Alright all, like many, its been a crazy week, as I know it has for you amazing creators, veteran community members, and fellow newer consumers! I've been trying to find what to do in response to Wizards so here are some highlights. I want to help compile directions, petitions, and ways to move forward! Ultimately, I did cancel my DnDBeyond subscription and put in an account deletion request which hurts as a player and DM... I welcome recommendations for more ways to support 3rd party creators, artists, authors, and RPGs. Drop suggestions and I'll try to keep the post current. The community will persevere! #OpenDnD #StopTheSub
Help update these links!

Listen & Research

What is the OGL issue, and why to care

• OpenDnD Explanation/FAQ - https://www.opendnd.games/faqs
• DnDShorts Explanation (<9min) - https://youtu.be/BBlsV8fAcfw
• Dungeon Dudes Explanation (12min) - https://youtu.be/szUnCuXVEJ8
• The Rules Lawyer (>25min) - https://youtu.be/hAQ1mhE1Uds

Action & Advocacy

• Sign Petition by - Ryan Dancey - https://chng.it/MyWV5HCXLg
• Sign Open Letter by #OpenDnD https://www.opendnd.games/
• Move away from DnDBeyond & Wizards:
• Save Character PDFs
• Cancel Master Tier Dndbeyond.com subscription
• Direct Link (which is hard to find at the moment…) https://www.dndbeyond.com/store/subscriptions/manage

Description:
Keep OGL v1.0a authorized, Infinitum. I love the community, customers & creators. I’ve played campaigns, had a Master Tier subscription, DM my own games & spent over several hundred dollars. However, WotC/Hasbro/DnDBeyond will receive nothing from me as I move to companies that prioritize integrity, consumers, & creators. I will encourage my players, and the larger RPG community, to do the same.
Delete DnDBeyond Account

• Put in a Service Ticket - https://dndbeyond-support.wizards.com/hc/en-us/requests/new?ticket_form_id=6858238817684
• https://dndbeyond-support.wizards.com/hc/en-us/articles/7747241271444-How-do-I-delete-my-Account-
• Post on Reddit - #OpenDnD #StopTheSub

Now what?

Find new, open, and independent RPGs & Creators to support! Help me update this list!
New things being created:

• Paizo's ORC: a system-neutral *License* - https://paizo.com/community/blog/v5748dyo6si7v - shout out, and send support, to - "Paizo, Kobold Press, Chaosium, Green Ronin, Legendary Games, Rogue Genius Games, and a growing list of publishers have already agreed to participate in the Open RPG Creative License, and in the coming days we hope and expect to add substantially to this group."

​

• Kobold Press' Project Black Flag - a "new core fantasy tabletop ruleset" - https://koboldpress.com/raising-our-flag/
• Matt Colville's - The MCDM RPG - https://www.patreon.com/posts/future-of-mcdm-77116508

​
As suggested, there is an extensive and well-organized list of games and systems in the rpg recommendations wiki here. This is much more significant than the following list, so please check out the hard work done by others!
​
Other Systems:
ARC Dream Publishing - https://shop.arcdream.com/collections/role-playing-games

• Delta Green
• Swords & Sorceries
• Others

Chaosium - https://www.chaosium.com/

• Call of Cthulhu
• RuneQuest

Evil Hat Productions - https://evilhat.com/

• Fate System (Core, Accelerated, Condensed, Fate Worlds, other Fate games and toolkits)
• Blades in the Dark (addressed separately)
• Thirsty Sword Lesbians (PbtA)
• The Dresden Files RPG

Free League Publishing - https://freeleaguepublishing.com/en/store/

• Alien RPG
• The Lord of the Rings RPG
• Mork Borg
• Various Others...

Generic Universal RolePlaying System (GURPS) - https://www.sjgames.com/gurps/
Margaret Weis Productions - https://www.nobleknight.com/PublisheMargaret-Weis-Productions

• Firefly / Serenity
• Supernatural
• Leverage
• Smallville

Onyx Path Publishing - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/browse/pub/4261/Onyx-Path-Publishing

• Exalted
• Scion
• Various Others...

Paizo - https://paizo.com/

• Pathfinder
• Starfinder

Pelgrane Press - https://pelgranepress.com/shop/

• Gumshoe
• 13th Age
• And more...

Pinnacle Entertainment Group - https://peginc.com/

• Savage Worlds
• Deadlands: The Wierd West
• Rifts for Savage Worlds

World of Darkness - https://www.worldofdarkness.com/

• Vampire: The Masquerade
• Hunters
• Werewolf: The Apocalypse

Old-School Revival (OSR):

• Castles & Crusades by Troll Lord Games - https://trolllord.com/castles-crusades/
• Labyrinth Lord by Goblinoid Games - https://goblinoidgames.com/
• Old-School Essentials by Necrotic Gnome - https://necroticgnome.com/pages/about-old-school-essentials
• OSRIC--Old School Reference & Index Compilation - https://www.knights-n-knaves.com/osric/
• Swords & Wizardry by Frog God Games - http://www.swordsnwizardry.com/
• Worlds Without Number by Sine Nomine Publishing - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/348791/Worlds-Without-Number?affiliate_id=1256684

New School Revolution (NSR):

• Into the Odd by Bastionland Press - https://freeleaguepublishing.com/en/games/into-the-odd/
• Electric Bastionland by Bastionland Press - https://bastionlandpress.com/
• Knave by Ben Milton - https://lfosr.com/product/knave-standard-edition/
• Cairn by Yochai Gal - https://cairnrpg.com/
• Grok?! by Lester Burton - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/395261/GROK
• 2400 by Pretendo Games - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/339650/2400-BUNDLE

Powered by the Apocalypse (PbtA) System Games:
Blades in the Dark / Forged in the Dark - https://bladesinthedark.com/forged-dark

• Scum & Villainy
• Band of Blades
• Girl by Moonlight

Magpie Games - https://magpiegames.com/

• Masks: A New Generation
• Avatar Legends: The Roleplaying Game
• Root: The Roleplaying Game

5e Material
Many creators publish 5e content to show love and watch to know how to support! I know there are many more - help me update this list with your favorites!
Critical Role

• Tal'Dorei campaign setting
• https://shop.critrole.com/collections/books/products/taldorei-campaign-setting-reborn

Ghostfire Gaming - https://ghostfiregaming.com/

• Grim Hollow
• Dungeons of Drakkenheim

Kobold Press - https://koboldpress.com/

• Deep Magic
• Tome of Beasts
• Various others

Petersen Games - https://petersengames.com/our-games/

• Cthulhu Mythos for 5e
• Planet Apocalypse for 5e Fantasy
• Other games and content for other systems too

Sites with various 5e (and other) creations:

• Drive Thru RPG - https://www.drivethrurpg.com/
• DMs Guild - https://www.dmsguild.com/m/newest2
• Frog God Games - https://www.froggodgames.com/
  • Also, they have their own game - Castles & Crusades
• Troll Lord Games - https://trolllord.com/

Books by Jeff Ashworth - https://bookshop.org/contributors/jeff-ashworth

• The Game Master's Book of Random Encounters
• The Game Master's Book of Non-Player Characters
• The Game Master's Book of Traps, Puzzles, and Dungeons

Book by William Hudson King - https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-compendium-of-forgotten-secrets-awakening-william-hudson-king/11961331?ean=9780692154847

• The Compendium of Forgotten Secrets: Awakening

Book by MonkeyDM - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/monkey-dm/eldritch-hunt/faqs

• Steinhardt's Guide to the Eldritch Hunt: A 5e Supplement

Alternative Apps & Tools

• Dungeon Mastery - Note Keeping App for DMs - https://dungeonmastery.app/
• Foundry Virtual Tabletop - https://foundryvtt.com/

Superman #80 - The Cadmus Connection

<< < >
Author: MajorParadox
Book: Superman
Arc: Dawn of a New Day
Event: Red Reign
Set: 80

Regrouping

White House, Washington D.C.
Before Sunrise
Mercy opened her eyes and pushed bodies off of herself. Lex’s armor was a powerful match for her vampire strength, she was lucky to still be alive. Unless Lex meant to let her live. If that was some hidden sign of affection, which had gone long unreturned, she likely would never know for sure. Lex was not one to be direct with her on personal things. They never talked about anything but business in all the years they knew each other.
Lex’s suit was impressive, though. He quickly took out the newly turned vampires in the Situation Room. She thought the surprise attack would work, but she should have realized he’d be prepared. Still, the damage was done. The White House was infiltrated.
There was someone alive nearby. At first, Mercy could just sense them. Like she knew they were there. She didn’t know much about her newfound powers, they just came across naturally to her. It was intoxicating, though. Especially in times like that when she picked up the scent of fresh blood.
Mercy tossed the conference room table across the room, revealing a woman cowering. She must have taken cover during the attack. “There’s no need to be afraid,” said Mercy.
The woman looked up. “Oh, thank god, it’s you, Ms. Graves,” she said, jumping up beside her. “It was terrible. I don’t even know what happened. You came in the room and suddenly people started screaming and-”
“It’s okay,” Mercy reassured her, placing an arm around her shoulder. She pulled back her hair and dug her fangs into the woman’s neck. As she drank, her eyes were drawn to a monitor on the wall, showing a video feed of a hallway in the White House.
Mercy dropped the woman to the ground and moved closer, watching Lex fight his way through another group of vampires. He pressed a button on his wrist and began talking. Mercy quickly found a button that allowed her to listen too.
“-it’s Luthor,” said Lex. “Tell Westfield I’m heading there soon. We need to lock down Cadmus since it may be our best bet for finding a cure.”
“I’m hungry,” said the woman, brandishing newly formed fangs of her own.
Mercy smiled. “There will be plenty to eat at Cadmus. Come on, we have to prepare.”
Metropolis
Sunrise
Clark flew away from his apartment. He hadn’t heard from Kara since she checked on LexCorp, but the place looked all clear. Lois and the others were safe too since the sun came up. The ones attacking the apartment all fled and a sweep of the city showed them taking cover underground and staying out of sight. It was the best time to check in with the league to see how they would proceed next, which was scheduled at their D.C. Hall of Justice.
An alleyway caught Clark’s attention. Something wasn’t quite right, so he shifted his flight, slowing his approach as he felt a recognizable sensation. It was like burning from the inside, intensifying the closer he got. He hovered above, scanning ahead to confirm his suspicion. There was a thick wave of kryptonite radiation dissipating in the air. No signs of any actual kryptonite, but the intensity and air toxicity implied some kind of gaseous attack.
There were a few dead vampires In the center of the alley, covered in what looked like the dusted remains of other ones. It appeared someone fought them off with an extremely powerful kryptonite-based weapon. But who could have such a weapon and where could the kryptonite have come from? Except for random slivers still circulating, all of it had been accounted for.
Clark’s communicator rang and he tapped his belt to answer. “This is Superman,” he said.
“It’s me,” said Kara. “Lena Luthor was bit. I just helped Lex subdue her to take her to Cadmus.”
“Cadmus?” asked Clark.
“Lex is confident they can make a cure for all of this,” Kara explained. “Lionel Luthor was bit too but… he didn’t turn.”
“That’s… amazing,” said Clark. “That could make all the difference with the cure.”
“I’m heading to the Hall of Justice now,” said Kara. “I’ll bring the specifics there. Oh, and one other thing… Lex has a super suit.”
Clark’s eyes popped open. “He… what?” He looked back down to the alley.
Cadmus, Washington D.C.
Lena was contained in a large glass tube. She was unconscious and a monitor was set up nearby to display her vitals. They were unlike anything the Cadmus scientists had seen before.
President Luthor was still suited up in his armor, standing with his father Lionel. The room was filled with security guards, most of which had their weapons trained on the senior Luthor. He was bit, but he never turned into a vampire. They didn’t want to take any chances, though.
Serling Roquette, the Head of Genetics, stood out from the other scientists with her brightly colored outfit sporting varying patterns of polka dots. She was eagerly sifting through the data they had collected.
“Dr. Roquette,” said Lex. “I don’t have to remind you how important it is we make progress as soon as possible.”
“Understood, Mr. President,” said Serling. “You picked the right place, our genetic knowledge is well beyond anywhere else on the planet. But even so, it’s going to take time. If it’s even possible.”
“You have my utmost confidence,” said Lionel. “Besides, it was my understanding Cadmus didn’t know the word impossible. If they did, I wouldn’t be here right now.”
Hall of Justice, Washington D.C.
The night had been rough on Clark and Kara, he could only imagine how the others were managing. It was that drive and determination that always impressed him about the people of Earth. Even without powers, people pushed themselves to the edge when it mattered. All in the name of helping others.
The updates from the league were grim. They had managed to keep the vampire scourge from accomplishing their attacks, but a lot of people were still hurt in the process, including everyone who was turned.
When a possible cure was discussed, Kara brought the good news that Cadmus had their hands on an unprecedented discovery. There was at least one human immune from being turned.
Bruce jumped on the revelation, quickly deciding Cadmus would make a great place to pool their resources. Barry had done his own research on the infection, which would also prove useful.
It was suggested Cadmus would have a big target on its back if any of the vampires were aware of the progress there. They would have to protect it at all costs but without giving up helping the cities that still needed it. Especially since it wasn’t daylight everywhere.
Kara and Kory were headed overseas to help with the vampire attacks there while Clark, Bruce, Barry, and Linda headed for Cadmus. Barry and Bruce would remain with the cure team to give whatever help they could and keep them safe while Clark and Linda would guard the facility itself.
The meeting that started as doom and gloom had ended with a glimmer of hope.

Planning

Outside Cadmus, Washington D.C.
Later
Clark and Linda arrived at Cadmus first and Clark quickly picked up on Linda’s increased heart rate. What a fool he was, he didn’t even consider how being there would affect her. Sure, it wasn’t the same facility she was born, but it was Cadmus nonetheless.
“Are you okay?” Clark asked.
Linda seemed to be caught off guard. “Huh? Of course.”
“It’s just…” said Clark. “You and Conner… There’s a lot of history in this place. I know it can be a lot.”
“Yeah,” said Linda. “It’s just… I had a hard time making sense of everything. For the longest time, I felt like I wasn’t even real. Since I left Smallville, so much has changed. It’s weird being reminded of where I was not too long ago.”
“That makes sense,” said Clark. “What you went through is a lot to process.”
The Batmobile approached, its engine roaring. It parked right beside the Kryptonians. Bruce and Barry exited quickly.
“Let’s do this,” said Barry.
Linda turned back to Clark. “I’ll be okay,” she said. “We have a job to do.”
Main Genetics Lab
“I need to get back to the White House,” said Lex as he made his way to the door. He opened it to find Superman and Supergirl standing there.
Clark stared down Lex’s new battle suit. “Mr. President,” he said. “I heard you had a wardrobe change.”
Barry and Bruce walked into the room.
“What’s going on?” asked Lex.
“We’re aware of the progress here,” Clark explained. “I know you have your problems with us, but the Justice League can help.”
Lex took a moment to consider his next move. He wouldn’t push back, would he? Not when the world needed their cooperation the most?
“Give them whatever they need,” Lex ordered, moving back to the door.
Clark grabbed hold of his arm. “Your suit isn’t equipped with kryptonite, is it?”
“Of course not,” said Lex. “As far as I know, there isn’t any more of it. Is there something you need to tell me?”
Clark shook his head. It wasn’t the time.
“Dr. Serling Roquette,” Bruce said, approaching the lead scientist.
“Batman,” Serling replied, offering her hand. “It’s weird meeting you in person. I just want to say I dig the whole ‘bat’ theme.”
Bruce ignored her hand, offering her a thumb drive instead. “Here’s everything we have on the virus so far,” he said.
“I understand you also have a unique case,” said Barry. “A bite with no transformation?”
“That would be me,” said Lionel, stepping over to the two heroes.
Linda moved to Lena’s tube and the memories came flooding back. It was exactly the same as the tube she was grown. She couldn’t breathe. She couldn’t move. It felt like the entire room was closing down on her.
“Come on,” said Clark, taking her by the arm. “We should go protect the building.”
“Do you have any lead on what gives him the immunity?” asked Barry. “An uncommon gene mutation, perhaps?”
“My best guess-” Serling started but caught herself. “I’m not sure if I’m allowed to say.”
“There are no secrets here,” said Batman. “The world depends on us now.”
Serling nodded. “Lionel isn’t quite ‘normal’,” she said. “He’s a clone.”
All eyes moved to Lionel.
Outside Cadmus
Later
Clark hovered above Cadmus, keeping an eye on the outside while Linda patrolled inside, making sure every window was wide open, letting in as much sunlight as possible.
“Lois,” said Clark after dialing up his wife. “How are things at home?”
“Better now,” Lois answered. “When I left the apartment, Ruby and Jon had both fallen asleep on Jimmy’s arms while Krypto had his feet covered.”
“You’re not there?” asked Clark.
“How long have you known me, Smallville?” Lois replied. “The world is under attack and we need all the information out there that we can.”
She was right, of course.
“Lois,” said Clark. “I found evidence of a kryptonite weapon used nearby the apartment.”
“Near the Sundollar?” asked Lois. “I was heading there next. There were reports of an altercation.”
Clark heard yells from the lab and he looked inside quickly. Lena had broken free and was on the attack.
“Linda,” Clark called aloud. “The lab.”
“I see it,” Clark heard Linda reply with his superhearing. “But there’s something happening downstairs too.”
Clark looked down, but couldn’t make anything out. “There must be lead piping in the way,” he said.
“Yeah, but you hear that, right?” Linda asked.
There were vampires down there. They were quiet, but not quite enough to go unheard.
The power to the Cadmus building suddenly shut down and backup systems quickly powered up.
Clark took another look into the lab to find Bruce fighting off Lena. As much as he knew Bruce could take care of himself, it still felt wrong to head to the basement instead. But if there was a swarm of them heading up for an attack, things would go from bad to worse very quickly.
Basement
Clark and Linda arrived at the bottom of the basement stairs at the same time to find it filled with vampires. They must have gotten in through the sewers. Clark’s eyes moved to several corners of the room where they congregated, working with small electronic boxes hooked up to several barrels of gasoline. They were planning to take the whole building down to stop the cure effort.
Linda must have noticed it too since she rushed forward toward one of them, but a group of vampires huddled together and wrestled her to the ground. Clark moved in next but was quickly overcome by the sheer numbers. He spun around, picking up speed with every rotation, and the vampires went flying. Meanwhile, Linda punched her way through her attackers and made her way to one of the bombs.
“Be careful,” said Clark. “The wrong move could-”
Linda blew her freeze breath, encasing the entire contraption in ice.
“Nice work,” said Clark, blocking a vampire’s punch and tossing him back against his companions. He reached for another bomb and froze it solid, following Linda’s lead.
The two continued fighting, working their way through the vampires to disable as many bombs as possible.
“Do you hear that?” asked Linda.
“Hear what?” a vampire asked, before getting a fist to the face.
“Not you,” said Linda. “Superman, outside.”
Clark listened to hear several vehicles speeding toward them. “I’ll check it out,” he said. “You okay down here?”
Linda smiled and flung a large group of vampires away. “I got this,” she said.

Protecting

Outside Cadmus
Clark flew back outside to find several government limos and SUVs heading toward Cadmus. The windows were tinted, but easily seeable with x-ray vision. They were packed with vampires. It was a pretty clever way to move around in the sunlight. But the last thing they needed.
“Linda,” said Clark. “We have incoming.”
“Still pretty busy down here,” Linda answered.
“Keep at it,” said Clark, hovering up higher and unleashing his heat vision at the cars’ tires, but the ones he hit continued on, riding the flats.
Clark considered taking out the windows, but burning them up was not an option. Nobody would die there that day. Especially when they were so close to finding a cure.
Heat vision attacks on the engines were Clark’s next idea. He fired an intense beam at each car in quick succession and the cars barreled out of control, slowing to a stop. But there were too many of them. Several cars crashed into the side of the building and vampires scurried inside.
Clark dropped down outside the crash sites, yanking as many of the cars away as possible and tossing them toward the parking lot. The extra sunlight stunned the ones who made it inside, taking cover, which bought some more time. He flew back inside and quickly barricaded the office doors. They wouldn’t stay trapped for long, but it would surely slow them down even more.
Inside Cadmus
Soon
The vampires were trapped in the offices as Clark continued blocking them off from the rest of the building. He pulled apart walls, taking steel beams where he could, dropping them in front and then melting them down with his heat vision. Before long, there was a thick wall stopping them from getting inside.
It didn’t stop them, though. They punched and clawed their way against the wall. They were so strong, and there were so many of them, it was likely only a matter of time before they got through. At least it gave Clark some breathing room. But not for long.
Some of the vampires had moved toward the walls and ceilings. They broke their way into other rooms, giving them access to the rest of the building.
“How are you doing down there?” Clark asked Linda.
“I almost have all the bombs,” Linda replied. “But these last few vamps know some kind of martial arts.”
Okay, so Clark was on his own. He could do this, he just had to up his reaction time.
Clark flew to each breached area and shot off several bursts of heat vision in every direction he could. Beams of sunlight made their way inside, acting like a laser field. But it wasn’t enough. The vampire were able to rush through without the light affecting them too much.
Would pulling the entire roof off the building be out of the question? He probably didn’t have time.
Clark fought off the vampires, keeping them from getting too close to the lab. But there were too many. He thought back to the night before. There was one trick he had left he was hoping he wouldn’t have to use again. But he didn’t have a choice at this point. If these vampires reached the lab, their hopes for putting an end to this madness could be over.
“You can’t stop all of us,” one of the vampires said.
Clark quickly recognized her as Lex’s Chief of Staff, Mercy Graves.
“Lilith will prevail,” Mercy continued. “Protecting this place is a fool’s errand.”
Clark smirked. “Then call me a fool,” he said.
The building filled up with sunlight as Clark activated his solar flare. It was a last-ditch effort to keep them at bay. If it didn’t work, Clark would be weakened enough he probably couldn’t take on as many as he did before.
The vampires fled, jumping back to tinted cars that were still crashed into the building. Clark stopped flaring and quickly moved to push the cars way, putting a large area of sunlight between them and Cadmus. They were effectively trapped.
Linda came back upstairs to find Clark catching his breath.
“Basement’s secure,” said Linda.
“Ditto for up here,” Clark replied.
“You okay?” asked Linda.
“Good now,” Clark smiled. “I think I need to get some sun, though.”
Daily Planet
Later
Lois looked over to Clark’s empty chair. She hadn’t seen him since sunrise when he went off to save the world. No matter how many times it happened, it still made her nervous. But that went both ways. He clearly didn’t like that she wasn’t still at home where it was safer. But after years of being together, and therapy, they reached a place where they made it work.
Stiil, it didn’t stop Lois from worrying.
Lois shook it off and returned to her work. A lot had happened in the last day and things seemed to only be getting worse. But there was hope and Clark wasn’t the only one who could encourage it. She began typing.
The world is in chaos. Vampires are real which, all things considered these days, was never out of the wheelhouse. It’s easy to see our cities being taken over and give up hope. There are more of them than us. But that doesn’t mean they outnumber our drive.
The Justice League is working around the clock trying to make things right. New heroes and old have come out of the woodwork. President John Henry Irons, former members of the Supers of America, and even the current president Lex Luthor have stepped up to fight this new threat against out world. But even the average, every day heroes have been making the difference.
Neighbors helped keep each other safe. Businesses opened their door to those needing to find refuge. There is no end to what we can accomplish if we keep working together. And that includes stopping these vampires once and for all.
Red Reign Continues:
Today

• Outsiders #7 - Blood Skies >
• Black Canary #10 - Black Culture >
• Flash #80 - Villains Doing Villainous Things >
• Batman #54 - Creatures of the Night >

January 15th:

• Cyborg #43 >
• Power Girl #11 >
• Wonder Woman #64 >
• New Titans #26 >
• Harley & Ivy #5 >

<< < >

https://fanon.fandom.com/wiki/Smallville_(Video_Game) Anyone know where this game is this is only info I can find. On season 2

<< First Issue < PreviousNext >
Author: ericthepilot2000 Book: Harley & Ivy Arc: Rogues to Redemption Set: 78
Once upon a time, Harleen Quinzel and Pamela Isley were altered against their will by madmen and became supervillains. But that was a long time ago. They’re better people now…
Well, it’s a work in progress, anyway. But sometimes, the heroes can’t get the job done. Enter Harley and Ivy. Who says you can’t do some good while being bad?
◆🥦◆🥦◆
Previously:
Harley received a series of reminders of her time with The Joker. She tried to keep these a secret from Ivy but failed, and the redhead begged her not to follow up. But after being baited one too many times, Harley accepted an invitation to the Vauxhall Opera Shell. The place where she was supposed to become a Gotham legend is now the stage for a final confrontation with her past.
Meanwhile, fresh from prison and looking for vengeance on Pamela Isley, the newly christened Tremor used Batgirl to track Ivy down. Much to Roshanna and Batgirl’s surprise, however, Pamela shows off her complete transformation into Poison Ivy. Ivy’s heartbroken, and all of Gotham is going to pay, starting with Tremor.
◆🥦◆🥦◆
A few hours ago…
The Vauxhall Opera Shell and Indoor Concert Center Midtown "Things Come Together"
Inside the opera shell, the signs of paused construction were everywhere. Five o'clock had come and gone, and things would resume again on Monday. Until then, it was frozen in time.
Amidst the chaos, a small generator spasmed, and a dozen extension cords stretched out onto the stage. Alexis Kaye sighed, navigating the debris, as she exited backstage and followed the cords.
On stage was a perfect reproduction of the night in question. Even the giant picture of Mimsy Dumas loomed over once again.
"Am I good, or am I good?" Cluemaster asked as he stepped onto the stage and behind the podium.
"You're good," Alexis confirmed as she walked toward center stage.
He gave her the grand tour of everything, showing how all the details had been nailed down. "Well, not that this hasn't been fun, but if you don't need me for anything else..." Arthur then turned to leave Alexis to her scheme, "Money's in the account?"
"You don't trust me?" she asked with mock hurt.
"First rule of Gotham City, don't trust anyone, kid. It'll get you killed."
Alexis considered that for a moment before grabbing him by the shoulder. He barely felt the sharp needle jab and only briefly caught the mysterious liquid plunge into his arm before he fell to the ground, a look of betrayal on his face.
"Funny you should mention that," she said with a laugh. She unceremoniously stepped over his still-twitching body before pulling out her phone. “Hello, Gotham Casting? I’m looking for about thirty or forty folks for a little crowd scene.”
She listened to the response before looking out at the empty seats, “Oh, about an hour. The guest-of-honor should be making her way here as we speak.”
◆🥦◆🥦◆

HARLEY & IVY ISSUE THREE

“We Are the People Our Parents Warned Us About” Part III
◆🥦◆🥦◆
The Corner of Kane and Finger Robinson Park “Gang Aft A-Gley”
It was supposed to have been simple, meet with Pam Isley and get information on her missing friend Alysia. Roshanna Chatterji, a former associate of Isley’s, promised to make the introduction. But she had an ulterior motive and attacked instead, seeking revenge.
Isley turned out to have powers as well, and worse still, turned out to be Poison Ivy - an eco-terrorist that had taken Power Girl to the limit. Tremor had her reasons, and at another time, Babs might have even been sympathetic. But this was not one of those times.
For the moment, Ivy and Tremor seemed equally matched. There was plenty of ground for Tremor to hurl at her opponent, and God help them all if Ivy managed to get into Robinson Park. Barbara wasn’t sure how she would handle it, but she was all the neighborhood had.
She should have seen it coming. It was sloppy. But it was not time to deal with that. Assuming she survived, there’d be plenty of time in the debrief to beat herself up for missing the signs.
Her suit had already taken damage and was bleeding power. It was only designed to allow her to walk again; it would not hold up against the strain of fighting two metahumans. As she weaved around the debris, her mind played out all the angles. Everything was a puzzle, and Babs had never let one beat her. However, she would have to do something soon; the suit’s battery was already down to 85%.
So it went, Babs rushing the residents of the area as the sounds of the battle caused new waves to abandon their apartments in fear. “Please, stay where you are. You’ll be a lot safer indoors. The situation is under control.” she shouted through her headpiece.
Not that it assuaged them one bit, so she was drawn between trying to get in between the fighters and protecting the vulnerable as they ran into the fray. This was the hardest she had pushed herself since returning from Japan.
But her reverie was broken when out of the corner of her eye, she saw a small white rabbit hopping toward the battlefield. It must have been the one Ivy had been carrying, but why was it rushing toward the fight and not away from all the chaos and noise?
She wasn’t the only one to notice, and even Ivy seemed momentarily distracted, reaching out to protect it with one of her vines. But before she could, and before Babs could capitalize on her brief human moment, Tremor attempted to crush the rabbit under a piece of building.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Tremor spat, “I’m going to take everything from you Isley, just like you did me.”
Batgirl acted out of instinct, unable to hear any retort from Ivy. She flung her body toward the rabbit and scooped him up as she rolled, cradling the hare as the slab crashed against her back and splintered.
Babs cried out in pain. The suit shouldered most of the impact but not all. She was only going to have one chance at this. Steeling her resolve, she reached into her utility belt and produced a Batarang. There were still stragglers escaping, but she was never going to get a better chance than this.
Looking it over quickly, she threw it right into the fray. She winced, even as the sound dampeners in her helmet kicked on and shades slid across the eyes of her cowl. She clamped down hard on the rabbit in her possession, trying to shield it as best as possible from the upcoming blast.
Moments later, the device exploded in a panoply of light and sound, temporarily blinding and deafening the combatants… and shattering what few windows in the nearby area remained intact.
“Now listen up you two, here’s how this is going to go.” she shouted over the din, eyes blazing with fire and conviction. She only broke eye contact with the pair long enough to check her suit’s power levels.
32%.
◆🥦◆🥦◆
Outside the Orchard Hotel Old Gotham “Eyes on the Prize”
Stephanie Brown sat hunched on one of the nearby rooftops, scanning the Orchard Hotel with her makeshift binoculars.
The Orchard was one of Gotham's ‘old buildings’ even before the section was called Old Gotham. There is a tale involving The Orchard and about every ne'er-do-well in Gotham’s past. The legendary Cyrus Gold was supposed to have been ambushed in the tea room before meeting his fate in Slaughter Swamp.
Tonight’s featured guest was Max Lord. Steph wasn’t sure it was an upgrade.
So engrossed in her search she almost didn’t see the hand reaching out to tap her on the shoulder.
“Hey, Dick,” she said without looking up. “The yellow suits you.”
The hand recoiled, and Dick Grayson chuckled. He was in his new costume; the bright chevron kept him from completely melting into the dark background. “Almost got you that time. But you’re getting better,” he offered as a sincere compliment.
Steph wasn’t having any of it, dismissing him with a puff of air. “Yeah right, I made you two blocks ago. Just thought you could use the win.”
“Ouch,” Dick said as he rolled his eyes. “Been a while since I’ve been in Gotham. Figured it was time to check in with my favorite Little Bird.”
“Bet you say that to all of us, too,” she teased.
There was no winning with Steph sometimes.
“So, what is the princess of Snark-ness up to tonight? Don’t usually see you this far uptown. What’s your dad gotten himself into now?”
“That’s the thing; I don’t actually don’t know,” she said, handing him the binoculars and letting him focus on a poster at the entranceway.
His gaze settled on the picture of Max Lord, offering that ten-megawatt smile. ‘Realize the Prize: 9 Steps to Take What’s Yours’ was emblazoned underneath. “The Max Lord self-help tour? That’s almost worse.”
“I’ve followed him here for seven consecutive Fridays. At first, I thought this was just another thing, like his Spongeblub ‘documentary’”, she added, complete with finger quotes. “But he hasn’t missed one of these yet.”
“Until tonight?” Dick asked.
“Exactly. I’m getting a little worried.”
“So why then are you up here?”
“What if I missed him? And I bust in there in full costume and he’s just doing trust falls or whatever. It’s one thing to embarrass him when he’s trying to be Cluemaster, but he seems like… maybe he’s trying this time.”
Dick could see the wheels turning in Steph’s head and knew he was in trouble. “So, you want me to go in for you, scope the place out?”
“I’ll make it worth your while.” she said, holding out a baggie of animal crackers.
“Better be a seal in there,” Dick grumbled as he leaped off the roof.
◆🥦◆🥦◆
The Vauxhall Opera Shell and Indoor Concert Center Midtown "Mad Scene"
The back door of the Vauxhall had given way easier than Harley had expected. She tensed and squeezed the grip around the mallet instinctively. She wouldn’t be jumped here backstage; it didn’t fit the pattern. Her destiny lay in front of the curtains, but it never hurt to be prepared.
As she edged closer, she could hear the subtle creak of movement on the stage. This was it. Her moment. For all Harley’s bravado on the way over, psyching herself up - she hesitated at the threshold.
Could she do this? She had to do this. Harley summoned everything she had, every fear and tainted memory. But it was more than that. She was more than that, more than her past. Her patients needed her to overcome this, and her sisters needed her. Ivy… needed her.
She stepped forward into the light.
“Awright, you son of a… bitch?” Harley shouted, her voice trailing off as she started looking around. The deja vu hit her first. It was the scene she still saw in her nightmares. The giant picture of the zaftig Mimsy Dumas, a green and purple Glasgow smile graffitied over her stern expression, swung gently in the breeze.
But then the full horror started to sink in next.
The last time she had skipped out onto the stage, the audience was silent and motionless in terror but still alive. This was not the fate of the bodies that occupied the first couple of rows tonight. Their eyes were frozen open in fear, their skin pale white, their faces contorted into cruel and unnaturally broad smiles. Harley didn’t need to check pulses to know they were no longer there.
Determined, she ripped the sheet off the wriggling figure on the stage, unsure of what she would find. Of all the possibilities, a beaten and drugged Arthur Brown had not been one of them.
“Arthur?” she exclaimed in surprise, slapping his cheeks and trying to rouse him. “You gotta wake up buddy. This ain’t gonna end well for you.”
“Huh, Doc?” he asked, looking up with unfocused eyes and slurred speech. “Izzat you? What the Hell are you wearing?” he asked, gesturing toward her outfit with an exaggerated nod. “Izzit bedtime?”
Harley was in a tight fabric piece covering every inch but allowing for a full range of motion. It was red and black in alternating patterns with little white frills around the sleeves and neck and the diamond motif that had once marked her someone else’s property. A jesters hood completed the design; she looked every bit like the harlequin of her namesake.
The conversation was interrupted by a slow clap. “It’s not what I expected. But you wouldn’t be Harley Quinn if you weren’t full of surprises.” As she slipped from the darkness onto the stage, Alexis Kaye looked the strangely-dressed doctor over appraisingly.
“You’re the one who arranged all this?” Harley asked, voice laced with venom.
“Alexis Kaye, at your service,” she answered, taking a deep, theatrical bow. “Been thinking about calling myself Punchline though when we’re finished. It just rolls off the tongue, don’t you think?”
Harley couldn’t hide her disdain. “Why go to all this trouble and recreate alla this?”
“You really don’t see? I did all of this for you. And for me. And for all of us who had our role model snuffed by a world that couldn’t handle a woman in charge. But not tonight. There’s no Joker, no Batman, to get in your way. It’s time to take your place among the elite. Your army is just waiting for you.”
“People are dead because of this,” Harley exclaimed, gesturing toward the crowd.
“People die,” Alexis deadpanned. “And there are billions more where they came from. So, they’ll be a little short-staffed for a week at the nearby Sun Dollar? A few less waiters? They’re disposable. But tonight isn’t about them, or me. It’s about you. I got you something.”
“I don’t need anything from you.”
“Oh, don’t be that way,” Alexis replied, putting on a mock pout. “Did you know you can find anything on the Dark Web? And I mean anything. Drugs. Recipies for things like Joker Venom,” she added, gesturing toward the crowd, “Or close enough anyway.”
She then produced a gift-wrapped package and presented it to Harley. “Go on, take it.”
When Harley didn’t react or respond, she pushed the package into Harley’s hands before walking behind Arthur, pulling out a switchblade, and pressing the blade to his neck.
“Oh, hey kid, when did you get here? You here for the sleepover too?” Arthur slurred, still feeling the effects. “I mean, I won’t lie, I’ve definitely thought about me and Doctor Seaborn a few times, but I got a kid a little younger than you. It’d be too creepy, no offense. But I’d let you watch. Wait, didn’t you…?”
“I’ll do it, Harley,” Alexis warned. “Happily.”
Reluctantly, Harley unwrapped the package and exposed a gun with a little bow around the barrel.
“Do you recognize it, Harley?” Alexis asked, easing away from Arthur. “It’s yours. From that night. There’s a whole marketplace for things like that. Used batarangs, threads off Wonder Woman’s lasso, enough fake Kryptonite to rebuild the Taj Mahal. You can get anything. See, there’s a guy in the GCPD who disappears things from the evidence room. Mostly little stuff, stuff they wouldn’t miss, but are invaluable to collectors like me.”
“What do you think I’m going to do with this?” Harley asked.
“I want you to shoot him Harley. Then we can be together. Always and forever.”
◆🥦◆🥦◆
The Crumbling Streets of Kane and Finger Robinson Park “The Gathering Storm”
Things had never seemed so simple to Pamela Isley. It was as if the maelstrom of confusion, hurt, and pain had just evaporated. Well, that wasn’t true; she still felt every bit of it, but what was one person’s pain compared to an entire planet’s?
Tapping into the Earth, she could feel it in every pore: the waste leaking into open waters, the garbage buried and corrupting the ground, the incredible heat that baked the equator. But likewise, the cool liquid cascading down a waterfall, the hearty soil that nourished young plant life. It was all connected, the good and the bad, And right now, it all flowed through Ivy.
Roshanna was but a symptom of the larger problem. Ivy remembered the first time she met her, one of many lost souls who wanted to make a difference. She was a pawn Ivy had hoped to shake free from the board and repurpose.
It started with a blog, Brave New Leaf. Just a place where Ivy could share those insistent thoughts that seemed to whisper themselves into her head from the moment of her transformation. She’d always been passionate about the environment, which had only grown. But what had been a passion was now a compulsion, and the blog let her reach like-minded individuals.
The blog gave way to speeches and books, but words alone... She needed to change minds, to forge opinions. She needed to go back to college.
Six Years Ago…
Gotham University had been the ideal venue: open-minded people looking for a place in the world and a way to leave a mark on it. Looking forward to being themselves in a way they never could be in Smallville.
The gatherings started informal, flash mobs where she could get up on a bench in Breyfogle Square and preach against fracking or the risks nearby construction had on the meadowlands. She found if she concentrated, she could keep them there for hours as she talked, something she would later attribute to the manipulation of pheromones.
It didn’t long to see the same sets of faces when she sent out the text blasts about her appearances, drawing them in and slowly weeding out the few that would work for her plan. Refining the process that had created her, Isley isolated four suitable candidates: Alysia Yeoh, Roshanna Chatterji, Miriam Delgado, and Inara Rothfield.
These women were so eager to be a part of something, to be wanted. And Pam wanted them to succeed. Indulging them when they wanted to call themselves the Toxico Radicals and get matching jackets. Granted the powers of the elements, they were loosed on Gotham.
But it was never meant to be a long-term alliance. After all, the tree nurtures its seeds for only so long before they are cast into the world to plant themselves and thrive.
Today…
Only they didn’t, at least if Roshanna was any indication. Ivy sighed. What was a gardener to do when a flower began to rot but prune the stalk so that others might grow in its place?
Besides, Roshanna had started this.
So focused on Tremor, Ivy didn’t notice the Batarang make contact with the ground until it was too late. The ungodly sound rang through the air as the light of the flashbang obliterated her vision.
◆🥦◆🥦◆
The Vauxhall Opera Shell and Indoor Concert Center Midtown "Denouement"
Harley regarded the gun carefully as she felt Alexis’s invocation echo. She hadn’t held a firearm since the last time she had seen The Joker. She remembered shaking as she held the gun at arm’s length, barrel pointed at the madman’s head.
Once Upon a Time…
It had been a particularly bad night. The Joker’s latest scheme was a circus. Just a circus, with henchman performing death-defying tricks. And if they didn’t defy? Well, there were always more where they came from. After all, the difference between a trained man being fired out of a cannon and a newbie being the landing. If you didn’t care…
They had set up just outside Blue Valley, Nebraska, and they had run afoul of the one foe even The Joker had no hope to best: state ordinances and permits. The show had been shut down well before whatever mind control technology he used to compel the audience to surrender all their cash and valuables would reach its peak.
The Joker had taken it out on Harley, first in front of the boys and then again later that night.
Harley stared up at the ceiling through one clear eye and made the same vow she’d made to herself every night for months. “Never again.” But somehow, unlike those other nights, she moved. She snuck toward the motel room safe and pulled out the gun he stashed there.
Harley immediately went to war in her head.
“Are you gonna do this?” “Of course not, you’re too weak.” “Pam would do it in a heartbeat.” “Plus he loves you.” “You owe it to the world.” “You owe it to her.” “You’re the only thing that matters to him. He told you that.” “After he hit you.” “If you don’t, every death afterward is on your head.” “What would Dad say?”
She stood there, gun aimed, arms extended, trembling when she heard a voice from the bed.
“Oh, for fucks sake, either do it or get back into bed. I’m trying to sleep here.”
Today…
Loosed from her memory, she found herself in the position of aiming that gun once again. Of course, the choice was far easier this time as she tossed it aside. Arthur Brown was a criminal, a loser, and a reprobate, but he was trying to get better. Just like Harley was.
“Really Harley?” Alexis chided, hand on her hip as she walked over and kicked Arthur square in the side. He groaned as the chair tipped over, knocking him onto the ground as she stood over him. “You’re going to throw away your second chance for this dirtbag? Who’s going to miss him?”
“He’s got a kid,” Harley countered.
Alexis rolled her eyes. “Stephanie, yes. Had to hear all about the golden child,” she replied, pausing, smiling, and changing tack. “But don’t you see, Stephanie is exactly who we’re doing this for. Her, and all the girls like her, weighed down by losers like these.”
She then pressed her foot down on the prone Arthur’s head, black combat boot squashing his face into the wood of the stage. “It’s an endless cycle. The world lets these broken people raise us, condition us to spend our youth fixing them, and then we go off and marry equally broken people to spawn the next generation. We have the chance to shake off those shackles of obligation. You, me, and girls like Stephanie.”
“Doctor,” Arthur groaned from under Punchline’s foot, “whatever happens, you gotta keep Steph away from this girl. Steph is strong, but…” A hard stomp cut off his words as he drifted back into unconsciousness.
“No.” Harley said defiantly.
“No, what?” Alexis asked.
“He’s right. I can’t let you get your hands on Steph or none of the othahs. You gotta be the craziest person I’ve ever met. An’ that’s sayin’ somethin’.”
Alexis’ eyes went wide in surprise, her body twitching in rage. “You, of all people, are going to say that about me?” she asked, pointing to each in turn. “After all I’ve done for you?”
“You’ve done nothing but dredge up a past I’ve worked hard to leave behind. But maybe its time I confronted it, after all.”
The other girl just laughed venomously. “It’s already in motion. The bombs are in place. The revolution can’t be stopped.”
The bombs! Harley cursed inwardly, having forgotten the real point of her Vauxhall debut. She was a distraction. Even on her night, it wasn’t really about her. The more things changed…
Harley instinctively reached into a pocket on her outfit, pulled out a cell phone, and dialed a number. “Dick, it’s Harley. No time. There’s bombs. All over Gotham. You gotta…she’s crazy; she kidnapped Cluemaster…” Her rambling was quickly cut off by a fist across the face, sending the phone scattering.
“Oh no, you’re not going to ruin this for us.” Alexis launched herself at Harley, taking advantage of the would-be heroes' surprise, raining down a series of punches that sent bodies through a wall backstage.
The smoke hit them both at once. It seemed to spread from the generator outward, the refurbished device putting out the odd spark that caught on the abundance of construction chemicals and fabrics lying about.
Harley managed to toss Punchline off herself and gathered herself up. “Listen, Alexis, we gotta grab Cluemastah and go. This place is ‘bout to go up like a tindah box.”
“You had your chance to walk out together. But fine, if you can’t see the truth, I’ll have to make you. It’s for your own good.” Punchline grabbed a bottle and pulled out a small vial. The liquid glowed an eerie green. “A little Venom, Frosty (see recent Lobo), some fear toxin for fun, all mixed with my little bonding agent, XO. A whole lot of little things that are going to let me knock a whole lot of sense into you.”
Harley had no choice but to square up for the fight of her life.
◆🥦◆🥦◆
Inside the Orchard Ballroom Old Gotham "Networking"
“Do you see him yet?”
This had not been how Dick Grayson imagined his night would end up. It had started out interrupting a few muggings as Nightwing, a quick pass around tonight’s designated neighborhoods, and then back to the Orphanage if things were quiet. And then Steph Brown happened.
He subtly reached up to tap the button on his ear communicator. “You’ll know as soon as I do.”
“If they have any good hors d'oeuvres, make sure you grab some for me. Anything but the crab puffs, those don’t keep well.”
“Goodbye, Steph,” Dick sighed, tapping the button again and cutting off her response.
It wasn’t the first time he found himself in a different kind of suit, 3-piece and perfectly pressed. He’d traded in the thugs and the crooks for a different kind of predator, desperate people with more dreams than money. And in their eyes, he was Dick Grayson, walking ATM.
All things considered, he preferred the muggings.
He could see it coming a mile away and braced himself. He’d seen the body language often enough as a couple made a beeline right for him. A few moments later, they’d attempt to accidentally “bump” into him, and oh, surprise, ‘aren’t you Dick Grayson, you so much more handsome in person, blah blah blah’. He sighed inwardly before putting on the fake plastic smile Alfred had instilled in him during the Orphanage’s leaner years.
“Say, aren’t you Dick Grayson?” the man asked as he jostled Dick’s shoulder on cue.
“The paparazzi photos don’t do you justice,” his wife echoed, attempting to feign cleaning him up while copping a feel of Dick’s muscular forearm. “What brings you to our little soiree?”
“I’m looking for someone.”
“Well, here we are,” the woman said with a grin. “The answer to all your prayers.”
“Is that so?” Dick asked,
“We’re about to give you, and the Wayne Foundation the inside track to join us on a sure-to-be profitable venture. How much do you know about papyas?”
Of all the questions to be asked, this was not one Dick was prepared for. But thankfully, a little chirp on his headset gave him the out he needed. “Excuse me; I have to take this.” Stepping away from the papaya couple, he sighed, tapping the device in his ear. “Steph, I promise, I’ll…”
“Dick; it’s Harley. No time. There’s bombs. All over Gotham. You gotta…she’s crazy, she kidnapped Cluemaster…”
“Doc?,” he asked, barely able to pick up on what his friend had shouted into his ear. But just as quickly as she started, the call was disconnected. “Doc?”
Without another word, he dashed out of the hotel lobby to the confusion of the other attendees.
“Bruce, it’s Dick. I’ve got word that there are bombs placed all over Gotham. No idea where, or how many, my source got cut off. But something’s going down. Cluemaster’s involved somehow, but I don’t think he planned this.”
“It’s not Arthur’s typical M.O.,” Bruce replied, his voice flat and even.
“But if Cluemaster is involved, then the bomb source is most likely Mad Stan. You find and interrogate him. But don’t go alone, Stan is unpredictable when provoked. I’ll send back up.”
Again in motion as he listened, Dick was heading back to where he’d last left Stephanie. “I actually already have someone in mind. Funny you should mention Cluemaster.” He could almost hear Bruce frowning on the other end of the comm.
“Bruce, we don’t have time for you to send anyone else, and she’s right here…”
There was a long pause. “She’ll be a good pair of eyes, but do not let her engage.”
“Understood.” With that, Dick hopped back onto the rooftop and rejoined his purple-clad protegee.
“I’ve been trying to ping you, where’d you…?” she asked, suddenly seeing him back in his Nightwing get-up. “Oh, that’s not good news.”
Dick felt an eternity pass as she searched his eyes for hints about what was happening. She was too sharp for her good, and he remembered what it was like on her end. Bruce always kept things close to his chest, need to know information - and often, they differed on what he needed to know.
So he steadied himself and told her the truth. “Someone has your Dad.”
He winced in shock.
“And that person has planted bombs all over Gotham. The entire city is in danger.”
“But, we’re going to go find my Dad, while Batman deals with the bombs, right?”
Dick’s silence answered that for her.
“I have to go find the bombs. Mad Stan is our only lead. Steph, we’re going to do everything we can to find your Dad. Whoever did this, has a friend of mine too. But, the entire city is in danger, and once you put this Bat symbol on, the needs of the city outweigh anything personal. You still have a choice.”
“No, I don’t.” Steph admitted, wiping her sleeve across her eyes to blot away the tears. “Just don’t think I’m playing Good Cop when we get to Stan.”
As she grabbed her grappling hook and the pair prepared to grab transport to Amusement Mile, all Dick could think was that he had just made a terrible mistake.
◆🥦◆🥦◆
The Nearly Obliterated Corner of Kane and Finger Robinson Park “The Balance Shifts”
Babs sighed as she eased herself off the ground, the rabbit scampering out from underneath her, none the worse for wear. It seemed to look up at her and nod before launching itself in Tremor’s direction. Latching onto her face with his front paws, Captain Carrot buffeted her head with kicks from his back ones, knocking Roshanna off balance.
The sound of the flash Batarang still bounced off the walls of the alleyway, and even Ivy looked disoriented. With Roshanna otherwise engaged, Babs tried to reach Ivy, ready for a fight but hoping to talk things out.
“Look Pam, I don’t know what’s going on here, but it doesn’t have to end this way. We don’t have to fight.”
“Everything’s a fight. That’s all people know how to do.” Ivy countered. “They fight, and they hurt. The environment. Each other. I’m through with it.”
“Look, people do some awful things…”
“Have you?”
The question was sharp. Accusing. Barbara withered underneath it. Where to start? Letting Jason get away again. Lying to the Birds. The things she did for Waller. Winn Schott. “I’m trying to be better. Most people are, I think.”
“You sound like Harley,” Ivy noted.
“How about you, Pam?”
Ivy dismissed the thought immediately. “I’m nothing like her. No one is.”
“But you want to be.” It was a shot in the dark, but Babs had no other cards to play.
“She’s gone. She won’t be back…”
Breathing out in relief and thinking they’d made a connection, Babs looked down at her wrist sensor. Visible through the cracked screen, the counter read 18%. She found herself looking up in shock when she heard a… ~Shluck~
Batgirl looked on in horror as Pam Isley’s body was driven forward and upward. Pam herself barely had time to look down and see the greenish-red liquid that passed for her blood leaking out of a large wound in her torso.
In the background, Roshanna smiled victoriously, holding the furious rabbit at bay with one hand and keeping her other pressed to the ground as though she could feel the very life seeping out of Pam Isley through the jagged piece of rock that impaled her.
“What have you done?” Batgirl shouted, balling her fists up in rage.
“Justice. For all of us,” Tremor replied, voice cool and even, eyes burning through the rivulets of blood running down her face. “You can send me back to prison if you can, but it won’t change the fact that she’s dead, and you’ll never find any of the others. The Toxico Radicals have only begun to reshape the world. Isley's just the first to fall.”
◆🥦◆🥦◆
NEXT ISSUE:
Harley Quinn is in for the fight of her life as she tries to protect Cluemaster and herself from the plan of Alexis Kaye. Harley wants to be a hero, and her first task is to stop a monster she helped create.
Elsewhere, Batgirl found herself between a rock and a hard place when her ally Tremor turned on her and brutally murdered Pamela Isley, promising she was but the first to fall in the Toxcio Radicals rise. But is Ivy really dead, or does The Green have more in store for Pam Isley?
Lastly, a mission to find her father has led Stephanie and Nightwing to find bombs stashed across Gotham City. They’re going to learn just why they call him Mad Stan the hard way as “We Are The People Our Parents Warned Us About” comes to an explosive conclusion.
<< First Issue < PreviousNext >

For those new to this topic, here are my previous posts:
What would Clark do if Lois was infected with kryptonite? Part 1: Scenario
What would Clark do if Lois was infected with kryptonite? Part 2: Storylines
It's time for a cure! Vote in the poll later below which idea you like best.
The Search For A Cure
Now that Clark is relentlessly searching for a cure for Lois, Carter Hall, who is on protective duty with Lois in Africa on Clark's request, tells Clark after talking with her (offscreen) that she is hopeful and optimistic about it, that she doesn't want Lex to win, and that she has been immersing herself into all the information from Project Prometheus (The Lex Powersuit Project) so as to understand the kryptonite problem and help with finding a cure for herself.
She is said to have a renewed spirit and is back to being the Lois Lane we know...
https://reddit.com/link/zhggnd/video/ptl3qs209z4a1/player
The Crux Of The Problem
Understanding the technical details of Lois' infection would show how Lois can be cured.
The device used to infect Lois with kryptonite was designed by a former engineer of Dr. Groll (the designer of Lana's powersuit) who worked with Dr. Groll in creating Lana's suit. The device and the powersuit was based on the same technology, involving the infusion of nanites capable of absorbing kryptonite. The nanites were pre-loaded with GreenK when infused into Lois.
In the S11 comics, the problem was solved in an altercation between Lana and John Corben (Metallo), wherein Corben's new kryptonite heart (installed by Winslow Schott) absorbed the nanites embedded in Lana's skin. This removed her powers as well as the kryptonite in her. This event proved Dr. Groll was wrong in his assessment that the kryptonite in Lana couldn't be removed.
In the scenario I presented with Lois, Clark and his friends would recognise Lois' infection as a technical problem needing a technical solution that would involve the neutralisation and removal of nanites from her body.
John Corben drains the kryptonite-infused nanites out of Lana (with Lois as witness) but it was never explained in detail how Corben's new heart was able to do so.
How The Nanites Work: Bizarro Is Within
Nanites, also known as nanomachines or nanobots, are microscopic artificial machines or robots meant to be infused into the human body for bio-medical purposes, such as cell-targeted drug delivery for cancer treatment. They could potentially be programmed and directed to perform any number of imaginable tasks within the body.
In Smallville, the storyline of Project Prometheus (i.e. The S8 Lana suit arc) involved developing a biological powersuit for Lex composed of nanites intended to be applied as part of a skin graft to repair Lex's burnt skin, thereby supposedly requiring Lana to undergo skin damaging before she had the nanites applied to herself. However, nanites can actually be placed into the body via injection, ingestion, or inhalation. In my story, the nanites were injected into Lois by a device that shot the nanites straight into her, like microscopic bullets, without causing her any serious damage.
In s08x13 'Power', it is revealed that the nanites contain alien DNA, which the Smallville Wiki suggests came from Bizarro, as such would explain how the nanites gave Lana super-strength, super-speed, invincibility, and the capacity to absorb kryptonite, like Bizarro did (Yes, Lana and Bizarro were "reunited"). Dr. Groll couldn't have used any other alien DNA source for the nanites besides Bizarro's, because any other alien DNA from Kryptonians (the only aliens sourced from) like that of Titan's (which ran out) or Clark's (which he didn't have) won't be able to survive the nanites' kryptonite emissions. So it's just Bizarro. Although Bizarro absorbed kryptonite, he didn't radiate it, and so the kryptonite radiation from Lana is presumably a feature programmed into the nanites specifically to repel Clark, by having them access and emit stored GreenK energy from the contained DNA.
In s07x10 'Persona', BlueK is shown to cause Bizarro to overload and self-destruct upon direct contact. So in my story, when Clark tried BlueK to be with Lois but it got drained and neutralised, the nanites in Lois were not absorbing the BlueK, but redirecting and dispersing it (like a bulimic with food) so that the BlueK is kept away from Bizarro's DNA inside the nanites. Bizarro's DNA in Lois is also a modified form that does not include his powers and abilities other than kryptonite absorption.
Hope y'all understood all that technical stuff. Basically, Lana and Lois got 'loaded' with Bizarro.
This guy didn't really go away.
Solutions To The Problem
"How would you know if you don't give it a chance?" -- Clark, s07x11 'Siren'
Below are the solutions for a cure I have in mind. Vote in the poll on which you like best.
Which of these approaches do you think provides the best chance of a solution (or your most preferred one for the ending) to a story where Lois is infected with kryptonite as described?
Use the Legion ring to go back in time. In S8, Clark was given a Legion ring (twice) and kept it thru S9 and S10. It allows him to go back or forward in time. This is the simplest solution - just go back in time and prevent Lex from infecting Lois. But it risks changing critical events in history.
Get the help of The Legion. In S08x11 'Legion', The Legion's Rokk used his powers with magnetism to extract Brainiac's nanites from Chloe's body. Clark would remember this and could use the Legion ring to go forward in time and get Rokk's help in removing the nanites from Lois' body.
Get the help of Jor-El. In S02x11 'Visage', Clark was trapped in the farm cellar with Lana's kryptonite necklace around him (c/o Tina Greer). His spaceship, also in the cellar, sensed Clark's distress and emitted a burst of light that neutralised the GreenK in the necklace, turning it clear and harmless. The ship did this again in S02x16 'Fever' to cure Clark from the effect of kryptonite spores. Clark would remember this and could ask Jor-El about the spaceship's technology so he can have it replicated to neutralise the GreenK in Lois. Or Clark can just bring Lois to the Fortress Of Solitude (while wearing a lead suit) if Jor-El can use the FOS' technology to neutralise the nanites directly.
Get the help of Zatanna. In S08x17 'Hex', Clark meets Zatanna and witnesses her powers. Based on the DC Fandom site, Zatanna's powers include the ability to alter reality "with little distinction for laws of nature or rules of the cosmos" as well as the ability "to turn anything into anything else, essentially, such as turning bullets into paper airplanes." Some of this was demonstrated by her on the show. Sounds like she can help Clark with Lois. Maybe she can do something about nanites, or she can transfer Lois' mind into a new Lois body without the nanites, like she did with Chloe in 'Hex'.
Replicate Metallo Technology. The S11 comics event where Metallo's heart drains the nanites out of Lana can be made instead into an S10 offscreen event that Lois witnesses and reports to Clark. He can then work with Chloe, Emil, etc. to have Metallo's heart replicated. That might involve having to capture either John Corben or Winslow Schott, or stealing their design specifications. Lois and Lana in the S11 comics were able to subdue Corben by themselves and take out his heart - and this happened after Lana had lost her powers. Clark and the Justice League could do the same.
Fight nanites with nanites. An army of commando-like nanobots can be programmed by Dr. Groll and ingested by Lois to act like antibodies that would seek out and destroy the kryptonite-fueled nanites in her. The bots could simply apply lead coating around the nanites and that would automatically insulate the kryptonite, then add another coating of a safe compound to prevent lead poisoning in Lois, but it's better to rid of the nanites altogether. So instead of lead coating, the bots could apply a powerful chemical that would dissolve the nanites' outer walls and inner mechanisms, thereby disabling the nanites and exposing Bizarro's DNA within. The bots can then bombard the DNA cells with BlueK, causing them to self-destruct, and thus eliminating the kryptonite in Lois, presumably without harming her given that Bizarro's 'explosion' in 'Persona' didn't move or damage anything around him. The bots can then dissolve themselves once their mission is accomplished.
Each of these approaches are repeatable and can be harnessed to develop a replicable solution so that Clark need not worry about kryptonite-loaded nanites ever again.
They might also come with some inherent risk, in which case Clark would heed advice from Martha...
https://reddit.com/link/zhggnd/video/pq9ltdcebz4a1/player
Getting It Done
If the solutions that were listed above seem so simple, it's because they are. The technology of today allows nanites to be easily removed from the human body using electric fields. So Lois' infection might have been a non-issue had the technology been available in 2010. However, as mentioned before, Clark did have access to superheroes with superpowers, advanced alien technology, advanced future technology as far as the 31st century (c/o The Legion ring), very smart technical people (i.e. Chloe and Emil), and virtually unlimited resources c/o Oliver and Tess. So figuring out how to remove the nanites in Lois really shouldn't be all that difficult.
It doesn't make for good drama though. There has to be a struggle. So obstacles need to be put in the way as Clark tries to explore each option. Clark could use as a trial sample a piece of artificially kept-alive human tissue infused with the nanites, and enclosed in a lead-covered cooler, that he steps away from when the people he reaches out to give a try at removing the nanites. And so Lois need not be with him, but she is constantly in mind, thus both her absence and her presence is felt.
You can use your imagination to create obstacles for him so as to make the story as good as you want it to be. Whatever they may be, he'll fight thru them and find a way. In the end, the kryptonite gets taken out of Lois, and after having been unseen for more than half the season, she shows up in the finale (my preferred ending) and gets back together with Clark.
​
https://preview.redd.it/ausjfoovbz4a1.png?width=1280&format=png&auto=webp&s=0b02c6f14d7d422f463c82c863fd3d02614e7455
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This is a follow-up to the post I did titled 'What would Clark do if Lois was infected with kryptonite?' in which I presented a what-if storyline where what happened to Lana (and Kristin Kreuk) in S8 also happened to Lois (and Erica Durance) in S10.
It has a tough puzzle, but I'm assuming people would be interested to know how that story unfolds if it happened on SV, as well as to know how strong Clark's resolve and love for Lois is in that situation, and to know how he would respond. So I re-did it as a poll to make it easier to answer.
I'm gonna be telling how I see the story playing out in the situation brought forth, based on my own perception of Clark Kent's character as portrayed in Smallville, but first I'd like to present a scene that sums up Clark's mindset when facing a seemingly insurmountable challenge:
\"I don't care how powerful it is. I'll take it on, like I have everything else.\" -- Clark, s08x09 'Abyss'
So what would Clark do in a situation where Lois is infected with green kryptonite?
In S7x08 'Blue', Clark learned that blue kryptonite temporarily disables his powers but also immunises him to green kryptonite. So he would definitely use BlueK as a first option. There were swaths of BlueK in the town from S10x06 'Harvest', and if he didn't come across them, he'd find a way to get it. Zod found BlueK for his dagger in S09x21 'Salvation' so Clark should be able to find it as well.
In s07x08 'Blue', Zor-El tricks Lara into making Clark wear an unremovable BlueK ring. Clark learns BlueK disables his powers, but it also immunises him to GreenK, allowing him to use GreenK against Zor-El while wearing the ring.
If it works, it's a temporary solution because of the risk of being without powers while together with Lois, and a permanent solution will have to be found. But it's also too easy for him and so it won't be dramatic to the story. Let's it make it harder for him.
The device used to infect Lois was made by an engineer who worked with Dr. Groll on Lana's powersuit and is based off the same technology as Lana's suit but without the powers integration. So let's assume Lois now absorbs kryptonite like Lana does. Clark tells Chloe he found BlueK and tried it with Lois, but Lois absorbed the energy in the BlueK, rendering it clear and neutralised. He says he tried larger amounts of BlueK and the same thing happened, so BlueK won't work. He says he'll try wearing a protective lead suit instead, and that should work, but he can't touch her.
Clark as Superman wearing an anti-kryptonite lead suit
Clark realises that Lex didn't just find a way to make Lois poisonous to him, but also a way to allow Clark's enemies to weaken him by infusing kryptonite into themselves or those close to him.
He has to find a cure!
Back in S8, when Lana tells Clark in their final scene together that Dr. Groll tried everything to remove the kryptonite in her but couldn't, Clark just accepted the problem as unsolvable, even though he actually had access to more knowledge and resources than Dr. Groll did to solve the problem. Clark has at his disposal, in addition to Dr. Groll, superfriends with superpowers, advanced alien technology, very smart technical people (i.e. Chloe and Emil), and virtually unlimited resources c/o Oliver and Tess. So he makes the decision this time to do whatever is necessary to get Lois cured.
What could the showrunners do in that situation without Erica Durance on the show?
Borrowing approaches from the Unseen Character TV trope, Clark will talk about Lois and see her offscreen. Their interactions will be made known to the audience via his conversations with Chloe and Oliver. This was done with the Oliver-Chloe love story to move it forward even with Allison Mack's absence for almost the whole of S10. It was also done with the very powerful love story of Carter Hall despite the complete absence of his wife Shiera. The same should work for Clark and Lois - and people would still watch because of the threat and challenge put forth before him.
He'd be searching for a permanent cure (like Bruce Banner in stories of 'The Hulk') and the drama that comes from the struggle to find that cure will be the replacement for the drama that would've come from face-to-face interactions with Lois onscreen. There would be obstacles along the way, and his love for her will be expressed by the determination he shows to find that cure.
Most of his activities though would still focus on being The Blur and fighting the threats of Darkseid and other bad guys. And he'll still move towards fulfilling his destiny and becoming Superman.
How could the Clois endgame happen in that situation?
I see two ways for an ending.
One way is to have it open-ended, like it was in the Oscar-winning film "Good Will Hunting", where Clark has news of a permanent cure for Lois then goes off in the horizon to be with her.
The other way (and the one I prefer) is that he goes to see her with news of a cure. Then Lois shows up in a final scene at a place where she is given the cure. That scene would've been filmed in advance before Erica left the show and kept a secret until the finale. Clark sees her. They kiss.
The latter follows what the 90s TV hit series 'ER' did when George Clooney had left the show, and the writers still continued the love story of his character, Doug, with 'soulmate' Carol, and still had them end up together with Clooney's cameo return for Doug's reunion and final scene with Carol.
So what's the cure?
My next post will be about practical options on a cure for Lois in this situation based on SV canon.
This post is about mindset, that which I'm sure Clark (and the showrunners) would've adopted if Lois was made to be infected with kryptonite and Erica left the show. It's also about possibility, that which is deemed possible rather than impossible. From here, I'll add just more thing...
Smallville wasn't the first Superman story where someone he loves is infected with kryptonite...
From \"Superman: Brainiac Attacks\" (2006)
Clark doesn't give up on those he truly loves.

Superman #79 - Night of Terror

<< < >
Author: MajorParadox
Book: Superman
Arc: Dawn of a New Day
Event: Red Reign
Set: 79

Awake

Lois and Clark’s Apartment
Late
Lois sat on the couch watching TV. She’d been having trouble sleeping for a bit, and she found it best to get out of bed to help clear her mind.
“Since Amanda Waller’s surprise resignation,” a news announcer was saying. “It appears authorities aren’t considering any possible wrongdoing from President Luthor. However, his involvement in the Cadmus Project controversy is still making headlines.”
Most nights Clark would sit with her, but there was a late Justice League meeting. Apparently, it had been tough to find a better time that they could all meet together.
Lois sent him a text, even though she knew he wasn’t likely to respond. He always said it was rude to be on your phone when others needed your attention. To her surprise, she got a text back almost right away.

Smallville (Just Now) Sorry it’s taking so long. All this talk about the effects of time travel is pretty complicated
Lo Lo (Just Now) Sounds like I should be there. All that talking would probably put me right to sleep.
Lo Lo (Just Now) Also shame on you for texting during your meeting. Rude rude rude
Smallville (Just Now) It’s not rude if you can text faster than anyone can see
Lo Lo (Just Now) Did you forget who’s in the room with you?
Smallville …
Smallville (Just Now) I think Linda caught me.

They continued texting as Krypto poked his head into the living room. He yawned and stepped over slowly, jumping up to the couch, and curling up into a ball next to Lois. After some time, Lois finally felt herself starting to drift off to sleep.

Smallville (Just Now) Stay inside

Lois shook her head from side to side, rereading the last text. Why would she even go outside?

Lo Lo (Just Now) What’s wrong?
Smallville (Just Now) There’s an attack coming. Vampires

Lois looked at her hand and then back at her phone. She wasn’t dreaming. The TV was still playing a discussion about President Luthor. Whatever was happening hadn’t started yet.

Smallville (Just Now) Stay safe. We’re going to stop them

White House, Washington D.C.
Lex Luthor tapped a few buttons on his tablet as the TV facing his bed was playing. More coverage on Waller’s resignation. A necessary step to avoid the fallout from her failed Apokolips mission. It was bad enough that he had the Cadmus controversy still making news cycles. Lex placed his tablet on his nightstand as he sat down on the spacious king-sized bed.
A brown and white Boxer whined as he stepped over to him.
“Not now, Otis,” said Lex. “Bed.”
Otis huffed and walked over to his dog bed in the corner of the room.
“Off,” said Lex. The TV turned off and the room went dark. He laid down, letting his eyes close as soon as his head hit the pillow.
“President Luthor,” said a voice from the door.
Lex didn’t even open his eyes. “What is it, Mercy?”
“We’re getting intel of incoming attacks on the country,” Mercy explained.
“Lights,” said Lex. The lights turned back on and he got out of bed.
Otis jumped up and scurried over.
“Bed,” Lex ordered again and the dog rushed back.
Lex started removing his pajamas and Mercy turned around. He placed his pajamas neatly on the bed.
“I’ll meet you in the Situation Room,” Mercy said.
“No,” said Lex, walking into his closet. “Tell me everything you know so far.”
“At first we were getting reports of an earthquake in Markovia,” Mercy explained. “But it sounds like there is more to it than that. This is going to sound strange sir-”
“What could sound stranger than an alien who flies around the planet, making people believe he’s their savior?”
“Unless our intel is wrong,” Mercy explained. “We’re dealing with vampires.”
Lex walked out of his closet in a sleek black suit. “Let’s go,” he said.
Watchtower
A lot had happened at the Justice League meeting. Time may have been broken after Kara and Booster destroyed the Dome in San Francisco. Zatanna appeared out of nowhere after being missing for five years. And then Bluebird and her associates crashed the meeting to warn about an incoming threat.
“Markovia is covered,” said Bruce. “We need to get help to the cities under attack.”
“Wait a minute,” said Booster. “Are we just going to blow over the fact Batman was running a black ops team through the league without anyone else on the team knowing about it?”
“We can worry about that later,” said Diana. “The world needs us now.”
She was right. No matter what Bruce had done, there was an urgent threat. Besides, it was Bruce. He must have known what he was doing.
“I’m going to Metropolis first,” said Clark.
“We’ll come with you,” said Kara, as Linda and Kory stood beside her.
“That’s not a good idea,” said Bruce. “You’re four of our biggest hitters and we definitely need a response in D.C. If the capitol falls, the country may never recover.”
“Right,” said Clark. “Power Girl and I are the most experienced, so Supergirl you’re with me. Power Girl and Starfire, you take D.C.”
“Have some faith in your girl!” said Kory, pulling Linda close, her face turning bright red. “We can handle D.C..”
“Fine,” said Clark, moving toward the airlock.
It had been a weird night and something told Clark things were going to get weirder.

Fight

Metropolis
A woman was leading a man into an alley.
“Where are we going?” the man asked. His wrinkly shirt was haphazardly tucked into his pants. “I only live a few blocks from here.”
“Trust me,” the woman in a shiny silver dress said, taking his hand. She pulled him close and he felt the electricity between them spark.
“I’ve never met anyone like you,” the man said, caressing her hair and gently moving his lips against her neck.
“I very much believe you,” the woman said before yanking his head back and snapping her teeth into his neck.
“Ow!” the man cried, trying to pull away, but the woman’s grip was too strong. “What the- Owww!”
In a gust of wind, Superman appeared next to them and pulled the woman away, tossing her back. As she tried to return, Power Girl appeared behind her, grabbing her by the waist.
Her face had transformed into a ghouly, fanged shadow of her former appearance. It didn’t really sink in until that moment that they were dealing with actual vampires. But just how much of the fictional myth was true?
“I can’t believe she bit me!” the man yelled as Clark tended to him.
The woman hissed and knocked back against Kara, loosening the hero’s grip. She clawed at Kara’s face and kicked her in the stomach before hopping gracefully over to Clark and delivering a powerful blow to his chest before he could counter her.
Kara sped over and threw her own punch, but the vampire ducked and dropped a foot to Kara’s knee, throwing her off balance. Clark blew his freeze breath, which kept the vampire at bay, giving Kara an opportunity to launch herself forward with an elbow to her head. The woman collapsed to the sidewalk.
“These vampires are tougher than I thought they’d be,” said Clark.
“Did you say vampires?” the man asked. “As in more than one of her?”
Clark turned his head as his super hearing started picking up pleas for help all over the city.
“I’m afraid so,” Clark answered. “A lot more.”
Several vampires flooded the alleyway. “You don’t know the half of it,” one of them said.
“Stay back,” Clark called to the man who was attacked.
But he just laughed, baring a new set of fangs.
White House, Washington D.C.
Large TV screens in the Situation Room were displaying news footage of the initial attacks. It seemed Metropolis, Hong Kong, and Chicago were hit the worst so far, but the others were likely to catch up. Early indications were also showing D.C. itself was under attack.
“We’ll need to get you out of the city,” one of the secret service agents said. “The vice president is already in the air.”
“Not just yet,” said Lex, looking to the door. “Mercy, any status reports coming in from the local law enforcement?”
Mercy scanned through pages on her tablet. “The reports are disjointed,” she explained. “But a common theme among them is what they’re calling the perpetrators.” She pointed to one of the TVs with a breaking news banner calling it a “vampire attack.”
“I’m the President of the United States,” said Lex. “How did I not know vampires were real?”
“There is a lot more you don’t know about what’s going on,” said Mercy, her voice more relaxed than usual.
“Mercy?” Lex asked, staring her down.
Mercy’s face transformed, her skin crinkled while fangs grew out of her teeth. Her high-pitch laugh echoed in the rather small room as the secret service members drew their weapons. Before they could take aim, Mercy had leaped into the air, clawing and biting.
Lex dropped out of his chair and tapped a hidden panel on the wall behind him. He disappeared from the room left with screams, slashes, and gunshots.
“Leeeeeeex…” said Mercy, gliding her way across the fallen bodies around the room. “We need to talk.”
The TV screens were being overtaken with more footage of vampires across the world.
“There’s always been an unspoken connection between us, hasn’t there?” Mercy continued. “Wouldn’t you like to explore that further? Maybe until the end of time?”
The secret doorway reopened and Lex walked out slowly, now completely covered in green and purple armor. “Me, a vampire?” he stated. “As much as immortality intrigues me, you’re clearly not yourself anymore. Losing myself is not a negotiable trade.”
“As if you have a choice,” Mercy teased.
Several bodies from the floor rose up, all with newly formed fangs. Hisses filled the room before they rushed toward Lex who lifted his metallic arm, letting several energy blasts fire.
Elsewhere in D.C.
Linda and Kory arrived in the streets of D.C., readying for a fight.
“Do you see anything?” asked Kory.
Linda was scanning around the city. “Nothing yet,” she said. “What do vampires look like anyway?”
“I’ve never met one,” said Kory.
“Me neither,” said Linda. “I’ve only seen them on TV. Using that as a guide, I think they’re supposed to wear a lot of leather.“
“Speaking of,” said Kory. “I should have a costume if we’re going to be out publicly. Can Tali whip something up?”
A device in Linda’s pocket buzzed to life. “I’ve been thinking it over,” said Tali. “And I think I have the perfect concept for your new costume.”
“Is this really the best time to talk wardrobe?” asked Linda.
“It will take two seconds,” said Tali. “Besides, Kory needs to dress the part. Hand me over. I need her to hold me for this to work.”
Kory took Tali’s mobile emitter into her hand. The sound of snapping fingers followed and holographic clothes appeared on her. “What is this, some kind of joke?” she asked, looking down at her new virtual garb.
Linda tried not to laugh, but her snorting only made the moment worse.
Kory was wearing a puffy blue shirt with an S symbol above the left side of her chest. A short cape fluttered behind her, barely reaching the red shorts that were held with a yellow belt covered in ovals.
“You dressed me like a Supergirl,” Kory cried.
“What’s wrong?” asked Tali. “The S can stand for Starfire. Or you could even consider changing it up to Superstar!”
“Let’s worry about name changes later,” said Linda, pointing out a crowd headed their way.
The people in the crowd growled and hissed as they leaped forward with their fanged teeth ready.
Lois and Clark’s Apartment
Later in the Night
Lois was watching news coverage of the attacks while researching what she could from her laptop. She heard some murmurs from the hallway, which were getting increasingly louder.
Off the couch and standing by the front door, Lois stared through the peephole. Mrs. Turk, their elderly neighbor from down the hall was talking to her neighbor Ruby and a man next to her. Lois didn’t even realize Ruby was seeing anybody.
Wait, that was no ordinary man. That was Jimmy. He talked about meeting her at Halloween, but Lois had no idea they’d gotten so close. Close enough that he was there in the middle of the night.
Mrs. Turk seemed to be talking about getting attacked outside the building. But then suddenly her face crinkled up and snapped at them.
Jimmy slammed the door on Mrs. Turk’s face, but she slammed the door off its hinges, menacing her way inside.
Lois grabbed a chair from the kitchen and rushed into the hall, swinging at Mrs. Turk’s head. It cracked into pieces, barely slowing the vampire at all.
Krypto flew into the hall, grabbing her by the leg with his teeth. Mrs. Turk kicked him off, but he shot his heat vision toward her chest, which made her hiss and back away. The vampire wooshed away in a blur.
“Get into my apartment,” said Lois,” leading Jimmy and Ruby inside.
“What the-” Ruby started. “Who- what? Was Mrs. Turk a vampire?!”
Lois shut down the door. “She must have been bitten outside,” she said.
“We’ll be safe in here,” said Jimmy.
“That woman just destroyed my door like it was nothing,” Ruby cried.
“We have a very good security system,” Lois answered.
“Mommy?” asked Jon from his doorway. “What’s wrong?”
Lois picked Jon up into her arms, holding him close. “Nothing,” she said. “Everything’s okay.”
“Um, Lois,” said Jimmy motioning her over from the window.
Lois rushed over to find what was worrying him. The streets were filled with vampires.

Survival

Elsewhere in Metropolis
Clark tossed a vampire into the air as he pummeled his way through several others. He fired off heat vision to keep a small group from attacking bystanders trying to get to their car.
Kara was flying back on the scene after her latest trip to S.T.A.R. Labs where a containment area had been set up, capable of keeping the vampires from escaping. But there were so many of them, it felt like an endless battle.
Every time a vampire got out of their reach and bit someone, they had another threat on their hands. An innocent victim seemingly brainwashed to continue their reign of terror.
Clark considered leaving to get Lois and Jon out of the city, but people were dying and they were ultimately safe at the moment. Still, he kept a constant eye on the apartment in case anything changed.
“Did you hear that?” asked Kara, before kicking a vampire into another.
“About Jimmy?” Clark asked, blocking a punch and returning with one of his own. “I’m glad he found someone. He hasn’t been himself since his breakup with Lucy.”
“What? No,” said Kara. “LexCorp… It’s gone quiet.”
Clark shifted his superhearing toward the tower and realized she was right. Usually, it was filled with the grind of machinery, the buzzing of electrics, and the hum of chatter. Looking closer, it appeared the power had gone out. And vampires were breaking in through the windows. They must have cut the power to get around their defenses.
“They’re under attack,” said Clark.
“You okay here?” asked Kara, floating up.
Clark clapped his hands together, causing a shockwave that knocked back the remaining vampires still standing. “Go ahead,” he said. “I’ll get these ones to S.T.A.R.”
Kara nodded and flew off in a burst of speed.
As Clark moved forward, one of the vampires on the ground grabbed his ankle, tripping him to the ground. Another one jumped on top of him, pinning him down, while the first sunk his teeth into Clark’s neck.
The vampire’s fangs pierced Clark’s Kryptonian skin and felt a trickle of blood splatter over the wound.
The vampire cried out and pulled away. “It burns!” he yelled.
Of course. It wasn’t clear what was true about vampires, but they did attack at night. It stood to reason, they had an aversion to the sun. And solar energy coursed through Clark’s veins. He didn’t feel himself turning into one of them either.
Back at the apartment, Clark watched the group gather by the front door. Mrs. Turk had returned along with backup. They hadn’t broken in, but with that many of them, it was only a matter of time.
Clark reached deep down and let a small solar flare loose, blinding the area in light. The remaining vampires fled. Clark smiled and flew off toward the apartment.
Outside the White House, Washington D.C.
Linda and Kory had made their way toward the White House where vampires had swarmed the Rose Garden, trying to break their way inside.
Secret Service was firing on them, but the bullets were barely slowing them down.
Kory grabbed two of them, smashing their heads together, and shot a starbolt at a group of them heading her way.
Linda punched her way through some others, but one of them countered the blow and kicked her back. She fired off some heat vision at the vampire’s feet, throwing him off guard, and proceeded to kick him in the stomach. Another punch to the face sent him flying back.
“There’s so many of them,” said Linda.
“We can handle it, though,” Kory reassured her, fighting off more of them. “As Batman said, the country is counting on us. We can’t let them take down the pres-”
The front door to the White House blasted apart and Lex Luthor appeared in full armor, firing off blasts into the crowd of vampires.
“Is that-?” asked Kory.
“I think it is,” Linda answered.
They continued fighting on while Lex attacked from the other side. It only took a few more minutes before they had them fleeing.
“Since when does the President of the United States go into battle?” asked Kory.
“I’m not your average president,” said Lex. “Although, I’m hardly the first.”
Some kind of alert pinged on Lex’s wrist display and rocket boots levitated his suit off the ground. “I have to attend to another matter,” he said. “Is Washington safe with you two ladies here?”
Linda didn’t quite know how to respond to that. “Um…”
“We are more than capable,” Kory answered for the both of them.
Lex flew off away from the city.
Kory turned to Linda. “I don’t like him.”
LexCorp Tower
Kara arrived at LexCorp, floating outside the building and trying to listen inside. A familiar voice caught her ears and she stormed inside.
“Lena,” she called. “Are you okay?”
Her former roommate was huddled in the corner, her grandfather, Lionel Luthor, was busy barricading desks, chairs, and whatever else he could find against the door.
Lena jumped up. “Power Girl, thank god!” she cried. “There are vampires outside.”
“I’m sure she’s surmised that by now,” said Lionel.
“Stay here,” Kara ordered. She flew back outside and found another way inside, bringing her to the swarm of vampires breaking their way into the office. “Hey!” she called.
A splinter of them split off and charged toward her. But the rest continued breaking their way inside.
Kara battered her way through the attackers, but they were fiercely defending themselves. Still, she managed to knock out several of them, but not before the door was finally breached.
“No!” Kara yelled as she flew past the vampires, standing as a shield between them and the Luthors.
Kara punched any coming close and fired her heat vision to block the rest, but one of them managed to get by. She turned around and grabbed him, tossing him into the others.
“He bit me!” yelled Lena, clutching her neck.
This was bad. It meant Lena would become one of them. She would need to separate her from her grandfather, but who knew how much time she had?
Kara flipped around, trying to grab hold of Lena and Lionel, but it was too late. Lena punched Kara square in the jaw, sending her reeling back toward the other vampires. But blasts of energy blew their way from the other side.
Lex Luthor burst his way through the vampires as Kara helped clear the rest.
“Lena,” said Lex, once he saw her face, now a horrifying remnant of his daughter.
She lunged at him, but Kara leaped between them, throwing a blow that knocked the young vampire unconscious.
Lionel put a finger to his neck, feeling blood. He was bitten too. So why wasn’t he changing?
Lois and Clark’s Apartment
Loud bangs against the front door echoed the apartment as the vampires tried to get through. Krypto growled at every hit.
“Good boy,” said Lois. patting him on the head.
“Good boy,” Jon repeated from his room, which was barricaded with the kitchen table.
“We’re lucky he was here,” said Jimmy.
“Yeah,” said Ruby. “But this is Superman’s dog, right? Why do you have him?”
“Superman asked us to take care of him,” Lois explained. “We’ve been passing him off as our own dog.”
Glass crashed from the balcony as several vampires were making their way in from that side.
“How did they get up there?” Lois yelled as she ran for a hidden panel in the wall. It popped open, revealing a button that she quickly pressed. A metal covering dropped down, covering the balcony doors and surrounding windows.
“What the heck was that?” asked Ruby.
“Very good security,” Lois explained again.
The front door finally gave out and vampires gathered at the door. Krypto flew into action, keeping them from entering.
Clark arrived at the other end of the hall, fighting them from that side. They were getting slower. Maybe they could only fight so long before feeding?
That wasn’t it. Clark felt an unmistakable warmth against his skin. The sun was rising.
“Lois!” Clark called. “Open the balcony!”
Lois tapped the button again and sunlight flooded the apartment. All the remaining vampires fled.
“Is everyone okay?” asked Clark.
“I think so,” said Lois. “What the heck is happening, though?”
“I don’t know,” said Clark. “I better check back in with the league.”
“Are you sure it’s safe, Superman?” asked Ruby.
“Keep the windows open,” said Clark. “They won’t come inside again.” He knelt down to Krypto, giving him a pat on the head. “Plus, you’ll be here to keep protecting them, right?”
“He’s a good boy!” Jon yelled from his room.
Red Reign Continues:
Today

• The Flash #79 - Earthquakes >
• Black Canary #9 >

December 15th:

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• New Titans #25 >
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Wednesday - Series Premiere Discussion

Premise: A sleuthing, supernaturally infused mystery charting Wednesday Addams' (Jenna Ortega) years as a student at Nevermore Academy. Wednesday's attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, thwart a monstrous killing spree that has terrorized the local town, and solve the supernatural mystery that embroiled her parents 25 years ago - all while navigating her new and very tangled relationships at Nevermore.

Subreddit(s):	Platform:	Rotten Tomatoes:	Metacritic:	Genre(s)
WednesdayNetflixTV	Netflix	65%; avg rating: 6.5/10	62/100	Black Comedy, Mystery, Thriller

Series created by: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar (Smallville)
Series Premiere written by: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
Series Premiere directed by: Tim Burton (Batman, Batman Returns, Sweeney Todd, Alice in Wonderland, Dumbo)
Links: - IMDB - Wikipedia#title) - Trailer - Netflix - Discussion Hub on WednesdayNetflixTV

Superman #78 - Apokolips Nowish

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Author: MajorParadox
Book: Superman
Arc: Split Liaisons
Set: 78

Catching Up

WGBS Tower
Later
Morgan Edge paced around his destroyed office in the aftermath of the break-in. They stole his only remaining link to Apokolips. The optimist in him said it was a good thing. Less for the FBI to find, connecting him to Intergang. But, who stole it? And what were they doing with it?
Meanwhile, the Daily Planet was breathing down his neck. Something was going down and he hated being left in the cold with no control over the situation.
The door opened to his office and in walked Cat Grant.
“This is not a good time,” said Morgan.
“I don’t really care,” said Lois, walking in behind Cat.
“Lois Lane?” asked Morgan, turning to Cat. “Did you let her up here?”
“No more games,” said Lois. “If you have information on what’s happening with Apokolips, we need to know now.”
Morgan continued staring down Cat. “Are you… working together?” His muscles tensed as he sat in his chair, which survived whatever blew apart his desk.
“Mr. Edge,” said Cat. “This is important. The Supermans are trying to stop a war, but we’re in the dark here.”
“If you help,” said Lois. “I’m sure the authorities will go easier on you.”
“Get the hell out of my office,” said Morgan. “Now!”
Lois dropped a business card on a broken area of the desk on the floor. “If you change your mind,” she said before leaving with Cat.
Edge pulled out an old flip phone from his jacket pocket. He typed in a number and hit call.
“I have a job for you,” said Morgan. “And it’s urgent.”
Darkseid’s Palace
Bizarro led Maxima and Orion to a dead end.
“Blueman am there,” he said, pointing.
Maxima put a hand to her head as she listened. “He’s right,” she said. “The blue Superman is behind this wall and very distressed.”
Orion studied the wall. “Why is there no door?” he asked.
“Me make door,” said Bizarro, smashing his fists against the wall, which crumbled into pieces.
Kent lifted his arms, letting waves of electricity pour out, disintegrating the debris before it could fall inside. “Be careful!” he shouted. “That chamber… It’s Doomsday.”
Darkseid’s Throne
“There’s nothing you can do to stop it, Kryptonian,” said Darkseid. He remained sitting on his throne.
“Stop what?” Clark asked, letting sparks of red electricity build up on his hands.
Darkseid leaned forward. “Doom.”
Clark felt a weird energy pulsing in his suit. Kent appeared in a corner of his vision. He didn’t even realize they could do that. Apparently, their containment suits were able to relay communications with each other.
“This is bad, Red,” said Kent. “Flipping the image around to reveal the iced-over chamber.” The bony-gray face was unmistakable.
“Doomsday,” said Clark.
“Earth is the only planet to call him that,” said Darkseid. “Everywhere else, he’s known as-”
“The Beast, I know,” Clark interrupted.
Darkseid’s eyes flamed and a neon-red beam shot out of his eyes, zigzagging its way toward Clark. He tried to move out of the way, but he had another random bout of pain. It had been happening since Bloodsport shot him with a strange weapon he was carrying. What’s worse is the issue seemed to spread to Kent when he touched him. Clark cried out as Darkseid’s blast added to the turmoil.
“Do not interrupt me,” Darkseid warned.
“How is he here?” asked Clark, shaking away the pain. The last time he saw Doomsday, was on Zod’s ship (Superman #32). J’onn had sensed him in orbit above Earth. If it weren’t for Lois going into labor, Clark would have handled the problem himself. Luckily J’onn was there to take of it.
“He was found chained to an asteroid in deep space,” Darkseid explained. “Someone didn’t want him to be found. But The Beast is too valuable an asset to be left drifting in space.”
“You can’t send him back to Earth,” said Clark, moving closer to the throne. “The destruction he caused…”
“DeSaad,” said Darkseid as his ghoulish servant entered the room. “Release The Beast. Activate the Boom Tube.”
“As you wish, my master,” said DeSaad, pulling out a device from his pink robe.
Clark threw an energy bolt toward him, knocking the device to the ground.
“You’re too late, Kryptonian!” DeSaad laughed. “The Beast is free!”
Doomsday Containment Room
Kent studied Doomsday’s frozen body. The bony protrusion that had “killed” him (Doomsday #1), which J’onn had ripped off Doomsday’s arm, had grown back. The bones around his head appeared thicker too. And it could have been his imagination, but Doomsday seemed taller than he was before.
The chamber started crackling and a boom echoed in the small room, which was filled with a yellow glow. Clark appeared in a bolt of red lightning.
“He’s sending him to Earth,” Clark warned. “Under no circumstances can we let Doomsday enter that Boom Tube!”
He turned to the chamber to find Doomsday’s eyes fixated on him. He was awake.
Maxima tried to enter the monster’s mind but had to shake it off quickly. “I’ve never felt anything like that,” she said. “There are no thoughts. It’s only pure rage.”
Doomsday smashed a fist against his confining compartment, shaking the entire room.
“Maxima, Bizarro, Orion, stay behind us,” said Kent. “This beast took apart the entire Justice League and killed me and Red. Do not underestimate him.”
Another few rumbles and the window to the chamber cracked apart. Tears were forming around the entire vessel.
“He no kill me,” said Bizarro, taking a fighting stance. “Me say to bring it on!”
One last punch and the chamber burst apart. Before the debris cleared, Clark and Kent poured on energy blasts, but Doomsday walked through them, swinging his massive arms apart.
The two Supermans screamed out as energy bled from rips in their containment suits.
Maxima tried to subdue Doomsday with a psychic blast, but he kept moving forward. Orion and Bizarro traded blows with him, but he quickly countered them with kicks and slices from the incredibly sharp bones growing out of his elbows.
Clark leaped back up, but Doomsday swung around, slicing straight across Clark’s stomach. Kent attacked Doomsday from the rear, but he flipped around, tossing the blue Superman out of the hole in the wall.
Doomsday stared at the glowing vortex in front of him.
“No!” Clark cried, red energy pouring out of his wounds.
But Doomsday grunted and jumped out of the room instead. He smashed a hole in the wall and leaped in a high arc toward the fire pits of Apokolips.

Resisting

Outside the Daily Planet
Lois and Cat walked toward the entrance of the Daily Planet, both on their phones. Lois was trying to get her father on the phone since he left Metropolis, but he wasn’t answering. None of her contacts at the White House were helpful either.
“I know you don’t want to hear this, Lois,” said Cat. “But all we can do now is wait.”
“You’re right, Cat,” said Lois, moving the bottom of her phone away from her mouth. “I don’t want to hear it.” She tilted the phone back down. “No,” she answered somebody on the other end. “Do not put me back on hold- Ugh.”
A text message popped up from Jimmy, letting Lois know he would watch Jon while she was working late, but then she nearly walked into two men walking in the opposite direction.
“Whoa, watch where you’re going there,” the older of the two said. He had a mustache and streaks of white in what little of his hair was left.
“Will do,” said Lois, trying to walk around them.
“Not so fast,” the other younger man with black hair said. He grabbed onto Lois’ arm. “I think she owes us an apology, Sal.”
“I think you’re right, Tony,” Sal agreed, grabbing Cat’s arm.
“What is this?” asked Lois, pulling her arm back.
Tony grabbed both of her arms and smirked. “You two are coming with us,” he said.
Lois kicked a knee into Tony’s stomach, following it up with a punch to the chest. Before Sal could retaliate, Cat pushed him back and swung her purse at his head.
“Who the hell are you guys?” asked Lois.
A loud thump came out of nowhere and Cat fell to the ground.
Lois turned to see another man behind her with red-tinted glasses and a right hand seemingly made out of metal.
“They work for me,” he said before bopping Lois over the head.
Outside Darkseid’s Palace
“Get out of here!” Kent yelled as he fired off waves of energy to keep Doomsday from advancing.
The workers of Apokolips scattered, trying to take cover.
Clark took advantage of Doomsday’s distraction to try and flank him from the other side, but he quickly noticed his approach.
Doomsday jumped over to Clark, clawing and punching more tears in his containment suit. Kent rushed over to help, but Doomsday just attacked him instead.
Bizarro arrived, dropping down on top of the behemoth, giving the Supermans a chance to recover. It took all their concentration to heal the tears in their suit, but they could only do so much. Bits of energy leaked like sweat.
Maxima landed next, trying to restrain Doomsday’s massive arm behind his back, but he pulled them forward, sending the Almeracian queen flying. Bizarro flew after her, catching her in his arm.
“Thanks for the help,” said Maxima. “But I’m tougher than I look.”
“We need a plan,” said Kent.
Clark pulled whatever metal he could from the nearby structures and tossed them at Doomsday, but they barely slowed him.
Parademon swarmed into the area, but Doomsday swatted them away like flies. At least they were keeping him busy. It gave them more time to get the area clear of possible bystanders.
Another Boom Tube opened up as Orion entered the fray. “This will take him to an empty planet,” he yelled. “Get him through!”
Kent bolted over behind Doomsday, but another bout of intense pain echoed inside him. He wasn’t sure if it was related to the Bloodsport weapon or Doomsday's attack, or both. All he knew was it was slowing him down. He turned to Clark to find him in pain too.
Bizarro flew in over them, landing a massive punch into Doomsday's face. He kicked the beast back toward the yellow swirling vortex. Another good hit and-
Doomsday grabbed Bizarro by the chest and smacked his gigantic, bony skull into him. He threw Bizarro at Orion before he could help.
Maxima jumped in next, carefully dodging Doomsday’s hits. But she couldn’t keep it up for long. He was impossibly quick like his reaction time was increasing the more she tried to account for his speed. He grabbed her arm, pulling her close, and sliced his bony elbow against her face. It knocked her back, leaving a trail of blood to fall where she previously stood.
Clark struggled to focus as Kent thought back to when they were first split (Superman #73. The sensation he was feeling, and he assumed Clark must have been too, was oddly familiar. Whatever Bloodsport fired them with, could it have been related to Toyman’s weapon? And then it hit him.
“Red,” said Kent. “Stop trying to hold it together. Let it go.”
The two of them closed their eyes and let whatever was trying to happen happen.
A bright light enveloped them as they felt themselves drifting apart. They could sense each other, but it was getting difficult to tell where one started and the other ended. For the quickest of moments, before their attention needed to go back to Doomsday, all eyes were on the Supermans. All seven of them.
Hidden Intergang Base, Suicide Slum
—
Lois opened her eyes slowly, trying to remember what happened. She was sitting down and tried to move, but felt her arms tied behind her. Cat was also tied up to next to her.
“Finally, you’re awake,” said a man sitting across from them. He held a lit cigar in his right, metallic hand. “I thought I may have hit you a bit too hard.”
“Who are you?” asked Lois. “Why did you take us?”
“Call me Steel Hand,” the man answered. “And that’s the only question you get. I’mma only gonna ask you this once… What do you know about Morgan Edge and Intergang?”
“Morgan Edge is my boss,” said Cat. “I don’t think he’d like that you-”
“Shut it,” Steel Hand interrupted. “No commentary, just answers.”
Lois fiddled with the rope, but it was so tight, it wouldn’t budge.
Maybe you need an easier one first?” Steel Hand turned back to Lois. “Where’s your husband, Clark Kent?”
“He’s out of town,” Lois answered. “Unreachable.”
“We’ll find him,” Steel Hand smirked, taking a few puffs of his cigar. “We always do.”
Lois shared a look with Cat.
Steel Hand’s phone rang and he stood up, pulling it out of his jacket with his non-metal hand. “Yeah?” he answered.
Lois was barely able to hear the voice on the other end.
“I’m talking to ‘em now.”
The other side got louder but still sounded like mumbles. Lois did notice one thing, though. There was an all-too-familiar anxiety in the voice. One she heard earlier that day.
“I’m taking care of it, Edge,” Steel Hand said before hanging up. “What a putz,” he said to himself before returning to Lois and Cat. “Now, where were we?”
Apokolips
The seven Supermans, each a different color of the rainbow, didn’t have time to question what happened. Doomsday was still tearing his way through anyone who tried to stop him. Luckily they just increased their team by five.
Blue, Green, and Yellow fired spreads of energy blasts behind Doomsday as Orange and Violet took the left and Red and Indigo took the right. They tackled with the monster’s arms, trying to steer him toward the Boom Tube, but he twisted and flailed around, making it impossible. Orion jumped in, but Doomsday dropped a fist onto his head and kicked a massive knee into Orion’s stomach.
The Boom Tube flicked and shrunk until it disappeared. Orion pulled away and checked the Mother Box on his belt. She was crushed in the fight. Still functional, but seemingly couldn’t keep the Boom Tube open any longer.
Bizarro and Maxima went back after Doomsday, Bizarro shooting his heat vision while Maxima went after his arms again, trying to restrain him.
Orion worked with his Mother Box to try and get the Boom Tube back, but nothing was happening. The Orange Superman asked Orion if he could help while the rest of them helped against Doomsday. Orion said there was nothing they could do. The Mother Box just had to rest.
“Did you try turning it off and on again?” asked Orange.
Orion lifted an eyebrow and then tapped a few times on the device. “Mother Box is resetting her protocols. That may help get the Boom Tube back quicker.”
Meanwhile, the other six Supermans were keeping Doomsday off guard with their coordinated attacks. Maxima and Bizarro moved in for additional hits whenever they had an opening.
A new Boom Tube finally opened.
“Get Doomsday through!” Orange yelled.
Maxima lowered herself behind Doomsday as Bizarro threw a thunderous punch, throwing the monster off balance toward the vortex.
“Wait!’ Orion cried.
Before she could react, Maxima followed up Bizarro’s punch with a jumping kick into Doomsday’s chest, knocking him inside the Boom Tube.
“The destination was overridden in the power cycle,” Orion explained.
“Where does it go?” asked Orange.
Orion looked up. “Earth.”

Ending It

Apokolips
Red, Violet, and Yellow jumped into the Boom Tube, the rest ready to follow, but Orion stopped them, grabbing Blue by the arm.
“What are you-?” he asked. “We have to go!”
“Mother Box is able to keep him from reaching the destination,” Orion explained. “But she can’t do it for long.”
“Can we pull him back?” asked Orange.
“Or send him somewhere else?” asked Indigo.
The device in Orion’s hand started pinging. “It’s possible,” he said. “But it would take an extraordinary amount of energy.”
Green smiled and began glowing in green energy. “We can handle that,” he said.
“Good,” said Orion. “Fire it at the Boom Tube.”
The Supermans still on Apokolips pulled deep down and let their energy flow. The yellow glow of the Boom Tube sparked up like a light show of the combining colors.
Boom Tube In Between Apokolips and Earth
The Red Superman grabbed Doomsday's leg, but he swung around, kicking him away. Violet and Yellow threw punches, trying to slow his progress, but the beast just swiped back at them, continuing to move forward through the tunnel.
Yellow popped up in Red’s vision. The others reacted like they were getting the message too.
“We can stop him from getting to Earth,” he explained. “Remember our new solar flare ability?”
The three Supermans inside the Boom Tube let their energy flow into the walls of the vortex, the colors swirling around like a jar of paint.
Suicide Slum
Steel Hand moved his cigar to his other hand and lifted the metal one up as he leaned toward Lois. “The next words out of your mouth better be answers to my questions,” he said. “What evidence do you have against Morgan Edge?”
Lois leaned forward too, stretching out her pause as long as possible. “Morgan who?” she finally asked.
“Why you-” Steel Hand said, jumping up from his chair and squeezing his metal hand into a fist. He pulled back with his elbow, readying a throw.
Lois threw all her weight to the side, tilting the chair just far enough that Steel Hand punched through the back instead, crumbling it apart. From the ground, she lifted a piece of broken wood, and swung it at Steel Hand’s legs, knocking him to the ground. She jumped up to her feet and took another swing down at his face, stopping him from getting up again.
“Wow, that was incredible,” said Cat.
Lois smiled and untied her. She leaned down to Steel Hand’s unconscious body and pulled his phone out of his pocket. She tapped and swiped a few times and then brought the phone to her ear.
“Is it done?” Morgan Edge asked from the other end. “Are they dead?”
“Sorry to disappoint,” said Lois.
“Lois…?” said Morgan, trailing off his sentence. “I- you-”
“You tried to have us killed,” said Lois. “I don’t think the FBI is going to like that.”
A short pause. “They’ll never know I sent them after you.,” he finally said. “You don’t have any proof.”
“Don’t I?” said Lois hanging up. She switched to the recording app and clicked stop.
Cat kneeled down to the ground and picked up two pieces of the broken chair. She handed one to Lois and smiled. “In case those other two are still here,” she said.
Apokolips
Everyone in the area had taken cover. The pouring of energy from the Supermans was blinding.
“It’s not enough!” Orion shouted over the combined roar of Boom Tube and the depletion of the Supermans’ energy.
Blue thought back to when his powers first changed (Superman #70). Before Kelex was able to contain him, his whole body was turning into a form of energy. Maybe that’s what they needed? Pure, unfiltered energy. Could they survive it? It’s not like they had a choice. Doomsday could not be allowed back on Earth.
Orange looked toward Blue. “I have an idea,” he said.
“I think I have the same idea,” Green added.
Indigo nodded in agreement.
They all stuck their hands into the S symbols of their suits and tore them open, letting their full energy forms shoot out and into the vortex.
Inside the Boom Tube
Red, Yellow, and Violet felt the walls of the Boom Tube tremble as beams of orange, blue, green, and indigo light flew inside. They pulled apart their containment suits too, letting their inner lights merge into the mix.
The end of the tunnel toward Earth closed off into a wall. The same was happening to the other end.
Outside the Boom Tube
Just before the Boom Tube closed, a figure fell out and everything went quiet.
“Who was that?” Orion said aloud, readying another attack.
“Stop!” Maxima yelled. “It’s not Doomsday.”
Bizarro jumped over and pulled off his cape, handing it to whoever arrived back.
As the smokey haze that was left over dissipated, the man wrapped the cape around his waist.
“Superman?” Orion asked.
“Yeah, it’s me,” Clark answered. “The one and only.”
“The Boom Tube was completely cut off,” said Orion. “Doomsday is trapped in a closed-off tunnel.”
“That’s great news, Orion,” said Clark as he took a look around, taking in the surroundings. He wasn’t just reacquainting himself with his old super senses, he focused his attention on Darkseid’s palace. “If you’ll excuse me,” he said before flying off in a burst of speed.
The rush of air against his skin was overwhelming. It wasn’t quite the same in energy form. But he could enjoy being back to his old self later. Earth was still in jeopardy.
“Darkseid,” said Clark, landing before the throne. “You and I have to talk.”
“Kryptonian,” said Darkseid. “Consider me impressed.”
“Consider me upset you would send that monster to Earth,” said Clark. “You keep talking of Earth’s actions being an act of war, but it’s Apokolips that continues to threaten us. I’m not the only hero there who could impress you. You may want to think twice before you consider what to do next.”
“I don’t doubt it,” said Darkseid. “You and your people fought for Apokolips when The Beast escaped. I will not be sending another attack to Earth, but this doesn’t put us on good terms, Kryptonian.”

Home

Kent Apartment, Metropolis, Earth
Later
Lois kicked off her shoes and moved to the couch where she dropped down flat on her back. “Ugh,” she said aloud.
As far as stressful days go, it had been one for the records. Her husband- well, husbands- were off on another planet. Aliens could be invading at any moment. And Morgan Edge tried to have her killed.
But there were good things to focus on too. Edge would be arrested by morning at the latest. Who knows what they could get out of him too? LexCorp could be going down next. It could even lead to President Luthor’s downfall, depending on his involvement. But most importantly, Jimmy had taken Jon to the new Spongeblub movie, so she had some peace and quiet to unwind before thinking of her next move.
Lois heard a thud from the balcony.
“Oh god,” she said. “What now?”
She pulled herself off the couch and over to the glass door to find Clark there, completely naked except for a cape tied around his waist.
“What is this?” asked Lois, opening the door. “Are you teasing me?” She kissed her husband on the cheek and he gazed into her eyes. “How did it go?” she asked. “Are we safe?”
Clark nodded. “We’re safe. Apokolips won’t be bothering us any time soon.” The two walked into the apartment. Where’s Jon?”
“He’s with Jimmy,” said Lois. “We have the house all to ourselves.”
Clark smiled.
“None of that now, Smallville,” said Lois. “You know we can’t until you’re one person again. It’d be too weird, otherwise. Which one are you, anyway?”
“It’s me, Lois,” said Clark. “Just me. I can remember everything from when I was apart too. It’s pretty strange.”
“You’re pretty strange,” said Lois, teasing.
Clark moved in closer. “Are you going to kiss me now or what?”
Lois jumped into Clark’s arms. The two kissed like they were falling in love again for the first time.
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