The "World of Heroes" DC RPG Season VIII

[Byrd Man]

With every light working in unison, something strange happens. The beams all unite into one single beam, turning white. The light is blinding, I actually have to shield my eyes. The Black Lantern Central Power Battery starts to crack and crumble under this onslaught, until finally it collapses.

With it gone, it feels like the parting of clouds, like a weight has been lifted off the air. All around us, Black Lanterns start reverting into their original form, the power of Anti-Life draining away from the universe.

"We did it. Life prevails again."

"You're goddamn right. We won the day, mother****ers!"


I thrust my ring up into the sky and turn to the rubble of the Black Lantern Power battery.

"Take that, you hunk of junk!"

I stop short of my bragging as I see something begin shifting in the ashes of the battery.

"...What the?"

[BLACKOUT]
Guy Gardner of Earth!
[/BLACKOUT]

A bright, white light blasts out of the rubble, blding me. Before the white light consumes me, I see a winged creature and hear it's voice.

[BLACKOUT]
Destiny awaits!
[/BLACKOUT]

My body crackles and surges with energy. It's not the green energy or will, or the violet light of love. It's not even the red rage or the yellow power of fear.

It's life.

The white, pure energy of life.

The energy runs through my body, expelling the violet ring and wrapping my body in the protective white light.

[BLACKOUT]
"Holy crap."
[/BLACKOUT]

I look over my new suit and smile.

[BLACKOUT]
"I know its a crime to wear white after Labor Day, but I make it look good."
[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Watchman]

The Dark Things retreat. They retreat back into the shadows, back into the hells that they call home. Their leader is no more. Cast off into parts unknown, a place that is outside human perception.

A voice calls out from Beyond!

superman

The collective of the universe skin crawls. Hair stands on it's end for those who have hair. They can feel it. Something evil lurks in the crevasses and cracks between reality. Something that was once great, something that control the very fabric of reality itself. A once mighty king in his desperation turned itself into a mad god. His presence was killing the universe and he was ripped out like a cancer.

i am

He was Darkseid. The Forever Emperor of the Fire World. Eternal Master of Ignorance. He the God of order, oppression, and tyranny. All evil in the eyes of mortals but he is above such identification.

and for ever will be

Beyond our capabilities to see or comprehend. He forms with the last of his essence a basic shape with his will that still clings on to this realm and calls out to his adversary.

SUPERMAN

He can see him. Superman focuses on that location where the voice calls from. A rudimentary figure appears before him. Darkseid in his truest form.

"SUPERMAN!"

"Banish me, destroy my physical form, forever damn me. You will have never beaten me. You will never deter that which is Darkseid. Long after the world is nothing more than ash and your bones reduce to dust I will remain. When a planet's rulers remain ignorant to a scientist's pleas, I exist. When a mugger pulls the trigger killing a boy's parents, I am there. Every mad plot, every scheme, Darkseid exist in the hearts of the cowardly and superstitious that perform them. When the sun shines its light, I am its shadow. Remember this Superman, remember it well. You may have destroy me but I exist eternal. Remember the last gospel of Anti-Life: Darkseid is."

There is a yell. The last battle cry of Red Orion and then there is silence.

 

[wiegeabo]

With every light working in unison, something strange happens. The beams all unite into one single beam, turning white. The light is blinding, I actually have to shield my eyes. The Black Lantern Central Power Battery starts to crack and crumble under this onslaught, until finally it collapses.

With it gone, it feels like the parting of clouds, like a weight has been lifted off the air. All around us, Black Lanterns start reverting into their original form, the power of Anti-Life draining away from the universe.

"We did it. Life prevails again."

"Was there really any doubt?"

"You're goddamn right. We won the day, mother****ers!"


I thrust my ring up into the sky and turn to the rubble of the Black Lantern Power battery.

"Take that, you hunk of junk!"

I stop short of my bragging as I see something begin shifting in the ashes of the battery.

"...What the?"

[BLACKOUT]
Guy Gardner of Earth!
[/BLACKOUT]

A bright, white light blasts out of the rubble, blding me. Before the white light consumes me, I see a winged creature and hear it's voice.

[BLACKOUT]
Destiny awaits!
[/BLACKOUT]

My body crackles and surges with energy. It's not the green energy or will, or the violet light of love. It's not even the red rage or the yellow power of fear.

It's life.

The white, pure energy of life.

The energy runs through my body, expelling the violet ring and wrapping my body in the protective white light.

[BLACKOUT]
"Holy crap."
[/BLACKOUT]

I look over my new suit and smile.

[BLACKOUT]
"I know its a crime to wear white after Labor Day, but I make it look good."
[/BLACKOUT]

"Seriously...Why does Gardner keep getting new rings?"

 

[Keyser Soze]

"You're goddamn right. We won the day, mother****ers!"


I thrust my ring up into the sky and turn to the rubble of the Black Lantern Power battery.

"Take that, you hunk of junk!"

I stop short of my bragging as I see something begin shifting in the ashes of the battery.

"...What the?"

[BLACKOUT]
Guy Gardner of Earth!
[/BLACKOUT]

A bright, white light blasts out of the rubble, blding me. Before the white light consumes me, I see a winged creature and hear it's voice.

[BLACKOUT]
Destiny awaits!
[/BLACKOUT]

My body crackles and surges with energy. It's not the green energy or will, or the violet light of love. It's not even the red rage or the yellow power of fear.

It's life.

The white, pure energy of life.

The energy runs through my body, expelling the violet ring and wrapping my body in the protective white light.

[BLACKOUT]
"Holy crap."
[/BLACKOUT]

I look over my new suit and smile.

[BLACKOUT]
"I know its a crime to wear white after Labor Day, but I make it look good."
[/BLACKOUT]

I pay little attention to Guy Gardner's transformation. There's only so many colors you can see before a new one fails to excite. My attention is more focused on someone else. Sinestro.

I stride purposefully towards Sinestro, my fists clenched. He notices me a few seconds before I reach him, and he smiles thinly. He opens his mouth, as if about to speak. Perhaps make some banal small talk like "Good job, Jordan," or "Who would expect us to be working together again?" I don't give him a chance to utter a single word.

I swing a wild punch, knocking him to the ground. And then I'm on top of him, my hands wrapped around his throat.

"You did this! You sent that thing to my home! Kryb, one of your Corps... it killed Martin! YOU KILLED MY SON!"

I tighten my grip, as Sinestro gasps for air. He looks surprised. All I want is for him to be dead. It's too late now, I should have done this long ago and my boy would still be alive. But I'll do it now. I'll do it now.

"AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"

Can't do it. I push myself off him, leaving him sputtering in the dirt as I scramble to my feet and start to walk away. I just want to get away.

"Aaaaaaaauh! UUUUUUH!"

I can't breathe. I clutch at my chest, trying to regain my composure, but then I stagger and fall onto my knees, letting out huge, heaving wails. He's gone. My son is gone.

 

[wiegeabo]

I pay little attention to Guy Gardner's transformation. There's only so many colors you can see before a new one fails to excite. My attention is more focused on someone else. Sinestro.

I stride purposefully towards Sinestro, my fists clenched. He notices me a few seconds before I reach him, and he smiles thinly. He opens his mouth, as if about to speak. Perhaps make some banal small talk like "Good job, Jordan," or "Who would expect us to be working together again?" I don't give him a chance to utter a single word.

I swing a wild punch, knocking him to the ground. And then I'm on top of him, my hands wrapped around his throat.

"You did this! You sent that thing to my home! Kryb, one of your Corps... it killed Martin! YOU KILLED MY SON!"

I tighten my grip, as Sinestro gasps for air. He looks surprised. All I want is for him to be dead. It's too late now, I should have done this long ago and my boy would still be alive. But I'll do it now. I'll do it now.

"AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGHHHH!!!"

Can't do it. I push myself off him, leaving him sputtering in the dirt as I scramble to my feet and start to walk away. I just want to get away.

"Aaaaaaaauh! UUUUUUH!"

I can't breathe. I clutch at my chest, trying to regain my composure, but then I stagger and fall onto my knees, letting out huge, heaving wails. He's gone. My son is gone.

"JOR-!"

Hand around my throat. I focus on my forcefield, yet the pressure increases.

"JOR-!"

I start focusing my energy, ready to unleash...and then the pressure is gone.

Jordan is screaming on the ground. And it's only then his words register with me.

"Kr-" I cough, trying to clear my throat. "Kryb did what?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"JOR-!"

Hand around my throat. I focus on my forcefield, yet the pressure increases.

"JOR-!"

I start focusing my energy, ready to unleash...and then the pressure is gone.

Jordan is screaming on the ground. And it's only then his words register with me.

"Kr-" I cough, trying to clear my throat. "Kryb did what?"

[BLACKOUT]"Shut the hell up!"[/BLACKOUT] I snap. [BLACKOUT]"You've done enough damage. You son of a *****."[/BLACKOUT]

I walk over to Hal and bend down. [BLACKOUT]"The hell happened to Martin? What'd that mother****er and his lackies to do him?"[/BLACKOUT]

 

[Keyser Soze]

"JOR-!"

Hand around my throat. I focus on my forcefield, yet the pressure increases.

"JOR-!"

I start focusing my energy, ready to unleash...and then the pressure is gone.

Jordan is screaming on the ground. And it's only then his words register with me.

"Kr-" I cough, trying to clear my throat. "Kryb did what?"

I fall quiet, panting with exhaustion. I can't even look at him. I just keep on staring at the ground.

"You know. You know."

For a few long seconds, I say nothing. I just keep on staring ahead. I'm alarmed by how calm my voice sounds when I finally do speak.

"Because of you... my son died on a distant planet.... alone, and afraid, and wanting me to save him. And I couldn't."

My voice starts to break, and I feel a tear running down my cheek. I ignore it, taking a deep breath so I can continue talking.

"However I betrayed you in the past, you've made me pay for it tenfold, over and over. It wasn't enough to drive me to become a monster, to kill my friends and die in disgrace and piss all over everything I ever worked all my life to stand for. It wasn't enough to trick me into becoming your friend so you could betray me and disgrace me all over again. You had to find the one thing in this world I love more than anything else, and take it away from me."

Finally, I turn around to look at Sinestro.

"Well congratulations. Whatever you've wanted from me all these years, you've got it. Because there's nothing you could do anymore to lay me any lower than what you've done now. You win."

 

[wiegeabo]

I fall quiet, panting with exhaustion. I can't even look at him. I just keep on staring at the ground.

"You know. You know."

For a few long seconds, I say nothing. I just keep on staring ahead. I'm alarmed by how calm my voice sounds when I finally do speak.

"Because of you... my son died on a distant planet.... alone, and afraid, and wanting me to save him. And I couldn't."

My voice starts to break, and I feel a tear running down my cheek. I ignore it, taking a deep breath so I can continue talking.

"However I betrayed you in the past, you've made me pay for it tenfold, over and over. It wasn't enough to drive me to become a monster, to kill my friends and die in disgrace and piss all over everything I ever worked all my life to stand for. It wasn't enough to trick me into becoming your friend so you could betray me and disgrace me all over again. You had to find the one thing in this world I love more than anything else, and take it away from me."

Finally, I turn around to look at Sinestro.

"Well congratulations. Whatever you've wanted from me all these years, you've got it. Because there's nothing you could do anymore to lay me any lower than what you've done now. You win."

I ignore Gardner because, honestly, it's usually the best way to deal with him.

"Jordan, I...I'm not trying to deceive you when I say...I did not know. I wasn't aware of what every member of my Corps did. I only had one goal. To make your Corps stronger. The Guardians were always weak. You know that. But by pushing them the way we did, we forced them to enable lethal force. To take action. We made them ready for the coming war."

"What Kryb did, she did on her own. But I take responsibility. Had I known, I would have stopped it. There are few lines I won't cross. But this is one. As is our friendship. I did not deceive you, Jordan. I valued our friendship. And I took every lesson I learned with the League to heart. That's why I joined with Parallax on Oa, to spread those lessons to the universe."

I sigh inwardly. I'm not going to have this argument now. What's done is done.

"I was trying to save the universe. And while I don't expect you to ever do so...I hope that one day you can forgive me, Hal."

 

[Keyser Soze]

I ignore Gardner because, honestly, it's usually the best way to deal with him.

"Jordan, I...I'm not trying to deceive you when I say...I did not know. I wasn't aware of what every member of my Corps did. I only had one goal. To make your Corps stronger. The Guardians were always weak. You know that. But by pushing them the way we did, we forced them to enable lethal force. To take action. We made them ready for the coming war."

"What Kryb did, she did on her own. But I take responsibility. Had I known, I would have stopped it. There are few lines I won't cross. But this is one. As is our friendship. I did not deceive you, Jordan. I valued our friendship. And I took every lesson I learned with the League to heart. That's why I joined with Parallax on Oa, to spread those lessons to the universe."

I sigh inwardly. I'm not going to have this argument now. What's done is done.

"I was trying to save the universe. And while I don't expect you to ever do so...I hope that one day you can forgive me, Hal."

"Forgive you?"

I stand up and stare long and hard at Sinestro, feeling the hate burning from my eyes.

"How about this. When the day comes when I... really hurt you, make you suffer, give you a taste of what you've put me through.... we'll see if you can forgive me."

With that said, I take to the skies, leaving this damned planet and Sinestro behind.

 

[Andy C.]

The Dark Things retreat. They retreat back into the shadows, back into the hells that they call home. Their leader is no more. Cast off into parts unknown, a place that is outside human perception.

A voice calls out from Beyond!

superman

The collective of the universe skin crawls. Hair stands on it's end for those who have hair. They can feel it. Something evil lurks in the crevasses and cracks between reality. Something that was once great, something that control the very fabric of reality itself. A once mighty king in his desperation turned itself into a mad god. His presence was killing the universe and he was ripped out like a cancer.

i am

He was Darkseid. The Forever Emperor of the Fire World. Eternal Master of Ignorance. He the God of order, oppression, and tyranny. All evil in the eyes of mortals but he is above such identification.

and for every will be
Eons away beyond our capabilities to see or comprehend. He forms with the last of his essence a basic shape with his will that still clings on to this realm and calls out to his adversary.

SUPERMAN

He can see him. Superman focuses on that location where the voice calls from. A rudimentary figure appears before him. Darkseid in his truest form.

"SUPERMAN!"

"Banish me, destroy my physical form, forever damn me. You will have never beaten me. You will never deter that which is Darkseid. Long after the world is nothing more than ash and your bones reduce to dust I will remain. When a planet's rulers remain ignorant to a scientist's pleas, I exist. When a mugger pulls the trigger killing a boy's parents, I am there. Every mad plot, every scheme, Darkseid exist in the hearts of the cowardly and superstitious that perform them. When the sun shines it light, I am it's shadow. Remember this Superman, remember it well. You may have destroy me but I exist eternal. Remember the last gospel of Anti-Life: Darkseid is."

There is a yell. The last battle cry of Red Orion and then there is silence.

"Darkseid," I say, looking down on the form of the mad god for the last time, ".....shut up."

Orion silences his father as they tumble down into the void, locked in an eternal battle outside of reality for all of eternity. It's finally over.

Which just leaves me.......and the entire length and breadth of time and space within my power to change.

I shield my eyes at the bright light raditating a few miles away. I turn to Dick as the parademons begin retreating and the Black Lanterns fall from the sky.

"Come on, we need to get to that light."

As I gaze into the universe, considering the limitless possibilities before now mine to make real, I see two figures emerging through the light.

My two oldest allies, the very first of my fellow heroes I encountered after putting on the costume. And two of my best friends.

"Bruce, Dick," I say as I greet them with a smile. "Welcome to.....wherever this is. Darkseid's gone, for good this time. Now all that's left is the cleaning up."

 

[Keyser Soze]

Darkseid is defeated. The Black Lantern plague has vanished as suddenly as it appeared. And The Joker is bored.

"Well, that was fun."

The Joker took off his yellow ring, and tossed it aside like a trinket. His Parallax Corps uniform faded, leaving him in his regular purple attire.

"Time to find something new to do."

Whistling a merry tune, The Joker skipped off into the night. Reality as we know it, with all its freedom and eccentricities and black humor, had been restored, and The Joker had done his bit to ensure that happened. Now it was time to get back to enjoying it.

 

[Byrd Man]

I watch Hal rocket off into the distance. I cross my arms and turn to Sinestro.

[BLACKOUT]"A Zebra never changes their stripes. Said it all along while you were with the JLA."[/BLACKOUT]

"Kill him, Gardner," Atrocitus whispers. "Give in to your hate."

[BLACKOUT]"Enough with that Vader talk, Big Red. I'm out of here."
[/BLACKOUT]

I blast off away from the wreckage of the battle. My eyes drift towards the white ring on my finger. What the hell was that that hit me? What have I become?

[BLACKOUT]Guy Gardner.[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]What the hell is going on? What are you?[/BLACKOUT]
[BLACKOUT]
I am the Entity. I am the physical embodiment of life, like the Ion and Parallax entities. I was trapped inside the Black Lantern Battery Core by Darksied's anti-life equation. You and your comrades set me free and helped repeal the assault of anti-life on the universe and multiverse.[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]Why me? Why'd you jump into my body and decided to use me? Why not Hal?[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]The answers you seek will be answered shortly. For now, take me to the place you were born in. Some place called Baltimore, I believe.[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]How'd you know that?[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]As part of your subconsciousness, I can see your inner thoughts and memories.[/BLACKOUT]

[BLACKOUT]Just make sure to stay out of the section of my brain labeled "Triple-X", okay?[/BLACKOUT]

The voice disappears from my head as swiftly as it showed up. I change directions and fly towards America.

 

[Byrd Man]

As I gaze into the universe, considering the limitless possibilities before now mine to make real, I see two figures emerging through the light.

My two oldest allies, the very first of my fellow heroes I encountered after putting on the costume. And two of my best friends.

"Bruce, Dick," I say as I greet them with a smile. "Welcome to.....wherever this is. Darkseid's gone, for good this time. Now all that's left is the cleaning up."

I slide a batarang back into my belt once Clark comes into view.

"Clark...."

My best friend and one of the few men I can always count on, no matter what. We weren't on the best of terms when I died. There was so much I wanted to say to him, so much I wanted to apologize for. Now's my second chance. But where do I start?

"...you were late."

 

[wiegeabo]

"Forgive you?"

I stand up and stare long and hard at Sinestro, feeling the hate burning from my eyes.

"How about this. When the day comes when I... really hurt you, make you suffer, give you a taste of what you've put me through.... we'll see if you can forgive me."

With that said, I take to the skies, leaving this damned planet and Sinestro behind.

"I want a white ring!!!" Larfleeze launches himself after Gardner. I do not know, nor do I care, if he catches up with him.

"Nok tok-"

"If you want to help," I say, not looking at the stranger, "then do so in a language I can understand. Otherwise, leave me."

I don't see the sad expression of understanding on her face, but I do feel her hand on my shoulder before she disappears.

"Mister Sinestro. Hal Jordan feels nothing but grief, but time will heal his wounds, as it always does." But I don't hear Walker's words. I only hear Jordan's.

"How about this. When the day comes when I... really hurt you, make you suffer, give you a taste of what you've put me through.... we'll see if you can forgive me."

Saint Walker shakes his head. "I must make sure Ted has come to no harm after wearing the rings of two Corps. But I will return and help you if you wish."

"Jordan is the one who needs help. Not I."

Walker sighs, and then slowly lifts himself into the sky. "I will try and help him too."

"What are you going to do, Sinestro? Go after Jordan before he comes after you? Because he will come. You know that."

"I know. But I'm going to do...nothing."

"Nothing?"

"If Jordan comes after me, I will deal with it then. I owe him that much."

Atrocitus growls deeply. "Then you are as much a fool as he." With blinding speed, he launches away, a trail of crimson blood following him.

I stand there for long moments, replaying Jordan's revelations over and over in my mind. He had a family, and now it's been destroyed in the name of saving the universe. Logically, it's a noble sacrifice. But then I think of the family I had started here on Earth, and wonder if I could live with that.

I look up into the sky.

"Come after me Hal. I'll accept whatever happens. But come after my family...and I won't hesitate to kill you..."

 

[Catman_prb]

I slide a batarang back into my belt once Clark comes into view.

"Clark...."

My best friend and one of the few men I can always count on, no matter what. We weren't on the best of terms when I died. There was so much I wanted to say to him, so much I wanted to apologize for. Now's my second chance. But where do I start?

"...you were late."

Dick looked at Superman with glazed eyes, partly full of tears, partly concussed. Though his mentor was undoubtedly Bruce, it wouldn't be wrong to say that he idolised Clark Kent, the man who kept his feet grounded whilst his head in the sky. The man who could muster up a kind word for all but the worst monsters. The man who was the keystone on which all superheroes were built. The man who would save the world, but feel bad for the little girl who's cat was stuck up a tree. In every way Bruce had taught Dick what it was to save the world. But Clark had taught him how to be a hero.

A tear fell down his cheek, quickly wiped away.

"Did we win?"

 

[Blacklight]

I pick myself up off the ground. "Two things, kid. One: I'm not old. Two:..." I point my hands at the green punk and blast with with enough voltage to make Superman's hair stand up.

"The lightening bolt's not just for decoration anymore."

I dash under Rayner and slam into Wally before he can do whatever he was gonna do.

"This ring's a real pain in the ass. Let's say we get rid of it." I grab Wally's hand tightly in mine until I hear bones snap.

"Let go before I rip all your fingers off! ...wait...I'm actually good with that."

Despite the majority of Garrick's lightning surge being deflected by Kyle's surrounding force field, it was still quite the shock. But as he heard Wally's screams in pain, he got back up and willed up a construct of a giant ram that headbutted Jay so hard he was skidding across the ground.

"I don't think so, old-timer!"

Wally, now free ran to safety and as his bones healed in seconds, he summoned forth his Blue Lantern of Hope, and began to recite the Blue Lantern Corps. oath.

"In Fearful Day, in Raging Night
With Strong Hearts Full, Our Souls ignite
When All Seems Lost in the War of Light
Look to the Stars... For Hope Burns Bright!"

Power levels at 100%

Wally then raced to his friend's aid, helping him get back up after he almost collapsed from the surge.

"Thanks for having my back, Kyle. But I can take it from here..."

Speeding up to where Jay landed, Wally stood ready to face his former mentor.

"You don't have to do this anymore, Jay. Anti-Life has lost," Flash began, pointing his ring at Jay, a bright blue light engulfing him, "Look into the light, Jay. Remember who you are..."

 

[trustyside-kick]

The former Sea King stood by, marveling at the sight before him as enemies of enemies and friends stood by of different colors and power rings to bring the large Black Lantern Battery down. Then, out from the darkness came a purity in a white ring that found its way to Guy Gardner; which could only be a good thing. White has always and will forever remain a sign of good, life, and humbleness. So whatever that ring has in store for Guy, the Marine Marvel taps his proverbial hat off to.

But then he witnesses the confrontation between Hal and Sinestro. The Aquatic Ace was in the dark about the bad news about Hal's son, and he has lost far too many loved ones--two being sons of his own--to want to imagine what Hal is going through. It's the worst feeling in the world. In fact...you lose your world. For your children are your world. Nothing is quite like having a child. It changes you. Changes everything in how you perceive life and the future.

"What are you going to do, Sinestro? Go after Jordan before he comes after you? Because he will come. You know that."

"I know. But I'm going to do...nothing."

"Nothing?"

"If Jordan comes after me, I will deal with it then. I owe him that much."

Atrocitus growls deeply. "Then you are as much a fool as he." With blinding speed, he launches away, a trail of crimson blood following him.

I stand there for long moments, replaying Jordan's revelations over and over in my mind. He had a family, and now it's been destroyed in the name of saving the universe. Logically, it's a noble sacrifice. But then I think of the family I had started here on Earth, and wonder if I could live with that.

I look up into the sky.

"Come after me Hal. I'll accept whatever happens. But come after my family...and I won't hesitate to kill you..."

"Hal won't go after your family, Sinestro. He won't go to such depths and cruel lengths. He will want to, and the bitter seed of angst and anger and evil will try to grow within him but in the end he won't."

"He will. I felt great Rage in Hal Jordan's heart. Why, it wouldn't surprise me if The Beast itself went after him. And what will you do, Orin of Atlantis, if that happens?"

Atrocitus smiles as he interrupts and walks up to Aquaman.

"Yes, I know you. For a brief time, unknown to you, you were my Red Lantern of this Sector. You have great Rage in your heart, Orin. So if you could not control your rage--"

"Had rage."

"...then what makes you think Hal Jordan will be able to control his?"

They stare each other down for a brief moment, Atrocitus just barely towering over Orin by a few inches. A smile of glee across the survivor of the slaughter of Ysmault and a stern look across the former Sea King. Atrocitus wants Orin to give into the rage again, but the brute simply doesn't understand: Orin has been cleansed. A changed man.

He simply walks away from the two, slowly, as he talks back to Sinestro with his back still turned.

"I don't know what has transpired exactly, but it sounds like if I check the League records looks like your name will no longer be on the list of clearance. So whatever you did, you lost everyone's trust...again, Sinestro. More importantly, you regained Hal's and then lost it again. And now, you are somehow responsible for the death of his son? Do you know what it is like to lose a child, Sinestro? You need not answer that. I have lost two of my own. Consider yourself no longer a friend of mine."

And then, the Marine Marvel escapes into the sea.

 

[trustyside-kick]

​

The city was in a panic, but the situation was much under control now than what it was earlier. The bulk of the zombies and demon-thingies appeared to have been drawn away. The different lights that had earlier buzzed across the sky now seem concentrated on a pulsing bright light out on the horizon. The boy assumed that his father was out there, on that horizon, because he sure as hell wasn't in Gotham. Which was a damn shame, because Gotham sure as hell could use a Batman right now.

None of the usual suspects seemed to be out. No Drake. No Bimbo 'Thunderpants' Brown. Hell, if Barbara ****ing Gordon was shaking her ass with her nightly girlfriends it sure wasn't making a difference.

Its a damn shame, because if only some other hero were here then perhaps the death toll wouldn't be so high. Damian knew his father's 'golden rule'. He knew the ethos behind the Batman. He knew why his father was the man that he was. But Damian wasn't Bruce Wayne. Through blackest night, Damian looked within himself and found that he's lost any sympathy for the criminals that he stalked. He'd lost the will to seek redemption for himself or even to express remorse for anything other than the two year old he'd seen gunned down by gang violence. The small timers and wannabes were tied up for Gotham's finest - when the GCPD had the time to come pick them up. The rest went into that good night as a trail of blood which stretched from downtown to the Suicide Slums.

The window shattered from seven stories above the pavement. The large thug's scream piercing the night air as the shadow framed in the windowsill stoically watched the meatbag splatter on the sidewalk below. "Man was an alto. Who'd have guessed?" the boy muttered, as he casually tossed up a cellphone and caught it behind his back before flipping the mobile open. A gift from the deceased, one that Damian had picked from off his belt before he'd taken the plunge. Hesitating for a moment, the son of the Bat dialed out a number and put the phone against the side of his head as he leaned up against a blood splattered wall.

Inside the room were three other bodies, several automatic weapons which the self-proclaimed drug lords had never even had time to touch, and a half pound of cocaine sitting out on the coffee table.

A familiar voice answered. "Wayne residence."

OOC: Previously...​

Jason Todd- 'Sculpting'
-------------------------
Fought my way through the streets of Gotham this entire damn time. Yea, I know, right? I blew up my loft to slow down and get rid of those freakshows and it just so happens that the entire city was over-run with them. And I'm good...yea, I'm real good, but these sons a b*tches aren't human. So I got a little torn up. A few cuts and bruises but nothing serious.

More important is that this entire time I've been tracking down where Damian ran off to.

It's...strange in a way really. The punk can hold his own but I guess since I had such trouble with these things when the numbers were too high I...started to worry about the twerp. Geez I...was sick worried actually.

The hell is happening to me? Am I starting to care for the kid? He's a little snot though!

"You are all right, then?"

"Yeah, whatever," Damian quipped coldly, terminating the conversation when he snapped the cellphone shut and tossed it out the window so that it could go join its former owner.

Alone in a room full of bodies, part of him felt disappointed. After Jason Todd and Jean Paul Valley - an undead Jean Paul Valley with a power ring - fighting crime just didn't have any of the same challenge. It was boring. He needed something fun to do. Like punching in Tim Drake's face.

Damn. He was missing the Drake now? God, how desperate could he get?

"UGGNNHH!"

I stumble to the ground from the window, after being so sure I'd make a smooth landing. Lost more blood than I realize.

More torn up than I realized. There were so many of them.

"Heh...I'm here lying in my own ****, and you've barely got a scratch on you, kid. You...you got lucky--"

Things going dark. Feel like I'm passing ou--

 

[J'adore]

Harley stands by the bedside of Selina Kyle, each iris still projecting a soft pink. The nurses rush around the wounded patient before dismissing Harley from their presence. The nurses will do nothing to save Selina Kyle.

No one can. Except you, Harleen.

She shakes her head, the deep thoughts that encrypt her mind fade away almost in an instant. As the female walks down the hall with her head in her hands, she bursts in to the new world she helped achieve. Gotham is almost like a new place now. Brighter, warmer and more heroic.
Selina Kyle's heart has been broken by the once lover, Bruce Wayne. Mend her heart by bring her back from the brink of death and re-unite her with her one true love....

Harley's eyes swell up, tears forming in the crease of her lower eye lids. She quickly spins around, her sense of direction struggling to catch up with the quick change of direction. She soon finds her hand pushing open the Hospital doors and making her way through to Selina Kyle's room once more.

***

"What happened, Stephanie? Why were you gone for so long?"

"L-Leave it Mom...I'm fine now..."

"Don't ever scare me like that again, you hear me!? I thought you were in good hands, not out trying to destroy the world!"

"Mom...I'm serious, leave me ALONE," The mother leaves the room, struggling to keep her hand from shaking and the tears swelling up in her eyes. As the door flaps violently, Stephanie's weak eyes manage to catch a glimpse of Harley, her radiating pink iris attracting the young blonde's attention. As the door finally comes to a soft close, Harley is no longer seen. The patient lays back in her bed, breathing slowly.

***

The redheaded beauty sprints straight in to her flat, rushing viciously over to her bathroom and unleashing a spew of sick and vomit. She begins to weep, resting on the seat of her toilet. She bows her head down in her lap, not managing to control the tears that flood her eyes. "I'm a monster..."

***

The femme fatale stalks the city of Gotham, helping to make sure the destruction she caused is fixed. She has a pounding headache and feels like throwing up, but yet manages to focus on only one thing. To find Montoya. Making sure she is safe and making sure she survived the reign of the Anti-Life. "Where are you, Montoya?"
​

***

Holly Robinson is awoken to the soft voice of Arisia, who nurses to the wounded female. The two talk for a short period of time, before Holly can manage to stand on her own two feet. As she looks over in the corner of her eye, she can't help but notice a growing vine, spiraling out of control, up the wall of a large building. "I gotta go..."

"W-wait! Where are you goi---"

***

You can do this, Harleen. Save Selina. Save an innocent. For once in your life, do something valuable, help someone, save them. I took from Selina what was taken from me...being able to carry a child. A soft, sweet, gentle child - ones that laugh when you hold them, ones with your hair, ones with your eyes. I can't let Selina go down with that horrible wound as well...not as long as I live. This is the new Harley. The hero.

And with her thoughts all cleared up, Harley makes her way in to Selina's ward. She doesn't bother to give the nurses a chance, instantly crystallizing them all with a flick of her wrists. She watches as each nurses' hearts glow, radiating violet colors. Hover the hands over her wounds and regain her strength once again. Focus on the love.

The Star Sapphire shuts her eyes, creeping in to Selina's room, crystallizing the nurses and calmly moving towards Selina's bedside. Her hands begin to glow pink, and soon, she is suited up in her Star Sapphire outfit. She stares at her hands, a smile creeping up upon her face.

This is for you, Selina.

This is for love.

***

Poison Ivy, former eco terrorist, former Batman rogue. Zatanna Zatara, former stage magician, former heroine. Now, they are just two isolated females, alone and trapped in a cave of entwining poison ivy leaves. "Happy now, dearest Zatanna? I have sent the message out to the upper grounds of Gotham. It shall not be long before Harley and Holly manage to find us..."

"Silence, Pamela. I am sensing hope....real hope. For the first time in almost months, the world has been lifted of the Anti-Life. We are free to leave..." Her words seemed rush, yet tasteful.

The two females step over the dead bodies of the parademons, Poison Ivy clapping her hands together and banishing the cave of poison ivy leaves. The light hits them with all it's power. Then, once their vision has been regained, they see a hand, reaching out to them. "We need to find Harley."
​

​

 

[Andy C.]

I slide a batarang back into my belt once Clark comes into view.

"Clark...."

My best friend and one of the few men I can always count on, no matter what. We weren't on the best of terms when I died. There was so much I wanted to say to him, so much I wanted to apologize for. Now's my second chance. But where do I start?

"...you were late."

"I know," I say, looking away in guilt. "And I'm sorry."

There's really nothing else I can say. During the final battle with the Dark Alliance, I had been so focused on defeating Brainiac and Doomsday that I didn't hear Bruce's struggle with the Joker. I could have stopped it. I could have sped across Gotham and crushed the Joker into paste before he could get the knife in. But the fact of the matter is I didn't.

Of all my failures, letting my friends and loved ones die haunts me far worse than anything else. I lost Kara and Bruce within the same week. I lost Lois a few years before that. And while they're all back now, seeing them go......it's something that never leaves you.

Dick looked at Superman with glazed eyes, partly full of tears, partly concussed. Though his mentor was undoubtedly Bruce, it wouldn't be wrong to say that he idolised Clark Kent, the man who kept his feet grounded whilst his head in the sky. The man who could muster up a kind word for all but the worst monsters. The man who was the keystone on which all superheroes were built. The man who would save the world, but feel bad for the little girl who's cat was stuck up a tree. In every way Bruce had taught Dick what it was to save the world. But Clark had taught him how to be a hero.

A tear fell down his cheek, quickly wiped away.

"Did we win?"

"We won, Dick," I say to Nightwing. "Darkseid's been put away forever, and our friends were able to destroy that Black Lantern thing. There were pretty steep losses, but at least the invasion's over...."

I glance at my hands, still pulsing with energy from the Source.

"....and I can fix things now."

I look up, gesturing to the infinite array of space and time before me, the power of the Source still allowing me to re-shape reality.

"I can go back.....change things, stop so much from happening. I could stop everything that Darkseid did, everything the Dark Alliance did before him.....here, with this power....I could save everyone."

 

[Byrd Man]

"We won, Dick," I say to Nightwing. "Darkseid's been put away forever, and our friends were able to destroy that Black Lantern thing. There were pretty steep losses, but at least the invasion's over...."

I glance at my hands, still pulsing with energy from the Source.

"....and I can fix things now."

I look up, gesturing to the infinite array of space and time before me, the power of the Source still allowing me to re-shape reality.

"I can go back.....change things, stop so much from happening. I could stop everything that Darkseid did, everything the Dark Alliance did before him.....here, with this power....I could save everyone."

"No," is my simple reply. I step forward, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"We learn more from our failures than we do from our successes. They shape us, make us into the men we are. Would I want to go back and change my parents murder? Yes. Or the murder of Dick's parents? Yes. We can't do that, though. Even though the pain is unbearable, it's that pain that drives us to be greater. Without it, we grow complacent and soft. Loss is a natural part of life, as is defeat. The world can be perfect, but at what cost? A perfect world is a world without the need for a Superman or Batman. As much as I'd wish for that world to exists, it can't. Leave it the same, Clark. We'll rebuild and bury our dead like we always do, learning a little more with each passing day."

 

[Catman_prb]

"Let it go Clark," Dick said, smiling sadly "Just let it go,"

 

[Andy C.]

"Tell all that to the people who lost friends and families, who lost their whole worlds, because of what Darkseid did," I say, focusing on the pinwheels of galaxies that swirl around me. "Tell that to the families of the people killed by the Joker's Venom bomb a year ago, or any number of innocent people that have died because of Luthor or Brainiac or Ra's al Ghul or the others. We do our best to stop that very same loss and tragedy from happening, but even with our skills, our powers, we can only do so much. We can't be everywhere at once. But now? I can."

With every star, every planet I focus my vision to see, I can see the entire history, from beginning to end, and the infinite opportunities I have to change it.

"You said you can't go back and stop the murder of your parents, or of Dick's family. But I can. I could go back and prove my father's warnings, save Krypton from its destruction. Billions of lives would be saved, and God only knows what we could learn from them. I could stop the events that drove people like Lex or the Joker insane. We all put on the costume with the intent that we can make the world a better place. Right now I've got the ability to do exactly that. And you're telling me to let it go?"

 

[Byrd Man]

"Tell all that to the people who lost friends and families, who lost their whole worlds, because of what Darkseid did," I say, focusing on the pinwheels of galaxies that swirl around me. "Tell that to the families of the people killed by the Joker's Venom bomb a year ago, or any number of innocent people that have died because of Luthor or Brainiac or Ra's al Ghul or the others. We do our best to stop that very same loss and tragedy from happening, but even with our skills, our powers, we can only do so much. We can't be everywhere at once. But now? I can."

With every star, every planet I focus my vision to see, I can see the entire history, from beginning to end, and the infinite opportunities I have to change it.

"You said you can't go back and stop the murder of your parents, or of Dick's family. But I can. I could go back and prove my father's warnings, save Krypton from its destruction. Billions of lives would be saved, and God only knows what we could learn from them. I could stop the events that drove people like Lex or the Joker insane. We all put on the costume with the intent that we can make the world a better place. Right now I've got the ability to do exactly that. And you're telling me to let it go?"

"Where will it end? Save Krypton, save my parents, save Dick's mother and father, go back and stop Kara from dying at the hands of Deathstroke. What about going back and making sure Deathstroke never existed? The same with the Joker and Lex Luthor. Before long, you've got your perfect world, but at the cost of lives. That's makes you no better than them. You strive for perfection in something that is imperfect. Life. If life were fair and perfect, I wouldn't had to have watched Thomas and Martha Wayne die on a cold, Gotham street. I was denied justice or fairness, so that I can bring it to others. No matter how bad we wish it to be, we can never make it a perfect place. You think you'll make it better, but at the cost of your soul. Is that a fair trade?"

 

[Andy C.]

"Where will it end? Save Krypton, save my parents, save Dick's mother and father, go back and stop Kara from dying at the hands of Deathstroke. What about going back and making sure Deathstroke never existed? The same with the Joker and Lex Luthor. Before long, you've got your perfect world, but at the cost of lives. That's makes you no better than them. You strive for perfection in something that is imperfect. Life. If life were fair and perfect, I wouldn't had to have watched Thomas and Martha Wayne die on a cold, Gotham street. I was denied justice or fairness, so that I can bring it to others. No matter how bad we wish it to be, we can never make it a perfect place. You think you'll make it better, but at the cost of your soul. Is that a fair trade?"

"This coming from a man who's spent years of his life obsessively trying to contain crime in his city. Who's given up so much of himself in order to rebuild Gotham by applying his own personal concept of justice. As far as I can tell, the only difference between what you do and what you're telling me not to do is the scale of it....and that I haven't given up on the final goal."

I finally turn away from the cosmos before me, to face Bruce and Dick.

"I wouldn't be getting rid of Luthor or Joker or Deathstroke. I'd just....fix them, keep them from becoming the monsters they are now. Even if you want to argue that that's just the same as killing them, wouldn't saving every person they've killed, every life that they've ruined, more than make up for it? I used to call what we do a 'never-ending battle,' but I can end it right now. You may think that pursuing a better world is ultimately a futile task, but it doesn't have to be. This is a battle we can win. And if it costs me my soul like you said.....well, then so be it."