Chapter 18: Strategy is Key
High beyond the clouds, Superman stretches his arms out as he closed his eyes and took in the sun. He can feel himself regaining his strength. It took more than a while for him to regain his strength due to the red sun solar grenade thrown by Batman. Once fully recovered, he flies downward and meets up with Diana and Adam in a forest deep and thick so that no one can trace their signals. At least not yet.
"How are you feeling?" Diana asked.
"Much better. The sun feels exactly the same as the one back home. This is Earth. But not our Earth. Nor is the one that we intended to go to." Superman replied.
"Our only assumption is we are in a world where there is no Regime or Justice League. And I don't believe that we actually exist in this world." Adam assumed.
"That would explain why those soldiers had no idea who we were, even with the lasso of truth. Nobody can resist it, nor can anyone break it." Diana stated, remembering her interrogating Alex and Cassie.
"That does make sense. And with Bruce, Kara and the others here, they'll be onto us without a doubt. Making new alliances. But we will still have the advantage." Superman said.
"What should we do, Kal-El?" Wonder Woman asked.
Kal-El thinks for a moment. He too wonders what they should do in a world they know nothing about. A world with no superheroes. But whatever they plan on doing, this will attract Batman and his allies.
"Start anew." Superman answered. "Whatever this is, we will let the entire world know who we are. We will draw Bruce out. Find Damian and the others and form up."
"But Kal. They could have more allies. Those two soldiers. They have superpowers. There could be more like them." Diana said to Superman.
"Let them come. Once we capture them, we'll force them to find Mister Terrific's dimension technology. Once we do that, we can resume our plans. It's risky, but there's no point in searching for them ourselves. It's the only idea we got. Let us start at the White House." Superman said. He and Black Adam take off. Adam smirks, liking the idea while Diana feels reluctant to agree with the plan. She feels off about something. But what? And why?
In Washington D.C, President Flagg is too busy answering phone calls about any possible crisis going on in the United States. That was until, one of the soldiers barged in on his doors.
"Sir! Mr. President, sir! We got trouble. Three contacts airborne!" The soldier said while saluting him.
"What kind?" Flagg asked.
"I'm not sure, sir. We've never seen anything like it. Satellite footage has picked up an image." The Soldier shows Flagg pictures of Superman, Wonder Woman and Black Adam.
"What the hell? Who the hell are these people?" Flagg asked.
"I don't know. But according to their last known trajectory, they're coming here. To the White House. And they're coming fast." The Soldier reported.
"Go to Code Red!" Flagg ordered.
The White House goes into immediate lockdown. All the doors and windows are sealed shut with the strongest metal they have. And all the soldiers, inside and outside, stand to fight these three mysterious beings. All of them were locked and loaded with guns and tanks and missiles. They, including President Flagg, who is watching from the drones high into the sky, keep a sharp eye out on the three invaders.
Flagg watches from the cameras attached to the drones, but then one by one, they all go blank. Flagg tries to switch them on and off to get them to respond, but to no avail. Outside, each and every drone loaded with weapons of their own all crash into the ground around the perimeter, and in pieces and on fire.
In the sky, Superman uses his heat vision and destroys many more as Diana blocks bullets with her gauntlets and punches and kicks her way through them while Adam shocks and blows up dozens of them at once. The three descend slowly and confront the soldiers, who are not intimidated one bit.
"Fellow soldiers. I am here to speak to your president. I don't want to hurt you. But if you are going to stand in our way, then I promise you that you will underestimate us." Superman tells them.
"Please. Lower your weapons and stand aside." Diana pleads. But of course, they don't listen. Instead they cock their weapons.
"Open fire!" One of the commanders shouted.
The many soldiers fire upon the three. Diana blocks with her shield whale deflecting some with her sword. Black Adam takes to the skies. He fires a bolt of lightning at one tank, blowing one up entirely. He rips off the top part of the second tank and swings it at the third tank, swatting it away like a fly. Wonder Woman blocks the bullets with her shield as she flies up and slices the machine gun off of a few helicopters and throws each of them out with her lasso. She then slices off one of the back propellers, causing it to crash down before throwing another one down. She and Black Adam ram into several soldiers each and swiftly defeat them hand to hand. Diana swings her shield like a discus and knocks it into every head, knocking them out cold while Black Adam electrocutes the others.
Superman remains on the ground as he simply walks through many other soldiers, bullets bouncing off of him like they're nothing. He doesn't feel a thing, not even with a bullet to the eye. It dented like a soda can. He uses his super breath and blows everyone away, quickly incapacitating them. He hears a few armored SUVs coming toward him from behind. He uses his heat vision to destroy all the front tires on them before he flies right through them within seconds, grabs every one in each vehicle and throws them down hard and knocks them out cold.
Once everyone was rounded up, the three charge into the White House, right where the president's office is. Glass shatters and flies everywhere, but the president is nowhere to be seen. But he comes in with a sword in his hand.
"Whoever you are, you will not pass. Last chance. Stand down." Flagg ordered.
Flagg runs in, ready to strike directly at Superman. Diana steps in, but Superman puts a hand up to stop her. Flagg swings right at Superman's face… and it shatters to pieces like it was nothing. Kal-El didn't even flinch. Without a hint of hesitation, he grabs Flagg by the throat.
"You finished yet?" Superman mockingly asked. Flagg tries to break free from his grasp with all of his strength, it was no use.
"W-who? What the hell are you?" Flagg asked, struggling to breath.
"Me? I'm this world's new savior. Not yet. But soon. You will call me Superman. Your new leader of the United States. And soon, the entire world." Superman declared. He throws him down and Diana, with a bit of a sad look on her face, throws the lasso of truth around him.
"Y-you will never be a god. T-there are real gods in this world and across the realms. I have allies, across everywhere. More powerful than you think." Flagg tells them.
"Realms? What do you mean?" Diana uses the lasso of truth on him. He tries to resist it, but much like Alex and Cassie earlier, he feels a burning sensation from the rope.
"T-there are six realms. Earthrealm. This one is one of them." Flagg forcibly admitted.
"What are the five other realms? Tell me. Now." Superman demanded.
In the castle, Darkseid, Mileena and Havik discuss what they should plan together now that an alliance has been formed. If anyone knows strategic planning, it would be him since he is a conqueror of over a hundred-thousand worlds.
"So, what did you mean by what you have said earlier?" Havik asked.
"In my universe, there is a weapon that can be used in ways that you can't even imagine. Until recently, it has remained hidden from my grasp. That was when my minion DeSaad manipulated a bunch of humans called the Legion into uncovering it for us. Crafted within the surface itself. It is called the Anti-Life Equation." Darkseid replied to Havik.
Darkseid explains what it is to Mileena and her followers. Everyone is intrigued by what it could do. Adrelita is interested in what it is. Being able to bend reality and control the free will of all sentient beings throughout the universe.
"An equation that controls reality and free will. It would be the perfect thing to use throughout the universe. Everyone would bow to you and acknowledge you as their eternal ruler." Mileena commented.
"But what if it was used in other universes too, with this one for example?" Darkseid asked.
Mileena and Havik's eyes both widened as they immediately realized what he meant by that. They could imagine the horror, or in their case, joy, if they used something like that in their world, perhaps all others.
"The power to make the weak-willed follow their soon to be rightful rulers. Living in the Chaosrealm, where they are enslaved, fed and loyal to me, the Chaos Cleric. My kind love chaos. Any insult thrown at me, we take it as a compliment. They would never stop looking for amazement in their lives. Never go hungry again." Havik smirked.
"Chaos is but a mere part of conquest, overseen by those who don't understand it such as you. Fear plays a big role alongside strength. But most importantly, strategy and experience play the most important role of all. Especially with….. Manipulation." Darkseid said.
"My father taught me well about manipulation. That it can be a great weapon when used flawlessly. I speak from personal experience after all." Mileena said. She could never forget that Rain tried to get her killed in the Old Era, which later resulted in her execution, and when Shang Tsung betrayed Shao Kahn during the Battle of the Sky Temple. And when Shao Kahn knew that Daegon would betray them and try to take Blaze's power for himself.
"You know these realms better than I do. If we are to guide each other, then I can share with you a glimpse of the devastation of the Anti-Life Equation. But we require many things. Some technology was pulled here alongside me and my enemies." Darkseid shows a holographic picture of Mister Terrific's trans dimensional gateway.
"This machine could allow anyone to travel to different worlds, crafted by human beings. Superman wanted to use this to travel to another universe where another alien being named Brainiac was still alive. But my intervention caused it to malfunction and send us here instead. This is made from my Mother Box technology. And they have spread throughout the realms. DeSaad placed trackers on each major segment so I would know where they are." Darkseid said.
"So if we find your technology, we can travel between worlds, and spread the Anti-Life Equation to unlimited universes." Adrelita said.
"But we also need an energy source. Something that is powerful and unlimited." Darkseid guessed.
"Earthrealm's jinsei." Mavado spoke up, gaining their attention. "I have witnessed it myself before in my previous life. It is the realm's life force, but its energy is more than meets the eye. It has made mortal beings more powerful than before, especially for gods like Liu Kang. With the right magic, it can also be corrupted to our liking."
"Excellent suggestion, Mavado!" Mileena praised.
"Yes. That could work." Darkseid agreed.
"We still have this Superman of yours and his remaining Regime members to deal with. Let us not forget about this Justice League. They must be making their own alliances with Earthrealm, Outworld and Edenia by now. And they must also be aware of our respective existence now." Adrelita pointed out.
"Let them. They are of no concern to us for now. As for Superman, I want to kill him, but I have another idea." Darkseid smirked.
At the base, everyone is working and getting to know each other. They seem to be getting along just fine with each other, until there was a loud beeping going on and all the monitors show the same message in red: EMERGENCY ALERT! EMERGENCY ALERT!"
"What is going on here?" Mister Terrific asked.
"I don't know. Onscreen!" Cassie ordered. All the monitors show the same picture. Most of them are shocked by what they're seeing…. Except for Batman himself. What they are seeing is Superman in front of the White House, with Black Adam and Wonder Woman, the latter who is holding the president hostage with her lasso of truth. Superman is at the stand, ready to speak.
"People of Earth. You do not know us, but you will. I am Kal-El. But my name is Superman. Me and my Regime come from another world. From our own Earth. Where we created our own One-Earth Government. We have brought peace to our world. No more wars. No more weapons. No more crimes. And we only want what is best for this world as well. I do not wish to harm anyone. But I only have one request: Accept me as your new leader, not just for the United States, but for the entire world. All military operations will cease fire immediately. Marines, the Navy, Veterans, the Special Forces. Those who refuse to submit will be punished. And the same will go for all other countries should they retaliate. Should they fight, we will stop them too." Superman announced to the entire world before the screens turn off.
Everyone was watching. Alex managed to broadcast it across the regions, so the clans, and all of Outworld and Edenia were watching. Liu Kang, while in the time keep, glares at Kal-El's words and his eyes light up. Kitana, Sindel and Kung Lao all share the same anger expression as well as the visitors. Batman is the only one who is not surprised by this. Kara on the other hand feels horrified, and at the same time disgusted by her cousin's words.
"Wow. That guy is such a fucking douchebag. Such a wannabe dictator." Flora joked, earning her a smack to both of her shoulders from both Harleen and Anthony.
"Language!" Harleen reminded her.
"Not cool, Flora. Not when her cousin is right there listening." Anthony chastised his sister.
"No. She's right." Kara defended Flora. "I knew what my cousin did back on our Earth. But I didn't think he would do the same for your world. This…. His words, his actions that he committed and whatever he plans on doing next. It disgusts me now."
"I am not surprised that Clark would do this first." Batman said.
"You knew this would happen?" Alex turned to Bruce, feeling a bit annoyed.
"Clark exposed his identity to the whole world after Lois died. The White House was where he started creating his One-Earth Government. So it's only a start for him." Bruce explained.
"But who knows what he'll do next. It won't take long until he discovers other places such as the clans. Y'all don't have that. And he doesn't know about the other realms." Alex pointed out.
"We're hoping to keep it that way. The last thing we need is him conquering all six realms. But we don't know where Darkseid is. Nor the Legion. Wherever the hell those freaks are." Cassie added.
"We gotta stop Kal-El. Before he does anything else." Kara stepped up.
"Yeah! We don't need a president Superman on this world. Imagine if he were a president, khan, and cleric of all worlds?" Blue Beetle asked.
"We can't just fly to Washington and fight them. They'll be expecting the Special Forces." Batman corrected Jaime and Kara.
"True. But they won't be expecting you guys. And they forgot that me and my wife as well as Anthony and Flora have godlike powers. What we need is a plan to throw them off their game." Alex tells everyone.
"Alex has a point, Bruce." Cassie defends her husband. "And we can't afford to gather everyone together. It's better if your friends stay with ours so we have eyes and ears everywhere."
"We have the technological and magical advantage. Your stuff is more advanced than I would have anticipated. What do you suggest?" Batman asked Alex and Cassie.
At the White House, Superman is standing before the hundreds to almost thousands of civilians. Surprisingly, the majority of the people are shouting and yelling in anger at these strangers dressed weirdly. The majority of them are holding signs, demanding the president's release and saying no to a world without military forces. Kal-El tightens his fist in annoyance. He figured they wouldn't recognize him, but he's more annoyed that they are not respecting his demands.
Kal-El steps forward, but Wonder Woman grabs his wrist to stop him. "Kal, wait. We shouldn't make them fear us. These are not the same people from our world. They don't know us."
"But they will. We will set examples. I will show them fear. That there is no hope for them. This world will change easily." Superman stated.
"Do not be so sure, Superman." Black Adam said. He points to a few military jets coming their way.
"Like that." Superman's eyes glow red. He flies off with Adam behind him. Wonder Woman, despite her having a reluctant look on her face, follows them.
The three main Regime leaders fly towards the jet. He fires his heat vision at the under belly of the jet and it catches on fire and crashes down. Diana swings her sword and slices off one of the wings and Adam shoots lightning at its engines and they all crash down.
Superman heads to the lead jet and rips off the cockpit with both hands and tosses it aside. But much to his surprise, there was no one within the jets. But there are T-Spheres in there, and they glow green and explode like frag grenades, temporarily blinding him as he flies backwards. Diana and Adam head towards Kal-El and help him up.
"T-Spheres. Then that means–" Superman hears an orange portal open up behind him. Then all of a sudden, Kara comes out of the portal and fires heat vision at Black Adam. Diana was flying toward Kara ready to attack with her shield, but Flora was the next to jump out and Shadow Kick her backwards to where Adam is. Superman stands up and he sees everyone else. The two older soldiers he recognized earlier were Alex and Cassie as well as Anthony, their son. And they see Batman himself as well as Blue Beetle and Harleen.
"This is actually surprising, Bruce. Teaming up with ordinary soldiers to try to take us down. Out of all the surprises you've shown, this has by far to be the worst." Superman claimed.
"Seriously? I just shadow kicked your girlfriend!" Anthony called out.
"You've made a mistake bringing them here. More people will die and your hands will be covered in their blood." Superman said. He attempted to fire his heat vision, but Alex quickly stepped in front of Batman and holds out his hand and glows silver white. He absorbs the heat vision with no problem and no injuries whatsoever. Superman stops and blinks twice because of what he just witnessed.
"Do I look like an ordinary soldier to you, Superman?" Alex asked him.
Alex fires a strong energy beam right at Superman's chest, sending him backwards. Superman was able to get up with some trouble. He felt quite a lot of pain from that attack. It is definitely like magic.
"What…. In the hell?" Superman was confused.
"So? You surprised yet?" Alex mocked him.
Superman nods to Diana and Adam before the three fly toward Batman and his allies to fight them. Wonder Woman throws her shield at Bruce, who does a flip while jumping backwards before being tackled. He blocks her blade swings with his powered gauntlets.
"This is no secret that you would do something like this. You're running out of allies, Bruce." Wonder Woman claimed.
"But there are only the three of you. From what I remember, most of yours are behind bars or reformed and joined the real Justice League." Batman fired back before kicking Diana backwards. They continue to fight hand to hand Blue Beetle and Harleen attempt to help him out. Blue Beetle swings a mace, but Diana blocks with her shield and kicks him away, only for Harleen to swing her big hammer at her head, knocking her backwards.
"Miss me, honey?" Harleen asked.
"I'm not surprised Batman kept you alive, Quinn. He's just that desperate." Diana claimed.
"More like this gal was crazy enough to open her eyes and see the bigger picture. And thanks for the scar, hun. I'll keep it as a battle scar." Harleen said, remembering her stab wound she sustained from Diana and would've died if Kara did not save her.
Diana comes in and swings her weapons, and to her dismay, Harleen's own metal weapons are durable enough to withstand them.
The twins fight Adam, and are having nearly as much trouble as they were last time. Anthony jumps to stab Black Adam with his tonfas, but he steps backwards, and rams into Anthony, sending him back. He gets blasted backwards by an energy beam by Flora.
"Hey! No one messes with my brother like that except me! Don't forget it, sparkle fingers!" Flora glared at him.
"Mere tricks are no match for me, child. Short-sighted like all other children. You were no match for me back then and you will not start today." Black Adam claimed.
Flora throws energy discs at Black Adam. He dodges one, but another manages to cut his left cheek. He felt the sharp pain on his face and taps the cut with a couple of fingers. Adam is surprised by him getting hurt by a kid such as her. Before he could fire back, Anthony jumps in and swings his emerald light-covered tonfas at his back, sending him to Flora, who swings her arm at him, sending him down, but he shoots lightning in the air, causing her to jump back.
Alex, Cassie and Kara all engage Superman. They are doing their best to withstand his blows. He uses super breath to push Cassie backwards and freeze breath to freeze Alex's body partially. Kara grabs her cousin from behind and headbutts him, sending him sliding to the ground.
"Kal-El. I gotta say I'm disappointed in you. Trying to start over in a world that we don't even belong in? Are you trying to fail again?" Kara mockingly asked.
"I am doing what needs to be done, Kara. Diana's right. No other world should suffer. Not ours. Not here." Superman told her.
"We did not need to suffer because of Brainiac. Besides, you have no idea the danger that we've brought here." Kara said.
"You're all the danger. That is why I'm here to cleanse it." Superman said.
Kal-El flies in to punch his cousin, only for her to grab his fist, spin in place a few times before throwing past the metal gate. She flies over to Alex and carefully chops the ice keeping him in place without hurting him. Alex was free. He nods to her in gratitude. The three charge towards the fallen man of steel, but then, a large green portal opens up, blasting them all backwards.
The heroes get up and see what is going on. Cassie was the first to notice. She knows who is causing this. "Shit! Not here! Not now!"
Havik, Mavado, Goro come out of the portal. Followed by Nitara and Reptile, who managed to swiftly overpower Harleen and Blue Beetle. Next to come out are their newest allies: Darkseid and Steppenwolf. Kara's eyes widened. She had hoped that they wouldn't survive the transfer. But she was dead wrong.
"No." Kara whispered.
Goro roars as he leaps forward and kicks Supergirl backwards and attacks her while Alex and Cassie are forced to defend themselves from Havik and Mavado. They fight evenly as Darkseid and Steppenwolf approach Superman.
"Superman of Krypton and Earth. Come with me." Darkseid said.
"Who the hell are you?" Kal-El asked with suspicion.
"We have common causes. Common enemies. I will explain everything." Darkseid offered Superman.
Kal-El wasn't sure what to do. Seeing these strange people fighting with Darkseid, nothing he, Wonder Woman, or Black Adam have seen. But he knows that he is full of questions wanting to be answered. So he looks up at him.
"Diana! Adam! Fall back!" Superman ordered them. The two fly towards the green portal alongside Superman. Once those three had retreated, Havik shouted orders.
"Everyone! We have what we need. Retreat to the Netherrealm at once!" Havik ordered as everyone ran back through the portal. Once everyone has retreated, Darkseid and Steppenwolf were about to enter. Darkseid was the last to step through, but not before he spares a glimpse at Supergirl, the cousin of the man of steel. Kara charges towards Darkseid as fast as possible. But it was too late. Darkseid steps through the portal and it closes right in front of her.
"Kal!" Kara yelled in worry. She slams her fist into the ground out of frustration, leaving a hole in the ground the size of her fist.
"Was… that him? The big man, conqueror of worlds?" Alex asked.
"Yes. Darkseid. And his general Steppenwolf. I don't understand. Why did he recruit Kal? None of this makes sense." Kara wondered.
"I don't know." Batman said as everyone else approached. "And I'm assuming those guys are from the Netherrealm working with Mileena."
"The one and only." Flora answered him.
Alex and Cassie approached the soldiers, rounded up and took cover from the fight. They stood up as they recognized the commanders.
"Is everyone here, alright?" Cassie asked them. They all spoke, each of them talking over each other while saying yes. "Where's Flagg?"
"He's in the White House tied by some magic rope." One of the soldiers answered.
Kara flies Alex and Cassie to the center of the White House followed by Blue Beetle doing the same for the twins. Batman uses his grapple gun as Harleen jumps with her agility. They spot Flagg sitting in the middle of the room on the carpet.
"Diana's Lasso of Truth. Forces anyone to speak the truth, no matter what race. Not even kryptonians or gods can resist it." Batman explained.
"That explains the burning. I couldn't even stop myself." Alex said.
Cassie unwraps the lasso and tosses it to Batman, who puts it away. It'll definitely come in handy whenever they need to. "Mr. President. Are you okay? What the hell happened?"
"General Cage. Am I glad to see you? Those guys. They attacked us, attacked me and claimed themselves to be the new leaders of Earth. And they said something about being from another Earth. What is going on here?" Flagg asked.
"Trust me when I say this, but it's a long, crazy story." Alex replied.
"A long ass one. The craziest long ass one you're not gonna believe." Flora joked.
"I see. And who are they?" Flagg sees Batman and the others.
"We are allies. Against common foes. Your soldiers were kind enough to trust us and tell us everything that transpired here for decades." Batman said.
"Well, I appreciate the rescue. Well, might as well hear y'all out and…. Wait. Who the hell are you? You're like the other one?" Flagg spotted Supergirl, noticing the same symbol on her superhero suit like Superman's.
Kara noticed immediately what he was referring to. "I-it's not what it looks like. I'm not with him, I'm with these guys. They're my friends, including these soldiers." Kara tries to explain.
"Save it. Whoever you are, stay the hell away from me. I don't trust your kind." Flagg steps back whilst glaring at her. This only makes Kara more sad than usual. She looks down in shame.
"I promise, we'll explain everything in detail." Cassie said.
"Grab yourself some popcorn while you're at it, because it's gonna be juicy!" Harleen smiled, much to the president's confusion.
For now, Alex opens up another orange portal with his powers, draining him of some of his energy in the process. Everyone steps through to head back to base. Kara was the last one to walk through, trying to hide her sad expression on her face, while trying not to tear up from Flagg's reaction.
Note: I hope you're enjoying the fights so far. Things are gonna get more juicy. And I'm looking forward to the T-1000 soon. Madam Bo as a Kameo is kinda weird, lol.