The Justice League stood clustered outside the room where Mori was contained, their faces grim as they discussed their next steps. Inside, Mori remained asleep, but the tension in the air was palpable. Superman leaned against the wall, arms crossed, deep in thought.
"We need to try and talk to him when he wakes up," Superman said, breaking the silence. "If we can get him to open up about whatever's haunting him, maybe we can help. We can't let him suffer alone—it's clearly tearing him apart."
The Flash, pacing back and forth in the narrow hallway, frowned. "Yeah, but what if talking about it makes him snap again? We barely stopped him last time, and he wasn't even at full power. If he goes berserk at just the mention of his past, are we really prepared for that?"
The group fell silent, the weight of Flash's words settling in. The memory of their battle with Mori was still fresh in their minds. Even with the combined efforts of the League, they had barely managed to contain him. And if what they'd seen wasn't his full strength, the idea of facing him at his peak was terrifying.
Green Lantern, hovering slightly above the floor with his green aura glowing faintly, looked toward Wonder Woman. "Speaking of Mori… Diana, I've been wondering. What made him hesitate when he was fighting you? He was ruthless with the rest of us, but with you… it was like he couldn't bring himself to attack."
Wonder Woman's eyes flickered with uncertainty. She glanced through the glass at Mori's sleeping form before turning back to the group. "I don't know," she admitted. "When J'onn transformed into his lover, Lisa, I didn't see any real resemblance between us. I mean, we both have dark hair, but that's it. Yet, when Mori looked at me during the battle… it was like he saw something else."
Green Lantern raised an eyebrow. "Odd," he said, his voice filled with curiosity.
Batman, who had been standing at the back of the group, observing in silence, finally spoke up. "Lisa was likely a warrior, too. In his state of grief and rage, Mori's mind could have made a connection between her and Diana. He probably wasn't thinking clearly, blinded by the memories of his loss. To him, Wonder Woman may have felt like Lisa in that moment—someone he couldn't bring himself to hurt."
The rest of the League nodded in agreement, though the weight of Batman's words hung heavy in the air. Wonder Woman, lost in thought, glanced once more at Mori. His breathing was steady, and he looked peaceful, almost serene. Yet beneath that calm exterior, they all knew there lay a storm—one that could easily be unleashed again.
"He's abnormally strong," Wonder Woman said after a moment. "Stronger than we thought. And I don't think he was even using his full strength when he fought us."
Superman, arms still crossed, nodded. "You're right. During the fight, I could feel his power fluctuating, like his strength was growing and diminishing at the same time. It was strange. It was almost like he was holding back, but at the same time, losing control."
Batman hummed in thought, his sharp mind analyzing the situation. There were too many unknowns about Mori, too many variables that didn't add up. Just how strong was he? And more importantly, how much of that strength was tied to his emotional state?
The Flash, unable to stay still, broke the silence once more. "So, if Mori went all out in a deathmatch against all of us—no holding back, no limits—do you think we'd lose?"
Superman gave him a confident smile. "Nah. We'd win. We always do."
Batman, however, grunted in response and turned on his heel. "Don't be so sure. We've barely scratched the surface of what Mori is capable of." He paused, glancing over his shoulder at the group. "And we still have Darkseid to worry about. One of you should stay with Mori until he wakes up."
With that, Batman made his exit, disappearing into the Zeta Tube as he headed back to the Batcave. The rest of the League shared uneasy looks, still unsure of what to make of Mori or the looming threat of Darkseid. Finally, Wonder Woman spoke up.
"I'll stay with him," she volunteered, her voice resolute.
The others nodded, their trust in her absolute. Slowly, they dispersed to prepare for the impending invasion, leaving Wonder Woman alone in the hallway. She stood silently for a moment, staring at the containment room's glass window. Mori lay on the other side, completely still, his chest rising and falling in a slow, steady rhythm. For someone who had unleashed such devastation, he slept with an innocence that was hard to reconcile.
As Wonder Woman watched him, she found herself speaking quietly to herself. "How can someone so powerful… sleep like a child?"
Her stomach growled softly, pulling her out of her thoughts. She hadn't eaten since the morning, and the battle had left her feeling ravenous. With a final glance at Mori, she decided to head to the Watchtower cafeteria for a quick meal.
---
Inside the containment room, Mori began to stir. His eyelids fluttered open, the bright lights above him momentarily blinding him. His head throbbed as fragmented memories of the battle with the Justice League crashed into his mind, each one a vivid reminder of his loss of control. He clenched his fists, feeling the residual pain in his body, though none of his injuries seemed significant. Slowly, he pushed himself into a sitting position, blinking away the disorientation.
The door to the containment room slid open, and a large tray of food was placed on a nearby table by none other than Wonder Woman, who had just returned from the cafeteria. She noticed Mori's movement and approached the glass with a soft smile.
"Glad to see you're awake," she greeted him warmly.
Mori's gaze met hers, and for a brief moment, he froze. There it was again—the feeling that had haunted him throughout their fight. Lisa. Her essence, her presence, her spirit—it lingered around Wonder Woman like a familiar echo. He could still feel her, even now, though he knew it was impossible. Lisa was gone, and nothing could bring her back.
With a heavy sigh, Mori finally spoke. "I'm sorry… for what happened earlier. I wasn't in control. Is everyone… okay?"
Wonder Woman smiled, nodding. "Yes, they're fine. They're just preparing for Darkseid's arrival."
Mori gave a small, relieved smile and stood up, stretching his muscles. He felt the pull of fatigue but ignored it, his focus shifting to his immediate surroundings. Before Wonder Woman could react, Mori teleported out of the containment room, appearing right beside her.
She tensed for a split second, but Mori raised his hand in a calming gesture. "Relax," he said softly. "I'm not here to cause trouble. I'm just hungry."
Wonder Woman laughed, her tension easing. "Well, good thing I brought enough food for two."
The two of them sat down to eat, sharing the meal in comfortable silence. As they ate, Mori looked at Wonder Woman, his expression thoughtful. Finally, after a long pause, he spoke again. "You remind me of my late lover, Lisa. Your aura, your spirit… it's just like hers. That's why, during the battle, even when I was blinded by grief and rage, I couldn't bring myself to hurt you."
His hand reached out, gently brushing against her cheek. Wonder Woman stiffened at the unexpected touch, her blue eyes widening in surprise. The warmth of his hand against her skin was startling, but what shocked her more was the sadness in his eyes—the grief that he had been carrying with him for so long.
But just as quickly as he'd touched her, Mori pulled his hand away, his shoulders slumping. "I'm sorry," he muttered, lowering his head. Exhaustion overtook him, and within seconds, he fell asleep at the table, his head resting on his folded arms.
Wonder Woman sat in stunned silence, her heart racing. She looked down at Mori, now sound asleep once again, his face relaxed and peaceful. She could still feel the warmth of his touch on her cheek, and her thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. Blushing slightly, she shook her head, trying to clear her mind as she resumed eating in quiet contemplation.
---
A few days later, the sun was setting over the horizon as Mori stood on the roof of John and Jake's secluded cabin. The sky was painted in hues of orange and red, casting a peaceful glow over the landscape. John and Jake had gone inside, leaving Mori alone to watch the sunset.
The serenity of the moment was shattered when Mori felt something. His senses flared as a dark, ominous energy appeared in the distance—a pulse of power unlike anything he had felt in a long time. His eyes narrowed, scanning the horizon, and without hesitation, he launched into the sky, flying toward the source of the disturbance.
Minutes later, Mori arrived at an open field, the grass swaying gently in the evening breeze. In the center of the field, a swirling, orange portal had appeared, crackling with dark energy. The air around it was heavy, thick with malevolent intent.
Mori's eyes widened as he watched a massive hand emerge from the portal, its fingers gripping the edges as something—someone—began to pull itself through.