Justice League:
Omega
Scene: Apokolips, Darkseid’s throne room. A Boom Tube opens and Cletus Kasidy falls out onto the floor.
Carnage:
What?!
Darkseid is seated at his throne in the shadows, on either side of him are silhouettes of his Secret Society.
Darkseid:
Welcome to Apokolips, Carnage.
Kletus pulls his symbiote up over him and leaps at Darkseid, arms morphing into stabbing weapons and barbed Symbiote flying forward. Darkseid fires an Omega blast out of his eyes sending Carnage backwards, smoking and injured.
I admire your zest for killing, Kasidy. But attack me again and I can guarantee you a slow humiliating end.
Carnage gets back up and scowls at him.
There’s no need for hostility. You’re here because you’ve been specially chosen.
Carnage tries to attack Darkseid again, and again is blasted back.
You’re trying my patience, boy… But I suppose I can sympathize. All those agonizing months sealed away with no hope of fixating your homicidal urges. I’ve brought you here to grant you a second chance. All I ask of you and your new associates is that you hold nothing back. Show no mercy, slaughter anything that moves, spit on the principles of those who imprisoned you and answer only to me.
Opening theme.
Scene: Metropolis, late night. There’s a storm approaching on the horizon. Camera zooms into an all night diner near the Watchtower. Peter Parker and Bobby Drake are seated inside having coffee.
Iceman:
So that’s it, huh?
Spider-Man:
Looks like it, I’m not sure how to break it to the other Leaguers. But I’m just not cut out for this team stuff, Bobby. My life is nuts enough already. I’ve barely seen MJ all month, what with her constantly touring and me halfway across the galaxy at absurd times. This just isn’t what I’m used to.
Iceman:
I understand. It won’t be the same without you around though, Pete.
Spider-Man:
It’s not like I wont be able to pitch in every now and then.
Iceman:
Yeah, but it’ll be like old times again. You know, where teaming-up with Spidey’s a special occasion, an exception to the rule. It’s been pretty cool getting to know the man behind the webs all this time. Besides who’s there to joke around with now? Bats is a total hardcase, takes me too seriously; Kyle has the opposite problem, couldn’t take me seriously if I was giving my parents’ eulogy.
Spider-Man:
It’s a weird mix of personalities. But it worked somehow. I do feel like I’m going to throw everything off kilt…
Iceman:
Yep. Won’t be the League without you the Amazing Sp--
Waitress comes and gives them their check.
--encer… the… window washer. Nobody gets that glass quite as shiney as…
Waitress leaves.
…you.
Spider-Man:
Smooth.
Cuts to outside as the rain starts falling, lighting is striking in the distance. Close up on an intersection with the front of the Watchtower in visible range. A Boom Tube opens up, cars swerve to avoid it and several accidents ensue.
Cuts back to the inside of the diner. Peter’s spider sense goes off and he presses his hands and face against the window. Outside Darkseid emerges from the Boom Tube into the street.
Spider-Man:
Oh no…
Iceman:
What is it?
Spider-Man:
A going away party…
The two rush past the waitress, she does a double take and they’ve already left the restaurant, money is on the table with the bill.
Cuts back to outside. Darkseid is standing alone in the intersection, the Boom Tube has closed. Civilians are running in terror. Darkseid turns and Omega Beams a very large electronic billboard. It explodes and starts to fall on some panicked civilians. Spidey catches it with two weblines, he strains to hold it up as the civilians retreat.
Darkseid:
There’s one.
He’s blasted by Ice from one side. He’s barely affected by the attack. As he turns to face Iceman he breaks the Ice apart.
Two.
Iceman:
Alright, Crater-Face. Here’s how this is going to work--
Darkseid Omega beams Iceman and he explodes.
Darkseid:
Back to one.
Spider-Man:
Iceman!!!
He swings down and kicks Darkseid in the face. Darkseid is staggered slightly but very quickly regains his composure and Omega Beams towards Spidey. His spider-sense gives him an edge and he is just barely able to dodge a series of beams. One explodes by him and sends him flying into a wall. Spidey lays face up, dazed from the explosion. Darkseid prepares to Omega him again but instead hits an invisible force field created by Marvel Girl. Valeria strains to hold her force field up and Green Lantern adds his strength to hers.
Darkseid:
Four…
Darkseid intensifies his beams. Superman Rushes down and punches him fiercely into a building. Darkseid emerges from the rubble to find Superman, Rogue, Batman, GL, and Marvel Girl facing him. Spidey is behind them getting back up holding his head.
Ah. You’re all here. I must admit, I’m slightly disappointed, Superman. You’re not at all surprised to find me alive and well.
Superman:
I’ve made a point of never trusting appearances where you’re concerned.
Darkseid:
I miss your naïveté.
Superman:
Leave now, or I’ll finish you off personally.
Spider-Man:
Iceman… He got Iceman…
Darkseid:
He’s right. I vaporized him.
Superman Rushes him again growling and pummeling him viciously. Darkseid grins as he takes the beating. He attempts to fight back but Superman’s attack is too fast and too vicious. Rogue flies up and stops him.
Rogue:
Hold it Supes…
He steps aside. Darkseid is bleeding.
Darkseid:
You’re a fool, Superman. Giving in to the weak principles of your teammates.
Rogue claws his face.
Rogue:
Actually I just wanted a piece of ya for myself!
She pummels him into the ground a few more times.
You better pray to God Bobby’s alright, Darkseid, or so help me--
He Omega Beams her off into the air.
Darkseid:
I am God, Rogue, and gods have no use for prayer.
Superman tries to punch Darkseid in the face, but he Omega beams his fist and punches him in the gut. GL catches Rogue as she soars upward smoking from the Omega Beams, he catches her but Darkseid blasts them and shatters his force field. They start to fall. GL grabs the ledge of a building with one hand and holds onto Rogue with the other. Marvel Girl fires a cosmic blast at Darkseid, he falls backwards.
Darkseid:
Ah, Marvel Girl. Still brimming with the Power Cosmic I see.
He fires Omega Beams at her and she emits another cosmic blast to counter it.
Such a shame… all that raw energy and a mere novice to wield it.
His Omega Beams explode against her cosmic energy and the backlash knocks her out. The air is full of dust from the various explosions, thunder and lighting is now raging upon them as the rain pours down in dense sheets. Batman is the last hero standing in sight. He scowls and pulls a batarang out.
Darkseid:
Laughing:
You amuse me.
His eyes glow. Before he can shoot off a beam Spider-Man grabs him from behind with a web and pulls him into the air. Superman flies upward and nails him sending him higher upward into a massive punching glove by GL. He lands face down, forming a massive crater. The six league members surround him. He gets back up.
Superman:
Any last words, murderer?!
Marvel Girl:
Wait!
The water on the ground nearby starts to condense and congeal. It gradually takes a human-like shape and Iceman’s voice is heard screaming.
It’s Iceman!
She runs over to him and telepathically reaches out to the mass of water.
He needs more moisture… he’s struggling…
GL flies over to him and creates a mold for Iceman to fill and a funnel to catch more rainwater.
Darkseid:
A Boom Tube opening up behind him:
Congratulations, Justice League. Here and now, you’ve bested me.
He grins, backs into the Boom Tube, and leaves. Superman rushes him but misses.
Superman:
No!!!
He turns to the others, very angry:
I don’t understand it! What was he doing here?!
Batman:
Easy. That’s not our primary concern.
They approach GL and Marvel Girl who are trying to help Iceman reform. He’s struggling to freeze himself again.
Batman:
Rogue, back at the Watchtower there’s some cryogenic equipment--
Marvel Girl:
No… it’s alright… he’s coming.
Iceman reforms. GL lets him out of his mold. Rogue catches him as he collapses.
Rogue:
You all right, Bobby?
Iceman:
No… no I’m not… It felt like every molecule in my body was on fire… I’ve been damaged in my Iceform before… but never like that.
Superman:
Darkseid’s Omega Effect. You’re lucky to be alive. Being liquid was probably the only thing that saved you.
Batman:
Kyle, get us to the infirmary. The rest of you can help with clean-up back here.
Cuts to the Watchtower. Batman, Kyle, Marvel Girl and Iceman enter. The computer is sounding an alarm. Green Lantern approaches it.
Green Lantern:
Yeah, yeah, quiet, Crisis over. For now at least.
Marvel Girl:
No… it’s something else… something very bad…
Kyle hits the enter button on the monitor and news footage is splattered across the screen the footage shows extensive damage in Hong Kong. Buildings are toppled, Streets torn up, emergency workers are everywhere putting out fires, digging through rubble and carrying bodies away. The main audio is an English reporter.
--massacred. We’re still getting word on the exact nature of the attack, and the extent of the casualties. The few eyewitnesses that have been discovered amid the wreckage have pointed towards an assault by a group of highly organized super human terrorists. Once again, tragedy at Victoria Peak in Hong Kong, potentially hundreds of tourists and civilians have been murdered in an attack that lasted no longer than fifteen minutes…
Batman:
Over the continuing news broadcast:
Dear God… he was distracting us…
Scene: Hong Kong. Superman, Green Lantern, Rogue, Marvel Girl, Spider-Man and other Earth heroes are helping with relief and rescue efforts. Superman is scanning with his X-Ray vision and finds some people alive. He motions for GL who lifts a massive chunk of rubble up. He flies in as paramedics enter and helps a small child and his mother onto stretchers. He looks around remorsefully at all the destruction and he flies off to help someone else.
Scene: The Watchtower, hours later. Batman is studying footage of the Hong Kong attack. Superman, Spider-Man, and Marvel Girl teleport in.
Batman:
How is the relief effort going?
Superman:
Horrible… The body count is up to 207... There’ve been 6 injured found so far… that’s all… not one healthy survivor yet.
There is a grim silence for a few seconds.
Darkseid played me like a fiddle. He knew I’d go overboard, assemble the whole team and ignore another threat as long as he showed up here in person… all those people.
Marvel Girl:
You can’t blame yourself. If anyone should have noticed something it should have been me… I’m the precog…
Batman:
Your powers don’t always work that way, besides guilt tripping ourselves isn’t productive. None of us could have known.
Spider-Man:
How’s Bobby?
Batman:
He’ll be fine. In the meantime I’ve IDed most of our metahumans…
He punches a few keystrokes.
Coroners have found traces of rare plant toxin in almost every body they’ve examined so far.
Presses a button and Poison Ivy’s profile comes up.
Poison Ivy, mysteriously disappeared from her cell at Arkham.
Spider-Man:
That explains the low body count, anyone who got to safety died of poisoning anyway…
Batman:
Many of the bodies were mauled as if by a large predator, a tiger or lion, but bigger.
Hits a button and Sabretooth’s profile comes up.
Sabretooth, vanished in Gotham’s sewers last week. Electrical burn marks found on victims.
HIts a Button and Killer Wasp’s profile comes up.
The “stinger” of Killer Wasp, a super criminal who vanished from the Vault. The only footage of the actual assault I’ve been able to get my hands on was from an electronics store.
Brings up the footage. The camera shows Seven people in the store, their necks snap and they all drop dead in an instant.
Superman:
Good Lord!
Batman:
I know… but watch what happens when I slow it down…
There is a very brief yellow streak around the room before the people drop. Batman brings up the Reverse Flash’s profile.
Eobard Thawne, the Reverse Flash. He was at large, but has been lying low for an unusual amount of time.
Spider-Man:
Carnage was there too, wasn’t he.
Batman:
I suspect, but can’t prove it. We know for a fact he was abducted to Apokolips from that interstellar prison, we can only assume Darkseid did the same for the others. There had to have been at least one more. Someone with leadership skills to coordinate the attack while Darkseid was here in Metropolis. And judging from the extent of the damage, someone with an ungodly amount of raw power.
Marvel Girl:
I can’t wait to get my hands on those creeps.
Batman:
Don’t get cocky. This isn’t Luthor or Doom forming a petty gang. Darkseid has carefully picked through Earth’s most psychotic and unforgiving murderers. Just look what they were able to do in fifteen minutes.
Brings up Hong Kong footage.
They’ll slaughter you and think later. This isn’t going to be easy for any of us.
Scene: Apokolips. The Secret Society is seated around a courtyard. Parademons are busily carrying weapons and supplies back and forth above them. Annihilus is overseeing them. Ivy is feeding a small venus fly trap-mutant the fingers off of humanoid hand. Killer Wasp is making adjustments to his armor. Sabretooth is eating raw meat off the bone of a large animal. Carnage eyes the others impatiently. Reverse Flash zips up.
Reverse Flash:
The bait’s been baited, Lord Annihilus.
Annihilus:
Excellent.
Carnage:
Hey, wings!
Annihilus:
What?
Carnage:
When are we going back to Earth?!
Annihilus:
Patience.
Sabretooth:
Laughing:
Kasidy doesn’t know the meaning of the word.
Carnage:
So what am I supposed to do here?! Twiddle my thumbs?!
Annihilus:
Feel free to occupy yourself however you please.
Carnage:
Forming a symbiote Axe:
Really???
Annihilus stares blankly as Carnage lunges at him, as He’s just about to swipe him with his Axe Annhilus jams his Cosmic Control rod into Carnage’s gut and shocks him with raw cosmic energy. He flies backwards. Sabretooth laughs, Carnage gets back up, growls and lunges at Sabretooth, the two begin fighting. Annihilus remains still as a statue. Ivy approaches him as Sabretooth and Carnage continue to fight off screen.
Poison Ivy:
Disinterested:
So should we stop them or something?
Annihilus:
Anything that keeps Carnage occupied for more than fifteen minutes is a welcome change of pace. Besides, Darkseid has made it abundantly clear that you are all easily replaced.
Poison Ivy:
And what about you?
Annihilus:
You insignificant whelps are fit to toil has his feet, but my involvement here is a partnership.
Cuts to a montage of scenes of Annhilus ruling and battling in the Negative Zone, and Reed Richards and the Fantastic Four journeying there to fight him:
I am a high lord of the Negative Zone, almost all of the Anti-Matter universe cowers before the might of my Cosmic Control Rod. But as a king I have interests to protect, and those interests coincide with those of Apokolips. A scientist from Earth has recently discovered how to encroach upon my realm and has proved his entire species possesses the potential to bring ruin to my empire. As a threat, the Earth must be thoroughly Annihilated.
Poison Ivy:
Not the Earth. Humanity. The botanical world hardly--
Annihilus whacks her in the face and knocks her to the ground.
Annihilus:
I’m not interested.
Sabretooth and Carnage are still fighting, they’re blasted by some mild Omega Beams and stand at attention as Darkseid enters.
Darkseid:
Enough. Save your aggression for the Justice League. Phase one was a success, we have deeply wounded the human race and proved to them that we can do it again whenever we wish. Annihilus, it’s time.
Scene: The Watchtower. The entire League is present going over files on the known Secret Society members. Iceman enters the room.
Marvel Girl:
Feeling better?
Iceman:
Sure. Why aren’t you guys overseas?
Superman:
The Avengers and Hong Kong authorities are handling things just fine for now. But Darkseid’s forces can strike again at any time in any place. We have to be ready.
Iceman:
Right.
He sits down. Everyone stares at him.
What?!
Rogue:
You sure you’re all right?
Iceman:
What’s with you guys?! Of course I’m sure!
Batman:
Then why haven’t you gone back into your human form yet?
Iceman is silent.
Spider-Man:
You can go back, can’t you?
Iceman:
Of course I can… it’s just… every time I try it feels like I’m being blasted by Darkseid all over again. It happens when my Ice form is damaged, if a part of me gets shattered or something, I have to bite my tongue and suck it up as that part reorders into normal flesh and blood. But this time it’s my whole body… it’s unbearable…
Rogue:
You’re gunna have to do it sooner or later.
Iceman:
You think I don’t know that?!
All stare sympathetically.
…sorry.
Marvel Girl:
I can try and numb the pain… but I don’t know how much…
Iceman:
Sighs:
All right...
He struggles and groans in agony as Marvel Girl places her hands over his head. He screams in agony as the League watches intently and when it cuts back he’s human again and on the ground panting and sweating. Marvel girl takes her hands off and falls down panting as well.
…thanks Val…
Marvel Girl:
…No problem…
Superman:
Are you going to be okay going back and forth?
Iceman:
In theory yeah… just gimmie a minute…
The monitor changes and a transmission from Annihilus appears with the Secret Society standing behind him. They are against a black background that is in no way discernable as Apokolips. Darkseid is not present.
Annihilus:
Greetings denizens of Earth. I am Annihilus, Lord of the Negative Zone. My associates and I are the ones responsible for the Hong Kong massacre. This was but a transitory taste of our power. In exchange for the lives of more humans, we demand that the Justice League meet us at a place of our choosing. At midnight tonight a portal will open on the top of their Watchtower in Metropolis. Only the seven current members of the League must enter. If this demand is not met we will strike again at a time and place known only to me. Our wrath will be unparalleled. That is all.
The transmission ends. The League is silent.
Green Lantern:
This is not good. We’re supposed to walk blindly into certain death? They could teleport us into the heart of the sun for all we know.
Batman:
We don’t have a choice. But that doesn’t mean we can’t take control of the situation from them. Superman, contact New Genesis. The rest of you round up as much help as you can get here on Earth. What happened in Hong Kong will not happen again. I want everyone back here in one hour.
Scene: One hour later. The Watchtower is packed with heroes. The Fantastic Four, Avengers, X-Men, the former members of the Justice League, Aquaman, the Bat Family, Supergirl, several Green Lanterns and more. Green Lantern is talking to Jade. Iceman is talking to Beast and Cyclops. Spidey is talking to Cap. Batman is preparing several devices for his utility belt at a lab table. Gambit comes up behind him.
Gambit:
Hey, Bats.
Batman:
Not physically acknowledging him:
Just so you know, if it wasn’t for the circumstances, I’d escort you to the teleporter myself and I wouldn’t be gentle.
Gambit:
Right. But I just wanted to thank you for what you did for Rogue.
Batman:
Just remember, I did it for Rogue, and only Rogue.
Camera follows Gambit as he walks away. Rogue approaches him and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Rogue:
Hey. Glad you made it.
Gambit:
De Caped Crusader holds some serious grudges, non?
Rogue:
Don’t worry about it. We’re happy to have your help.
Gambit:
I wish I could follow you dere, Rogue. Watch your back.
Rogue:
You worry too much, Sugah.
Hugs him. When her face is out of his sight over his shoulder it grows doubtful.
Cuts to Mr. Fantastic and Marvel Girl. He’s working on her gauntlets.
Marvel Girl:
Dad, maybe you should be working on the teleporter or figuring out a way to track boom tubes. My power gauntlets work just fine.
Mr. Fantastic:
Just fine isn’t enough. I’m retooling them to channel your cosmic energy beams more efficiently, it’s something I’ve been meaning to get to, but haven’t had the time.
Marvel Girl:
Great, but there’s more important things to do. We’ve already tried to Boom Tube into Apokolips on our own. There’s some kind of transpatial jamming signal. If anyone can figure out a way past it it’s you.
Mr. Fantastic:
We‘d have to be on the inside to shut that down. It’ll just be another fifteen minutes on these.
Marvel Girl:
Please, stop! I’ll be fine!
Mr. Fantastic:
Angrily:
Don’t presume to tell me what’s important Val. If you don’t check your own resources, if you can’t rely on yourself, and wont take the time to be careful you’re going to get yourself hurt or worse!
Marvel Girl:
Excuse me, Dad, but I know what I’m doing!
Mr. Fantastic:
Clearly you don’t!
Marvel Girl:
You’re not here to help me, you’re here to help the League!
Mr. Fantastic:
Yelling:
My family comes first, and maybe you should appreciate that instead of--
The Invisible Woman places her hand on Reed’s shoulder.
Invisible Woman:
Reed… Please. Val, come with me.
Marvel Girl follows the Invisible Woman.
Invisible Woman:
Val, you came to us as a young adult. So I’m going to treat you like one. Look over there.
She gestures in the direction of Superman. He’s lecturing Supergirl.
What’s he saying?
Marvel Girl:
I don’t know. I can’t hear them from all the way over here. You want me to read their minds or something?
Invisible Woman:
You don’t need to read their minds. You can read their expressions.
Close up on Superman as he lectures Kara, his face is tired and worried.
Who knows what he’s saying? Chances are he’s reminding her to pick up his mail. It’s the words between the lines that count. He may never see her again, and he has no way to communicate that.
Marvel Girl’s expression changes as she begins to understand.
Val, I know your father is being overprotective and even unreasonable. But he’s torn apart inside.
She hugs Val.
We already lost you once. We could never do it again. Please be careful.
Marvel Girl:
I will Mom… I will…
A Boom Tube opens in the middle of the room. All the heroes grow tense and face it.
Superman:
It’s all right.
Orion comes through. Superman approaches him.
Orion. Welcome.
Orion:
Highfather has contemplated your request for aid.
Superman:
And?
Orion:
New Genesis cannot become involved.
Superman:
What?!
Orion:
The one who attacked Earth is Annihilus. He’s from the Negative Zone. Not Apokolips.
Spider-Man:
But he’s working with Darkseid, we know that!
Orion:
There is no evidence to suggest that. Besides, even if the attackers are being harbored by Apokolips their actions are independent. These are predominantly Earth criminals committing crimes on Earth. Darkseid would consider it an internal affair and claim any assault launched by New Genesis to be an independent act of aggression on our part. It would break our treaty and spiral us into another endless war.
Superman:
This is insane! You would leave us to die on Apokolips?!
Orion:
If that is where you end up, I am truly sorry.
He turns to leave back through the Boom Tube.
Superman:
Wait!
Orion stops.
What about you Orion? You’re just going to let this happen?!
Orion:
I’d like nothing more than the chance to send my father back to oblivion… but even my involvement would stain Highfather’s hands. For the good of my adopted people I cannot get involved. I am sorry.
Superman:
Coldly:
Get out of here.
Orion leaves. Captain America approaches Superman.
Captain America:
It’s okay. We can handle this ourselves. The seven of you are just going to have to be extra careful without backup on the other side.
Superman:
We’ll do our part.
Adressing the entire room.
But what’s most important is that all of you remain on standby. If the Justice League fails, Darkseid’s marauders will attack again. The Watchtower’s teleportation system will give you an edge. It can take you near virtually any heavily populated area on Earth.
Turns to the other six League members who have gathered at his side:
But as far as the seven of us are concerned failure isn’t an option. Even with this much backup, even with the teleportation pads. There’s no way they can be on the scene soon enough to save everyone. Not one more drop of innocent blood is going to be spilled over this. I won’t stand for it.
Scene: Mary Jane and Peter Parker’s apartment. The phone rings. Mary Jane rolls out of bed and answers.
Mary Jane:
Hello?
Spider-Man:
Hey, MJ.
Mary Jane:
Hi yourself, Tiger. I fell asleep waiting for you… thought you’d be home by now, a Spider with newfound free time.
Spider-Man:
I know… I’m sorry.
Mary Jane:
It’s okay. I heard you were in Hong Kong… I’m so proud of you Peter.
Spider-Man:
There’s something more I have to do, MJ… and I don’t know how long it’s going to take…
Mary Jane:
Oh no… Peter, something’s wrong isn’t it?
Spider-Man:
No… it’ll be fine I… I promise…
Cuts to a private room in the Watchtower. Spidey is unmasked sitting at a phone console.
I love you MJ.
Mary Jane:
I love you too.
She hangs up. He presses the disconnect button. The clock on the console reads 11:59. He puts his mask on and exits.
Cuts to the roof The Justice League, Mr. Fantastic, Captain America, and John Stewart are present as Spidey enters. A Boom Tube opens. Mr. Fantastic begins to take readings with a small device.
Mr. Fantastic:
It’s as I expected. The portal is encoded with a genetic screening frequency.
He pushes his hand up against the Boom tube and it is repelled.
Only the seven of you should be able to get in.
Superman:
What are we waiting for?
Cap Salutes as they enter. Marvel Girl is the last to go in. She gives her dad a hug.
Mr. Fantastic:
Be careful.
She smiles proudly, gives him a thumbs up, and enters. The Boom Tube disappears.
Scene: Apokolips, about a mile from Darkseid‘s palace. The Justice League enters through the other side of the Boom Tube. They’re surrounded by hordes of Parademons, Tanks and ships. Darkseild descends on a hover platform. Green Lantern pulls a force field around them.
Green Lantern:
I hate Apokolips.
Spider-Man:
I hate New Genesis. How the hell are we supposed to fight Darkseid’s entire army.
Darkseid:
You wont.
A small vine grows unnoticed out of the ground and wraps around GL’s leg slowly.
They’re going to kill you first.
They turn to see the Secret Society rushing at them from the opposite direction. The vine grows much longer and shoves GL into the top of his own Force field. The field drops and GL severs the vine as the villains meet them. Carnage Leaps at Spidey who dodges him and wrestles him to the ground. Reverse Flash starts attacking Rogue from mutliple directions striking her intermittently before she can recover and retaliate. Ivy starts unleashing a cloud of toxic spores, Marvel Girl starts to contain it with a force field. Batman traps Sabretooth in a Bola then leaps over him and kicks Ivy in the face. Iceman starts to fire ice blasts at Killer Wasp who darts around his wings beating furiously. Annihilus Bashes Superman with his Cosmic Control Rod sending him flying towards Darkseid’s feet then blasts GL who starts to counter the beam with one of his own. Darkseid picks up Superman by the head.
Darkseid:
Welcome to the beginning of the end, Superman.
Superman fires heat vision into Darkseid’s eyes. Darkseid cries out and drops him. Superman starts to pummel him. Hordes of Parademons rush to assist Darkseid. Green Lantern shoots a second beam out of his ring that wraps around Annihilus’ cosmic control rod and aims it towards the swarms of Parademons, they’re all knocked backward. The control rod sweeps past a good chunk of Darkseid’s armada obliterating tanks and large war machines.
Annihilus:
How dare you?!
Green Lantern:
Like this.
Turns the cosmic control rod on Annihilus, but he’s still grasping it and it has no effect.
Annihilus:
That will not work boy.
GL makes a massive construct of a gigantic broadsword that slashes right into Annihilus pummeling him into the ground.
Green Lantern:
That will.
Spidey is still fighting intensely with Carnage. Carnage slashes at him several times cutting his costume and scarping his flesh in some places. He kicks him in the face sending him back into an Ice beam. Carnage is encased in ice. Iceman slides by and Spidey leaps up onto the underside of the ice slide. Killer Wasp follows them.
Iceman:
Happy retirement, Web Head.
Spider-Man:
Tell me about it. So what’s with this guy anyway, did the Wasp and Killer Moth have a child or something?
Iceman:
So it would seem.
Killer Wasp nears them. Iceman backflips up off the slide and Spidey Kicks through knocking chunks of Ice into Killer Wasp’s face. He falls backwards, Iceman prepares to fire an ice beam at him but is snagged by a tentacle from a giant plant monster. Spidey faces off alone against Killer Wasp. Batman starts hurling exploding batarangs at Ivy’s monster. Carnage breaks out of the Ice and Hurls a symbiote axe at him. Superman zips up and catches it. He charges Carnage and slams him into a pillar. Rogue is slammed into the other side of the pillar simultaneously by the Reverse Flash who proceeds around to the other side and smashes Superman into Carnage. He zips back to face the both of them and salutes. They each charge him and collide into each other as he escapes.
Rogue:
I’m gunna pound his smug yellow face in!
Annihilus pulls himself out of the ground and rushes Green Lantern who is busy destroying more of Darkseid’s tanks and keeping the Parademons at bay. Before he can strike he hits an invisible force field and is blasted by Marvel Girl. Cuts back to Ivy’s monster. Batman has weakened it and Iceman begins to freeze it.
Poison Ivy:
My baby!
Ivy runs towards the monster but trips as Batman grapples her legs and pulls her towards him. As he attempts to Batcuff her Sabretooth tackles him. He slashes his back and turns him around to gut him but Iceman blasts him away and then slides over to fight him. Ivy runs and finds herself trapped in a GL Bubble. Reverse flash is pummeling Supes and Rogue, finally Superman reaches out and grabs him by the Neck. An Omega Beam blasts Superman back and Reverse Flash escapes. Darkseid is back up. Meanwhile Spidey is dodging the the electric stinger of Killer Wasp.
Killer Wasp:
Wasps eat little spiders like you for breakfast!
Spidey leaps out of the way of the stinger as it scorches and obliterates chunks of land and wall.
Spider-Man:
Sorry, buddy, but you’re just a short range Electro as far as I’m concerned.
He webs him and tries to slam him into the ground, but Killer Wasp’s jet back goes into hyper drive and shifts his direction, he pulls Spidey away and towards a burn hole. GL grabs him with a force bubble, and slams Killer Wasp into the ground with another. He hovers above the fight and starts to take out multiple targets at once, trapping Ivy, Killer Wasp, and helping Marvel Girl take out Annihilus.
Annihilus:
Over intercom:
Thawne. Put our contingency plan into effect. We need to remove Green Lantern from battle, and be quick about it.
Reverse Flash:
You don’t have to ask me twice.
He rushes up to a cliff by GL very briefly holding a human hostage with on arm and a knife to her neck with the other, but in a blink he’s gone and back with nobody. Kyle sees it, stops what he’s doing, and rushes Reverse Flash on the cliff. Thawne is gone by the time he gets there. He appears again behind him.
What was that, Lantern?
Kyle tries to blast him but misses. Reverse Flash is already behind him again.
A hostage?
Kyle misses again.
Coulda been.
Kyle misses again. Reverse Flash appears right in his face.
Maybe there’s more…
He takes off and Kyle follows. Superman sees him leave.
Superman:
Where’s Kyle going?!
Marvel Girl:
There’s hostages.
Batman:
They’re trying to separate us!
Superman:
He doesn’t have a choice. If there’s people here he has to help them.
Carnage sneaks up on Batman, he dodges him and the symbiote Axe flies past him and nails Killer Wasp who was approaching from the other side. Killer Wasp’s stomach is impaled and his stinger backfires on him sending a shock through his armor. He crashes into the ground. Carnage continues to slash at Batman undaunted. Rogue flies up and knocks Carnage away.
Batman:
They don’t care who they hurt.
Omega Beams approach them.
Rogue:
Look out!
She shoves Batman out of the way and takes the beams, falling backwards. Annihilus blasts Marvel Girl and she falls backwards. Iceman rushes by and rescues her. He pulls her over towards the group. Superman and Spidey join them. Iceman makes an ice wall to protect them for the moment. On the other side the villains are already blasting through.
Batman:
Evasive manuevering now.
Marvel Girl:
Where are we supposed to--
Batman:
I said now!!!
Superman:
No! We have to finish this!
An Omega Beam flies through the ice. Batman gets Superman’s face.
Batman:
This isn’t your personal vendetta! All of our lives are at stake!
Cuts to the other side. Annihilus and Darkseid break through. The League is nowhere to be found.
Darkseid:
Fan out. Find them. Kill them on sight.
Cuts to a nearby burn hole where the JL is hiding. Marvel Girl is making them invisible. Killer Wasp is with them, barely conscious.
Superman:
What’s he doing here?!
Marvel Girl:
He was going to die, I doubt they would have helped him.
Superman:
A minute ago he was trying to kill us.
Spider-Man:
She’s right, Superman! The moment we forget that we’re supposed to be better than this place is the moment Darkseid wins! Batman, do you have any surgical tools in that magic belt of yours?
Batman nods and pulls out a first aid compartment.
Marvel Girl, how bout some psychic anesthesia. Bobby, stave off the blood flow.
Iceman:
Sure… but is there any way we can get away from this burn hole? I feel like I’m melting here.
Batman:
No. Darkseid’s going to be looking for us with thermal scanners. If we cling to the burnhole our body heat wont register. And while we’re on it, back to human form until we go back into battle. He’ll be looking for cold spots too. Plus, Sabretooth will have a much harder time tracking us with the high concentration of sulfur in the air.
Iceman goes back to human form and starts freezing the wound. When he finishes he walks away towards Superman who is standing further away from the group.
Iceman:
Muttering to himself:
Sure Bats, none of us need to breathe here.
To Superman:
Everything all right, blue?
Superman glares at him.
Dumb Question, I know. You know how much we hate seeing you like this. You’re usually so level headed… makes us think something bad’s going to happen.
Superman:
Something bad did happen.
He puts his hand on Iceman’s shoulder, and cracks a weak smile.
We’re going to make it out of this, I promise.
Iceman:
I wish I could believe that…
Superman:
Don’t talk like that, Bobby.
Iceman:
Sorry. I’m just nervous. The air here. It’s so dry. Like being in a volcano or something.
Superman:
Your powers have been working just fine.
Iceman:
Sure there’s enough moisture for me to fight and get around. But, If Darkseid blasted me, like back in Metropolis… I don’t think I’d come back.
Scene: Green Lantern is following Reverse Flash’s footprints using a Green energy ray. He comes upon a worn down structure. He enters. Part of the roof has collapsed and dilapidated columns and piles of ruble are everywhere. Reverse Flash zips up in front of him.
Reverse Flash:
Looking for me?
He zips away and back again with a hostage.
Or are you looking for them?
Kyle tries to snag the hostage but Reverse Flash zooms away too fast and returns behind Kyle.
With how fast I move, they could be anywhere on Apokolips.
Kyle attacks and he dodges.
I’ll give you a hint. We’ve got ten of them.
He dodges another attack.
Not that I’d advise you to trust me. But there’s ten.
He dodges another attack and hurls a bomb at Kyle from another direction. It explodes knocking Kyle back, but his force field protects him.
You know a lot of people think Flash is a total bungler.
He zips from two different direction and pummels Kyle with two more bombs.
But the fact is he’s just afraid. He holds back more than you’d think.
He tosses a massive bomb that sends Kyle flying backwards, his force field lapsing, then comes up behind him and shoves him at super speed sending him hurtling into a wall. Kyle makes a pick axe construct that anchors him into the ground and slows him down before he splats against the wall.
You want to see what Flash can really do, just pay close atttention.
He zips around at near light speed hurling bombs every which way. They all miss Kyle and explode on the pillars. As the rest of the structure comes caving in on him, Reverse Flash is still moving around inside it hurling debris at him at super speed. Kyle is buried in rubble and downed by the small explosions. Reverse Flash zips up on top of the rubble.
Slow poke.
A construct of a giant monster bursts out of the rubble with Kyle inside it, sending Reverse Flash flying. As he is flung he runs alongside a pillar and nimbly lands on his feet.
I guess that means you’re mad?
Kyle looks very pissed off, but remains silent. The construct swipes at Thawne many times clawing up the ground but missing every time.
This is moot, Lantern. You want to catch me you’ll have to keep up.
He zips off into the distance and Kyle gives chase again.
Scene: Back at the Burn Hole. Batman and Marvel Girl are stitching up Killer Wasp who is out cold. Rogue approaches Superman.
Rogue:
I’m worried about GL. I can’t raise him.
Superman:
Darkseid’s probably jamming our signals. But if there’s any of us who can take care of themselves here it’s Kyle. Trust me.
Batman approaches them.
Batman:
We’ve done everything we can for Killer Wasp. He’ll be fine assuming he takes it easy for a while.
Rogue:
Which he won’t.
Batman:
That’s out of our hands. What we need to focus on is a comprehensive battle plan. We leave Wasp here and move to another Burn Hole. Darkseid’s not stupid, he has Parademons to scour the landscape, but he’ll keep his party whole during the search. There’s no shot of us taking them out one by one.
Superman:
There shouldn’t be an us.
Batman:
Come again?
Superman:
I mean you. I think you should stay behind.
Batman glares.
I mean it, Batman. You’re too vulnerable against them, four out of five times I saw you one of us was saving your life, and without Green Lantern our defenses are cut in half. Stay behind.
Batman:
Fine. You can take them on yourself.
He starts to walk off away from the group.
Superman:
Where do you think you’re going?!
Batman:
Sarcastically:
To hide.
Superman:
If you think you can put the rest of the plan in motion by yourself you’re wrong. Marvel Girl go with him.
Marvel Girl starts to follow.
Batman:
Forget it, Valeria. They need you more than I do.
She stops, confused.
Superman:
No Val, follow!
They look back and Batman’s already out of sight.
Rogue:
Relax, you can stay here with us.
Marvel Girl goes back over towards Killer Wasp.
Superman:
So you’re all just going to ignore me now?!
Spider-Man:
Batman doesn’t need a telepath to help him sneak around, Supes. You’re concerned and edgy. We get it. But you’re not helping.
He walks away and Iceman follows.
Rogue:
They’re right. Pull it together, big guy. We have to move on.
They start to walk away from the burn hole in the opposite direction as Batman leaving Killer Wasp behind.
Cuts to not too far away. Sabretooth is tracking them, Darkseid, Annihilus, Ivy, and Carnage are behind them.
Sabretooth:
They came this way…
He scans the area.
Ah.
He sees some blood on the ground and tastes it. He follows small traces of blood and finds Killer Wasp lying unconscious.
They were here. Looks like they stitched up our pal.
Darkseid steps forward and pulls Killer Wasp to his feet by his face. Wasp is slightly dazed.
Killer Wasp:
‘sgoin’ on???
Darkseid smacks him back down onto his behind.
Darkseid:
You weak imbecile. You live only because of the mercy of your enemies.
Killer Wasp:
So what? I’m still going to fry them.
He struggles to stand up.
I just need to get back and repair my armor, then I’ll join the search.
The other five stand in his way.
What?
Darkseid:
To the others:
This one was careless, and then robbed of any hope of an honorable end by the Justice League. Is this pathetic fool worthy of us any longer?
The others grin.
Killer Wasp:
What?! No! Wait!
The others approach him. Cuts away from Killer Wasp as he begs for mercy and screams in agony. Darkseid opens up a hologram com-link to Desaad.
Darkseid:
Desaad.
Desaad:
Yes, my lord.
Darkseid:
One of my Earth recruits has fallen. I’m calling in one of the substitutes. Get me Bullseye.
Scene: Batman is sneaking in the shadows alongside an interior balcony in Darkseid’s fortress, he follows a hallway that leads towards a large courtyard with several pits where large dead monsters are rotting. Kalibak is shoving another dead monster into the pit. He shoves it down then presses a button and a metal top slides over the pit. Behind batman, numerous bulging yellow eyes appear. He turns around just in time to be shoved over the balcony and down into the courtyard by a swarm of Parademons.
Kalibak:
What is this?!
Batman lands on his feet as he fights off several parademons, more of them are descending from the sky. Kalibak hits a com link on the wall.
One of the Justice League has infiltrated the castl--MMFF!
Before he can finish Batman hurls a smoke bomb into his mouth that explodes. Kalibak gags and Batman throws down numerous other smoke bombs. As Granny and the furies enter, the entire coutyard is filled with smoke. Mass chaos ensues, the sounds of explosions and heavy commotion is heard and the smoke clears. All the Apokolips villains including Desaad, Steppenwolf, and Kanto are present. Batman is nowhere to be seen.
Kalibak:
He’s disappeared!
Granny:
Don’t be a fool, he’s here somewhere.
To the Parademons:
Search everywhere!
The Parademons take off. She scans the courtyard. To Desaad, Kanto and Steppenwolf:
When did all of you get here?!
Steppenwolf:
I arrived as soon as I could. But Desaad… you’re not a fighter…
He puts his sword up to Desaad’s neck.
Desaad:
Panicking:
I was close by…
The others eye him suspiciously.
Wh- What about Kanto?! He’s just an ambassador!
Granny:
He has a point. Girls.
Stompa, Lashina, and Mad Harriet approach Kanto.
Kanto:
Get away from me!
He’s wearing energy projection gloves from the Superman episode “Tools of the Trade.” He pushes the furies back with his massive energy hands. Granny rushes at him and shocks him with her mega rod, he falls unconscious. In the commotion Desaad tries to rush out of Steppenwolf’s grip but Lashina grabs and shocks him. He falls over. Steppenwolf and Granny try their faces, they aren’t wearing masks.
Kalibak:
This is nonsense. I’m going to find him and crush him.
Steppenwolf:
You wouldn’t even begin to know where to look, imbecile. I’m going to head him off at the control room, the rest of you seal off the exits.
Kalibak:
Why should we let you go off alone?
Granny:
Yes, awfully eager to get to the control room aren’t you?!
The four of them rush Steppenwolf. He fights valiantly and takes out all three furies, Granny finally manages to shock him into submissiveness with her mega rod. Kalibak steps up behind Granny and swiftly kicks her in the head. When he does so part of his leg merges with her as if it was a hologram. She falls unconscious. “Kalibak” takes out a small holographic image inducer and clicks it off to reveal Batman. He starts to drag their bodies over to one of the pits. As he shoves them down it they land on Kalibak’s unconscious body. He seals up the pit with the metal covering then darts off further into the castle.
Scene: Green Lantern arrives in an area of Apokoplips with a lake of fiery molten liquid beneath and a network of bridges. Reverse Flash zips up.
Reverse Flash:
Ah, there you are!
Green Lantern:
I’ve had enough, Thawne.
He lands and holds his hands up as if in surrender.
If you send these people home unharmed, I’ll surrender. They’ve done nothing wrong and they don’t deserve this.
Reverse Flash:
Laughing:
Oh you really are dense, Lantern! Stop and smell the brimstone already! Don’t you know where you are? Why in the name of Satan would I settle for just your life when I can torment you and kill people!
He zips away and rushes along another bridge and drops a hostage. Green Lantern flies up and shoots out a Bubble that catches the hostage before he hits the magma. However, before he’s even halfway through saving the first hostage Thawne is running from another direction dropping a second hostage and so forth. He continues shooting from unexpected directions dropping hostages. Green Lantern strains to predict and react in time. He’s hovering up above the magma now shooting off beams in a tangled network catching people in bubbles just in the nick of time. He manages to snag all ten hostages.
Green Lantern:
Sit tight everyone.
He pulls them all together and merges their bubbles into one protective dome then places them far off on top of an abandoned structure. As he’s finishing up Thawne runs up close to the camera behind GL holding someone and a snapping sound is heard. Close up on Thawne’s face as he smirks maliciously.
Reverse Flash:
Oh that’s right, eleven.
Green Lantern stares in horror as Thawne drops the body of a teenage boy onto the ground.
Green Lantern:
You monster!
He creates a construct of a machine gun and tries to riddle Thawne’s body with bullets, but he’s too fast. Tears are welling in Kyle’s eyes.
Reverse Flash:
Oh, please, you didn’t even know the kid.
GL raises his ring into the air.
Now what?
A Large dome starts forming very quickly over a vast area.
Uh oh…
Reverse Flash takes off and starts to run up along the inside of the dome. He races towards the center but just misses the opening and falls back down onto the bridge. The dome starts to shrink.
Green Lantern:
No more running.
Reverse Flash looks scared as the dome slips past the hostages and GL not effecting them. It closes up on him and begins to crush him as it slowly form fits his body. Thawne’s scream is heard in the distance as the camera pans away.
Cuts to Superman, Rogue, Iceman, Spidey, and Marvel Girl. They’re still keeping to dark places and moving further away.
Marvel Girl:
We’re going to have to face them again sooner or later, you know.
Superman:
Turns around, still very serious and a little angry:
Of course we will, and sooner or later they’re going to catch up to us. But the further away we take them from Darkseid’s citadel the better Batman’s chances are.
Spider-Man:
Is anyone else getting really tired of walking?
Superman:
Raising his voice to Spidey:
No swinging, no sliding, no flying! We’ll be spotted!
Spider-Man is stunned and hangs back a little.
Rogue:
To Superman:
I think it was just a general complaint.
Superman:
I’m not in the mood.
Rogue:
This place is turnin’ you into a psycho, Supes.
Superman:
Whatever it takes to stop him.
Cuts back to Spider-Man he starts to try and catch up with him but his Spider-Sense goes off.
Spider-Man:
Look out!
A massive gnarled tree grows out of the ground and starts whacking the superheroes with sharp thorned branches. Annihilus flies Poison Ivy into the action and drops her towards the heroes. She tosses fistfuls of seeds at the ground and they all erupt into plant creatures of similar size and power. One of them grows up into the air to catch her. Rogue flies up and starts to trade blows with Annihilus. The others are trying to contain the plants. Sabretooth and Carnage rush through the forest of terror and tackle Marvel Girl and Spidey. Omega Beams weave their way through the plants and blast Superman. Superman retaliates plowing through multiple plants and punching Darkseid in the jaw. Iceman starts to freeze most of the plant creatures, Spidey tosses Sabretooth into Carnage, and Marvel Girl hits the both of them with a cosmic blast for good measure.
Cuts back to Superman and Darkseid who are battling furiously.
Darkseid:
Tonight our feud finally ends Superman. You will either bow permanently to my will or be obliterated.
Superman:
Not quite! I’m going to finish you and this time there will be no out!
Scene: Batman finds the main control room. He places a device on the control panel and it brings the computer under his control.
Batman:
Computer: Respond to all commands in English and in my voice.
Computer:
Compliance.
Batman:
Lift the temporal-- AHH!
A knife is wipped into Batman’s shoulder. He falls over and pulls it out screaming in agony. Bullseye is standing in the doorway.
Bullseye:
Bullseye.
He hurls numerous throwing stars in Batman’s direction. Batman grabs a chair and blocks all of them.
Not bad.
Batman leaps to the side and then towards Bullseye his cape outstretched in a massive shadow. Bullseye tosses another dagger and it imbeds in Batman’s side. He falls to the ground at Bullseye’s feet.
You didn’t really think that big cape would throw off my aim did you?
He pulls Batman close to his face, close up on his expression, very sadistic and cold, as he breathes in the smell of death. Batman head butts him. He pulls out the dagger in his side and rushes him. The two start to fight.
Cuts back to GL. Reverse Flash is lying unconscious, he is bleeding and his costume is torn apart. Kyle is putting all of the hostages inside a nearby structure that’s missing a fourth wall. He pulls the flag of Apokolips off of a nearby pole and wraps the dead boy in it with GL energy. He gives the body to the hostages for safekeeping.
Green Lantern:
You’ll be safe here. You have my word I’ll be back for you.
A young girl runs up to him.
Girl:
In Chinese w/subtitles:
<You mustn’t blame yourself, Green Lantern. You could not have saved him.>
GL is silent.
<But you did save us… thank you.>
Green Lantern:
Bending down to talk to the girl:
<Thank you. But this ring gives me too much power. There was probably a way to save him… I will be back>
He covers the opening with a massive rock, then flies off back towards the JL.
Cuts back to Superman and the others. Superman and Darkseid are still battling viciously. Each of them are bleeding, their costumes torn. Rogue is still struggling with Annihilus, while Spidey and Iceman deal with Sabretooth, Carnage, and the plant monsters. Ivy descends on Valeria. Marvel Girl rushes at her as a vine trips her and squeezes her leg. Valeria blasts the vine severing it. When it releases it pulls out many thorns all dripping with venom. Valeria starts to feel woozy.
Poison Ivy:
That particular toxin is quite potent, Marvel Girl.
She tries to knock Ivy back with a force field but it fizzles out as Valeria begins to collapse.
Nice try.
Ivy tosses a seed into the ground that grows into a very sharp pointy thorned stick. She prepares to shove it through Marvel Girl’s heart.
But it’ll take far too much focus for you to use your powers now.
Marvel Girl:
Fine then… no powers…
She gets up and knees Ivy in the stomach. She punches her right in the face with her metal gauntlet knocking Ivy back unconscious. Marvel girl falls back down onto her knees, her whole body is trembling as it deals with the toxin. She manages to pull out a small hypodermic gun from her gauntlet and injects herself with an antitdote. She relaxes and collapses on the ground. Nearby Rogue falls to the ground smoking with cosmic energy. She tries to get back up, but collapses, exhausted. Parts of Rogue‘s costume have been burned away including the palms and fingers of her gloves. Annihilus descends upon Marvel Girl he holds up his Cosmic Control Rod to her head.
Annihilus:
And now I finish you both!
Spidey swings in and kicks Annihilus away.
Spider-Man:
No way, gruesome!
Marvel Girl:
No… Spidey… run…
Spider-Man:
And leave you guys here?! Not a chance!
Annihilus:
The girl is wise, arachnid. You stand no chance.
He fires a cosmic blast at Spidey who dodges it expertly and swings around again to kick Annihilus in the side.
Spider-Man:
Maybe, maybe not. It’s not really important. I have a responsibility to protect them and anyone else a bozo like you might hurt.
Annihilus:
Grabbing Spidey and speeding towards a wall with him:
Then you’ve sighned your death warrant, vermin!
He smashes Spidey into a wall.
Cuts back to Batman and Bullseye. They’re still battling. He kicks Bullseye down a flight of stairs. Bullseye retreats into a nearby room. Batman enters to discover that it’s an armory. Bullseye starts hurling electrified spears at Batman who pushes himself to dodge them.
Cuts back to Iceman who shoves Sabretooth and Carnage Back with an ice beam then flies up on an ice slide to start freezing the remaining plant monsters. He gradually freezes them all immobilizing and defeating them. Behind him Sabretooth climbs up onto one of the frozen plants. He dives at Iceman who turns just in time to be pushed off his ice slide and into a nearby burn hole with Sabretooth. The camera stays on the burn hold for a suspenseful moment or two then Iceman finally emerges out of the side. Close up on him as he struggles away from the heat. He’s partially melted and extremely weak. As he starts to attempt to fix himself he’s chopped by a massive symbiote axe. Carnage is upon him dicing his ice form up into tiny shards. Iceman screams in agony.
Cuts back to Spider-Man battling Annihilus. Annihilus is blasting in his direction, Spidey dodges his every attack. He swings in occasionally to attack Annihilus but his blows do little damage. They talk as they repeat the pattern.
Spider-Man:
So if you’re from the negative zone you’re composed of anti-matter, correct?
Annihilus:
Yes.
Spider-Man:
Then something is keeping you from combining with the positive composition of our universe…
Annihilus blasts his webline and Spidey falls down behind some rubble. Annihilus blasts the rubble but Spidey isn’t behind it. A webline from another direction snags his cosmic control rod and yanks it out of his grasp up into the air. Spidey leaps towards it to catch it.
…And I’m betting I know what that something is!
Annihilus:
No!
Spidey lands and snaps the cosmic control rod in two with his spider strength. Upon being destroyed the control rod unleashes a powerful shockwave of cosmic energy that blows Spidey back into the ground. His costume is tattered, one of his eye lenses is cracked and open and he is bloody and broken. Annihilus groans as his body reverts to negative components and his surroundings cancel him out leaving an Annihilus shaped void that pulls matter towards it and seals up.
Cuts back to Iceman and Carnage. In the background Sabretooth crawls out of the burn hole and approaches. His costume is burned all over covering only where necessary and he’s burned and bloody all over. As Carnage laughs and continues to chop Iceman up, Sabretooth’s wounds fully heal. Carnage slashes at the pile of ice sending most of it back into the burn hole. Iceman’s head remains frozen in an expression of pain. Sabretooth picks it up and grins. Suddenly Sabretooth’s expression changes to discomfort as his hand begins to shrivel.
Carnage:
What the-- GAHH!
Carnage too keels over, his Symbiote drying out and shriveling revealing Kasidy underneath screaming. Sabretooth falls over, most of his body is drying up. Water pools out of both Carnage and Sabertooth and reforms into Iceman.
Iceman:
Angrily:
Thanks for the water, you sick twisted evil sons of--
An explosion on the horizon gets his attention. He Ice slides towards the action.
Cuts back to Superman and Darkseid they’re still battling viciously.
Iceman:
Calling from the distance:
Superman! The others… they’re not in good shape!
Superman stops.
Darkseid:
That’s right, Superman. All I had to do was hold you here and my new minions took care of your friends.
Superman turns to go towards Iceman’s voice.
Omega Beaming Superman:
What’s the point now? You know you want to finish this.
Superman:
No!
He punches the Omega Beam away with brute force.
You don’t own me, Darkseid. My place is with those who need me.
Darkseid:
Don’t make me laugh.
Superman:
This isn’t about you and me, and it never was. I’ve let this go on for too long. My place is with people who need me.
Darkseid:
Don’t pretend to be anything but an instrument of your rage.
Superman:
You can’t make me a killer! I’m not finishing this!
Green Lantern:
I am!
Darkseid is pummeled by a massive green hammer. Darkseid wearily gets up and Reverse Flash’s unconscious body is hurled at him via a green energy beam..
Superman:
Kyle! The hostages.
Green Lantern:
I lost one…
Darkseid:
Grins:
What a pity.
Green Lantern:
Shut up! This is all your fault!
He smashes him with a giant fist.
Superman:
Kyle, I’m sure you did everything you could.
Green Lantern:
Don’t hand me that garbage, Superman! Every day people remind me that this ring practically makes me a god! If someone dies on my watch it’s because I wasn‘t thinking fast enough!
Superman:
I’ve been down this road, Kyle. We’re powerful but we’re only human.
Green Lantern:
Then I‘ll blame him!
Green Lantern Smashes Darkseid again with a construct of a meteorite.
Superman:
Stop… killing him isn’t going to help.
The rest of the JL, all very weak and battle damaged approach.
Rogue:
He’s right, Kyle. We have to find a better way.
Green Lantern:
What better way?!
He fires energy into Darkseid. It fills his inside and starts to burst through his orifices and split through his skin, green shining outward as Darkseid moans in agony.
It doesn’t work! We have to cut evil off at the source! If we had had the guts to stop him years ago we wouldn’t be here today, hundreds upon hundreds of innocent people would still be alive!!!
Cuts to the armory where Bullseye is still hurling weapons at Batman. Batman falls over and finds himself cornered. Bullseye grabs a crossbow and aims it at his head. Batman reaches for a nearby weapon and finds an Apokolipsian gun. The two face off. Batman is sweating and trembling. He drops the gun in disgust. Bullseye fires the crossbow. Batman grabs it right before it hits his head. He hurls a batarang at Bullseye’s head and bullseye grabs it.
Bullseye:
Not bad at all.
The Batarang explodes into a mess of tangled cords and wires that ensnare him and he falls over immobilized. Batman grabs his wounds, then gets up and forces himself to limp back up towards the control room. Bullseye inches over towards a fallen spear.
Cuts back to the others. GL is still in the process of destroying Darkseid from the inside.
Superman:
Kyle, Darkseid chooses to do terrible things. We can’t place his decisions on our shoulders. But if you choose to do this, his life will be on your hands.
Green Lantern ceases his attack lowers to the ground and turns away from all of them.
Green Lantern:
Damn you all…
Darkseid gets up on all fours while the JL is distracted. He sneers with extreme agony at Kyle and his eyes flash as Omega Beams shoot out. The camera cuts away as Kyle screams and the ring flies onto the ground.
Cuts back to the control room. Batman steps up to the controls and begins to input commands.
Cuts back to the rest of the JL. Darkseid is laughing still barely able to stand. Kyle is grabbing his wrist screaming with agony. Darkseid has blown his right hand off. Iceman starts to freeze the stump and places his hand on Kyle’s shoulder in sympathy as he falls to his knees. Darkseid gets back up on his feet.
Rogue, Superman, Iceman, and Marvel girl stand ready but are still quite battered. Kyle and Spidey are in no condition to fight whatsoever.
Darkseid:
You’re all a pathetic sight. It’s over.
Suddenly rows of Boom Tubes open up all around them. Darkseid steps up towards one of the portals curiously. Captain America’s shield flies out and nails him in the face. It ricochets into another portal and comes out a third striking him again just as Martian Manhunter shoots through one punching Darkseid in the face then phasing through him. An Optic Blast fires out at him, then Repulsor Rays, and soon the X-Men, Avengers, Fantastic Four, original Justice League, and other DC and Marvel Heroes are swarming Darkseid. The Green Lanterns come through and fly off around Apokolips rounding up Parademons and stray military vehicles. Marvel Girl embraces Mr. Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. Jade approaches Kyle. She gasps in horror, then slowly approaches him and holds him.
Captain America:
Jean, Johnny, now’s your cue.
The Human Torch concentrates on a the nearby burn hole. He pulls the fire up into the air and forms the numerous symbols of the various DC and Marvel heroes throughout the sky for everyone on Apokolips to see. Phoenix gives a telepathic message that resonates throughout the planet.
Phoenix:
People of Apokolips. Darkseid has been defeated. Your planet is now under the control of Earth’s heroes. Cooperate and nobody will be hurt.
Cuts to Batman. He breathes a sigh of relief as he hears the message, and continues to mess with the controls.
Cuts back to Darkseid.
Darkseid:
Go ahead… finish me…
Superman steps up and the other heroes step aside.
Superman:
I already said, no. You’re right about one thing Darkseid. It’s over. No more Apokolips. We’re more than enough to make sure of that.
Darkseid:
You weak… fools… what are you going… to do with me…
Superman:
I don’t know… but I promise you you’ll never breathe free air again.
Darkseid:
The Phantom zone…
Superman:
You wish!
Batman interrupts over his communicator.
Batman:
I’ve got our com back on. How is everything?
Superman:
Pan of the area showing the worn out and badly injured members of the JL:
Pyrric victory, Batman. But we’re all accounted for.
Cuts back to the control room.
Batman:
Let’s get out of here.
Bullseye rushes in and hurls an electric spear at Batman, he ducks and it sticks into the control panel. Suddenly the boom tubes by the other heroes disappear, and a massive boom tube appears outside Darkseid’s fortress. It begins to suck everything in. The Green Lanterns respond quickly to anchor the other heroes. The castle begins to tear apart as the Boom Tube widens.
Rogue:
Oh my God! Batman!
She flies in the direction of the castle. Flash and Superman follow her. Flying rubble knocks Flash and Superman off course as they rush towards the portal.
Cuts back into the com room. One of the walls tears off and Batman flies out. Bullseye manages to hang onto some pipes.
Cuts back to Rogue. She spies Batman rushing towards the portal. She zooms forward grabbing a chain that is firmly anchored into the ground. As she nears him she notices Batman grabbing onto a wall that is vibrating and ready to collapse near the portal. The chain snags with just enough room for Rogue to reach out and grab Batman‘s hand, but they notice that Rogue’s gloves have been burned away by Annihilus’s energy blasts and Batman’s gloves have suffered similar dammage. She reaches up and flicks her power inhibitor on, then reaches out and grabs him just as the wall he was hanging onto is sucked in. They hold onto the chain and each other. A good deal of the castle is being ripped open. Finally the Boom Tube control panel itself is sucked out of the castle and into the portal as it powers down and the portal closes. Batman and Rogue fall downward a few feet onto a pile of bricks. They get back up.
Batman:
I definitely owe you one.
Rogue smiles, then suddenly a stabbing sound is heard. Batman looks down and sees the tip of a blade coming through her chest. She falls downward coughing up blood, standing lined up behind her is Bullseye grinning posed as if he’s just thrown something. A massive sickle is suck through Rogue’s heart. Superman flies up.
Superman:
No!
He nails Bullseye, knocking him unconscious. He opens his com link.
We need a healer down here now!
Rogue:
It’s all right, guys… it’s been a pleasure…
Batman and Superman each hold one of her hands.
Superman:
Don’t talk like that, Rogue. Help is on the way…
Rogue:
Hey… if this is how I get to go out…
Close up on her flesh to flesh contact as she squeezes their hands.
…maybe there truly is justice in this crazy universe…
Her eyes close, her grip relaxes.
Cuts to several minutes later. Wolverine has been his holding his bare hand up to Rogue’s face. She’s not taking his powers. He stands up and looks over despondently and shakes his head “no.” Batman and Superman look down. Gambit steps up looking very grim. He bends down and clasps her hands in his. He kisses her and releases her hands leaving the Queen of Hearts in her hands against her heart.
Scene: Days later, the Xavier Institute. Rogue’s funeral, a musical sequence. Prof. Xavier is giving the eulogy. All of the X-Men, Avengers, FF, and JL past and present are there. Peter Parker and Mary Jane are they as well, Peter is in a wheel chair and bandaged up pretty good.
Cuts to the funeral luncheon held at the Watchtower. All the various heroes and other guests are gathered talking.
Cuts to Peter Parker and Kyle Rayner sitting at a table. Iceman joins them.
Iceman:
How’re you guys holding up?
Spider-Man:
We’re dealing. You?
Iceman:
I’m gunna miss her.
Green Lantern:
We all will. But we’ll make it…
He holds up his right hand, it’s been replaced by a construct that he has to keep in constant focus to hold the ring in place.
God willing we’ll all make it.
Iceman:
To Spidey:
I just didn’t think I’d be losing two teammates in one mission.
Green Lantern:
This is a minor setback, Bobby. I’m not giving up.
Spider-Man:
No… he means me… but I’m not leaving either. After what happened on Apokolips I know I’m needed. With great power comes great responsibility.
Iceman:
What about MJ?
Spider-Man:
After today, I think the pressure’s off us all. At least a little. Just wait.
Superman steps up to a podium in front of all the tables.
Superman:
Can I have everyone’s attention, please.
The crowd grows silent.
Thank you all for being here today. And thank you for your assistance and cooperation over the last week. We couldn’t have dealt with the threat of Apokolips without the assistance of every one of you.
Cuts to a montage of people in the crowd.
As you know the League has suffered major personal loss. And I’d like to specifically thank our veteran members Hawkgirl, John Stewart, Wonder Woman, Flash, and J’onn J’onnz for returning to the fold. I think you’d all agree with me when I say how truly unfortunate it is that we only gather under these kinds of circumstances. That is why today I invite you all to join the Justice League.
Murmurs to various degrees intrigue, doubt, and surprise permeate throughout the crowd.
I know what you’re all thinking. You all have responsibilies of your own, and a team this big would be major overkill. Well you’re wrong. The more of us cooperating the better, and we would work out a rotating schedule to accommodate everyone.
Mr. Fantastic stands up.
Mr. Fantastic:
You have the full cooperation of the Fantastic Four.
Captain America stands up:
Captain America:
And the Avengers.
The Fantastic Four and Avengers all stand to show their support. Many DC heroes including Aquaman, Dr. Fate, Zatanna, Batgirl, Supergirl, Nightwing, Robin etc. all stand to show their support. The X-Men remain seated.
Prof. X:
I cannot speak for all of my students, Superman. But should they choose to contribute to the League I would support and encourage their participation.
Behind him almost all of the X-Men stand, except for Gambit who walks out.
Superman:
Thank you, everyone. A new era is dawning. With our combined resources the good we can do for the Earth, let alone the universe, is truly unlimited.
Cuts to the roof of the Watchtower. Gambit is having a cigarette. Marvel Girl approaches him.
Marvel Girl:
Hi. I’m Marvel Girl.
She extends her hand.
Gambit:
Shaking her hand and forming a weak smile.
I know. Bonjour, petite.
Marvel Girl:
I’m sorry about Rogue. She was a real hero.
Gambit:
She was more dan dat.
They look out at the skyline of Metropolis. Everything is serene.
Marvel Girl:
I know you don’t feel welcome on the League.
Gambit:
You read my mind?
Marvel Girl:
Didn’t need to. The truth is we would be honored if you’d join us.
Gambit:
Sorry. It’d feel wrong. ‘Sides, you and I both know not everybody in dere likes me.
Marvel Girl:
So where to now?
Gambit:
Aside from de X-Men? Wherever de wind takes me. I’m gunna enjoy de world Rogue gave her life to protect, and make sure her sacrifice wasn’t in vain. You do de same, non?
Marvel Girl nods. Gambit turns and leaps off the side of the Watchtower, grabbing its protrusions as he makes his way down and across towards nearby rooftops. Marvel Girl turns away and reenters the Watchtower as the camera pans away from the Watchtower and Metropolis and settles on a final image of a peaceful looking Earth.
End.