THE WATCHTOWER. ROGUE, ICEMAN, SPIDER-MAN, AND MARVEL GIRL ARE ALL GATHERED IN THE MAIN CONTROL ROOM. GREEN LANTERN IS JUST ARRIVING. ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT IS TRASHED AND THERE ARE BATTLE SCARS. BATARANGS HAVE BEEN LEFT WEDGED IN WALLS. SIGNS OF A STRUGGLE ARE EVERYWHERE.

What in God’s name happened up here?!

Good question, Kyle. That’s exactly what I called everyone here to figure out.

Everyone? Where are… oh…

Batman and Superman were here alright. The main security grid was undamaged. Batman arrived at 9 P.M. Eastern U.S. time, and Superman at 9:36.

What were they doing up here?

It could have been any number of maintenance tasks. But one thing’s for sure: they never signed out.

Rogue, what if you, me, and Kyle start searching Gotham and Metropolis. Spidey and Valeria are the technical types. They could try and work out the computer surveillance.

Not really, Iceman. In the fifteen minutes I’ve been up here it didn’t take long to figure out that security shows nothing unusual. Someone was able to override all of the access codes and change every file to show normal status even up until now.

Besides, nobody’s going anywhere.

That’s crazy. We’re missing Batman and Superman and you expect us to just sit up here and twiddle our thumbs while you go over how well prepared and untouchable the kidnappers are?

You just answered your own question.

What are you saying?

Whoever did this not only had intricate knowledge of Watchtower security, but also knew where it was and was able to enter passively before tampering with the grid.

In other words, what I’m sayin’ is… this was an inside job.

OPENING THEME

SCENE 2:

THE WATCHTOWER ABOUT TWENTY MINUTES LATER. MARVEL GIRL HAS HER HANDS OVER GREEN LANTERN’S MIND. SHE FINISHES UP HER PSYCHIC PROBE AND STEPS AWAY.

Marvel Girl:

Well, that’s that. You’re all innocent. I guess we should start--

Val…

…alright, I know… but it was no picnic the last time you know.

It’ll just be a tap, I promise.

ROGUE REMOVES HER GLOVE AND TAPS MARVEL GIRL ON THE FOREHEAD WITH HER FINGER. MARVEL GIRL EXPRESSES SOME BRIEF DISCOMFORT THEN STARTS TO RUB HER HEAD.

She’s clean too.

Now what? Did Batman and Superman stage this whole thing?

I don’t see why they’d do that… Batman maybe, if he thought it was important enough, but not Supes. They’d let us know there was no cause for concern right?

THERE’S AN AWKWARD SILENCE.

Well gee, thanks for being so reassuring.

I’m not so sure we’ve ruled everyone out yet.

Unless Valeria and I are workin’ together, then… wait… ya don’t mean…

Yeah. You think they changed the locks on this place before we all moved in?

You mean… the old Justice League? That’s almost as crazy as if it had been one of us.

You’re right… Actually it’s crazier. I know most of them pretty well.

Good. Then you’ll be a big help when we start our investigation.

ROGUE LEAVES THE ROOM. A LOOK OF ANGER AND DISBELIEF CROSSES GREEN LANTERN’S FACE.

SCENE 3:

AN INTERSTELLAR TRAVEL REFUELING LOUNGE. THE ATMOSPHERE IS VERY REMINISCENT OF A SPACE AGE TRUCK STOP. JOHN STEWART IS SITTING AT A TABLE BROWSING THE MENU, WAITING. KYLE RAYNER ENTERS AND JOHN LOOKS UP AND SMILES.

Kyle Rayner! It’s been too long. I’ve been hearing nothing but good things about you.

THEY SHAKE HANDS AND KYLE SITS DOWN.

It’s good to see you too Mr. Stewart.

What can I ever do to get you to call me John?

I don’t think I’ll ever have so little respect. How have things been? Still on special call?

Yep. Oa’s been my home for the past year. It gets lonely, but never boring.

THE WAITER, AN OCTOPI-LIKE ALIEN CREATURE COMES UP TO THE TABLE.

What can I get youse two? On the house of course!

Nothing for me, thanks.

What would you recommend?

Steamed Brood roast, with a side of Phalanx toast, and Skrull broth.

KYLE LOOKS DISGUSTED.

Uh… could I just have a water?

I’ll go ya one up!

YELLS TO THE KITCHEN.

Hey Nimbork! Open up another jar of Z’Knox vomit!

THE WAITER LEAVES.

This never has been my favorite place.

That’s just as well… I actually have to talk to you about something important. And this probably wasn’t the best environment anyway.

I think I understand. Follow me.

SCENE 4:

JOHN STEWART AND KYLE RAYNER ARE LANDING ON A NEARBY PLANET. IT’S REMINISCENT OF A MUCH YOUNGER EARTH WHERE THERE IS VERY LITTLE LIFE ON LAND SAVE SOME BASIC PLANTS.

This good enough? Not a sentient life form for light years. What is it you want to talk about, Kyle?

Well… and believe me I wouldn’t be asking if it wasn’t important but… It’s about the Justice League. Your Justice League. Batman and Superman haven’t been really clear about what happened and… Well…

JOHN GETS NOTICEABLY DISTRESSED.

You want to know why we disbanded…

KYLE NODS.

I guess some things just keep on haunting you. You remember the Apokolips invasion a couple of years back?

Green Lantern:

Yeah. It called for just about every hero in the book. But you guys fought ‘em back. We were just defending the homestead.

We did more than just fight back. We annihilated them.

You don’t mean…

When’s the last time you’ve even heard Darkseid’s name?

KYLE IS SILENT.

Things were getting pretty bad. Darkseid’s agents had caused internal problems for New Genesis, lifting their declaration of protection for Earth. Like you said, we needed every super powered human being on the planet just to keep them from taking over.

FLASHBACK WITH JOHN STEWART VOICEOVER. FLASHES OF SCENES OF VARIOUS MARVEL AND DC HEROES FIGHTING PARADEMONS ON EARTH. CUTS TO BATMAN AND SUPERMAN ADRESSING THE JUSTICE LEAGUE IN THE WATCHTOWER.

But Batman and Superman had organized a strategic assault on Darkseid’s citadel. We all thought they were crazy… we were pretty much right.

CUTS TO THE OLD JUSTICE LEAGUE ARRIVING ON APOKOLIPS AND BEING OVERTAKEN BY PARADEMONS AND ALL OF DARKSEID’S MOST POWERFUL MINIONS: GRANNY AND THE FEMALE FURIES, KALIBAK, STEPPENWOLF, KANTO, ETC.

We fought as hard as ever but the timing was just all wrong. We were captured. It was the most agonizing twenty four hours of my life… of course… it felt like forever.

SHOT OF JOHN BEING TORTURED IN SILHOUETTE.

Finally, everything came together.

JOHN STEWART IS CHAINED UP IN HIS OWN INDIVIDUAL CELL. SUDDENLY THE DOOR IS BLOWN DOWN. BATMAN COMES THROUGH THE DOOR AND BEINGS TO PICK THE LOCKS ON JOHN’S RESTRAINTS. JOHN STEWART BEGINS TO TALK IN THE FLASHBACK. HE SOUNDS STRONG BUT IN A LOT OF PHYSICAL PAIN REGARDLESS.

What… took you so long.

I’m sorry about the secrecy, John. But, we needed Darkseid to be absolutely convinced we had nothing up our sleeve. We had to get captured so he would take us close enough to the center of the planet.

What? What are you talking about?!

These dungeons go as far down as the lower mantle of Apokolips.

That’s not what I’m asking! Why didn’t you tell the rest of us about this?

We had to make sure nobody else could--

Who is we?!

BATMAN HAS SUCCESSFULLY PICKED ALL OF THE LOCKS. HE HELPS JOHN OFF THE WALL.

Superman and I. We’ve been working on a plan since all of this started. The less of us that knew about it the better the chances we had of Darkseid not prying it out of somebody through torture.

Do you have any idea what they did to me and the others?!

Yes. What do you think I’ve been going through? Here.

HE TAKES JOHN’S RING OUT OF HIS UTILITY BELT. JOHN WILLS IT ONTO HIS FINGER AND CHARGES IT UP HOLDING IT UP TO BATMAN THREATENINGLY.

You have a lot of explaining to do!

Later. We have to help the others and get out of here immediately. There’ll be Boom tube generators in the labs above ground.

ANGRILY:

What exactly is this master plan of yours?!

There’s no time. Get Flash. Superman should have the others by now.

John Stewart:

VOICEOVER AGAIN:

We all rendezvoused above ground. But Darkseid was waiting for us. I’d never seen a foe as angry. He was relentless.

SHOWS VARIOUS SCENES FROM AN INTENSE FIGHT WITH DARKSEID AND THE ORIGINAL JUSTICE LEAGUE. EVENTUALLY JOHN STEWART GRABS A HOLD OF THE CONTROLS IN THE LAB WITH HIS RING AND CAUSES IT TO MAKE A GIANT BOOM TUBE PORTAL. SIMULTANEOUSLY A WAVE OF BRIGHT WHITE ENERGY BEGINS TO OVERTAKE APOKOPIPS.

We narrowly escaped.

THE 7 HEROES ARE ESCAPING AS DARKSEID IS OVERCOME BY THE ENERGY WAVE.

But there was a cost.

BEFORE HE IS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY THE ENERGY, DARKSEID FIRES ONE FINAL OMEGA BEAM AT MARTIAN MANHUNTER. J’ONN CRIES OUT IN PAIN AND IS BLASTED THROUGH THE BOOM TUBE. HE FALLS ONTO THE BATTLE RAVAGED STREETS OF METROPOLIS AND LAYS THERE MOTIONLESS WITH HIS EYES WIDE OPEN, HIS ENTIRE BODY SMOKING FROM THE OMEGA EFFECT. CUTS TO MARTAIN MANHUNTER IN A STASIS CHAMBER ON THE WATCHTOWER WITH A MONITOR OF HIS BRAINWAVES ON THE SIDE. HE APPEARS TO BE COMATOSE.

CUTS BACK TO THE PRESENT.

We nearly lost J’onn. After Batman and Superman placed all of our lives in jeopardy nobody could trust them anymore. The league just naturally fell apart. We all moved on.

Green Lantern:

I don’t believe this. They just destroyed an entire planet?!

No, Kyle. You misunderstand. Apokolips wasn’t destroyed. It was placed in it’s own personal hell. An eternity of nothingness in some kind of void called the Phantom Zone. Batman and Superman took it upon themselves to inflict the Kryptonian alternative to capitol punishment upon Darkseid and everyone who followed him… but I wont say they didn’t deserve it.

JOHN ROLLS UP HIS SLEEVE TO REVEAL NUMEROUS SCARS. KYLE’S EYES WIDEN IN HORROR.

Mr. Stewart… I’m sorry.

What is all of this about anyway?

I’ll let you know as soon as I can, I promise. Thanks for your help.

KYLE STARTS TO LEAVE.

Kyle. Thanks again for stepping up. 2814 couldn’t have asked for a better Green Lantern. And neither could the Justice League

Thanks, John. That means a lot to me.

KYLE LEAVES. JOHN REMAINS CONEMPLATING.

CUTS TO KYLE FLYING AWAY FROM THE PLANET IN SPACE. HE CLICKS ON HIS COMMUNICATOR.

GL here.

CUTS TO ROGUE IN CENTRAL CITY OBSERVING THE FLASH FROM A DISTANCE.

Find out anything useful.

<Plenty… but I still don’t like this.>
CUTS BACK TO SPACE WITH KYLE.

John Stewart is my mentor and you have me interrogating him like he’s some kind of criminal.

<I’m sorry, sugah. But we have to go where the facts take us. The others are finishing up. We meet back in the Watchtower in three hours to compare notes. Rogue out.>

SCENE 5:

MUCH LATER IN THE WATCHTOWER. THE FIVE HEROES ARE GATHERED AROUND THE MAIN COMPUTER, WHICH IS RUNNING INFO ON HAWKGIRL, FLASH, JOHN STEWART, WONDER WOMAN, AND MARTIAN MANHUNTER.

Well this doesn’t stack up too well for the Justice League alums.

I disagree. All we know is that they could have taken Bats and Supes. There’s absolutely nothing that says they did!

Kyle has a point, you know.

Nobody else on Heaven or Earth could have known how to get past our security. And from what Green Lantern has told us, they had every reason to be angry and bitter at our Dark Knight and Man of Steel.

They’re good people. All of them! I know there’s more to this than meets the eye.

CUTS TO OUTSIDE THE WATCHTOWER. A SPHERICAL OBJECT IS HEADING TOWARDS THEM. CUTS BACK TO INSIDE:

I hate to make things difficult, but both Bats and Supes have a whole lot of smart and powerful enemies. Just about anything’s possible.

We ain’t givin’ up on this until we find those two. And we sure as hell don’t have time for dead ends!

Fine, but--

HER TELEPATHY FLARES UP AS SPIDEY’S SPIDEY SENSE GOES OFF TOO:

Wait! Something’s coming…

THE DOOR SLIDES OPEN. THEY ALL LOOK OVER IN HOPE OF SEEING ONE OR MORE OF THEIR MISSING TEAMMATES BUT INSTEAD FIND THE SPHERICAL OBJECT HOVERING INTO THE ROOM. IT’S GIVING OFF A STRANGE SOUND THAT IS GETTING LOUDER AND LOUDER.

Stay back!

HE TRIES TO ENVELOP IT WITH GREEN ENERGY BUT THE ORB GIVES OFF A STRANGE BRIGHTER GREEN PULSE THAT PUSHES KYLE’S ENERGY BACK INTO HIS RING. KYLE REACHES FOR HIS HEAD.

What?!

Rogue:

Hit the deck!

CUT TO OUTSIDE. THE WATCHTOWER EXPLODES IN A BURST OF GREENISH YELLOW ENERGY. CHUNKS OF THE WATCHTOWER ARE THROWN EVERYWHERE IN SPACE AND THE JUSTICE LEAGUE IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN.

CUTS TO THE FIVE OF THEM PLUMMETING THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE. MARVEL GIRL HAS THEM WRAPPED IN AN INVISIBLE FORCE FIELD AS THEY FALL TOWARDS THE GROUND. THE OUTSIDE OF THE FORCE FIELD IS COLLECTING HEAT AND LEAVING A TRAIL OF FIRE AS IT PASSES THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE.

Can’t you steady us?!

The force of the blast caught me off guard! I can’t lift us! In fact I can barely keep this thing up!

ROGUE’S COSTUME STARTS TO CATCH FIRE.

I think there’s hole in your shield! It’s burning up in here!

ICEMAN RAISES HIS HANDS AND THE FIRE IN AND AROUND THE FORCEFIELD DISSIPATES.

I’ve got it under control!

I can‘t keep this up! That device was giving off some kind of psychic distortion! It’s making things harder to do than normal!

GL?!

My ring’s still not functioning!

Ok, not a problem! Iceman, grab Valeria! I’ve got you two!

Ready!?

Yep!

MARVEL GIRL RELEASES THEM AND ROGUE AND ICEMAN GRAB THE OTHERS. THEY’RE GETTING CLOSE TO THE OCEAN AND ARE BEGINNING TO SLOW THEMSELVES DOWN, BUT DEBRIS FROM THE WATCHTOWER BEGINS TO FALL BAST THEM. EVENTUALLY BOTH ROGUE AND ICEMAN ARE NAILED WITH LARGE PIECES OF THE FALLING DEBRIS AND ALL ARE KNOCKED INTO THE WATER. AFTER A FEW MOMENTS THEY BEGIN TO SURFACE, ONE BY ONE, GASPING FOR BREATH AS THEY COME UP.

Nothing like free fall from space.

ICEMAN MAKES A LARGE GLACIAL PLATFORM THAT RAISES THEM OUT OF THE WATER. THEY STAND THERE ON THE ICE.

What was that?!

That device wasn’t just a bomb. It was giving off some kind of psionic impulse that not only damaged the extent that I could use my powers… I suspect it also had a negative effect on Kyle’s will power, allowing for photonic disruption of his constructs.

Zuh?

We snoop, someone tries to kill us. Looks like we’re on the right track gang.

You can’t prove--

Kyle, I am sorry. But whoever just blew up the Watchtower had an intricate knowledge of how that ring works. Now who could that be?

…you’re right. It looks bad…

I think it’s time we had a little chat with the Ex-Justice League.

SCENE 6:

THE BOTTOM OF THE GRAND CANYON. WONDER WOMAN, MARTAIN MANHUNTER, AND FLASH ARE WAITING. JOHN STEWART AND HAWKGIRL LAND.

Shayera! John! It’s good to see you!

Even under such strange circumstances.

I guess this means you guys had the same whacked out dream with the kid from the Fantastic Four?

Any idea what this is all about?

Perhaps we should ask.

Huh?

Our summoners have been monitoring us for some time now.

ROGUE, ICEMAN, SPIDER-MAN, GREEN LANTERN, AND VALERIA APPEAR IN FRONT OF THEM. MARVEL GIRL HAS BEEN MAKING THEM ALL INVISIBLE.

Your telepathic abilities are impressive, Marvel Girl. But you could not hide yourself from me.

Kyle. What’s going on here?

The other day, Batman and Superman were abducted from the Watchtower by someone who knew its security inside and out. Then yesterday the same guy tried to finish off the rest of us.

What are you implying?

It shouldn’t be that hard to figure out.

Waitaminute! You think one of us did this?!

It sure looks that way.

We may not be on the Justice League anymore, but Batman and Superman are still our comrades. Our allies. And more importantly, our friends. I think I can speak for everyone here when I say we’re more than willing to help you figure this out, but first these accusations must cease!

We’ll stop when we hear some damn good alibis.

I’ve been on Themyscira ever since I left the Justice League. I’ve had no reason to leave until now.

That’s not the way your mother tells it, Princess. I took a little vacation recently and found some very interesting thoughts in her head. Thoughts of concern for her daughter who is constantly disappearing and denying any knowledge of her absences.

And what reason do any of us have to believe you? I came a long way to have a bunch of strangers point fingers at my friends!

I’m not so sure, Hawkgirl. I pulled in a favor from the Green Lantern of Thanagar’s sector. He did some digging for me, and it turns out your return home was rather short lived. It lasted, what? Three months before you left again?

HAWKGIRL SCOWLS AND SHAKES HER HEAD “NO.”

You people are nuts!

About as nuts as Central City’s been lately? I’m sure you know the crime rate there has doubled in the past month. Got a new side hobby? Sounds awfully time consuming.

Everybody calm down.

Maybe first you should explain why you told me you’ve been on Oa for a year when the Guardians claim you’ve been taking a weekly leave of absence.

I think this can be worked out. Obviously someone has gone through a lot of trouble to set up this scenario.

Oh right, and the Martian. The most mysterious one of all.

We couldn’t find hide nor hair of you, Green Skin.

That’s because I’ve assumed the identity of an undercover detective in Star City. This is the first time I’ve used this form in over half a year.

It wasn’t all that long ago before that that you woke up from your coma, Mr. J’onnz.

Correct. And yes, it took a lot of recuperating even after I had awakened. But now I have fully recovered and moved on.

We all have.

That sounds real nice, y’all. But the problem is, I don’t believe any of this. I’m gettin’ a little fed up with lies. In fact, how do we even know that your account of what happened on Apokolips is accurate? I’m sensin’ a whole lotta bad blood here and I don’t think it’s all between the ten of us.

You rant on as if you’re the only ones with questions! What do we know about you?!

Diana, please.

You’re not in a position to ask questions, Wondy! So maybe you should just cooperate or shut your--

I will not be spoken to in such a manner!

WONDER WOMAN TRIES TO LASSO ROGUE, BUT ICEMAN BLASTS HER WITH AN ICE-BEAM BEFORE SHE CAN SNAG HER. JOHN STEWART ENCASES ICEMAN IN A GREEN FORCE BUBBLE, AND WONDER WOMAN GETS BACK UP. ROGUE CHARGES HER AND THE TWO BEGIN TO FIGHT. KYLE MAKES A GIANT HAMMER AND KNOCKS JOHN AWAY CAUSING THE FORCE BUBBLE TO DISSIPATE. HAWKGIRL DIVES TO HELP WONDER WOMAN BUT SPIDEY SNAGS HER WITH A WEBLINE. FLASH RACES UP IN THEIR DIRECTION BUT ICEMAN TRIPS HIM UP WITH A WAVE OF ICE STUMPS. ICEMAN AND FLASH BEGIN TO FIGHT, AS DO HAWKGIRL AND SPIDEY. ROGUE IS POUNDING WONDERWOMAN FURIOUSLY BUT SHE’S BLOCKING HER EVERY PUNCH WITH HER BRACELETS CROSSED IN FRONT OF HER. HIGHER ABOVE, KYLE AND JOHN STEWART ARE BATTLING WITH GREEN LANTERN ENERGY, KYLE CREATING LOTS OF CREATIVE POWERFUL CONSTRUCTS, AND JOHN USING THE RING IN A MUCH MORE EFFICIENT BUT LESS FORCEFUL MANNER WITH WELL PLACED BEAMS AND WALLS FOR OFFENSE AND DEFENSE. AMIDST ALL OF THIS MARVEL GIRL AND MARTIAN MANHUNTER ARE STARING EACH OTHER DOWN.

Child, this insanity must stop. Fighting will solve nothing.

I know. But refusing to let down my psychic defenses couldn’t hurt. They’re all under my protection.

I will use force to convince you, should you leave me no choice.

MARVEL GIRL FIRES BEAMS OF COSMIC ENERGY AT HIM.

You stay right where you are!

J’ONN PHASES AND THE BEAMS PASS RIGHT THROUGH HIM.

Eep!

CUTS TO THE BATTLING GREEN LANTERNS:

I’m sorry, Mr. Stewart. But they’re my teammates and I’m going to protect them, even if it means fighting you.

You can keep throwing as many of those zany constructs at me as you want, Mr. Artist. But we both know that a Green Lantern isn’t measured by the shape of his weapons…

…but by the sheer force of his willpower.

KYLE FORMS ONE GIGANTIC BEAM OF GREEN LANTERN ENERGY AND JOHN FORMS ANOTHER AND THEY CREATE A DEADLOCK. EACH ONE IS STRAINING TO OVERCOME THE OTHER.

BELOW MARTIAN MANHUNTER IS CHASING MARVEL GIRL. SHE’S BARELY KEEPING AWAY FROM HIM. SPIDER-MAN IS BUSY DODGING EVERY SWING OF HAWKGIRL’S ELECTRIFIED MACE. HE SPEAKS QUICKLY BETWEEN EACH SWING.

Hey-- maybe-- we could-- talk-- this--

HAWKGIRL SMASHES THE GROUND SENDING HIM FLYING BACK.

--out! Jeeze are all you Ex-Justice Gals so pig-headed?

HAWKGIRL GIVES A BATTLE CRY AND CHARGES HIM. SPIDEY LEAPS UP AND DODGES IT.

Maybe now is a good time for me to shut up.

FLASH IS BUSY DODGING ICEMAN’S ICEBLASTS. HE’S ZIPPING AROUND IN VARIOUS MOCKING POSES AS HE ESCAPES EACH ATTACK.

Flash:

I bet you wish you had reflex’s like this, huh Frost Face?

ICEMAN FINALLY TRAPS FLASH IN A BLOCK OF ICE.

Who needs reflexes when I can just stop concentrating on where you are and start thinking about where you will be?

ICEMAN TURNS HIS BACK AND FLASH VIBRATES OUT OF THE ICE AND PUNCHES HIM FROM BEHIND.

Lesson number one when battling the fastest man alive as an ice wielding opponent: Be on the look out for molecules vibrating so fast they can slip through matter at will! You should’ve taken notes from Cpt. Cold, buddy!

THE TWO CONTINUE TO FIGHT AS ROGUE AND WONDER WOMAN ARE STILL FURIOUSLY TRADING PUNCHES. EVENTUALLY WONDER WOMAN GETS ROGUE IN CHIN, THEIR BARE FLESH CONNECTS AND WONDER WOMAN FALLS BACK STAGGERED.

I probably should’ve warned you about that. Feel free to make flesh to flesh contact with me again, just know that every time you get a good shot in I’ll take some more of your strength.

WONDER WOMAN GROANS AND WHIPS HER LASSO AROUND ROGUE’S ARM. SHE SLAMS HER INTO A WALL OF ROCK. MEANWHILE, MARVEL GIRL IS RUNNING AND MARTIAN MANHUNTER PHASES OUT OF THE GROUND IN FRONT OF HER THEN SOLIDIFIED AND GRABS HER BY THE WRIST.

I sense tremendous power within you, child. You have very much impressed me today. But your allies are out of control. You will now come with me.

MARVEL GIRL’S EYES GLOW AND SHE ATTACKS J’ONN WITH A FIERCE TELEPATHIC ATTACK.

I don’t think so.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER GRABS HIS HEAD AND FALLS TO HIS KNEES. HE LOOKS BACK UP WHEN THE ATTACK IS THROUGH. A DEVILISH GRIN CROSSES HIS FACE.

Martian Manhunter:

IN A STRANGE NEW VOICE:

Magnificent.

HIS EYES BEGIN TO GLOW A FIERY ORANGEISH YELLOW. SIMULTANEOUSLY EVERYWHERE ELSE, THE EX-JUSTICE LEAGE MEMBERS STOP FIGHTING. THEIR EYES GLOWING THE SAME FIERY COLOR. THEY ABANDON THEIR BATTLES AND STAND BEHIND MARTIAN MANHUNTER. VALERIA BACKS OFF FRIGHTENED. ROGUE, SPIDEY, ICEMAN, AND KYLE SOON BACK HER UP.

I tried to work this out quietly, but now comes the time where I must soil the hands of these noble heroes with the blood of their comrades.

HE STANDS BACK UP.

Justice League. Kill them.

THE LEAGUE SILENTLY OBEYS CHARGING MARVEL GIRL AND THE OTHERS WITH LETHAL FORCE. MARVEL GIRL ACTS INSTINCTIVELY AND FORCES THEM ALL BACK WITH A COSMIC PULSE WAVE. KYLE PLACES A PROTECTIVE WALL BETWEEN THE TWO TEAMS.

So it was you! All of you!

Not exactly.

SLOWLY, MARTIAN MANHUNTER MORPHS INTO DARKSEID.

Behold my true form.

Darkseid?!

Darkseid:

Indeed. In the final moments before my Empire was swallowed into oblivion I transferred my life force energy into this Martian body. What those fools perceived as a coma was in actuality a battle of psychological and telepathic dominance. As you can see, I was the victor. Once I awakened it didn’t take much to orchestrate the destruction of the Justice League. Using my new found telepathic powers I fueled the fires of their resentment. Soon they were so full of hate that they all abandoned their duties as Earth’s protectors.

Not all of them.

Yes. Batman and Superman were more persistent than I had expected. But I had all the help I needed at the time. They were so easy to manipulate. And they believe anything I want them to.

SPIDEY INCONSPICUOUSLY CHANGES WEB CARTRIDGES. SUDDENLY KYLE OPENS UP A HOLE IN THE WALL, AND SPIDER-MAN FIRES A FIERY WEBLINE AS HIM ENCASING HIM IN FLAMING WEB.

You’ve got all of Martian Manhunter’s strengths! That means you’ve also got his weaknesses! Marvel Girl and I mixed millions of specialized nano-tech drones into my webbing. They’ll burn as long as they’re exposed to oxygen!

DARKSEID SCREAMS IN AGONY WRAPPED IN FLAMING WEB AND BEGINS TO MORPH BACK INTO HIS DEFAULT J’ONN J’ONNZ FORM. BUT THE OTHERS REMAIN AS THEY WERE.

My… control… over them… goes farther than you think… Lantern!

JOHN STEWART COVERS DARKSEID IN GREEN LANTERN ENERGY AND SNUFFS OUT THE FLAME. DARKSEID REMAINS THERE GASPING FOR BREATH.

…I’ve had… enough of this… we leave… the resurrection of Apokolips dawns soon.

Like hell!

HAWKGIRL CHARGES UP HER MACE THEN GIVES A BATTLE CRY AS SHE SMASHES THE CANYON WALL ABOVE THEM. GREEN LANTERN AND WONDERWOMAN FOLLOW CAUSING A MASSIVE AVALANCHE. ROGUE’S TEAM IS BURIED IN ROCK AS DARKSEID’S ESCAPES. AFTER A WHILE A GIANT BLAST OF GREEN ENERGY AND ICE REMOVES THE ROCK FROM ABOVE THEM. ROGUE, ICEMAN, SPIDEY, MARVEL GIRL, AND KYLE EMERGE.

Well this is just great.

He said he was bringing back Apokolips. How is that even possible?

Batman and Superman created the device that destroyed it. He probably needed them to reverse the effect. But where in God’s name would they go to do that?

Well you can’t exactly get Kyrptonian Phantom Zone technology at radio shack.

You can’t really get it anywhere… but you can build it. And there’s only one place to go for instructions. Pretty good hideaway too.

You know something Rogue?

Rogue:

Vaguely… But I think I can find it based on the memories I took from Superman. Everybody bundle up, and follow me.

SCENE 7:

THE ARCTIC, THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE. GREEN LANTERN HAS MADE A MAKE SHIFT JAVELIN-7 THAT LANDS ON A PATCH OF ICE. THEY EXIT AND THE CONSTRUCT DISSIPATES. THE WEATHER IS HARSH SO GL MAKES A GIANT IGLOO TO KEEP THE BUSHELS OF ICE AND SNOW FROM BURYING THEM, BUT THE WIND IS STILL WHISTLING SO LOUD THAT THEY MUST SHOUT.

So?! Where is this place?!

Somewhere around here! Sure would be nice to have Supes’ x-ray vision right about now!

Not a problem! I can do the watered-down version!
ICEMAN CONCENTRATES ON SEEING THINGS IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE, OR HOW COLD THEY ARE. FROM HIS PERSPECTIVE WE SEE A MOSTLY BRIGHT BLUE FREEZING COLD ARCTIC LANDSCAPE BUT AS IT PANS OVER THERE IS A MASSIVE WARM SPOT.

It’s room temperature city over there! But I don’t see an entrance.

That part I know!

SHE POINTS TO A PATCH OF OCEAN BETWEEN SOME LARGE GLACIAL STRUCTURES.

Figures! Ok everybody get close!

THEY ALL GATHER AROUND KYLE AND HE CREATES A CONSTRUCT OF AN ELEVATOR THAT LOWERS INTO THE WATER. CUTS TO INSIDE THE FORTRESS. THE ELEVATOR COMES UP OUT OF THE PATCH OF WATER WHERE SUPERMAN USUALLY ENTERS AND OPENS WITH A PLEASANT SOUNDING “DING!” EVERYONE SPEAKS QUIETLY.

First floor, folks. Appliances, Upholstery, and possessed Martians.

THEY EXIT THE ELEVATOR AND BEGIN TO WALK PAST SUPERMAN’S ZOO OF ALIEN CREATURES.

This place is incredible! Where did Superman find so many alien species?

Some guy called the Preserver… I’m a little sketchy on that one though.

SPIDER-MAN’S SPIDER SENSE GOES OFF.

Everybody get ready. Something’s up.

He’s right. I’m getting a bad vibe here.

DARKSEID’S LAUGH ECHOES THROUGHOUT THE FORTRESS. EVERYONE FORMS A DEFENSIVE CIRCLE AND FACES OUTWARD.

Why dontchya show yourself, Darkseid! We’re all a bit anxious to whomp your sorry butt back to the Phantom Zone with the rest of your flunkies!

Spider-Man:

ASIDE TO ROGUE:

Hey, Rogue, how about not agitating the alien warlord of death, huh?

I didn’t know Superman told anyone else about this place… you must be very close.

I said show yourself!

SUDDENLY A HEADBAND IS SLIPPED AROUND KYLE’S HEAD FROM ABOVE VIA A GREEN ENERGY BEAM BY JOHN STEWART. KYLE FALLS OVER MOTIONLESS.

Kyle!

AS SHE TURNS, FLASH ZIPS BY AND SLIPS ONE OVER HER HEAD AND CARRIES BOTH HER AND KYLE OFF.

Look out!

WONDER WOMAN SMASHES UP FROM THE GROUND BENEATH THEM SENDING ROGUE AND ICEMAN FLYING. SPIDEY IS ABLE TO LEAP OUT OF THE WAY BUT RIGHT INTO THE APPROACHING HAWKGIRL WHO GRABS HIM AND GETS A HEADBAND ON HIM. WONDER WOMAN GETS A COLLAR AROUND ICEMAN WHO REVERTS TO HIS HIMAN FORM AND GOES LIMP. ROGUE TURNS TO FACE WONDER WOMAN.

I never wanted to hurt y’all, but--

DARKSEID (AS MARTIAN MANHUNTER) PHASES UP FROM BEHIND ROGUE AND GETS A HEADBAND AROUND HER. SHE GOES LIMP LIKE THE OTHERS.

They will not interfere any longer. Come. We have work to do.

SCENE 8:

THE CONTROL ROOM OF THE FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE. ROGUE, ICEMAN, SPIDER-MAN, MARVEL GIRL, AND KYLE ARE WAKING UP. THEY’RE CHAINED AGAINST A WALL. THE MEMBERS OF THE OLD JUSTICE LEAGUE INCLUDING BATMAN AND SUPERMAN ARE BUSY WORKING ON VARIOUS COMPUTERS AND DEVICES, ALL UNDER DARKSEID’S CONTROL. THERE IS A MASSIVE SCREEN ON ONE WALL THAT SHOWS NUMEROUS SATELLITES AND ORBS AROUND A STRANGE STAR. DARKSEID IN HIS OWN FORM APPROACHES THE WAKING HEROES.

As you’ve undoubtedly determined by now, those neural inhibitors prevent you all from attacking or escaping. But, I thought you’d like to be awake for this. You shall be witnesses to the rebirth of the greatest empire in the universe!

How long have they been doing your dirty work, Darkseid?!

Ever since the Justice League disbanded. As I’ve said my control over them is now unwavering. They’ve been running various errands for me. Scouting out possible spots for the return of my planet and establishing a network of satellites and receptors that would allow me to try and restore it from a safe distance. Of course I needed both Batman and Superman for this final stage of development. Without psychic defenses they were just as easy to capture and manipulate. Only they knew the complexities of the device they built, and only they were able to provide me with the reverse equations that will draw Apokolips out of the Phantom Zone. All their help was invaluable, I may even let them live as my slaves once this is over. Rest assured the five of you will be executed very soon, for interfering.

It’s gotta take a lot of raw energy to pull this off.
DARKSEID GOES OVER TO MARVEL GIRL AND CARESSES HER CHIN. SHE WINCES HER FACE IN PROTEST.

Correct, my dear. But not as much as you’d think.

HE MOTIONS TO A CORNER OF THE ROOM WHERE A DEVICE ABOUT TWICE AS BIG AS A PERSON HAS BEEN BUILT. JOHN STEWART’S RING IS INSIDE, AND HIS LANTERN BATTERY IS IN ANOTHER COMPARTMENT.

The sufficient sum of power can be usurped directly from Oa. Mr. Stewart has many connections there you know.

You have no right to use that power!

DARKSEID MOTIONS TO JOHN STEWART WHO IS BUSY WORKING AT A CONSOLE.

He does, and he is my slave. Therefore, I do.

You really know how to put things into perspective there, Stoneface.

Everything is ready.

Excellent.

DARKSEID APPROACHES THE SCREEN.

You’re sick you know that!

DARKSEID TURNS AROUND AND GRINS AT VALERIA.

So very insolent. So outright defiant. Your temperament compliments your power perfectly. Perhaps I’ll let you live. The truly powerful deserve each other.

As if I’d be anything but a wench to you! I’d rather die!

DARKSEID RETURNS TO HER AND GRABS HER BY THE CHIN.

Oh? I’d be more than happy to give you lessons in obedience.

HE STARTS TO KISS HER, BUT IS IMMEDIATELY SHOCKED BY A SUDDEN SPARK OF ENERGY. DARKSEID FALLS BACK AND MORPHS BACK INTO HIS DEFAULT MARTIAN FORM. PSYCHIC DISTORTION AROUND “MARVEL GIRL” FADES TO REVEAL THAT IT WAS MERELY AN ILLUSION THAT HAD DRAWN DARKSEID TO KISS ROGUE.

Maybe you should’ve programmed these collars to impede psionic illusions too.

Marvel Girl:

For someone claiming to be so on top of things telepathically, you forgot to be cautious of the oldest trick in the book!

No… Justice League… Stop them!

Your control over them is now mine, D! And my first command is for them to think for themselves!

SUDDENLY THE JUSTICE LEAGUE COMES OUT OF THEIR TRANCE. THEY’RE ALL A BIT DISORIENTED.

What…

What’s going on here?

My ring!

HE SUMMONS IT AND THE BATTERY OUT OF THE MACHINE. THE RING SLIPS BACK AROUND HIS FINGER AND HE MAKES THE BATTERY DISAPPEAR.

No!

Hey! A little help here!

FLASH ZIPS OVER TO THE WALL, UNCHAINS THEM, AND REMOVES THEIR HEADBANDS IN A COUPLE OF SECONDS. ROGUE RUSHES OVER AND GRABS DARKSEID BY THE THROAT.

I have some of your power. Want me to take the rest of it or you want to give up?

DARKSEID MORPHS BACK INTO HIS DARKSEID FORM AND PUNCHES ROGUE CLEAR ACROSS THE ROOM.

I will never surrender to you filthy worms!

HE TURNS TO FIND THE FORMER JUSTICE LEAGUE STANDING IN HIS WAY. HE TURNS BACK TO FIND SPIDEY, ICEMAN, MARVEL GIRL, KYLE, AND THE RETURNING ROGUE STANDING IN THE OTHER WAY. HE’S CIRCLED IN BY THE ELEVEN HEROES. DARKSEID LOOKS PANICKED.

Rogue:

Having trouble phasing??? Oh that’s right! I have that power now.

SHE PHASES ONE HAND THROUGH THE OTHER TO DEMONSTRATE/TEASE.

You have no out, Darkseid! And we’ve all got a lot of questions for you!

DARKSEID SMILES AND LAUGHS.

You mean you haven’t learned yet?! There’s always an out!

HE THEN BEGINS TO GROAN IN PAIN AND GIVE OFF LOTS OF PSYCHIC ENERGY. THE ENERGY IN ABSORBED BY ALL OF THE CONTROL PANELS BUT MOST OF IT GOES TOWARDS THE DEVICE THAT WAS HOLDING JOHN STEWART’S RING AND BATTERY. A TERRIFYING APPARITION OF DARKSEID APPEARS OVER THE POWER GENERATOR AND THERE IS A BRIGHT FLASH OF WHITE LIGHT ON THE SCREEN THAT WAS DISPLAYING APOKOLIPS’ TRAJECTORY. WHEN THE LIGHT FADES, APOKOLIPS IS SHOWN ON THE SCREEN AS POWERFUL AND IMPRESSIVE AS EVER, ORBITING THE STAR.

Great Hera!

MARTIAN MANHUNTER IS LAYING ON THE GROUND. HE SITS UP AND RUBS HIS HEAD. EVERYBODY GETS TENSE.

Marvel Girl:

It’s okay! He’s himself.

SHE APPROACHES HIM AND TELEPATHICALLY SOOTHES HIM.

Mr. J’onnz, my name is Valeria Richards. Everything’s going to be fine, but you have to tell us what happened to Darkseid.

The life force energy he infected me with… he sacrificed it to power his device… he… he’s gone.

It’s back. God help us all… he chose to sacrifice himself rather than see the end of his legacy.

Uh, maybe you’d better think about what you just said, big guy.

He didn’t have a whole lot of options.

I’ll believe it when I see a body. J’onn, are you sure you’re ok?

I can hardly remember all of the terrible things he did while living off of me. But… yes… I will survive.

I can’t believe this. We worked so hard to stop them last time.

And we’ll do it again. Trust me.

SUPERMAN TURNS TO THE OTHERS.

I’m afraid I blanked out a lot over the past few days… but I take it you’ve all met.

Yes. The new team functioned flawlessly.

I know I’m impressed.

They definitely saved the day, Supes.

I can see we’re no longer needed.

That’s not true at all. Darkseid ended your run on the Justice League prematurely. He fueled whatever problems you guys had. I’m sure we can all work this out. Think about what we could all accomplish together.

THERE’S AN AWKWARD PAUSE.

I really have to get back to Oa. Try to figure out if Darkseid had me do anything there of consequence. Shayera, you need a ride back to Thanagar?

HAWKGIRL NODS.

Take care everybody.

Kyle, if you need anything, you know where to find me.

KYLE NODS. AND JOHN AND HAWKGIRL LEAVE.

We’ve all got stuff to take care of. People who’re probably worried. If you need anything--

FLASH SALUTES AND SPEED OFF.

He’s right. I’ll be in touch.

SHE FLIES OFF.

I don’t get it… why do they still hold a grudge?

Martian Manhunter:

Darkseid only accented their genuine insecurities and concerns. They feel like they lost more than membership of the Justice League.

HE LOOKS HARD AT BATMAN AND SUPERMAN.

We’ve lost their trust… J’onn…

I’ve had to deal with much lately… but I don’t blame either of you. You did what had to be done. What I probably would have done in your place.

We’re sorry about what happened, J’onn. If we had known--

Neither of you could’ve known. And he’s welcome to come back, too. I know what it’s like to have a stranger floatin’ around in your head, and I’d be happy to help you deal with this.

MARTIAN MANHUNTER STEPS AWAY AND STARES AT THE SCREEN OF APOKOLIPS.

Thank you… I will return… but not for some time. I have been alone for a very long time. And I would like to deal with this by myself. Goodbye, my friends.

HE LEAVES.

Alone…

Need any help cleaning this place up, sugah?

SUPERMAN TURNS AWAY FROM HER AND THE OTHERS AND SMASHES THE SCREEN WITH APOKOLIPS ON IT. EVERYONE IS SILENT.

Superman:

This fortress was built for one man, Rogue. I’d rather stay in solitude.

EVERYONE BUT SUPERMAN LEAVES.

SCENE 9:

APOKOLIPS. DARKSEID’S THRONE ROOM. GRANNY, DESAAD, STEPPENWOLF, KANTO, AND KALIBAK ARE ARGUING.

We all know the master would want someone with real brains to succeed him!

When’s the last time you’ve built anything useful, Desaad. We all know to rule Apokolips you should be able to establish a vast array of useful connections.

And what of sheer skill in battle? A warlike leader for a warlike world!

I am Lord of Apokolips by right of birth! None of you can deny me that!

Children! Your bickering sours my heart! Don’t you all love your Granny enough to trust her guidance?!

THEY CONTINUE TO BICKER WHEN SUDDENLY THERE IS A BRIGHT RED FLASH AND THE ROOM FILLS WITH FIRE.

EXTERMELY LOUD AND MENACING:

Silence!!!

THEY ALL STOP AND LOOK IN ABSOLUTE TERROR. DARKSEID STANDS AT THE ENTRANCE LOOKING VERY ANGRY.

M-my Lord! Thank the darkness, you’re still alive!

Spare me any groveling! You’re all a vicious pack of jackals scrounging for a taste of my power!

THEY’RE ALL SILENT. DARKSEID CALMS DOWN A BIT.

I’m glad you still remember how I taught you all to behave.

LOOKS OF RELIEF CROSS THEIR FACES.

But, master. What exactly happened? You sent us a signal in the Phantom Zone indicating you had inhabited the Martian. Then we felt your life energy pull us back to this plane of existence.

I always leave myself an option, Granny. My true body was here in stasis. As unpleasant as it was, I sacrificed only a fraction of my power to bring back Apokolips, and it wont take me long to gain that power back.

DARKSEID SITS AT HIS THRONE AND THE OTHERS BOW BEFORE HIM.

We await your orders, my lord!

Go about business as usual. But pay special attention to that wretched mudball, Earth. I have a personal grudge to settle.

Say the word and we’ll obliterate it!

You’re all fools. I’ve spent years there, and now I know that in order to destroy these heroes, you have to understand them… clearly none of you ever did!

THEY’RE ALL SILENT.

Perhaps the time has come to expand my influence.

DARKSEID GRINS AND THE CAMERA PANS INTO THE FIERY ABYSS OF HIS LEFT EYE.