This is Part III of the Veterans Day Special. Last time, the seventh year of the Injustice Wars began, as Blaze addressed the Legion, Republic, Insurgency, Regime, and Black Diamond, stating the time has come to strike back against Brainiac. Black Adam and Hawkgirl are immediately going to Kahndaq to transmit the living lightning using Hawkgirl's mace so they can break through Brainiac's force field, with Blue Beetle and Firestorm providing material akin to Aquaman's Trident as a backup. But just as things apparently were about to ship out, Kent Nelson returned, prepared to finish this off, and surprisingly, so did John Constantine, having been convinced to see Brainiac finished off by his daughter, Rose. With everybody now in place, Blaze declares the teams will move out at dawn. But right now, we're not picking up with them. There's other people we need to catch up with. What do I mean? Read on to discover...

(Our scene opens up in, of all places, Brainiac's Skull Ship, where the Coluan sits pondering his next move while reviewing the fact that Grodd is dead)

Brainiac: An interesting wrinkle has been thrown into my equations. But it does not matter. Grodd was just a pawn in this game.

(As Brainiac continues to monitor the situation, a dark shadow manifests in the middle of the room, revealing Darkblood, Enchantress, and Doctor Fate have decided to enter the Skull Ship)

Darkblood: A pawn maybe, but he was the last pawn you had, Brainiac.

Brainiac: (A little startled by their sudden appearance) How did you bypass my force shield?

Darkblood: The power of Aether is something even a 12th Level Intellect cannot comprehend in full.

Brainiac: Perhaps not presently. But with the subjects in my custody, that will not be the case forever.

Darkblood: Yes, we know you've managed to capture Spyro and Cynder, as well as Superman.

Brainiac: This conversation can serve no purpose by being delayed by theatrics. State your purpose for being here or be eliminated.

Doctor Fate: You dare to threaten the Master?!

Darkblood: (Holding up a paw) Hold, Fate. (To Brainiac) Straight to business, I like that. I have a proposition to present to you, Brainiac.

Brainiac: I highly doubt there is anything you can offer me.

Darkblood: Perhaps there is. You sent Grodd to Kahndaq to gather intel on a magic source. Because you still don't get it.

Brainiac: Nothing eludes my understanding.

Darkblood: The ego is unbecoming, Brainiac.

Enchantress: We all know. You're among potential friends, vulnerability is allowed.

Brainiac: Get to your point.

Darkblood: I'll put this simply then. I will offer you an understanding of magic, through my wife here, and of the Elements through me. And as well, provide you with a little extra security since your entire faction has either defected or died.

Brainiac: (Thinks it over in a nanosecond) Your offer intrigues me, dragon. And what would I need to give you in return?

Darkblood: Since I will give you the understanding of Aether along with the other Elements, you'll have no need for Spyro and Cynder. In exchange for all I'm giving you, I simply request you turn the two of them over to me.

Brainiac: You only require the dragons?

Darkblood: Exactly. I'll leave Superman with you, knowing your seeming fetish for collecting Kryptonians.

Brainiac: It is not a fetish, it's a requirement to complete my knowledge.

Darkblood: Terminology aside, do you agree?

Brainiac: How do I know you won't betray me once you have what you seek?

Darkblood: Do I look like Grodd? Unlike that simian, I honor my deals and allies, so long as they don't betray me.

Brainiac: That doesn't answer my question.

Darkblood: Honestly, fair. So, allow me to rephrase. You can trust me to not turn on you, so long as I can trust you to do the same.

Brainiac: You have not shown yourself worthy of that level of trust.

Darkblood: Then allow me to give you a free trial. (To Doctor Fate) Fate.

Doctor Fate: Yes, my lord?

Darkblood: I am leaving you on a security detail aboard this ship. Show the Coluan that we can be trusted.

Doctor Fate: Of course, Master.

Brainiac: You would just leave your mage aboard my ship?

Darkblood: To prove we can work together. So what do you say? Can we work together?

(Brainiac mulls over the details he's been given, sorts through the probabilities of what could happen if he goes through with it versus refuses the deal, and the likelihood of Darkblood betraying him. And much to the Coluan's surprise, the odds are ever so slightly in favor of the deal. Resuming his usual state, Brainiac returns to the conversation)

Brainiac: I have run the probabilities. And by a slim margin, the odds come out in your favor. I will accept your terms.

Darkblood: Slim margins, one of my favorite types of margin. Very well then. Shall we shake on it?

(With that, Darkblood extends a claw burning with Dark Aether. Hesitantly, but sure in his odds, Brainiac clasps Darkblood's claw in his hand as the Dark Aether surges up his hand, allowing a shaking of hands to seal this deal with the devil)

Darkblood: A pleasure doing business with you.

(And as Darkblood starts to laugh maniacally, our tale ends for today)

This concludes Part III of the Veterans Day Special. For the Finale, join me in Ashes of Midnight. So, this is not exactly good news. Brainiac and Darkblood have an agreement, or at least an understanding, to work together now. Knowing this deal is built on slim probabilities, I want to know from you, how quickly do you expect this to go south? Who will betray who first? Let me know, I'm genuinely curious. But anyways, next time, we pick up with our other factions, as they ready themselves to strike. So be sure to tune in for that! Same time... same channel!