DC2 Nemesis: Chapter Seven

<This is insane!> Hal Jordan was fuming. Sent to the furthest reaches of the universe, the furthest point away from the Planet Earth, and the Sector he had sworn to protect. He floated impatiently, his force-field shifting as his morphed along with his mood. What was he to do? Sit and wait? Do nothing whilst the universe came undone? <Screw this--!>

Green Lantern was about to hook himself into the subluminal network that connected all the Sectors in the universe, when a bolt of lightning erupted from the Source Wall, and began to shoot out into space-- Hal was on it's tail instantly, pushing his ring to it's limits as he raced hot on its tail. It was getting further and further away, travelling faster than Hal could keep up, and the Green Lantern wondered what it could be, when his ring spat back answers:

<Energy signature not recognised-->

<... but I think I do...> mumbled Hal, as he hooked a tracer beam on the tail of the lightning, and was suddenly pulled across a Sector of space faster than he had ever been before. <Barry! Barry! Is that you?>


Wonder Woman prayed to the pantheon she worshipped. She didn't know if they could hear her-- they had long since left this world, leaving the Amazons to their own devices, to choose their own direction in this world-- but she prayed none the less. Captain Marvel walked slowly into the Amazonian Queen's chambers, and she turned slowly to him, smiling. "Hello, Cap."

"Diana, I..." Captain Marvel shook his head. "I'm doing this."

"Captain--"

"No, listen to me-- I can do this. I can save the world. You can hold the world together, and I can stop Nekron. Black Adam fell, the Green Lanterns, they fell in the face of this thing... I didn't. I can hold out. I have the power to do this. Let me."

"I don't want to put anyone else in the way of this thing--"

"I'm Captain Marvel," he said, "and I'll do whatever it takes to save the universe. I'm going to do this."

Wonder Woman looked this man up and down. His resolution was clear. The belief in his words-- the truth behind the declaration that he could do this... she placed her hand on his shoulder, and nodded slowly. "And may all the gods go with you."


"Here to wish me luck?" The Ray looked over to the assembled members of the Justice Society of America and the Young All-Stars. He hugged his friends, and shook hands with the older generation, all in anticipation of his flight into space.

"How are you feeling?" asked Alan Scott.

"Good, the Justice League have solar cells in the medical bay, for Superman, but, uh..." he breathed in deeply. "I'm fully charged."

"Then fly straight, fly strong," said the Golden Age Green Lantern, "we believe in you."

"...Thank you," said The Ray, "for everything, for saving us from Per Degaton... for training us to be better heroes. I've valued every moment of my time in this century like..." he laughed, "you know what? I'll tell you when I get back."

Alan Scott smiled. "Come home."

"You know I will."


Terra's eyes opened slowly, and before she full realised where she was, two words left her lips softly. "She's... back..."

"Tara!" Gar Logan's face immediately brightened. "You're okay!"

"I feel like crap, but if that's your definition of ‘okay’... sure, green-jeans..." the young heroine pulled herself up, "what did I miss?"

Gar Logan didn't know where to begin. He started with the Black Sun rising, Superman falling and taking Metropolis with him, news of the disappearance of The Flash, Raven's disappearance, and the destruction of the Justice League. The fall of the metahuman world. "... so yeah. The world is ending."

"Oh, come on Gar, you don't really believe that?" said Tara as she pulled the young hero close, "'cause really... we live in a world of miracles, of superheroes and the like-- you really think we're gonna lose?"

"I hadn't thought about that," he said quietly, before she kissed him.

"I think the word I'm looking for is faith..."


Green Lantern was being dragged through the galaxy by something composed of pure Speed Force, something he believed to be one of his best friends, The Flash-- and he could feel himself almost blurring as the lightning crackled sparks into space around him. <BARRY!> Hal screamed, <WHAT'S GOING-->

Space exploded into fragments as they hit something. Hal feared for a moment that they were going so fast-- and their mass was reaching unbelievable limits, that they ploughed through a planet, a moon, something solid, but then he arched his neck back with infinite effort, and saw flashes of green flooding behind him. The Green Lantern Corps?! His vision shifted, enhanced by his ring, and for a lingering moment he saw Kilowog and his friends in the Corps, along with the Guardians of the Universe, stationary in space as they had yet to react to the change in situation, and he gaped in astonishment. Readings popped up before his eyes-- they were in Sector 2814-- they had broken through the barrier separating the rest of the universe from his home sector, and they were nearing Earth.

<Come on Barry,> he whispered, <we're nearly home--!>


Kilowog barely registered what happened. The dozens of Corps members assembled-- every member they could muster-- were thrown back by a sudden shockwave that ruptured space all around them. <What was that?>

Tomar Re's ring flashed information, instantly transmitted to Kilowog's own. <The barrier separating ourselves and Earth has been destroyed-- rings detect trace Green Lantern energies intertwined with... unknown energies reported by Lantern 2814.1 in reference to speedsters on Planet Earth.>

<... Jordan. It's gotta be. Light 'em up, ya Poozers! Let's end this!>

"Hold strong, our Corps," said one Guardian, as they watched the Corps pour toward the Black Sun on the fringes of their sight, ready for the endgame.

"Have will. Have faith."


The Ray clenched his fists. Captain Marvel was standing beside him, the Boom Bomb strapped to his back. They exchanged a brief look, and then Marvel smiled at him, and for a moment-- before the overriding feeling of fear and terror returned-- Ray Terrill felt comforted . He'd spent pretty much every hour since his rescue recharging under the Justice League sunlamps, and now he had but one thing on his mind. The end of this fight. And a week's sleep afterwards.

Firestorm raised his hands and stepped between the two heroes, and cracked his knuckles. "My move then, guys?"

Aquaman nodded from where he stood. He thought he saw something moving amongst the ruins of Metropolis, and pointed it out to the Martian Manhunter, but J'onn could hear nothing but static from the necropolis. "Do it, Firestorm."

The Nuclear Hero raised his arms up, and wiggled his fingers, transforming the air in front of him into sheets and sheets of reflective metal. He drew molecules from all around, Professor Stein whispering the chemical composition of the alloy into Ronnie's mind as he did so, until there was a pile towering into the sky. "Done."

"Phase Two." Batman looked at the young hero This was their last chance. Their last stand. Without hesitation, he triggered the Boom Tube generator that Bruce Wayne had stolen during the Apokolips Imperative, all those years back. The heroes began to throw the metal into the tunnel, and it vanished as it was sucked into the vortex and spat out on the other side. When they were done transporting the sheets, they closed the Tube, and Batman reconfigured the next entry point.

The Ray rubbed his hands together. "Guess we better get going then, right?"

"Too true, Ray," Captain Marvel put out his hand. "Good luck."

The Ray took it, and shifted his body into it's other form, light crackling and enveloping his body, his flesh turning into pure elemental light. "Oh yeah, you too."


The Ray shot through faster than the human eye could follow, and then the tunnel closed. Captain Marvel knew the plan. He'd wait-- he'd count ten seconds before Batman would trigger the Boom Tube generator once more-- and send him right into the face of the monstrosity in the sky.


The Ray flew into the desolate coldness of space-- and any fears that he might freeze-- or implode-- vanished as he continued to hurtle forward. He was pure light-- pure, unstoppable light, and he was shooting toward Nekron.

"YOU. FIREBUG. NOTHINGNESS. A SPECK IN THE FACE OF AN ALL-CONSUMING END."

He could hear Nekron's voice in his head-- and instead of the tone that others had described as 'fingernails going down the chalkboard of your soul', he heard fear. His physiology was different. His mind was evolved. He didn't feel the malevolence that had corrupted others who had got this close. He felt hope. So he continued, picking up speed.

"I WILL KILL YOU LAST. I WILL THROW YOUR CARCASS AGAINST THE MOON, AND IT WILL BECOME YOUR CRYPT. YOU WILL BE BURIED FOREVER, KEPT ALIVE BY MY PITY. FOREVER. AND IN THE DYING LIGHT OF THE UNIVERSE, YOU TOO SHALL SIMPLY GUTTER OUT."

Nekron was a vast, horrific creation-- his pale parchment thin skin stretched on an inhuman frame. Obsidian eyes scoured into everything he rested them upon, and his mouth was empty of teeth. Instead, and The Ray nearly hesitated when he saw this, millions of shapes swirled inside behind his lips, tortured, screaming souls all trapped within this monstrosity. Was this just his mind processing Nekron in a way that wouldn't drive him insane? nekron's fingers, the long nails scratching across existence as they moved, shifted in direction, until they pointed at Ray.

"DIE, PATHETIC THING."

The Ray didn't say a word, instead. You're all talk, he thought, his body moving faster and faster, all you ever have been was a voice in the darkness. And you know what? I'm not afraid of the dark.

The Ray shot through Nekron's chest, straight through the being's body, and out of the other side. Nekron screamed, and tremors throbbed forward toward Earth, and the entire planet shook. The Ray couldn't stop, his momentum too great, instead he arched to the side, and bounced off one of the sheets of metal that the League had deployed moments before, and headed straight back, and tore through Nekron once more. The being tried to grasp at the bolt of light that shot through him, but The Ray was too fast, gouging at the mass of Nekron like nothing had before. This is it.


"It's time," said Captain Marvel, as he stepped forward, ready for his part in the attack. Before Batman could activate the Boom Tube, the Hall of Justice shook, and Wonder Woman turned around to see a legion of men, woman and children, with the black ichor of Nekron's influence dribbling from their eyes and mouths, storming forward. At the front of this bastion of posessed humanity were the super-villains that had nearly dragged Superman down, all storming toward the Hall of Justice with evil intent.

Aquaman turned to Batman, and barked at him, "Do it! Send him now!"

There was a rumbling from beneath the feet of the Caped Crusader, and the ground exploded, the Mother Box flying from his hands. "No!"

Copperhead hissed as his claws tore at Batman, but he was pushed back by a blur of red and black as the Dark Knight dove at his fellow vigilante's attacker, allowing Dick Grayson time to grab the device once more. Jason Todd slammed his fists into the face of the serpentine villian, and then nodded at Dick Grayson as the Boom Tube activated.


Captain Marvel shot through the tunnel, leaving the assembled heroes battling a throng of super-charged supervillains and amped up humans.

The Dark Knight punched Copperhead in the mouth, slamming his jaws shut, and knocking him out instantly, his brain bouncing about his skull as he hit the ground. "We've even, Robin," managed the Dark Knight, before he leapt once more into battle.

"For now, Redwing," shot back Dick Grayson, as he fought side-by-side with Bruce Wayne's first partner.


Captain Marvel's arrival into space was soundless, and the first sight that met him was the monstrosity that was Nekron swatting pathetically at the ricocheting Ray, who was bouncing off any and all of the metal sheets as he could, moving constantly.

Nekron turned slowly to face Captain Marvel. "LITTLE BOY PLAYING HERO."

I know you can hear me. And let me tell you-- I've heard it all before, thought the Captain, as Nekron screamed, under attack of The Ray once more. Captain Marvel dodged a lazy punch from the giant death god, and then began to activate the device he held in his hands.

"YOUR FATHER DIED FACING A GOD OF EVIL. PATHETIC. MEWLING."

Captain Marvel bristled under the comments, but said nothing. He allowed The Ray to distract Nekron, buying him time to activate the device.

"HOW WILL YOU FALL? I CAN TELL YOU, IF YOU SO DESIRE."

Captain Marvel looked up, and smiled. If I fall fighting you, Nekron-- I will consider my life well-spent!

Nekron’s visage twisted. He lashed out with impossible speed, and grabbed Captain Marvel by the chest. The Ray continued his barrage, tearing through the monster, but Nekron ignored the pain. "I HEAR WORDS IN YOUR MIND. STRAY THOUGHTS. YOU AND THE LIGHT MAY BE ABLE TO RESIST MY WILL, BUT YOU ARE NOT UNBREAKABLE. CAGE. EXPLOSION. TRAP. ALL WORDS I HAVE HEARD BEFORE. THEY HOLD NO MEANING FOR ME NOW. I AM ASCENDANT."

Nekron crushed the Boom Bomb against Captain Marvel's chest, and the Red Marvel's eyes opened wide as blue energy began to lash out between Nekron's hand and his own body, as the charge inside the device began to go off prematurely. "SO I ASK YOU THIS: HOW WILL YOU FALL? BECAUSE I CAN TELL YOU. RIGHT. NOW." Nekron swung Captain Marvel around, and threw him and the Boom Bomb hurtling into space, the device stuck to the Marvel's chest by Nekron's own dark power. "HERE. SCREAMING. FOREVER. JUST LIKE THE FIREBUG YOU THINK HURTS ME."

The Ray saw Captain Marvel struggle to break free of the device, a spiral of energy exploding against the trapped hero’s chest as the device began to rev up to full power. CAP! The Ray pulled away from his attack on Nekron and shot toward Captain Marvel, just as the Bomb erupted, engulfing the two heroes as they faded from view.

"YOU FALL HERE. AND NOW, I DESTROY THE WORLD. AGAIN. FOR THE LAST TIME."


Zauriel froze. He could see far into the sky, through the upper atmosphere and beyond, and he saw that their plan had failed. He'd sacrificed their one escape route, and their final plan of attack had failed. Earth would fall. First this universe, then the next, then all parallel realities, then the branches of the multiverse, and then... all would be Nekron. There would be nothing else. Only death. And all their battles would have been in vain. "...No."

Then there was a noise. A rumbling that shook all of Metropolis. The ground exploded upwards, as a blur of red and blue headed up through the atmosphere-- Superman soared into view.

Wonder Woman's eyes widened. "Great Hera."

His skin was glowing, supercharged with solar energy, and he was headed straight toward Nekron, and ploughed into the chest of the creature, sending them floating back. Took me... days... Superman said, to regain the solar charge you stole from me. You destroyed my city, used my body against me-- no more. No more games. He punched Nekron again and again, blow after blow connecting, the death god weakened by The Ray's attack. NO MORE!

"YOUR WORLD DIED. SO SHALL THIS. YOUR WOMEN. YOUR FAMILY. YOUR BLOOD. DEAD. DYING. BY MY HAND."

Stop talking! Superman reeled back his fist, about to land another blow, when a flash of yellow and green came into view behind Nekron. Hal Jordan hurtled forward as the lightning came to a full stop, and he reacted on instinct, forming a protective bubble around the flickering form of The Flash, who stood in space, breathing in and out, his body mainlining Speed Force, allowing him to function in deep space.

<Guess we're not the cavalry then, eh Kal?>

Superman nodded gratefully as Hal hooked him up with breathing apparatus and communication gear. <You'll do, GL, you'll do!>

Nekron was not shaken by these new arrivals. "LITTLE MEN. LOST. FOUND. SOON TO BE DEAD."

The Flash faced Nekron. I have a word for you, from an old friend of yours. I travelled through history, through time and space, right under Creation itself to find the weapon to defeat you. And I found out that there isn't one. There isn't a weapon. There's a Word.

"... NO."

Green Lantern, as if on cue, concentrated all his might, and enveloped The Flash, Superman, himself and Nekron in a massive bubble, and The Flash opened his mouth, and as syllables left his throat, as his tongue clicked and his lips moved, a noise wasn't formed-- instead a grand white light began to glow, and Nekron shuddered visibly. Hal Jordan's nose began to bleed, the stress of holding the bubble together shaking his concentration, and he moved Superman out of range of the Word, into his own protective bubble.

The bubble began to crumble, Nekron thrashing against the emerald energy physically and mentally, reaching into Hal Jordan's mind as he had before and peeling back the layers of scar tissue from a lifetime of trauma-- but then layers and layers of containment energy began to form inside the bubble, as Kilowog sounded the call, and the Corps flooded into sight.

Hal's ears were bleeding, the pain was immense, but he couldn't help himself, <Say... say it... say it loud, Kilowog!>

<Gladly--! IN BRIGHTEST DAY!>

Nekron shrieked as The Flash's face vanished from sight, instead replaced by an incandescent glow brighter than anything he'd ever seen-- and even as he tried to turn away, his black eyes opened wide-- another bolt of something headed straight at him, coming into view faster than anything! The Ray picked up speed, dropping Captain Marvel into the waiting arms of Superman-- and shot through Nekron's skull, emerging out the other side to bounce into a catcher's mit formed by Hank Henshaw's emerald ring, who had joined the legion of Corps members encircling Nekron.

Theirs was a beautiful, silent ballet-- Superman watched as constructs flickered into view before forming completely, Kilowog uniting them all with their oath. He mouthed the words he had heard Hal Jordan say so many times over, hope swelling in his chest '...in blackest night, no evil shall escape my sight... let those who worship evil's might beware my power...'

<...GREEN LANTERN'S LIGHT!>


Energy blasts shot out, speedsters blurred in and out of view, and the hordes of Nekron fell—they were weakened visibly, the possessed citizens easily subdued by the League, united at full strength, and aided by the JSA and the Titans and Outsiders. The villains, as they regained their senses, retreated hastily as the chaos unravelled. Wonder Woman saw the flashes of emerald light in the dark sky up above and knew, there and then, that the Green Lantern Corps had arrived. "KEEP FIGHTING!" she shouted, "TAKE THAT MONSTER DOWN!"


Nekron's chest throbbed as the Green Lantern Corps kept him contained, and his black eyes began to glow as something climbed out of his chest—flesh-pink fingers prised the rotting mass that was his body to the side and a slight figure crawled out from the carcass. Hal Jordan's eyes opened wide, and he pressed a finger to his temple. <J'onn, are you getting this?>

The reply came immediately, as the League telepathic channel sent the message instantaneously. <Relaying to Wonder Woman-- she informs me that what you're experiencing... is the manifestation of Gaia... the spirit of the Earth.>

<...beautiful...>

Gaia pulled herself out of Nekron, and then slowly moved her head toward Earth, her body glowing in the emerald light of the Green Lantern Corps. She smiled, as if contented, and then began to drift toward the globe, before fading away as she neared the atmosphere, becoming one with her home as she connected with the world. The planet was whole once more, but the fight wasn't yet over--

Nekron was a gutted version of his former self, shrinking in size every passing moment that he was contained within the green prison the Corps had thought up. "You... think... me... defeated..?"

Kilowog aimed his ring at the decaying entity, energy sparking from the centre of his ring. <Stay down, ya Poozer. Yer under arrest. The Corps ain't got no qualms about lockin' up a god.>

"No--" Nekron's eyes crackled, and he pushed his bone thin fingers through the emerald prison walls, and then shot after Gaia.

Hal thought fast. <Honour guard, you're with me, we lock this sonofabitch down right here and now!! The rest of you, we need a Black Sun taken out of the equation, think hard, think true!> with the order barked by Hal Jordan, he shot after Nekron with Superman, The Flash, Ray and Captain Marvel in tow. <We got incoming, J'onn! Rally!>


Metropolis was changing. Charred soil was becoming fuller, grass began to sprout, trees began to grow-- the damage done by Superman's explosive rejection of the solar energy in his Kryptonian cells was being undone. The buildings had still fallen, but the wasteland was now an oasis-- ready to be rebuilt. Across the world, where demonic incursions had torn through reality and wreaked havoc, the damage was being undone, all thanks to the return of Gaia to her home.

Wonder Woman looked to the sky, and saw Nekron approach. Not the God, but a fallen, rotting thing, still terrifying, still dangerous, but now on a level that all could comprehend. He no longer projected psychic terror and fear into the minds of every man, woman and child, instead, Diana took her lasso from her belt and began to fly up. Nekron was snarling, spittle flying from his decaying mouth thirsty for destruction.

Without her, the world had fallen. She knew this. Months ago, she'd nearly died, and she'd experienced-- with the help of a Mother Box from another time-line-- what happened when the Black Sun rose without her presence. The world was a gutted ruin, much like Metropolis but so much more deadlier. Donna Troy had taken the mantle of Wonder Woman, and she'd saved the world in her own way, but now Diana could finish the war without an apocalypse.

Nekron was bearing down upon her, his fingers stretching and clawing toward her. She flew true. "You have... been there... for my every move... and you have done... nothing... to stop me... Nothing has changed..."

Wonder Woman wound back her fist, and then when she was about to collide with Nekron, brought it down upon his face, slamming him straight down into the ground below. "Everything has changed," she replied, before flying down to him. As she reached the crater his impact had formed, the Green Lantern Corps Honour Guard descended behind Hal Jordan, along with the returned Flash and Superman, Captain Marvel and The Ray, and the army of Justice Leaguers, Global Guardians, Teen Titans, Outsiders and others, who were stood ready. Energy crackled, weapons were raised, rings aimed.

"What... can you do...?" Nekron pulled himself up, his jaw hanging loosely from his face after Diana's punch. "You cannot contain me. You cannot stop me. As long as there is death, hatred, pain and suffering-- I will be here! I exist through you all!"

The Flash shook his head. "I beg to differ." He looked to Green Lantern, and nodded. Hal's ring sparked, and Nekron was covered in chains, his wrists cuffed and his hands enveloped in an energy containment device that Hal thought up on the fly. The Corps followed suit, pooling their willpower and strength into the bindings around Nekron.

Aquaman turned to Scott Free. "Mister Miracle, I believe you know of a prison that no man, god or demon can escape from?"

Mister Miracle nodded, and thought the coordinates of the cosmic event into the mind of the Martian Manhunter. "Yes, I do."

The Green Lantern Corps thought up a teleport matrix, there and then, and their rings constructed the device within moments. Nekron looked up at them, unable to move his body. "This will not hold me."

"Yes," said Superman, "it will."

And with that, Hal Jordan lifted Nekron up with his ring, and pushed him into the device, and the Lord of the Unliving was sucked inside, his atoms stretching and becoming disassembled as his form was moved from one point in the universe to another. The transport complete, Nekron vanished inside the cosmic event at the end of the universe; the device was wiped from existence and Superman allowed himself a smile.

Victorious.

Zauriel looked to Wonder Woman, and nodded. "We did it."

"Yes, we did," Diana replied, "and now, we rebuild." She turned to Metropolis. "We've got a city that needs rebuilding. We have a world to repair. We are whole, once more, so let's tell the planet-- the Justice League won!"

The cheers rang out, and Hal Jordan turned to Kilowog. "Sticking around for a few hours? We could use your help."

"I'm sure we could spare some Corps members, Jordan," replied the drill-sergeant of the Green Lanterns, "s'not like the rest of the universe ain't ticking away," he finished, with a nudge that sent Hal stumbling forward.


Metropolis was rebuilt in seven hours and twelve minutes. Emerald scaffolding flashed up and around, buildings were built in minutes as Green Lanterns used their rings to bring buildings up from the ashes, and the newly lit sun rose on the city. The citizens of the city were returned home as soon as the work was complete-- their possessions restructured from the atoms up, their homes complete again, and, apart from Centennial Park being bigger than ever after the return of Gaia-- it was like nothing had changed. It was like the world hadn't fallen into the abyss and only just managed to claw itself back from oblivion.

Superman stood atop the Daily Planet building, and Lois Lane rushed up to meet him, blushing and flustered. "You... you survived. I--" she ran up to him, and pulled him into a kiss. She held onto him for what felt like an aching eternity, and then, when she finally disengaged from the kiss, continued: "You never... you never ever do that again. You never fall. You never... you never leave us."

"I don't think I could, Lois, even if I wanted to," Superman said, as he turned away from her, his hand in hers, and surveyed the city. "We nearly died. This was a fight like no other. And we made it. If we can unite in the face of near-definite destruction and make it?" He breathed in the cool morning air, and let the thought linger in the air. "It's a good day. A new day."

"That it is," she agreed, "lots of new possibilities."


The Phantom Stranger was alone, wandering the netherways beneath the world. He had been victorious over Zor in their final battle, but now he was trapped between the folds in reality that had occurred when Gaia had been bound to this place weeks ago, and the only way to escape... would be to walk. He grimaced at this thought, knowing that for so long he had wandered the world, dimensions beyond understanding, and now, to return to the place he often thought of as home... would be to once more continue his travels. He thought about how long it would take him, and guessed that if he didn't sleep ever again... maybe a thousand years?

"...Stranger..."

The Stranger turned at the whisper, curious. He was alone-- was he already imagining company?

"... Stranger...!"

"I hear you!" he called out, allowing himself to believe he hadn't left his sanity up on the upper tiers of this realm. "...I hear you."

The netherway began to ripple, a shining light beginning to form before the bedraggled and battered Stranger. Slowly, the light shifted and morphed until it was an ankh, floating in space-- and then the gloved hand of Doctor Fate reached out. <We have you, Stranger, come home.>

The Phantom Stranger took the hand of Doctor Fate, and was pulled through the dimensional rift into the meeting room of the Justice Society of America's headquarters-- and into the waiting arms of the assembled heroes who were waiting for him. Green Lantern, The Flash, Wildcat and the other JSAers all smiled as they went to support the Phantom Stranger, and the mages who had came to the veteran hero team mere hours before in the hope that they could help rescue the mysterious wanderer looked at each other satisfied. Rose Psychic went over to the Stranger, and supported him, as they lead him to a seat. "We weren't going to leave you behind, Stranger."

"Thank you, Rose," said the Phantom Stranger, as he turned to her, "I really appreciate you not forgetting about me."

"How could we?" replied Rose, as the two sat down. "Magic has returned to the world, the ley-lines are no longer pooling into Opal City, the rivers of magic are spreading back under the world... we won."

"I never doubted any of you," said The Phantom Stranger, simply.


"How do you feel then, Tara?" Wonder Girl asked, as the young geomancer known as Terra juggled rocks three times her size using her abilities, smirking all the while.

"Like new, Donna. Better than new... I can feel the Earth again... I feel better than I have for months." Terra grinned, as she allowed the rocks to sink into the ground, and vanish from sight. "But Gar still wants me to talk to that 'Chief' of his..."

Cyborg nodded, "All my scans say you're in tip-top shape, and I've been reading reports about other elementals that were affected by 'Gaia's' disappearance from the world, and they're all doing fine."

"Well, I feel awesome. Like I've slept for weeks, and woken up ready for anything."

Donna Troy patted her teammate on the back, and smiled. "It's good to have you back at a hundred percent, Tara. Now, to celebrate... combat training."

"Are you joking?!"


Paul Kirk sipped the cup of tea that Alfred Pennyworth had prepared for him, and looked over to Dick Grayson, who was staring out of the window at the skyline of Gotham City.

"We survived," said Batman, turning to face his visitor.

"Yeah, I just wish I was fighting on the right side when it came down to it." Manhunter shrugged. "Did I mention I was sorry about that, kid?"

"Only about fifty two times, Paul," replied Dick, shaking his head with a smile, "it's fine. I've been through some weird stuff in my life, and this? Well, it's just something you deal with."


"Yeah. You should see the pile of papers Checkmate want me to fill out. All kind of incident reports, psychological profiles, statements in regards to your operations... and the like. It's a shame I don't even believe in the Batman," said Paul, "so I don't think I can be of any help in that regard. He's an urban legend, didn't you know?"

Dick nodded in understanding. "When's your flight back to Washington?"

"Ah, very soon actually, I should head off," Paul finished off his tea, and then climbed out of his seat. "I'll take the catacombs out of the Cave, back to my car. Your secret is safe with me, Dick." Batman put out his hand to Manhunter, and he took it. They shared a nod, and then Alfred Pennyworth was at the door.

"Master Richard, Master Jason is waiting for you in the Cave."

"I'm on my way. Come on Paul, I'll show you the quickest route out."

"Don't trouble yourself, Dick, I'm the Manhunter, I know my way out of any place I get myself stuck inside. It's in my nature."

Paul and Dick headed for the grandfather clock in the back of Wayne Manor, and turned the hands to the time of Bruce Wayne's parents' murder. The clock wheezed open revealing a passage down into the Cave, and they descended the stairwell until they reached the lower levels. Manhunter headed into the darkness without another word, and Dick could see him head into the catacombs that lead out of the secret headquarters. Finally, Dick turned to where Jason Todd was standing, examining all the costumes that Bruce had worn over the years.

"Nostalgia trip?" asked Dick, as he joined his brother-in-arms.

"Something like that," replied Jason Todd. "It's been a wild run."

"That it has. And we came through it, as always."

"That's true..." said Jason, his thoughts wandering. "So, what now? Where do we go from here?"

Dick didn't say anything for a while. He thought about the question, until he came to, a satisfactory conclusion. "A friend of mine once said that this is a never-ending battle. Does that answer your question?"

"Pretty much." Jason turned his head to the sparring section of the Cave. "Wanna go a few rounds, Robin?"

Dick laughed. "Sure, why not, Redwing. Any excuse to kick your ass."

"Please," replied Jason, shaking his head, as the two headed for the training square. “I’ll be lucky if I break a sweat…”


Black Adam's eyes opened. He remember pain and anguish, he remembered succumbing to the psychic maelstrom that made up Nekron's presence, he remembered... the flash of magical lightning bearing down upon him, he remembered-- nothing else, after impact. He took in his surroundings, and realised that he was back on the Rock of Eternity, and that his beloved Isis was smiling as he climbed to his feet. "I-Isis!"

"Teth, my love, you have returned to me," Isis embraced him tightly, and Black Adam felt like a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, "Gaia has come home to her realm, and as such, my powers and my life have been restored."

"I feared--"

"Mighty Adam," the Wizard stood, and approached Teth, and placed his hand upon his shoulder. "I had faith in my champions-in-lightning."

"I succumbed," barked Black Adam, moving away from the Wizard's grip, but staying close to his love. "I fell to the darkness!"

Captain Marvel shook his head as he turned away from the Seven Deadly Enemies of Man, and moved toward the Wizard and Black Adam. "You fought for as long as you could. Many men fell to the will of Nekron. But the forces of good were victorious, the darkness has subsided. We survived." Billy turned to his predecessor, and shrugged. "And honestly Teth, that's all that matters to me right now."

"Hurm." Black Adam turned to Isis, and then back to Captain Marvel. "Thank you. Without you, I would be without my beloved, and without my beloved..." he breathed in sharply. "I would not be the man I want to be."

"It was an honour fighting side-by-side with you. I wish you luck, Teth," said Cap, "where will you go from here?"

"Home," replied Adam, as he looked back to Isis.

"Khandaq," she continued, "where we are needed the most."

"Good luck, Mighty Adam," said Captain Marvel.

Black Adam nodded sharply. "And you, Captain."


Zauriel watched the sun rise over the horizon. "It's beautiful."

Wonder Woman nodded in agreement. "That it is. You put a lot of faith in us, Zauriel."

"Well deserved, well placed," said the angel. "My work is done now. I need to return to the Host." He laughed softly. "I realised over these past few days that my life has been running in circles. That I've been doing the same thing, without my knowledge or control, for eons. I seal the breach in reality and then I watch the Sun until I fall through into another reality, the one above us. Then I find myself, and then I seal the breach in reality. Then I watch the Sun. Circles, cycles, and now I've done this, now that Nekron is gone from the jurisdiction of the Eagle Host... I don't know where I go from here."

Diana looked deep into his eyes. "Isn't that the idea?"

Zauriel nodded. "Exactly. Onwards and upwards. I must report to my superiors. See what the ramifications for my, eha, theft of creation, are, and then... well."

"Zauriel--" Wonder Woman started, "there's always a home for you here. On Earth, with the Justice League. Just so you know."

"Thank you, Diana," said Zauriel, as he flapped his wings and began to soar into the sky, "I'll remember that."


In the darkness, where horrors dwelt, Nekron was alone. Or so he thought. The Lord of the Unliving was experiencing a surreal state of full sensory deprivation, wholly unlike his imprisonment in the Black Sun. When he was caged within the Sun, he could feel the outside, influence the minds of those that existed beyond him. He could influence those of a darker persuasion into doing his work. It was how he started a religion based around his existence-- how he engineered the creation of the Circle whilst being an age away, existing in a perpetual state of imprisonment beneath creation.

"This place is nothing. I was barely contained underneath existence itself... I shall rise once more, and my darkness shall spread across the universe, never-ending, all-consuming! This universe will be a bleeding wound when I am done--"

"Wrong, 'Nekron'," another voice suddenly interjected, as Nekron's chest exploded. The creature roared, unable to see his attacker, and then as the realisation set in that the thing that resembled his heart in his chest was now beating on the outside, thick cables pumping black, viscous fluid out into the nothingness. "This is a place like no other. And like any other prison in the universe, in all of existence, there's always... someone... bigger... better... and stronger--" The heart was wrenched out back through Nekron's spine, and the Lord of the Unliving withered into nothingness, and then dust, simply ceasing to exist. "--than you."

The creature absorbed the essence of the dread demon, and then flexed his being, rippling with energy as Nekron's power flowed through him. "What is that sound I hear, on the tip of your mind, something you lust to conquer, to rule?" The thing-that-should-not-be began to laugh, and then finally finished: "...Earth."