Lois for the love of all things that's holy, call back!"
General Sam Lane paced back and forth. His eldest daughter and niece were in the middle of ground zero, the first registered portals opening over the top of Smallville. Cameron Chase staggered into the room and she looked a bit beaten up.
"General, we couldn't stop them!" Chase yelled. "They tried to take Luthor, but Superman stopped them. Superman beat two of them and then disappeared to fight the third."
"We can't rely on him," Lane sternly said. "Get Waller on the line. It's time to enact Plan Zero Hour."
"Sounds drastic, General."
Lex stepped into the room, and casually strolled in like he owned the place. Several guards placed their weapons on him. Lex casually stared them down for a few seconds.
"Especially when you don't have the power or the ability to hold it out," Lex said. "Not without my help anyway. Give me the time and the resources, and I can shut down this invasion."
"Forget it," General Lane said. "I'm not trusting...whatever you are."
"Merely someone concerned with the fate of humanity."
"He may have a point."
A large black woman stepped into the room. One sweeping look towards the troops got them to drop their weapons one at a time. Amanda Waller always knew how to make her presence known when she showed up.
"Luthor is under my custody," Waller said. "Order straight from the President. If he can stop this invasion, it's either put up or shut up. I'm willing to give him the chance."
"Oh, yes, I can," Lex told him. "Trust me."
"I don't, but we're all out of options, with Superman missing," Waller said. "If that Anti-Matter weapon you were building can take down Darkseid, now's the time."
"Yes, it can," Lex commented. "And believe me, Ms. Waller, I don't think that being enslaved underneath the will of a madman would do anyone any good. Darkseid will strip every last ounce of free will from us. But, you have to give me one thing, as a failsafe. And I'm yours. To do with whatever you wish."
"We'll discuss terms once the invasion is over."
"No," Lex said. "I wish to see my sister. Both of them. I have an important matter to discuss with them. Something they need to know. They could be in grave danger thanks to this universe's Lionel Luthor."
Waller considered Lex's proposal for a moment and nodded. She would take every step to ensure the journey was safe and bring this invasion to an end. And if Lex tried anything underhanded, then Waller would end them.
X-X-X
Supergirl came down and presented Lena and Tess with a component which would allow them to strengthen the scope of their satellites.
"That should do it," Tess remarked. "It's a bit tricky what we're doing, but if it works, it works."
"Astra's returned," Lena said. "She's sending me the data, that Raya and Lara are pulling out. There's a pattern to these platforms. You might have shut down the one in Metropolis, but there were others."
"Our friends in Gotham have disabled that one as well," Supergirl informed them.
"Two down, maybe a dozen potentials to go," Lena said.
No sign of Harry, which caused some concern to grow in Lena while she waited.
"Ms. Luthor, this is Amanda Waller. I would like to ask you permission to enter."
This caused Lena to blink for a second. Waller ask permission for anything? While Lena only met the woman less than a handful of times in the past, her reputation spoke for itself.
"Security will escort you in," Lena said.
Lena finished the latest signal upload. The doors opened, and Amanda Waller stepped into the room, with a few armed guards, and Lex casually strolled in. Lena's eyes narrowed at the Earth-Two version of her brother.
"What's he doing here?" Lena asked coldly.
"We have mutual interests," Lex said. "I'm going to need Tess's help for this."
"You want my help?" Tess asked suspiciously. "Why?"
"Lionel was a bit more crafty and learned more than he let on," Lex said. "And you're strong enough to survive knolwedg e which would twist the mind. You're the key to all of this. Darkseid wants the Anti-Life Equation because he fears what would happen if someone else obtains it."
"What are you saying?"
"You have the final piece I need," Lex said. "To unlock the equation."
"No deal," Tess said.
"I agree."
"We have to do this, we're out of options," Waller said. "This is the only thing we have that will shift Darkseid's interest. And bait him into a trap. The world is in danger."
Lena folded arms. She looked Tess, who closed her eyes.
"We have one shot at really doing this," Tess said. "We have to."
"Maybe," Lena said. "But, if anything happens, you'll have to answer to him."
"I know."
"And I'm coming with. And if there's anything I don't like, we're pulling out. And if he makes one wrong move…"
Lena let the threat hang. She wished Harry was here. Waller was playing a dangerous game working with Lex. And Lena still did not trust Lex, especially knowing from Karen what he did.
"You okay with this?" Kay asked.
"Keep monitoring here," Lena said. "I'll be back soon."
Supergirl nodded slowly. There was something about this which turned her stomach in knots. Especially with the worry that Harry just vanished without a trace. She could still feel him, but he was frustratingly out of reach.
X-X-X
Superman threw himself into Darkseid and knock him through the tower. Darkseid bounced up like an annoying insect hit him and beamed Superman out of mid-air. The Omega Force sent Superman back.
"Few are strong enough to survive."
Superman clapped his hand and sent Darkseid spiraling back. The ever suffering slaves watching before viewed the confrontation. Superman came back, punch after punch rattling Darkseid. Superman reared back and slammed him down with another violent punch.
The slaves viewed the battle. Some watched in awe and many others watched in fear. Superman rocked Darkseid with an uppercut punch. He hoisted up a huge piece of debris and super charged it. An explosion rocked Darkseid back a few feet and nearly sent him teetering over the edg.e
Superman came up into the air and down with a huge punch across Darkseid's head. Darkseid had been dropped to one knee for a second before he sprung back up and grabbed Superman by the throat.
"Kneel."
A blast of electricity sent Darkseid flipping head over heels. The Man of Steel sent a bolt of energy from his hand and rocked Darkseid. Darkseid fired back with another attack. Superman punched Darkseid. Darkseid blocked the punch and tried to force Superman down to his knees.
Harry summoned the sheer force of will and snapped Darkseid's arm back. Darkseid flipped over and crashed violently onto the ground with a sickening thud echoing everyone.
"ARGH!"
Suddenly, pain beyond all measure hit Harry. Some kind of signal blasted through his ears. The hero struggled to get through the attack.
"Even Superman has his limits."
Darkseid blasted Superman off of the pedestal with a huge Omega beam strike. Superman impacted the ground extremely hard and had all of the wind knocked out of him.
The ruler of Apokolips crashed down from the ceiling and landed on top of Superman. Superman had been hoisted up and propelled backwards into the wall. Blood dripped from his mouth as he shuddered.
"The countdown to Apokolips begins," Darkseid said. "Twelve of your Earth hours and the planet will be mine."
X-X-X
Lex hooked the final component needed to the Anti-Matter cannon up. The watchful eyes of Lena, Tess, and Waller over him brought a slight amount of annoyance to Lex.
"Is it done yet?"
"Yes," Lex said. "And I've got the Anti-Life Equation as well. It was within you, dear sister."
Lena shuddered for a second. Lex just turned and smiled at his dear sister.
"It's terrifying and beautiful at the same time," Lex said. "Free will is something that we all take for granted. It's amazing how it could be stripped away if you break it down to it's most base components."
"Lena," Supergirl said. "Twelve hours and Darkseid launches his final assault. We're doomed."
Lex chuckled. Lena did not like it and neither did Tess.
"What is so funny?"
"I hear the Kryptonian, well one of them," Lex said. "Darkseid has handed us a means to transport the Anti-Matter to Apokolips and wipe it out. And the rest that are Earth, we can bring them down."
Lena waited for the other shoe to drop. Because there was a catch. And Lena chanced a look at the Anti-Life equation. It was the most complex bit of science she ever caught a glimpse of.
"We have him right where we need him to be," Waller said.
"And he's right where he wants to be," Lena said."And Superman…"
"He went through the portal to Apokolips," Waller said. "He went after Darkseid."
"He...you...you...shut it down!" Lena yelled suddenly losing her cool. "You have the stop that cannon now."
Lex only responded with a dry chuckle which sent chills down his sister's spine. Lena realized that Lex knew and Waller allowed it to happen. Lena turned and flashed the most dangerous look she could at Waller. Who stood her ground without backing down or blinking.
"He would understand the sacrifice…."
"I don't care!" Lena snapped. "Shut it down."
"Can't, even if I wanted to," Lex said.
The thinly disguised truth that Lex really did not want to made Lena's blood boil. And if Waller did not have guards on him, Lena would have taken more drastic action.
X-X-X
Darkseid had been impressed, or as close as he could get to being impressed. Superman fought back from the ground and started to blast Darkseid with everything he had.
"Futile."
Red energy waves appeared above their head which caused both enemies to stop. Harry felt a chill and an unsettling sense of Deja-Vu hit him very hard. Darkseid blasted Harry straight down to the ground seconds later.
"Noble, but foolish."
Darkseid lifted one hand and shielded Apokolips from the Anti-Matter. With the Anti-Matter in play, Darkseid accelerated the process of destroying Earth.
"And now, you have sixty minutes."
Harry sprang up, fury in his eyes and slammed Darkseid as hard as possible into the nearest wall. Darkseid's eyes burned for the Omega Strike, only for Harry to slam his hands deep into Darkseid's eye sockets and channel the energy back. Harry shook as the energy rippled through his body.
A loud bang echoed and Darkseid flew back. Harry pulled a pair of blackened hands out of the eye sockets and winced.
Chants of "Darkseid is" filled the area as the slaves gathered around. Darkseid looked up at his enemy with bloodshot eyes and a cracked face.
Another Boom Tube opened up, and Harry turned his attention. Barda stepped out and she held in her hands the Genesis Blade.
"Barda, you've found it," Darkseid said. "Give it to me."
"No."
Barda understood clearly now and passed the blade to Superman. The second he touched the blade, it healed his hands. Superman channeled all of the power he could through his hands and then slammed the blade straight into Darkseid.
The chants of "Darkeid is" died down completely. The slaves all watched in shock when Darkseid crumbled into ash before Superman's most brutal attack.
Harry wasted no time in moving over to the console and disabling the attack on Earth. The Anti-Matter had been drawn back to the source. Harry sheathed the blade in his shoulder, and turned his attention to Barda.
"Time to go."
Barda inclined her head for a second and nodded. She knew what Superman knew and that was Apokolips was finished.
X-X-X
And Apokolips had been destroyed. Lena smiled when she got a brief signal from Harry, ensuring he had made it off world before the impact.
Waller let out a heaving sigh, as she could see all across the planet, someone had relayed all of the forces that were still left on Earth. Likely Superman himself. The world had been saved once again, although they very nearly lost it big time.
A second passed and Waller turned her attention to Lex, only to realize she could not even move. Lex broke into a smile.
"The scorpion and the frog," Lex said. "The frog, ever so helpful, ever so naive, ever so thrusting. And the scorpion could not help itself. Especially when it has the strength to gain the advantage."
Lena reached for a gun on her, however Lex stopped her. Tess, Waller, and Lena all kneeled before Lex.
"You can't," Lena said.
"I have," Lex said. "And soon the entire world will be under the rule of its new god."
Lena let this happen and could not believe it. She fought Lex's power, she had to. And very nearly won, until Lex forced her face-down onto the ground. A small amount of blood trickled through Lena's nose when she shook and shuddered, breathing in and out very heavily.
"You can't fight nature, Lena. And now with the Anti-Life equation, I will have everyone underneath my boot. Especially him."
And those who do not accept their new god, they would die. Lex finally had the power to save the world. If the world had to have harmony, then they would need to be under one man and that man was Lex Luthor
X-X-X
As Harry approached Earth, a splitting headache hit him extremely hard. And Harry sensed the others in his network being effected.
"I can barely hold him off myself."
Imra approached Harry outside of the strongest part of the signal. Harry closed his eyes for a second.
"Got to stop Lex," Harry groaned.
Darkseid had been the threat he thought he would be eliminated, but Lex had come from behind and conned his way into solving the Anti-Life Equation. And with it, truly terrifying and very unsettling power.
"Together we'll be strong enough," Imra said. "Let my mind merge with yours."
Imra's astral form went towards Harry and signal boosted his mind. Then that allowed Harry to follow the network and bring Lex in.
Lex Luthor stood face to face on the Astral Plane with Superman. A small flicker of a smile passed over the face of the dangerous criminal mastermind.
"Bold of you to bring me directly into your mind," Lex remarked. "And foolish. You should kneel before me."
Harry stood, unblinking. Lex exerted all of the control he could, and started to shake when Superman approached him. Lex took a couple of steps back. The bulging of his eyes looked completely unsettling. Lex was beginning to lose control, big time.
"You don't understand what you have."
"I understand it perfectly!" Lex yelled.
"I can stop you without lifting a finger now. You see about that equation. It was never to be processed by mortal minds. And your mind, no matter how advanced it is, is breaking down."
"KNEEL!"
Lex tried one last gambit to try and get Superman down. However, the world around him started to break. Memories, knowledge, they all faded away in an instant. Every single bit of knowledge Lex had circled the drain. No matter how much he tried to hold it together, Lex faded, a little bit more by each passing second. The struggles of trying to get himself together completed.
The cracks in Lex's cognitive ability shattered his mind, very slowly and very ugly. He screamed out, in everlasting agony, as white hot knives just split through his skull and impaled through his mind. Lex's agony only doubled down and he could feel himself losing everything.
Imra appeared right next to Harry and nodded. Lex's entire psyche shattered right before them and it was very ugly.
They appeared, with Lena, Tess, and Waller all coming out of a catatonic state. Imra put her hands on the top of Lex's head. Drool came out of his mouth a few seconds later.
"It's gone," Imra said. "The Anti-Life Equation has been wiped."
Harry stared down at the twisted counterpart of his former friend. Obsession led to his downfall. Now the lights were on, but no one appeared to be home.
The moment the dust cleared, Harry turned straight to Waller.
"We'll have a discussion about this later."
"Yes, we will, "Waller agreed.
Rarely had Amanda Waller looked so shaken, but she was.
X-X-X
The Daily Planet had been a hub of activity, the day after the invasion. Chloe looked over Lois's article, getting a few last minute tweaks on it. Diana, Kara, and Harry all hung around the office. Harry leaned over and smiled.
"You should be proud," Harry said.
"Well, you're the one who saved the world," Lois responded. "Twice."
"It was a long one," Harry said.
"Hopefully we can get a break," Kara responded. "You need it more than anyone else."
"Even the strongest warrior needs time to heal the spirit," Diana agreed.
"I've been trying to tell him that for years," Chloe said. "Well, not like that, but he does need to kick back, relax and take a break."
"I might have a solution," Diana said.
"And we will," Harry said. "We will. Just one final piece of business to take care of."
"Just the one?" Chloe teased him.
"It always is."
Alex had just shown up, with lunch for the crew. She greeted Chloe and Harry at the door before joining the others. It was hard to believe that in some respects, this started with them and also Kara soon after. And their little group had grown into so much more.
X-X-X
Wonder Woman, Green Arrow, Hawkgirl, Superwoman, Superman, and Power Girl all arrived at an abandoned Cadmus Facility which had been remodeled to something more fitting. It took quite a while to clean out.
"This is almost unrecognizable from what it was before," Diana commented.
"Which is good."
Batman appeared from the shadows. While Harry saw him coming, he let Batman believe he had come in and made his great entrance.
"Surprised you showed up," Harry commented.
"I wanted to tell you in person that whatever you're planning, I'm only going to be reserve. Gotham…"
"Is your priority, I know," Harry said. "But when you can help, it will be appreciated."
"Yes," Diana agreed. "It would be."
"The threats are getting bigger,' Karen said. "Doomsday, Lex, Darkseid, just to name a few. We need to band together. We worked well separately in the past and some of us worked together well."
"However, we can do so much more," Harry responded. "So much more."
"Always can," Olivia said. "And with you as our leader…"
"There shouldn't be any leader," Harry said.
"Someone has to take charge," Kara reminded him. "And most of us are used to taking direction from you."
Harry decided to turn to the one person who had been the outlier in this group, Batman.
"If I'm out of line…"
"I'll be sure to tell you," Batman said. "But, maybe you're right. The world is getting more dangerous. And we need to be prepared."
Harry nodded and looked outside. Members of the press had already gathered and Harry figured he would address them, right after he finished addressing his allies.
"We will be a beacon of hope. This little Justice League has an opportunity to lead to great change."
With that, Superman led the way for some of the Earth's best. Darkseid had been defeated, Lex had been reduced to nothing but a drooling vegetable. All of the threats were dispensed with, but there were always going to be challenges.
And no matter what life this was, Harry would be there to face them every step of the way.
End.