey as all hell. Sasha and I are trying to spring something in case he's working with Thawne, but we don't have anything set up yet. It's all feeling sort of…hopeless."

"Hopeless? You heard about Nightwing and the Sons of Batman beating Ra's al Ghul, right? Whatever this Thawne guy is doing his plan ain't perfect."

"I thought you were smart too, Pieter. Jeff can't accept it but…we're doomed. It's only a matter of time before Thawne kills us all."

"Don't talk like that."

"It's true. We're just delaying the inevitable. Still, like Mr Thomas, I will not go quietly into the dying of the light."

"That's the spirit, Michael."

Across town, Jesse Chambers was being driven to the funeral home by her husband, Rick Tyler, with her mother, Libby holding her grandson, Johnny close to her. "Oh, your Grandpa would have loved you," the old woman chuckled to the gurgling infant, "I still can't get over you and Rick calling him Johnny. He's so precious." "Doting Grandma, eh?" Jesse smiled, "You're just like Joan was when we had him, Mom." "Yeah, well I'm his actual grandmother," the former Liberty Belle pointedly reminded her daughter. "I know she was your friend, Mom, but Joan was like a Grandma to all of us," Jesse Quick frowned, "I want Johnny to be able to say goodbye to her if that's okay." "I know," Libby placed a hand on her daughter's shoulder, "I'll miss her too. But I just can't get over this little one." Rick smiled a little to himself seeing his mother-in-law act like this over their newborn. His parents, Rex and Wendi were unable to attend the funeral, having visited the home the night before. But he had to smile, knowing how loved his son would grow up to be seeing Libby like this and thought how Joan would approve.

Meanwhile, Barry Allen arrived with his children, Don and Dawn, to pick up his wife, Iris from Linda Park's house. Iris was surprised to see her husband she hadn't seen in over a month looking well kempt and sober. He greeted her with a massive kiss which Iris reciprocated. "You've stopped drinking then?" she asked expectantly. "Three weeks sober," he reassured her, "It's been hard. Really hard. But seeing you again makes it all worthwhile." Barry looked to their children and smiled thinking of how Don had held his hand through a lot of the process and Dawn had made him feel like he wasn't a fool because he was sick. They had amazing children. One thing Don always reminded him about was being brave. Being the father that he and Dawn deserved. The husband Iris deserved. Iris could see that now. "Before you say anything, Barry," she put a hand on his chest, "We'll talk about it after Joan is buried." Barry sighed and nodded. His brown beard was looking a lot more groomed than the last time she had seen it. She had to admit her currently estranged husband was looking good. More than good.

As all these individuals were doing their best to prepare for the funeral, Jay Garrick himself, husband of the deceased, was just standing by his wife's lifeless form lying in a casket with the angel Zauriel beside him. "She'll be in Heaven now, Jay," the soldier of the Heavenly Host placated him, "You have to know that." "I do, Zauriel," Jay gave him a smile tinged with pain, "I worry more about the future than about Joan. She's at peace. Tell me, why has God done nothing…with everything that's happening here?" "He moves in mysterious ways," was the clichéd answer befitting a priest Jay had expected to hear, "I barely know Him, so I cannot say for certain. And there is something about this Thawne that frightens even me." "Me too, Zaur," Jay nodded and placed a hand on his wife's clammy and still ones. "You will see her again, my friend," Zauriel put a hand on the original Flash's shoulder, "All I can say is that there are people who still love you here." "I know," Jay nodded, again that painful smile emerging, "But none as important as her." At the back of the room, Jai and Irey sat with their mother, Linda waiting for the removal. "We don't have to stay for the removal if you don't want to," she told the kids, "Uncle Barry and Aunt Iris said you can come back to theirs if you ask them." "They're back together?" Irey asked, her mother wincing knowing the children were smart enough to know Iris had been living with them because Barry was sorting out his drinking. She just hugged them then for a little while instead of answering.

The prayers came and went but the removal was delayed, as Jay wanted another half an hour for everyone to personally say goodbye to Joan. Barry Allen and Iris West walked outside with their children, Jai, Irey and Linda. Linda went over to Iris. "The kids are a little…uncomfortable," she told her late husband's aunt, "I think they've been to too many funerals. And they spent a lot of time with Joan before she passed. Do you guys mind if I just bring them back to yours? We'll see you after the funeral." Iris nodded handing the keys to Linda so Jai and Irey couldn't overhear her reply. Barry was smiling talking to Don and Dawn. "So, how's work with the League?" he asked them, happy to converse about something apart from his addiction. "It's fine, Dad," Dawn replied, "We've had a lot of issues concerning Gotham recently." "I can't believe Bruce let that place down so much," the former Flash shook his head, "I just hope Dick gets to explain himself. Did he survive that last fight?" "We're not sure," his daughter lied, "Sorry, Dad." "It's okay, Dawnie," he smiled at her and Dawn had to look away, ashamed to be lying to her father.

A car then pulled up. A car containing four people. The windows were tinted and whoever sat inside was not obvious. Barry was surprised to see a dark-skinned girl walk out first. A girl he felt he should recognise. Iris was shocked to see her whoever she was. In the front of the car, Kendra Saunders and Dinah Lance walked out. Weren't they dead? But then someone long thought dead followed the unnamed girl. A boy with brown hair looking a year or so older than the last time Barry had seen him. "Bart?" Barry said silently to himself, in utter shock at the sight. Don and Dawn's faces fell. They knew Bart was alive. But Thawne hadn't told them where he was or what he was doing. Said he was lost somewhere. He could have warned them Bart was coming to find them. Bart looked straight at his father and aunt, his eyes squinting in disdain. Barry Allen used his speed for the first time in months as he ran up to his grandson for a hug. "Bart!" he wept profuse tears of joy. Jenni Ognats was a little annoyed her grandfather couldn't recognise her, but that was slightly assuaged by her grandmother, Iris' embrace, "It's good to see you, Jen." "I'm sorry about Wally, Grandma," XS sighed. "It's okay," Iris stroked her back, "Don't worry."

Barry then moved back from his grandson, and suddenly lost his patience in realisation. "Where the hell have you been?" he shouted, discombobulated by these events, "We've thought you were dead for months! You had me worried sick. I was…well I did things I regret because I missed you." "Like what? Kid Flash asked, his face an emotionless mask at the minute. "I-I—" his grandfather stammered. "Tell him, Barry," Iris said to her husband. "I started drinking," he sighed, "A lot. You dying broke me. I'm sorry, Bart." "You have nothing to apologise to me for, Grandpa," Kid Flash reassured him, putting a hand on his chest, "I'm sorry I upset you like that and I haven't come her to fight you. There's only two relatives I have a bone to pick with here." "What?" the former Flash asked. Before Barry's question could be answered Bart had rushed to his father and began savagely punching him. "Bart!" Iris screamed at her grandson. "You snake!" he uncharacteristically flew into a rage, "You're no father of mine!" Don just took every hit his son gave him. He knew he deserved it.

Dinah and Kendra grabbed Bart and held him off. "You promised you wouldn't act out like this!" Dinah grunted. "He's a traitor, Dinah," Kid Flash shouted at Black Canary, "A collaborator." "Now don't talk about your father that way, young man!" Barry shouted pointing an accusatory figure, "And apologise right this instance for assaulting him." "Dad," Don said, cleaning blood from his face, "It's okay. The boy's impulsive. He doesn't have to apologise." "Don, he just beat the ever loving crap out of you," his father wiped some blood from his son's face, "Without justification. I don't care where he's been there's no good reason for a son to attack his father like that." "Except there is, Dad!" Dawn wept bitterly, "Bart's right when he says we're collaborators.. We've let you all down." Bart had slightly calmed down now, and Barry paternally pointed a finger at him. "Bart," he spoke calmly but paternally, "Please explain to me what your aunt is talking about." "They work for Eddie Thawne," Bart looked at his sobbing aunt with revulsion.

"Yes, I know that. What's wrong with that? I don't agree with his faith but—"

"Grandpa, have you been living under a rock? Eddie Thawne is the man who sent Deathstroke to kill the Teen Titans."

"W-what?"

"He helped the Scarecrow and the Riddler destroy Gotham so he could hand it over to Ra's al Ghul. Helena Bertinelli, Sasha Finger, Harvey Bullock, Kitrina Falcone, Tommy Blake and god knows how many others are dead because of that and Tim Drake…one of my best friends…was tortured by the Joker all on Eddie Thawne's orders."

"How can you prove this?"

"We have Ra's' men imprisoned. They'll confess to all of it. And Slade Wilson himself. He's a scumbag, but he's nothing if not honest, Grandpa. And he straight up told Cassie and Conner when he was trying to kill them who he was working for."

"No. No, this can't be. Don, did you know Slade was doing this?"

"There's no point in lying, Dad."

"Yes, I did," Don replied earnestly. "Your own son was there," Iris stupefyingly answered, "Your cousins." "I asked that Bart and the twins be spared, Mom," Don pleaded for clemency. "But all those other kids were fair game?" Barry asked with a tone denoting an anger unheard of since Eobard Thawne had supposedly killed Iris. "You don't understand, Dad," his son was nearly crying, "Thawne's powerful. Really powerful. He promised us everyone and everything back. Meloni and Jenni would come back to me and Dawn. Not to mention he planned for peace. Children are always sympathised with. He needed a terrorist attack on the Titans to justify his covert actions against the Atlanteans and Amazons, because it wouldn't wash as well with the League or the Outsiders." "Atlanteans and Amazons?" Barry was by now apoplectic at all these revelations, "Arthur and Diana's people? They're peaceful, they're friends!" Dawn laughed a little at her father. "And a threat to world peace," she spoke with more confidence and less regret now, "Two nations with magic at their side, something no other does. Eddie's got a point about them, you know. What happens if Arthur or Hippolyta turn on us?"

"We reason with them."

"Don't be naïve, Dad. There's no Atlantis or Themyscira in our time. And our world is a paradise. Alien species live in peace and harmony with homo sapiens. I wonder why that is?"

"Probably because Diana and Arthur made peace between our peoples like they intended?"

"You're not that stupid, Dad! They're heroes like you for a reason. Because they're idealists. Better than the people they represent. Thawne wanted to ensure our future happened. A world where humanity prospers in peace, without the deterrent of our enemies to ensure that."

"That's not peace. That's genocide!"

"He knew you wouldn't understand," Don shook his head, "That's why he—" "Why he what?" Barry asked his son sternly. "Nothing," the male Tornado Twin avoided eye contact with his father, "Have you any more accusations you want us to justify, Bart?" "I just want to know how much you know," his own son threw his hands up, "Because I'm not sure about everything myself." "You and us both," Dawn said ashamedly, "Eddie doesn't tell us everything. But he had us kidnap Starfire and her kid a month or so ago. They're probably dead now so—" "They're fine," Bart corrected her, "No thanks to you, Aunt Dawn. You quisling." "Bart," Jenni said, not liking this dark side to her cousin, "Mom and your Dad seem to be as much pawns in this as we are." "Yeah, but you're forgetting something, Jenni," Kid Flash told XS, the disdain for his father and aunt not leaving his face as he maintained his gaze on them, "I'm not a pawn. I would never play the part of a pawn. Because I like to follow someone I can trust. Someone who tells me everything. Did Jai and Irey mention to you guys about the little ambush by Hunter Zolomon?" His father seemed open and close his mouth in a trembling manner before he managed to answer that.

"Thawne said he sent Zolomon to ensure that you didn't get away and could be moved safely for…conditioning."

"Conditioning?"

"To make you loyal like…like he did to Roy and Donna when they started questioning him. Like Deathstroke did to Power Girl."

"Brainwashing," Barry said under his breath, "Brainwashing? On your own son. Have you no shame?" "I did it because I knew none of you would be comfortable with the truth," Don shouted at his father defensively, "You haven't seen the darkness. Any of you. When you and Bart died, Dad, you went to the Speed Force. Dawn and I…it was like we were adrift in a darkness…until Eddie pulled us out and showed us everything that had happened to our family. To Wally, to Bart, to Mom. And we said no more. We said we weren't letting our family suffer anymore. And he said he'd help us." "Who is Eddie?" Barry asked. "What?" Don shook his head in disbelief. "Who is he?" the former Flash kept asking his successors, "He's not my nephew. He just wanted me to think he is, didn't he?" "He's," Don slowly began to answer before his sister interrupted, "He's Eobard Thawne." "Of course he is," Barry threw his hands in the air and sat on a bench, burying his head in his hands dramatically while his daughter continued.

"But he has good intentions, Dad. I swear it. He's not some megalomaniac out to kill us all. He's bringing good people back to life…"

"Good people like Grant Wilson?" Bart queried. "Not everyone can be as saintly as you, son," Don rejoined sardonically, "The good he's revived outweigh the bad. Not to mention, he showed us time. Showed us that the way things were in our world…that that history would never become as it was for the Legion. Things were too precarious in this time. But that he'd figured out a way to ensure both our futures. By removing threats to civilisation. Threats like Gotham, a nest of vipers the Batman will never redeem. Threats like Atlantis and Themyscira. Thawne has good intentions." "The road to Hell is paved with those," Iris told her children, with so much shame and sadness in her eyes, "Do you not know what he did to me? What he did to this whole family?"

"Yes. But compared to what had happened in his absence, I'd say he's right. We want eternal life for the people we love, rather than let others go into the blackness like it's nothing. I will not apologise for any of this."

"What about Wally?" Barry Allen asked his son with tears in his eyes. "What do you mean, Dad?" Dawn wondered. "Wally died saying Eobard Thawne killed him," her father had gritted his teeth as a waterfall came from his eyes "Was that true? Did you know about that?" "Dad, I—" Dawn began, but looked sheepishly at the ground. "ANSWER ME!" Barry screamed at her. "Yes," Don replied in a matter of fact manner, "But he promised us he'd bring him back, he just knew that Wally needed to go so—" "He was your cousin!" Barry said, sucker punching his son, "He had a wife and two children. He was a hero. He upheld my legacy! And you're working with the man responsible for that." Barry then pushed his son to the floor and when Dawn held his arm in restraint he said, "Let go of me, Dawn. I can't even look you in the eye right now. Either of you. And as for you, Bart, Joan Garrick is dead because you were too selfish to come here in time."

"What?"

"She gave up thinking you were dead. She loved you...and you didn't come back to find her. How long have you been able to do that, huh?"

"A week or so?"

"Get out of my sight," his grandfather told him before turning to all around him, "All of you. You're not fit to call yourselves family. Not when you let every one of us down." Barry then sped off into the distance crying in despair. Iris lifted her children up with a hint of disapproval. "We should," Bart began before his grandmother shook her head, "No, you need to be with Jay. Your grandfather didn't mean that, Bart...you can see he's upset. We'll tell Linda and the kids you're alright. After we're done with these two." "Mom," Dawn moved towards Iris, "We're so—" "Save it for the court, Dawn," her mother bitingly interrupted, "Now both of you take me to your father. The four of us are going to have a long chat. Alone. Parents and children. No grandchildren. Understood?" Bart and Jenni nodded as the Tornado Twins took their mother away from the scene. Bart just held his head in shame.

"Sorry, Bart," Dinah said, putting her hand on his shoulder, "It's not your fault. Any of this. We just…we just need to move on a little. I'm sure when this is all over you, your Dad, your grandparents and Dawn will all get along again. But right now, there's an old man who will be very happy to see you." "But Barry said I killed Joan," he cried. "Joan was an old woman," Kendra said, joining in comforting the young man, "Neither of us could control this. People her age…they tend to die, Bart. I'm sure she died missing you, but emotions are far from the main reason someone dies. Jay knows that. And he'll be more happy to see you're alive. Alright?" Bart nodded through some tears, inhaled in anticipation and with his cousin and the two former members of the JSA walked into the funeral home.

The reception he received within was indeed far more pleasant than the one he had earned from his family. Jay just turned around and in disbelief sped in for a hug. "I knew you were okay, Bart," he sobbed into the boy's form, "I knew it." "I'm so sorry about Joan," his surrogate grandson wept into his chest, "And Karen. I'm sorry I couldn't be here." "Shh, it's alright, lad," Jay consoled him, "Joan would just be as happy as I am to know you're okay." "Grandpa Barry said I killed her," Kid Flash couldn't stop weeping. "She loved you so much, lad," Jay silenced him, "You could never do that." Kendra also went to offer her condolences to Jay but was intercepted by a tap on the shoulder. She turned to see who it was and saw a man with red hair heading out the front door. Could it be? She followed curiously. Dinah then saw Ted Grant standing by the coffin solemnly. She had to go up to the greatest father figure in her life for a moment. "Hey, Wildcat, still kicking ass?" she asked in an attempt at shock. Ted turned around and beamed upon seeing Dinah. "Kid, you're alive. I'd heard you were one o' dem' heroes that vanished. Come on. I'll get you a sandwich we can talk all about it."

Jenni found herself heading up to an old, blonde woman with a baby. "Grandkid?" she asked Libby Chambers. "Yep, it's my Jesse's boy, Johnny," the woman told her, "Are you a relative of Jay's?" "Sort of," XS shrugged her shoulders, "I'm Barry and Iris' granddaughter." "Oh, you must be Jenni, Dawn's girl," the former Liberty Belle shook her hand, "I'm Libby Lawrence. Better known as Liberty Belle. My ex-husband, this boy's Grandpa, was one of the first of you speedsters. Johnny Quick. He's probably got a whole heap of powers this one. But he sure does stink to high heaven when he poops. Here, have a hold." Jenni felt a little overwhelmed having this tiny human being placed in her arms. She had no experience of kids except that time Garth and Imra made her babysit the two sets of twins randomly. They were all a lot older than this one. He was really cute, with tiny blonde hair on his head, like his mother and grandmother. "He's gorgeous, Miss Lawrence," she told him. "Oh please, Jenni. Call me Libby," the retired heroine told her, "I have high hopes for this one you know. If he's half the hero his parents are, he'll be a feisty one. They're um…thinking of retiring. Just to look after him. Rick and Jesse both have day jobs, so they can afford it. And the Wayne Foundation is good at looking after unemployed heroes. I told them I could look after him, but at my age I probably couldn't handle playing Mommy for another speedster."

"Well, if they want, I can babysit whenever you or they need."

"Well, Jesse would love that. She was scared enough as it was bringing a metahuman baby to full term, she can lose her temper a lot with him. She could do with someone with…less of a temper."

"Of course."

A black-haired and brown-haired respectively boy and girl walked into the funeral home then. They were fairly non-descript to the rest of them. Why would anyone recognise them? The duo were the most ordinary looking people ever. It was Courtney Whitmore who recognised the both of them first. "Mary?" she was a little shocked to see the girl, "Billy?" She ran into both of their arms for a massive hug. "I'm so glad you came," she told them, "It's going to mean a heck of a lot to Jay, what with how…distant you two have been." "Well, Billy and Mary Marvel are back in action, I can tell you that," Billy smiled, "It's good to see you, Courtney." "And you," she smiled back flirtatiously, "Same as ever. Although, are you taller?"

"Well, it has been over a year."

"Yeah, and he combed his hair knowing you'd be here," Mary laughed. "How'd you both get your powers back?" Courtney inquired. "It's a long story," Billy replied. "Involving Freddy?" Stargirl raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, involving Freddy," Billy said, not being able to resist a chance to get a jibe in at his sister's expense, "Who Mary is now madly in love with as I'd like to tell you, since she insists on embarrassing me in front of Stargirl." Mary struck her brother with an elbow in the arm. "Shall we get some tea and sandwiches?" Billy asked, and Courtney smiled, saying, "I'd be delighted, Mr Batson, to have sandwiches with you and your sister." As they strolled off, time continued to while away and Zauriel began praying to his Father in the corner. "Why," he spoke into the Void, "Why will you not give me a sign?" "Because your Father will not interfere in fate, Zauriel," a voice said behind him. The voice of Pandora.

"Pandora…after all these years. Why have you revealed yourself to me?"

"I revealed myself to Wally West before his death and so shall I yours, Zauriel, faithful servant of your Father."

"Where is the Presence? Why does he not intervene? Where are my orders?"

"You have none. He has relinquished you from his service. He wants you to do as your heart desires. You were bound to Earth as one of his angels and now you must defend this planet against the threat of extinction. I only come to tell you this because I have seen every timeline. I have consulted them all in these past few months. And the only way to defeat Eobard Thawne and not destroy this world…will require that some lay down their lives in the service of humanity. Your allegiances have changed, Zauriel. They changed when you fell from Heaven. Now do your Father proud and contribute what you can to destroying his false prophet."

"Surely I should bury Joan Garrick first?"

"You will not be able to—"

Zauriel was suddenly turned around by a commotion he could hear inside. While his head had turned, Pandora disappeared. Black Lightning had arrived out of costume with Virgil Hawkins and M'Gann Morzz to pay respects. Jay Garrick quickly moved aggressively towards him. "Jay, my condolences," Jeff extended his hand warmly only for Jay to customarily ignore it. "She had a stroke while I was on a mission for you," the Golden Age Flash spoke with derision, "Another mission that was a dud. Another mission that went nowhere, because without Rodor or Oracle we're sitting ducks, Jeff. We can't do anything. She could barely speak to me again after that. Just babblings about Bart. She didn't even know who I was when I said 'I love you' to her for the last time. And I'd forgive you for that…if it weren't for the fact that we have even less hope now than when we started."

"Jay, this isn't the time or the place…"

"Oh, I think it is. See I'm resigning from your little resistance when this is over. Might try my luck with Batman who knows what he's doing."

"Batman and I are working together."

"Yes, and he's done more than work with bogus intel, Jeff."

"Yeah well, Michael and Sasha have been leaking info from Checkmate that's just as useless. We're weakening Thawne."

"About as much as the Merry Men overthrew King John," Jay scoffed, "Our last best hope is a battle with Thawne if he comes for us. Once my wife is buried, I'm joining Batman's army in Gotham. You should do the same, Jeff, if you want to earn my respect again." Renee Montoya along with Kate and Bette Kane entered to see the old white and the middle-aged black man square each other down with deadly stares. "Every part of the resistance has a purpose, Jay," Black Lightning retorted. "What's ours if your plan isn't working?" the Flash laughed sarcastically, "My wife died in a world of fear with that monster still able to do what he did, because I kept having faith in you despite every wrong turn." Renee then put her hands between the two of them. "Will you both shut up and explain to us what the hell Roy Harper is doing here?" she shouted over the testosterone. "Roy Harper?" they both asked at once.

Outside, when she had left the funeral home earlier, Kendra saw a red-haired man with his back turned crying in front of her. "Roy," she tentatively walked towards him, "Is that you?" "Kendra?" the figure composed himself, "Good of you to follow me out here. Heh." He turned around for her to see his face was very bruised, as if someone had been beating him. But more than that, his physique was far beefier than before. Not to mention his eyes had a glassiness about them that suggested he was not entirely himself. "You um," she stammered, unsure of what to say, "You've been working out?" "In a way," Arsenal sneered, "I hear you've been in Gotham. The rebels kidnapped my daughter and took her there." Roy walked up to Kendra and grabbed her arms. There seemed to be a menace in his eyes at this point, as if he'd hurt his ex-girlfriend if she didn't answer his questions. "Tell me how to get to Lian, Kendra," he begged with desperation. "I," Hawkgirl said before regaining her composure, "No." Trying to pull away, Kendra found her part Thanagarian strength wasn't able to resist Red Arrow's, as if he'd become superhumanly strong. She noticed Kate Kane and Renee Montoya a bit behind him but nodded unnoticeably for them to head inside and ignore Roy.

"Roy, you're hurting me."

"Where's Lian, Kendra? I need her. The boss needs her. She's everything to me. More importantly, where's Donna? I need her. I need them all."

"Roy, you're working with the enemy."

"Don't be stupid. Eddie's not the enemy."

"Constantine told me he was keeping Lian and Robbie in cells."

"Bedrooms. Nice, comfy bedrooms."

"I think you need help, Roy. A lot of help. Ow! Your arms…Have you been taking something?"

"Venom. It's good shit. Keeps me big and strong when I need to be. I'm in so much pain when I don't use it. So...much...pain."

"Roy…hey, come on. Let me go. It's me, Kendra. You don't want to hurt me."

"But the thing in my head tells me that I need to hurt you. The thing…the worm. The Sivana worm. It's calling me. Telling me that unless you tell me what I want to know, I should hurt you."

"Well, I'm not telling you a thing."

"Very well," he said only for Kendra to slip out of his grip and strike him with her mace. All it did was wind him slightly. "Well, you can't say I didn't try, right?" he stated before tossing her through the doors of the funeral home and right in front of where Jay and Jeff were arguing. "Kendra?" Jay asked out of concern as he helped her up. Roy activated his comms device. "Eddie…send in the special forces," he said with some relish, "All the eggs are collected in the basket." "Good," came Thawne's voice on the other end, "Remember to give yourself a little boost before we begin." Roy then pressed a button on his palm, and Venom rushed through his veins consuming him and increasing his muscle mass, as well as his desire to do violence.

A mist swirled over the funeral home as a man in a purple cloak with a pencil moustache apparated before them. "Felix Faust," Jay greeted his old adversary, "To what do we owe the pleasure?" "Simply respecting your wife by waiting until she is dead before we kill you all," the sorcerer told him, "Now, if you don't mind, I'm here to show you something before that happens." Chanting a spell, Faust summoned a large image of Eddie Thawne sitting at a desk on all ends of the funeral home. "Ah, it's not quite everyone I wanted," he began, "But you will have to do. Hello, Jefferson Pierce. I've been waiting to confront you for a while. I will admit you have been somewhat of a nuisance. But nothing we couldn't handle. You see you brought Aristotle Rodor back to my attention, so I sent one of my best men to kill him and take his tech. David Cain."

"You mother—"

"Shut up, Jefferson. Daddy is talking. So, this is the best the Resistance has to offer. Old men and their inexperienced grandchildren? I was expecting to fight Wonder Woman and Aquaman at this point. I suppose my plans with them have just worked too well. I already have extra-terrestrial retribution handled so I don't really have anyone to face off against after this except Batman and his ragtag band. My, you are all so disappointing. Except Bart Allen, who'd give Harry Houdini a run for his money. Why won't you die, lad? You and your friends at the Teen Titans are so stubborn in your survival. Just give up already. I suppose my special forces will have to expedite your demise."

"Leave the kid alone and talk to me!"

"Jefferson, Jefferson, Jefferson…ever so impatient."

"Why the hell are you smuggling kids?"

"It was for a profit at first. But you kept rescuing them, so I decided to make them an army. In fact, hopefully most of you won't be killed here. Then some of you can join that army. I wouldn't mind a few of you in my new Justice League or Teen Titans. But you're all too far gone for that to work, I think. Sorry about this, but you're going to have to die."

"Kill us, then. We're not surrendering."

"Ever the teacher speaking for their students, Jeff. Fine then. I'm done talking to you all. Even if by some miracle you do survive this and beat my special forces, there's no point anyway. I have an army ready to destroy Gotham. Escape here and you'll just die there. Goodbye, Justice Society. You were all boring heroes anyway."

Faust ended the spell and then immediately cast a vice around Jay Garrick's legs trapping him. Roy Harper burst through the front door with an even more large and hulking brute by his side, General Wade Eiling. And riding Eiling's back was a dark-haired man carrying a rapier. "The JSA will tremble before the might of Vandal Savage," he bellowed. Liberty Belle was making a move to get her infant grandson out of there. "Mom, don't," Jesse reached for her child. "Someone's got to look after him, Jess," Libby pointedly told her, "I'll be fine. Just make sure these young people don't die." Then the stitched-up head of Johnny Thunder appeared behind Liberty Belle as she began to sneak out the door. "Going somewhere?" the Ultra-Humanite asked, tapping her on the shoulder and wrenching her infant grandchild from her. "Give him back, you Nazi swine!" she shouted at him, "Or I'll—" Libby felt an arrow go right through her left knee and she keeled over in pain. Merlyn had fired it from the rafters. The Ultra-Humanite walked away with the boy, but not before Libby broke the arrow and went to warn her able-bodied daughter and son-in-law.

Then, suddenly an illusion of light seemed to engulf the whole place as Dr Light and Circe descended to greet them. "We are the new Task Force X," Circe announced to their prisoners, "And we don't take kindly to metahumans resisting Father Thawne." Billy and Mary had by now snuck behind the gloating Felix Faust as he continued to torture Jay Garrick. "Pray for mercy, old man, from the power that is Faust," the sorcerer chuckled. "Ah, put a sock in it and fry!" Mary told him. "Fry?" the enchanter was perplexed, "What do you—" "SHAZAM!" the two siblings bellowed as they grabbed hold of the sorcerer causing him to be struck by two lightning bolts, at once. Faust collapsed unconscious as his spell faded and Jay was released. By now, Bart and Jenni were fighting Eiling and Roy with the help of Stargirl, Hourman and Jesse Quick while Jade, Obsidian, Black Canary, Hawkgirl and Wildcat were taking on Merlyn, Dr Light and Circe. The battle raged on while they continued to deliver punch after punch, not knowing the Ultra-Humanite had rigged the place to explode.

Zauriel then burst on the scene, his wings flaring and his heavenly sword of flame held aloft. "You trespass on a solemn occasion, servants of Satan! Begone from this sacred place." "A winged harlequin, how delightful," announced a new voice as he descended to face his old enemies on the Justice Society. Mordru. Striking the angel with powerful sorcery, he managed to wind Zauriel, but not enough. The two began engaging in a fight above the funeral home in the skies of Central City. "Where's Grandpa Barry?" Bart asked as he punched Vandal Savage off balance. "I don't know," Jenni answered as she delivered another blow to the immortal warlord, "But I have a feeling it's not good." "Can we not call Batman or someone then?" Bart queried when he was knocked out by a punch to the back from Wade Eiling. "Bart!" Jenni reached for him before she was likewise tripped by Vandal Savage and stabbed non-fatally in the abdomen. "These feisty ones will make good sport for brutes like you, Eiling," the immortal smirked, "Besides, it's the JSA I want."

"Oh, do you?" the Question asked as she roundhouse-kicked the caveman in the face, "Do you really? I've had a bone to pick with you for a while, Vandal. Working for Thawne when he snubbed you. That's rich." "Ah, Miss Montoya," the warlord rubbed the blood from his lip, "The heir to my Mark. How nice to see you again." Savage then regained his composure and withdrew a spear. The Spear of Destiny. "Thawne gave me this back and the promise of the JSA's heads if I aid him in his conquests," he exposited, "It would not be the first time I worked with a lesser being to advance my aims." "Yeah, and it's not the first time you get your ass kicked by one either," the foul mouthed ex-cop told him. Renee dodged each of Savage's attacks, and then Flamebird and Batwoman danced around him, confusing the immortal tyrant, until all three of them collectively knocked him out. "Good team, girls," Renee remarked as they went to help the others take on Eiling and Roy.

Roy Harper didn't even really know who he was attacking. The Venom combined with the mind control just made him think he was beating on useless grunts with Ollie back in Star City. Though he could recognise some voices. One of them in particularly was Dinah Lance's. "Roy! Black Canary shouted through the din, "Snap out of it, Roy! Roy?" Roy halted in his tracks and kneeled before Black Canary, confused at the realisation, the drugs dulling the power of the worm in his ear. "Oh, my poor boy," Dinah wept as she stroked his face, "What has he done to you? You're all big and twisted. Not like the lovely young man I helped Ollie bring up." Dinah then gave Roy a hug, despite the huge muscle mass he now had, and he cried into her shoulder. Wildcat then saw Dinah and Roy were about to be struck with a sword by Circe. Leaping towards the sorceress, Ted Grant took the blade instead, which ripped right through his gut. "Ted, no!" Dinah screamed. Roy was confused and jumped at Circe. "Don't hurt me, you idiot!" the witch shrieked, "We're on the same side."

Dinah was cradling a dying Wildcat. "Don't die, Ted," she sobbed, "I only just got back. Remember all the training we did, eh? All of that. I got to be such a good fighter thanks to you. I love you, Uncle Ted. Please..." "Shh. It's alright, Birdy," he took her hand in his, "Last of the nine lives, I'm afraid. Still, I died doing what I loved. Fighting to make sure some of youse younger than me has a better chance at life. Tell me, did you get back with Ollie?" "Yeah, I did," she nodded through the tears. "You're an idiot," he laughed, hacking up some blood, "But you're my idiot. And if he hurts you again, that Robin Hood knockoff will have my ghost ta' answer to." "He won't. I swear it," she pledged solemnly, "Ted…I…do you remember when I...I got pregnant. This guy who trained with us. The father. What was his name?" "Arthur something, I think," her godfather coughed, "I went looking for him to give him a piece of my mind after. Never did find him." "Well, the little girl," Dinah wept, "My little girl…it's Mia. Ollie's ward. Mia Dearden. She's alive and happy and oh, so brilliant." "That's just super," Wildcat smiled through his agony, "Thas' great, kid." And with that Ted was gone, all the blood in his system no more. Dinah just started crying and all she could do to mourn the last thing she felt she had left of her younger self was scream her Canary Cry. Everyone fighting except Mordru and Zauriel in the sky collapsed to the ground in agony.

Liberty Belle had pursued the Ultra-Humanite from the funeral home to a safehouse he had nearby. From it, he was contacting Noah Kuttler at the DEO, who was controlling various satellites around the world. One of which was primed straight at the funeral home. "Right, there should be enough blast from this for you to deal with them," the Calculator said over the comms, "But not kill all of them. Just a few of the weaker ones like Hourman or Black Canary. The rest will just be stunned. We didn't expect this big a force here." "We did," the Nazi scientist parading around in a hero's body corrected him, "Except Hawkgirl and Black Canary weren't anticipated somehow." "Since her Canary Cry, the comms are down," Kuttler shrugged, "I think she's hurt the rest of them in her grief for Wildcat. Now would be the time to strike." The Ultra-Humanite prepped the computer and arranged the satellite to be targeted straight at the funeral home. "You don't have to do this though," the Calculator reminded him, "We could kill some of our comrades."

"We'll just tell Eddie there was no other way. Besides, we're his reject team. He's hardly going to care about us or what we do here. Laser priming. Goodbye, JSA."

Just before the Ultra-Humanite could fire, Liberty Belle fired several shots from a pistol into the control console and at the Ultra-Humanite and kicked him in the face, grabbing young Johnny Tyler from him as she dropped her gun. "Grandma's not letting any nasty man take you, Johnny," she cooed at the infant, "And she's not letting him kill your Mommy or Daddy neither." Johnny grizzled at his grandmother as she smiled and made their way out of the safehouse. Only she had forgot to pick up her pistol. The Ultra-Humanite fired six rounds into the older woman's lower back, penetrating her spinal cord, but making sure not to strike the baby. Hence why he aimed low. "I'm not going to hurt your grandson, Elizabeth," the fascist told her coolly as he stood up and took the infant from her bleeding form, "No, I'm just going to hand him over to someone who's been looking for a child his age to make him a good soldier. After all, his father is Hourman and his mother's a speedster. He's bound to have some amazing abilities, as you no doubt comprehend yourself. But don't worry, the man we have for breaking in metahumans is an expert with children. David Cain. Ever heard of him?" The infant was crying loudly from the gunshots and the sight of his dying grandmother as she reached out for him, barely able to respond to her killer through the blood filling her lungs.

"Go…to…Hell."

"I've been, Elizabeth. And I much prefer sticking around here. It's so much more chaotic."

By now most had recovered in the funeral home, and Todd Rice could see that Wildcat had fallen. "No!" he screamed leering at Circe. "What do you care about him, mutant?" the goddess mocked him. "He was my friend," Obsidian was full of incandescent rage, shadows brimming all around him, "A friend to all of us. One of my dad's best!" "Your father you loved so much you tried to kill him more than once?" Circe scoffed. "He was a good man!" Todd shouted, his voice turning inhuman, "And I was sick." "You're still sick, Todd," Circe whispered almost seductively, "So sick." She blew some thought pollen in Todd's direction, causing the schizophrenic hero to explode in a burst of power and unleash the mass of dark energy his body was held together by all around him. "No!" Jade shouted as suddenly Merlyn, Wade Eiling, Roy Harper and Dr Light found themselves being mentally tortured by her brother. "Do it, Obsidian!" Circe screamed, "They're evil. Your father would want them to suffer." Yessss," Todd drawled inhumanly, "For...Dad...hurt them for...Dad!" Hahaha!" Circe guffawed in an almost unladylike fashion at the torture. Jade then held her brother's hand tightly. "Todd, please," she reassured him, "Calm down. For me. Your sister. Dad wouldn't want this." He wouldn't seem to abate or even listen to her. "Very well," Jade wiped a single tear from her eye. Tearfully, Jennie struck her brother in the abdomen with all her share of the Starheart, knocking them both out and ending his rampage. "Circe 1," the witch chuckled, "Upstart children of the Green Lantern, nil."

Dr Light was by now babbling to himself when Kendra Saunders knocked him out with her mace. Mr Terrific and Sasha Bordeaux managed to outsmart Merlyn with some of Michael's T-spheres and quick-thinking. And Eiling was dragged down by Jay Garrick who just kept punching him at superspeed with the help of the Question, Batwoman and Flamebird. Billy and Mary Marvel moved with Black Canary to meet Circe in open combat. "You really think you can stop me?" the sorceress smiled derisively, "Any of you? You're all pathetic." Dinah let loose a massive Canary Cry as Billy and Mary punched her. Circe still stood, though she was slightly stunned. "Good effort," she praised them sarcastically. "You killed Ted Grant," Black Canary shouted, kicking her in the face, "He was a good man. He didn't deserve to die that way. None of them did." With enough punches, Dinah had Circe on the ground. Seeing they were beaten Circe simply uttered a spell and she and all her comrades bar Mordru vanished from the funeral home.

In the sky, the powerful sorcerer was still meting pain upon the angel with the flaming sword. Zauriel had never felt such power from a mortal. Then again, Mordru was no mortal. "I am a Lord of Chaos," he informed his curious opponent, "Your power is no match for mine, angel. I will send you to the realm of Lucifer so that his demons can gnaw at your innards." Mordru managed to punch Zauriel hard enough for the angel to fall back, and the Lord of Chaos just started laughing maniacally. Zauriel used this moment to shove his sword through Mordru's stomach. "Immortal or mortal, you villains are all talkative egomaniacs!" the angel derided him, "I send you to the abyss, Mordru. Will take you a while to get out of there." Calling on his power through the sword, Zauriel exhausted all his might to transport Mordru to Hell. "Won't be seeing him for a while," he muttered as he slowly descended to rejoin his comrades.

The Ultra-Humanite began programming a second strike on the rebuilt computer console, Liberty Belle's corpse lying behind him while he held the infant Johnny Tyler. "Make it a full blast, Kuttler. Circe just radioed to say they've retreated. They all need to die if they're that strong." "Are you sure?" Kuttler asked uncertainly "Absolutely certain," the fascist coldly informed his reluctant comrade. The Ultra-Humanite then slammed Johnny Thunder's fist onto a big red button and the satellite positioned directly above the funeral home fired directly towards it. The heroes below saw it happening and huddled in fear only for Zauriel to intercept it with his divine shield. "Billy, Mary!" he shouted down to the Marvel siblings, "Think of home and use your magic words. It will get you all safely from here. But you have to do it when this has killed me."

"It can't kill you," Billy shouted, "You're an angel." "One weakened in combat against a Lord of Chaos," their rescuer reminded them, "It's okay. Just remember me. And wait until I'm gone to say the words. With any luck the blast should destroy the satellite. I can only sense the one that is armed with the Calculator's laser. If it goes, then he won't have anymore yet. Get back to Earth as soon as possible. Make sure Batman knows to move quickly against Thawne, or he'll build another one." "Okay," Mary said holding her brother's hand. The rest of them managed to gather the unconscious heroes and they all held their hands in a circle as Zauriel continued to absorb the blast. "Father, forgive me," he uttered as the laser finally tore through his angelic form, turning him into dust and causing his power to spread all over the funeral home. Billy and Mary saw this and quickly shouted, "SHAZAM!"

They were home. A barren rock with seven statues representing the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man. The Rock of Eternity. The heroes who had made it through could scarcely believe what had happened. "Billy, you never cease to amaze," Jesse Quick said as Jay Garrick saw Joan in her coffin was with them. "But how?" Jay asked. "I took her here," a deep, but young voice said reverberating throughout the chamber, "So that you can still bury your wife with dignity, Jay Garrick." "Who are you?" he asked, as a familiar face descended before them. Freddy Freeman. Captain Marvel himself. "I am sorry I could not save you," the young man apologised, "Lord Zeus has asked that I not interfere in the battle with Eobard Thawne, and still debates it with his family. Until then, I can only provide my friends sanctuary here on the Rock. My domain. I, the Wizard at the End of Days."