Green Lantern headed for the Watchtower while Cyborg tried creating a connection with the tower.
Wonder Woman and Shazam headed for LexCorp as the speedsters ran around the city and beyond, helping to rescue those who had fallen victim to an accident because of Lex's mind broadcast.
Hawk Man and Hawk Woman did the same to help.
As Green Lantern was about leaving earth, when he noticed beams of light headed directly to earth. He ignored it for the moment and tried getting into the Watchtower but its defensive functions had been activated and he couldn't make way to get inside of it.
"Green Lantern, you might want to come back to the city." A whispered through his coms.
"Not now Cyborg, I'm in the middle of something." he replied as he continued his attempt to tear down the defensive force field protecting the Watchtower.
"Some strange people just appeared in different regions of the city. They are definitely not from around here, probably from Apokalips. And the way they look makes me think they are definitely invaders, not friendlies." Cyborg pressed on.
"Okay, I am on my way." He said. He put what he was currently doing at that time on hold as he flew back down to earth.
"What is going on?" Aquaman's voice reverberated through Wonder Woman's coms as he had just arrived at the heart of the city, only to see it was in utter chaos. She had called for him the moment things started looking weird, especially since they lost all connection with Batman and the Watchtower was reported by Green Lantern to be closed off from the inside.
"I was headed for LexCorp in search of Luthor when strange lights descended from the sky, now Cyborg has reported that five soldiers from Apokalips had stepped out of each of them. And an army of Parademons followed right behind them." She replied with her hand on her coms as she tore through the wind, headed for the one nearest to her.
"Still going after Luthor?" He asked.
"No, there's been a change of plans. I'm headed for one of the people leading this invasion, I suggest you do the same." She replied.
"Okay." He answered as they both headed towards the location by which the portals had opened.
…
[Lex Luthor's POV]
"This isn't how it was supposed to turn out!!!" He exclaimed as panic slowly sipped into his very being, but he tried maintaining his usual composure even at the face of such horror.
Standing atop his company's rooftop in wait of his chopper, vivid goosebumps emerged on his forearm's surface as shivers ran down his spine.
The scenery which unfolded before his very eyes, seemed to be a sight from the underworld.
Scary but humanoid looking beings resembling creatures of the night, raided the city like monsters invading from the depths of hell itself. They instinctively attacked every human who caught their sight, either going for the kill or abducting them.
The evening sky went dark as wings emerged from their backs of the Parademons, blocking the setting sun as the majority took to the skies.
"Sir, it would be impossible to escape on the chopper since they are also airborne. Waiting here any longer would put your life at risk, we should make use of the tunnels instead." Mercy said, pulling Lex by the arm as she led him into the building.
The lights in the elevator continuously flickered as they headed down to an underground tunnel beneath LexCorp.
"I need to fix this mess or else humanity as we know it, would be wiped out." Lex said to Mercy as they exited the elevator and stepped into Lex's office.
"If earth gets destroyed, it will defeat the whole purpose of this operation." They used the hidden elevator in his office to go to the lower levels which linked to some old underground subway system where he had created a personal network under there.
It was one of the major ways he often escaped capture from the League each time his plan failed and was backed against a wall.
Although he ensured to do it as discreetly as he could, so he wouldn't be followed or tracked down by anyone. If it turned out that he didn't see an opening for an escape, he'd let himself get captured because he could always get out of jail.
Now he hoped the League and other heroes would be able to fend off the invaders and prove their title as the Protectors of Earth, to be true.
…
[Tom Hendricks POV]
Everyone at my place was wearing their psychic nullifier earpiece, even Selina had one which I suspect she must have bought from the black market on hearing about Lex's plans for the season. Although she had it well hidden with her head warmer, still I was able to take note of it.
I definitely didn't mention anything to her that night we hooked up at the party. I admit her blow job was indeed mind blowing, but I doubt I'd spill info without retaining knowledge of it. Either that or she must be well connected to have gotten wind of it.
We were all seated in the living room as we watched the live news broadcast of the invasion. It covered the appearance of the five beams of lights before their helicopter got taken down by an attack from one of the assumed commanders who walked through the portal.
The other helicopters from different news channels and a few police copters got taken down by the parademons who were spreading out of the city and into neighboring ones.
The attacks cut the connection of the live broadcast from those who were present at the scene and turned into an announcement for an emergency evacuation warning. It was for everyone to evacuate Metropolis immediately.
While those in neighboring cities were to evacuate as soon as they could.
"That nigga Lex finally done it, didn't he!!" I exclaimed as a part of me deep within, experienced a perverted feeling of excitement.
In fact, the main reason I went over to his office to threaten him was because in order for him to stand above people like me who are glitches to the verse system and possessed extraordinary abilities, he would ensure that he goes through with his plans especially considering how I treated him like a bully giving a scared little boy a wedgie.
I couldn't have him chickening out on me so I intentionally spited his ego. I'm glad his arrogance pushed him to go forward with a plan he knew had a possibility of ending all life on earth.
But it was an all or nothing gamble with him, at least now I get the chance to experience a euphoric dose of thrill. In my previous life, fighting against the an evil army would have sounded extremely absurd.
Besides, I wouldn't be interested in such a thing. But here I was, just itching to go out there but I needed the League to exhaust themselves from battle first before making my entrance and stealing the fight. I wouldn't want to repeat what happened between Green Lantern and I when I fought against Sinestro as a third party.
I hoped I got a chance to experience a rhapsodic fight against their top bosses, I wouldn't mind testing the heights and limits of my abilities against Darkseid.
"So what now T?" Jason asked me, using the nickname he had given to me the night we seemed to have bonded as bros.
Leo turned to me in wait for my response, I simply glanced at the TV and spotted the report of heavy traffic in different towns, everyone was trying to evacuate. They've seen footage of the parademons either killing or abducting people, and they weren't willing to experience it for themselves.
Selina sat in the living room with us as everyone waited for me to make a call to either evacuate Gotham or stay.
"For now we sit back and do nothing." I said and Jason locked at me with a confused look. "It'll be contained at Metropolis since it's the origin city, they would probably want to finish up with the whole city before moving across to another.
I took out my phone and texted Jason. [If you wish to uphold your duty as one of the protectors of this city and to answer the vigilante's call, then feel free to make an excuse and get out there]
His phone's screen lit up as he received my text. Upon seeing it, a smirk crept along his lips as he calmly got up from the couch and left the living room, headed for the garage where he had his Red Hood costume and gear hidden.
"I'll be right back." I excused myself as I winked at Leo, before using my head to subtly gesture to Selina who was watching the news. Indicating he should occupy her while I head inside to attend to something.
He gave me a subtle chin raise in response, indicating he got me covered.
"So why aren't you spending the festive season with your actual friends anyway?" Leo said to Selina as he diverted her attention over to him.
I got to the garage just in time, Jason was about to head out on his bike through the garage's door, and with a bag containing his costume over his shoulder.
"Hold on Jase." I said as I telekineticly halted his bike from leaving that spot.
"What gives, T? I was about heading out." He replied.
"You won't be needing to carry your costume or go through the stress of changing into and out of it anymore." I said as I walked to my desk at a small workshop I used in the garage.
"What do you mean?" He asked as he watched me pull out a previously locked drawer from the desk.
"Here, put this on." I said as i tossed him an all black smart wristwatch.
"What is this?" He asked, taking close observation of the watch.
"Just put in on already, you aren't going to find out what it does by looking at it all day." I replied.
With a sigh, he wore the wristwatch. "Now what?" He queried.
"Tap on it, dumb ass." I said as I grabbed his arm and tapped on the screen which lit up. I clicked on the Red Hood's icon among other apps as the watch started to dissolve on his arm.
"What is happening?" He asked as he watched nanites creep all over his body. His Red Hood helmet took form and his cloths changed into his vigilante's gear. The only thing he would have to carry around are his hunter knife and his twin pistols.
"Wow!" He exclaimed.
"Just think intently on a thought of wanting to revert back to normal and your cloths will go back to normal." I instructed.
"Hello Red Hood." Gwen's voice reverberated from the built in coms. "You gave me access to Gwen too!" He exclaimed.
"Yup, now you have coms which is linked directly to Leo and I." I said to him. The network was one I ensured was impossible to tap into from an external network.
"Now get going."
"Thanks T." He replied as his costume reverted back to his normal clothes, and with his watch seated around his wrist. Jason headed out on his bike, with his twin pistols and knife safely tucked beside him.
Superman stood at the entrance to the control room as he continued to stand guard to the device, adhering to Lex Luthor's command.
Lex had fucked with his head so badly that his influence over Superman's mind wasn't broken even though he had lost his psychic ability.
Superman clinged onto the series of instructions Lex had given to him as he continued to obey them like Luthor's little bitch.
He heard heavy footsteps approaching him from the corner. Upon turning his head for the source of the strange sound, he saw Batman closing in on him, dressed in a Mech Batsuit.
"Nice armor, Bruce." Superman said as he relaxed his shoulders, ready for whatever tricks Batman had up his mecha sleeve. "But do you really think some fancy suit would help you beat me?" He taunted.
"No, but I am hoping this might." Batman responded, hurling three Batarangs at Superman. Superman stood firm as he caught all three of them with his super fast reflexes. "Really? This was your great pla…"
Batarangs had exploded and engulfed the air around him with kryptonite gas. He was suddenly cut off from his speech, struggling to breathe in the kryptonite mist.
He coughed and dropped to his knees, reaching for his throat as he struggled to breath while choking on the gas.
"Breath it in. Do you know what that emotion you're probably experiencing right now is called? Batman asked as he took slow steps around the choking Man of Steel.
"That's fear." He continued. "It's a shame you fell susceptible to Lex Luthor's influence." He added as Superman suddenly got on his feet and threw blows as Batman.
Blows Batman easily evaded and blocked. "Don't worry I'll beat it out of you." He added as Superman watched in wonderment at how Batman was easily able to block his blows, even though he had been weakened by the kryptonite gas it still should have had an effect.
Superman threw more swings but Batman evaded them, held both of his arms and gave him a solid headbutt with his titanium cowl. He threw blows after blows at Superman who was forced back with every hit.
Superman tried punching Batman but it was blocked and he got a fist in his face instead. Batman threw a kick directly at the center of Superman's chest, sending him flying through the air and crashing through a wall.
Batman pounced on him, continuously kicking him around. Each kick lifted him off the ground and sent him through a short distance. Superman got to his feet but Batman wasn't letting him get any breathing space, he continued trying to disfigure his face with a barrage of punches.
Grabbing Superman by the neck, Batman smashed his head against the wall right next to them, gave Superman a headbutt with his titanium cowl, before throwing a heavy blow across his face as it sent him to the ground.
He looked down at Superman like a man who had literally brought a god down to the level of a mere mortal, while Superman slowly got on his knee as he came to the realization that the effect of the kryptonite gas in his system was slowly wearing off.
Just as Batman was about kicking the fallen Superman, his leg got caught and he was hurled through a wall instead.
Batman grunted in pain as he bounced on the ground and crashed into another wall. He groaned as he rolled over, struggling to get back on his feet.
They both got on their feets, locking eyes with one another as they stared at each other through the hole in the wall. Suddenly, they dashed at each other, Superman burst through the opening in the wall and they grabbed each other by the shoulder in an attempt to overpower the other.
Batman slammed Superman against the nearest wall, pinning Superman on it as he threw one blow after the other directly at Superman's face.
His metal fist kept hitting the Kryptonian until the sound of a metal clang could he heared and Superman stood without flinching or batting an eye, as if he was made of literal steel.
Batman paused, realizing what that meant as he took slow steps back. Superman looked down at him like some insect, a silver bat bug, he rose above the ground and drove Batman through the floors and onto the lower levels.
Although Superman was still weak, he grabbed Batman and aggressively hurled him through a section of the tower and into the huge restroom, causing continuous damage to the internal structures of the tower in the process.
Batman groaned in pain as he struggled on the floor, while Superman tried summoning what little strength he had acquired as he slowly rose to his feet again.
He heard the sound of a cocked gun and looked over to the direction it came from, only to see Batman who held a grenade launched in his hands.
Superman let out a battle cry as he charged at him, leaping into the air with a readied fist, willing to smash Batman with all his might when he got shot with another dose of kryptonite gas.
He choked mid air as fell to the ground, crumbling as he crashed into another wall. While Batman bounced off the ground, his titanium cowl had been damaged on the left side. Superman seemed to have landed his loaded punch as he fell to the ground, leaving Batman groaning in pain as small electrical sparks twinkled from the damaged region of his cowl.
Batman turned to see Superman choking on the gas, desperately trying to grasp whatever ounce of air he could get into his lungs.
He stumbled on his feet, walked over to a sink in the restroom and ripped it off the wall. He took slow but measured steps at the struggling Superman who was clutching onto his chest, facing downwards.
With determination and anger in his eyes, he smashed the back of Superman's head with the ceramic sink. The hit knocked Superman to the floor, flat on his belly as he groaned in pain from the hit and from difficulty in breathing
Batman grabbed him by his spandex as he pulled him to his knees, then grabbed his hair to stand him up. He held onto his neck and arm and he carried Superman on his shoulder.
He slowly walked with Superman on his shoulder, a few floors above the hanger in the tower, he threw him down the tower and Superman fell on a jet in the hanger, which resulted in an explosion.
Batman shot his grapple gun upwards and the hook found its way to a sturdy hold, then Batman descended through the smokes and upon the hanger.
He retracted the hook then tied it around one of Superman's legs and dragged the Man of Steel as he slowly pulled Superman behind him, into an open space.
"I bet your parents taught you, that you mean something…That you were here for a reason." He said as he kept on dragging Superman behind him.
"My parents taught me a different lesson, dying in the gutter, for no reason at all." He finally stop pulling Superman and turned to face him as he continued. "But here you are, letting yourself fall victim to Lex Luthor's mind control. It's either I beat you back to your senses, or kill you while trying."
He pulled on the grapple gun and swung Superman in the air, smashing him against every tech and vehicle in the hangar.
The sound and shockwaves from the explosions reverberated through the tower as the hook finally let go of his leg.
Superman fell to the floor, groaning in pain while Batman tossed aside the gun. "They taught me that this world only made sense if you forced it to. So it's either you take control of your senses and gain back your mental will or I end you in respect to the symbol of peace you once represented."
He walked over to a hidden locker in the hanger and pulled out a spear with its sharp end made of kryptonite, as he continued his speech. "In memory of the hero who stood up for what was right, in memory of my team member and colleague, my friend."
Batman extended the spear closer to Superman's face, the kryptonite spearhead shun really bright as he made a cut on the side of his face. He watched as the blood spilled down his face, proof of his mortality.
"Look at you." He said as Superman continued to groan in pain due to the long exposure to the kryptonite right up at his face.
"You are not a God, you're not even a man. As of now, you are nothing more than Lex Luthor's puppet and you have doomed our world with your own two hands.
He lifted up the spear into the air and was about striking him when he heard a cry from behind him.
"Noooooo!!!" He halted, turning his back to see Martian Manhunter approaching them as he held on to the walls for support. It seemed he hadn't fully recovered from the excessive dose of sedatives Superman pumped him with.
"Let me see if there is anything I can do to free him from Luthor's clutches." He said, struggling to get his steps in order and walk in a more stable manner.
"There is nothing you can do, he is too far gone. This is the only way there is to it." Batman said as he lifted the kryptonite spear into the air and thrusted it into Superman.
"Bruce nooo…!!!" Martian Manhunter yelled as he watched the blood creep across the floor.
Want more chapters? Kindly visit my to read ahead./Maverick_DaSupreme