Justice League: Trinity - Divine Power

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Justice League: Trinity - Divine Power
Story By: Batman
Heroes: Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, Phantom Stranger
Villains: Darkseid, Felix Faust, Artemiz, Mad Harriet, Bloody Mary, Ra's Al Ghul, Ares


Batman: Within the ancient tomb a man dawning an Arab robe stumbled carrying a small light. The walls of sand and stone were carved and chiseled with hieroglyphs. Fragile hands traced the glyphs before suddenly clutching onto a single square block that he pulled out, swiftly a compartment in the wall opened revealing a think black tablet. He grinned pulling it out as his eyes scanned around the dusty object’s surface. He began to read the text in an ancient dialect. “Hear me, my creation. For the end of days shall be brought forth and cauterize this world in a new age. And lest anyone seek to challenge my command they forsake my mercy, summon forth my wrath, and know that my vengeance is truly upon thee. The world shall start a new unless thy three souls of worth challenge my divine trinity, so shall it be my command.” The tablet would fragment, crackling tiny canyons into its stone formation. <c>
Batman: Metropolis City, police and fire sirens roared to life at 12 o’clock in the morning. “ATTENTION CITIZENS; This is not an test. Evacuate your homes and exit the city in a calm and orderly fashion. A large tidal wave is approaching the East Coast. This is not a drill!”

Gotham City, “Vicki Vale live at Gotham Bay, just moments away from a massive tidal wave ever recorded in the history of the world is attempting to slam into the entire East Coast. What’s causing the tidal wave is not yet known…”
Gatway City; military soldiers dispatched sandbags and concrete barriers along the edge of Boston. “Harper Norse reporting live from Gateway City bay, where we see the military preparing multiple defensive measures to the oncoming tidal wave. We’re told the Air Force has developed an unorthodox approach intent on slowing the tide; they’re going to fire multiple specialized missiles and bombs that will, hopefully, force the tidal wave backwards or slow it down. It may seem like something out of a sci-fi movie, but with the latest military technology these guys seem optimistic that this plan is better than any other…”

Gotham City, Batman sat inside the batcave observing the computer screen, blue eyes scanned between geographical reports and the news broadcasts to keep himself in the loop with what exactly was going on. Alfred approached Batman from behind “Sir, the facility is locked down. We should be safe…I can’t say the same about the rest of Gotham. Don’t you think you should be out there trying to evacuate people?” “No, I’m needed here. Look what I’ve found…” The satellite imagery would display a large split in the center of the ocean. “That is the origin of our tidal wave…Something happened down there.” “Well, sir…it’s not like you can endure over a million tons of water pressure to go down and investigate. What good does this information do for you?” <c>
Batman: “It tells me that this tidal wave is manufactured. The waves only go one way, towards the U.S” Alfred spoke in a dreary tone. “So, is it the soviets?” “Not funny.” Was all Batman would reply.


Superman: Metropolis: Superman flew high above the tallest skyscrapers, focusing his vision on the three waves moving toward the North American coastlines. His brain worked fast, the eidetic memory drawing through all that he knew about Waves and oceanic tides. Waves were an energy that traveled through a medium and disrupted the medium, but where most people got it wrong was in thinking that the waves moved the water with them as opposed to simply disrupting it as it passed through. This knowledge told Superman a few things. Freezing the wave was not an option, nor was throwing enough heat at it to evaporate the water, the energy guiding the wave was moving at an incredible rate and him stopping it in his track was not plausible, he could evaporate a large amount before it made landfall, however the amount he would melt would prove insubstantial. -c-

The only way to stop the massive amount of destruction heading towards the coastline would be to reroute the energy causing the wave to move in different direction until the energy causing the disturbance was too spread out to cause any real damage. The problem came in exactly how to do that. He was taken back to his days in High School Science, the study of waves and the three different methods used to change their direction. It all came down to breaking up the energy causing the disturbance throughout the waves medium. Whether it be with a barrier that forced the energy to expend itself against something more powerful than in and burning itself out, or placing different obstacles in the wave of the energy and forcing it to change direction. Energy never disappeared, it simply went on until acted upon by an opposing force. He looked down, to the city he had come to love. His second home, and all the people scrambling to avoid the inevitable. He had to do something. -c-

Reflection, that was the simplest way to change the direction of a ray leading a wave to a certain point and then using a large enough barrier to force the wave into the opposite direction. However, that would require more time than he had. Diffraction, the act of forcing the wave to meet with different barriers and therefore change it’s direction. This plan would allow him to dissipate the wave into smaller more manageable catastrophes as opposed to one giant armageddon. He began his work, flying as fast as he could toward the wave, and then changing direction, his breath breathing out large mountains of ice at strategic points as he went. He was careful to choose a distance that would give him enough time to cover the whole coast before working on phase two of his clean up plan. -c-
Superman: From Maine to Florida he pushed, taking in large breaths and freezing the still waters until their was a sufficient amount of ice in the path of the wave to begin breaking it up and forcing the energy’s direction to change.
Superman: Three waves = Wave.)



Wonder Woman E4: Diana looked to the west, the sound still rolled in from the sea as the waters seemed to pull away from the shore, the sand , damp and glistening seeming to stretch into the distance. The glistening of the sun high above reflected also by the stranded fish flopping helplessly on the bright sand as Diana watched dark wall rise the west and slowly diminish.

Her sisters had spoken of the sea that pulled away and rushed back bringing disaster and so Diana ran back to the palace to warn her sisters., yet as she neared the Temple and looked back expecting to see the dark onrushing waves, the waters slipped back to shore easily, lifting and cradling the floundering fish safe in their cold embrace. She stopped, watching the waters swirl unnaturally as the dark wall vanish towards the World of Men.

Something was strange, a wave that had risen to the west and yet sent no destruction to the east, that rushed away to the west, towards Steve and Julia and Vanessa. The wall was gone, to the horizon in moments there was no time to decide, no time to debate with a mother who still wished to keep her from the world, Riana turned back towards the water running fast, towards the darkness that rushed towards her friends, desperation urging her on, her toes skimmed the water with widening pace that carried her above the water until the wall began to reappear on the horizon, she strained, a pain that she was not familiar with even in the battle against Ares. A pain as the thought of the destruction of so many lives urged her onwards, the dark wall remained ahead, tantalizingly out of reach. She ran, harder than she could remember, her feet barely touching the surface, faster as her limbs burned and then she noticed her feet no longer torched the surface, something else held her aloft and the darkness rose in front of her. The fires in her limbs yielding to the bright burning hope that she might reach the shore before the dark waters.



Batman: “Vicki Vale reporting live, we’re getting reports from our sister company down in Florida, A blur has been spotted dashing across the tide creating what appears to be ice mountains…They seem to be slowing down the wave!” In Metropolis, “Doctor Hamilton, with Superman’s intervention of the tidal waves, what’s the estimated time can we expect impact?” “Well, Ms. From satellite imagery, we can estimate that the waves have slowed down…Superman is buying us maybe an extra 15 or 20 minutes…but the force of the waves is still powerful enough…we should prepare for the worst.” Within the Batcave, the Dark Knight studied the geographical trends, he tapped and adjusted seismic scanners and then began calculating the origin within his head. <c>

He began looking over a global map when he began tracing the source he narrowed his eyes. “No…” He looked over different landscapes and surfaces which indicated the tidal waves force came from directly up. “That doesn’t make sense. Unless…” Batman closed out of every geographical screen he had previously opened and activated satellite cameras in space, switching all of their on board cameras to view the moon. He stared for a moment and then switched a few cameras to study the angle from one night prior, then the night before that, and before that…The moon has moved.” “Moved? Then why hasn’t that influenced all of the water?” “Precisely my thinking, Alfred.” “Can’t be a coincidence.” “So what is it that could cause the moon to suddenly move in less than one day, sir?” “Aside from nothing on Earth, something that’s not *from* Earth.” <c>

Batman adjusted his computer screens to reveal images of Superman on display by the media. “Unless there are any other suspects capable of that much power, evidence is proving the man to be guilty.”
Alfred would cross his arms. “How do you suppose you’re gonna prove that? Go to the moon and search every bloody crater for a set of hand prints?” “No.” “No?” “The direct approach is sometimes the best way.”
Batman stood up and began walking towards a set of metal stairs leading skyward.



Superman: More time, that was the key for those on the coast line and, with the size of the wave, the people on the entire North American continent, however, something still wasn’t making sense to him. How had this wave occurred, they were calling it a tidal wave, but something drastic would have had to happen for the tides to transfer this much energy, especially when High tide for this part of the coast wasn’t until 2 hours later. Someone was behind it, someone with power and the brains to pull it off. His first thought was Luthor, but Lex was currently away in a cell awaiting trial for the small amount of dirt he and Lois had managed to bring to light. He’d lost a fair bit of his pull by being publicly shamed, but he was definitely smart enough to pull it off. Once the crisis was averted, he’d have to have a chat with his least favorite billionaire. His focus now was the most imminent threat, the men and women at sea. -c-

He’d redirected his efforts after creating a suitable amount of ice to fend the wave off, but now he was busy rescuing Submarines, aircraft carriers and men and women knocked overboard or unfortunately caught in the waves awesome path of destruction. He was currently lowering a carrier to safety outside the Metropolis port. Landing, he looked to the wave, before the admiral approached. “Superman, thank god.”

“Admiral, you need to evacuate your men now. If they hurry, the power boats can get you to shore before the wave picks you up again.” With that, he was back in the air, something had caught his eye, moving fast, very fast. Running along the top of the water. He would have investigated, took a more detailed look, but they were coming to him and he had a job to do. His body moved through the smallest portions of the wave, using the energy his speed created to disperse the confined, lowered energy of those parts and reduce the wave slightly. -c-

It would not be enough to stop it, but he was fighting two things here, Time and Nature, and he couldn’t contend with both at once. His main priority were those trapped in the water, and he kept an ear on the whooshing sound moving toward him, but continued to dive in and try his best to save those that had been taken into the ocean.



Wonder Woman E4: There was something of freedom, letting go of restraint, of giving herself totally to the need to save not only her friends, she remembered the spikes that men had driven out of the earth along the coast, a wall of knives against the onrushing waters that would break around them and take with it the lives of so many. Something in the urgency, she felt the hardness of the water no longer beneath her the air bore her, rushing up the long flank of the wave to the white horses above it she crested and looked down on the world she was beginning to know and that she could see no way to save. Perhaps there might be time to save Steve or Julia and Vanessa but millions… there had to be a way. She thought of the Dome, cried out to it. Why had her impetuousness brought her here alone?
‘Dome, come to me.’ A cry as free and as unrestrained as the limbs had become.

Something strange was happening, the wave breaking away from shore instead of crashing with destruction upon the lives below. The white horses bucked beneath her almost seeming to toss her from their backs when she realized they were not just foam but ice. And then a blur, invisible perhaps to the mortals, a Man, unlike the other men that waited their fates below, a man who flew who could make ice with his merest breath, who was breaking the wave alone.
The wave began to curl over like a predator ready to pounce on the prey below. “YOU!” she called above the tumult, as the blur passed by again. “Help me help you. Please.”



Batman: It was in Metropolis, amongst the chaos, the disturbances…The Artifacts of ancient biblical history were presented on display, brought to the United States with the expressed permission of Britain’s Museum. An obelisk stood only 6 feet tall, carved with ancient writing into its crackled stature. The dark robed man walked through a portal to overlook the piece. His fingers gently began to caress the glass that contained it, protecting it. “Soon…soon everything won’t matter. All of this will be mine to oversee.” He raised a staff, which he carried in his left hand and smashed the glass shattering it. He placed his right hand upon it causing it to glow. He began to read. “From the Stars I post my declaration to all beneath me. I am the presence that you seek. I am all powerful and encompassing…”



Superman: Superman continued pulling those caught in the roiling tide to safety, though even he wasn’t fast enough to save them all, and he knew it. Besides, he was spending precious seconds plucking people from their doom when he needed to be continuing his work on the wave. A shout from overhead. An ally, good, he could use all the hands available. IT was strange needing help, seeing that he needed it so crucially.
It was not his ego that spoke, but truth, everything he’d ever tried he’d been excellent at, to the point that he had to dial it down in order to keep those close to him safe and here he was, against a force of nature and he realized, something’s couldn’t be done alone, not even by Superman. “I’ve slowed the wave, but I’m still going to need to stop it completely. These people need help, there are hundreds trapped in the water. You save the civilians, I’ll stop the wave!” Wonder Woman, he’d never met her, but she had been featured in several articles as a hero from Gateway. -c-

He kept track of all high powered beings in the public eye, for both inspiration and to make sure no new threat arose to catch him off guard. She could do this, he had no doubt about that, and if she did it fast enough, she could help with the Wave as well. He allowed her to take over search and rescue and flew closer to the coast, taking in a deep breath and continuing to fly north to south. His breath released and each time he flew past, the coast long ice wall grew taller and taller. He had slowed the beast, now, to turn it away completely.



Wonder Woman E4: She caught the sound of his voice above the roar, to save the mortals, yes. She saw the wave bearing down on their fragile city their existence no less fragile as the wave tore their shops their buildings their lives apart. Maybe this man in blue and red could stop it, but the destruction was so incalculable even snatching these few mortals from the tumult seemed no more than putting a poultice on a severed limb.

She needed the dome, that small demi globe he mother had given her. How had she forgotten it in the panic? The dome, that she had held in her hand, and that she had used to travel, unseen t the World of Men, that had brought her safely home again She called but there was no time and what could she do against the power of Gaia. Why had Gaia turned on the mortals? How could she not turn against them that that ravaged and burned and tore the land.

Diana ran, so many mortals so little time even as the flying man moved away down the coast she skimmed, reaching into the waters to pluck out another man there crying against the storm. The sound was sickening. His cries suddenly silent, his body limp, fragile children, their bodies unable to stand the speed as he was torn out of the raging waters .. and she held him there limp the water began to rise? No, she began to sink as the realization of task threatened to overwhelm her as the waters would overwhelm the mortals below.

A moment or two only she looked at the body in her hand, if she did nothing the rest were dead anyway, and letting it slide back into the waters she began to scramble , half swimming trying to run again, the desperation back in her limbs, scooping another mortal more gently in order not to snap the delicate threat of their life, she was running again, slowing enough to fift them safely sinking as she did so and fighting back to skim the surface.
It was too slow, far too slow and the dark water would be crashing down on those below . She cried again to the dome. –e-



Batman: The tidal wave was snared from its growing velocity, its impact significantly reduced, as was as Superman and Wonder Woman were struggling to deal with the catastrophe that that the batwing flew overhead with a loud sonic scream; twin sonic emitters would antagonize both of their hearing and unique only to Superman’s vision, ripples of intensified heat shot down into the tidal vaporizing it into mist and heavy rain. The batwing struggled to maintain a hover as its sonic emitters attempted to shave off water that would hit the mainland. It would take only two minutes for the mass of water to be vaporized. The tidal wave was beginning to subside. The water around Wonder Woman lost height allowing her to maintain her track. The bodies in the water wouldn’t be affected by the microwave emitter. <c>

Once turning off the emitter, Batman spoke over the loud speaker. “You both have to stop this tidal wave…Now.” The wave itself was now only 15 minutes away from reaching the coast. If both of them would swim fast enough and in a circle the force would divert the energy from the tidal wave into a whirlpool that would allow nature to disperse the energy evenly thus averting the crisis.



Superman: Superman had dispersed less than a quarter of the massive wave with his technique of isolating the highest points broken up by his mountains of ice, it was too slow, he needed to think, but he didn’t have the time. His kryptonian mind worked at a rapid pace, far more advanced than most humans, but he had the human error, he cared. He cared more about the human race than anyone knew. They had provided him with so much, he was home here. Adopted or otherwise, this was his home, these were his people, and he was not going to fail them. As he attempted to fight off his own panic and produce the logic needed for the problem, his hands rushed to his ears as he plummeted toward the shore, falling fast. His ears were ringing, it was akin to the first time his super hearing had activated, everything hurt, his vision filtered without his consent, from normal, to x-ray, to infrared. Billions of colors, spectrums flashed and it was greatly disorienting. -c-

He landed on the beach, a large burst of sand marking the spot where he fell as he tried to identify the source of the sound. He’d overcome this before, his eyes working to focus on the sound waves as he watched the larger parts of the wave begin to melt down. The UFO, it was emitting the sound, and just as he looked for a way to safely disable the screech, it stopped. He came to his feet and could have smacked himself, a whirlpool, why hadn’t he thought of it before? He ran full force towards the water, falling in line with Wonder Woman. “Keep moving in my wake, stay directly across from me and keep the momentum up until the wave dissipates.” It was all the time he had for instruction as he began blazing the trail, picking up speed. He had chosen a spot with no casualties in range, and with nothing to restrict his speed, he continued going faster and faster, his arms pumping at a rate that turned him into nothing more than a blur for the average onlooker. -c-
He didn’t reach for his full speed, he needed to keep adjacent to Wonder Woman, to make sure the Whirlpool was created as quickly as possible.
-e-



Wonder Woman E4: It was nowhere near enough. Nothing she did was enough as she watched the waters swallow more and more people. It was becoming difficult to carry them, not from the weight but the sheer awkwardness of carrying their fragile bodies, trying not to drag them through the water each time she slowed to pick up another. It was getting slower and slower. She paused trying to see the flying man as a strange dark object flew over head, the noise, a screeching pain in her head as of a wild and furious bird and yet tearing at the air as the mortals tore at the land. The noise changed , lower rumbling and then the air seemed to ripple as if she could see the very sound waves it directed at the waters which seemed to subside as a column of mist rose where the black object hovered turning onto dark clouds above it.

And then a voice, another man, calm and assured, more so even to her mind than the flying man ahead of her.
15 Minutes? There was no time to save even the people in the water, she could not drag these mortals through the water. The clouds around the voice parted, a patch of light opening and closing, almost as an eye winking and it was here. The relief almost brought tears to her eyes.. it was hard not to think of the mortals as children, to fear for their frailties, the dome.

Hope rose in her heart and she turned toward shore, she would not follow the flying man, it was unlikely she could do more than to pluck as many from the waters as she could and carry them to some kind of safety.
The dome, on the other hand, in her mind she formed it, not plane nor temple, just the dome its name suggested, as large and as she turned back towards the sea, it obeyed, a great clear disc sinking into the waves to push and guide the torrents back upon themselves twisting them towards the whirlpool –e-



Batman: The sight was incredible from Batman’s perspective, observing from the distance Wonder Woman’s own strength. She could’ve been a suspect in his investigation. The object she was using was incredible as it curved the water waves back into the ocean as Superman began formulating a whirlpool. The Batwing flew down towards the water and immediately dispersed its own aide in the form of aquatic flares, green chemical popped within the waters and began flagging down the location of survivors struggling to manage themselves above the water while holding onto their life preservers. The Batwing then lowered a small hook as it flew in low to the ocean and dragging the line through the water at a slow as possible pace for the survivors to grab onto. The detective took an account of how many he would carry in tow; maxing out at seven before taking off towards the mainland to lower. 7 out of 200+ wasn’t much, but it was something. <c>

As the Dark Knight released the survivors he brought the batwing near Wonder Woman and spoke over the loud speaker. “We’re running out of time. Is there any way that device can scale the coast line? If you can create a large enough wall that can absorb the impact or a curved ramp, it will give us more time. There are at least two dozen cities along the coast that will be hit if you can’t.” It was behind Wonder Woman, upon the beach in Metropolis a man stood dressed in a blue business suit, a business fedora that’s rim tipped just enough to conceal his eyes. A blue cape that was hung from his shoulders, he observed the scene, unafraid of the approaching tide. He remained silent and merely observed the events before him patiently waiting for the crisis to be averted.



Superman: He quickly took note that Wonder Woman had a way to help the whirlpool without using her speed, as the dome lowered into the ground, Superman felt the tide grow rougher and his whirlpool grow larger. A look of grim determination across his face he began picking up speed, this he could do. He dove, listening to Batman’s strategy he began swimming in a wider circle, moving the whirlpool toward the middle of the Tidal wave so that the energy was funnelled mostly into it and not into the forward motion of the wave himself. He made several stops along the way, picking people out of the water and flying them back to the coast. This was done in several seconds time however and he left Wonder Woman or Batman to check them for injuries. It pained him, tore at him, leaving people there without giving them any reassurance, but the issue at hand was larger than one single life. Like a movie in his mind, his father appeared, sitting on the porch outside of Kansas. -c-

“Son, you’ve got a life of hard choices ahead, people are going to need you. I know you Clark, you’re gonna try and save them all, one at a time if you have to and I love that about you, son. You have to remember though, sometimes the right choice is the hardest choice to make. You can’t be everywhere, so, one day you’re gonna have to decide where you need to be more.” It was a hard lesson to understand, he could be anywhere in a matter of seconds, but here and now that wasn’t enough for all of them. Sure, he could pluck the people from the waters and spare their lives, but time was too short, doing that would mean sacrificing a majority of the east coast to floods, widespread ruin, deaths in the millions. He couldn’t let that happen, for the first time in his life, he realized he couldn’t do it alone. -e-
Superman: of the farm in Kansas.*)



Wonder Woman E4: The voice was unusually commanding, self assured, Diana wondered if the owner was as gifted as the man in blue who flew so fast even her eyes could barely keep up with him. Could the dome stretch that far, to protect the coast. It had never done so , from the small gift she had held in her hand, to the flying machine she had used to travel to the large bowl it now formed she did not know its limits.

She called back, her voice lost amongst the roar wondering f the man in the black object could understand her response. It didn’t matter he would see soon enough they would all soon see, she called again to the dome and it rippled, like a jellyfish and she could see her beloved dome straining against its limits. It was large now, larger than the stadia in the city below, larger than the amphitheaters, the temples she knew of home and Olympus. She called again and her call was answered in her mind, the dome had limit, as did all things, even the Olympian gods.
She turned again and saw the black object trawling for survivors. There were cities at stake, more than the few survivors that could be picked out of the waters and so wrapping up the paltry few she had collected in her lasso she hooked them to the dark object’s line and rushed across the waters to the dome, dug deep into the depths, she called again to her faithful servant. She called with her mind and as she placed her hand upon the Domes surface it shivered again and she called with her voice, soothing and “Faithful one, I am here.”

So many cities so many lives, something had led her past her limits, to skim the waters, to fly, if they were to be saved, what might she not sacrifice? “Faithful one” her voice was low and calming “now is the hour if we are to save them” and as she caressed the side of the done it began to stretch, membranes growing thinner and her call was answered with a cry as she felt the dome begin to bulge and tear . “Hold on” she cooed but in her heart she knew. –e-



Batman: The tidal wave lost its force with the combine strength of Superman, the whirlpool, and Wonder Woman’s dome. The waves and water alike splashed and began to ease despite a violent epicenter within the whirlpool the tidalwave would subside and melt with the ocean. The Batwing maintained its hovering position behind Wonder Woman as Batman spoke into his loud speaker. “Superman, we need to talk.” The black stealth aircraft began to descend onto the sandy beach where the cockpit opened and Batman stood up to climb out onto the wing of his vehicle, crouching down in order to close distance between him and Wonder Woman, a subtle gesture indicating her to enter the circle. The man in a blue suit slowly began making his way towards them, but at a pace far slower than Superman’s speed. None of the three would care for his presence, though they could see him as clear as day; their consciences would almost deliberately ignore him.



Superman: With the wave suppressed, Superman began swimming in the opposite direction until the tidal wave came to an easy stop. They had saved most of them, the cities cheered and yet the victory was bittersweet. They had lost hundreds, and in the moment of solace, with the panic subsided, Superman was angry. He knew the tidal wave was not a force of nature, but something manufactured, people’s lives had been put on the line, several of them lost and he could do nothing about it. He wanted to find something unbreakable and rip it to shreds, he wanted all of the unstoppable forces in the world to fall before him, but he knew better. He was a beacon of strength and integrity and here, he would need that strength more than ever. Batman, his idea had saved millions on the shores, but his entrance had cost precious time. Superman knew there was no way he could have done anything differently, but, it didn’t help take the edge off his anger. -c-

Once the waters were reaching a calm and the remaining survivors were moved assure, Superman joined Batman in the sky, his eyes stone as he looked at the man in the cowl. “Your sonic emitters cost us precious seconds, lives that could have been saved. What the hell were you thinking?” He wasn’t angry at the man, but he didn’t know him, the stories from Gotham painted him as a vigilante, he was a mystery as a whole, no one knew what his motives were, he seemed to have the best intentions, but those, as they say, paved the road to Hell. -e-



Wonder Woman E4: She felt it die, whether it had been alive in the animal sense or in only a magical sense, she felt the dome die beneath her fingertips as waters died and washed away she felt it sag, felt the membrane slacken and tear and the slipped wetly away from her, swirling away in the waters torn into small slippery jellyfish sized tatters that slipped away on the currents or washed up gently on the shore.

The spray of the rolling waves caught her in the eyes, hid the tears that were there already at the loss of the dome. This world of men, so fragile and delicate and yet it had the ability to destroy, to take so much, to tear away everything dear and good and worthwhile. She turned back to the shore, seeing the glittering remnants of the dome and the city beyond.. and between them, the strange black craft, resting carelessly on some of the remnants. She let the last remnants slip out of her hands and turned towards the beach as the dark figure climbed out of the equally dark craft. The water dragged at her and all the terror that had lifted her high above the water was gone as the loss and the water dragged her down sp that she swam to the shore. She had to understand what this was… Gaia had every reason to hate the world of men that tor at the planet.. but this had not been natural, this had not been Gaia.. this they had done to themselves. –e-



Batman: Batman narrowed his eyes at Superman, the judgmental attitude and aggressiveness was confusing, was he passing blame? Batman would growl back at the man. “This tidal wave wasn’t a natural disaster. The Lunar orbit has been adjusted which caused this. Do you *know*how significant change has to be in order to cause this kind of tidal wave? Let alone how long it would take for the cycle to reach that point? There’s only one person here who is capable of moving the moon and causing a disaster as great as this. I’m only going to ask you once…Were you behind this?” Batman’s heart rate was paced well; he was calm and not worried. Underneath his mask, Superman’s X-ray vision would be able to Bruce Wayne’s face. It was at this time the man in the blue suit spoke. “This was no *strange* coincident. There is a man who is meddling with powers not meant for mere mortals.” <c>

The Strange man spoke calmly, easing with his tone, a mysterious vibe resonated from his voice almost like an enchanted ghost or perhaps the Wizard of Oz. “His name is Felix Faust. He is seeking the powers of the divine, to control the Holy Trinity. The magical power of the trinity will allow Faust to harness the power of creation and death. I speak before you all because *this* is no coincidence. The holy trinity can only be stopped by a trinity brave enough to face divine judgment.”



Superman: Superman was not one to let an action go undefended, so he waited, taking the moment to descend down toward Wonder Woman and Batman, a brow raised as he turned the accusation toward him. “You’re accusing me of causing this?” He stepped closer to the smaller man. “I just spent the last forty five minutes trying to stop this from happening. You come down here in your silly little plane and dare point the finger at me?” He didn’t realize he was raising his voice, it took the sound of the stranger to snap him out of it. He turned toward the man and folded his arms over his chest. He was cautious to begin with, the only person he had a grain of trust for at the moment was Wonder Woman, purely because she had not come in throwing around blame. “So, this tidal wave, our meeting, you’re saying it was predetermined?” -c-

Clark did not like that events were set out in front of him like a road map, he didn’t believe that for anyone, there was always a choice, you could always change your path, all it took was the right sign to point you toward the proper road. “You seem to know an awful lot about this, and not many people can sneak up on me. Why should we trust you?”



Wonder Woman E4: Diana watched them with irritation.. little boys puffing up their chests like pigeons. She watched them, the smaller man with the commanding voice? Just mortal, it was plain but he had a lot of self belief, maybe too much, full of his own self importance.. big fish in a small pond. She looked at the larger man, he was interesting, he could swat this mortal like an insect and he spoke as if he had to justify himself, as if for all his power, he was more a lost boy than the mortal before him. She’s been so used to seeing the mortals as children, it felt strange, confusing, to see one so powerful. She thought back to his actions against the wave, the ice the strength, was he perhaps more powerful even that… her eybebrow raised.. and yet he felt the need to justify.

Her attention was drawn to the third man. Strange? She had not noticed him, her eyes usually keen as a hawk and yet, he had sneaked up on them. Her eyes narrowed, predetermined? She didn’t like the sound of that, more gods playing with what they deemed lives of lesser worth.

She approached standing between the two squabbling boys “More Gods?” It had been her experience that the more commonly something in the world proclaimed itself right or honorable or good or holy, the less like it was so to be, -e-



Sinister Calling: Phantom Stranger: The Stranger replied calmly in his ominous tone. “Destiny works in mysterious ways, Superman. You will find that this is not a matter of trust in me. I am but a messenger, you must seek out the Corinthians. Only they and your combine fortitude can confront this crisis.” The stranger’s clear and white eyes tilted towards Wonder Woman and her question. “That which is above all.” His words were perhaps cryptic, but that was his job. He could do very little to directly give the ‘mortals’ information that would significantly impact the balance of the cosmos. To their feeble minds it would seem as though he was being vague and unhelpful. “This city has an institute for the study of divine relics. Go there and you will discover what you must do next.” The phantom turned away and began walking back the way he came when suddenly he vanished like a ghost.



Batman: Batman stared at the man and then looked back at Superman. “That is one active imagination or there is truth in his story. Where does Metropolis keep its biblical artifacts?” The Dark Knight’s sight then went towards Wonder Woman, reading her posture and confidence…the woman was almost as tall as he was and in her boots she was rivaling his height exactly. They both didn’t wear the same kind of outfit Batman wore, they didn’t dawn a black cowl helmet with titanium plates and pads guarding his critical points of his body, protecting him from physical harm. ‘Even if I want to disbelieve what the man says, I’ve seen enough to know that there *may* be a divine power…and that maybe he’s as childish and self-righteous as he’s depicted in the Old Testament. He would allow some power hungry maniac to wield his power as some kind of sick lesson of the day.’ <c>

Were Batman’s thoughts, ever questioning and doubtful. Much like Wonder Woman and Superman, Batman disliked divine intervention and disbelieved any thoughts or accounts of such. He believed that humans were the reason for their bad behavior. But the Dark Knight wasn’t exactly a non-believer of God…He just chose people over God.



Superman: Clark looked from the Stranger, to Batman, to Wonder Woman, it was odd, a threat the size of which none of them had seen, all of them arriving in tandem to deal with it. Perhaps this was more than mere coincidence. “It does seem rather neat, doesn’t it?” The journalist in him, the skeptic showing it’s face. “A threat that requires all of our attention at once, a man appearing from nowhere with more information than he’s willing to give us, sends the three of us on some wild goose chase.” He didn’t like it, mainly because there were few options to try and subvert anything. “I know Metropolis better than the two of you, Wonder Woman, you know the gods he refers to, you can accompany me to the museum to see if this artifact actually exists, Batman. You found the cause of the tidal wave, I didn’t move the moon, which means someone did, we have a name, I recommend you dig into Felix Faust, see if that leads anywhere, we’ll meet back here in...2 hours?” -c-

If it was a trap, it was best that all three of them weren’t together, this meant putting faith in Batman. His pulse didn’t change when he accused Superman of pushing the moon out of alignment, either he truly believed Superman was the only person who could have done it, or he was a sociopath. Clark didn’t see the latter being true, he had too much evidence to the contrary. A wanted criminal, yes, but with all the articles he read, Batman had never harmed someone who hadn’t deserved it, or brought it on themselves. He seemed to be trying to do the right thing, regardless, he was all Clark had for now. -e-



Wonder Woman E4: Diana believed in Gods, oh yes, she knew from her own experience of their power and capriciousness, she knew of them of their petty jealousies and hatreds and of the power they wielded on the defenseless. How they talked of good and right and justice and said nothing. This messenger was no different, talking and saying nothing, and his gods were no different. She listened to the man in the mask with pointy ears, something about them brought a smile to the corner of her mouth. Was this one of the gods of the east, of the desert people?
Superman? The name seemed to fit... and Wonder Woman? The name seemed to have stuck, it would have to do. She knew gods, but perhaps not these, the animal gods of the lands beside the river? Or the god on the desert mountain. Gods were Gods and one did not defeat them except by understanding their games. She nodded if one didn’t know the game it made sense to read the rules.
“I will go with you” -e-



Batman: Listening to Superman’s plan, the Dark Knight agreed in silence that they were solid objectives, but when he tried to tell Batman where to go, Batman would chime in. “Which mythos are you an expert in Wonder Woman? Greek, Japanese, Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic, Christian, Pagan, Jewish, Hindu, Satanic, Mayan?” Batman changed his stare from looking at Wonder Woman to Superman. “I’m going with you.” -He stated in a matter of fact tone. “I can gather details on Faust en route to the museum. I’ll follow your trail, since both of you will arrive there before I will.” Batman turned away from both of them as if to have the last word as he made his way into the cockpit from the wing of his aircraft. He stopped by the hatch and looked over his shoulder. “And don’t forget…I’m the one with a $50,000 computer capable of scanning the world’s information on whatever it is we’re dealing with.” <c>


He hopped into the pilot seat and closed the cockpit as he pulled back on the joystick to lift off the ground and into a hover. He turned his attention to the computer and began three separate searches. “Felix Faust” was among the searches, as well as a search for “Holy Trinity.” And “Wonder Woman” being the third. At the museum the obelisk would be glowing a crimson shade of omega energy; the ancient text upon it glowed with brilliance that lit up the area casting the text onto all surrounding walls, floor tile, and ceiling. No one would be there in the hallways
as the building itself was dark on the inside.

[Deleted]

Jul 7, 2015 18:15:19 GMT -5 @spoiler said:

Superman: Clark was slightly impressed with Batman, but it was hidden deep under annoyance at his cocky display as he walked toward the Batwing, Superman turned, facing Wonder Woman. “I wonder how he’d like to be the one with the 50,000$ paper weight…” Coming face to face with her he took a look at the city. “The museum isn’t too far, it’s right in the middle of Little Bohemia, follow me.” He didn’t use his full speed, he never had in populated areas, too much damage where his feet landed, too many possibilities for disaster. This was a different reason altogether, he had seen Wonder Woman running along the water, so he knew she was fast, but he didn’t know how fast and didn’t want to leave her behind. IT seemed they were working together for the time being, it was best that they were near enough to watch each other’s backs. If they were up against something powerful enough to move the moon out of it’s orbital pattern, he didn’t want to take any chances. -e-



Wonder Woman E4: She watched the two of them, Superman seemed almost to be cutting the other man out, the man in the dark suit with the pointy ears who had not their powers and yet still seemed to consider himself their leader visibly bristled and turned to her. Was he deliberately ignoring Superman, perhaps displacing his feelings onto her. His questioning of her knowledge of the various Deities fairly bristled with hurt pride and indignation. Displacing. She smiled “Only the ones with the deities I know personally.”

She watched as he turned back to Superman, was the jutting of his chin a pout or a by-product of the masking of his voice. He definitely considered himself the leader… and proud of his toys. She turned her attention to Superman, this one clearly had the power, more perhaps even than she had? Yet he seemed reluctant to use it. Irritated words muttered as he turned to her. The other man obviously irritated him, but there was some regard there, that much was clear, although the image in her mind of the flying machine crushed into a small ball and resting on some papers brought a wry crooked smile to her face.

She followed as he asked, they knew this world better than she, the pace was easy, he was holding back, yet even at this pace she expected to reach the city before the flyer as she jogged just to Superman’s, slightly behind. Let him set the pace, there was time enough to understand them, no point in antagonizing them.. they were playing enough at that between themselves. “Who is he?” -e-



Batman: “Ace, what do you have?” “Hrm…It appears the there are a few gentlemen known as Felix Faust, however there is a legendary story of Faust. A literary piece from German legends. A brilliant scholar who makes a deal with the devil for indefinite knowledge and pleasures…” Batman contemplated the new information. “That can’t be a coincidence. Felix Faust is looking to acquire the power of God, according to that stranger.” “Indeed sir. I can dig into this book and see if anything useful comes up, hm?” “Keep on standby, I may need more information.” The black jet went into hover by the museum and landed in a nearby cemetery field that was empty. The museum itself was partially a cathedral monastery, with a chapel attached to it. Exiting the cockpit the Dark Knight stepped out onto the grass and made his way towards the large building with fine architecture. <c>

The walls were a bright stone white texture making it feel authentic and ancient simultaneously. A metal detector and scanning devices were placed at the front door, but with an open space between the doors he slipped by undetected by the machines. Immediately his blue eyes took in the red text upon the walls. His right hand tapped his left bracer to activate his detective vision and begin scanning the environment for clues; needless to say the area was less than ideally clean for a forensic team. He began walking around ignoring the omega energy radiating from the obelisk.



Superman: Superman slowed to a stop just outside of the museum before he answered her address, which was only a few seconds after she asked it. “I’m Superman, I am from a distant planet, landed here when I was a child and found that while I look like an average human I could do incredible things, so I use my gifts to try and help the world. Metropolis is my home. You’re Wonder Woman, right? You’ve made a few appearances in Gateway city, but no one knows much about you. Where are you from?” Answering the question “Who are you” without lying while also keeping select details private was tricky at best. His answer sounded like it had been written for a press release, but it was honest enough. He approached the large double doors of the museum and filtered through his different visions, it was habit, just get a sense of all the energies that were around him, leave no chance to be snuck up on, check for danger. -c-

“It looks clear inside, but there is a strange energy coming from this place, I’ve never encountered it before.” He made a mental note to stop by the local PD and have them quarantine the area when he was done before simply pushing the door open and stepping inside for closer inspection. -e-



Wonder Woman E4: A distant planet? It made sense he was plainly not of the world of men, nor of olympus or any of the other gods of which they spoke. It was all he said, she smiled again at his reticence, men, of this world or another, always secrets. “I’m Diana” she said, her voice firm “…of Themyscira” It did not matter that she told him its name the island was shielded from their gaze, and the name could mean nothing to him. She couldn’t tell if he wanted or expected more, it didn’t matter they were slowing and she could sense the energy herself. As he stopped before the doors staring hard as if he could see right through them. She placed a reassuring hand at his elbow. “I can feel the energy, rumbling low and dark , as if it touched many senses at once.” –e-



Batman: As the two entered Batman spoke. “Felix Faust…The name may seem familiar as it’s from a German legend of a man who sold his soul for absolute knowledge and pleasure. It would
seem that the stranger was correct, if Faust is looking for Divine power, he may have found it here…” Batman was standing beside a column that stretched to the ceiling, its size towered over

He turned and looked towards the obelisk and spoke. “Notice anything? Its emitting a radiation source unlike anything I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t register on the periodic table…” Bamtan spoke with his deep and matter of fact voice with a hint of curiosity dripping from him. He wanted to know more and was almost eager to find out, an inner scientist in the man it would seem.



Superman: Clark nodded, his hand coming to his chin as he stared over the object. “Yes, I noticed the radiation when I came in. It’s nothing I’ve seen before on any spectrum, but it’s lighting up like a christmas tree, could be from another planet, or possibly the creation of one of the gods. Diana, have you ever seen anything like it in Themyscira?” He racked his brain, only for a moment, it’s memories sifting through as fast as Bruce’s super computer. The tragic history of Dr Faustus, it was a literary work that was meant to show the old morale “Be careful what you wish for.” This would not be the first time that ancient literature and fiction was shown to have some basis in fact, but that would make the man they were looking for ancient, or perhaps he was merely a descendant of the man the work was poised after. He continued going through, rereading the play in his mind as he waited for Diana to chime in. -e-



Wonder Woman E4: Diana stepped out from behind his shoulder, it was their world, she had been content to watch but this was as beyond them as it was her, no need to defer to their egos. She had seen many things, many wonders, from the pits of Hades to the fires of Ares that burned in the mortals he influenced, to the magic of Circe. She had never seen anything like this. She took a step forward hand outstretched, feeling energy like a storm when lightening is in the air. “I have not” she spoke hesitantly “This does not feel like the gods“ she glanced back at Superman “Nor sorcery,.. but something from… outside.” –e-



Batman: “Yes.” -Batman stated in response to Superman’s observation about Faust’s age.- “A descendant or perhaps alias…But I doubt it’s a coincidence.” Batman continued to stare at the obelisk, not looking to either of them, but all of their costumes would absorb the amaranth glow of its radiation. “If Wonder Woman is correct and its not sorcery and science can’t identify it…Perhaps its something *beyond* your Gods, Wonder Woman.” It was then the room began to feel a disruption as turbulence began to sweep across the room and a small explosion erupted creating a white tunnel with radiation emitting from it along with a high concentration of wind. Three women stepped through, one armed with a bow and arrow, gold trimmed armor upon green studded armor. Another wore silver breast plate with green loin cloth and boots. Her yellow skin wild and untamed with chaotic facial structure and sharp definition. <c>

The third wore a red and black leotard with a crimson cape. The woman in red spoke confidently and with a trace of royal purpose. “Superman. You will come with us, now! Our lord, Darkseid summons you.” Batmanwould narrow his eyes and remain by the pillar he was positioned at. Batman’s hands reacted to his belt and armed two sonic batarangs. “Friends of yours?” Batman spoke with his question directed towards Superman. The Dark Knight’s shoulders straightened and prepared for combat if the trio were to decide a course of attack.




Superman: Superman was lost in thought, analyzing the pillar before him and comparing to anything he may have seen in research from his past, school reports, bylines, he was coming up all but empty. The explosion rattled him out of his mind and he immediately checked Diana and Batman’s positions. They didn’t seem injured, nor moved by the blast. His eyes then fell on the three warrior women before him. “No one I’ve ever met before.” He took the precious seconds while he stepped forward, diplomacy was first and foremost on his mind. By their dress and the manner in which they spoke he imagined they were from a more primitive culture, but also more harsh. Another option was that the armor was a sign of status and not a garb of war. “I do not know a Lord Darkseid, my home is in trouble, I’m afraid I’m going to have to respectfully decline.” He spoke clearly and confidently, standing tall and marking their posture. -c-

Superman: This was obviously not a request, it was an order, but he needed time. They had come through a break in mass, only a high concentration of energy could have opened the rift, energy could always be traced back to the source with the right equipment and Batman seemed to have more than enough of that. They were in the middle of the city, the fight, should one be required would need to be contained as much as possible. They were an unknown entity, their strength, speed, all of it a mystery, but if their commanding tone was any indicator, it would not remain that way for long.



Wonder Woman E4: ‘Beyond the gods?’ It was a thought that troubled her and almost as she thought it a turbulence grew in the room, a roar and rushing and then the blast caught them and yet they all stood firm as the rush of air blew her hair about her face. As the flash receded, Diana’s hand went to the hilt of her sword. ‘Amazons?!’ the thought ran through her mind a question and an exclamation. The armour, the weapons, all might not have looked out of place on Themyscira. Yet they were not amazons, warrior women, yes, but lacking the grace, the gentleness of her sisters.

There was a hardness to them, more than she had ever seen, more even than in the men of this world, more even than Circe so often ruled by her passions. She looked into their eyes and se saw a cruelty, more than that perhaps, she had thought there was no passion but perhaps there was a passion for cruelty. Her hand remained on the hilt of her sword, there was no need yet to precipitate a fight, but she found herself edging towards Superman.

Ordinarily she would have moved towards the man in black, the more defenseless.. the child, but they had expressed an interest only in Superman, and so it was to his side she began to move, watching to see their response to his words. Indeed their response flashed with what she took to be anger.
“Sisters, Why does your Lord require this man?” –e-



Batman: The crimson agent was known as Bloody Mary, she was apparently leading this excursion. Her team mates Mad Harriet wore the silver armor while the last member was named Artemiz. Bloody Mary would grin. “Lord Darkseid thought you would object.” Artemiz armed an arrow from her quiver and aimed towards Superman and shot it towards him at a speed barely faster for Superman and Wonder Woman to witness, almost as fast as a laser beam the projectile would appear like a simple primitive piece of equipment, but if it stabbed into Superman’s chest it would immediately inject a bio-chemical compound that began infecting his lungs, his body would no doubt intensify from the sudden impact of pain alone. The force used with the arrow would be enough to throw Superman backwards much like a Long bow would to a normal human would. The shot startled Batman and caused him to immediately take shelter. <c>

Artemiz would arm another arrow and be prepared to shoot Wonder Woman or Batman if they attacked, though a second successful attack against Superman would render him harmless enough for transport to Apokolips. Artemiz would then speak out towards Wonder Woman and Batman. “Neither of you are requested by our Lord…Stand back or we will kill both of you.”



Superman: He spotted the arrow being drawn from the quiver and moved as quickly as he could before she had time to ready her bow. He’d line himself up to her right, Charging the woman in the silver armor. The hope was that Artemiz wouldn’t have a shot, and if his charge connected, he’d be able to send both her and Mad Harriet sprawling. “It looks like they’re not asking!” He called, the bow looked vicious and the armor the women wore marked them clearly as warriors. The power they were dealing with was massive and Superman wasn’t about to be caught underestimating his opponent. If he successfully managed to get the two of them off their feet, he’d turn, checking the positions of both Batman and Wonder Woman, while keeping his eyes mainly focused on Bloody Mary. “I’m not one to be ordered around, your lord Darkseid will wait, or he won’t be having the audience he requested.” -c-
He sounded surer than he felt, whatever it was that brought them here had created a tidal wave the size of the entire eastern seaboard, what could possess such power? -e-


Wonder Woman E4: Diana saw the bow rise, unbelievably fast, faster perhaps than she herself could have raised it and as it rose she saw immediately that the nocked arrow was pointed towards Superman. Her grip loosened on the hilt of her sword and almost without pause it rose as quickly as she could manage to try to block the projectile in its path towards the man in blue. Barely before her arm rose above stomach level the force of his movement towards the women in front of them knocked her arm away causing her to turn where she stood, no man had ever had the strength to move her arm like that and it surprised her almost as much as the speed of their assailants. The arrow seemed still on target and as he blue past her a blur of colour her hand instinctively gripped for him trying to pull him away from its trajectory.


Batman: Superman had dodged the arrow prompting Artemiz to prepare another shot, Blood Mary simply stood by observing while Mad Harriet seemed all too eager to charge into Superman’s blind charge. She saw within his tactic he was unrefined and nowhere near as skilled or trained as her fury allies, but did take note that Wonder Woman had a battlefield posture and trained technique. As Superman boldly charged, Harriet slipped to the side of Superman’s charge and lashed out a kick that would aim to strike him in the back of his shoulder blades with a powerful enough to slam him directly down into the ground before even reaching Artemiz. Artemiz would shoot two arrows towards Wonder Woman attempting to penetrate her left thigh and her left bicep. Bloody Mary set her gaze upon Batman and smirked in a sadistic amusement prompting Batman to narrow his eyes and crouch; simply she stared at Batman releasing a telekinetic wave that threw Batman backwards and into a glass display case.


Superman: There one moment and gone the next, Superman had only known a few beings that were as fast or faster than him and they were kryptonians. He should have hung back, attempted to learn more about them, but he was a man of action. Hindsight was 20-20 and as she moved behind him he waited feeling the hard blow that connected with his spine. Slamming into the floor, he placed his hands onto the floor, moving to push himself to his feet before stopping. He had seen that Wonder Woman had her own abilities, but none of them knew anything about these women and obviously they were more than met the eye. Batman had his own gadgets, but he didn’t know how far that would carry him, they wanted him, if they got him, the other two would be spared, the choice was obvious. “Stop.” He stood, raising his hands. “I’ll go with you, leave the other two out of this.” -c-

It wasn’t that he didn’t have confidence in his team, but lack of foresight had lead him into a foolhardy charge that put two other people in danger, now that he saw how much danger, it wasn’t worth the risk. -e-


Wonder Woman E4: The wrench on her arm was surprising, shocking, almost unbelievably painful. Diana had never felt discomfort like it as the bulk of the man wrenched her from her feet. No one had ever done that and the surprise of it was enough to weaken her grasp. She had stopped the rolling blackened steel masses of locomotives, deflected the course of tsunami, but never anything like the force exerted by this man. It had been enough though to deflect him from his initial path, to cause the arrow to miss him by barely the breadth of a hair. Another jolt ran through her arm and wrench his from her grasp as the one with the green hair lashed out a leg at his back. Her fingers snapped closed on thin air and he was out of her grasp and tumbling towards the archer.

Diana spun trying to regain her balance, seeing the bow rise again, an arrow loosed towards her thigh, one arm hung limply, sore from the two wrenches it had received but her right arm flashed out, down towards her thigh. The bow as already rising again. How could they be so fast? Faster even then this man who had so amazed her as the waves had crashed about them.

Barely, the arrow glanced off her bracelet, the merest touch, she had never missed, had almost begun to think she could not. A spark as the arrow glanced off, skimming her thigh enough to tear the fabric of her dark leggings, a light tear, pale against the dark fabric. Her arm rose to deflect the next arrow, already loosed before the first had torn her garments. She could deflect it too.

More pain, worse than the wrench of trying to stop the man in blue. Her wrist rose into the path of the arrow, more pain, she had missed and the arrow was in her arm before her wrist collided with the back of the shaft protruding from her bicep.


Batman: The furies would halt their attacks as Superman seemingly surrendered. Bloody Mary smirked with contentment as she signaled for her soldiers to surround Superman, pulling out her motherbox, She opened a blinding white portal. She placed the motherbox on her hip and waved for Superman and her soldiers to come. “Lord Darkseid will be pleased to meet your acquaintance.” Batman would narrow his eyes and despite knowing nothing about Superman, the man was their only shot at saving the universe from whatever Biblical crisis was at hand. Batman stepped forward and spoke with his deep tone. “Wait.” Batman walked around the furies coming between Bloody Mary and Superman, his gaze locking onto Superman. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”


Batman wasn’t sure what Superman’s response would be, but he was sure Superman would’ve said some sort of boy scout statement of ‘This is what I have to do.’ Which the Dark Knight didn’t believe. Rolling over for a bunch of assassins wasn’t something Batman would do, but Superman was different. Batman raised his hand offering a handshake to Superman and if Superman were to take his grip he would feel something between Batman’s hand, it would be a small black device shaped like a batsymbol. After the shake Batman would turn around to Bloody Mary and lean into her face. “You have no idea what hell you’re bringing upon this world.” Bloody Mary would sneer. “This world is of little consequence to Apokolips. What do we care if it is doomed. Come, now.” [c]

Batman would step aside and return to Wonder Woman, his cape wrapped around his body as he observed them, leading Superman through the portal to the other side. The realm of Apokolips would be desolate in appearance, fiery, but also technologically advanced. Appearing inside a medieval Castle or fortress, Superman would be able to see guards dressed in gold armor with green skin and lizard and humanoid hybrid characteristics.


Superman: Superman’s eyes went wide as the arrow penetrated Wonder Woman, his first instinct was to rush to her side, he had to check himself, his savior nature held back by logical thought, if he moved, they could reassume their attack. His eyes focused, X-raying the wound he noticed the bacterial spread heading through her body. Also noticing the device in Bruce’s hand he retrieved it with a handshake and then turned toward the portal. “She’s got a rapid infection heading for her lungs, get her some help.” He wasn’t sure if this was the right move, the world was his to protect, he’d made a promise the day he’d began dawning the symbol on his chest. There were two threats, both unknown, Batman and Wonder Woman would need time to find out any information on the first while he worked the second, it would be difficult, but it could be done. He was sure of it, they’d saved the world once today, why not twice. -c-

At a rough shove to his back he stepped forward into the portal, landing in the entrance to the palace. His hands in front of him in a non threatening manner, he took count of the guards, wondering if they were as powerful as the three women escorting him. They obviously had no care for Earth, perhaps he could convince them to let him go if they thought the planet had something to offer them. For now, he’d have to bide his time, wait for an opportunity, and learn what he could. -e-


Wonder Woman E4: She watched as the three… she hesitated to call them women, led him away through the portal. She had battled Ares, god, demi-gods and gorgons, but he had been something to match them. These creatures… these furies, they were beyond her, they were beyond him, let alone the man in black buzzing around her, with what seemed like a feigned air of disinterest.

It was a strange feeling, the pain in her arm, fiery as if there was something more than metal in her arm. She knew the dangers, knew she needed the bracelets against weapons that could stab and pierce, but until now she had never realised just how much. She pulled at the shaft, barbs digging onto her flesh and renewed discomfort as her flesh tented up around the shaft, then turning her back the man in black, she pushed the shaft through her arm, fortunate that it was far enough to the side to miss the bone, then snapping the arrow at mid shaft she pulled it through from the other side.

The arrow head was sharp and spiked and vicious, with two little runnels on the head, perhaps to ease blood flow out of the wound? It was a cruel weapon, full of spite and malice, as cruel as anything Ares could have dreamt in his most troubled sleep. Her heart quickened, her breath a little shallower as her skin flushed. Was it anger? Her gaze narrowed on the creatures as they vanished. She was more angry with them at their spite and cruelty and malice than she had been at anyone in the world of men, more angry perhaps even than at Ares.

Perhaps it was exacerbated by the fact that for the second time today she was feeling helpless in the face of something overwhelming. The man beside her buzzed about bandages. She could feel the heat, the itching of her flesh beginning to heal in the wound already but it made sense to treat it until she recovered fully. “Yes, alright, bandages” He could be good for that.


Batman: Batman lead Wonder Woman to the Batwing where he pulled out a first aid kit. “The poison tipped arrows could give me a clue as to what we’re dealing with here…We need to get Superman back. I have a way, but we’ll need to be ready.” Batman wrapped her arm in the wound and then prepared a shot of penicillin. “Whatever the poison is, this should help take the edge off of its affects.” If granted permission he would inject the shot into her uninjured arm and then place the medical kit away. “Can you follow me to Gotham? If not you can hop in the back seat.” He would offer her his hand to climb onto the dorsal wing of the batwing if she needed a lift. If she didn’t he would climb into the batwing and lead Wonder Woman to Wayne Tower.[c]

It was on Apokolips Superman would travel red stoned corridors with flares fire and embers splashing against the walls. The sky was black with a fiery glow in the sky. He would approach the chamber of Darkseid where a man draped in a brown robe and clinging to a staff hunched over. Another man who appeared much like a furry, big headed creature whose physique was massive compared to any human. Kalibak wore green armor that exposed his thighs and biceps with a matching set of gloves and boots. At his side was a large serrated blade. Darkseid stood with his back to the entrance of the Throne room, his hands tucked behind him with a calculating poise as his head was high and gazing out a large window. Bloody Mary would speak with rejoice. “My lord Darkseid, I present to you the Kryptonian of Earth. Superman.” Darkseid slowly turned around to set his fiery eyes upon Superman. [c]

“Welcome, Superman to Apokolips.” His deep voice was full of pride and dripped with a haunting inflection that would strike terror into most men, Superman may not have been afraid but would be able to detect lesser men would be extremely terrified in Darkseid’s presence.


Superman: Superman could not let the worry he felt for his home, Wonder Woman, all of them. He was sure Batman could sustain her while he dealt with this. “You have a strange way of showing welcome, sending your attack dogs after me.” His voice was even, but strong he was showing that the man hadn’t scared him. “My world is in danger, I’m needed to defend it, please tell me why I’m here so I can get back to that.” His eyes scanned the room and the sky above. There was no yellow sun, but he didn’t feel weakened, apparently nothing was draining his cells of the radiation they’d stored, he wouldn’t be completely defenseless should things go south. Normally he’d have tried diplomacy, to work on whatever issue Darkseid seemed to have, but there was no time. He needed to know why he was here and if he was leaving by choice or fighting his way out.


Wonder Woman E4: The temptation was strong to brush him away, what did she need man’s potions for? The wound was already healing. But still she felt different, and the anger rose in her. It was hard not to want to swat him away, but her anger was not for him, it was for the furies that had taken Superman… and whomsoever ruled them. Reluctantly she offered her shoulder to him. It made sense to stay with him. It made sense also to deal with the poison, whatever it was, she wasn’t sure if it was the effects pf the poison which had enraged her or the situation, it had certainly left her feeling drained and so, stepping past his offered hand she climbed into his flying machine.


Batman: Wonder Woman would begin to feel her arm beginning to numb and its colorization fading into a gray color. As they landed at Wayne Tower Batman climbed out and offered to help Wonder Woman again. “Follow me into the lab.” It was at this point, Wonder Woman would be able to glance under Batman’s cape and see on his hip he was carrying the motherbox device that Bloody Mary had been holding before they left.”I gave Superman a tracking device, once we get you back on your feet; I imagine he’ll need our help.” Once in the lab Batman would meet up with Lucius Fox and the two would analyze the poison in the arrow head. Lucius would comment “Wonder Woman, pleasure to meet your acquaintance, you may not know it but I’ve seen you before during a trip to Gateway. A business meeting between Wayne Enterprises and Cale-Anderson Pharmaceuticals.” [c]

Darkseid listened to Superman and didn’t seem to care about his concerns. “Earth’s troubles are of a small matter, Superman. I’ve sent for you because I wish you to join my army as the Son of Darkseid. It is a great honor that few men and fewer creatures are worthy. I’ve watched you for some time and I believe your success and triumph will resonate throughout the cosmos. Everyone will know the name ‘Darkseid.’ And they will bow before me and my sons.” Darkseid began to approach Superman, walking down a large flight of stairs to stand only ten feet away from Superman with his arms still folded behind his back.


Superman: Superman didn’t cower or even flinch as Darkseid began his descent down the stairs. “I never needed anyone to know or resonate my name. I have no wish to join your ranks, now, if that’s all, return me to my planet. There are people of real power there I wish to speak too.” He wasn’t showing the respect a lord ‘deserved’ and that was just it, nothing this man did deserved respect, a group of thugs sent to force a man into his presence, a complete disregard for his worries and now a proposition to make himself subservient to him, it was a dictator’s way, not a ruler that served his lands as much as they served him. He continued taking in the area, quick flicks of his eyes darting from one area to another to take it all in. He didn’t imagine his direct refusal would go over well with Darkseid, but he saw no other opportunity. -c-

The option had occurred, he could mention the dark energy they’d found resonating from Earth, perhaps Darkseid, in his quest for power, would want to know more and give Superman a chance to regroup with Wonder Woman and Batman, but that would be a last resort, he still had Batman’s device, he was sure that Bruce had given it to him for a reason.


Wonder Woman E4: The sensation in her arm was subsiding and with it some of the righteous anger that had surged through her before the flight. Some of which returned when upon exiting his machine the man had instructed her to follow him, without courtesy or manners. He was a strange one this man, so self-assured, and yet so fragile... almost as if he didn’t really care, as if his attention was always on a goal, and perhaps not always the goal that others might expect. Then she noticed the box. This one was sly, had he WANTED Superman taken just so that he could be tracked to wherever their enemy was located? Had this man in black offered him up? He would need to be watched… carefully.

A warm voice greeted her, gentle and good humoured in a way that the man she had accompanied back to Gotham in silence was not. She turned to this other man with a warm smile. “Ah yes, Leslie and Veronica, they do good work…I’m afraid you have the advantage of me Mr?” She did not remember having seen him, but she reached out a slender hand. –e-


Batman: Darkseid heard Superman’s response and held no amused expression, not that he seemed to have one ever. “You know not what you’re refusing. Look out there.” Darkseid simply turned his head towards a window, Superman could now see the people below living in rags, his ears could hear them speaking as they slaved away in mines, construction sites barely on the level of Stone Age complexity. He could hear prayers “Please Lord Darkseid, send us water.” “Please Lord Darkseid send us food.” “Praise Darkseid, he will shelter you from death.” Their moans of agony and pain, far worse than anything Superman had heard from Africa, China, or from a Red Cross shelter. This was virtually an entire planet praying for hope. “Earth will be destroyed, soon. There’s nothing you can do to stop it. So I welcome you to my home and I welcome you as my son. Do not disappointment, Kryptonian. There are no other options here.” [c]

“Mr. Fox, pleasure.” Lucius offered his hand to Wonder Woman. “You didn’t actually meet me, I saw you stopping some car or other.” Batman would interrupt. “ I got it.” Batman pulled out a vial of yellow fluid. “Fox, I’ll need another batch made up.” Batman would offer Wonder Woman the vial. “If you feel the symptoms are draining you too much, you’ll need this.” It would be a few moments later that another vial was made. Batman looked to Wonder Woman and pulled out the motherbox. “Are you ready?”


Superman: He stood at the balcony looking out over the mines and hearing the cries, he could smell the amount of food, hear the running water, he had enough for all of them and he hoarded it here, using it to get them to dance to his tune. It was a terrible thing, it was sickening and before Superman knew it, his fists were clenched, his teeth grinding. “You pathetic creature!” He turned to Darkseid, it was the first time in a long time since Superman had to look up to a man, but here and now, he had no problem making himself taller through action. “These people depend on you, you hang their lively hood over their head and watch as they drown for your own needs. I’ll never join you, I had a father and I pity anyone foolish enough to call you that name.” He hoped Bruce’s plan was in the works, in his search for the portal box, he’d found that it wasn’t on her person, and he hadn’t seen her put it away. -c-

He took in a breath, his chest rising as he began pulling in as much air as he could, he wasn’t fast enough for the Furies, but he could at least slow them down. “Now, return me to Earth, or try and kill me. I’m not going to be joining you, regardless of what you offer.” -e-



Wonder Woman E4: “The Pleasure is mine Mr Fox.” His handshake was firm, his manner warm and genial, she decided that she rather liked this Mr Fox, certainly more than the man working with the machinery who didn’t even bother to address his associate by a first name or a title. She caught the vial thrown to her by him. He was preoccupied of course, but it was still difficult not to find him irritating, like a precocious and annoying brat. She shot him an irritated look. Was she ready? More ready than anyone else in man’s world. But she held her tongue and smiled at him. “Of Course” –e-


Batman: Batman looked to Lucius and gave him a nod. “Did you get the item I needed?” “Yes, right here.” Lucius offered Batman a round device that Batman placed onto his hip. “Thank you. The batwing should be safe.” “No one knows how much she costs better than I do, Batman.” Pressing the button Batman opened the motherbox’s portal and then looked at Wonder Woman with a sober and blank expression. “Lets find Superman.” Batman stepped through the portal and appeared inside the castle where guards stood about looking at them curious. Their lizard like faces snarled at them and aimed their heavy machine guns towards Batman. Batman hunched over while narrowing his eyes and spoke immediately to Wonder Woman as she came through. “Take them from above; I’ll take them from below.” [c]

Batman tapped a button on his hip and Superman could feel Batman’s device vibrating with a little red light blinking. The sudden sound in the distance of plasma cannons firing as the Parademons roared like a serpent with slithering tongues and sharp teeth. Batman rolled and hurled two batarangs at the parademons tapping their chest with the explosives would only throw them backwards There were a total of ten parademons about the area to dispatch. Five of them ignited their jetpacks and took to the air to attack from above at Batman and Wonder Woman. Meanwhile Darkseid didn’t seem impressed or fazed by Superman’s outrage, turning to look at Superman he would calmly state. “Hate me all you desire, when Earth is destroyed, you will have no place to call home.” Darkseid began walking back to his throne as Kalibak began to approach Superman. “I should kill you for your disrespect of my father, lord Darkseid!” Kalibak’s teeth gritted at Superman clearly holding back his own anger.


Superman: Superman smirked, that was all he needed to hear. “You should, but you won’t, your father doesn’t want me dead, so long as he thinks he can have me as a son. Attack me if you want, but you’ll have to kill me and when Earth’s not destroyed, I’ll be coming back for them.” He tracked the beeping with his vision, he moved quickly, flying after the signal he turned at the doorway and released the breath he’d stored as he flew backwards, creating a large shield of ice about one third the length of the hallway. If the Furies were sent to attack, he didn’t want them to be on them as quickly as they normally could have been, if any of them followed, he was sure to catch them in the cone of cold and that was all the better for him. As Batman came into view, Superman put both feet forward, slamming his heels into one of the para demons and sending him flying out of a nearby window and down toward the mines. His next focus was the jetpacks, taking careful aim and only firing when Batman and Wonder

Woman were clear, his heat vision would attempt to overheat thier packs and send them crashing down. “You certainly took your time…..Thank you.”


Wonder Woman E4: It felt wrong to be following a child like this but so she did and as the portal opened and he stepped through she followed quickly prepared to intervene should an effort be made against him by the forces on the other side. A tremor of uncertainty ran through her, when the furies had attacked, when they had demanded Superman, it was to his aid, not the human’s that she had gone. She had tried to protect the one most able to protect himself, not the more vulnerable. That wasn’t something that sat easily on her heart. –c-

As she saw the guards, that sliver of uncertainty fused with the anger which had been slipping into dormancy and before he had finished speaking. The world of men was strange and confusing and frustrating. Their fragility, their inconstancy, the fact the same men could show cruelty and tenderness, almost in the same breath. It was hard to take. –c-

Here though was a world of cruelty, and being that took a pleasure in it and as she released the constraints on herself, it felt almost as if she had been loosed from manacles and she was filled with energy, an energy that almost frightened her as she leapt high onto the first guard her foot connecting with its neck, its head twisted to an unnatural angle as she twisted around it too try to force it head first to the ground with an audible crack. –c-

She saw five more of the guards rise into the air, and her hand itched to feel the hilt of her sword, if her first target remained successfully downed, she prepared to leap for them as they passed, intending to tear one from the air. –e-

[Deleted]

Batman: Demons dropped out of the sky as their jetpacks were damaged by Superman or their bodies smashed by Wonder Woman’s blows. The Dark Knight maneuvered the battle arena with swiftness and determination unlike most humans. “We were busy trying to setup our next move. Not everyone is faster than a speeding bullet.” Batman sniped at Superman with his words while the Dark Knight ducked underneath a parademon’s punch. Standing up he grabbed the parademon’s arm and locked it in place over Batman’s shoulder while twisting his body to throw the parademon into two more knocking them all down. “There will be more guards soon…Have you found any indicator that Darkseid is behind the crisis on Earth? Is Faust working for him?” “Superman! You will not escape so easily! And this time your allies will be punished!” Were the words shouted across the hallway as Blood Mary, Lashina, Artemiz, and Mad Harriot came charging towards the Trinity of heroes. [c]

Batman would size up their numbers and then quickly state. “Superman, we need to separate them.” -Batman would point towards the doorway Superman had just flown through not too long ago when he arrived. Superman could probably create a fissure or a small Earthquake to damage the castle’s floor splitting it and striking the female furies at a distance. “Wonder Woman, focus on disarming the Archer…If we can give Wonder Woman the clear shot she can take her out…” Batman knew Wonder Woman’s was a capable enough armsmen that one of her few weapons - tiara, sword, or lasso were capable enough to disarm Artemiz of her weapons forcing Artemiz to enter Superman and Wonder Woman’s playing field.


Superman: Superman continued tossing the guards around to the best of his ability while focusing on Batman’s questions. “He knows that Faust is up to something, but he didn’t admit any fault. He offered me a place in his family, said it would be the only place I go once Earth is destroyed.” A strong right hand straight, sent another of the guards flying into the depths of the screaming masses below. A brief respite due to the three fighters efforts, and then the sound of the Furies calling for him. Superman took up a position between Batman and Superman, hovering above the ground, he was always faster in the air. “I forgot to mention that he’s not too keen to let me go.” The plan seemed like a solid one. His eyes began glowing red, three separate beams of heat were fired toward the doorway before Superman began to fly about the confines of the room. -c-

Artemis was his biggest concern, staying in the air gave him the option of choosing an unpredictable flight path, making him a harder bead for her arrows. While he flew, he continued firing heated waves, hoping the beams would be enough to funnel the three women away from each other, he’d tried charging in head first, it hadn’t worked, so distraction was the game for the moment. If the Furies took the bait, he’d immediately dive foot first toward the castle floor, hoping to split it and allow the crumbling walls to further limit their ability to stick together. “Hopefully you’re 50,000 dollar computer came up with a plan to get us back to Earth?” -e-


Wonder Woman E4: Diana leapt, using the body of the downed guard for purchase, her fingers caught the leg of one of the flying parademons, her hand clenching around its limb. It felt odd to be listening to the mortal man, but like a child prodigy he had confidence, ego and his instincts were good. Her arm was already in an arc towards the archer as she heard his order, she hoped it would be enough to distract her, perhaps to cause the archer to doubt herself, to refocus her aim. Regardless of whether she focussed on the mortal, the flying man in blue or on Diana herself, there was an opportunity. As her arm swung she loosed the parademon towards Artemiz.

The shout from the man, the blur of the man flying amidst the myriad parademons, size of the object approaching her, Diana hoped these would be enough to distract the archer sufficiently that her arrow would be loosed towards the large object approaching her at speed and neither at the vulnerable mortal nor Superman. She also hoped that by Newton’s third law, the act of throwing the parademon may be enough to take her out of the line of the archer’s sight as she threw tiara at the archer’s bow hand. To disarm her. –e-


Batman: Batman wouldn’t focus too much on Faust, but it was enough information for Batman to be sure that Darkseid wasn’t involved as Darkseid had probably as much information as the heroes did. As the ground sundered Batman began to lose balance, he was the slowest person on the entire battlefield and needed to rapidly adjust otherwise Superman and Wonder Woman would be restrained - which could’ve hindered their chances of victory. The female furies were pulling no punches and wouldn’t think twice to kill Batman or Wonder Woman, and seemed to have only a slight concern for Superman’s health - Batman couldn’t blame them for that. Harriot and Bloody Mary split to the heroes right side while Lashina charged from the left, hurling her whip outward with a cat-o’nine tails with razor sharp tips. On a micro level; the whips cord itself was also serrated and even grabbing the wire would cause lacerations if the slightest bit of resistance was given to it. [c]

Lashina’s swings were a myriad and flourishing moves that created a miniature sized dome around her. The whip, like Artemiz’s arrow was lightning speed and far too fast for Batman to fully analyze its movements, to Superman and Wonder Woman, however; it was as fast and lethal as a bullet to a human. Blood Mary would raise her hand towards Batman unleash a psionic wave that would strain the Dark Knight’s brain causing blood to pour down his nose as he tried to fight against Bloody Mary’s telepathy. ~Bow before Darkseid!~ ‘I…don’t…bow! I am vengeance!’ “Argh!” Batman collapsed to his knees and reached to his belt for an explosive grenade. Mad Harriot would climb upon the walls and leap a great distance towards Superman, the attack was simple enough for Superman to dodge otherwise the woman would latch onto Superman to begin lacerating and shredding up his body. If Superman dodged - unknowingly he would setup Mad Harriot to drop down on Wonder Woman for her to begin wrapping her legs around Wonder Woman’s waist and try to submission slam Wonder Woman into the ground head first. Artemiz would maneuver to dodge the parademon, disrupting any attempt she had of trying to shoot Wonder Woman or Batman. When Wonder Woman’s tiara came flying towards her she raised her bow to block it only for the bow to snap and for the tiara to smash Artemiz in the chin throwing her back against the wall. “Son of a-…!”


Superman: Despite his skill, Batman was the most vulnerable of the trio, it seemed the Furies knew this as well, with their physical attacks focused on Wonder Woman and Superman. His eyes followed the whip, it was difficult to perceive and would be twice as difficult to disarm. The leap from the wall didn’t go unnoticed, but it wasn’t his primary concern, the attack was easily avoided before several quick heat beams were fired toward Bloody Mary, there was no holding back here, these women were out for blood and had more than enough strength to do it. If Mary managed to dodge the incoming barrage of heat vision his immediate reaction would be to take up position between batman and the other two furies. “Wonder Woman, Batman, we’re outnumbered and running out of defenses, we need a perimeter or an escape route.” His eyes shifted from between each of the enemies watching carefully, listening to sound of more parademons approaching, though the fissure he created seemed to be slowing them down. -c-

He was ready to move Batman if an attack was launched, but he had no plan for the further battle and he didn’t like the option of wait and see with an impending destruction making it’s way toward Earth. “I’m open to ideas…” -e-


Wonder Woman E4: Diana knew they were fast, even as her tiara was spinning towards the archer, she knew another attack must be coming, too fast to prevent it, she must use it against the quarter from which it came and as her leap returned to the ground she was already drawing her sword. The man was clever, a prodigy perhaps, but also vulnerable, it was vital she and Superman protected him. She felt the blow against her back. Of course that was where the attack must originate. It was clear this was going to hurt, but as she felt herself tipping forward, she twisted her sword beneath her arm above the legs wrapped python tight around her waist so that every force her attacker mustered against her would be transmitted when she hit the ground though the hilt and through the sharp blade into her attacker’s belly. She felt strangely at ease, if they wanted blood, they could have it, this liberation, rage so long held inside, for once she was free to fight. –e-


Batman: Superman’s heat blasts would strike Bloody Mary forcing the woman to back off and force her attention onto Superman. ~I will see to it that these two will DIE a SLOW and PAINFUL death!~ Would roar inside Superman’s head as a loud screaming would fill his ears as his brain was now being crushed prompting blood to pour out of Superman’s ears and nose - This would disrupt Superman greatly making his controlled attacks far more reckless and unrestrained as his finesse was taken away. That was until Batman’s grenade blew up against Bloody Mary’s chest throwing the woman backwards and into a wall where she slammed her head into it before collapsing. “One down.” Batman stated before charging Artemiz. The parademons would keep their distance as they swarmed around the trio, the furies did their best work without outside influence. [c]

Mad Harriet grinned as Superman evaded her and she had the opportunity to drop down onto Wonder Woman, cackling as she ran her hands down Wonder Woman’s shoulders but, it was upon impact she was gag and a blood splatter would shoot out of her mouth and onto Diana’s cheek and hair. She twitched before her body released Diana and toppled over onto the ground. She was still alive but clearly needing medical attention. Artemiz growled at Batman throwing a punch that Batman ducked and then kneed her in the stomach, before grabbing her by the arm to spin her around and run her towards Wonder Woman. “Wonder Woman!” Artemiz stumbled uncontrollably as she ran towards Wonder Woman - the archer was manipulated into charging Wonder Woman, but seeing her injured sister enraged Artemiz to continue a foolish charge that Wonder Woman had plenty of time to figure out how she would stop it. [c]

Lashina would capitalize on Superman’s distraction of Bloody Mary, as the woman was psionically attacking Superman, Lashina’s whip would reach out and attempt to coil itself around his neck. Its razor barbs would burrow into his skin causing an stressful pain that forced the nerves in his neck to spasm and throb with pain. As if that wasn’t enough her strength would snap the whip forcing Superman to slam into the ground head first.


Superman: Superman hit his knees, his eyes closing as his abilities began working without his ability to focus, his vision shifted, x-ray, infrared, microscopic, telescopic, all funneled through his line of sight, sounds from all different directions, pleas for salvations, heartbeats like jackhammers on his ears. “Ahhh!” He willed himself to stand just as the explosive on Bloody Mary’s chest exploded, A quick shake of his head brought him back to focus just in time for the barbed whip to wrap about his neck. He hardened his skin as much as he could, flexing the muscles of his neck to keep from being suffocated. He was done, it was enough, he had not only Batman and Wonder Woman to worry about, but the Earth as well. His hand shot forward, gripping the whip, letting the barbs dig in as blood pooled from his palm. “Enough!” -c-

He pulled, forcing all of his strength behind it, either he’d wrench the whip from Lashina’s hand or pull her toward him, either way, the move was a mere distraction, his right hand cocked as he flew toward the woman, the slack in the whip would give her much less control, even if she were still holding it, as the distance closed, he swung, putting a hard uppercut just under the Fury’s jaw. He hoped the attack was enough to incapacitate her, and if it was, would begin removing the whip from around his neck. “Two down.” -e-


Wonder Woman E4: “Correction…Three!” Diana shouted as she untangled herself from the woman with the green hair, whose legs kicked spasmodically at her as she pulled away. The shout worked seeming to enrage the archer more, stumbling in her rage, blind fury consuming her, Diana stood wiping the blood, both her own and that if her assailant in from her mouth, her own and that of the green haired woman at her feet, in a crimson streak of war paint up her cheek. The archer was so crazed it was simple for Diana to sidestep as would a matador and as she did so , the arm she had been hiding behind her back completed withdrawing the sword from the green Woman’s belly and swept a wide arc to clash against the archer’s outstretched wrists. “You do too much harm with those hands.”

But she was no longer looking at the effect of her actions. For so long she had constrained herself, playing at war with her amazon sisters in tournaments, or dealing with the people of the world of men like fragile animals, here she was free of consequence, except to the two men at her side and the world behind them and whatever these creatures suffered, they had brought upon themselves. She began striding towards Batman –e-


Batman: Lashina would grin as Superman was inflicting more pain upon himself, straining the whip to pit her strength versus his. “You’re a fool and I will spike your head for Darkseid’s--“ Superman would upper cut the woman throwing her backwards and onto the ground. Wonder Woman’s blade would slice into Artemiz’ bracers forcing the woman to crash into the ground as blood began to pool from her wounded arms. It was at this point Batman would meet Wonder Woman half way with Superman only a few paces away. “That’s all of them…” Batman would look to both of them and see they were probably as worn out as he was, Superman looking like a Tim Burton reanimated horror, and Wonder Woman like she had just survived Jurassic Park. Batman wiped the blood from his nose and raised his fists in preparation for theparademons when Darkseid’s voice spoke. “Enough!” [c]

Darkseid stood upon a floating device with his arms tucked behind his back. “You have bested some of my best warriors, Kal-El. Perhaps I will grant your request to return to that pitiful planet. Know that my offer still stands for you and I extend it to your allies here.” Kalibek would stand beneath and behind Darkseid as he pointed a motherbox at them. Tapping the button a white portal would open and Darkseid would speak. “Until next time, Kal-El. You would be wise to search your planet for its oldest and darkest secrets, only then will you realize the destruction that is inevitable. Even I cannot stop the fate that awaits your planet.” Batman would tilt his head some hearing Darkseid’s words and then he looked to both Superman and Wonder Woman. “We should go.” [c]

The portal itself would take them to Metropolis streets, where they would be placed in an area for outdoor dining. People walking their dogs, eating their lunch, and reading news papers would be all around observing the portal as it opened and blew heavy winds in the area.


Superman: As Superman stepped out of the portal he did his best to keep his injuries out of sight, he didn’t want the people of Metropolis to see their beacon quite so gruesomely injured. “I’ll need a few minutes. Talk if you need me, I’ll be able to hear you.” With that he took to the skies, a sonic boom was soon seen behind him as he flew in a northern direction. Something Darkseid had said resonated with him, Krypton was one of the most technologically advanced races in known history, he should have thought of consulting his father’s program earlier. As he landed he approached the standing ice wall that acted as the doors to his Fortress of Solitude. His father’s image greeted him as soon as he entered. “Kal-El, I was wondering when I’d see you again.” Superman folded his arms over his chest, his wounds had already mostly healed, thanks to the Earth’s sun. “I’ve been keeping busy, but I need information, and I’m told you may have some.” -c-

“Son, I am a construct, programmed only with the knowledge my living self currently possessed, what is it you need.” Clark began describing the obelisk, Darkseid, Faust, the entire story. “Does any of this sound familiar, something Krypton had information on?” -e-


Wonder Woman E4: It had been exhilarating, and even as her eyes adjusted back to the sky and the light of earth she caught her breath, breathed deeply again, even in the polluted air of the world of men was sweet as Themyscira meadows compared with the world they had just left. She stood a moment, rejoicing in their return, though the words of the creatures there still toubled her and cares returned as she looked at the people around her though and then she went to the strange man in black who had accompanied them, fought as bravely and, a wry smile slipped back onto her lips, even tried to lead. Even as she approached him, their companion was gone and so she turned her attention back to the man. “Are you well? Can I take you somewhere? Help you?” –e-



Batman watched as Superman went to leave without any delay. Batman then looked to Wonder Woman. “Something Darkseid said to Superman made me think...The world’s darkest and ancient secrets…” Batman would be cut off by people speaking and pointing at Batman and Wonder Woman. “Was that Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman?” Batman then spoke. “Perhaps we should continue this someplace else. Can you take us back to Gotham? The same place as before.” Batman awaited for Wonder Woman to do that, he prepared to wrap an arm around her for support while his other hand tapped the side of his cowl. “Ace. Prepare the Batwing, I need it loaded with two extra fuel tanks…It’s going on a long trip.” [c]

Jor-El would listen to Kal’s story and give a solemn nod. “Kryptonian legend states that before Earth’s people, we had an empire that was spread throughout the galaxy lead by our beloved leader, the God known as Rao. He was the embodiment of good and light. It was said that to bask in his glory would raise any man to the height worthy of serving Rao.” The history lesson on religion would seem slightly off point. “Rao had placed yellow suns across the galaxy as protective shields to guard the defenseless all across the galaxy. Earth has a yellow sun, Kal.

It is possible that long ago, Rao had visited Earth’s planet when its people were very young and realized they were but infants in their evolution and placed a star so that his Kryptonian children may protect these preemptive life-forms from outside invaders. To an infantile species, Rao would be nothing more than a God of light or of a Star, never truly able to comprehend the gift that he has given unto them.” [e]

Superman Superman listened closely to the story, his mind running through his father’s implications. “So, if I’m to understand this properly, Rao may have placed the yellow sun here in anticipation of our arrival and if he’s the god of all things that are good and light then...Then there must also have been a god of Darkness and evil…” It was the only thing that made sense in the structure of most narratives, an adversary, a reason for the god to be considered a god of light, basing his divine actions against the actions of another. “Is that the point of telling me all this? You think Faust is trying to draw out the power possibly left behind by the dark god and unleash it on Earth?”

Wonder Woman E4 “I can get you back there” the wry smile stayed on her lips as she pulled him close. It was obvious it was painful to him but he barely flinched, uttered no sound, just wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Hold on!” She began to run, just as she had across the waves before this whole nightmare began , and then they were airborne. It was easier this time, soon becoming second nature. Cares flooded her mind, not just the fragile man holding tight to her, but for this world, her own home and tales of darkness and evil that even the Olympian gods trembled to name. It was unlikely her mother knew, but the gods, when this journey paused it would be time for prayer –e-

“Rao had many enemies, Kal. Some sought to discredit his glory and preferred the dark and coldness of the universe. I cannot answer Earth’s history for you, my son. Perhaps with more knowledge collected by Earth’s computer and library database, I will have a more comprehensive understanding. With what little knowledge I have of Earth, I can tell you that Rao is a name common amongst their culture. And that Earth has 10 primary counts of solar deities that could qualify for Rao’s influence. You would require an ancient source material accurately understand and confirm which God is Rao and whom were his enemies. According to atmosphere and scientific understanding of Earth, I can compute such artifact of ancient Earth would be between 400-900 years old prior to human’s capable of successfully preserving such information.” [c]

Once they arrived in Gotham, Batman made his way back into the office where they had met Lucius Fox. The Dark Knight sat down at the computer station and began typing away to access the Batcomputer files. “Darkseid said to locate the ancient and darkest secrets of our planet…there’s only one man I know who qualifies under that category. He’s the leader of an eco-terrorist organization that has bases all around the world. I’ve been keeping tabs on where each of them were located as I’ve discovered them…Mostly the ones where their leader - Ra’s Al Ghul is hiding. He prefers only the best for his personal quarters. Here it is…Nanda Parbat. Located in the Tibetian mountains…Lets go.” [c]

Batman would seem demanding as well dismissive of Superman’s situation - perhaps it wasn’t polite or courteous but, one could also argue that time wasn’t on their side with this whole situation. “Ace, where’s the Batwing?” “On its way sir. It should be there soon.” Batman held out his tracer device and showed it to Wonder Woman. “Superman still has the other device. With it, I’m sure he can track us whenever he’s ready.” The batwing would fly overhead and hover. “Need a lift?” Batman asked as he shot a grapnel line to the cockpit and climbed inside. If she took him up on the offer she would be able to sit in the back seat otherwise he would fly off leading the way to Nanda Parbat.

Superman Clark had paid attention in school, history was a favorite subject of his and with a near perfect memory, he didn’t lose information as the years went on. “A god of Light that gave the world it’s yellow sun.” Pacing back and forth momentarily he went through the list in his mind, quickly he came to three possible candidates. “Ra, Apollo and Surya all fit the description, though, Apollo and Surya are closely linked in hard details and only vary due to cultural beliefs, making it likely that those two are one in the same as seen by different cultures. With that assumption in place, I can exclude them, leaving Ra, who is also closer to the time period. His three main rivals in the mythos were Ptah, Isis and Apep, it’s nothing solid, but it does give us somewhere to start.” He turned to the vision of his father, inclining his head slightly. “Thank you.” -c-

Superman The focus of his hearing had been on Bruce and Diana, he hadn’t caught the minute details, however, he had heard the Batwing and focused in on the sound of it now. Marching out into the arctic wilderness the skies became his home, a sonic boom left in his wake as he sped to find the other two members of his recently formed trio. Once in range, he activated the communicator that Bruce had given him. “Wonder Woman, Batman, I have a lead. My source indicated that this work is familiar among other planets and even has a basis in the history of Earth. The Sun God Ra could have been involved and this energy seems related to one of his enemies. The only three I can recall directly related to Ra are Ptah, Isis and Apep. If my information is correct, we’ll find that this disturbance is directly related to one of them.” -e-

Wonder Woman E4 While the man in black sat at his electronic oracle, Diana knelt bowed her head and called “Goddess Athena, help us. Help me to help these men, we have faced darkness and fury beyond even Ares and Hades, and they have called on darkness from our world that I fear to name. Goddess help us against the coming darkness, give me knowledge of what we will face.” Diana was greeted instead with the words of the man in black “Nanda Parbat”, perhaps Athena was speaking through him, she looked at the device he held out to her, and followed him to the Batwing. If Athena had chosen him as her vehicle, it made sense to stay close. –e-

The flight would be interrupted with a communication from Superman. “Egyptian Gods? That’s dating back roughly 3,000 B.C…Hardly since the beginning. Wonder Woman and I are en route to Nanda Parbat. In the Tibetian mountains, we’ll meet you there…” It was upon arrival upon a snowy mountain, Batman landed and pointed to the valley below they would see on the side of the mountain a carved ancient building within the rock face of a cliff. (Think Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) the building indeed looked old with columns supporting the building face and torches lighting the area without a sign of electronics or anything modern. Superman and Wonder Woman would be able to hear foot steps surrounding them within the darkness of the night. The bat wing was quiet but, far too loud in such a desolate place to go completely unnoticed. [c]

If Wonder Woman or Superman wouldn’t mention it, Batman would speak up. “We’re being watched. Lets not waste time. This place has a library of knowledge and information, we need to access it.” Batman stated with a matter of fact tone. He would add to this as though he were unsure how smart Wonder Woman and Superman were. “These will be ancient documents and texts, handle them gently and with care.” Batman leapt off the hill and extended his gliding cape to fly down to the entrance of the large building. The height of which was at least 9 stories high. Three League of Assassin guards took up defensive postures towards Batman as he approached.

[Batman]

Superman Superman didn’t waste any time, once he received the location, it was a simple willing himself to travel faster before he landed beside the Batwing, his ears focused, he could hear the slowed heartbeats and near silent footsteps of the guards posted on the outside. “Well, so much for sneaking in.” The documents would need to be handled gently, that didn’t mean the people guarding them did. As Batman glided down to the entrance, Superman was quick to follow, assuming Wonder Woman was with them as well, he took a brief look around. “At least 30 people inside.” He commented lightly, his first clenching. This was Batman’s wealth of knowledge, he’d know the best way inside. “Front door, or do we have other plans?”

Wonder Woman E4 The sound of footsteps in the snow was clear, a regular crunch as Diana looked about them in the dark, many footsteps and still some distance to the structure in the mountain wall. She raised a hand to draw their attention, but the man in black was already talking and then he threw himself as recklessly across the mountain as he did at any danger. It seemed so strange that so fragile a man could be so seemingly without fear. She wondered what it was that must have made him so. They were indeed to late and too obvious for surprise, as Superman said and as he too dove across the mountain she followed them a moment behind –e-

“A plan? We’re going to ask to use the library to find out more about this whole ritual that Faust is conjuring up. With the knowledge you’ve given us, it tells me that Faust is in the Mediterranean region somewhere.” It was at that point the Assassins would raise their weapons and speak firmly. “Halt! You are not allowed to pass. This is sacred ground of the Al Ghul Empire.” From the shadows Ra’s Al Ghul would step through and dressed in a green cape and black robe that concealed his entire body all but a white shirt at the center of his chest barely revealed. His curved beard and thick eyebrows settled upon Superman and Wonder Woman. The three could see him armed with a sword at his side along with a black cane in hand. “To what reason do I owe for such exalted visitors?” [c]

“I could order my men to kill you on sight, Detective. But given the alien’s reputation, I would hate to see all of China destroyed over one man’s betrayal.” “Ra’s, we need your library. The reason is none of your concern.” Ra’s Al Ghul would stroke his beard as those thick eyes gazed upon Batman and then he nodded. “Very well. Follow me…” Batman would watch as Ra’s began walking and spoke calmly to Superman and Wonder Woman. “Keep your guard up. These are ancient assassins over a thousand years perfecting the art of everything despicable about man-kind.” If it didn’t seem odd to either of them, surely by now it would that Batman knew of these people and knew pretty intimate detail. This location for starters was extremely isolated and easy to miss with satellite imagery or aerial reconnaissance and yet Batman knew exactly where it was located.

Superman “It’s not the assassin’s that worry me, this all seems rather convenient, one minute their defense perimeter is setting up complex flanking patterns, the next we’re being welcomed inside without a single question asked. If it looks like a trap and smells like a trap…” The men surrounding the trio were obviously skilled, but Superman had seen Batman and Wonder Woman in action, not to mention having access to his own talents. It was Ra’s that worried him, he knew nothing about the man, but he showed no nervous impulses, no inquisitive nature, he was just willing to let two strangers waltz into his home and start looking through precious historical documents? It seemed foolhardy and Superman didn’t get the impression that Ra’s had ever been accused of being foolish. -e-

Wonder Woman E4 On another day it would have been hard to imagine what more men could do to be despicable than the horrors and depravity she had seen already in the world of men. Today was different though, today she had seen a world where even the gods, even Ares would have quailed and so she watched his back, this Batman, prepared to deflect any blade or projectile aimed at them from the shadows. She could sense the tension n Superman, he plainly didn’t trust this man any more than she did, perhaps he knew more of this man that caused him to view their host as more than just another mortal. –e-

“It probably is.” A dark voice from the caped crusader replied to Superman as he walked through the chamber corridors of stone and ancient design. Each hallway was dark and Superman would be able to hear the men hiding in the shadows on the ceiling, behind the columns they walked past, behind the corners. They descended down into a dark staircase until they arrived in a large sandy brick chamber with bookshelves and ledgers upon books and manuscripts. Batman looked over the literary pieces and began walking through to look for something relevant. Ra’s simply stood by observing. “View what you must, but none of it leaves here.” Batman wouldn’t reply to that last portion of Ra’s sentence as Batman didn’t owe Ra’s anything and had no reason to obey Ra’s rules. [c]

They would see books of ancient tales of Morpheus, Hades, Odin, The great Emperor’s of Japan with each written in different languages. On the other side of the room was a translated archive that was rather convenient. Ra’s would look to Superman, at this point it would seem he was intentionally avoiding any direct recognition of Wonder Woman. “Perhaps my librarian could be of assistance if you inform him of what you are looking for.” A small man dressed in brown robes bowed, he was meek and lacked any kind of muscle..except in his hands where it would seem he exercised painstakingly so. The room held an enchanting sense of magic and lore that would probably take Clark back to his days of school exploring ancient Egyptian or Greek cultures. To Diana she could feel energies of magic reverberating against her bracelets as if they were reflecting an aura of energy emanating from the room.

Superman Superman marked the men above him, they were skilled, as he mentioned, but he found that most people couldn’t hide from x-ray vision, still, no need revealing more than he had to. He kept his pace brisk, taking in the sights as he went. The temple was fascinating, the ancient architecture was pleasant but also uniquely sinister as if, like Bruce said, these men were known for studying the worst humankind had to offer. He followed Bruce’s lead for the moment, not responding to Ra’s comment about the material staying in it’s place. However, he did respond when the man mentioned the librarian offering his services. “It won’t be necessary, thank you.” Superman had found that being polite until the time came to not be was an effective method of getting what you needed. He joined Wonder Woman and Batman in the task of finding texts, careful not to harm them. -c-

Superman His eyes scanned them quickly, he could review them later for more detailed information, with an Eidetic memory, it wasn’t like anything he read was going to be lost. Diana had been quiet, perhaps she was assessing the situation, keeping her eyes and ears open and preparing a strategy or perhaps she had little to say, Superman addressed both of them. “Any ideas on what exactly we’re looking for?” -e-

Wonder Woman E4 The place felt wrong, an enclave in the mechanised and polluted world of men, a shrine to the arcane as they descended the stairway the two men leading the way Diana eatched beind them for any unwanted attention. She almost reached out to touch some of the books as they passed. There was a power in books a power in knowledge , but as her slender fingers brushed past the dust covers, their names there.. Hades, Akheron, Arae, Empousa… she snatched her fingers away, arcane and corrupt, knowledge not meant for mortal men. Yet there was something about this man who spoke to Batman, mortal, and yet… not.

Wonder Woman E4 If there was trouble and the men about them were mortal, she and superman could deal with them she felt sure , but this strange man who watched her two companions with hawk-like intensity and yet had not acknowledged her seemed unconcerned. The energy in the room was close, cloying, almost suffocating. Was it something in the room? In the books? He was unconcerned about the men, was there something in the man? A Binding magic? The magic was cast about the room like a net. It had to be the books? Or perhaps the skeleton of a man with the large hands. –e-

Ra’s was naturally skeptical and took to Arabian subtly as he took stance to place his hands behind his back resting at ease with elegance and calculated patience. He would seem almost like a predator far too comfortable in the presence of prey. Batman would pick up an old text that was barely legible to Batman, swiftly he made his way to the translated books for a properly transcribed version and upon grabbing the transcribed version Batman placed the old book and began to read through it. Ra’s would step forward and begin to offer. “I will take that from you, Detective. In exchange for you three to leave here unharmed.” The Assassins armed their weapons and began to surround the trinity of heroes. Batman would seem to ignore the man as he continued to scroll through the pages and then reached into his backpack to pull out a black bag he placed the book safely inside. “Ra’s, we can handle an army of your assassins.”[c]

“Ordinarily, perhaps. But this entire time the magical powers of your comrades has been weaken ever since they set foot into this crypt. It is here that you three shall die and along with your blind crusade for ‘justice.’ “ Ubu would attempt to grapple Superman from behind, the large hulking man was 6’5” weighing 280 lbs of muscle and unrefined fat. Ninja’s armed swords, daggers, and sai to swing and twirl their weapons towards Wonder Woman and Batman. Wonder Woman would find her Amazonian powers were useless save for her bracelets and lasso that were immune to the affects of the magic dampening aura. Superman’s powers would be all but gone leaving him only with natural strength and technique for fighting. [c]

His skin would allow him to endure perhaps a blow or two from a stabbing weapon, but he could perhaps feel his mortality closer than anyone would suspect. Ubu would attempt to knock Superman out by a headlock. Three assassins closed in on Wonder Woman swinging their weapons to attack her arms and shins to cripple her and distract her primary weapons.

Superman Superman kept his head on a swivel, Batman didn’t seem keen to answer questions, even when they were posed by allies another thing that annoyed Superman, they were working together, he understood trust didn’t come easy, but Superman would say they were in an uneasy situation. He tried to focus in on the heartbeats of the men around him, to keep track of their number, it was then he realized that his abilities were fading and quickly. Never allowed to fight as a child, Superman’s only formal combat training was boxing lessons with his father, the training however was less suited to how to hurt your opponent and more suited to teaching him proper technique when throwing a punch and how to pull his punch so that the recipient of the blow wasn’t killed. He’d picked up a few techniques in his years as Superman against the likes of a bizarre clone and Metallo but in most occasions he relied on his speed on overbearing strength to compensate for lack of technique. “Something’s wrong.” -c-

Superman He stated the moment Ra’s explained what that something was, turning in time to see Ubu make his grab, Superman shuffled forward and swung his head in, aiming for the larger man’s nose. He’d found most opponents were used to an opponent retreating when attacked and attacking when they were unprepared was usually enough to catch them off guard. If the headbutt missed, Clark’s arms would be raised, his feet planted with no bounce to his steps, his right leg back, body slightly turned so that his left arm was closest to his attacker, though not enough that his balance was affected. -e-

Wonder Woman E4 They had been used, this man had wanted Batman to find something for him, for all his unnatural age he had perhaps not learned wisdom enough to understand what it had taken the Batman mere minutes to discover. It was a binding magic, a magic that she could feel had drained the strength from her, such that even her bracelets felt heavy her movement to her own mind impossibly slow as the three assassins moved towards her, fanning out to prevent her targeting them at once and to find weak spots in her defense, in her attention.

Wonder Woman E4 Diana began moving, directly between two, her strength may be gone but the memory of the movements of the grace in the movements in training on Themyscira. She darted between the two holding the swords and the sai as if attempting to escape and hoping to draw their attention, their movement towards her. At the last moment she veered towards one leaping into a tumble she hoped could still leap her over his head, looping her lasso behind her in the hope that the sudden change of direction might distract them enough to entangle their weapons together long enough for her lasso to constrain one of them and reduce the odds. –e-

Ubu felt his nose smashed by Superman’s thick forehead prompting the man to attempt grabbing Superman with a single hand aimed for his throat. The sound of Wonder Woman’s boots clicking against the floor would ring throughout the halls before the sound of an assassin smashing into a chair from stumbling. Batman blocked incoming sword strikes with his arm guard, twisting their blades he snapped one sword and then twirled and bounced upon his toes to circle another assailant to parry their blade with his gloved fist before grabbing their shoulder and smashing their chest in with his plated knee. Batman reached to the ground and picked up two swords and began taking a dual wielding stance with them before twirling the blades into a flurry and then began approaching Ra’s Al Ghul. [c]

Ra’s armed his sword from his cane and began to take up a fencing stance while Batman took up a bushido stance with the assassins katana blade. The two swords would clash with Ra’s pushing the advantage at Batman striking swiftly and rapidly. Two more assassins would drop down between Superman and Wonder Woman taking a position to keep the two separated while one attempted to use serrated claws to rake Superman’s back aiming to shred Superman’s cape and lacerate the man of steel’s right shoulder blade. The other assassin would stand to stop Wonder Woman from running and force her to face the two remaining assassins behind her.

Superman “The most dangerous weapon in boxing is a strong jab, son. It comes from your weak hand, so your opponent won’t expect it to pack much punch, but it creates distance, disrupts and sets up your strong hand. You don’t want to roll your shoulder like that, it’s called telegraphing, straight from the elbow, quick hit, then move.” Jonathan Kent’s voice rang out in Clark’s memory, constant practice, right hand up, left hand out, move on contact and wait for the moment. With one hand reaching for Clark, an entire side of the bigger man was exposed. Clark delivered a quick jab, stepping to his right as he did to avoid the grabbing arm. -c-

Superman In moments like these, all you had was your training and Clark had little of that, there was no great strength, he had maintained a strong form, his muscles developing with his time in the sun, even without his cells powered, Superman was stronger than an average man his size, if only just. His left foot settled and his left hand struck again. With Ubu’s nose broken, blood would well and obscure his eyes and each jab Clark threw was aimed at that vulnerable cut, adding pain and pressure to the wound. “Patience, son, that’s the key, you go in too early and the right guy will tear you up, too late and you miss your chance. You watch him move, see him expect the jab, then you bring over that big right hand.” That’s the moment Clark was waiting for, Ubu’s head leaning back too far, his body flinching, his foot out of place, any small sign he could take advantage of. The numbers were not on their side, but Batman was a skilled fighter and the amazons were warriors praised above all others.

Superman For perhaps the first time in his life, Clark was more worried about his safety than those in the room with him. He heard the thud behind him, feet hitting the floor, the one advantage an unsuspecting target had when someone dropped from above. Clark turned raising his forearm and thrusting it into the wrist of the man with the serrated claws to stop their deadly blades from making contact. Aware that he’d taken his eyes off of Ubu, Superman gripped the clawed assassin and spun attempting to swing the smaller man into the larger man and keep his distance. -e-

Wonder Woman E4 The lasso caught and snagged the assassin’s shoulders and as she landed a quick tug pulled it tight, disorienting him enough that he stumbled into a chair as the other assassin with who he tangled regained his bearings and restarted his approach. Diana looked behind her at the new assailant, it made sense they would approach from different directions, seeking her blind spots as she edged back towards the edge of the room away from Superman and the assassin separating them, in the process moving towards the assassin holding the two Sai.

Wonder Woman E4 Wrapping her lasso around her hand and elbow for extra purchase she wrenched as hard as she could on the assassin she had disabled intending he should tumble between her and one of the two assassins who had begun to edge apart to attack her flanks separately, as her arm pulled to the side she used what there was of her weight to ensure he moved, the wrapping of her arm meaning that it approached the assassin with the sai almost as a forearm smash of her bracelet and wrapped arm to his hand as her other arm followed behind. Her hand clenched almost to a fist but with two knuckles protruding aimed for his eye. For the second time today she felt liberated, without her powers, the fight was fair, the joy of the movement, the joy of the fight unadulterated by care, the consequences his choice, she would not hold back. –e-

Ra’s would grin at Batman as he seemed to enjoy dueling Batman. “I have legions of men who would die for my cause, Detective. You are but a man and your comrades are but symbols that will be forgotten in time!” Ra’s jabbed at Batman stabbing the Dark Knight in the abs causing sparks to ignite and a tear to occur in Batman’s armor. Gritting his teeth Batman continued to defend with bushido tactics with two hands upon a single sword. Ra’s ferocious eyes were rabid and feral, filled with bloodlust. “The world is to end and be reborn. The secrets to such divinity are in that book and I shall have it, Detective!” Batman parried two more strikes before slashing and disarming Ra’s with a single sweep. Spinning upon his foot Batman round-house kicked Ra’s in the chest knocking the man down. [c]

He grabbed onto Ra’s by the collar and placed his blade onto Ra’s throat. “You haven’t killed me yet, Detective. Don’t make idle threats…Your opponent can use it against you!” Ra’s palmed Batman in the face and then shoved the Dark Knight over allowing him to roll away and slither out of the chamber whilst shouting. “See to it none escape!” more assassins began to charge into the chamber by the dozen forcing the Dark Knight to back away and regroup with Wonder Woman and Superman. “I have the book, let’s get out of here.”


Superman “Agreed.” With one man flung into the other, Superman used the moment that they were off balanced and charged toward the man between himself and Wonder Woman, tucking his shoulder, he planned to use his weight and the force behind him in order to bowl the man over and create a gap for the three of them to regroup, Batman knew this place the best and Clark was without his abilities, it meant that finding any traps or other dangers would take him more time than they had. “How exactly do we do that?” Clark stared at Batman, his eyes hard, anger bubbling beneath the surface, but now was not the time to show dissension among the ranks. -e-

Wonder Woman E4 There was a crack as her knuckles hit his eye socket, a crunch and a brief cry, there was a joy and a freedom in the movement, the dance learned at Themyscira, the dance of conflict and death and there was a joy in the cry and in the pain that shot up her arm a strange and terrible pleasure. Diana turned to face the remaining assassin letting the lasso loosely uncoil from her arm. She had danced the dance since she was a child , if this man wanted to dance with her, she would teach him –e-

Batman was dismissive of Superman’s brewing anger, but it didn’t go unnoticed as Batman was sure it was probably frustration with the situation and the crisis on hand. “The way we came.” Batman made his way past Ubu who was on the ground and began scaling the staircase and into the hallways that lead them into the chamber. Once in the hallways Superman and Wonder Woman would begin to feel their powers returning. Tumbling through two assassins hidden in the darkness, Batman stood up and turned to kick one and then punch the other. “This way!” Batman growled as they reached a window where the batwing was beginning its approach. The Dark Knight fired his grappling gun and swung to jump in the cockpit. He made sure both were behind him before taking off. “The book I found contains scriptures of ancient Egypt and the tale of how the world began. While we were fighting I was uploading pictures from my cowl to the Batwing’s computer database searching for clues. [c]

“The texture references lines from the Bible - Genesis, where God created the Earth in 6 days. This Egyptian cartouche references similar context except it talks about God’s vengeance and wrath. There’s another piece missing. But with this information we can confirm, Faust is in Egypt searching for something related to God’s wrath and God’s vengeance.”

Superman Superman nodded and followed Batman and Wonder Woman up the staircase and out the window. Batman began to recite the information he learned and Clark couldn’t take it anymore. “Enough, enough about Faust, we’ve got something more important to discuss.” Clark moved to stand on the nose of the batwing, his arms crossing over his chest as his eyes locked with Batman. “I know you’re accustomed to working alone, we all are. The fact is, here and now, you’re not alone. We’ve all got the same risks on the line and if Faust is as powerful as everything we’ve learned suggests then we’re not going to stand a chance if we can’t communicate. You let Wonder Woman and I walk in there blind when you knew what kind of man we were facing and what kind of defenses he had in place. That can’t happen again…” His anger faded slightly, exhaustion and weariness taking it’s place. -c-

Superman “If we’re going to work together, the simple fact is we’re going to have to trust each other. If you can’t do that, then the prophecy, the three champions? That’s all lost and it’s our fault.” Clark was silent after, lifting from the nose of the wing and taking his position beside it once more. “Anything to add, Wonder Woman?” Clark was frustrated with a lot of things, himself for underestimating his opponent, Bruce for leaving them misinformed and Faust for putting them all in this situation, it was best to deal with all their issues now, before it was too late. -e-

Wonder Woman E4 As they left the room, it felt good walking beside superman, but as the binding magic passed and the strength returned to her limbs, so it was replaced with the bonds she placed upon herself. The mortals were fragile and outside that room, she was not. It was hard to close down again though to shut herself in and it was still on her mind as the two men stopped at the Batwing. Superman almost glowing with indignant anger.

Wonder Woman E4 He was right, they had been led in there blind, her own mind too fogged with uncertainty at her inexperience of the world of men, and the discovery of this new world. She’d let herself be led, precisely the thing her mother had warned her against, she’d let things happen, she’d watched and reacted, the very antithesis of her purpose. Too long they had been passive, she had to make a difference, and today she had betrayed that. “Faust needs to be stopped” She thought a moment “It will take all of us, It will take us together, sharing and working or it will not work at all”.

Batman listened to both of them for the moment and promptly opened the batwing cockpit to stand up and almost confront Superman and Wonder Woman. “I watched my parents get shot in an alleyway by some thug looking for petty cash. Everything I have done since that day has been to stop men like him and Ra’s Al Ghul. Faust is no exception and deserves to be brought to justice. Everyone I work with is in constant danger if my identity is discovered; I’ve grown accustomed to working alone and doing things my way. If you’re looking for an apology, then I’m sorry for underestimating Ra’s. I had assumed your powers would leave you both invulnerable to anything in his armory and I was wrong.” Batman’s sentences were the only thing that cued him to switch gaze from Superman to Wonder Woman and back and forth. [c]

“You have a point,“ Batman said to Superman and then looked to Wonder Woman. “this won’t work if we don’t trust each other and communicate. Whatever prophecy there is, I can’t say I believe in it. What I do know and what I trust are facts. Those facts indicate that a man known as Felix Faust is perhaps several hundred years old and is in the pursuit of God’s power. These facts are questionable on an ordinary day - but with other worldly creatures, ancient leaders, and ancient tablets suggesting this is a very real threat, I can’t ignore the possibility that maybe there is a God and maybe there is someone attempting to harness his power. There is still a remaining thought and concern I have…What do we do with that power after Faust is taken down?” [c]

Batman looked at Superman. “Give it to you? Trust that you’ll bury it among the stars only for Darkseid to find it?” Batman looked to Wonder Woman. “Or you? Hope that Hera doesn’t decide vengeance would better serve her if the entire world burned. Inevitably that leaves me, a flawed man with depression and control issues…Neither one of us are worthy to keep this power safe - as no one is safe so long as that power is readily available at a moment’s notice.” Batman lowered his head and kept his pronounced chin stuck out with a frown upon his lips.