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To the attention of the readers who enjoy reading an intelligent main character like Miles will definitely like my original story, Arrival : Ruptures. Comments, likes and reviews are appreciated. Here are the links for : AO3, Spacebattles, Royal Road and Webnovel.
—
Watchtower
"Miles, was it?" Orion asked, all smiles and butterflies.
"Yes."
He brought his arm across his chest, giving a short but deliberate bow. "You have my thanks. Darkseid rarely gets what he deserves. Your news will make a lot of people happy."
Miles gave an equal bow. "Believe me, it was my pleasure."
"Then I shall not worry you all any longer," he said, offering small words of farewell and departing to his home to inform the Highfather.
All eyes snapped on him as soon as Orion left. "You sent Darkseid to fight Trigon and didn't tell us?" Wonder Woman asked, smiling, her tone light but not accusatory.
He quickly uploaded the images and relevant intelligence on the case, presenting them as holograms. "One of my contacts informed me that there were humanoid creatures seen in several parts of Metropolis, coming out of the sewers. I had nothing better to do and decided to investigate. I found a Parademon carrying a Mother Box, most likely sent here when Darkseid was here."
Two images appeared, one depicting the destroyed Parademon and the other, the Mother Box.
"The timer on it showed at least two weeks more, but Mother Boxes are alive. It must have sent a signal, which accelerated the timeline. Rather than waste time, I sent it to Trigon's dimension as soon as I could."
"And as I said, I was going to come after my lunch was over since the danger was gone."
Flash reached across the table, holding his fist out. "Well, good riddance. Let those two tear each other up, maybe even kill if we are lucky."
He bumped it. "The battle is unlikely to end in a decisive victory for either side, but their armies will be spent. At the least, Darkseid can't afford to invade anywhere for a while."
"Any other dangers we should be aware of?" Batman asked.
He nodded, bringing out a file. "Actually, I recently met an acquaintance, one from an alternate universe. She gave me a list of the perils her Justice League fought, at least the ones that took place before her Earth was destroyed."
"Most of it already happened, but there is quite an interesting event she mentioned, one that has roots in our universe."
"Which is?"
"Icthultu and the old ones."
Shayera turned to him sharply. "Hawkgirl?" Green Lantern asked, seeing her narrowed eyes.
She put her forehead on her palms, glancing at the file. "Thanagarians used to worship Icthultu once. It gave us agriculture, science, philosophy, and many other boons."
"What did it cost?" Batman asked. He doubted it would be because Icthultu was simply benevolent.
"The souls of our people. We stopped worshipping it once they learned the price, but they still exist."
"How do we prevent this?"
"We kill Icthultu, just as they did," Superman said, putting the papers back on the table.
Flash clapped his hands. "Alright, problem solved. Now, did you say her Earth was destroyed? How?"
His leg was bouncing up and down, and his cheerful mood wasn't there, contrary to his words.
"Anti-Monitor. It is an entity with an instinctual desire to destroy all life and positive matter, leaving only the antimatter universe in existence," he explained. He really should get around to uploading the Blacklist to the computer.
"How do we stop him?" Red Tornado asked. The multiverse was getting increasingly dangerous and ever so close to them.
Miles steepled his fingers, thumbs tapping together in thought. "Provided he comes into our universe? Good question."
"You don't have a plan?" Manhunter asked. While it was an enormous responsibility, Miles was their best bet to be ready for an incursion.
"I do. It's just that I need your very best to keep it a secret. If it gets out, all of existence will be in trouble." Mind control, mind reading, spies, and even a loose mouth could risk exposing that he knew the Anti-Life Equation. It would bring just about everyone in the know after him.
Hence, it was best to make sure the League did not ask.
Superman's eyes swept over everyone, asking for silent permission. He turned to Miles, tilting his head down slowly. "Then don't say anything. Let's not risk it."
"Are you all certain?"
"I trust you," the boy scout smiled.
Shayera rose from her chair, restless. "If we are done, I need to return to Thanagar and bring back everything we have on Icthultu."
Superman followed along to chase his own leads. "I'll contact Dr. Fate."
"This friend of yours, was she a hero?" Batman asked.
"She was. I am sure you can understand that she simply doesn't have the heart for it these days."
"Alright, thanks."
The events from Karen's dimension had proceeded differently in several parts. Some of the show events had taken place, but the rest were different. The mess with Icthultu was the last one in her list, preceded by Despero.
Nothing about the Justice Lords.
Still, he had a small army of androids ready to tackle them.
—
Beckett Residence
He returned home to a frosty atmosphere. Baraka and Zalika were sitting apart, occasionally stealing glances.
"Zalika, you aren't a child, and I am not some hard ass who will ground you for having a boyfriend. Next time you want to have someone over, just tell us," he said to her, irritated by the atmosphere before turning to Baraka.
"Baraka, your sister did make a mistake, but you are making a mountain out of a molehill. I understand you are angry because your brotherly instincts say so. Do yourself a favor and stop."
The siblings shared a glance but didn't say anything.
"Was I clear enough?" he asked.
"Yeah," they said at the same time.
"Claire, was there any problem with our guest?"
"Nope. Dropped him home without an issue. The kid's parents are squeaky clean too."
"Good. I have some work to do in my room. You can order whatever you want."
—
His work included finally writing his knowledge down. Darkseid, Trigon, Anti-Monitor, and the myriad of villains, both on Earth and extraterrestrial in origin, would be recorded and loaded to the League's computer. Weaknesses, behavioral patterns, aims, and everything else that could be used against them.
Sensitive knowledge was omitted since the Watchtower wasn't exactly impenetrable. Also, not everyone needed to know the existence of the Anti-Life Equation or other, less dangerous weapons.
Darkseid's status as a multiversal being was included, if only because he considered killing him. Darkseid wasn't always what he was; there was a point in his life, a short one, where he could be killed, ridding the existence of the god of evil forever.
A dangerous proposition.
Such a fundamental change would have repercussions. The Spectre wouldn't let it go unpunished. He would have to somehow reach an accord, preventing the entity from acting.
Or he would have to come up with an alternative. Rather than kill his multiversal concept, he could just take the avatar out, somehow. That part was fair game, he was certain, but the how remained.
The aftermath of killing the remaining enemies was at least less of a hassle.
—
Watchtower
His three-day work marathon had come to an end. Everything was reviewed and ready to upload to the league's database.
Just in time to see two Martian Manhunters in the station.
"J'onn, you didn't tell me you had a twin brother," he quipped, knowing the time had come.
"I do not. This is me from an alternate reality. He requests our League's assistance."
"With what?"
"The dimensions are collapsing on one another. Our dimension seems to be at the center of it."
"If you can give a bit more detail, I may be able to figure out if there is anything out there responsible for it. We already met one interdimensional refugee whose universe faced destruction. If it's what I fear, your whole universe faces destruction," he said with a grim tone.
"Anti-Monitor?" Superman asked after a second of delay.
"Possibly. In which case this portal could potentially give him a window to our universe."
"We can't just abandon them," Wonder Woman said, looking away. It certainly was quite the dilemma they faced.
"Honestly, the choice is yours. There is nothing certain yet, and I might be wrong."
"But if you are not, our universe could be in danger as well."
"We should go. If nothing else, we can at least get firsthand experience against the Anti-Monitor. Otherwise, we can handle it," Batman said. It was the best chance they had at seeing what could be done against the entity.
If it was the enemy this time.
"Agreed," Hawkgirl said, walking through the portal. One by one, they left, with Batman as the last.
He laid a hand on the Caped Crusader's shoulder, eyes narrowed, whispering. "Careful, something is wrong."
Batman nodded and walked through the portal, as did the rest of the League. Miles gathered his hands at his back, pressing a button. Once the portal closed, he stood alone in the station.
While he waited, he uploaded the list to the computer and sat down to watch the Earth from the window.
—
The portal opened two hours later, the sound of a sudden air displacement announcing it. He turned around, seeing Superman, Wonder Woman, Hawkgirl, Manhunter and Green Lantern, all in different clothing.
"You must be Miles," Superman said. He was identical to the boy scout, yet his voice carried an edge that the good counterpart lacked.
"Any reason you are here without my teammates?" he asked. His calm demeanor unnerved the Justice Lords.
Hawkgirl stepped forward. "They are fine. We are here to ensure the safety of this planet, just as we did back in ours."
He chuckled, low and humorless. "You have one chance to return them, leave, and never come back. Otherwise, I will send you four back in stretchers."
"You and what army?" Wonder Woman challenged.
Miles snapped his fingers. Amazo, Claire, and Baraka, along with his small army of androids, decloaked, standing before the Justice Lords. "This army."
"Amazo?!" Superman flinched, taking a step back. They were the ones who said everything was proceeding exactly the same. Which meant Amazo mopped the floor with them once upon a time.
"You will not be warned again. Return the Justice League members alive and well and leave this dimension," the android said, his eyes glowing a baleful red.
Superman glared at them all, fists clenching.
"You don't know the things that will happen, the danger this Earth will face."
"Such as?"
"Luthor, he becomes the president and almost starts a nuclear war."
Miles blinked once and burst out laughing, his loud voice echoing in the chamber. He began to slap his hand on the table, stumping Amazo and the Justice Lords.
"You imbeciles let Luthor become the president? My goodness, you are dumber than Solomon Grundy himself. At least he has an excuse; what's with being undead and all. But you? Your stupidity honestly impresses me," he said, rising from his chair to clap enthusiastically.
Superman glared at him. "You think it won't happen here?"
"Of course I won't let Lex Luthor become the next president. Unlike you, I have this wondrous ability," he said, wiggling his fingers.
"What is it?" Wonder Woman asked. Did this member of the League, one who did not exist in their reality, have prophetic abilities?
"Common sense. I would suggest you use it as well, but I think that ship has already sailed past."
He shook his head.
"At any rate, I will not warn you again. Bring the Justice League back now."
There was a tense standoff. The air became thick with aggression. He waited for their answer.
It came with fists and weapons. Wonder Woman attacked Amazo, while Greenn Lantern, Manhunter and Hawkgirl attacked Claire, Baraka, and the androids.
Superman went straight for him, wrapping a hand around his throat, eyes glowing. Miles raised an eyebrow despite the pressure on his windpipe, knowing it wouldn't take any effort on the Kryptonian's part to break his neck.
He had come prepared, though.
There was a scream, not loud, but it still stopped the battle before it could destroy the station. Superman went to his knees, growling like a wounded animal, while Miles held a dart gun in his hand. The Kryptonian pulled the dart out of his chest, seeing the tip glow with an eerie green color.
"I would say you have thirty minutes before the kryptonite I just injected kills you," he said, waving the gun.
"You are bluffing. We saw your league; they don't kill," Wonder Woman scoffed, disengaging from Amazo.
Miles shot Superman again, causing him to scream out again. "Fifteen minutes now."
"If you were going to kill him, why give us time?" Manhunter asked, trying to read his mind to no avail once more.
He pulled the trigger again. "Around seven minutes."
"Gods, stop, stop," Wonder Woman screamed, seeing he was actually serious.
"Lantern has seven minutes to bring my comrades back. In return, I'll give him something to clear the kryptonite in his system. I would hurry if I were you," he said, nudging the groaning Kryptonian with his feet.
"Go," Wonder Woman ordered, lowering her arms, unflinching before the androids.
Green Lantern left through the portal without looking back.
"You are not a hero, are you?" Diana accused, looking at Superman's groaning form.
He shrugged, taking his seat again. "I am a hero. I just don't take anyone's shit."
Three minutes of tense silence, only interrupted by Justice Lord Superman's groans, Green Lantern returned with his teammates, except for one member.
"Your Hawkgirl is in the hospital; we can't move her right now."
"Then you are going to have to surrender," he said, pointing the gun down.
Wonder Woman's eyes narrowed. "That was not our agreement."
"That was before I learned you put one of my teammates in the hospital. Now, unless you want to carry him to a morgue, surrender."
All four knelt, hands behind their heads. Green Lantern took the ring from his counterpart , Diana lassoed hers, Batman took the mace and Manhunter knocked his evil variant out.
He turned to the evil Superman on the ground. He was groaning, barely whispering, pale as a ghost and sweating bullets. He pulled out another dart gun, shooting him three times, sending nanobots into his body to clear the kryptonite.
"Where did you get the kryptonite?" he asked, glancing at the gun.
He held it out by the handle. "Stole it from Luthor. You know how big of a fan of yours he is."
Superman took the weapon, hanging it on his belt with a grimace. He would have to dispose of it later.
His fascist counterpart was quick to recover. "What? What happened?"
"You messed with the wrong people," the good Superman said, punching his counterpart out.
"That felt good," he said, rubbing his knuckles.
"How did they get you?" Miles asked as the counterparts were secured. He dismissed the android army, sending them out of the base.
"The portal led to a room where they electrocuted us to unconsciousness," Lantern said, rolling his shoulders. He itched to get payback.
"Where did you get the androids?" Wonder Woman asked. She was grateful for the quick rescue but also curious about where the small army had come from.
"Morrow. I managed to convert him to the side of the good."
There were raised eyebrows. Morrow's name was known well, and it wasn't just through the android members of the League. His villainous deeds were numerous. Hearing he was on their side was actually good news.
"This isn't over yet. We should go to their side, rescue Hawkgirl, and put an end to their regime," Superman said, looking at the open portal.
"I can send the androids with you. I am sure the numbers would be helpful." The Justice Lords still had control over their world. The androids would alleviate the burden.
"We'll take them," Batman said, walking through the portal.
—
In the next chapter:
Green Lantern came out of the portal, carrying an unconscious Hawkgirl. His face was blank, but under his costume, the tensed muscles were visible.
"Which one of you did this?" he asked. He didn't scream or raise his voice. Still, the even tone gave them the chills.
His counterpart turned to him. "It was me. She tried to…."
John ignored the rest of what he had to say. He handed Shayera to Amazo and walked to his counterpart. The thunderous look on his face said more than words could. He swung his fist, nailing the counterpart in his eye.
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