Injustice 2

INJUSTICE 2

STORY MODE TRANSCRIPT

by CHRIS WOLVIE

TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.................................................... CAST OF CHARACTERS.............................................. TRANSCRIPT PROLOGUE......................................................  CHAPTER 1: GODFALL - BATMAN...................................   CHAPTER 2: THE GIRL WHO LAUGHS - HARLEY QUINN.................   CHAPTER 3: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD - GREEN ARROW&BLACK CANARY.. CHAPTER 4: INVASION! - THE FLASH..............................  CHAPTER 5: SEA OF TROUBLES - GREEN LANTERN....................   CHAPTER 6: ASSAULT ON STRIKER'S ISLAND-BLUE BEETLE&FIRESTORM.. CHAPTER 7: BREAKING AND ENTERING - CYBORG & CATWOMAN..........  CHAPTER 8: WAR GODDESS - WONDER WOMAN.........................   CHAPTER 9: LAST HOPE OF KRYPTON - SUPERGIRL...................   CHAPTER 10: THREE KINGS - AQUAMAN & BLACK ADAM................   CHAPTER 11: THE WORLD'S FINEST - BATMAN & SUPERMAN............   CHAPTER 12: ABSOLUTE JUSTICE/POWER - BATMAN/SUPERMAN.......... ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.................................................

- INTRODUCTION - Welcome to my first transcript of a video game. I'm no good at ASCII art so I hope you don't mind the simple graphics.

I chose Injustice 2 because the original Injustice story was so interesting that I just had to look into this one. I have the prequel comic book series, I played the original game and I'm working on the prequel series of THIS game. Plus I thought it was great to see more obscure characters be added. And, of course, having Brainiac as the main baddie ain't too shabby, either.

OK, so let me explain. This is a full transcript of EVERYTHING in the Story Mode of Injustice 2. It's a little more complex as, in some chapters, you're given a choice between two characters to fight as for each opponent. In that case, I'll divide the script briefly, using "^^^^^^^^" for each character and "^END^^^^" when the split ends.

In the final chapter, you play as either Superman or Batman. Since it starts the same and the same dialogue appears at certain points of the chapter, I'll use the "^^^^^^^^" when the dialogue splits and "^END^^^^" when the dialogue merges again (which is about after every fight). The epilogue I'll just split wholly.

Before the transcript, I gave a brief description of everyone involved in the story. This is for those who may have heard of some of these people but aren't sure of their motivations. This also hopefully brings those who never played Injustice up to speed on what side each person was/is on. I included both superhero and real-life names for each character as well as the person who voiced each character. The characters that only appeared in one scene I put as "Minor Characters".

During the transcript, I'll refer to each person by their real name when they're out of their superhero costume and by their superhero name when they're in them. Fortunately, this doesn't happen very often. Also, this is all happening in the Injustice universe and no one from the Prime universe from the first game crosses over. That makes distinguishing everyone MUCH simpler, as there are no "mirror matches" this time.

- CAST OF CHARACTERS -

(All characters are copyright DC Comics, Inc. and Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc. All rights reserved by respective creators and artists.)

BATMAN/BRUCE WAYNE - Kevin Conroy Protector of Gotham City. Owner of Wayne Enterprises, billionaire playboy. Parents were murdered when he was eight, prompting him to become a vigilante. Was main opponent of the Regime and brought other multiverse versions of the Justice League over to help bring him down.

SUPERMAN/CLARK KENT/KAL-EL - George Newbern Last son of Krypton. Gets powers from yellow sunlight; is vulnerable to red sunlight, Kryptonite and magic. Went on a crusade to end war and violence after his wife, Lois Lane, was killed. Started the Regime to make this happen. Currently imprisoned in a red-sunlight cell.

WONDER WOMAN/PRINCESS DIANA OF THEMYSCIRIA - Susan Eisenberg Amazon princess. Was Superman's biggest proponent and second-in-command of the Regime. Has super strength and the ability to fly. Uses a sword and shield and a Lasso of Truth. Was imprisoned by the Amazons when the Regime fell. Has escaped and is at-large.

GREEN LANTERN/HAL JORDAN - Steve Blum Green Lantern of Sector 2814, including Earth. Uses his ring to create light constructs based on will. Was Yellow Lantern (part of the Sinestro Corps) during the Regime; worked hard to get back into the GL Corps to seek retribution for GLs he killed as part of the Regime.

FLASH/BARRY ALLEN - Taliesin Jaffe Fastest man alive; can tap into the Speed Force and travel through time. Was originally part of the Regime until Superman killed Captain Marvel; then worked to bring it down. Was pardoned and sent to work in a scientific lab under orders NOT to put on the Flash costume again.

AQUAMAN/KING ARTHUR CURRY OF ATLANTIS - Phil LaMarr Human father, Atlantean mother. Now rules Atlantis, apart from the rest of the world. Can manipulate the seas and talk to the creatures within it to do his bidding. Was neutral in Regime time until a hostile takeover attempt made him anti-Regime.

CYBORG/VICTOR STONE - Khary Payton Half-human, half machine. Has found a balance between the two he can live with. A living computer, can hack into almost anything electrical. Was tactician for the Regime before it was brought down. Is currently imprisoned at Striker's Island.

NIGHTWING/DAMIAN WAYNE - Scott Porter Son of Bruce Wayne and Talia Al'Ghul. Took over the mantle of Nightwing after the original, Dick Grayson, died by his hands. Supporter of the Regime; hates his father for being against Superman. Is currently imprisoned at Striker's Island.

BLACK ADAM/KING TETH-ADAM OF KAHNDAQ - Joey Naber Rule of Middle-Eastern nation of Kahndaq. Is ancient, but retains youth with the powers given to him by the wizard Shazam. Essentially the anti-Captain Marvel. Was imprisoned by Regime but then joined them. Escaped capture when Regime fell. Now hides in Kahndaq.

CATWOMAN/SELINA KYLE - Grey Griffin Bruce Wayne/Batman's on-again-off-again romantic interest. Cat burglar extraordinaire. Was originally co-founder of Insurgency, but switched to the Regime when she felt they couldn't be stopped. Was imprisoned when Regime fell but was pardoned with Bruce Wayne's help. Current whereabouts unknown.

HARLEY QUINN/HARLEEN QUINZEL - Tara Strong Former psychiatrist in Arkham Asylum until Joker bewitched her into becoming his paramour. After Joker was killed by Superman, she started a Joker Gang to fight the Regime. After the Regime fell, she helped Batman build Brother Eye to locate threats to Earth.

GREEN ARROW/OLIVER QUEEN - Alan Tudyk Exceptional archer. Lover of Black Canary. From a different universe from Injustice and Prime; lost HIS Black Canary years before. Injustice Green Arrow was killed by Superman after he impregnated Black Canary. Now in Injustice universe to rebuild the Justice League at Batman's behest.

BLACK CANARY/DINAH LANCE - Vanessa Marshall Meta-human; can scream so loudly that it forces enemies backwards. Also skilled fighter. Was "killed" by Superman but was brought to alternate dimension by Dr. Fate to heal and raise her son with a different Oliver Queen. Now back in Injustice to rebuild the Justice League at Batman's behest.

DOCTOR FATE/KENT NELSON - David Sobolov Sorcerer taught by Nabu the Wise. Is not supposed to interfere with major events, but brings Black Canary to another universe to save her life. Helm can control his actions if Nabu wants to. Nabu thinks Regime will bring order to Earth, but Kent is not so sure.

BANE/(unknown; might be Antonio Diego Dorrance) - Fred Tatasciore Born in a prison, built up his body to take the abuse. Was given experimental "Venom" drug, which made him even stronger. Broke out of prison to terrorize Gotham and bring down Batman. Sided with Regime, against the objections of most of their ranks. Escaped prison and is at-large.

BLUE BEETLE/JAIME (pronounced like "Hi, me") REYES - Antony del Rio Newest member of Batman's post-Regime team. Holder of a mystical alien scarab which gives him his powers and armor. Cocky, thinks he deserves to be among the "big boys" the Justice League used to be. Brashness and lack of control of his powers are his weaknesses.

FIRESTORM/JASON RUSCH & PROFESSOR MARTIN STEIN - Ogie Banks & Fred Tatasciore Newest member(s) of Batman's post-Regime team. Only has powers when they fuse together; their minds link in Jason's changed body. Can control fire and nuclear particles and can even CREATE elements. Biggest weakness is that Jason and the Professor don't see eye-to-eye, even when fused.

SUPERGIRL/KARA ZOR-EL - Laura Bailey Superman's cousin; has same powers and weaknesses. Was supposed to protect the baby Kal-El but was separated by the explosion of Krypton. Was in suspended animation for all of Superman's life until found and trained by Wonder Woman and Black Adam.

GORILLA GRODD - Charles Halford A gorilla given super-human intelligence, telepathy and telekinesis by a radioactive meteor. King of Gorilla City. Believes apes should rule the world. Builds up The Society, a group of super-villains backed by a "silent partner".

CAPTAIN COLD/LEONARD SNART - C. Thomas Howell A small-time crook, he uses a cyclotron-powered gun to freeze the moisture in the air. Brother of the deceased Golden Glider, who was killed by the Regime. Vowed revenge on the Regime and joined Gorilla Grodd's Society to find the remaining members and freeze them.

POISON IVY/PAMELA ISLEY - Tasia Valenza Experimented on by her high school professor, can manipulate all sorts of flora. Is convinced that "The Green" needs to re-take the world and vows to help it do so. Joins the Society to, eventually, take over and rule the world with a green fist.

SCARECROW/DR. JONATHAN CRANE - Robert Englund A psychologist obsessed with the idea of fear. Created a toxic gas that brings out the greatest fears of the person who inhales it. Wears a scarecrow mask to protect himself. Was thought killed by Joker before, but managed to survive his Smile-X and now works for the Society.

JOKER - Richard Epcar Batman's most-recognizable nemesis. Kills indiscriminately. Uses Smile-X gas to make people laugh themselves to death. Was responsible for making Superman kill his wife and for nuking Metropolis. Was killed by Superman, starting the Regime. Now only exists in Harley Quinn's deepest fears.

CHEETAH/BARBARA ANN MINERVA - Erica Luttrell Once friend of Wonder Woman, she cursed herself by being possessed by the Goddess of the Hunt, an Amazonian goddess. Now, looking like a human/cheetah hybrid, she hunts and kills people...just because she can. Joins the Society to hunt and kill Wonder Woman.

SWAMP THING/DR. ALEC HOLLAND - Fred Tatasciore Killed in a domestic terror attack at a bio-chemical lab, Dr. Holland's memories and personality seeped into the nearby swamp, creating Swamp Thing. Now lives to protect his swamp and "The Green" as a whole. Believes only "The Green" can protect the Earth from crisis.

ATROCITUS - Ike Amadi Leader of the Red Lantern Corps. Forms light constructs based on rage. Filled WITH rage since his family was killed by Manhunters. Now lives to destroy other Lantern Corps members...except for Hal Jordan, whom he wants to turn INTO a Red Lantern.

DEADSHOT/FLOYD LAWTON - Matt Mercer Assassin for hire. Claims he "never missed" a shot. Has been part of the Suicide Squad on more than one occasion. Has an explosive in his head. Is forced into the Society by Gorilla Grodd, who holds the trigger to the explosive.

REVERSE-FLASH/EOBARD THAWNE - Liam O'Brien A 25th-Century scientist obsessed with Flash. Gained Flash's powers and went back in time to meet him. Ended up in Injustice timeline as his ancestor was killed by Regime. Now stuck in this time, he vows revenge on the Regime, and Flash most of all.

BRAINIAC - Jeffrey Combs An android born from a massive alien main computer. Caused the destruction of Krypton. Now travels the universe, absorbing the knowledge of millions of worlds...and then destroying said worlds as he believes knowledge is only valuable when it is rare. And...Earth is next on the list!

MINOR CHARACTERS KARA'S MOTHER Determined to get Kara to safety as Brainiac destroys Krypton.

PRISONER 00888 Prisoner at Arkham who doesn't want to leave, for some reason...

VICTOR ZSASZ Mass murderer who cuts himself once for each murder he commits.

LUCIUS FOX Provider of Batman's weaponry. Bruce's confidant now that Alfred is dead.

BROTHER EYE Batman's super-computer, watching over the world for threats.

DR. RANDALL Head of research where Flash is stationed.

L-W BASE OPERATOR Poor sap who as at L-W Base in Metropolis when it was attacked.

GRID Cyborg clone made by Brainiac. All machine, no humanity.

METROPOLIS CITIZEN Someone dying as Metropolis is attacked.

NABU The spirit of Dr. Fate's helm; wants Order at all costs.

- TRANSCRIPT - PROLOGUE -

(On a black background with muffled booms:)

WB GAMES AND DC ENTERTAINMENT PRESENT

A NETHERREALM STUDIOS GAME

(Open to a statue being destroyed by what seems to be a falling meteorite. A young woman with pony-tailed blond hair hides behind the base of it in fear.)

KRYPTON

(Many people run past the statue and the woman hides until they pass before running towards what they were running from. Above, more meteorites fall and the woman hides behind a rock.  From where a meteorite lands, a bunch of Terminator-style robots appear, scanning the area.  Just as one of them is about to scan the woman, the Kyrptonian army arrives and engages with them. They...don't do well, being swatted and shot.  The woman uses the opportunity to run further but trips.  She looks up to see a large head-shaped ship with tentacles sticking out of it.  The robots turn to approach her.  She runs and they follow...until she crawls through a drainpipe, where they can't follow. We see an observatory that the woman walks up to.  She heads to a balcony of the observatory and sees the city she just escaped from being sucked up and digitized by the large ship.  The ship then shoots up above the clouds, leaving the woman in absolute shock. She is Kara Zor-El, and the city was Argo, her home. The doors behind her opens and in walks one of the robots, called a "Beta". But, as it's about to capture Kara, her mother comes in with a laser gun and shoots it and other Betas in the back of their heads.)

KARA: Mother!

KARA'S MOTHER: Kara! Come quickly! (Holds off the Betas as Kara runs to the              door.  Closes them quickly) Stay with me, Kara. (Walks away              from the door and down the corridor with Kara behind her)

KARA: (hysterical) Mother, the ship--it just---Argo City's gone! Millions of     people...

KARA'S MOTHER: That's only the beginning--Brainiac's destabilized the planet's              core. Krypton won't hold together much longer...(they reach a              door)

KARA: But all your research--isn't there something you can do?

KARA'S MOTHER: (punches code into door) That's why we're here.

(The door opens to show...)

KARA: A spaceship? That's what you've been working on?

KARA'S MOTHER: (walks to console) Your uncle Jor-El discovered a planet that can sustain Kryptonians, far away from Brainiac. (activates the              ship, which lowers for Kara) He's built a ship just like this one for your cousin, Kal.

KARA: But Kal...he's just a baby...!

KARA'S MOTHER: (approaching Kara) Which is why you need to protect him. Teach him our ways.

KARA: (confused) ME teach him? What about you...? (suddenly understands) No. No. No, I won't leave you! (in tears) Please, please don't make me!

KARA'S MOTHER: (also tearing up) I can't come with you, but you'll never be              alone. (hugs Kara) You belong to the House of El, Kara. A              house of hope. Never forget that. Never give up hope. (The              Betas pound on the door) Get in!

(Kara gets into the cockpit and the window lowers. She sees the Betas entering and approaching her mother.  She pounds on the glass in tears, begging her to turn around.  But, as she lifts off, the Betas grab her.  She winces at the G-forces until she leaves Krypton's atmosphere.  Then she cries at the loss of her mother.  Another ship appears on her right.  Inside its cockpit is a baby; Kal-El...the man who would later be known on Earth as "Superman".  That's when the planet of Krypton is destroyed.  Kara braces herself as the ship is rocked by debris.)

KARA: Hold on, Kara. Hold on...(two large chunks of the planet strike her     ship dead-on and she spins, going a different direction from Kal-El's      ship, away from Earth) Kal! No! No, please! KAL!!

INJUSTICE 2

- CHAPTER 1: GODFALL - BATMAN -

(Many years later, a gavel is heard pounding on wood. A sharp-dressed man stand before a small crowd and a group of judges.  He is Bruce Wayne, the hero known as Batman, and he is speaking about a former friend of his and his actions over the last number of years...)

BRUCE: In my years fighting crime, I've learned one truth...that every villain is the hero of his own story. Superman was no exception. The Joker drugged him. Tricked him into killing his pregnant wife, Lois. And made him trigger the bomb that nuked Metropolis. So when Superman killed the Joker, I understood why. We all did. But once that line is      crossed, there was no going back. He gave himself and the Justice League a new mandate: stop all crime before it happened, by any means necessary. But he couldn't see his good intentions were leading him down a path of tyranny and evil. THAT's how our greatest hero became our greatest threat.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO

(The Batwing is flying over Gotham city. Inside is Batman and his son and current "Robin", Damian Wayne (who I'll call "Nightwing").)

NIGHTWING: So WHAT if Superman's pulling criminals out of Arkham? They're the worst of the worst.

BATMAN: He's going to KILL them, Damian.

NIGHTWING: Sounds like justice to me.

BATMAN: Killing people isn't justice! Superman can't see that. He's       grieving. He needs time to heal.

NIGHTWING: Yeah, and what if it had been Gotham?! If Joker killed me, your own son?! (Batman stays silent) Thought you'd say that.

(As they approach Arkham Asylum, the Batwing has its autopilot engaged. Nightwing punches keys on his console to no avail.)

NIGHTWING: It's not responding. We're being taken to the Batcave!

BATMAN: Prepare to eject!

(Batman punches a red button and he and Nightwing pop out of the cockpit, spreading their capes like wingsuits to glide back to Arkham. But then Batman looks down to a movie theater and sees a "boom tube" open up.  Out of it comes Cyborg, a member of the Regime.  He fires his arm cannon at the two, and Nightwing loses control and lands on a building roof.  Batman lands nearby Cyborg.)

BATMAN: A warning shot, Cyborg?

CYBORG: I won't hurt you unless I have to.

BATMAN: You're gonna have to.

CYBORG: My friends were in Metropolis, Batman! Starfire, Beast Boy, gone! We       do this, that never happens again!

BATMAN: You're right to be angry. But it's not a blank check. And the Justice League isn't a death squad!

(The two commence to fisticuffs. Though Cyborg's technology IS impressive, Batman's training in hand-to-hand and the use of his own gadgets is too much for the human computer.  Batman knocks Cyborg cold.)

BATMAN: You don't know it yet, but Superman's wrong. (Nightwing joins him,       clutching his stomach) Your glider skills need work.

NIGHTWING: Yeah, I'm fine, thanks for asking!

BATMAN: Let's go.

(The Dynamic Duo draw grapple hooks from their belts, and head for the rooftops. Later, they arrive at Arkham, where two guards are watching the front gate from outside and one from inside.  Batman and Nightwing swoop down and knockout the outside guards.  The inside guard looks around to see what's going on...and Batman kicks the gate in his face.  The two then take care of other guards.  Batman punches one guard repeatedly in the head, then checks his pulse.)

NIGHTWING: So you won't kill, but you're fine with traumatic brain injuries.

BATMAN: (ignoring that jape) Secure the loading docks.

(As Nightwing does that, Batman heads for the front doors. But out of them comes Wonder Woman.  She looks at Batman with sheer anger.)

WONDER WOMAN: Here to help, Bruce? (kicks gate off hinges)

BATMAN: Yes. To keep you and Clark from making a terrible mistake.

WONDER WOMAN: (approaching Batman) NONE of us wanted this. But the Joker forced our hand. Metropolis changed the world. Now WE have to             change with it. (draws sword and shield)

BATMAN: Not like this!

WONDER WOMAN: Of all people, I thought YOU would understand!

(Wonder Woman is akin to Superman in strength. But Batman had ingested a special pill which grants the consumer near-equal strength and invulnerability.  Both are accomplished fighters, though.  In the end, Batman wins out over the Amazon.  During the fight, Batman grabs her Lasso of Truth. As Wonder Woman gets up, Batman lassos her.)

BATMAN: I need you to tell me the truth! Where is he?!

(Even Wonder Woman can't lie ensnared in her Lasso.)

WONDER WOMAN: Cellblock C. (struggles against lasso) You can't turn your back on him! He needs you!

BATMAN: (dropping the lasso) That's why I came. (walks to the doors)

(Inside Cellblock C, a group of jump-suited men are marching in a line, watched by armed guards. A doctor checks a list on a clipboard as they walk by him. But one prisoner stops and knocks the clipboard out of the doctor's hands.)

PRISONER 00888: Doc, what are they gonna DO to us?! Where we going?! (When               the doctor doesn't answer, Prisoner puts him in a chokehold) I                ain't goin' nowhere till you tell me what's happening!

SUPERMAN: GET BACK IN LINE!

(Everyone stops in their tracks as Superman hovers in, eyes glowing red as the prisoners give him a wide berth.)

SUPERMAN: NOW!

(Prisoner 00888 drops the doctor, who scrambles out of the way as Superman approaches. Suddenly, Batman drops in through the skylight and lands in between Superman and the prisoner.  Superman doesn't seem surprised.)

SUPERMAN: Two minutes!

(The guards lead the now-very-compliant prisoners out of the room; they know the leaders of the Regime and Insurgency are about to throw down.)

BATMAN: You're better than this, Clark.

SUPERMAN: These inmates are irredeemable. They're thieves, rapists, murderers! Like the Joker! That's the problem with fighting for truth and justice: the battle never ends!

BATMAN: And executing them will end it?! First Joker, now this...when does it       stop?

SUPERMAN: When there's no more crime. When people can live without fear! We         want the same thing, Bruce...

BATMAN: I wanted to kill my parents' murderer. I could have. (Nightwing       sneaks behind a pillar) But that's not the life they wanted for me. And it's not the life Lois would want for you.

SUPERMAN: (eyes glowing red) Don't you put that on me! (clenches his fist)

(They look face-to-face, eye-to-eye...and Superman doesn't notice that Batman is holding what looks like a grenade.)

SUPERMAN: A Red Solar grenade?

BATMAN: To DULL your powers. You need to stop. Take time to grieve before it's too late.

SUPERMAN: You wouldn't...

(Yeah, he would...and he DOES. The force of the grenade forces both of them back.)

NIGHTWING: No!

SUPERMAN: You're supposed to be my friend!

BATMAN: Which is why I have to stop you!

(Between the power pill Batman took and the grenade weakening Superman's powers, Batman is equal with Superman. It's a close fight, but Batman puts Superman on the ground.  But Batman finds no joy in this victory...)

BATMAN: (approaching Superman) I'm sorry, Clark. (pulls out a Kryptonite rope)

SUPERMAN: Get away from me!

NIGHTWING: Look who I found!

(Superman and Batman turn to see Nightwing bringing in a man with many, MANY cuts on is head and torso.)

NIGHTWING: (pulling out knife and holding it to prisoner's throat) Victor Zsasz, psychopath. How many women have you killed?!

ZSASZ: (chuckling) H-hundred...twenty-one?

NIGHTWING: A hundred and twenty-one. Huh! Sounds incorrigible to me.

BATMAN: Robin, let him go!

NIGHTWING: You'd rather fight your friends than the real problem.

BATMAN: I'm warning you, son!

NIGHTWING: "Son"?! (kicks Zsasz to his knees) You didn't raise me! The League of Assassins did! (slits Zsasz's throat, to even the shock of          Superman.  Zsasz falls dead to the floor) Problem solved. Who's          next?

BATMAN: DAMMIT, Damian!! This is a line we do not cross!

NIGHTWING: (tackling Batman backwards) Then stay on your side, Batman! I'LL          be on Superman's!

(Father and son come to blows. Both are on power pills and both have the same training.  But Batman has experience on his side...and that wins the fight for him.)

BATMAN: (approaching Nightwing, full of remorse) Damian, I...I never meant to...

NIGHTWING: (standing) You coward! We're at war with these animals! You think you're better than HIM?! (points to Zsasz) You let the Joker keep on killing! You couldn't save Lois or Jason or ANYONE!

SUPERMAN: (putting hand on Nightwing's shoulder) That's enough. Let's go.

NIGHTWING: But the inmates-

SUPERMAN: Not today.

(They clasp arms and Superman takes off slowly to through the skylight, Nightwing staring at his father as he takes off. Batman looks down at the dead body of Zsasz...and knows that his son is lost to him.)

(Back in the present day, Bruce still speaks to the judges, but on a TV at Wayne Enterprises. Bruce himself watches his speech.)

BRUCE: (on TV) It's been years since the Regime fell. Superman's behind bars. Damian, my own son, is there with him. But we can't ever forget WHY we      put them there. We must stay vigilant.

(Bruce looks out at Gotham as the sun sets. His confidant, Lucius Fox, joins him.)

LUCIUS: I thought your goal was to REASSURE people, Mr. Wayne. You're not alone in rebuilding Gotham and Metropolis. But if we don't change some minds soon,...

BRUCE: Thought THAT's why you hired that overpaid PR film, Lucius.

LUCIUS: Convincing folks to move back to these cities is a lot harder when they're afraid someone's gonna knock 'em down again.

BRUCE: Superman's NEVER getting out. I made that clear.

LUCIUS: But Wonder Woman, Black Adam, Aquaman--they're still out there somewhere and, seemingly, immune to prosecution. I know you built Brother Eye to keep tabs on those loose ends, but the PUBLIC doesn't       know.

BRUCE: Brother Eye's secrecy is critical. Our enemies can't fight something they don't know exists.

LUCIUS: Well, then, at least follow ONE bit of advice we paid those PR people so much money for.

BRUCE: What's that?

LUCIUS: Be a little less Batman, a little more billionaire playboy. (puts hand       on Bruce's shoulder) Get out around town in the daylight. And SMILE. Focus groups show people feel safer when they see you smile.

BRUCE: (thinking about this) Hm.

(A phone on the conference table rings.)

LUCIUS: That would be your OTHER job. (puts ringer on mute) Bruce, consider widening your circle of trust. Nobody wins all by themselves...not even you.

(Bruce thinks about that as well...)

- CHAPTER 2: THE GIRL WHO LAUGHS - HARLEY QUINN -

(In a stairwell stands a man in green with a bow and quiver and a blond woman in black and fishnets. They are waiting for someone...)

GREEN ARROW: As a reception area, this place needs a lot of work.

(The two hear footsteps on the landing above. They look up to see Bruce.)

BRUCE: Dinah, Oliver--thanks for coming on short notice.

BLACK CANARY: You're lucky we found a sitter.

(As the two walk up the flight, Bruce presses a square in the wall, opening an elevator. The three get in and ride it down to an old abandoned Gotham Subway platform.  As they exit, Bruce explains:)

BRUCE: My great-grandfather built the original Gotham Underground. But, these days...it's the Batcave. (They walk to a large bank of computers and      monitors) And this...is Brother Eye.

GREEN ARROW: More like the Eye of Sauron. Surveillance hub?

BRUCE: More than that. A communications hub linking every satellite and server on the planet. (walks over to a chair facing away) It warns us      when trouble's coming and guides us when trouble's here.

BLACK CANARY: Must take a real genius to operate...

(The chair spins around to show...)

HARLEY: I dunno about "genius", but I do got a PhD. (blows gum bubble, then       gets up and hugs Black Canary) Dinah! Dinah's hubby! You sure came a       long way...

GREEN ARROW: (smiling nervously) A world away. But the change of scenery is            nice.

BLACK CANARY: I was surprised you called, Bruce. Things seem to be going well. So what's up?

BRUCE: Dismantling the Regime created gaps in global security. We're covering them where we can, but we're stretched thin. Vulnerable. Harleen, show them what you found.

HARLEY: Right-o, Bats. (sits back down and accesses Brother Eye) Gorilla Grodd, everyone's favorite talking ape. He's got himself a band of       bozos. Calls 'em "the Society".

BRUCE: My mole in Gorilla City says Grodd's planning something big. But what, where, when,...we don't know.

HARLEY: One thing we DO know: Scarecrow's gonna ship Grodd a butt-load of fear gas from a hideout in Slaughter Swamp. Very mosquito-y.

GREEN ARROW: Good thing I packed my bug spray.

BRUCE: I need you three to stop that gas before it gets to Grodd.

BLACK CANARY: Not joining us for the party?

BRUCE: Unfortunately, I can't leave Gotham without worrying the public.

HARLEY: (standing and walking over to Black Canary) Don't worry, Bats. With this crew on the job, what could go wrong? (walks towards the       elevator, arm around Black Canary's shoulders)

GREEN ARROW: (still nervous) I know I'm the new guy, but you really trust Harley?

BRUCE: She's a different person since joker died...mostly.

(Green Arrow doesn't seem convinced, especially when Harley grabs a knife and puts it behind her back while walking with Black Canary.)

(A fair time later at Slaughter Swamp, a bunch of henchmen are packing crates from a shack. Harley, Black Canary and Green Arrow sneak to the shack unnoticed and look inside.  They see one of the Society, Deadshot, talking to the man in charge, Scarecrow.)

DEADSHOT: Can we move any faster? I don't need Gorilla Grodd taking my head off cuz you boys are too slow.

SCARECROW: Fear not, Deadshot. We'll be ready for tomorrow's attack.

BLACK CANARY: Tomorrow?

HARLEY: Cheeky monkey...

(Suddenly, a bunch of vines grab the three and string them upside down. Out of the shadows comes another Society member, Poison Ivy.  She goes up to Harley and strokes her face.)

POISON IVY: Fancy meeting you here.

(Harley blows a gum bubble in Ivy's face.)

SCARECROW: (to Deadshot) Keep them moving. I'll see what that's about.

HARLEY: Red! I ain't seen you in forever! You here to take down these punks?

(Out of the cabin comes Scarecrow, small scythe in hand.)

SCARECROW: Quite a catch, Ivy.

HARLEY: (upset) Red? You're with them?!

IVY: Your man, Bruce, was supposed to better care for the Green. All he's    done is remodeled the concrete jungles of Gotham and Metropolis. Where I    sit, there's not much difference between him and Superman.

(While Ivy talks, Harley takes the knife she put behind her back and starts to cut the vines holding her.)

GREEN ARROW: You're a few cones short of a pine if you think your new friends care about the Green.

IVY: Grodd will keep his promises, or he'll be my next victim!

HARLEY: (a little sad) Oh, Red...why you makin' me do this?

(Harley cuts through her vines and, as she lands, passes the knife off to Black Canary, who severs HER vines as well as Green Arrow's. As the married couple goes after Scarecrow, Harley stares down Ivy.)

HARLEY: Let me get you outta here, girl. We can team up again. Drive all the boys crazy. Ya know? Like the old days...

IVY: The old days were fun...but, these days, I'm all business!

(They were best of friends...even lovers [see "Injustice: Ground Zero" for confirmation]. But they're on opposite sides of justice now.  Though Ivy has her vines and toxins to help, Harley is too fast and tricky for the human plant.)

HARLEY: No more sleep-overs for you!

(Harley runs over to see Green Arrow and Black Canary choking in fear gas. Then Scarecrow walks over and sprays more of the gas at Harley.)

SCARECROW: Face your fears...

HARLEY: (inhaling the gas through her nose and then sneezing) Please! I used to huff this stuff for kicks!

SCARECROW: Then you'll appreciate my new formula. (sprays Harley more)

HARLEY: (groggy) Hey... (falls over)

(Harley gags as she looks up to see an even scarier Scarecrow.)

SCARECROW: You have a high tolerance...but everyone has SOMETHING to fear.

(Despite being doped up on fear gas, Harley shows that Dr. Crane is no match for the former clown princess of crime.)

HARLEY: (holding her head) Ugh...instant hangover...

SCARECROW: (sitting up) We're not...done yet...

(Scarecrow throws a gas bomb at Harley's feet. The smoke envelops her as she collapses.  When she comes to, the swamp has turned into an amusement park. And in front of her is the gaping maw that's the entrance to a house of horrors.  From inside the house, a very eerie, very familiar laugh is heard.)

HARLEY: (dazed) Puh...Puddin'?

(Out of the darkness of the maw and the fear gas smoke steps the Joker, dead these last several years...but still very much sadistic-looking. He slowly approaches Harley as she looks almost petrified.)

JOKER: Harley, darling! Look at you! Such a big girl! Cosplaying a      superhero. LARPing in the Batcave. But you hear it, don't you?

HARLEY: (still dazed) Hear what?

JOKER: The REAL you, buried under the floorboards, SCRATCH, SCRATCH, SCRATCHing to get out! (pulls a knife and mimes cutting his throat with      it) The one who'd cut her friends' throats...and LAUGH about it.

(We turn to see Batman, tied to a chair and struggling to get out. Harley is now smiling widely...and in her old Harley Quinn costume from her days with the Joker.)

HARLEY: (now holding the knife) Yesssss...

(Joker laughs in the background as Harley starts to approach Batman. Joker then walks behind her to watch.)

JOKER: Hehehehe! THAT's my girl! (As Harley approaches Batman, though, her      smile fades, as if she still remembers what she went through during       the original Injustice War.  She lowers her knife and drops it.) Oh, Harley! (points a gun at Harley's head) Always such a disappointment! Why do I bother?!

HARLEY: (swats gun aside, with conviction) Ain't no slick fella in a cheap suit and cheaper grin telling me who I am ever again! We had mad love, once upon a time. But now that's OVER, Mistah J!!

(The battle between the two former "lovebirds" is brutal, even considering that the Joker is just a figment of Harley's fears. But she fights through those fears and puts "Puddin'" out of her misery for good!)

HARLEY: NObody puts Harleen in a corner!

(Harley comes out of the state, seeing that she was fighting Scarecrow again. Green Arrow and Black Canary are also conscious and standing by the dock.)

HARLEY: Let's go before it's anchors aweigh! (runs to the couple)

(The boats speed off, but Green Arrow uses explosive-tip arrows to destroy them. But, when the explosions subside, a rumble is heard beneath the swamp. From out of the muck comes a towering Swamp Thing...and he is NOT happy!)

SWAMP THING: This swamp is protected!

HARLEY: (surprised) Swampy? I heard you were dead!

SWAMP THING: I guard the Green, the plant life of Earth. As long as it lives, I cannot die! (swats at the three, with Harley side-flipping over            the hand)

HARLEY: Swampy, wait! It ain't us you wanna bash--we're the good guys!

SWAMP THING: Good? Bad? I care little for humanity. But I do care when my            swamp burns!

(Swamp Thing shrinks in size to about Superman's height, evening things up. But Harley still has a tough time against the man-turned-monster. Still, she does her best...and that seems to be enough as Swamp Thing hits his knees in defeat.  Black Canary and Green Arrow have come to and are hiding from gunfire from the henchmen that didn't get blown up.)

HARLEY: Mama always said I had a black thumb. NOW ya ready to be all ears? It's Scarecrow and his goons you want. They're mixing toxic gas right in your backyard. We came to STOP 'em!

SWAMP THING: Hmm...I see...

(Swamp Thing raises his arms and, much like they do with Ivy, vines grow out of the swamp and entrap the henchmen. Scarecrow hops on an airboat and speeds away, a henchmen shooting at the trio.  But Swamp Thing makes thick vines grow to block the bullets as Scarecrow escapes.

SWAMP THING: If they return, I will be ready.

HARLEY: Aw, Swamp Thing, you are ah-mazing! (punches Swamp Thing's shoulder) If ya ever want on the team, we'd love to have ya.

SWAMP THING: I would consider that...should our interests align. For now, go. This swamp must heal. (walks away and sinks back into the swamp)

(Meanwhile, high above the Earth, a cape with a very familiar "S" symbol on it flaps in space. But the person wearing it is NOT Superman.  It is a short- haired blond girl.  She smiles at how beautiful the world looks from above before she takes off at Superman speed.  She lands in what looks like an Egyptian land.  This is Kahndaq, home of Black Adam.  The girl touches down softly, wearing Superman's symbol.  She is Kara, Superman's cousin who was lost all those years ago.  Here on Earth, she is Supergirl.  As she lands, Black Adam hovers in, a sour look on his face.  Then Wonder Woman flies in by Adam's side, also a bit angry.)

WONDER WOMAN: Kara! Where were you?!

SUPERGIRL: Just...in the clouds...listening...

BLACK ADAM: If someone saw you...

WONDER WOMAN: How many times have we told you?! It's too dangerous outside Kahndaq!

SUPERGIRL: (sighs) I spent decades lost in space, stuck in hypersleep until Adam found my ship. But now, I'm cooped up HERE.

WONDER WOMAN: How can we make you more comfortable?

SUPERGIRL: Let me OUT. Diana, you've taught me what my powers can do. This world needs help. Earth's people are so divided. They're always fighting...

WONDER WOMAN: That's the world without Kal-El. (takes Supergirl's hands) Batman has eyes everywhere. He can't know about you before we're ready.

SUPERGIRL: (pulls hands away) I'm not afraid of some guy in a mask! UGH! I          can bend steel with my bare hands!

WONDER WOMAN: So could your cousin.

SUPERGIRL: Well,...well, what good are these powers if I can't even help Kal- El?!

BLACK ADAM: We well, Kara. Just like you and I freed Diana from Themyscira.

WONDER WOMAN: The time will come. We will save Kal-El, and Batman will answer to us!

(This seems to satisfy Supergirl; she smiles confidently.)

- CHAPTER 3: THE BRAVE AND THE BOLD - GREEN ARROW & BLACK CANARY -

(On the BatJet, Black Canary and Green Arrow are being debriefed by Bruce Wayne over a video screen in the cockpit. Harley is flying.)

BRUCE: Our best chance to stop Grodd is a preemptive strike.

GREEN ARROW: Sounds more military than vigilante. You try calling the Army?

BRUCE: There IS no Army...not yet. To break up the Regime, we had to start from the ground up.

GREEN ARROW: So...what? Us three extradite Grodd from under his entire gorilla army?!

BRUCE: Grodd's their Alpha. Take him down and the others will submit. But be      wary of running into other members of the Society. They're more coordinated than we knew.

BLACK CANARY: Next stop, Gorilla City.

GREEN ARROW: Guess I'd better call the sitter. Mommy and Daddy are coming home late. (gets up and goes to the back of the let to make the            call)

BRUCE: If...this is more than you and Ollie are comfortable with, Dinah, I'll      have Blue Beetle and Firestorm take over.

BLACK CANARY: No. We can do this.

BRUCE: You've been out of the fight a long time. You have a family.

BLACK CANARY: You're family, too, Bruce. I couldn't be there to finish the fight against Superman. I'm DAMN sure finishing THIS one.

(Later, in Gorilla City, a sort of "pep rally" has been assembled amid the gorillas there. The trio of heroes sneak behind them to watch.  Gorilla Grodd marches up some steps to the stage like he's Patton...and the crowd goes silent as he approaches them.)

GRODD: Gorilla City, our time has come! In a few short hours, we break the yoke of oppression...forever! NO more Regime! NO more Justice League! Today, the world welcomes its NEW masters: the SOCIETY!

(As the crowd goes bananas [sorry], the Society members flank Grodd. To his right are Scarecrow, Deadshot, Bane and Cheetah.  On his left are Poison Ivy, Captain Cold and Catwoman.)

GRODD: Today, we show the world that WE are superior! Today, we bring anyone who would DARE stand against us...TO...THEIR...KNEES!

(The crowd raise their guns and grunt as they get psyched. The trio is concerned.)

GREEN ARROW: Self-esteem...not that guy's problem.

HARLEY: That's a lot more than a few Society members...it's ALL of 'em!

BLACK CANARY: They're headed indoors, outta sight from the soldiers. Harley, keep the jet warm. When we signal, bail us out. (Harley winks             and heads for the jet)

(As the Society walks-and-talks...)

CATWOMAN: Laid it on a little think, Grodd. You hire Superman's speech writer?

GRODD: Soldiers must be properly motivated to sacrifice their lives, Catwoman.

BANE: Hate is the perennial motivator

COLD: Better not turn that hate on us or this "Society" is over.

GRODD: As long as we have a common agenda, Captain Cold, you have nothing to      fear.

CHEETAH: You mean as long as we follow your orders.

(Deadshot walks up to the group.)

GRODD: Report, Deadshot.

DEADSHOT: We're ready to move out.

GRODD: Good dog. Now, go tell the others. Cheetah, Cold, you're with the first wave.

COLD: We already lost a shipment at Slaughter Swamp. Hope your silent partner can still deliver. (Leaves with Cheetah and Deadshot)

CATWOMAN: Maybe it's time you spilled the identity of our "silent partner" since we're relying so much on him...or her.

GRODD: HE will soon make his presence known. But, for now,...

GREEN ARROW: But, first, a few words from the Brave and the Bold!

(Green Arrow and Black Canary jump down from where they were watching. Grodd, Bane and Catwoman approach but Canary screams and pushes them back.)

BLACK CANARY: I'm the BRAVE one, right?

GREEN ARROW: I'm not BOLD enough to disagree.

GRODD: (as the Society gets to their feet) The saboteurs of Slaughter Swamp, I      presume. Hmph! (to Bane and Catwoman) Handle this. (walks away as the      two Gotham villains approach)

CATWOMAN: (cracking her whip) I call first dibs.

^GREEN ARROW^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GREEN ARROW: (to Black Canary) Go pin the luchador.

(As Black Canary goes to fight Bane, Green Arrow fires a point-blank arrow which Catwoman dodges. He swings his bow at her twice and she flips out of the way.)

CATWOMAN: You have no idea what you're doing!

GREEN ARROW: Sure I do. I'm in Gorilla City, fighting a lady in a cat-suit. This is one for the bucket list.

(Catwoman is quite agile and good and long-range combat...but, then again, so is Green Arrow. And arrows can reach WAY further than a whip.  Catwoman fights her heart out, but Arrow is just too much.)

GREEN ARROW: There. I can die happy.

BLACK CANARY: OLLIEEEEEEEE! (screams as she's thrown backwards and above Green             Arrow)

GREEN ARROW: (helping her up) So...everything's under control?

(Black Canary looks at him sarcastically...then the two straighten up as Bane approaches.)

^BLACK CANARY^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Without a word, Green Arrow goes behind Black Canary and goes after Bane, not wanting to get involved in THIS "chick fight".)

BLACK CANARY: A traitor again, Selina? I don't know why Bruce ever trusted you.

CATWOMAN: I've got nine lives, Dinah. I'm only a traitor in MOST of them.

(While both girls are agile, Black Canary's defensive screeching keeps Catwoman at bay. Once her kitty-ears are ringing, Canary goes on the offensive, throwing Catwoman off-balance until she's down for the count.)

BLACK CANARY: So much for "nine lives".

(Green Arrow suddenly comes flying past Black Canary, landing on his quiver.)

GREEN ARROW: Oh...that was graceful, Ollie.

(She helps him up...and then the two straighten up as Bane approaches.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Bane stomps towards the duo. As he gets within a certain distance, he hits buttons on his forearms.  The Venom toxin pours into his head, bulking the wrestler up even more.)

BLACK CANARY: One of us needs to distract him while the other snips his tubes.

GREEN ARROW: (wincing a bit) Ouch.

BLACK CANARY: His VENOM tubes, Ollie. (Green Arrow "ah"s and nods.)

BANE: (scoffs and laughs) How kind of Batman, sending his underlings. I will enjoy returning you to him...in body bags!

^GREEN ARROW^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GREEN ARROW: I'll distract him. You take snipping duty.

(Black Canary runs with Bane watching her. Green Arrow fires an arrow to keep Bane's eyes on him.  Bane grabs the arrow with one hand.)

BANE: Your spine will break...like THIS! (snaps the arrow with his hand)

GREEN ARROW: Now ya done it. That was my favorite arrow!

(It's the classic battle of agility with long-range weapons versus brutal CQC. Whenever Green Arrow gets close, Bane clobbers him. So Arrow keeps his distance as much as he can.  He wears Bane down until he starts to stagger.)

GREEN ARROW: Birdie, now!

(Black Canary runs up behind Bane as he gets back to his feet. She leaps and uses knifes to slice through the Venom tubes.  The sudden stoppage of the toxin weakens Bane immediately.)

^BLACK CANARY^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLACK CANARY: Go. I'll keep Bane busy.

(With a nod, Green Arrow runs to the side. Bane pays him little mind.)

BANE: Little birdy, you will sing a song of pain!

BLACK CANARY: Oh, I'll sing a song...but YOU'LL feel the pain!

(One WOULD think this a mismatch; a strong brute vs. a hero with just push- back powers. But the screams hurt Bane's ears, even through his mask.  And, when angry, he tends to rush into things and swing wildly, which Canary easily dodges.  A few well-placed kicks and Bane staggers to his knees.)

BLACK CANARY: Ollie, now!

(As Bane gets back to his feet, Green Arrow fires from behind Black Canary and slices Bane's Venom tubes, immediately weakening him.

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BANE: (weakly) No...

(A dropkick by Black Canary puts Bane down for good.)

GREEN ARROW: Now where's that damn dirty ape?

(Before they can find him, though, a blinding light appears in front of them. A portal appears, along with a symbol of an ankh. From the portal floats Doctor Fate.)

FATE: I come to you as darkness falls...

BLACK CANARY: Doctor Fate?!

FATE: Dinah Lance, Oliver Queen, in the past I have shielded you from danger. But a grave crisis looms...and I do not know if I can stop it.

GREEN ARROW: Y'mean Grodd and company? We've got that covered.

FATE: Grodd is the pawn of a much greater master. A new order is coming. I     have foreseen it. Leave with me now while I can still save you.

BLACK CANARY: If that's the case, we're staying here. Batman'll need our help.

FATE: Everyone and everything you know will die. I will shepherd you to     safety lest you suffer the same fate. (warms up his gloves with cosmic     power) By FORCE, if necessary!

BLACK CANARY: The good doctor's been wearing that Helm for too long.

GREEN ARROW: Then let's help him OUT of it.

^GREEN ARROW^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GREEN ARROW: Cover me.

(Black Canary goes to the side.)

FATE: Oliver Queen, you must flee this Earth before the thread of your fate unravels.

GREEN ARROW: Would LOVE to do that...but I only take orders from her.

(Even with mighty powers at his beck-and-call, Fate is controlled by his Helm and can't think dynamically like Arrow. While his attacks are powerful, they aren't able to hit the agile Arrow too often.  With quick strikes and quicker moves, Arrow is able to knock him down.)

GREEN ARROW: (as Black Canary re-joins him) This day just keeps getting weirder.

^BLACK CANARY^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLACK CANARY: Watch my back.

(Green Arrow withdraws as Black Canary approaches Fate.)

FATE: You should not have returned to Batman. You are not fated to fight his battle.

BLACK CANARY: Well, like a good friend once told me,...SCREW FATE!

(The Helm protects Fate from Canary's screeches...for the most part. But not being able to think dynamically hinders Fate greatly.  He gets some good shots in, but Canary is able to put him down.)

BLACK CANARY: (as Green Arrow re-joins her) I'm not abandoning Batman!

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(The two approach the hurt Fate. Black Canary helps Fate sit up and removes his Helm, revealing Kent Nelson underneath.  Kent puts his hand on his temple, as if suffering a hangover.)

BLACK CANARY: Kent, you okay?

GREEN ARROW: Your headgear really had you going.

KENT: I lost control of Nabu, the spirit of the Helm. Thanks to you, I'm back in charge...for now. (stands up) I have to go consult my masters, the Lords of Order. Pray they'll intervene before it's too late.

BLACK CANARY: Too late for WHAT, Kent? What's going down?!

KENT: The Lords' magic bars me from saying more. I've changed fate too many times. This planet's destiny is no longer clear.

(Kent puts the Helm back on)

FATE: What comes next, mere mortals cannot stop. For better or worse, your fate rests in the gods' hands.

(Fate creates a portal and floats back into it.)

GREEN ARROW: That was...spooky.

BLACK CANARY: Ye-e-eah. C'mon, let's find Grodd and get the hell outta here.

(The couple runs to find Grodd...and they find him surrounded by his ape soldiers. Grodd then marches past them and tosses an unconscious Harley at Arrow and Canary's feet.)

GRODD: You've overstayed your welcome.

BLACK CANARY: We're happy to check-out, but you're coming with us.

(Green Arrow fires three arrows at once at Grodd...but Grodd uses his telekinesis to stop them from striking him.)

GREEN ARROW: Fighting a talking ape wasn't enough. HAD to throw in            telekinesis!

^GREEN ARROW^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GREEN ARROW: (to Black Canary) Give us a song to soothe these savage beasts.

(Black Canary screeches, blowing Grodd's soldiers aside. Grodd rolls past them and confronts Green Arrow as Black Canary keeps the soldiers at bay.)

GREEN ARROW: Ah, I forgot to bring my BANANA arrow. Wait...you EAT bananas, right? Or is that an offensive stereotype?

GRODD: You ignorant fool!

(Much like with Bane, Grodd's strength is match to Arrow's agility. But throw in Grodd's mind powers and it's a close call.  Somehow, Arrow manages to outmaneuver Grodd and knock him out.)

GREEN ARROW: (as Black Canary re-joins him) I was just trying to be P.C.

^BLACK CANARY^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(The soldiers and Green Arrow back up.)

BLACK CANARY: This wannabe tyrant is mine!

(Green Arrow withdraws as Black Canary approaches Fate.)

GRODD: Your bravado is empty, Canary. Like the rest of your kind, you will soon kneel before me!

BLACK CANARY: "Kneel before Grodd"? That doesn't sound right.

(Canary makes the most of her agility and her defense, keeping Grodd at bay. Grodd's telekinesis, however, balances the scales. In the end, Canary is able to overcome Grodd and put him down.)

BLACK CANARY: Beauty beats beast!

GREEN ARROW: (as he re-joins Canary) That right there? That's why I love you.

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(More ape soldiers walk by. Green Arrow whistles shrilly to get their attention.  They see Grodd down and out and, as Arrow prepares to shoot them, they scatter.  Arrow then puts massive handcuffs on Grodd as he comes to.)

BLACK CANARY: Surprised that worked. Let's call it a day and get Harley out of here.

(Grodd starts to chuckle maniacally.)

GREEN ARROW: It's never a good sign when you slap the cuffs on and then they start chuckling.

GRODD: Humans, you've won this battle but you've already lost the war!

(Suddenly, the earth starts to shake a bit. A large head-like spaceship starts to hover over where the heroes are.)

BLACK CANARY: Holy shit.

(A bright blue beam fires from the underside of the ship. Black Canary and Green Arrow disappear, much to Grodd's enjoyment.  He stands and, even still in handcuffs, he laughs evilly.) (The blue beam is like a teleporter, as it transports the couple onboard the ship. They take each other's hands and stand up together, looking around.)

BLACK CANARY: Ollie...?

GREEN ARROW: I, uh,...I got nothin'.

(Suddenly, a voice is heard around the ship...)

????????: Your victory over Gorilla Grodd warrants further study.

(Green Arrow arms his bow and he and Black Canary look for a target. Then, the floor opens and, from out of a twisted mess of cable and wires emerges Brainiac.)

GREEN ARROW: Green skin...smart money's on alien.

BLACK CANARY: A Martian? Like J'onn Jonzz?

BRAINIAC: My point of origin was a thousand light years removed from Mars, on         the planet Colu. I am...Brainiac.

(Tendrils of metal shootout of Brainiac, grabbing both Arrow and Canary. The tendrils drag them both towards Brainiac...but Black Canary lets out a screech on Brainiac.  It doesn't faze Brainiac, though, and he wraps another tendril around her throat to stop her.)

GREEN ARROW: Stop! Please!

BRAINIAC: Cause and effect. Resistance begets violence.

GREEN ARROW: (as Black Canary chokes) Then we won't resist! Please, just stop!

(Brainiac does, withdrawing the tendril around Canary's neck. Canary coughs and catches her breath as Brainiac brings them both to the front of his ship, looking out upon the Earth.)

GREEN ARROW: You're the grave crisis we were warned about. What do you want?

BRAINIAC: (looks up at Green Arrow and then back out at the Earth) I seek the one you call "Superman". For years, I believed I had destroyed Krypton and all its remnants. Superman's survival is an oversight I         must correct.

BLACK CANARY: Superman's no friend of ours.

BRAINIAC: I'm aware. But your planet has also piqued my interest. Its many contradictions are fascinating.

BLACK CANARY: We'll NEVER serve you!

BRAINIAC: Serve? I am no petty despot. I collect worlds, preserving their essential knowledge to enhance my intellect...(turns to Arrow and         Canary)...and, then, I discard the remnants.

GREEN ARROW: Why?!

BRAINIAC: (pulling the couple in front of him) Your species values precious metals. Arbitrary symbols of status. I value...knowledge. And, like your metal trinkets, knowledge is more valuable when it is         rare! (Down on a city street on Earth, everyone looks up to see hundreds of what look like meteorites head for the ground. A closer look shows they are actually small ships and, when they strike the pavement, they turn into the Betas last seen on Krypton.  They reach out with their hands and shoot wires out of them, ensnaring the humans that stick around.)

(Back in the Batcave, Bruce is looking over Brother Eye, unaware of the chaos ensuing.)

BRUCE: Brother Eye, give me an update on the team at Gorilla City.

BROTHER EYE: I cannot do that, Bruce Wayne of Earth.

BRUCE: Why not?!

BROTHER EYE: Because I am NOT Brother Eye. (screens start to show Brainiac's            symbol and his face) I am Brainiac. (Bruce tries to hack into            Brother Eye) You cannot regain control. Over the past days, Brother Eye has been absorbed into my neural network. It is now an extension of my mind. You, a fragile human, captured and imprisoned a fully developed male Kryptonian.

BRUCE: Maybe I'm not so fragile.

BRAINIAC: To prevail, you harnessed advanced sciences: nano-technology, satellite communications, inter-dimensional transit. I am taking these tools from you.

BRUCE: Why?

BRAINIAC: The Kryptonian belongs to me. And, soon, so will your planet.

(As alarms go off in the cave, Bruce tries again to hack into Brother Eye... but to no avail. He then hears booms outside the Batcave and knows who's here.  There's only one thing to do: don the suit and become the Batman!  As the Betas look for him, Batman gets into the Batwing and flies straight towards them.  But the Betas jump onto the Batwing to try and take him down. Batman flies upwards through a silo, sending all but one of the Betas off. The lone Beta punches at the window, cracking it, but Batman keeps flying.)

(Meanwhile, in Kahndaq, Black Adam and Wonder Woman look into a black orb of Adam's making. It shows Brainiac's flagship, hovering within the clouds.)

WONDER WOMAN: Great Hera! Where else besides Metropolis?

BLACK ADAM: Gotham, Beijing, Moscow. So many cities, all at once.

(A fair bit aside, Supergirl sees the face-shaped ship...and is horrified!)

SUPERGIRL: It's him...

WONDER WOMAN: Who, Kara? Who is it?

SUPERGIRL: (can't find the words) We need to get Kal...now! (approaches the          orb in shock)

(Later, at the Lex Luthor Prison for Meta-Humans on Striker's Island, one of the prisoners sits alone in a dome bathed in red light. Here, he is simply Prisoner 120192.  But, a decade ago, he was the greatest superhero of all time.  The Man of Steel.  The fighter for truth and justice.  He was Superman.  Now, he's Clark Kent and the lights produce red sunlight to nullify his powers.  As he sits on his bed, Batman strides up to the cell. It takes a few seconds, but Clark recognizes someone has come to visit him. He looks behind him to see Batman.)

CLARK: You're wearing the suit. Am I in trouble again?

BATMAN: Brainiac. What can you tell me?

CLARK: (stunned, stands up and goes to the dome) How do you know that name?!

BATMAN: You're afraid of him. He's invading. He says you belong to him.

CLARK: Brainiac killed my parents...he blew up Krypton...

BATMAN: You never mentioned that before. How do I beat him?

CLARK: (smirks a bit) You can't...not without me.

BATMAN: (indignant) I'll FIND a way! (turns and leaves)

CLARK: (pounds dome) This is MY fight, Bruce! You NEED me! Bruce! Bruce! BRUCE!!

(But Batman ignores Clark's pleas and exits the compound.)

- CHAPTER 4: INVASION! - THE FLASH -

(At the Luthor/Wayne Climate Research Station, a woman - Dr. Randall - is soldering a radio together. Into the room, carrying a mug of coffee, is Barry Allen, the Flash.)

BARRY: Need a hand, Doctor Randall?

RANDALL: I don't know, Barry. Sat link's out, internet and phone are down. Maybe this old ham can help us. You fitting in okay? People treating you well?

BARRY: Let's just say people here aren't thrilled to live in close quarters with the Flash, convicted Regime criminal.

RANDALL: PARDONED Regime criminal. Give it time. They'll come around. (turns        on the ham radio, adjusts some dials and speaks into the microphone) L-W Base, are you there?

OPERATOR: Doctor Randall?! Thank God! Comms're down everywhere! These spaceships showed up, dropping a robot army on the city! They're         killing everyone! (Barry approaches the radio to listen better) I'm         not sure how long we can...(static)

RANDALL: L-W Base! (no reply) How fast can you get to Metropolis?

BARRY: M-My pardon agreement was pretty clear on "no powers"!

RANDALL: You think that matters when aliens are invading?! You helped tear down the Regime, Barry. THAT'S why Mr. Wayne asked me to take you on. And, if BATMAN thinks you earned a second chance, who are YOU to        argue?

(She's right; Barry can't. In the blink of an eye, he's in his Flash costume, out the door and sprinting as fast as possible to Metropolis.  In the city, people are being rounded up by the Betas and scanned.  Any resisters are vaporized.  When one is deemed worthy enough, the Beta reaches out and grabs their head, ready to be "collected".  One such man is about to be digitized... when the Flash comes and punches it into scrap metal.  He does the same to other Betas in the are.  Up in his ship, Brainiac watches this spectacle.  Gorilla Grodd, sans handcuffs, approaches him.)

BRAINIAC: As predicted, Barry Allen has returned to action.

GRODD: The task force is ready. They'll enjoy this.

(As Flash runs to a metro station, Deadshot loads a bullet into his sniper rifle. He aims at the rapid-moving hero...and fires.  True to his name, Deadshot gets Flash right in the knee, causing him to stumble and crash at the station.  As he struggles to get up, Captain Cold approaches.)

COLD: Nice aim, Deadshot.

DEADSHOT: (over radio) Just get the job done!

COLD: That knee ain't healing super-fast at absolute zero!

(Cold aims his ice gun and blasts Flash's knee, freezing it in place.)

FLASH: (groaning) For God's sake, Cold, look around!

COLD: Yeah, crazy day. Kinda like when Superman went nuts...and you went right along with him.

FLASH: Punish me later! We have to help these innocent people!

COLD: The same "innocent people" who cheered Superman when he executed my     friends?! My SISTER?!?

FLASH: I'm sorry, Cold. But you never hurt civilians. You're BETTER than that! (stands as his knee thaws)

COLD: (throws Flash to the side) Once upon a time, I was.

(With Flash's speed greatly hindered by the bullet and the ice, Cold is free to stop him with his ice shots and his own fists. Eventually, though, the ice thaws and Flash's healing factor kicks in, as does his speed.  At that point, Cold is no match for him.)

FLASH: Guess we BOTH let each other down. (runs off)

(Meanwhile, in Gorilla City, Catwoman is leading the gorillas in bringing the newly-awake Harley Quinn somewhere. Catwoman calls a halt...then winks at Harley as she slices her handcuffs off.  Harley grabs a club and beats on the gorillas while Catwoman whips the others into shape.  Soon, all the apes are on the floor.)

HARLEY: Thanks, Kitty. I was hopin' you was Bruce's mole.

CATWOMAN: For all the GOOD it did. Grodd never trusted me enough to share the whole "alien invasion" plan.

HARLEY: We GOTTA help Dinah and Ollie.

CATWOMAN: We will. First, we need to get back to Gotham...if there's anything LEFT of it.

(In another station in Metropolis, Flash looks around to see a few Betas scanning for life forms. He then hears a gun being cocked and looks to see Deadshot, arm-guns pointed at Flash.)

DEADSHOT: Runnin' a little slow, Flash.

FLASH: Retirement'll do that to you. (Deadshot fires two shots...but Flash      watches them in slo-mo and easily dodges them.  He then runs behind       Deadshot and gets him in an arm lock.) What's WITH you, Lawton?! You should be FIGHTING this invasion!

DEADSHOT: Got no choice. Grodd put a nano-explosive in my head. (draws a         knife) His paw's on the trigger. (stabs the knife into his own         shoulder...and it's long enough that it stabs FLASH in the shoulder,          too.  Flash lets go and Deadshot pulls the knife out) So, whether I          like it or not, I gotta do Grodd's dirty work!

(The knife thrust slows Flash down a bit for Deadshot to get him with bullets and fists. But, again, Flash heals fast, GETS fast and puts the shooter down.)

FLASH: I know...it's just business.

(Before he can say another word, a yellow blur runs into Flash with a dropkick, sending him into the street. As Flash catches his breath, the blur slows down to reveal...the Flash...only in yellow!  He is Reverse-Flash.)

REVERSE: Grodd SAID you couldn't resist a good crisis.

FLASH: (incredulous) Eobard Thawne?! You don't belong here!

REVERSE: And miss the return of Barry Allen? (runs up and socks him three        times in the jaw)

(The Flash runs off into traffic with Reverse-Flash on his tail. They race into the country and towards Gotham.  Somehow, Reverse-Flash starts to catch- up with his counterpart.  With a leap over a garbage truck, he nails Flash into a car.  Then the fight truly begins as they trade blows amid traffic and bounce off cars.  Soon, Reverse-Flash gets the better of Flash and tosses him into an alleyway.  No sooner does Flash stand up than Reverse-Flash knocks him down with a punch.)

REVERSE: I ran a long way from the future to hurt you, Barry! But this timeline? It's all wrong.

FLASH: So go back to your OWN time, "Reverse-Flash"!

REVERSE: (kicking Flash back down) You think I haven't tried?! Your Regime buddies killed one of my ancestors...and now I'm trapped in a        paradox! I can never go home...but, at least, I can hurt you!!

(As one might guess, this is an even match. Flash has experience, though. It's a knock-down speedfest of a fight...but Flash gets one over on his 25th century counterpart.  Reverse-Flash manages to stand up and race away before he gets more of a pummeling.)

FLASH: Dunno how many more reunions I can take.

????????: (from above) Guess I could come back later!

(Down in front of Flash comes Hal Jordan, the Green Lantern...and he does NOT look happy.)

FLASH: Hal? No...not today...

GREEN LANTERN: Nice to see you, too, Barry.

FLASH: Whose dead hand you pry that ring from?

GREEN LANTERN: You know it doesn't work that way. The ring chose me!

FLASH: Even after you bailed on the Guardians to join the Sinestro Corps?!

GREEN LANTERN: The Guardians locked me up. But they also trained me to              overcome my fears. I earned the second chance they gave me.

FLASH: The Guardians made a mistake!

(The two former Regime members come to blows. While Green Lantern has the will, Flash has the speed.  In the end, Flash knocks Green Lantern down... but he notices something about the whole affair...)

FLASH: (approaching Green Lantern) You were holding back, weren't you? (helps      Green Lantern to his feet)

GREEN LANTERN: I *told* you, I'm trying to make things right. I betrayed my              Corps, my planet...and my friends. And that's the worst part.

FLASH: All day, I've been reminded how I failed to be a hero...how hard it's      gonna be to regain people's trust. Guess we're both on that path.

GREEN LANTERN: We have a long way to go, Barry. It'd be a lot easier if we're              together. (holds out his hand)

(Flash shakes Green Lantern's hand as they both smile at each other.)

(Later, in the hideout of Batman's, the Caped Crusader is talking to the Flash about Brainiac's plans.)

FLASH: We need help, don't we?

BATMAN: Not his.

FLASH: You gave ME a second chance.

BATMAN: Because you got your head on straight and helped take down Clark. If       he was still in charge, HE'D still be wearing yellow!

(Suddenly, a heavy crate snaps from its tether and falls towards Batman and Flash. Before it can squash the heroes, a large green hand emerges from Green Lantern's ring and grabs the crate.)

GREEN LANTERN: (as he puts the crate down) I'm NOT that guy anymore! Look, I              get why you don't trust me. But you should trust the Guardians. This ring MEANS something. They put me through hell to get it back. (Batman says nothing) Fine. I've got my              orders! Just thought it'd help if we cooperate. (turns and              walks away)

BATMAN: (as Green Lantern is half-way out) Lantern! (Lantern stops and turns) Maybe it's time I widened my circle of trust.

GREEN LANTERN: (walking back to Flash and Batman) What can I do?

BATMAN: You're going to Atlantis. Our "circle of trust" needs Aquaman and his Marines.

FLASH: You think he'll help? He's been off-radar since the Regime fell.

GREEN LANTERN: (raises his hand) Um, he didn't like getting roped into the Regime by Superman. He sure won't be happy to see ME.

BATMAN: (walking away) Get used to that.

- CHAPTER 5: SEA OF TROUBLES - GREEN LANTERN -

(In the underwater kingdom of Atlantis, the king - the one known as Aquaman - has listened to Green Lantern's request from Batman to join their fight against Brainiac. He...does not take it well.)

AQUAMAN: Batman wants my Marines to fight his battle? Like the time Superman ordered me to invade Metropolis?

GREEN LANTERN: We were ALL on the wrong side of that war.

AQUAMAN: The next time my people's blood is spilled, it will be for ATLANTIS, not the surface world! (slams trident to punctuate his point)

GREEN LANTERN: You're one of us, too, Arthur. Your father...

AQUAMAN: My father was human, but my DUTY is to Atlantis! I don't trust you, Jordan! You or ANY surface dweller! Now, leave. And remind Batman--stay out of my seas!

GREEN LANTERN: (points to image of Brainiac's ship) And when THAT's on your doorstep?!

AQUAMAN: Atlantis will defend itself!

(The image suddenly disappears. Sounds are heard outside the dome of the main throne room.)

GREEN LANTERN: Maybe sooner than you think. We NEED to help each other.

AQUAMAN: GO! I don't need your distraction!

(Suddenly, Green Lantern's eyes glow red, as if a massive rage is taking hold of him. He screams as if in pain...but then clenches his fist, willing his rage to subsist.)

GREEN LANTERN: No! I'm not leaving!

AQUAMAN: (raising his trident in defense) Need I remind you whose kingdom this is?!

(No one is more powerful in the sea than Aquaman. But he is running and jumping instead of swimming in this fight.  Who knows if Lantern's rage gave him an advantage or a handicap, but his will subdues the king of Atlantis.)

GREEN LANTERN: Listen to reason, Arthur! (shakes the last of his rage away) I'm sorry. I...I didn't come here to fight you. This is              exactly what happened up there. First, they take out communications. Then,...(loud booms are heard outside the              dome)...they invade!

(Sure enough, the same "meteorites" streak down towards Atlantis. Counter- measures are fired, but the Betas are just too numerous.  Green Lantern and Aquaman stand back-to-back, preparing for the attack.)

GREEN LANTERN: They're your oceans...but it's also MY sector. Let me help you!

(A dozen or so Betas march down the hall towards the throne room.)

AQUAMAN: (sighs) Cover me! (runs off to rally the troops)

(Green Lantern constructs a green brick wall to hold back the Betas. But they fire their beams hard at the construct and eventually break through.  So, instead, Lantern just runs over them all with a green semi-truck.  Suddenly, Cheetah comes from behind and slashes Lantern's back.  His armor heals him, but it still hurts.  He looks up to see Cheetah on the rafters.)

CHEETAH: Mmmm...I thought the only Regimer down here to torture would be        Aquaman.

GREEN LANTERN: Cheetah...

CHEETAH: Let's not beat around the bush. Wonder Woman's in hiding. Maybe down here. Tell me: where's your Amazon friend?

GREEN LANTERN: Didn't you hear? I "unfriended" her. So did Atlantis.

CHEETAH: (leaps down) Liar! I don't need a golden lasso to make you tell the truth!

(Cheetah's an excellent hunter and no doubt about that. But simple claws and bloodlust seem to have little effect against the greatest of the Green Lantern Corps.  She gets some good swipes in, but Lantern's will is too much for her.)

GREEN LANTERN: Bad kitty!

(Explosions occur outside of the dome and Green Lantern looks for Aquaman. He finds the king in another room, fighting off countless Betas.  As Aquaman uses his trident, Lantern creates a mini-gun to blow the other away.  Aquaman puts his trident through the head of the last one.)

AQUAMAN: My people are getting flanked! Hold this line! Be our rear guard!

GREEN LANTERN: On it! And you?

AQUAMAN: I'm the vanguard! (runs to fight more Betas)

(As Aquaman leaves, Green Lantern hears a pounding outside a door. The door slams open to reveal Bane, holding the head of an Atlantean soldier.)

BANE: Hal Jordan. (throws soldier away) You have returned.

GREEN LANTERN: Good to be back where I belong. Kinda like you in a prison cell.

BANE: (approaching Lantern) Even as Yellow Lantern, you never showed me the proper respect. But I will show you how easily your will is broken!

(If one person has as much will as Hal Jordan, it's Bane. AND he has the strength to back it up.  But Green Lantern keeps him at a distance with his constructs, pounding the heck out of the roided-up luchador.  As Bane staggers, Lantern kicks him to the ground.)

GREEN LANTERN: Break this!

(Green Lantern's eyes glow red again. As Bane stands up, Lantern creates a hammer and swings it at him, sending him flying.  As he fights this rage, Aquaman walks up to him.)

AQUAMAN: We're locking down the gates but the fight's not over. (notices Green        Lantern in pain) Hal?

GREEN LANTERN: (shaking it off again) Sorry. I was...somewhere else. Where's              this leave us?

AQUAMAN: You put yourself at risk for Atlantis. Maybe you CAN be trusted.

GREEN LANTERN: So...you're in?

AQUAMAN: I can't. I belong here, defending my people.

(As Green Lantern is about to reply, a red light glows nearby. What looks like a 'Boom Tube' opens...and from it emerges a large, ugly humanoid creature...and a cat.  They both wear Red Lantern rings; they are literally fueled by rage.  The tall creature is the head of the Red Lantern Corps, Atrocitus.)

ATROCITUS: Hal Jordan! (clenches his fists)

AQUAMAN: Red Lanterns?

GREEN LANTERN: Atrocitus and Dex-Starr. Agents of vengeance, powered by rage. (The portal closes) Don't worry. I'll handle these two ring- to-ring.

AQUAMAN: Good luck! (returns to the battle)

(The three circle each other, Dex-Starr staying at Atrocitus' heels.)

GREEN LANTERN: You've been messing with my head, haven't you, Atrocitus?

ATROCITUS: (creates red construct of Sinestro) Sinestro's Yellow Lanterns slaughtered millions! And their victims demand vengeance! (ends          construct) You may have cast off their ring, but you are NOT absolved!

GREEN LANTERN: You're not the first person to tell me that.

ATROCITUS: Dex-Starr would tear your heart out and lap your blood. (stands          looking right down at Green Lantern's face) But I sense you have a           higher calling! A spark glowing within you! A spark...of RAGE!

(Dex-Starr distracts Green Lantern by going between his ankles. As he looks down and then back up, Atrocitus spews what looks like blood into Lantern's face.  Then Dex-Starr leaps up onto his head and does the same.)

GREEN LANTERN: ARGH! What are you doing?! What is this...this anger?!?

ATROCITUS: You may have overcome your fears, but you STILL betrayed the Green Lanterns! (opens his hand to reveal a Red Lantern ring) HURT your allies! How could you EVER forgive yourself?!

GREEN LANTERN: (grunting) I...I can't...

ATROCITUS: THEN BURN!!!

(The 'blood' spewed on Green Lantern burns hotter than before with Atrocitus' rage...and with Lantern's OWN rage at himself. The Red Lantern ring floats towards Lantern's finger, ready to induct Hal in the Red Lantern Corps.  But Hal remembers the Green Lantern Corps' oath...)

GREEN LANTERN: (struggling) In brightest day...in...blackest night...

ATROCITUS: Become vengeance! Join the Red Lanterns!

GREEN LANTERN: (still struggling) No evil shall escape my sight...              Let those who worship...evil's might... (the power of the ring and Lantern's will dissolves the 'blood'              and sends Atrocitus and Dex-Starr flying backwards...hard!  The               Red Lantern ring falls and shatters on the floor) BEWARE MY POWER--GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!! (Atrocitus stands up) You're right. I *do* hate myself for what I've done. But my WILL is stronger than my hate!

(Failing to TURN Green Lantern, Atrocitus decides to KILL him instead. Red Lantern rings CAN dissolve Green Lantern energy from the rings, but Hal's will is so strong that Atrocitus cannot dissolve all his power.  It's a tough battle, but Atrocitus is knocked down.  He punches the ground in anger.)

ATROCITUS: Your world is burning! And, when it is ashes, you will BEG for vengeance!

(Atrocitus creates another portal and he and Dex-Starr leave through it.)

GREEN LANTERN: The Guardians don't need to know about that one.

(Back on Brainiac's ship, tendrils come down and plug into Brainiac's skull, feeding him data.)

BRAINIAC: The Beta phase is complete. Earth's defense is irreversibly compromised. Begin the countdown!

(From out of the skies, ships drop down...the same ones that surrounded Krypton years before. They start towards the cities, with Brainiac's ship "watching" with glowing "eyes".)

(Back at the hideout, Batman walks up to Green Lantern and Flash watching the plan unfold.)

FLASH: I circled the globe. Larger ships are being positioned of these major cities. (points at red marks on a map)

GREEN LANTERN: Even with Aquaman's Marines, we're still badly outnumbered. (to              Batman) What's the plan? You HAVE one, right?

BATMAN: We have to evacuate the occupied cities before taking on Brainiac. But we need firepower.

GREEN LANTERN: Any heavy-hitters on the Luthor-Wayne payroll?

BATMAN: Only Blue Beetle and Firestorm. But they're busy.

FLASH: Too busy for THIS?

BATMAN: They're the last line of defense if Brainiac moves on Superman.

FLASH: Well, if Brainiac doesn't try busting him out of prison, Black Adam and Wonder Woman will. And, the worse things get, the more people'll think we should let him out to help. (Batman and Green Lantern look at him      suspiciously; he holds up his hands defensively) I'm just saying...

GREEN LANTERN: Hope the new kids can hold down the most wanted man in the galaxy.

BATMAN: Beetle and Firestorm are green...but, together, they're the most powerful team we have.

- CHAPTER 6: ASSAULT ON STRIKER'S ISLAND - BLUE BEETLE&FIRESTORM -

(At the Meta-Human Prison, three men walk through the cells. One is dressed as the Blue Beetle, though his face is visible.  The other two are in civilian clothes: a young-adult African-American and a more elderly Caucasian.  The youth is Jason Rusch, the older man is Professor Martin Stein.)

JASON: For real, Jaime, Batman does NOT think we're important. Aliens are invading...and we're on guard duty?! (they pass by Damian Wayne and      Cyborg)

JAIME: Guarding Superman and his cronies.

JASON: Who ALREADY have guards. We're guarding guards. We're redundant! (they approach Superman's cell)

PROFESSOR: (grabbing Jason's shoulder) Jason, you need to step back, take in          the bigger picture.

JAIME: I'd rather be in HERE than out THERE. This suit's an alien war machine. And your guys' Firestorm Matrix? We could take on Brainiac and - BOOM - accidentally blow up the world!

PROFESSOR: Jaime's right. We haven't mastered these powers yet.

JASON: (groans) LISTEN to yourselves, you two! We're bad-asses! And bad- asses belong on the front lines!

PROFESSOR: This IS the front line. Brainiac running amok is a crisis. Brainiac and Superman BOTH?! That's an apocalypse.

JAIME: So we're the only thing between a "crisis" and an "apocalypse"?

JASON: (smiling) Hmm...I can get behind that!

(Suddenly, the room starts to shake. Damian goes to the front of the cell, wanting out.  Blue Beetle puts on his mask.  Clark...just paces around his cell.)

BLUE BEETLE: Brainiac?

JASON: Or the Superman Fan Club.

PROFESSOR: Either way, I suggest we fuse.

(Jason and the Professor grip each others' wrists and the Firestorm Matrix spreads through them. After a blinding light, Firestorm, the Nuclear Man, appears.)

FIRESTORM: Game on!

(A large hole is seen in the prison, cutting a large wire. One can barely see Black Adam and Wonder Woman in the distance.  Pan down to a bunch of guards knocked out by rubble.  Outside the prison, civilians have rallied, telling them to free Superman to save them from Brainiac, with Wonder Woman and Black Adam flying through the hole made and being cheered on.  Back at Superman's cell, Blue Beetle is scanning the cell for defects.  He drops to the ground as the scan is complete.)

BLUE BEETLE: Red sun cell's secure. Must be the Power Center.

FIRESTORM: The Power Center...if it goes down, those generators shut off!

BLUE BEETLE: (pointing to Superman) And HE flies right out of here.

(The two run for the Power Center, leaving Clark smiling, his eyes glowing red. The lights go off in Damian's cell.  As the emergency lights go on, the top of the cell is torn off by Supergirl.)

DAMIAN: Am I...dreaming?

(A dufflebag drops in front of Damian. He looks up to see Supergirl, smiling.)

(Down at the Power Center, Black Adam approaches the massive generator powering the prison. He approaches a part of the rotating generator and zaps it with electricity.  Just then, Blue Beetle and Firestorm arrive.)

FIRESTORM: Here's the plan: one of us takes Adam, the other re-starts the generators before Superman gets loose.

BLACK ADAM: A feeble plan. (turns and lands in front of them) It's more likely you will DIE here.

^FIRESTORM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(The two heroes shove each other to see who does what, but Firestorm is more demanding.)

FIRESTORM: Fix that generator! (Blue Beetle, begrudgingly, goes to do so)

(Firestorm and Black Adam float above the floor. Adam blasts lightning at Firestorm, but it is easily deflected.)

BLACK ADAM: What magic is THIS?!

FIRESTORM: Science...basic impedance field.

BLACK ADAM: Do not condescend, chimera. You may have two minds, but I have the wisdom of a GOD!

(Science is called "magic" by those who don't understand it. Black Adam is dumbfounded by how Firestorm uses science to counter his blows.  He gets some heavy hits in, but he is defeated by the dual-minded hero.)

FIRESTORM: SCHOOLED you, Mr. "Wisdom"!

(Blue Beetle joins him as the generator is operating again.)

^BLUE BEETLE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(The two slowly approach Black Adam, but Blue Beetle steps forward to do battle.)

BLUE BEETLE: Guess we're on the front lines now.

(Firestorm gives Blue Beetle a reassuring punch on the shoulder and flies off to re-start the generator.)

BLACK ADAM: You're a naive boy with too much power. Much like the deceased Billy Bastion!

(Conjuring up Shazam's real name puts backbone in Blue Beetle's attacks. He may very WELL have "too much power", but he uses it and overwhelm Black Adam.)

BLUE BEETLE: Maybe I really AM a bad-ass!

(Firestorm lands next to Blue Beetle as the generator starts up again.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FIRESTORM: Let's circle back, lock down Superman's cell.

NIGHTWING: The old man's standards sure have dropped! (comes out of the          shadows in full regalia) You newbs are SO desperate to impress Batman. Why? He's weak!

BLUE BEETLE: If your papi's weak, what's that make YOU?

NIGHTWING: Huh...I take after my mother.

^FIRESTORM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FIRESTORM: Professor Stein wants to teach Oedipus here to respect his elders.

(As Blue Beetle flies off to Superman's cell, Firestorm blasts plasma at Nightwing. But Nightwing runs THROUGH the fire and shoulder-tackles Firestorm.)

FIRESTORM: Bet you were one of those students thought he was smarter than the teacher.

NIGHTWING: *Thought* I was smarter, hot head? No..I *know* I am!

(Nightwing may have had Batman's training, but him thinking he can stop a man who can MAKE elements appear out of thin air is a serious weakness of his. He lands a few good blows, but Firestorm inevitably puts him down for good.)

FIRESTORM: Class dismissed! (flies off to join Blue Beetle)

^BLUE BEETLE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLUE BEETLE: (pushes Firestorm a little bit) I'll teach this mocoso a lesson.

(As Firestorm flies off to Superman's cell, Blue Beetle blasts a shot at Nightwing, who nimbly dodges it.

BLUE BEETLE: Hope I *never* have a kid like you!

NIGHTWING: I was the PERFECT child! Batman just wasn't fit to be my father.

(Nightwing has had experience taking on armored men before. But Blue Beetle, being still new to the whole superhero thing, does things Nightwing can't imagine him doing.  It's close, but Nightwing is KOed by the upstart.)

BLUE BEETLE: You should RESPECT your familia! (flies off to join Firestorm)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(At Superman's cell, the newly-released Cyborg is working on the computer at the dome.)

CYBORG: Wonder Woman's outside, keeping what's left of the guards busy.

CLARK: If it wasn't her, who let you out?!

SUPERGIRL: I did.

(Clark gasps as he sees Supergirl flying up to the dome.)

CLARK: Kara?! (The two Kryptonians look at each other through the shielding of      the dome)

(As the cousins stare at each other, Firestorm and Blue Beetle sneak up to just before the cell room.)

BLUE BEETLE: Another Kryptonian?!

SUPERGIRL: You recognize me, Kal?

CLARK: My parents stored your image on my ship. You're my protector.

SUPERGIRL: Sorry I'm a few decades late. You and I left Krypton at the same time, but the explosion threw my ship off course. WAY off course.

CLARK: You haven't aged a day.

SUPERGIRL: Hyper-sleep. While you were growing up, I was on ice.

CLARK: I never thought I'd see family again! Someone with my eyes...my own blood. You knew my parents...

SUPERGIRL: They loved you so much, Kal. (Another shockwave shakes the room) Diana needs a hand. Cyborg, how long?

CYBORG: Give me five more minutes, then it's "lights out".

SUPERGIRL: (to Clark) I don't wanna leave you.

CLARK: I'll be here.

(Supergirl nods, then flies off to help Wonder Woman...going RIGHT past Firestorm and Blue Beetle.)

BLUE BEETLE: Ella esta sobre tu nivel...

FIRESTORM: She is NOT out of our league! What happened to your confidence?

BLUE BEETLE: Kryptonians happened!

FIRESTORM: C'mon...Batman's counting on us.

(Back in the main room...)

CYBORG: Gotta hand it to Palmer. His people's cryptography is legit. Doesn't       mean I won't break it.

CLARK: Victor, behind you!

(Blue Beetle flies in and Cyborg ducks a punch. Cyborg then blasts the hero with his arm cannon, bringing him to the floor.  Firestorm walks up and floats over Cyborg.)

FIRESTORM: What's your melting point, Cyborg?

(Firestorm blasts nuclear beams at Cyborg, but the former Teen Titan puts up an energy shield and deflects the energy back at Firestorm, making him fall next to the recovering Blue Beetle. The computer then shows that the power in the red sun cell is going down...and, in a matter of minutes, Clark will be able to leave.)

BLUE BEETLE: The red sun generators!

FIRESTORM: We need to reactivate that console before Superman powers up!

CYBORG: (stands in front of them as they stand up) Amateur hour's over, rookies.

^FIRESTORM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FIRESTORM: I want Cyborg! (Blue Beetle flies above to work on the console) I          was a fan when you were QB for the Ford Titans. You had a cannon arm, even then. Never thought I'd be your prison guard.

CYBORG: QB? That was a LONG time ago. And I'm not your prisoner anymore!

(Both smart, both using science...sounds like an even match. Cyborg has experience, though.  Even Firestorm recognizes that and alters his attack patterns.  By a hair, Firestorm manages to shut Cyborg down.)

FIRESTORM: Nobody's cheering for you now.

(Meanwhile, Blue Beetle reboots the generators; the red sunlight bathes Clark again.)

^BLUE BEETLE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLUE BEETLE: I think I got this. (Firestorm nods and flies off to work on the            console.  Cyborg activates his arm cannon) Sweet arm cannon. I            got one, too. (activates his own)

CYBORG: Quit playing, kid. You even know how to USE that?

(Both armored, both with highly advanced technology...sounds like an even match. But even the best man-made tech can't stop the alien tech worn by Blue Beetle.  Cyborg is shut down by Blue Beetle.)

BLUE BEETLE: If you ever want tips, let me know.

(Meanwhile, Firestorm reboots the generators; the red sunlight bathes Clark again.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CLARK: Brainiac's too much for Batman! I'M your only chance!

FIRESTORM: (approaching cell) Here's the thing, Superman. Batman ASKED us for help. He didn't draft us, make us sign a loyalty oath or threaten us with jail!

CLARK: HE won't go far enough! THAT'S why he'll fail!

(Firestorm thinks of this...but then hears something coming. That "something" is Supergirl.  She grabs Firestorm from behind and drags him away from the cell.)

SUPERGIRL: Stay away from him!

(Blue Beetle runs to help, but he's caught by Wonder Woman's lasso and pulled back. Firestorm is thrown away from the cell by Supergirl, though she doesn't use anywhere near her full strength.)

FIRESTORM: (standing up) Kryptonian, huh? The Professor knows how to deal with you!

(Firestorm's arms start to glow green...and Supergirl groans and falls to the floor.)

SUPERGIRL: (weakly) Kryptonite...(struggles to stand)...you're--HNGH!--you're          just as...bad--GAH!--as Wonder Woman and Black Adam...said...

FIRESTORM: Surrender and this stops.

SUPERGIRL: (fights to stand again) Kryptonians...don't...surrender!

(She gets to her feet and lays haymakers on Firestorm, stopping the arms from radiating Kryptonite and making Firestorm drop. Then Wonder Woman throws Blue Beetle next to him.  They both stand up.)

SUPERGIRL: (as she approaches them with Wonder Woman) We're freeing Kal-El...          like it or not!

^FIRESTORM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FIRESTORM: Let's finish this.

(Blue Beetle nods and rushes Wonder Woman. Wonder Woman tackles Beetle and they go over the side railing and down into the bowels of the prison, leaving Firestorm with Supergirl.)

SUPERGIRL: Normally, I don't like hurting people. But after that Kryptonite stunt? You're gonna get hurt!

(Between the Kryptonite and the red sun generators nearby, Supergirl is about on par with Firestorm power-wise. The training with Wonder Woman and Black Adam doesn't hurt, either.  But with two minds working in sync, Firestorm is too damned smart for Supergirl's own good.)

FIRESTORM: Should've surrendered. (Blue Beetle runs up to him) Where's Wonder Woman?

BLUE BEETLE: Old cold. We won't be seeing her for a while.

FIRESTORM: (smiles) Should've surrendered!

BLUE BEETLE: (also smiling) Guey, you took down a Kryptonian!

^BLUE BEETLE^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLUE BEETLE: Let's switch partners!

(Wonder Woman takes the initiative and tackles Firestorm over the railing and into the bowels of the prison, leaving Blue Beetle with Supergirl.)

SUPERGIRL: We NEED Kal's help, kid! You have NO idea what Brainiac can do!

BLUE BEETLE: No...but I know what SUPERMAN can do!

(Both are young and impetuous and have crazy alien powers. The Kryptonian shower Supergirl took puts her power on par with Blue Beetle.  But Beetle has more heart and commitment than Supergirl has.  It's close, but Supergirl is brought low.)

BLUE BEETLE: Guess YOU belong here, too.

FIRESTORM: (arriving) What did I tell ya? We got game! Professor and I          trapped Wonder Woman under ten feet of steel.

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Bu-u-u-ut Wonder Woman isn't as trapped as the heroes thought. She flies out of the pit and lands in front of them.  Black Adam floats in carrying Nightwing and Supergirl is still kicking and helping Cyborg to his feet.)

WONDER WOMAN: You fought valiantly...but this battle's over!

FIRESTORM: (blinks at his inner dialogue) You want me to do WHAT?! Uh, Professor, that's CRAZY! MAYBE we can control it, but... (more          inner dialogue) You're right...no other option! (to Blue Beetle) Get outta here, Jaime!

(Everyone watches as Firestorm claps his hands together and produces a MASSIVE nuclear fireball.)

BLUE BEETLE: Jesucristo, Jason! You're gonna nuke us?!

FIRESTORM: It's the only way! Now, go! (to Wonder Woman and company) Leave, ALL of you! Or you'll get a helluva lot worse than a sunburn!

WONDER WOMAN: You'd blow up Metropolis rather than let Superman go?!

FIRESTORM: I'd save the Earth!

(Wonder Woman goes to attack Firestorm with her sword...when a Batarang knocks it out of her hand.)

BATMAN: Firestorm, stand down!! (Firestorm does so as Batman lands. He walks        past his former allies and stops before Supergirl) Who are you?

SUPERGIRL: Superman's over-protective cousin!

(Batman is stunned a bit.)

NIGHTWING: You keep SO many secrets, but you can't stand it when one's kept from you, can you?

(Batman goes over to the cell computer and punches a few things in.)

WONDER WOMAN: You CAN'T beat Brainiac, Bruce!

BATMAN: You're right, Diana...I can't.

(Batman puts his handprint on the computer screen. The red sun lamps turn off and the cell opens.  He clenches his fist as he starts to get his power back.)

BLUE BEETLE: What the--?!

CLARK: (going face-to-face with Batman) You ready to stop Brainiac by any means necessary?

BATMAN: By the means at hand.

CLARK: What's your game? You're always three moves ahead.

BATMAN: Saving the world is enough for now.

CLARK: I am NEVER going back in that cell.

BATMAN: We'll cross that bridge later. Right now, the world needs us!

(Clark looks back at his Justice League compadres...and his cousin. They may not trust Batman...not completely...but they agree that saving the world from Brainiac is priority one.)

(In Brainiac's ship, the main bot seems a bit disturbed at recent events. He then turns to see Gorilla Grodd coming behind him.)

GRODD: You summoned me, Brainiac?

BRAINIAC: There have been surprising developments. Kal-El is free. But, MORE remarkably, he is NOT the last Kryptonian. There is another refugee.

GRODD: (worried) Two Kryptonians?!

BRAINIAC: Continue as planned. Kal-El is not yet at full strength. But remember: the Kryptonians belong to ME!

(Grodd starts to wonder if he's on the wrong side of the battle here.)

(Back at the hideout, Batman and his League and Superman's Regime sit around a table. And...none of them seem too happy about it.  Catwoman unrolls blueprints and starts the meeting.)

CATWOMAN: Thanks to Flash's recon, we have locations for every ship in         Brainiac's fleet. They're targeting major cities on every continent. Betas are being offloaded on the outskirts...

(As Catwoman continues, Batman gets up and walks to the side, Firestorm following him.)

BATMAN: Give us some privacy.

FIRESTORM: (creates a circle of fire around him and Batman) Listen, Batman, about the prison. We...

BATMAN: That was reckless! Don't pull a stunt like that again. Make up for it by finishing ANOTHER mission...discreetly.

(As Batman tells Firestorm of the mission, Catwoman keeps talking about Brainiac.)

CATWOMAN: We have to evacuate the cities before attacking the fleet, but we         need communications restored first. So, before we get started, Cyborg is going to fix Brother Eye.

CYBORG: (as Batman rejoins the meeting) I am NOT Bat-tech support!

(Into the light comes Supergirl...and Clark Kent once again decked out as Superman.)

SUPERMAN: That's not the issue, Victor. (walks to the table, all eyes on him) Kara saw firsthand how Brainiac destroyed Krypton. She says we have less than 48 hours before he does the same to Earth.

BATMAN: Without tight coordination, we'll lose valuable time.

SUPERMAN: And that means we fix Brother Eye.

(Cyborg winces a bit at the thought of working for Batman.)

BATMAN: Catwoman and Harley will join you. You'll need their help getting into the Batcave.

CYBORG: (exasperated) Just give me the coordinates. I'll open a portal and "boom-tube" in.

BATMAN: You can't. I reversed-engineered your armor's Mother Box technology.

HARLEY: Try teleporting into the Batcave. 'Stead of "boom", you'll go       "splat"!

CYBORG: So...how do we get in?!

CATWOMAN: The old Underground. There's a tunnel entrance under Arkham.

CYBORG: I'm taking YOU two to Arkham Asylum?!

HARLEY: (popping a bubble) Promise it won't be awkward or nothin'.

SUPERMAN: I need a few hours in the solarium at the Fortress of Solitude...         assuming you haven't torn it down.

BATMAN: Not yet.

SUPERMAN: Damian, Adam, you're with me.

WONDER WOMAN: And the rest of us? We can't just sit here!

BATMAN: We plan our attack. Once Brother Eye's online, we mobilize. (stands) Remember: out there, there's no Regime. Not anymore. So we DO! NOT! KILL! (awkward silence) Let's go. (everyone stands and leaves to       prepare)

WONDER WOMAN: (taking Supergirl's wrist) You're with me.

(Supergirl looks at Superman with worry as she leaves. Only Superman and Batman are at the table now.  Superman looks at the table...then looks up at Batman.)

SUPERMAN: Why'd you keep it?

BATMAN: Keep what?

(Superman pulls the sheet off the table...revealing the old Justice League table, used before the Watchtower was built. It has a large gash across it.)

BATMAN: (non-chalantly) Hm...forgot that was there. (leaves)

(Superman looks down at the table, remembering the meetings he and Batman lead with the rest of the League...and smiles at the thought of the League reuniting to stop Brainiac.)

- CHAPTER 7: BREAKING AND ENTERING - CYBORG & CATWOMAN -

(At what remains of Arkham, a boom-tube opens at the gates and Harley, Catwoman and Cyborg exit. Harley can't help but smile.  Cyborg remains sour but alert.)

CATWOMAN: This way. (heads for the front doors)

(Suddenly, a purple mist appears and blankets the trio.)

CYBORG: Pheromones! (pulls out large gun and blows the mist away)

(Harley starts to feel sick.)

CATWOMAN: Harley? You okay?

(Harley staggers in a daze away from Catwoman...and right into the arms of Poison Ivy.)

POISON IVY: (strokes Harley's face) Sweet, sweet Harley. This time. you'll be           a good girl for Mama. (pushes Harley towards the others and backs           away)

HARLEY: (crazed look in her eyes) Hey, kiddies! Let's play "Eeny Meeny Miney       MURDER!"

^CATWOMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CATWOMAN: Harley needs a girl talk.

(Cyborg nods and blasts at Poison Ivy so she keeps her distance.)

HARLEY: Hisssss! Cat fight!

CATWOMAN: Sorry, Harley. I'll try not to leave a scar.

(Both ladies are quite agile, though Harley prefers more...lethal methods of offense. Catwoman uses her guile to counter Harley's ruthlessness and knocks her out.)

CATWOMAN: Ivy sure did a number on you.

(Suddenly, Cyborg is tossed next to Catwoman by Ivy.)

CYBORG: (stands) Your girlfriend's a real man-eater.

^CYBORG^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Cyborg gives Catwoman an "I'll put her down" look.)

CATWOMAN: Don't underestimate her.

(Ivy wraps a vine around Catwoman's neck and pulls her to the side to fight. Harley blind-sides Cyborg with a kick to the jaw.)

HARLEY: Rock 'em, sock 'em, robot!

CYBORG: Okay, Clown Princess,...gloves off!

(Harley has the moves, no doubt about that. But Cyborg has the tech to think a move or two ahead.  While Harley's weaponry does some damage, Cyborg's does MORE, putting Harley down for the count.)

CYBORG: (approaching Harley's body) Nobody's gonna miss you! (charges his arm       cannon for the final lethal blow)

(Catwoman leaps in and swats the cannon aside in anger.)

CATWOMAN: Harley better be breathing!

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Ivy comes in riding her vines.)

POISON IVY: Arkham gave us so many memories, Selina. Bewitching guards, late night poker...mandatory shock therapy. Oh, that's right. YOU were spared thanks to your billionaire boy-toy.

CATWOMAN: I didn't ASK for special treatment.

CYBORG: To hell with this pity party!

POISON IVY: You're just dying to hurt me, aren't you, Tin Man? It won't bring back what you lost. Especially BELOW the waist. (Cyborg goes to           charge Ivy but Catwoman holds him back as Harley starts to moan            and writhe in her sleep) Poor Harley smelled the wrong roses and, now, she's going into shock. Bye-bye, Baby Doll.

^CATWOMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CATWOMAN: (to Cyborg) Keep her alive. This is personal. (Cyborg shrugs, picks         up Harley and brings her to the side) Harley was your FRIEND, Pamela...she LOVED you!

POISON IVY: I have no more friends, Selina. All I have is the Green!

(Poison Ivy's toxins and natural gases keep Catwoman at a distance...a distance she can easily bridge with her whip. AND she has the claws to prune Ivy's killer plants, knocking her out.)

CATWOMAN: So much for the Gotham City Sirens.

(Catwoman runs over to Harley, Cyborg shrugging as if to say, "I got her out of the line of fire; what do you want from me?")

^CYBORG^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Cyborg revs up his weapons...but Catwoman's concerned about Harley.)

CATWOMAN: We can't just leave her! (picks up Harley's body and moves her         aside)

CYBORG: I'm gonna mow you down!

POISON IVY: Oh, Cyborg, we don't have to fight. Let's kiss and make-up.

(Cyborg ain't falling for that; he KNOWS Ivy's lips are lethally toxic. It's a battle of technology vs. nature...and, much like in real-life, tech wins: Ivy isn't exactly mulch...but she's not far FROM it once it's over.)

CYBORG: I prefer women who AREN'T insane!

(Cyborg joins Catwoman, who's checking up on Harley.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Catwoman checks Harley's jugular for a pulse. Cyborg just stands over them.)

CATWOMAN: You got a defibrillator in there?

CYBORG: Yeah, but...

CATWOMAN: Use it!!

(Cyborg doesn't want to revive someone he despises...but, knowing he'll catch hell from Batman if he doesn't, he activates defibrillators in his hands and shocks Harley three times.)

CATWOMAN: Harley?

(Harley moves ever-so-slightly and moans...as if in PLEASURE.)

HARLEY: Again...again...

(Catwoman is glad Harley is all right. Even Cyborg can't help but smile.)

(With Harley back on her feet, the trio reach the old Underground and follow the tracks, being wary about who or what is out there.)

HARLEY: You think we'll find Dinah and Ollie once we get to Brainiac?

CYBORG: Seriously?! They're already dead.

HARLEY: (angry) Why you gotta say that?!

CYBORG: Brainiac collects the best and discards the rest. (Harley stops in       fear) Black Canary and Arrow? Definitely NOT the best.

(Harley stays where she is in disbelief as Catwoman and Cyborg continue.)

CATWOMAN: (angry) I'd take THEM over you ANY day, Victor! (Hearing that,         Harley runs to catch up, a little more optimistic.) Here we are.

(They reach a brick wall. Catwoman and Harley go to different parts and feel around while Cyborg looks ready to blast the whole thing.  The women then look and nod at each other and push in bricks at the same time.  The wall opens up to the Batcave.)

CATWOMAN: Wait here, Harley. Make sure no one follows us. (She motions to         Cyborg to follow her in and Harley salutes.)

CYBORG: (sarcastically) After you, please. (follows Catwoman)

(Harley's smile fades as she watches the two enter. She worries about Catwoman...and MAYBE a bit about Cyborg as they head deeper.)

CATWOMAN: It's TOO quiet.

CYBORG: (activating his radar) Bogeys...and they're not bats.

(Suddenly, Cyborg raises his arm shield just as a shot hits it. Out of the shadows come Deadshot and Bane of the Society.)

BANE: (to Catwoman) I told Grodd you were loyal to the Bat. He called me...     "paranoid". At least he listened when I said Batman wouldn't reliquish his Cave so easily. Soon, not just this place, but all of Gotham will be MINE!

^CATWOMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CATWOMAN: I got business with Bane.

(Cyborg raises his shield and charges at Deadshot, who keeps firing into the shield as they move away.)

BANE: Of all the ways to torment the Bat, hurting you is one of my favorites.

CATWOMAN: Yet, you've NEVER broken me!

(Bane tries to, literally, rectify that. It's closer than one would think, but Catwoman's agility and tenacity just BARELY edge out Bane's brutal tactics.)

CATWOMAN: Was that as fun for you as it was for me?

(Cyborg, having pacified Deadshot for a minute, rejoins Catwoman.)

^CYBORG^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Deadshot shoots at Catwoman, but Cyborg blocks the shot. Catwoman flips to the side and kicks Deadshot down as he's trying to re-load.  The two go aside, leaving Bane to Cyborg.)

BANE: Cyborg, my old comrade.

CYBORG: I was never down with Superman recruiting criminals to the Regime. That was HIS call.

BANE: We are BOTH considered criminals now. So ask yourself: what is the difference between us?

(They're both strong and smart...but Cyborg is a living computer and, thus, MUCH smarter than the 'roided-up wrestler. It's tight, but Cyborg knocks the wind out of Bane.)

CYBORG: The difference between us? I'm still standing!

(Catwoman, having given Deadshot the slip, rejoins Cyborg.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CATWOMAN: Ready to meet Brother Eye?

CYBORG: About damn time! (They walk to the main console, it monitors still       covered with Brainiac's logo) System's still running. Brother Eye needs a clean power source...something Brainiac can't touch.

CATWOMAN: The Cave's got backup generators.

CYBORG: That should do it.

(Just then, the monitors turn into the face of Brainiac.)

BRAINIAC: Victor Stone. The pinnacle of human evolution.

CATWOMAN: SOMEONE has a secret admirer.

BRAINIAC: But your humanity inhibits your true potential. You must PURGE it.

CYBORG: Interesting thought. Just one problem: I'm a team player. And humanity? That's my team.

BRAINIAC: But you are capable of so much more.

(A purple beam shoots out of a monitor's "eye" and strikes Cyborg. As he screams, he goes to one knee and groans.  Suddenly, it's as if a copy of the mechanics of his cybernetic body is literally tearing itself out of Cyborg's body.  When it's done, an all-robot version of Cyborg appears.)

GRID: Grid online. I am your vast intellect, liberated from the weaknesses of     flesh and emotion.

CYBORG: Apparently liberated from my good looks and charm, too.

^CATWOMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CATWOMAN: (to Cyborg) Backup generators are down that tunnel. I'LL handle Mr. Robot. (Cyborg runs off)

GRID: No aspect of Victor Stone's knowledge is unknown to me. Including the most efficient way to kill you, Selina Kyle.

CATWOMAN: (smirking) Nice to know Cyborg thinks of me that way.

(While Grid may have all of Cyborg's memories and powers, what he DOESN'T have is the dynamic thinking of a human. All science, no philosophy.  Grid can't keep up with Catwoman's swiftness and unpredictability.  When it's over, Grid is offline.)

CATWOMAN: Copycat!

(Cyborg runs back from the tunnel and rejoins Catwoman.)

CYBORG: Thanks for kicking my other ass. Power's officially on backup.

(The two head for Brother Eye.)

^CYBORG^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

CYBORG: (to Catwoman) We NEED that backup power...now. (Catwoman leaves as she       knows exactly where it is) So, uh,..."Grid". This "mirror match" as       weird for you as it is for me?

GRID: For years, I dwelled as a subroutine within your system. An anomoly. I     never fathomed an existance outside you. Now, I realize my     perfection...and your obsolescense!

(They can match each other move-for-move, power-for-power, blow-for-blow. But Cyborg can learn new things on the g, something Grid cannot process.  As such, Cyborg is able to adjust his strategies and shut Grid down.)

CYBORG: Not so perfect after all!

(Catwoman runs back from the tunnel and rejoins Cyborg.)

CATWOMAN: Backup power's on.

CYBORG: Let's get this party started!

(The two head for Brother Eye.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Cyborg approaches Brother Eye and inserts his connection spike into it. Tapping a few keys with his free hand, he works on cleaning the computer of Brainiac.)

BRAINIAC: No human - not even YOU - can gain control of my neural network.

CYBORG: (grunting as he re-programs) Not trying to. Just teaching Brother Eye to ignore you!

(Cyborg's mechanical eye starts to flash as he works hard to fight against Brainiac's functions. Brainiac starts to falter.)

BRAINIAC: This minor success...will not...save you...

(Soon Brother Eye is back online; Brainiac cannot hack it again.)

BROTHER EYE: Brother Eye is online.

CATWOMAN: Welcome back.

BROTHER EYE: Thank you, Ms. Kyle. (alarms go off) Warning! Victor Stone has infiltrated the Batcave! Deploying countermeasures! (brings out            a rocket launcher as Cyborg readies his cannon-arm)

CATWOMAN: Defense system override! Authorization LK-4D4!

BROTHER EYE: System administrator Selina Kyle. Retinal verification required. (scans Catwoman's eye, then retracts rocket launcher) Indentity confirmed. Standing down. (Cybrog retracts cannon arm)

CATWOMAN: Brother Eye, bring geo-sync comms online.

(Brother Eye does so, showing the poisitions of Batman, Flash, Firestorm, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Aquaman, Blue Beetle and Black Canary.)

CATWOMAN: Bruce, the comms are yours.

(Batman is flying over Gotham in the Batwing.)

BATMAN: Copy. Brother Eye, broadcast on the old Justice League band.

BROTHER EYE: Broadcasting.

BATMAN: We're back online, everyone. We have one hour to evacuate civilians before we engage Brainiac and the fleet.

(Batman flies off to start the evac of Gotham.)

- CHAPTER 8: WAR GODDESS - WONDER WOMAN -

(Wonder Woman and Supergirl fly over Metropolis, landing on a rooftop as they gaze up at Brainiac's ship.)

SUPERGIRL: Where should we start? (Wonder Woman is in awe) Diana? We don't          have much time!

WONDER WOMAN: Batman's strategy is all wrong. Delaying our offense is             pointless! It's one less hour before Brainiac sends us all to             Hades. Saving these people could doom BILLIONS more!

SUPERGIRL: I can hear the people down there...ALL of them. They're afraid, like I was on Krypton when I didn't have these powers. And I look at us and just think...we can give them hope!

(Wonder Woman lightly shakes her head, thinking this is hopeless. Down on the streets, more people are being gathered by Betas.  As one of the Betas pushes a police officer to go faster, Wonder Woman swoops down and grabs it. Everyone - humans and Betas - are confused.)

WONDER WOMAN: (from above) Up here!

(Everyone looks up to see Wonder Woman and Supergirl holding the Beta up. Wonder Woman crushes the Beta's head and drops it. The other Betas fire lasers at the two super-powered women but they dodge them easily.  Wonder Woman lands and slices through the other Betas, even using her shield to damage them before the kill.  Supergirl joins the fight when Wonder Woman starts to get overwhelmed.  When all the Betas are down, the girls look over at the humans...who run away at the sight of them.)

SUPERGIRL: Why are they so afraid of us?

(Suddenly, a powerful blast hits Supergirl dead-on and blasts her back a fair ways, stunning her. The blaster is held by Cheetah.)

WONDER WOMAN: Minerva!

CHEETAH: (aiming the weapon at Wonder Woman) Welcome back, Diana!

(Wonder Woman rushes Cheetah, but Cheetah fires, striking the Amazon's shield and sending her into a bar called the Ace O' Clubs. Wonder Woman groans as she gets up.  The barkeep holds a shotgun at Wonder Woman...then turns when he hears someone at the door.  The door handle jiggles...and then freezes... along with the entire door!  The door explodes and the barkeep hides. Suddenly, a super-fast man runs around and around Diana, punching her face hard several times.  In walks Captain Cold, gun ready.)

COLD: You're heart's so COLD, Wonder Woman. Let's put you on ice!

(The other human runs to Cold's side, showing himself to be Reverse-Flash. Wonder Woman gets to her feet. Cold blasts her, but she uses her bracelets to deflect the beam to freeze Reverse-Flash.)

COLD: Nice rope-a-dope.

WONDER WOMAN: Give up your code of honor, Snart? Why lower yourself to work with Grodd?

COLD: You're not so "pure", Amazon! You...you "executed" Golden Glider! She was my sister!

WONDER WOMAN: A sister YOU led into a life of crime! SHE paid for YOUR mistakes!

(As said before, Wonder Woman is on par with Superman as far as strength and speed. But, as shown by Reverse-Flash, NOTHING can move at absolute zero. Still, though he holds his own, the Captain is dropped by the Amazon.)

WONDER WOMAN: (in a "sorry-not-sorry" manner) My condolences!

(Wonder Woman then turns to see Reverse-Flash start to vibrate as the freezing molecules go above absolute zero. He shatters the "ice" and stretches his muscles.)

WONDER WOMAN: Eobard Thawne, right? Barry said you're some kind of time traveler.

REVERSE: Yeah...and let me you about the future. (zips to the opposite side of        the bar) You THINK you're immortal. But, in MY time, Diana, you're        QUITE dead!!

(Reverse-Flash tries to make sure she's dead in THIS timeline as well. While his fast-moving strikes hurt Wonder Woman and keep her at length, she uses her sword, shield and lasso to close the gaps and clock Thawne but good!)

WONDER WOMAN: An oracle you are not! (resheathes her sword and walks away)

(Suddenly, Superman flies through the hole in the wall Wonder Woman made when she showed up...and a strange green mist surrounds her.)

SUPERMAN: Diana, you're safe! Thank Rao.

WONDER WOMAN: (approaching Superman) We have to find Kara. She's...

SUPERMAN: We will. (holds Wonder Woman's waist)

WONDER WOMAN: Clark, we don't have TIME for...

SUPERMAN: (strokes Wonder Woman's cheek) Please. I've missed you.

WONDER WOMAN: (smiling) We can beat them, Kal. Brainiac, Batman, they BOTH go             down today.

SUPERMAN: And we'll rule side-by-side as equals.

WONDER WOMAN: And lovers.

(As they go in to kiss, Superman fires his heat vision, blasting Wonder Woman against the wall. Superman then hovers off the gorund and floats towards her.)

SUPERMAN: I turned to you when Lois died! You took advantage! Manipulated my         grief! (flies into her and pins her against the wall) Turned me into someone I wasn't meant to be!!

WONDER WOMAN: (groaning) That's not true! My love made you stronger!

SUPERMAN: Is THAT what you tell yourself?!

(Wonder Woman draws her sword and stabs right through Superman...which you don't expect to happen to the Man of Steel.)

WONDER WOMAN: That's what SUPERMAN told me, Scarecrow!

(Wonder Woman wakes up in the green mist with a groan. Scarecrow chortles at her as she stands.)

SCARECROW: Hehehaha. You're not afraid of Superman...you're afraid you CORRUPTED him. Brave hero. Your worst fear is becoming the villain of the story.

WONDER WOMAN: (drawing sword) To Hades with your mind games!

SCARECROW: Classic anger displacement. (sprays more fear gas to become the          large monster last seen at Slaughter Swamp) We should continue your therapy!

(It seems that Wonder Woman's anger is NOT displaced here; she is QUITE pissed at Scarecrow! And while the fear gas does make Wonder Woman hesitate, she's STILL strong enough and quick enough to nearly knock the head off of Dr. Crane.)

WONDER WOMAN: This therapy session's over!

(Scarecrow tries to blast her with more fear gas, but Wonder Woman, with a swipe of her sword, cuts Scarecrow's wrist and makes him drop the nozzle. As Scarecrow screams in pain [and, perhaps, even FEAR], Wonder Woman stands over him with her sword at his neck.)

(Meanwhile, Supergirl is hurt pretty badly from the blast before and falls to her back. Cheetah approaches her methodically.)

CHEETAH: "Girl of Steel". You ARE a rare, rare find. No wonder Brainiac wants you...dead or alive. (leans down and scratches Supergirl's        cheek...which actually starts to bleed) Kryptonians ARE vulnerable to         magic. And these claws CUT...like MAGIC!

(Cheetah digs her claws into Supergirl's side, causing her pain. Cheetah wonders how best to make Supergirl suffer...when Wonder Woman flies in and knocks Cheetah off of Supergirl.)

WONDER WOMAN: Hang in there, Kara. The gods will protect us.

(Cheetah stands and grunts, knocking her dislocated shoulder back into place by slamming it into a pillar.)

WONDER WOMAN: Minerva. I'm surprised someone so feral still follows Grodd's             orders.

CHEETAH: No, Princess. I only joined Grodd to draw out my OWN quarry...YOU!

WONDER WOMAN: A fool's errand! Like when you sought a god's power but found the Cheetah's curse.

CHEETAH: More like the Cheetah's GIFT. I'm stronger, faster and thirsty...so        thirsty...for Amazon blood!

(Of all of Wonder Woman's personal enemies, Cheetah is the most dangerous next to Ares himself. The fight is brutal, but Wonder Woman manages to clip the Cheetah's claws.)

WONDER WOMAN: (approaching the fallen Cheetah) You want blood?! Your curse can NEVER be undone. THIS is the peace you deserve!

(As Supergirl comes to, Wonder Woman picks up Cheetah with one hand and holds out her sword with the other, ready to slit her throat. Suddenly, Harley Quinn shows up in front of Supergirl.)

HARLEY: You all right, blondie? (helps Supergirl to her feet) Sit tight. (draws guns and shoots the sword out of Wonder Woman's hand) She's had ENOUGH, Wonder Bread!

WONDER WOMAN: This isn't your business, Clown!

HARLEY: You heard Bats: NO KILLING!

WONDER WOMAN: YOU lecture me?! How much blood is on YOUR ledger, Quinn?!

HARLEY: Oh,...buckets full, honey. I was tryin' too hard to impress the wrong guy...kinda like YOU with Superman!

(Wonder Woman grimaces in anger and tosses Cheetah aside. She then grabs her sword and rushes Harley, the former Clown Princess emptying her clips into her.  Wonder Woman uses her bracelet to block the bullet, certain Batman made the bullets special to hurt her.  She gets to Harley and runs her through with the sword...much to Supergirl's shock.)

SUPERGIRL: NO!

(As Wonder Woman kicks Harley off her sword, Supergirl dropkicks her into the next county. She then goes to Harley.)

SUPERGIRL: You're losing too much blood! This is gonna hurt...a lot.

HARLEY: (smiling) Heh...even better...

(Supergirl uses her heat vision to cauderize the wound...all the way through, apparently. Harley screams in pain but doesn't seem to mind too much. That's when Wonder Woman walks back up...)

- CHAPTER 9: LAST HOPE OF KRYPTON - SUPERGIRL -

WONDER WOMAN: What do you think you're DOING, Kara?!

SUPERGIRL: (standing) Stopping you before you make a mistake.

WONDER WOMAN: That lunatic DESERVES to die!

SUPERGIRL: Maybe...but she's defensless. She's had NO trial! You told me          Amazons fought with honor!

(Feeling Supergirl has disobeyed her teachings, Wonder Woman draws her sword. She has the advantage of millenia of experience, but she made the mistake of teaching Supergirl everything she knows...and Supergirl's an excellent student. Add in her Kryptonian powers and Wonder Woman is no match for the Woman of Steel.)

SUPERGIRL: (upset) I trusted you, Diana! (flies to Harley, picks her up) You're gonna be okay. (takes off with Harley) I'll get you to a          doctor. Kal can protect you.

HARLEY: (weakly) Superman? (giggles) Oh, Blondie, yer funny.

(Supergirl wonders what Harley means as she takes her to a hospital still standing.)

(Meanwhile, at the Fortress of Solitude, Superman is floating in the solarium, a concentrated beam of solar energy, getting stronger after years of red sun treatment. He hovers down to Black Adam and Nightwing.)

SUPERMAN: (to Nightwing) Did you find anything?

NIGHTWING: I analyzed the Kryptonian data like you asked. You didn't miss anything. They just didn't have an answer for Brainiac.

SUPERMAN: There has to be SOMETHING. A blind spot, a weakness...brute force won't be enough!

BLACK ADAM: If your powers are restored, I should leave for Kahndaq, make sure its defenses are prepared.

SUPERMAN: Brainiac hasn't attacked it yet?

BLACK ADAM: The Rock of Eternity's magic hides Kahndaq from prying eyes, even Brainiac's. But I don't expect him to be fooled forever.

(Just then, Supergirl flies in.)

SUPERGIRL: Kal, we need to talk.

SUPERMAN: (to Nightwing and Black Adam) Give me a minute, both of you. (both         leave as Superman lands in front of his cousin.) Damina told me what happened. Is Diana all right?

SUPERGIRL: She's fine...but she was gonna kill Harley. I've never seen her so          cold-blooded.

SUPERMAN: Yes, it's unfortunate...

SUPERGIRL: (interrupting) I know. What was she thinking?!

SUPERMAN: (continuing) It's unfortunate Diana chose now to deal with Harley. MORE unfortunate that you got in her way!

SUPERGIRL: (shocked) What?!

SUPERMAN: The Joker sickened Harley's mind beyond healing. When she relapses, innocent people will die.

SUPERGIRL: Innocent people are dying NOW! She was HELPING us!

SUPERMAN: (stern) Don't be naive, Kara. Harely's a criminal. My only mistake was not dealing with her sooner.

SUPERGIRL: Diana said the Joker was executed. Were YOU the one who...?

SUPERMAN: (getting angry) I took ONE life to save millions!

SUPERGIRL: But it WASN'T just one, Kal, was it? How many? (turns Superman to          face her) HOW MANY?! (touches the "S" on Superman's chest) Everywhere I go, people are afraid of this. Now I know why!

SUPERMAN: It's NOT how I wanted things. But, humans,...they've been slaughtering each other for millennia. I stopped that violence. (Supergirl can't believe it) Humans need strong leadership. We have to save them from themselves!

SUPERGIRL: Whose son are you? Jor-El's...or General Zod's?! (takes off out of          the Fortress)

SUPERMAN: KARA! (over an intercom heard throughout the Fortress) Don't let Kara leave the Fortress!

(Supergirl stops her flight out as she runs into Nightwing, more-than-likely juiced up with the green pill mentioned earlier.)

NIGHTWING: Hold on, Kara.

SUPERGIRL: I'm realizing maybe your father locked you up for good reason!

NIGHTWING: Superman's been more of a father than Batman could EVER be!

(With Nightwing 'roided-up, he has the advantage of experience. But, even though Damien can TAKE Supergirl's heat vision and ice breath, he can't really COUNTER them.  Kara takes Nightwing down.)

SUPERGIRL: Kal should be setting a better example!

(Supergirl tries to leave but is stopped by a shield of pure magic, created by Black Adam.)

BLACK ADAM: You wil submit, Kara Zor-El!! (blasts her with lightning sending           her back into a crystal)

SUPERGIRL: (standing up) Ever since you found me, everything you told me...          half-truths...lies...to cover up your own evil!

BLACK ADAM: You see the world as a CHILD does. "Good" and "evil" are not constants. Their meaning's defined by those with power!

(Black Adam's magic is a weakness of Supergirl's, but her will to fight for what she believes is right makes her stronger. AND Black Adam was her teacher, too, so his lessons have come back to haunt him.)

SUPERGIRL: Lucky for you, I find power in restraint!

SUPERMAN: (floating in) Kara, please. Listen to me. With our powers, we         CAN'T hold back or the ones we love...pay the price.

SUPERGIRL: I'm sorry I wasn't here...that I couldn't help you. But Metropolis wasn't your fault!

SUPERMAN: I promised myself: never...again.

SUPERGIRL: This isn't who we are. The House of El isn't ruled by fear.

SUPERMAN: (angry) Hope isn't enough to save the world! Without me, they'd be         dead!

(The two Kryptonians come to blows. The only advantage Supergirl has is that Superman's full power hasn't been restored yet.  It could go either way... but Kara manages to knock Kal-El down long enough to escape.  And, yet, she doesn't...not yet.)

SUPERGIRL: I can HELP you...

(Superman stands and Nightwing and Black Adam surround her.)

SUPERMAN: Think about all you've lost, Kara. What if you could've saved Krypton?

SUPERGIRL: I think about it every day!

SUPERMAN: Then stand with me.

(Suddenly, booms are heard outside.)

SUPERGIRL: It's Brainiac. He's extracting the cities early!

BLACK ADAM: Then we fight back! I must go to protect Kahndaq.

SUPERMAN: Go. We're heading to Metropolis.

NIGHTWING: What about her?!

SUPERMAN: All that matters now is stopping Brainiac. But, when this is over, you need to choose. You're either WITH me...or AGAINST me!

(Supergirl does NOT like that choice.)

(Brainiac's ship hovers over Metropolis and starts to digitize the buildings, drawing them up off of their foundations and making them ones and zeros as they get in range. While the place is abandoned of living people, the dead and dying litter the streets.  Kent Nelson walks the streets, the Helm of Nabu in his hand.)

CITIZEN: (on ground, reaching up to Kent) Help...help me...

(Kent reaches down to help her but...)

NABU: NO!!

(Kent pulls back, unable to resist.)

CITIZEN: Please...(gasps and collapses)

KENT: (holds Helm of Nabu up and talks to it) Why can't I stop this? Why won't you let me fight back?! How can there be Order if Brainiac wins?!

NABU: Humanity breeds Chaos! Brainiac is Order!

(Kent looks worried. High above, the Batwing flies over and towards the Brainiac ship.  Batman and Catwoman are inside.)

CATWOMAN: Superman and Supergirl are almost here. The others are tackling the fleet. Shouldn't we be in Gotham?

BATMAN: Brainiac controls the entire fleet from that Skull Ship. Take HIM down, take them ALL down.

CATWOMAN: (watching the radar) Contacts, dead ahead!

(Batman looks up to see a bunch of Beta ships heading straight for them. He manages to evade their laser blasts and shoot back, continuing to head for the Skull Ship.  The Kryptonians arrive and start blasting the other Betas with their heat vision, blasting a hole in their defenses.)

CATWOMAN: The gave us an opening!

BATMAN: Locking on the Skull Ship!

(He has good tone...and he fires three missiles at the ship. They connect but do minimal damage.  Inside the ship, Brainiac sees the damage done.)

BRAINIAC: Shields.

(The shields not only cover the ship but also sends out a blast that zaps the Batwing's controls, sending it to gravity's mercy.)

CATWOMAN: Five seconds to impact!

BATMAN: Prepare to eject!

CATWOMAN: Three seconds!

(Suddenly, in flies Superman to hold them up, albeit upside-down.)

SUPERMAN: You're welcome. (spins the Batwing around, allowing it to hover) What just happened?

BATMAN: Brainiac's force field is creating a concussive feedback loop.

SUPERMAN: So, the harder we hit it, the harder it hits BACK. (Supergirl,         having not heard this, flies towards the ship) KARA!

(Sure enough, Supergirl tries to punch the ship, but the shields zaps her electricity. Furthermore, when Superman goes to help her, HE gets blasted, too.  The shields then blasts the two Supers down to the ground.)

BRAINIAC: The Kryptonians are incapacitated. Complete the extraction.

(The Daily Planet Building is next to be sucked up. Soon, inside the ship, Brainiac smiles as he sees a digital form of Metropolis...all his.)

(Miles outside of what's left of Metropolis, Superman and Supergirl lay in a crater made by their impact. Superman comes to first, groaning in pain as he gets up.  He goes over to Supergirl and uses his X-ray vision to see her heart still beating; she's just unconscious.  He then looks up at the Skull Ship...and, in his anger, he flies up.  He then looks down.  It's like deja vu all over again; Metropolis, the city he called home, is now one massive crater...just like it was when it was nuked nearly a decade ago.  And, just like when he killed Lois to make it happen, Superman does NOT take it well.)

SUPERMAN: NO-O-O-O-O-O-O!

(He flies into the ship twice, trying to break through the shields. Then the Batwing flies up.)

BATMAN: Superman, the force shield concentrates its energy at your point of       attack! Move faster than it can and you might break through!

SUPERMAN: Got it.

(Superman, who can travel many times faster than light when need be, starts a stick-and-move campaign, punching hard and then moving before the blast can hit. He goes all around the ship, going faster and faster.  Inside, Brainiac is getting rocked around...but remains calm.)

BRAINIAC: Creative...but insufficient. Decrease shield refresh interval to         ten picoseconds. (That's one-hundred-BILLIONTH of a second.)

(That seemed to do it; the next punch landed by Superman sends the concussive feedback into him and knocks him into Metropolis crater. He's still conscious, though; he is able to stand as the ship starts to descend upon him.  A tentacle lowers and blasts a ray many times more powerful than the Betas'.  Superman grunts in pain but stays upright.  Meanwhile, Supergirl has awoken and flies to see her cousin in trouble, multiple tenacles now blasting him.  He drops to his knees and his skin starts to crack.  As Supergirl gets closer, an explosion is seen, knocking her, the Batwing AND Brainiac's ship backwards.  Supergirl recovers the fastest...and looks VERY worried.)

SUPERGIRL: Kal! (flies into the blast to look for him)

(A few minutes later, as the smoke clears, the Batwing lands in the crater. Supergirl is sitting there, a defeated look on her face. Batman and Catwoman exit the ship and enter the crater, seeing no sign of Superman.  In the background, Flash shows up to assess the damage.  Batman approaches Supergirl.)

SUPERGIRL: (saddened) I couldn't find his body...can't hear his heartbeat. I          was supposed to protect him...from this...(to Batman)...from YOU! And now he's gone! I'm sure that's the best news you've heard all day.

BATMAN: I'll miss him, too.

SUPERGIRL: (turns in confusion) You mean that?

BATMAN: He was a good friend once. I trusted him with my life. But the Joker got to him...and I wasn't there to stop it. I lost my friend, Clark. And...I've missed him ever since.

(A Boom Tube opens to reveal Cyborg, Green Lantern and Aquaman. Batman seems to know what happened.)

BATMAN: Atlantis?

AQUAMAN: Gone. I didn't listen. Now, we all die together.

BATMAN: No one's giving up yet. Anyone hear from Beetle or Firestorm?

WONDER WOMAN: (from above) This is your fault, Bruce! (landing near them) Kal and I would've BEATEN Brainiac! You should've followed our lead!

SUPERGIRL: (stepping between them) STOP it, Diana! Millions of people are trapped on that ship! We have to save them!

WONDER WOMAN: Not with him!

(Suddenly, a hologram of Brainiac appears.)

BRAINIAC: Such discord. No wonder humans have yet to expand their civilization beyond the confines of this tiny planet.

GREEN LANTERN: Did you call in just to gloat?!

BRAINIAC: My Betas are taking position all across your planet. In one hour, they will explode in unison, burning the Earth's athmosphere, rendering this world a barren moon. Unless...YOU surrender, Kara Zor-El. She is Krypton's sole survivor...and my last opportunity to         study the effect of a yellow sun on Kryptonian cells. Surrender her...and I will spare this world.

BATMAN: Even if I thought you'd honor that deal, we wouldn't take it.

BRAINIAC: You have one hour to reconsider. (disappears)

SUPERGIRL: Thanks for giving the "new girl" a chance, but...maybe I should go.

BATMAN: No! We'll find a way to take down Brainiac's shields. We HAVE to.

CYBORG: We could try shorting them out. But we'd need to generate an insane amount of power.

BLACK ADAM: (floating in) Perhaps science is not the answer.

BATMAN: (approaches Black Adam as he lands) So he might be vulnerable to a       magic-based attack.

BLACK ADAM: I can drive the immense magical power from the Rock of Eternity through the gateway in Kahndaq. But I need an artifact, a medium to channel it...something that can withstand the power.

AQUAMAN: (holding up trident) How about the Trident of Atlantis?

BLACK ADAM: Yes...that could work.

CATWOMAN: We get the shields down...THEN what? Cyborg says Brainiac controls that ship with his thoughts.

CYBORG: But I *did* cut him off from Brother Eye. It's possible I could make a signal disrupter that blocks his neural network. If you get Brainiac's shields down, we can disarm those Beta bombs.

BATMAN: Then that's our plan. Aquaman, Adam, get to Kahndaq.

- CHAPTER 10: THREE KINGS - AQUAMAN & BLACK ADAM -

(In Kahndaq, the two kings approach a small gateway.)

BLACK ADAM: The Rock of Eternity is hidden in a pocket dimension. I've           refrained from opening the gateway to it since Brainiac's            invasion.

AQUAMAN: Because it would draw his eye.

BLACK ADAM: Precisely. Once the door is opened, it's only a matter of time before Brainiac attacks.

AQUAMAN: A fight I look FORWARD to!

BLACK ADAM: (approaching the gateway) Ancient ones, unveil the golden path to           me. In your names: Shu, Heru, Amon, Zehuti, Aton, Mehen!

(Lightning envelops Black Adam, then it shoots out of his chest and into the gateway. On board Brainiac's ship, Gorilla Grodd notices the power spike in Kahndaq.  So has Brainiac himself.)

BRAINIAC: Black Adam has revealed Kahndaq's power...and its location. The Society will obtain a sample of the Rock of Eternity for me. I wish to study Earth's so-called "magic".

GRODD: The Society is disbanded, They thought Earth would be theirs to       conquer, not yours to destroy.

BRAINIAC: And you, Grodd?

GRODD: Earth can go to hell! I serve Brainiac.

BRAINIAC: As you should. I will give you new soldiers. Bring me that sample before the Earth is destroyed and your loyalty will be rewarded.

(Grodd bows to his master. Back in Kahndaq, the power of the Egyptian Shazam finally opens the dimension to the Rock of Eternity.)

BLACK ADAM: Let's work quickly.

(As they head for the gateway, a half-human, half-mechanized voice is heard. Turning, Black Adam and Aquaman see Black Canary and Green Arrow walking in fron of an army of gorillas.)

BLACK CANARY: Don't bother; there's no time left. (Black Adam closes the             gateway as the couple approach the kings.) An Extractor Ship is              on its way. Kahndaq will be Brainiac's.

^AQUAMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

AQUAMAN: (as Black Adam flies to meet the rest) Using pawns, Grodd?

BLACK CANARY: Pawns can achieve great victories...if you're willing to             sacrifice them!

(Although Aquaman is not too used to fighting on land, Black Canary is not herself while under Brainiac's control. So the disadvantages are even.  It's a tough fight, but Aquaman puts Dinah down and out without permanent damage.)

AQUAMAN: This king isn't easily captured!

(Aquaman sees Green Arrow approaching Black Adam and goes to Adam's side. They both look up at the sky.)

^BLACK ADAM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLACK ADAM: Grodd will NOT defile Kahndaq! (floats and shoots lightning at the           gorillas and Green Arrow, allowing Aquaman to push them back)

BLACK CANARY: Such misplaced pride you have. Compared to my achievements, you are NOTHING, Adam!

(Black Canary may be under the control of Brainiac and Grodd, but Black Adam has the power of six Eygptian gods in him. While Canary got in some good hits, Adam knocks her out.)

BLACK ADAM: Come out, Grodd! Face me! (One of Grodd's gorilla soldiers tries           to attack from behind, but Aquaman tosses the Trident into its            back.  Adam is a little miffed) I require no assistance.

(Aquaman withdraws the Trident and looks up at the sky with Black Adam.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(An Extractor Ship shoots down Betas into Kahndaq, ready to digitize the place. Green Arrow readies his bow.)

GREEN ARROW: Here comes the cavalry. Fitting that you two die together, the last of mankind's monarchs.

AQUAMAN: What kind of ruler sacrifices his own people for Brainiac?!

GREEN ARROW: My loyalty isn't to Brainiac or Gorilla City. It's to myself. I'll wait until that alien exposes his weakness and kill him. With his ship, I will be unstoppable!

^AQUAMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

AQUAMAN: You're deluded, Grodd. (looks to Black Adam, who nods and flies        towards the Extractor Ship)

(Aquaman then rushes Green Arrow and tries to push the Trident down to pin him. But Arrow is able to push back.)

GREEN ARROW: How did it feel to lose your people, Aquaman?

AQUAMAN: I didn't lose them. They were STOLEN from me!

(The two are quite evenly matched: though Aquaman is good a close-quarters, Green Arrow does his best work at long range. So...Aquaman uses the nearby Mediterranean Sea to sweep Arrow closer and put him down for the count.)

AQUAMAN: I *will* avenge Atlantis! (runs to re-join Black Adam at the gateway)

^BLACK ADAM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BLACK ADAM: I've had my fill of Grodd's charade! (looks to Aquaman who nods           and goes to take care of some of the Betas that landed) Your hubris will be your undoing.

GREEN ARROW: It isn't hubris when one is TRULY exceptional!

(Again, Green Arrow's good...but nothing compared to the god-like powers of Black Adam, even with Arrow controlled by Grodd. Soon, Adam KOs Ollie and hovers to gloat.)

BLACK ADAM: "Exceptional" is not the word I'd use. (flies to re-join Aquaman           at the gateway)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(The two royals approach the gateway again and Black Adam opens the path to the Rock of Eternity. As he does, Aquaman senses someone approaching and turns to see Blue Beetle landing behind them.)

AQUAMAN: Blue Beetle? We thought you were dead.

BLUE BEETLE: The Scarab's hard to kill. Batman told me you guys needed a            hand. Consider me your sidekick.

BLACK ADAM: Come along.

(The three enter a gateway into what looks almost like a torture chamber. they approach a stone throne with intricate carvings in it.)

AQUAMAN: How does this work, exactly?

BLACK ADAM: We imbue your Trident with a spark of the Rock's power. When its full might is released, it will seek out your weapon. Your thoughts will guide the wizard's power to its final target. (sits           on the throne)

AQUAMAN: I am ready. (hands Trident to Black Adam)

(Black Adam crackles with energy and starts to charge up the Trident...when Blue Beetle hits him with a bolt of energy and stops the process.)

AQUAMAN: Beetle! What are you doing?!

GRODD: (comes out of hiding) My bidding!

BLACK ADAM: A sleeper agent...to lead you here.

GRODD: Despite the power of his Scarab, the boy was easily manipulated. Now, Jaime,...kill them!

^AQUAMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Aquaman advances while Black Adam keeps Grodd from interfering.)

BLUE BEETLE: This armor is wasted on a child! When we're finished, I'll tear the Scarab from his body and make its powers my own!

(Blue Beetle is more than a match for Aquaman...and they're near no water for Aquaman to use. Still, experience wins out; Aquaman knows how to fight better than Beetle.  It's tough, but the young hero is defeated.)

AQUAMAN: Don't get ahead of yourself! (runs to re-join Black Adam)

(Black Adam fires lightning at Grodd, who uses his pyschic abilities to block. Still, they both fly bakwards from the recoil, Aquaman stopping Adam from flying back into the Rock.)

^BLACK ADAM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Black Adam advances while Aquaman keeps Grodd from interfering. Blue Beetle changes his arm into various weapons.)

BLUE BEETLE: So many ways to kill you!

BLACK ADAM: The Scarab's gimmicks are no match for the Rock of Eternity!

(Charged up a bit by the Rock, Black Adam has power in reserve...which is good as Blue Beetle's powers are about on par with the Kahndaq King. It's that LITTLE edge that gets Adam to put Jaime to sleep.)

BLACK ADAM: Child's play! (flies to re-join Aquaman)

(Grodd uses his psychic abilities to tosses a statue towards the back of Aquaman's head, but Black Adam blasts the statue to gravel before it connects.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

GRODD: (approaches them) Look at us. Three kings.

AQUAMAN: A king, Grodd?! You're a brute!

BLACK ADAM: A true leader serves his people. You only serve yourself!

GRODD: Be that as it may, I will be the only one who leaves this cave.

^AQUAMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Thinking it's two-on-one, Aquaman and Black Adam smile to each other and approach Grodd together. But Grodd uses his powers to send a massive number of stalagmites on top of Adam, knocking him unconscious.  Aquaman stands, still determined.)

AQUAMAN: You hurt my people, Grodd! In their name, I will have justice!

(Grodd's powers are exceptional, no doubt about that. But Aquaman has fortitude and the power of Atlantis to back him up.  That's just enough to put the hairy ape on his silver back.)

AQUAMAN: NOT the day to test my resolve!

(Aquaman turns to see Black Adam awake and pushing the rocks off him. He's hurt but still standing tall.)

^BLACK ADAM^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Black Adam brings a bolt of lightning from up above, but Grodd's powers block it and diverts it to knock out Aquaman.)

GRODD: You'd have been a valuable contributor to my Society.

BLACK ADAM: My knee bends to NO ONE!

(Grodd's abilities can even counter the powers of gods. But Black Adam's persistence and nearly-endless anger prove much too much for the ape monarch. Adam manages to put the massive mammal on his face.)

BLACK ADAM: Now, Grodd, your punishment!

(Aquaman rejoins Black Adam, the look in his eyes in full agreement.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Aquaman uses his foot to turn the beaten Grodd on his back. But Grodd still has some words in him...)

GRODD: (weakly) Stupid...humans...

(Aquaman has heard enough and thrusts the Trident into Grodd's side.)

AQUAMAN: The people of Atlantis demand justice. (withdraws Trident)

GRODD: (smiling) Against Brainiac? Hehe...I've...seen his mind...felt his power. He...can't...be...stopped!

AQUAMAN: But YOU can!

(Aquaman thrusts the Trident into Grodd's belly and twists it inside him. With a grunt, Grodd dies. Aquaman extracts the Trident, content with the justice he's delivered.)

(Meanwhile, outside the portal, Black Canary and Green Arrow come to, apparently free of Brainiac's control. They help each other to their feet.)

BLACK CANARY: How's your head?

GREEN ARROW: Empty.

BLACK CANARY: (grinning) So not much has changed.

(Just then, the portal opens and Aquaman runs out of it.)

AQUAMAN: Canary! Arrow! Out of the way!

(Aquaman runs past the two and out into the open, his Trident crackling with energy from the Rock. He plants it on the ground.  Inside the portal, Black Adam is channeling more energy from the Rock.  When he fills himself up with the cave crumbling a bit around him, he shouts...)

BLACK ADAM: SHAZAM!

(The energy shoots out of him, through the portal and smack into Aquaman's Trident. Aquaman then lifts the Trident up and shoots the energy into the air.)

(Meanwhile, back in what's left of Metropolis, Sup0ergirl is hover-pacing back and forth as Batman sits in his Batwing awaiting word.)

BATMAN: Cyborg, where's that signal disruptor?

CYBORG: (on intercom) Comin' at you. (Boom Tube opens to reveal Cyborg, who       tosses a gun-like object to Batman) All you have to do is hit the trigger. But it only jams a local area. You need to get within arm's       reach of Brainiac.

SUPERGIRL: (cracking her knuckles) Good.

(A boom is heard in the sky. The three look up to see an arc of enegry fire its way directly to the Skull Ship.  Inside, Brainiac is shaken up by this unprecedented force.  He stands back up as his ship's shields go down, leaving him vulnerable.)

CYBORG: (checking his arm-computer) They did it! Shields are down!

BATMAN: Supergirl, on me! Victor, help the others fight those Betas!

(The Batwing takes off for the ship, Supergirl at his side. The two evade the Beta ships and flying into the Skull Ship itself.  One of the Betas gets a good shot and disables the Batwing, forcing it down.  Batman punches the window out and evacuates the Batwing.  As he jumps to the floor, he is surrounded by Betas, ready to digitize him.  But Supergirl flies in, heat vision a-blazin', and slices them up.  She then joins Batman as they head further into the ship.  Batman draws the signal disruptor out, noting the strength of the signal on it.)

BATMAN: The signal gets stronger this way. (Suddenly, Supergirl grips her head       in pain.) What is it?

SUPERGIRL: Voices...BILLIONS of them!

(The door before them opens. batman holsters the disruptor as he and Supergirl enter.  Inside are blue globes...and inside each globe...is a city. Not just Earth cities, either, but cities from all across the universe.  And Supergirl can hear the voices from those digitizecd cities...crying for help.)

SUPERGIRL: So many languages...(gasps)...the Kryptonians! (walks over to one          globe and pulls it down) Kandor...Argo City...HOME! We have to          help them!

BATMAN: (putting a hand on the globe) I'm not sure we can.

SUPERGIRL: There HAS to be a way...

(From out of nowhere, the ship's tendrils wrap around Batman and Supergirl. Batman struggles, but Supergirl pulls several tendrils off, forcing more to wrap around her. Even her heat vision can't help as one tendril wraps around her head and keeps it steady.  More Betas arrive as Batman reaches for the disruptor.  One tenril scans Supergirl from head to toe.  These tendrils are attached to Brainiac himself, who pulls Supergirl towards him.)

BRAINIAC: Kara Zor-El. Until recently, I had thought my collection of Krypton to be incomplete. Your capture will make it so. (moves the tendrils         to draw Supergirl back to and then INTO the walls; turns to Batman) You have failed in every effort to oppose me. You are not exceptional. Merely an ordinary specimen of a primitive species. (to Betas) Dispose of him. (tendrils carry him away)

(A Beta steps up and opens his palm, revealing a harpoon-like weapon not unlike Scorpion's. As Batman struggles in vain, the harpoon fires. EVerything is in slow motion...as, from behind the other Betas, Superman flies in, knocking them aside at hypersonic speed.  He catches the harpoon inches from Batman's head and stops, as if DARING the Betas to stop him.  The tendrils pull Batman up, but Superman jumps and rips the tendrils off Batman, grabbing the Caped Crusader's hand in a steel grip before he falls.)

BATMAN: And I thought *I* could make an entrance.

SUPERMAN: Where's Kara?

BATMAN: Captured. Somewhere onboard. (Superman turns away angry, as if       wanting to tear the ship apart to find his cousin) We'll find her, but we only have 20 minutes before Brainiac's Betas scorch the Earth.

SUPERMAN: Why aren't the OTHERS here?

BATMAN: They're attacking the Betas...just in case we don't pull through.

SUPERMAN: (full of resolve) We will! (flies off to follow Batman)

- CHAPTER 11: THE WORLD'S FINEST - BATMAN & SUPERMAN -

(The two greatest superheroes climb and fly through the ship until they get deeper into Brainiac's "collection"...and they run into...)

BATMAN: Firestorm! What happened to you?!

FIRESTORM: Brainiac unified our dueling minds. No longer divided, we think as          one.

SUPERMAN: (to Batman) He's YOUR walking bomb. How do we get past him?

(Firestorm blasts plasma bolts at the two. As Batman leaps out of the way, Superman flies to face him.  But Firestorm dodges and grabs his ankle. Meanwhile, Batman is subdued by Swamp Thing.  The two Brainiac slave toss the two heroes against each other and they crumple to the floor.)

SUPERMAN: Swamp Thing, too?!

FIRESTORM: (landing beside Swamp Thing) Brainiac has unlocked the Green's          power. He has mastered the Firestorm Matrix. All knowledge will be subsumed under his collection.

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SUPERMAN: I've heard ENOUGH about Brainiac and his "collection". (steps         forward as Batman backs off) You talked a big game back at my cell. Let's see how you stack up. Your immense power is finite. The Firestorm Matrix has no limits!

(Oh, he couldn't be more wrong. When push comes to shove, Superman could punch a planet into the sun!  While Superman DOES have a slight weakness to radiation not from the sun, and while Firestorm IS smart enough to find out the right rays to blast at him, they are no match for Superman's sheer power!)

SUPERMAN: We just found YOUR limit.

(Meanwhile, Batman was keeping Swamp Thing busy. He knocks the monster down and re-joins Superman.)

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BATMAN: (pulling out a Batarang, to Superman) To answer your question, THIS is       how we get past him. (Superman withdraws to keep an eye on Swamp       Thing)

FIRESTORM: (incredulous) A Batarang? Against a quantum vortex?! (Batman          throws the Batarang, which Firestorm easily catches) Boron, Indium, Cadmium. (blinks) That was a...

BATMAN: Control rod! Perfect for stopping runaway fission!

(Having those kind of Batarangs helps immensely when you're a regular human facing a living atomic reactor. And though Firestorm's minds are fused, they still don't work together very well.  That and Batman's long years of combat experience put the Dark Knight ahead and puts Firestorm on cool-down.)

BATMAN: We'll get your minds right...I promise.

(Meanwhile, Superman socks Swamp Thing right past Batman and to the floor. He then re-joins Batman.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Swamp Thing gets up and swats debris out of his way. Numerous Betas appear behind him and the walk towards the two.)

SUPERMAN: You have a plan?

BATMAN: It's a work in progress. I might be able to restore them.

(Superman hovers up and fires his heat vision at the Betas, but they raise their hands and block the blasts. Batman runs around the Betas and bum- rushes Swamp Thing as Superman shuts the heat vision down.)

SUPERMAN: THAT's new.

(Batman leaps over a pod thrown by Swamp Thing and kicks the Green's master in the mush. Swamp Thing swings back but Batman dodges as Superman joins him again.)

BATMAN: Brainiac's adapting.

SWAMP THING: Adaptation is nature's way.

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BATMAN: Quantity or difficulty?

SUPERMAN: (thinks...then answers) Difficulty. (Batman nods and goes to keep         the Betas busy)

SWAMP THING: Aboard this ship, the Green will live forever.

SUPERMAN: As a DIGITAL copy. It won't be real!

SWAMP THING: ALL nature is data! It can be stored with no loss of fidelity.

SUPERMAN: That's Brainiac talking. Time to get him out of your head!

(Swamp Thing is powerful, no doubt about it. But Superman is much, MUCH stronger.  And HE draws energy from natural sources just like Swamp Thing does.  In this inorganic environment, the Man of Steel has power to spare. And Swamp Thing gets the seaweed kicked out of him.)

SUPERMAN: The Green needs its REAL Guardian.

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BATMAN: (to Superman) I can help him. Keep those Betas busy. (Superman nods       and flies to tackle the Betas) Swamp Thing, hear me. Your power's       being used against you! Against the Green!

SWAMP THING: Brainiac is now the Green's protector. It will live forever, preserved in his collection.

(Swamp Thing is powerful, no doubt about it. But, in this inorganic environment, he is a bit weaker.  Oh, sure, Brainiac can MAKE substances similar to the Green, but it's nothing like the real thing.  Batman manages to beat the kudzo out of him.)

BATMAN: Now let's get you free.

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(The two heroes put Firestorm and Swamp Thing next to each other, the fallen Beta corpses all around. Batman then draws the disruptor and fires it at the two.)

BATMAN: It should disrupt their link with Brainiac.

SUPERMAN: (using X-Ray vision) Firestorm's brain patterns are changing...but I can't read what's happening to Swamp Thing.

BATMAN: (ceasing the disruptor and kneeling down) Jason? Professor Stein?

FIRESTORM: (groaning as he comes to) Yeah...yeah. We're both here. What happened?

BATMAN: Brainiac added a third mind to your head.

FIRESTORM: Like we needed that.

SWAMP THING: (groaning and sitting up) What IS this place?!

BATMAN: Brainiac's Ship. Firestorm will get you back on terra firma. (to       Firestorm) Report to Hal. He'll need help fighting Brainiac's suicide Betas.

FIRESTORM: (nods as Batman and Superman continue) Sounds like a job for Firestorm. Good luck!

(A little later, Batman and Superman find themselves in Brainiac's control chamber. However,...)

BATMAN: No Brainiac. Where is he?

SUPERMAN: I don't know. (hovers and uses his X-Ray vision) The ship's walls are lined with lead.

(Suddenly, Dr. Fate's portal opens up and the helmed sorceror appears, now fully controlled by Nabu.)

FATE/NABU: Bruce Wayne of Earth...Kal-El of Krypton...your battles echo across the universe. Your war has had consequences neither of you could forsee. The Chaos you spread is a cancer upon the cosmos! Only Brainiac can establish order!

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SUPERMAN: (to Batman) I'll deal with him. (steps forward)

BATMAN: (grabbing Superman's shoulder) You HATE magic.

SUPERMAN: I'll manage.

BATMAN: (releasing Superman) And I'll hunt down Brainiac. (leaves as Superman       hovers to Fate's face)

SUPERMAN: I've always respected you, Fate! But Brainiac can't destroy my         home...not again!

FATE/NABU: Your misdeeds precipitated his arrival on this planet. Brainiac's          curiousity was piqued by your decimation of the Green Lantern Corps. Now he comes to spare humanity from the chaos you unleashed!

(Yes, Superman IS vulnerable to magic. And Fate is one of - if not THE - best at it.  Still, Nabu's poisoning of Fate's mind and Kent's fighting against it slows him down JUST enough for Superman to gain an advantage over him.  In time, Fate is finished, the Helm of Nabu falling off.)

SUPERMAN: I'll carve out my OWN destiny.

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BATMAN: So much for the magical advantage. I'll take care of this.

SUPERMAN: I'll keep searching for Brainiac. (flies off)

FATE/NABU: Brainiac will achieve what you could not. He will quell Gotham's          chaos. But, for him to succeed, YOU must die!

(Batman's no slouch in defense against magical arts; after all, he was trained by Zatanna's father. While Fate may be a supreme sorceror, his mind is still being torn between Nabu and Kent.  This gives Batman the chance he needs to make Fate fall, the Helm of Nabu falling off.)

BATMAN: I don't answer to your Lords of Order.

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Kent is on hands and knees, the Helm just within reach. But Batman picks the Helm up and hands it to Superman, who crushes it flat.  As he drops the Helm, Kent comes to.)

KENT: The Lords of Order...their voices are gone.

BATMAN: It's over, Kent.

KENT: I'm sorry for attacking. The Helm commanded me.

SUPERMAN: They can't command you anymore.

KENT: Both of you have defied fate...courted chaos. But now, to see you working together again...you MUST keep order or the Lords will impose it. If not through Brainiac, then...

(Before he can continue, a tendril thrusts through his body, much to the shock of Superman and Batman. The tendril lifts Kent up as he screams in agony. The tendril then darws him into the ship, just like it did with Supergirl. From behind the World's Finest appears Brainiac, hangin by tendrils.)

BRAINIAC: Even a magical being like Doctor Fate recognizes my superiority. In         time, the entire universe will adhere to my design.

BATMAN: Unless we stop you!

BRAINIAC: I offer nothing less than deliverance, Your environment is          poisoned, your civilization has exhausted its resources. The Earth's decline cannot be reversed. (stands before the two)

BATMAN: We'll find a way!

SUPERMAN: We always do!

(The two rush Brainiac and attack from two sides, but Brainiac deftly blocks and parries the punches and kicks. He then stands and lets his tendril fight BOTH at the same time.  Batman is picked up by the throat and Superman is pinned against the side of the ship.  Batman's about to choke to death, but Brainiac then throws him aside as Superman flies towards him.  Brainiac swats the Kryptonian away like a fly.  Superman and Brainiac float towards each other...and Superman double axe-handles the robot to the ground.)

BRAINIAC: (standing and smiling) Earth's time is up.

SUPERMAN: Where's Kara?!

BRAINIAC: Being vivisected. She has already taught me much about the nature of your powers.

SUPERMAN: Allow me to give you a proper demonstration!

BRAINIAC: I match your strength! YOU cannot match my intellect! You are only a Kryptonian of which I have killed BILLIONS!

(And it's time for the MAIN EVENT! And, yes, Brainiac IS the superior intellect.  Not to mention he has home-field advantage as his SHIP can attack, too.  But, when faced with the destruction of his second home, Superman's strength CANNOT be denied.  It's as close as close can be but, by sheer will and power, Superman puts Brainiac into sleep mode!)

SUPERMAN: (staggering a bit) That was for Krypton! (Batman, rubbing his neck,         joins them) The attacks on the fleet are weakening him. I could feel him losing steam as we fought.

BATMAN: Good. Should make it easier to cut him off from the Betas.

(Batman draws the disruptor and fires it at Brainiac, who lies there as if not believing he lost.)

(Meanwhile, elsewhere in the ship, Supergirl awakens to find herself shackled with Kryptonite cuffs to a table. A Beta marches towards her, rwady to slice her head in two.  Suddenly, the Beta falls to the ground...and the cuffs release Supergirl.  She's weak, but she sits up, relieved that Brainiac has been defeated.  Outside, the Beta ships lose power and fall from the sky. The ship essentially shuts down and Batman gets on the headset to spread the word.)

BATMAN: This is Batman. Brainiac is down.

CYBORG: (on the comm) The disruptor worked! All the Betas are shutting down!

SUPERMAN: (landing next to Batman) We did it! Now we find Kara! (The ship         then starts to lurch) What's happening?!

BATMAN: Brainiac's mind is the ships CPU. Apparently he doesn't have a backup system.

(Sure enough, the ship starts to fall from space, heading for a crash landing on Earth.)

SUPERMAN: If we crash, all the cities preserved onboard...

BATMAN: Destroyed.

(Superman then turns to the control chair...and gets an idea. He sits in the chair and grabs two still-glowing tendrils.)

BATMAN: Clark, wait!

SUPERMAN: You said yourself. This ship is controlled by pure thought.

BATMAN: This could KILL you!

SUPERMAN: Sounds like a job for me.

(Superman jams the tendrils into his head, screaming as they attach to him. the ship drops into the athmosphere, aiming for Gotham (which had not been digitized yet). Batman holds on as Superman pours his thoughts into the ship, fighting against the programming Brainiac installed in it.  Just as its about to turn Gotham into a crater just like Metropolis,...the ship veers and flies back up!  Superman is still hurting from the sensation, though.)

BATMAN: Create a bypass loop. Put the ship on autopilot.

SUPERMAN: Hrnn! Trying!

(Suddenly, from where he should be KOed,...)

BRAINIAC: MY SHIP! You will not destroy my collection!! (punches Batman         several times, knocking him cold.  To Superman:) Reliquish my ship!

(Superman does no such thing. Just as Brainiac is about to charge at Superman, a heat beam hits him from behind.  He collapses...to show it's Supergirl who fried him.  She then collapses herself, still weak from the Kryptonite exposed to her earlier.  Brainiac is not out yet; he stands and grunts as he looks to Supergirl.)

BRAINIAC: You will regret that!!

(Brainiac extends his tendrils to tear Supergirl limb-from-limb. Suddenly, a smoke bomb explodes around them.  Batman stands before him again.)

BRAINIAC: You are persistent...but primitive theatrics cannot save you!

(Maybe not, but the fact that Brainiac is still weakened from his fight with Superman helps Batman immensely...not to mention the blast by Supergirl. Still, it's a rather tight fight; even a weakened Brainiac is pretty strong. Batman uses his wit and gadgets to put Brainiac down...again!)

BATMAN: Like you said, I'm persistent.

(Batman checks on Superman, who is still fighting. Supergirl stands and goes to the downed body of Brainiac...the murderer of her people.  She then goes to Kal-El, watching him struggle.)

BATMAN: We need to get you out of there!

SUPERMAN: Not...yet...the cities...

(SUperman starts to think harder. As he does, many of the cities digitized by Brainiac disappear from the globes and RE-appear on Earth.  As Batman and Supergirl watch the cities and people return, the rest of the League - Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and Flash - board the ship to watch.  Superman breathes heavily...until he collapses off the chair.  The women take a few steps to help, but Superman gets to one knee.)

WONDER WOMAN: You're OK!

(Just then, Aquaman and Black Adam appear.)

AQUAMAN: I thought it was too late, but...I can fele the heartbeat of        Atlantis! Brainiac's work is undone!

SUPERMAN: (shaking his head) Not all of it. I couldn't save everyone.

BATMAN: Some cities are still trapped in the collection. Others were lost...       wiped from the ship's memory. Metropolis...Coast City...

GREEN LANTERN: But...we CAN still save them, right? Carol? My family?!

SUPERMAN: I'm sorry, Hal. (Wonder Woman and Supergirl help him up)

WONDER WOMAN: First Krypton, now Earth?! No other world should suffer this!

(With sudden resolve, Superman looks over at the still-rebooting body of Brainiac. He walks over, preparing to finish the job.  But Batman intercepts him.)

BATMAN: Clark, no! (Superman looks at Batman with a "WHAT did you say?!" look       in his eyes.) Even if I agreed that he should die, you can't.  We need him alive to save the rest of our cities.

SUPERMAN: No, we don't! With more time and Cyborg's help, the Ship will obey me!

BATMAN: OR we could lose more cities.

FLASH: Bruce is right. We can't be sure.

AQUAMAN: What we CAN be sure of is that Brainiac puts everyone else at risk!

WONDER WOMAN: This is no different than Joker. If you'd killed him, we might have...

BATMAN: It was never that simple, Diana!

SUPERMAN: Yes, it is, Bruce! Metropolis and Coast City are gone! (Batman         draws a golden dagger from his belt secretly) How many more innocent people die before you accept that some lives need to be taken?!?

(Batman slices the dagger across Superman's chest...and he BLEEDS! He groans and hits the floor in pain.  He sees his bloody glove...his own blood...)

SUPERMAN: My powers?! How did you...?!?

BATMAN: Gold Kryptonite...courtesy of Firestorm.

WONDER WOMAN: Get up, Kal!

BATMAN: Stay down! Enough exposure and you'll be de-powered permanently!

SUPERMAN: This madness has to end, Bruce! (stands and faces his attacker...         his former friend...now his bitter enemy...)

- CHAPTER 12: ABSOLUTE JUSTICE/POWER - BATMAN/SUPERMAN -

(With Superman already weakened by the dagger, Batman is able to block his blows and slice him again. The two engage in a test of strength and Batman drops the dagger, which Wonder Woman picks up and gets away from Superman. With his powers already starting to come back, Superman charges Batman and holds him up by the throat.  Supergirl runs in to try to stop him.)

SUPERGIRL: You DON'T want to do this! (holds Superman's arm down)

(Green Lantern then charges in and tackles Superman away from them. Supergirl helps Batman to his feet.)

GREEN LANTERN: STOP, Clark! this is over! (Supergirl flies behind him)

(Wonder Woman draws her sword, but Flash goes behind her and holds her back.)

FLASH: Uh-uh.

(But Wonder Woman gives him a vicious elbow to the chin. Green Lantern raises his fist to put Superman down with a light construct, but Black Adam grabs Supergirl from behind.  Aquaman then joins the fray, ready to stab Batman with his Trident.  But Batman senses him coming and dodges, throwing another smoke bomb.  As Aquaman coughs from the smoke, Batman charges in with quick strikes.  Superman punches Green Lantern hard.  Lantern makes a shield, but Superman punches hard and breaks it.  Still Lantern escapes and makes a big green hand, crushing Superman  He then throws the Man of Steel out of the ship's "eye" and into Gotham below.  He then flies away in pursuit.)

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Green Lantern catches up to Superman and fights him in the air. They struggle as they crash into an alleyway below, creating a small crater.  The two stand and groan in pain.)

SUPERMAN: How can you be against me on this?! He took Coast City!

GREEN LANTERN: (eyes turning red) RAGE...

SUPERMAN: Think about Carol, Hal! Brainiac has to pay!

GREEN LANTERN: (shaking off the rage) No, Clark. My rage won't bring Carol back...just like YOURS couldn't bring back Lois!

(The two super-powered widowers now fight in the streets of Gotham. Lantern's will is as strong as ever, helping him keep Superman at bay.  But, as stated before, Superman can surpass ANYBODY when he doesn't hold back.  And Lantern MAKES him not hold back.  Lantern is soon on the ground and out like a... well, like a lantern.)

SUPERMAN: You shouldn't've come back, Hal!

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Aquaman still attacks Batman, who deftly dodges his Trident strikes. Batman grabs the Trident and gets into a struggle with the Atlantean King.)

BATMAN: Arthur, don't do this! You don't want to follow Clark!

AQUAMAN: I'm not following ANYONE! (kicks Batman away) You've NEVER understood Atlantis, Bruce! We are an ancient people with an old-fashioned sense of justice!

(That may be so, but Batman is prepared to bring Arthur into the 21st century. Both are agile and spuer-humanly strong. Aquaman has reach advantage with his Trident, but Batman's other gadgets tilt the battle in his favor. Aquaman is scuttled.)

BATMAN: Atlantis needs to get with the times.

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Aquaman stands from his beat-down and thrusts at Batman, but he spins, snags the Trident out of Arthur's hands and runs it through his thigh. As Aquaman writhes in pain, Batman backs up.)

BATMAN: I'm tired of fighting you, Arthur.

(Meanwhile, Black Adam is using his power to attack Supergirl. Batman tries to sneak up, but Adam zaps HIM as well.  Adam then tackles Batman out of the ship.  Flash is busy having a to-do with Wonder Woman; he knocks her down before zipping over to check on Supergirl.)

SUPERGIRL: (standing) Batman knew they'd double-cross him. We have to move!

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Back down in the alley, Superman is pounding the will out of Green Lantern. Lantern throws a punch, but Superman catches it and all-but-crushes Hal's hand. Before he can continue, though, Flash and Supergirl arrive and try to hold him back.  Superman throws the two into Lantern.  Supergirl gets up first and looks at her cousin with purpose.)

SUPERGIRL: Kal, stop! These are your friends!

SUPERMAN: My "friends" should be helping me instead of standing in my way!

(The two Kryptonians fly towards each other and Superman gets Supergirl by the throat. A bit of a squeeze and a toss through a building takes the Woman of Steel out of the picture for now.  Flash, however, does what he does best: stick-and-move on Superman.  A super-breath blows Flash back, though.  And an uppercut sends HIM flying into a warehouse.  Superman follows and lands before Flash.)

SUPERMAN: This is on YOU, Barry. When you defected, the Regime fell. You left us vulnerable to Brainiac! You shouldn't have lost your nerve!

FLASH: I "lost my nerve" when I didn't stand up to you the first time, Clark! Never again!

(Flash is fast [duh!] and can heal awfully quick from just about anything. He could even run so fast as to time travel if he had to.  But all the speed in the world can't stop an angry Kryptonian bent on rebuilding the world in his image.  Eventually, Superman grounds Flash.)

SUPERMAN: Stand up to THAT!

(Supergirl then flies behind him.)

SUPERGIRL: Kal!

SUPERMAN: I can't fogrive you so easily this time, Kara!

SUPERGIRL: (pleading) There's still hope, Kal! I *know* you're afraid...for EVERYBODY. Ever since you lost Lois...

SUPERMAN: I *used* to be afraid. Afraid my powers would make people fear me. Afraid who I'd hurt if I wasn't careful, every second of every day! I spent my whole life holding back. My fear cost me Lois! That's         why I don't hold back anymore!!

(Supergirl, feeling Kal is lost, flies out of the warehouse with Superman in pursuit. Womnder Woman joins the pursuit, having shaken off the beating of Flash.  The three fly around the buildings of Gotham until Supergirl dives into the pavement with the super couple still on her tail.  Why?  Well, read below...)

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Black Adam holds Batman by the arms over the streets of Gotham and smiles that evil smile of his.)

BLACK ADAM: There's no escape. (Batman headbutts him) You wish to fall?! So           be it! (lets go of Batman)

(Batman falls...but that was part of the plan. Remember those glider wings from WAY back when?  Bruce still HAS them on his uniform.  He glides to a stop on the streets of Gotham.  He turns to see Black Adam landing near him.)

BATMAN: Go back to Kahndaq, Adam! Stay here and you'll be prosecuted!

BLACK ADAM: You'd have to capture me, Batman. And I've underestimated you for the last time.

(Sure, Black Adam has the power of six Egyptian gods at his beck-and-call. But not even the wisdom of Zehuti can match wits with the World's Greatest Detective. While Adam's as strong as Amon and powerful as Aton, the courage of Mehen fails him when Batman's speed and diversity of attack catches up to him.  It SHOULD be a mismatch...but it ain't; Batman knocks the ancient ruler out.  And Bats says it best:)

BATMAN: All that ancient wisdom...wasted. (gets on comm) Supergirl, where are you?

SUPERGIRL: (on comm) They're following me.

BATMAN: Lead them to the Cave.

(See, THAT'S why. Batman calls the Batmobile and drives it to the cave.  When he gets there, he gets out the armor he needs to fight Superman: the AK- 5U98R, a Kryptonite-powered armor that can match Superman's power.  He never wanted to use it...but, at this point, he has no choice.)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(Later, inside the Batcave, Supergirl runs with SUperman and Wonder Woman on her heels. Then she stops near Brother Eye, confusing Clark and Diana.

WONDER WOMAN: She led us right to him.

SUPERMAN: It's no accident you brought us here.

BATMAN: Of COURSE, it isn't! (appears in his Kryptonite-based armor)

SUPERGIRL: I warned him about Diana, but I didn't believe you'd turn on me!

(Superman turns and nods to Wonder Woman, who draws her sword and turns to take on Batman.)

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

SUPERMAN: You should want Brainiac dead more than anyone. Instead, you're         undermining me.

SUPERGIRL: Thank Rao your father can't see you. When General Zod tried to          take over Krypton, Jor-El led the fight against him! THAT's who you come from. (approaches Superman and touches the "S" on his          chest) THAT's who you are, Kal! Not this!

SUPERMAN: (swats hand away) If Jor-El had been more like Zod, he might have SAVED Krypton! And *I* will save the Earth!

(One would think this would be a repeat of the fight at the Fortress of Solitude. But Superman was not at full strength yet.  And, though he probably wouldn't admit it, he was holding back in deference to his kin.  Not anymore.  Superman shows Supergirl just what a fully-charged, fully-angered Kryptonian is capable of...and Kara pays the price!  But Superman...is not happy with what he just did.)

SUPERMAN: (walks over to the unconscious Supergirl) I'm sorry...

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

WONDER WOMAN: (As the Supers fly to fight elswhere) This is the last time, Bruce! No more secrets, no more schemes.

BATMAN: Schemes?! I'M not the one who stoked Clark's worst fears!

(Wonder Woman rushes Batman, but he blocks the sword with his armor and kicks her away. She comes back, though, and swipes at his helmet, knocking HIM back.)

WONDER WOMAN: To pacifiy man's world, Kal needed STEEL, not compassion.

BATMAN: But you didn't bring peace. You started a war!

(As stated before, Wonder Woman is as fast and powerful as Superman. Hence the suit giving Batman an advantage.  The Kyrptonite may not effect the Themyscirian princess, but Bat's punches, kicks and gadgets are all cranked up to levels that can take down ANY super-powered being...be it Kryptonian or Amazon!)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

BATMAN: (to Superman) Your war is over!

(Batman leaves Wonder Woman to lay unconscious as he goes to where Superman laid Supergirl out. Superman stands.)

SUPERMAN: Fighting on the same side, it felt like old times. But I guess we         both knew it would end this way.

BATMAN: Do you REMEMBER that night? When you told me Lois was pregnant?

SUPERMAN: You knew...even before I said anything.

BATMAN: That was a good memory.

SUPERMAN: From another lifetime.

BATMAN: I miss the people we were then.

SUPERMAN: Me, too.

(Superman punches Batman further into the Cave. Batman's armor takes it; he remains standing as Superman flies in.)

SUPERMAN: (eyes glowing red) Quit, Bruce! You can't win!

BATMAN: You of all people know, Clark...I NEVER QUIT!

(Time for the TRUE Main Event! If one man can match Superman one-on-one, it's Batman.  Bruce may not have super powers like Kal-El...but his smarts and technology put him on the Kryptonian's level.  It is a brutal fight: kicks and punches, Batarangs and heat vision shots, sheer power versus incredible intellect.  And, when the dust settles the one left standing...)

^SUPERMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(...is the corrupt Man of Steel!)

SUPERMAN: It's OVER, Bruce!

(Batman struggles to his feet, the armor having been dented and pushing against his lungs and stomach. Then, with a simple super-breath, Superman knocks Bruce Wayne down on his back.)

BATMAN: You don't have to do this.

SUPERMAN: (as Wonder Woman arrives at his side) I'm not letting Brainiac live to put the Earth at risk again.

BATMAN: Then what? I'm your next victim?

SUPERMAN: (grabs Batman by the throat and lifts him up) I could've killed you years ago. It would've been so easy...

BATMAN: So go ahead, Clark. Do it. Show me what a villain looks like...

SUPERMAN: (eyes glowing red) Is THAT what you want to see?!

(Batman waits to get the lobotomy...but Superman simply head-butts him, knocking him cold.)

WONDER WOMAN: (angry) He's still breathing!

SUPERMAN: If he dies, he dies a martyr. I want him kept alive.

WONDER WOMAN: We need to deal with Kara.

SUPERMAN: She's young. Give her time. She'll come around.

WONDER WOMAN: And if she DOESN'T?!

SUPERMAN: She WILL! This time. EVERYONE will!

(Time passes. Superman now dons armor glowing in neon (including the "S" on his chest).  He marches into the same prison he was kept in for years.  His eyes now glow constantly...like the eyes of Brainiac.  In the red-sun prison is Kara, de-powered and helpless.  When she turns to see Superman, she gasps.)

KARA: You bonded with Brainiac's ship...

SUPERMAN: Brainiac is dead. The remaining cities have been restored and, just like I told you, Earth is at peace.

KARA: Under your heel!

SUPERMAN: I wish you'd come around, Kara. I'm building a new army to protect the Earth. There are BILLIONS of warriors trapped in Brainiac's         collection. Kryptonians, Daxamites, Czarnians. I'll have a legion whose power rivals the combined Lantern Corps! And I want you to         lead it with me.

KARA: NEVER, Kal!

SUPERMAN: You'll either make the right choice...or I'll make it FOR you.

(Towards the cell walks a man with a familiar cape and cowl. As he stands by Superman, Kara gasps in horror.  It's Batman...and he's been brainwashed into become one of Superman's toughest generals!)

SUPERMAN: (smirking) What's it going to be?!

THE END(?!)

^BATMAN^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

(..is the righteous Dark Knight!)

(Superman struggles to his feet and charges Batman, but Bruce socks his former best friend with left and rights. With one might blow, he knocks down Clark. Superman tries to get up...but he falls face-first to the floor.  Only then does Batman drop to his knees, also hurting and exhausted.  Supergirl walks up to him.)

SUPERGIRL: Is he...?

BATMAN: He'll be out for a while. I'm sorry, Kara,

SUPERGIRL: For what?

BATMAN: I couldn't save him.

(Supergirl looks at her cousin...and seems to understand.)

(Time passes. At the Fortress of Solitude, Clark is in Kryptonite-laden handcuffs, the power of the sun being extracted from him by a machine Batman is operating.)

BATMAN: Kara, it's safe now.

(Supergirl flies in and approaches Clark.)

CLARK: Even without my powers, the Phanton Zone can't hold me. I'll be back.

BATMAN: We'll be ready.

(Batman touches a button...and a portal to the Phantom Zone is opened behind Clark.)

SUPERGIRL: Kal, I don't...I wish...

CLARK: We were family, Kara.

SUPERGIRL: We still are. I hope someday you'll see that.

(Clark turns to the portal. He takes one last look at Kara - his own blood - and then walks into the Phantom Zone, feeling he has no family left.)

BATMAN: (putting a hand on Supergirl's shoulder) Are you all right?

SUPERGIRL: (sadly) No. (touches the "S" on her chest) This symbol should give people hope. He made them fear it.

BATMAN: That symbol's meaning is up to the person who wears it. When Clark and I founded the Justice League, we didn't govern people. We       protected them. Plain and simple. Maybe the world could use a team like that again. (holds out a hand to her) Welcome to the circle of       trust.

(Supergirl smiles and shakes Batman's hand. It will take some time, but it looks like the Justice League will be starting up again!)

^END^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS -

Thanks to WB Games, Netherrealm Studios and DC for making such an awesome franchise and for coming up with such a great story to tell.

Thanks to "Gamer's Little Playground" for posting the story mode, where I took most of the lines from. (https://www.youtube.com/user/gLPLayground)

Thanks to Deathmule for posting the alternate scenes, where I got the REST of the lines from. (https://www.youtube.com/user/deathmule)

Thanks to GameFAQS for still being around; I've been accessing FAQs on you since the days of Street Fighter II.

And thank you all for reading. Who knows if I'll ever make another one...but this one was rather fun.