"So, you guys got attacked by your evil clones while we were busy fighting against the Sinestro Corps six galaxies over?" Hal asked with a frown, Wonder Woman nodding as she stared down their clones.
Ultraman, Owlman and Superwoman were wide awake, but none of them were able to move thanks to the kryptonite chains and handcuffs keeping them bound in their cells
Deadeye was tied to the ceiling with kryptonite chains while Ma'alefa'ak and Scavenger were placed in a cell meant to simulate a desert environment with the same chains tying their limbs down.
She then moved her eyes to the last of the seven villains, narrowing them when Reverse Flash opened his eyes with a groan.
The speedster grimaced at the chains and handcuffs on his form as he tried to vibrate, the Meta-Dampening cuffs ceasing such attempts immediately.
"Great. Hey, any chance you could loosen this a bit?" he asked, Wonder Woman and Hal just giving him flat stares before the two turned as the doors opened.
Batman and Martian Manhunter walked through the doors and stopped beside Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, Owlman immediately focusing on his original with a smirk.
"Well, well, I was wondering when the torture was going to begin. So, what are we doing? Waterboarding? Flogging? Oh, limb removal?"
"Did the Light have a hand in your creation?"
"That's it? You think we're just going to respond?" Superwoman asked with a mocking smile, shaking her head as the heroes just stared back. "I knew you were weak-willed, but this is just...pathetic."
"Then, you must be worse than pathetic for losing to us," Wonder Woman replied with the same smile, drawing a sneer from her evil counterpart.
"Remove me from this chains and cage, and we shall see which of us is the pathetic one."
"You'd like that, wouldn't you?" Hal replied with a smirk, drawing a scoff from the woman before Batman looked to Martian Manhunter.
"I am ready."
"Good. Then, begin," he replied and Martian Manhunter nodded, looking forward as the villains turned their eyes to him.
"Be silent," The next moment, their eyes widened as his voice resonated through their skulls.
Their eyes rolled into the back of their heads as hundreds of mental tendrils grasped at their every memory, Wonder Woman and Hal looking slightly disturbed.
"Is this... needed?"
"I have asked J'onn to make sure that their minds are still kept in tact," Batman explained, drawing a sigh from Wonder Woman.
Moments later, Martian Manhunter snapped back with a gasp right as the other three awoke with pained cries.
"Fuck! What the fuck was that?!" Deadeye exclaimed, Ma'alefa'ak straining at his chains with a snarl while Scavenger glared at the Martian that infiltrated his mind.
"And?"
"Their memories are jumbled, but we've managed to extract what was needed," he responded with a deep inhale. "They are the result of Project Injustice, a project that was made to make us all look bad in the eyes of the public."
"Makes sense. They are very similar to us," Wonder Woman replied with a frown, but Batman just frowned.
"What else?"
"Vandal Savage had been in contact with a woman called Olympia. She was to contact another woman named Cassandra and they were to proceed with something called Project Insight," Martian Manhunter replied, making Hal raise an eyebrow as Batman narrowed his eyes.
"Do you have a way to figure out who either women are or what the project is?"
"Unfortunately, no. They do not know who they are and Vandal never explained either."
"Hey, uncle J'onn, are you there?" It was then that M'gann's voice echoed in their minds, Martian Manhunter frowning as he closed his eyes.
"Yes, M'gann. What's wrong?"
"So, the leader of the Light Vandal Savage is currently sitting in a stasis holding cell and we are unsure of what to do with him," her words made Martian Manhunter and Batman glance at each other before the former spoke.
"Where are you right now?"
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"Well, this is fun," I muttered as I sat in the control seat of the Unity Sphere, drifting it closer towards the Watchtower.
"Well, you were the one who wanted to bring this to the Justice League's attention," M'gann replied, making me chuckle as I slowly extended the docking ports of our world.
They attached to those of the Watchtower before I stood up, wincing slightly at the minor injuries that still remained from Lobo blasting me with his kryptonite guns.
"Are you sure we should be doing this? You're still injured," M'gann spoke with a look of worry and I gave a chuckle as we exited the room.
"I am, but this is important in making sure to establish a good connection between the residents of the Unity Sphere and the Justice League. That will in turn look good as an alliance binder between us and the United Nations, which means that we'll get to live in peace for a while."
"You're still thinking about work and not yourself," she spoke softly, making me chuckle before I paused as I saw Raven and Match waiting for us.
The former shared a weird look with M'gann while Match looked all too relieved as he walked forward and hugged me.
"Miss me that much?"
"No, I'm just happy that I don't have to worry about M'gann killing me."
"Ah, that makes more sense," I nodded, sharing an amused smile with the Martian in question. My gaze then moved to Rae, who had a frown on her face as I approached.
"Everything okay? Did something happen with your dad?"
"No, just personal stuff."
"We'll talk on that later," M'gann spoke up surprisingly, making me raise an eyebrow as Match and I looked between the two girls who stared at each other.
"Okay? I guess we will, then. So, Match, how's Dub and the other Genomorphs doing?"
"Well, M'ree and the science team helped a lot, though there's still some remnants of the mind control remaining."
"But can they be triggered again?"
"Not according to them," he replied and I gave a relieved smile before nodding.
"Good. Anyway, M'gann and I are about to meet with the Justice League so I want you and Rae to meet up Kori and monitor the situation with Dub and the others just in case."
"Got it," Raven nodded as she walked past, not missing the look she and M'gann shared before my girlfriend turned to me with a smile.
I don't know why, but I'm really dreading that conversation now.
We waited until the two of them left for the deeper levels before M'gann and I continued walking, reaching the loading area where Martians were now taking over the duties of the Genomorphs until they were recovered.
"King Paragon, it is good to see that you are doing well," One of the White Martians greeted and I bowed my head in greeting with a smile.
"Thank you. You all are not too overwhelmed with work, right?" I asked, nodding as they all shook their heads with happy smiles.
"Not in the slightest. We would be happy to help wherever we can to repay your kindness."
"I thank you for that, but don't overwork yourselves, okay?"
"Will do, King Paragon, Queen M'gann," I hid my smirk at M'gann's uncomfortable smile at her new title, the two of us continuing towards the one docked corridor that let into the Watchtower.
"Queen?"
"I'm the king and you're my girlfriend, i.e. my Queen."
"Still, I guess it's going to take a while to get used to," she replied, to which I shrugged as we entered the corridor.
It didn't take us more than a minute to walk through it, the door on the other end opening and revealing both Batman and Martian Manhunter waiting on the other side.
"Paragon."
"Batman. Are you doing okay?"
"Other than a broken lower left rib and right tibia, I am doing quite fine," he replied and I raised an eyebrow while smiling amusedly.
"Are you making jokes?"
"Considering that I have had three doses of morphine, yes, I am."
"Huh, that one was actually good," I spoke with a grin before turning to J'onn. "So, you said that you needed Vandal, right?"
"Yes, his memories may help us gain further information on something called Project Insight."
"Can't say I know what that is even with the few memories I have left of Luthor," I muttered with a shake of my head, "but if Vandal can help, then I'm all for it. M'gann, do you mind leading your uncle to where Vandal is? I think Bats wants to have a one-on-one chat with me."
She stared at where Batman was already waiting, giving her boyfriend a quick kiss on the cheek before she and her amused uncle left the two alone.
I watched them leave before I walked towards the centre hallway that Batman took, following the man's near-silent heartbeat.
It didn't help that his heart was the only one of two that was nearly as silent as that and since the two were together, it didn't take me long to reach him.
That was when I noticed the others, the Injustice League glaring at me from their cages while Batman stood in front of them.
"Hey, I'm guessing that they're either asking for me or you want me to do something?"
"Neither," Batman replied, making me raise an eyebrow before I looked to my fellow clones.
"If it's neither, then what is it?"
"I wish to see if it would be possible to rehabilitate them," he said and I raised an eyebrow before glancing at the seven villains. All of them glared at me in response, making me hum before I looked back to Batman.
"I don't see that being possible."
"I know It is simply the hopeful mind of someone who wishes to see the good in others," I blinked at that, not expecting that response from Mr. Dark Knight himself.
'Then again, I am way too used to the memes of Batman being an emo guy,' I thought, looking back at the villains with a smirk.
"Well, I think that's wonderful, but unless you're willing to use methods that may look cruel to others, I don't think you'd be able to change their programming."
"Like what was done to you?"
"I was programmed to be a replacement for Superman and then, I grew my own personality. I'd like to believe that the Light learned from leaving me with any free will and implemented various processes to ensure they stayed loyal," I replied, drawing a frown from Batman.
"It would be foolish of them not to."
"Yep. Still, Supes would have tried to give them a second chance if he could."
"That or figured out a prison to put them away."
"Isn't that your thing?" I asked, smirking at the subtle smirk he had for the briefest moment.
"It is."
"If the two of you are simply here to frolic and be merry, then please end my suffering," Ultraman spoke up, making me smirk as Batman narrowed his eyes.
"You are not in any position to ask anything."
"And we are always made aware of it," Owl-Man replied with a sarcastic smile. "Seriously though, my original, do you really think you can make us part of your goodie-goodie group?"
"That one really doesn't act like you."
"Not in the slightest. I have a feeling they intermixed more than just our DNA and kryptonite DNA to create them," Batman replied, drawing a hum from me as I crossed my arms.
"Hey, you seven. Which of you truly want to change for the better?"
"We would rather have you endure agonizing pain at every waking moment for the rest of your life," Ma'alefa'ak snarled and I was not surprised to see the others looking just as determined as it did.
Great, so that's seven clones of the League that does not want a single thing to do with the forces of good.
"Want me to store them in the Unity Sphere? The cells there are pretty good," I said, drawing a frown from Batman.
"Will they be put to torture?"
"No," I replied, the caped crusader holding my gaze for a long while before he gave a slow nod.
"Very well. If it means that we need not fear them escaping, then I'm all for it."
"Great," I replied with a grin, walking forward while the circlet around my head glowed. It was then that several droids marched into the room, each holding a rifle designed after Lobo's red sun blaster.
As the cell doors opened, I was not surprised to see all seven rushing at us as best as they could, but the droids wasted no time in lighting them up.
Batman looked as though he was going to interfere before he paused, making me smirk at the unconscious forms of the seven Injustice members.
"Tie them further up with the chains. Their powers are gone for the next hour, but they still contain the skills and experience of their original counterparts."
"What was that?"
"The bounty hunter that Vandal hired used something similar to capture me. It's supposed to simulate the effects a red sun would have on the parts that the blasts hit."
"-nullifies your power temporarily for as long as you are within the range of it," he finished, to which I nodded with a smirk.
"Want one?"
"You would give me one?"
"If I go on an angry spree trying to get revenge, I'd expect someone to stop me."
"Then, I won't say no," he replied and I chuckled, letting one of the droids give one to him before they picked up the prisoners and began moving.
"I'll go with them to ensure that everything goes smoothly."
"I'll inform you should the United Nations ask for anything," he replied and I gave a thankful smile, holding out my hand.
He just shook it firmly with a nod before letting go, going back to analysing the red sun blaster while I escorted the droids and their prisoners back to their cells.
Now, time to see what M'gann wanted to talk about.
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"Father has been captured," An elderly dark-skinned woman with curly white hair spoke calmy. The younger pre-teen with long brown hair and brown eyes standing in front of her desk let out a soft curse, her attire the same black bodysuit with red accents that her sister was wearing.
"What of Project Injustice, sister?"
"Unfortunately, they were subdued as well. It is simply you and I left, sister," Olympia responded, a distant look in her eyes as Cassandra frowned.
"What is our next step, then?"
"The next step is that you learn of our father's true origin as well as the initiation of Project Insight."
"What is this Project Insight?" Cassandra asked, the look of intrigue on her face uncharacteristically serious for a child her age.
Olympia just smiled as she stood up, walking around the desk while pressing a button on the side of it.
Shutters sealed off the exits and entrances of the room one by one as the floor opened, Olympia gesturing for Cassandra to approach the opening as her sister looked at her.
With a deep breath, Cassandra walked towards the hole in the floor, her eyes widening as she bore witness to a sight her eyes will never forget.
"Wonderful, aren't they?" Olympia whispered, standing beside her younger sister.
Below them, an army of multicoloured scarab-wielding beings stood at attention, giving a salute in unison that made Cassandra stare in awe.
"Where...where did they...?"
"After the defeat of Luthor and most of the Light's members, Father decided to rescind on his alliance with the Reach, killing off most of their members while taking control of their technology. He then began creating this army in secret along with synthetic servants to use them in his name."
"Why did Father not take one for himself then?"
"What makes you believe he did not?" Olympia asked, making Cassandra's eyes widen as a screen lowered itself from the ceiling.
It turned on and showed off a digital X-Ray image of the Earth itself, but Cassandra's eyes focused on the image as it stretched out until she saw both the larger moon-like structure as well as the tower-like structure hovering just outside the surface of the planet.
"The Watchtower and the Warworld are hidden under advanced camouflaging and interference technology, but with Father's scarab's signal, we can now find them. Project Insight, Proceed."
With her declaration, the army stood straight before each grew wings. Cassandra watched as several doors opened in front of the army and let them free, rushing over to the window of their underwater base where she watched the army race into the deep.
"Now, sister. We wait for our father's triumphant return."
"Is that so?" Olympia and Cassandra both spun around in surprise, their eyes widening at the behemoth with red eyes standing next to the opening with his hands folded behind his back.
"Then, I shall wait here for your father. We have much to discuss."
A/N: Plot-twist!! I completely forgot about the Reach and that storyline so they're added back. Vandal shows that he planned ahead and Project Insight is now in full swing.
Also, the big bad is here~!!
Next chapter: May the War begin.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next one...
Ba-Bye~!!