Welcome back to Elemental Crisis Book III. Last time, the remains of the League and Superfriends regrouped after the assault on the D.E.O. The group tried to use the D.E.O.'s main computer to locate their captured colleagues, but Lena Luthor spotted a bit of code that General Luthor placed there, which shorted it out. Devising a backup plan to use the Tower's computer backed up by the Waverider's system to finish the search, they prepared for action. Now thst they're sorted, how are the villains doing? Read on to discover...
(Our scene opens in darkness again, but slowly fades in as somebody can be heard saying something)
?: J'onn? J'onn!
(At this moment, the scene comes into clarity, and it's not pretty. Spyro, Cynder, Flash, Batwoman, Supergirl, Superman, and Martian Manhunter are chained to some kind of posts, unable to break free, and overlooking them are Myriad, General Luthor, and Malefic J'onnz.)
Martian Manhunter: Wha... what happened?
Superman: Our darkest hour, evidently.
Myriad: You would be correct on that front, Kal-El.
Supergirl: If you think you're going to get away with this...
Myriad: Save your breath, Kara Zor-El. We've already won.
Flash: What do you plan to do with us?
Myriad: I've already alerted Lord Malefor to our victory over you, and he'll be here to claim the Elements you took from him quickly.
Spyro: Then why bring us here? Cynder and I have nothing Malefor would want?
Myriad: On the contrary. You do. The psychological satisfaction of seeing you break when your friends die.
Cynder: (Trying to break her bonds) You'll never succeed. The others will find us.
General Luthor: Not if I have anything to say about it. My code should be taking effect right about now.
Myriad: Now then, if there are no further objections, it's about time I begin extracting your Elements. (To General Luthor) Fire up the system.
General Luthor: Gladly.
(With that, General Luthor hits a few buttons on Myriad's computer system, while secretly slipping the device he gathered from the D.E.O. computer underneath it. And when the final bit of code is entered, Myriad's Indigo symbol starts to glow as an unseen mechanism activates, spawning Dark Gems from the floor beneath Flash, Batwoman, Supergirl, Superman, and Martian Manhunter before blue light starts to flow through the Gems and up into the superheroes, causing them intense amounts of physical pain as the Elements are literally being ripped out of them)
Myriad: It's only a matter of time now.
General Luthor: Indeed it is...
(At this point, General Luthor activates his device, causing the blue light to turn red, even on Myriad's suit, leaving her completely stunned as the pain starts to afflict her too)
Myriad: What is this?!
Malefic J'onzz: Luthor, what are you doing?!
General Luthor: Did you really think I was going to let all this power go into the hands of that chump Malefor? He already failed to use it once, I say it's about time somebody capable took up this power.
Myriad: Malefic, stop him!
(Malefic J'onzz tries to step in and stop General Luthor, but he activates a flamethrower on his Warsuit, surrounding the Martian in a circle of fire)
General Luthor: Now that we've got all the distractions out of the way, I'll resume.
Myriad: This is treason, Luthor!
Superman: (Not stunned by this at all) This is Lex Luthor you're dealing with, he's only loyal to himself, no matter what universe he's from evidently.
General Luthor: Oh Clark, just as near-sighted as you were on my world.
Supergirl: Have you no shame?!
General Luthor: No, not really. Though I do have a single regret. That I didn't get all eight of your Elements. But, taking the five you have should be enough to sustain my search for the other three.
Spyro: I guess there truly is no honor among thieves.
General Luthor: Don't try to moralize me, grape boy. Now then, I'll take the power that is rightfully mine.
(With that, General Luthor hooks his Warsuit up to the computer, allowing him to take the power surge going through Myriad's systems and absorb it.)
General Luthor: Once your Elements are extracted, they'll be put into my Warsuit, and with them, that fool Malefor doesn't stand a chance!
Myriad: You are playing with fire, Luthor. When Lord Malefor learns of your treachery, you'll meet the same fate as Joker!
General Luthor: Good thing I don't plan on losing.
(And as General Luthor's true plan becomes plain, our tale ends for today)
And that looks like a good spot to end for now. So, at last, General Luthor goes for his endgame. And big surprise, he's betraying his own allies for his benefit. I guess some things are consistent across the multiverse, both light and dark. Luthor's only looking out for himself wherever he goes. But will he be successful? Or will the other heroes arrive in time to stop him? Tune in next time to start finding out! Same time... same channel!