On the other Side
At Themyscira, Mr. Terrific met with Artemis to discuss their preparations. "Your request has been honored. Everything is in place," Artemis informed him.
"Thank you, Artemis. Magic is way out of my wheelhouse, though I am getting a handle on Io's Technomancy," he replied.
Io offered a playful response, "You're a fast learner, Michael. Not bad... for a man."
Their exchange was interrupted by an ominous burst of static. Behind Mr. Terrific, a mechanical figure materialized, its razor-sharp claws gleaming in the light of the chamber. "Mother, we have located the fugitives and uncovered their base. Their subjugation is imminent," it announced in a sinister voice.
Mr. Terrific's eyes widened as he caught the figure's words. "'We'...? Oh no!"
BOOM
An explosion just then rocked the building. Taking advantage of the opening, Io grabbed Mr. Terrific's hand, and together with Artemis, they made a break for the exit. But the mechanical figure moved with lightning speed, its tendrils ensnaring the fleeing trio.
"Did you think Themyscira's isolation would protect you?" it taunted with eerie calm. "Your Red Tornado, clinging to life, still maintains its AI core. When I called out across the global network... it answered."
Above them, Jon Kent, Superman's son, was wreaking havoc on the Amazon's defenses. The mechanical figure watched with cold satisfaction, whispering, "Show them no mercy, Super Son."
On the battlefield, Barda surveyed the scene grimly, gripping a Kryptonite bullet. "The reinforcements won't arrive in time. This fight is ours alone," she declared.
Raven swooped down beside her. "Wait! Nightwing specifically ordered us not to—"
"Batman's protégé isn't here," Barda cut her off, as she loaded the the bullet weapon and raised her weapon taking aim. "This is war, child. There's no retreat, no middle ground. Today, we either triumph or perish."
But before she could take the shot, a sonic boom split the air. A blur of motion struck Jon with devastating force, sending him crashing into the waters. Stunned by this development, the champions of Earth looked up at their mysterious savior, who now floated where their enemy had been moments before.
Kara straightened up, brushing off her shoulder with mild irritation. "Seriously? I cross universes and the first thing I have to deal with is a rogue Kryptonian—one from my house, no less?"
Rewinding Time
Atop a building in downtown Washington, D.C., crackling electricity and swirling winds converged at the center of the rooftop. Within minutes, the energy materialized and bent reality, coalescing into a stable portal. Through it stepped Diana, Rachel, Kara, Cheetah, Batman, Batgirl, and Flash into this new universe. The transition between universes hit them hard — while Diana, Rachel, and Kara remained steady and unaffected thanks to their protective battle suits, the others stumbled as waves of disorientation washed over them.
Cheetah adapted first, her Ki naturally aligning with the new universe's laws. Seeing Batman and Batgirl unsteady, she quickly moved to support them. "Stay still," she said softly, placing her hands on their shoulders and channeling stabilizing Ki through them to help their bodies adjust to this foreign reality.
Flash suffered the worst. The transition not only hit him hard, but also disrupted his powers. "Something's wrong," he groaned, dropping to one knee. "The Speed Force... my connection to the Speed Force is halved."
Diana vanished from her position and was at his side in an instant, her hand on his shoulder as she shared her Ki. "Stay still, Barry. This should help."
"Thanks, Diana," Flash said with relief. Though still weakened, he managed to get back on his feet.
Once everyone had recovered, Diana frowned with concern. "Mother Empress, what are we dealing with here?"
"This universe is... peculiar, Mistress," Mother Empress replied. "There appears to be a localized distortion affecting fundamental laws - specifically designed to isolate this reality from the rest of the lower realm. I had to substantially recalibrate the portal just to pierce the barrier. Even then, the transition shock was unavoidable for those without sufficient power or protection."
"What kind of technology could isolate an entire universe?" Batgirl asked as she steadied herself, nodding her thanks to Cheetah.
"What kind of twisted universe have we landed in?" Cheetah muttered, her eyes scanning the surroundings with suspicion.
"More importantly," Batman said, nodding his thanks to Cheetah as he stood. His eyes narrowed as he turned to Diana. "Mother Empress, can you still send the return signal back to our universe?"
His words stunned the group into silence. A flicker of worry crossed their faces, but Mother Empress quickly dispelled their concerns with a flat reply: "That was never in doubt." Rachel smirked beneath her hood while Diana wore a wry smile, both noting the pride in Mother Empress's tone.
Batman fell silent for a moment, then nodded in acknowledgment before scanning the surroundings. "We're fortunate—this appears to be a fairly remote part of the city with minimal civilian presence and a good vantage point."
"Where exactly are we, Batman?" Flash asked, stepping forward to scan the skyline.
"Washington DC," Batman stated matter-of-factly. His gaze swept across the familiar skyline. "The Washington Monument is directly east of our position, which puts us on top of one of the lesser-used government buildings."
"Well, at least we didn't land in the middle of a battle," Flash said, stepping back from the edge.
Batman pulled out a compact device from his utility belt - his advanced network analyzer. His gloved fingers moved swiftly across the interface as he explained, "This will give us a detailed map of their digital landscape without leaving any traces. Based on these initial readings..." He paused, brow furrowing, "we'll need about five minutes to establish a secure uplink. Once we're in, we can monitor their systems in real-time and coordinate our moves accordingly."
"Let's also gather intel on the ground," Diana suggested thoughtfully. "The digital landscape can only tell us so much." She tapped her terminal, modifying her battle suit into casual Earth attire. "Given this world's situation, being conspicuous in our gear would draw unwanted attention." She materialized two bags from her terminal space—one for Batman and Flash, another for Batgirl and Cheetah.
Rachel nodded in agreement, already modifying her own battle suit. Kara followed suit, grinning as she activated the camouflage feature on her basic terminal. "Finally get to test this out," she said.
"I have to say, I'm jealous," Cheetah remarked, examining the morphing suits as she retrieved clothes from her bag. "Di, think Orach could hook me up with one of those? Would make infiltration so much easier."
"Not to mention the savings on wardrobe costs," Batgirl added wryly, joining Cheetah.
Flash nodded as he grabbed his civilian clothes. "Would definitely beat having to carry my suit everywhere."
"I'll ask," Diana replied with a gentle smile, "but don't get your hopes up." She turned to Rachel. "Raven, if you would?"
Rachel nodded, channeling her Ki and focused, manipulating the primordial laws of space to create an invisible barrier around them. Within it, she formed separate pockets for privacy. "Done. We're hidden from view."
Cheetah shifted from her demihuman form back to human, exchanging her battle gear for casual wear. Beside her, Batgirl did the same. Batman and Flash changed in their own space, while Diana, Rachel, and Kara's suits seamlessly transformed around them.
"Here," Diana said, producing a small makeup kit. "Let's make some subtle changes to our appearances. That way, no one will mistake us for our counterparts." She began helping the others make minor adjustments to their appearances, ensuring they would blend seamlessly into this alternate reality.
After changing into civilian attire, the group split up and descended to the streets, blending seamlessly with the crowd. As they moved through the city posing as tourists, they couldn't help but notice the pervasive atmosphere of distrust. News broadcasts on street-corner displays showed footage of hero arrests, while conversations overheard from passersby revealed a deep-seated resentment toward those who once protected them. Eventually, they regrouped at a quiet restaurant, securing a private room for their discussion.
"What have you found?" Diana asked, watching Batman work his way through the local networks.
"The digital infrastructure here is… different," Batman replied, his voice low as his fingers danced across the holographic interface. "The encryption protocols on some servers are unlike anything I've encountered — they seem to adapt and evolve, almost as if they're alive."
"Can you still bypass them?" Diana leaned closer, studying the streams of data.
"Yes. After tapping into the Wayne Enterprises' satellite network, I found that this world's basic infrastructure mirrors ours. However, I discovered multiple overlapping security grids—military, civilian, and..." Batman's eyes narrowed, "something else. A pattern I can't quite identify."
"Wayne Enterprises? Guessing that's your Wayne Tech's counterpart. Anyway, what kind of data are you picking up?" Flash asked, moving to get a better view.
"Standard feeds - news, social media, government broadcasts. But there's something else running beneath it all." Batman's expression grew more serious. "A shadow network, heavily encrypted and running parallel to the main infrastructure."
Rachel stepped forward, her cloak shifting slightly. "Could Amanda Waller be behind this? It seems like her style."
"It's possible," Batman acknowledged. "I'm gathering what information I can without triggering any alerts. We need to understand the full scope of what we're dealing with."
"What about recent events?" Batgirl suggested. "Understanding the timeline here could help us navigate this reality better."
Batman nodded, pulling up multiple news feeds. "The basic geography and political structure for the most part mirror our Earth, but there are significant divergences in recent history. Events that never occurred in our timeline, or haven't happened yet."
The team gathered around as Batman methodically pieced together a picture of this alternate reality. Suddenly, a particular news clip caught their attention.
"That footage..." Cheetah's eyes narrowed as she watched. "The one they're using to condemn the heroes."
"It's an impressive deep fake," Flash commented grimly. "If I didn't know better, I'd believe it myself."
"Exposing it as a fake won't be enough," Batgirl said thoughtfully, arms crossed. Her eyes met Batman's as she continued. "The public's trust is too damaged - they'll just see it as another deception. The Justice League of this Earth needs something more concrete." She paused, a plan forming. "They need Amanda Waller herself to confess… live."
"I agree." Batman's eyes narrowed at two alerts on his screen. "There's a prison break at Gamorra Island. Interesting... this world's Wonder Woman is leading an assault to free the captured heroes." He paused, studying the second alert. "And I've traced Brainiac's location—they're on Themyscira."
"What?" Cheetah turned to Diana, whose expression had turned cold. "Di, I know this isn't our Earth, but..."
"They are still Amazons, Bar," Diana replied, her voice tight with controlled anger. "My sisters, regardless of which reality. Yet we must be careful not to disrupt this world's natural course too severely."
"Don't worry about that, Mom. Leave it to me and Mother Empress. I'll monitor the impact of our intervention in this world's natural flow and keep us in check," Rachel said, stepping forward to face Batman after reassuring her mother. "This changes things. Batman, the prison likely won't have powered individuals—sending our strongest fighters there would be overkill. Team Alpha should head to Themyscira to deal with Brainiac, while Team Beta assists with the prison break."
"Rachel," Diana murmured, stunned by her daughter's words.
Batgirl nodded in agreement. "The prison will mostly have human guards. Flash can handle any enhanced security, while we focus on getting the power crystal to this world's Wonder Woman. Meanwhile, Supergirl can confront Brainiac while Wonder Woman, Raven, and Cheetah help the Amazons and assess the threat level."
"Before we commit to this plan," Batman turned to Flash, "your Speed Force connection is halved here. Can you still phase through solid matter?"
Flash concentrated, raising his fist. His hand began vibrating until it became nearly invisible. He attempted to phase through the wall - and immediately jerked back feeling something soft as a yelp and sharp slap echoed from the next room.
"I, uh, can still phase," he stammered, face reddening. "No problem there."
The women of the group fixed him with disapproving glares, having heard the commotion next door.
"Really, Flash?" Rachel's voice dripped with disappointment.
"That was completely inappropriate," Kara added sharply.
"I expected better from you," Batgirl said, crossing her arms.
"Wait until Caitlin hears about this," Cheetah muttered.
"It was an accident!" Flash protested. "I was just trying to prove I could phase through-"
Clap
Diana's sharp clap cut through the tension. "Enough. Flash, you'll make this right before we leave. For now, we have our plan." Her expression softened with pride as she looked at her team, particularly Rachel. "Team Alpha will take Themyscira, while Team Beta will head to Gamorra Island to locate and return the power crystal to my counterpart."
"Understood," came the unified response.
The team quickly changed back into their gear. Rachel created two spatial portals - one to Themyscira, another to Gamorra Island. "I've never been to Gamorra," she warned Team Beta, "so be ready for anything when you exit."
Before Flash could step through, Diana fixed him with a stern look. "First, you're paying the next room's tab."
Flash's shoulders slumped as he zipped to the counter, settling the bill with a generous tip and an apologetic note. The rest of the team waited until he returned before departing through their respective portals.
Team Alpha emerged on Themyscira's shore to find the island already under attack. Kara froze at the sight of her family's crest on the attacker soaring above. Her eyes blazed with cold fury as she launched into the air. Diana, Rachel, and Cheetah exchanged quick nods before springing into action - Cheetah racing through the island's lush terrain toward the ground battle while Rachel opened a spatial rift to follow Kara's trajectory.
Present Time
Space ripple besides Kara, as Diana and Rachel emerged, their expressions grave. Rachel's eyes glowed as she gazed toward where Jon had crashed. "If my suspicions about his condition are correct, we may have no choice but to eliminate him."
"Rachel, we need to be certain," Diana cautioned. "This isn't our universe. His condition could be caused by something other than the Tuffle gene marker. We should obtain a blood sample first and confirm."
"Fine," Rachel replied with a nod.
"Diana?" A voice called out, drawing their attention below.
Diana turned, her brow furrowing at the unfamiliar yet commanding presence heading towards them. "Who is that?"
"Diana?" Soon Queen Nubia floated to their level, blood trickling from her lip as she studied the three newcomers, especially Diana. Her gaze lingered on Diana's strange armor, and in the next moment, understanding dawned in her eyes. "You… you're not the Diana of this world, are you?"
"No," Diana confirmed with a nod. "I am Diana of Themyscira but, I am not the Diana you know. My companions and I come from another universe."
"Another universe?" Nubia's expression shifted between curiosity and wariness as she studied this Diana closely. "Given that your armor is unlike anything forged by Amazons or even Hephaestus himself, and considering your very presence... I am inclined to believe you. Tell me, why have you come here?"
"I will gladly answer," Diana replied diplomatically, "but I would first like to know whom I am addressing. Though you clearly are an Amazon warrior, you are not known to me."
A faint smile touched the queen's lips. "I am Nubia of Themyscira, Queen of the Amazons. From your words, I gather I do not exist in your universe."
Both Diana and Rachel's expressions registered shock—a detail that didn't escape Nubia's notice, her eyes narrowing dangerously.
"What of Hippolyta?" Diana asked carefully. "Was she not the Queen of Themyscira, in this reality?"
Before Nubia could answer, a thunderous crash drew their attention. Through the wreckage of broken trees and crumbling structures, a figure emerged. Diana spotted Cheetah nearby, obviously having just thrown their opponent with considerable force.
Kara's voice cut through the chaos, cold and certain, "Brainiac."
"So this is the infamous Brainiac of this universe?" Rachel narrowed her eyes, studying the entity emerging from the wreckage. "Looks female. Either way, doesn't seem particularly impressive."
"She's is called Brainiac Queen. Don't underestimate this opponent, little one," Nubia cautioned, noting Rachel's dismissive tone. She studied the newcomers carefully—this girl in her distinct attire was clearly a counterpart to their own Raven, while the Kryptonian bearing Superman's symbol who had so effortlessly dispatched Jon must be this world's Supergirl's alternate self. Their interventions thus far suggested they were allies rather than threats.
"Please, call me Raven," Rachel replied in a serious tone. Her expression softened slightly as she added, "The term 'little one' is... special to me. Reserved for family."
Diana gave her daughter a knowing smile and a gentle tap on the head, drawing a slight pout from Rachel. "Forgive her directness, Queen Nubia. She means no disrespect."
"None taken," Nubia replied, her eyes catching the unmistakably maternal interaction between the two. Before she could comment further, a massive water pillar erupted from below as Jon emerged, his enhanced form glistening with water droplets.
Rachel turned to Kara and called out, "Tag me in and switch with me. Take on Brainiac—that is your fight." She understood better than most the importance of facing one's demons. Her own journey from a frightened child in Trigon's shadow to who she was now, thanks to Orach's guidance, had taught her the value of such confrontations.
"Thanks Raven," Kara nodded, appreciating the gesture. They exchanged a quick high-five before moving to engage their respective targets.
Tracking his target's movement and change in focus, Jon shot toward Kara at great speed, but Rachel was faster.
With a wave of her hand, she opened a ripple in space, stepped through, and caught his leg mid-flight. With one fluid motion, she spun and hurled him away from Kara's path, allowing her friend to proceed unhindered toward Brainiac.
"Your fight is with me," Rachel announced, her voice carrying across the battlefield. Her eyes began to glow as she channeled her Ki and added, "And trust me, you won't find me such easy prey."
In response, the controlled Superboy charged at her again, but Rachel simply sidestepped and delivered a precise strike that sent him hurtling toward the island. However, her heightened senses detected magic activating below. Without missing a beat, she extended her hand and Ki, catching Jon before he could make contact with the ground and trigger what she assumed was part of the island's defenses. With a fluid wave of her hand, she redirected his trajectory back into the open sky.
A slight smile played on Rachel's lips as she took a combat stance. After her recent breakthrough, she welcomed the opportunity to test her new capabilities. Just having the power to send Kryptonians flying wasn't satisfying enough—she wanted to know more. To her, Jon had become her prey, and she wasn't ready to end this until she had enough. Even through Brainiac's control protocols, Jon's enhanced senses registered something primal—a predator's presence that sent an inexplicable chill down his spine, one that neither he nor his enhancements could fully process.
On the ground, Nightwing's expression darkened as he watched the battle unfold. "Damn, we were so close to containing him."
"Nightwing, what's happening?" This universe's Raven asked, her eyes fixed on her counterpart fighting Jon. "Is that... really another me up there?"
Inside her sealing gem, Trigon—who normally wouldn't stop taunting her—had fallen eerily silent, as if sensing something that terrified even him. The realization made Raven's blood run cold.
"Whatever she is, her power is the real deal," Barda commented, lowering her weapon cautiously. "Let's hope she's on our side."
Nightwing studied the newcomers—Wonder Woman, Supergirl, and this alternate Raven—with growing curiosity. "Something's different about her. The way she handled Jon without any visible magic... it's unlike anything I've seen before. Raven could it be… her demon powers?"
"I can't sense any demonic energy from her," Raven noted, her brow furrowed in concentration. "In fact, I can't sense anything—no magic, no emotions. It's as if she's—"
"Like a void?" Diana interrupted, landing gracefully beside them with Queen Nubia. Her smile, though friendly, made them feel uneasy.
"Relax," Diana said, noting their wariness and continuing calmly, "if I were your enemy, this island and everyone on it would have already ceased to exist." Despite her pleasant tone, the casual statement sent chills down their spines, making them take a step back—they knew instinctively she wasn't exaggerating.
Above them, Jon recovered his balance and charged forward. But instead of engaging in close combat as expected, he suddenly changed direction mid-flight, ascending sharply before unleashing a devastating heat vision blast toward Rachel.
"She needs backup!" Nightwing shouted as more Teen Titans arrived at their position.
"Raven, hang on!" Donna Troy called out through the chaos, raising her weapon to help what she thought was her teammate.
"Raven! No!" Beast Boy lunged forward, his own weapon at the ready thinking the same.
"Stand down," Diana commanded, as a pressure descended that made everyone freeze in their tracks. Even Queen Nubia raised an eyebrow at the display of power.
Frozen in place, they watched in stunned silence as the heat vision seemed to engulf Rachel completely. But in the next instant, a spatial ripple opened behind Jon, redirecting his own attack into his back. His agonized scream echoed across the battlefield.
"As you can see," Diana said with maternal pride, "my Raven is more than capable of handling herself." She released her Ki, freeing them from her power's hold.
"How... how did she do that?" this universe's Raven asked, unable to hide her fascination.
High above them, moments before the blast reached Rachel, she recalled an event from her past—how her father Orach had once faced down Trigon himself, using his mastery of primordial laws to turn the demon's power against him.
"Let's see if I can replicate that move," Rachel whispered to herself. Drawing upon her Ki, she reached into her inner realm, manipulating the primordial laws of space to create a spatial corridor—much like the ripples she used for travel, but larger. The technique allowed her to catch Jon's attack and redirect it through a precise fold in space-time, emerging behind him with devastating effect.
"Don't tell me that did you in, Superboy?" mocked Rachel with a smirk.
The searing pain from the blast overwhelmed Jon's controlling protocols. "What... what is this? Where... where is Dad? What's happening to me?"
Seeing this crack in Jon's brainwashing, Nightwing immediately shouted, "JON! Resist her! Don't let her control you! FIGHT!"
"Nightwing," murmured Jon as he slowly started to regain his memories and personality, his eyes flickering between his normal blue and Brainiac-influenced red. "I... I remember..."
But before Jon could fully break free, a surge of electricity coursed through his neural implants. The Brainiac Queen, though locked in combat with Kara, had sensed her puppet slipping away and remotely amplified the control protocols.
"AAARGHHHH!" Jon's agonized scream echoed across the battlefield as his memories were forcibly suppressed once more. His eyes dulled, returning to their mechanical state.
"NO! JON! KEEP FIGHTING!" Nightwing's voice cracked with desperation, but Jon's expression had already gone blank.
"Back to being a puppet then," Rachel observed calmly, watching Jon's humanity fade away once more. Under her hood, her lips curved into a slight smirk. "Well then, let the fun continue."
BOOM
Just then a thunderous explosion suddenly rocked the island, the shockwave powerful enough to attract everyones' attention . When Rachel turned toward its source, she witnessed an intense exchange between Kara and the Brainiac Queen.
Moments before on Kara's side, just as Rachel engaged Jon, Kara seized her opportunity to confront this universe's Brainiac, who had just emerged from the wreckage after being sent flying by Cheetah. Kara landed gracefully a short distance away, facing her opponent.
"Supergirl," Brainiac Queen's mechanical voice echoed as her purple eyes glowed analyzing the newcomer. "You have your powers... I see… your vibrational frequency—you're not from this universe."
"Tell me something, Brainiac," Kara's voice turned cold as she clenched her fists. "Is it just your thirst for knowledge that drives you? Or do you enjoy inflicting pain and suffering on the worlds you conquer?"
Brainiac Queen ignored the questions, focusing instead on analyzing Kara's power—but her systems inexplicably failed. Her attention shifted to Kara's suit, identifying it as the source of interference. She tried to attack and access the technology in the suit but once more failed. "A technology that shields you from my scans—that I cannot access or control," she stepped back, doubt creeping into her voice for the first time. "How is this possible?"
Kara's smile widened, recognizing Brainiac's failed attempt to breach her suit. The image of Orach flashed in her mind as she faced her opponent. "I know beings like you can control technology, but," her smile turned predatory, "give it up. This suit is a gift from a being you could never hope to meet, let alone rival. The technology comes from the higher realms—not something ants from the lower realms like you can hope to access or control."
"Higher realms?" Amanda Waller murmured, monitoring the scenes through Brainiac Queen's eyes. She narrowed her eyes. "Could their universe have made contact with higher dimensional beings?" The appearance of these newcomers made her increasingly cautious. Noting how young this Supergirl looked compared to their universe's version, she saw an opportunity to gather intelligence. She communicated to her asset, "Brainiac Queen, compose yourself. She may be powerful, but she's still just a Kryptonian and younger than our Supergirl—you can defeat her. Use her youth and inexperience to your advantage. From her earlier questions, she clearly harbors resentment toward the Brainiac from her universe. Provoke her during combat, capture her, and extract all information about these higher realms and this mysterious being directly from her mind."
"Understood, Mother Waller," Brainiac Queen acknowledged, stepping forward to meet her opponent.
"Your mockery changes nothing," she declared, mechanical tentacles unfurling from her back with lethal intent. "If I cannot scan it, I will simply extract the knowledge directly from your mind."
The nanite-infused tentacles shot forward with devastating speed, but Kara remained motionless. At the last moment, they passed through nothing but an afterimage.
"Too slow," came Kara's voice from behind. Before Brainiac Queen could process the movement, a devastating blow sent her crashing through several stone pillars.
"Impossible," Brainiac Queen's voice crackled as she emerged from the debris. "Your speed far exceeds all recorded parameters of this universe's Supergirl."
Kara landed gracefully, a confident smile playing on her lips. "Oh? So I'm stronger than my counterpart here? Good to know." Her eyes began to glow with an intense blue light as she channeled her Ki. "Let me show you what a properly trained Kryptonian can do."
Amanda Waller, monitoring through Brainiac Queen's sensors, frowned deeply. She had gravely misread the situation. This version of Supergirl though young wasn't just powerful — she was trained, disciplined, and clearly more experienced in combat than initially assumed. This could complicate matters significantly.
Back on the scene, Kara's eyes shot Brainiac Queen with her heat vision blast. However, Brainiac Queen, though surprised at the intensity of the heat vision which was far above the recorded intensity of this universe's Supergirl, simply raised her hand in the face of this incoming attack, taking it all in and neutralizing the attack.
Kara halted her attack when she saw it had no effect. She blinked, then narrowed her eyes at her opponent as understanding dawned. "You absorb energy-based attacks."
Brainiac Queen's systems rapidly recalibrated as she finished absorbing the energy and repairing any damage. Her energy absorption system activated instantly on contact, neutralizing the heat vision blast. "You are quite observant. But that will only get you so far. While your combat prowess may exceed your counterpart in this reality, you are still just a Kryptonian. You will lose."
Kara's eyes flared blue once more. "Is that right?" In an instant, she unleashed a concentrated burst of heat vision—not at Brainiac Queen, but at the ground beneath her feet.
The resulting explosion sent chunks of debris flying upward. Brainiac Queen's tentacles lashed out, batting away the larger pieces while her systems analyzed the attack pattern. "Indirect attacks. You're more tactical than expected."
"Oh, I have excellent teachers," Kara smirked, blurring into motion. She appeared behind Brainiac Queen, aiming to strike, but her opponent was ready this time. Before Kara could land her attack, she had to dodge the mechanical tentacles' counterattack. Each tentacle moved with precise, calculated strikes—Brainiac Queen was clearly learning and adapting. Yet for Kara, who had endured grueling training sessions with Crescent, Diana, and Rachel, evading the tentacles proved effortless, even if the lack of openings for attack was frustrating.
"Mother Waller," Brainiac Queen communicated internally, "her combat style suggests extensive training. She isn't relying solely on raw power."
"Then stop holding back," Waller's voice crackled through the neural link. "Activate the red sun radiation protocols."
A crimson glow began emanating from Brainiac Queen's core, but Kara's smile only widened. "Red sun radiation? Oh, please." She tapped her suit's emblem, causing it to pulse with energy that formed a protective barrier around her exposed skin. "Sure, I haven't fully mastered Ki control enough to manipulate my bio-field on my own yet, but equipment is part of a warrior's strength. So nice try, but your trick won't work. This suit was designed to handle threats far beyond your comprehension."
Brainiac Queen's eyes narrowed as her sensors confirmed the suit was indeed neutralizing the red sun effect. "Impossible. Such technology—"
Her words were cut short as Kara seized the opening and closed the distance in a fraction of a second, unleashing a devastating combination of strikes that sent Brainiac Queen crashing through several stone pillars. During the assault, Brainiac Queen sensed her control over Jon slipping and quickly reactivated her control protocols, sending a command deep into his mind: "We serve Mother Waller now and forever! She has shown us the truth about metahuman evil. Together, we will eliminate this threat. Resistance is futile. Obey the commands!"
Just as she started to pull herself from the rubble, Kara's voice rang out from above. "You know the difference between us?" She descended slowly, her cape billowing in the wind. "Your side relies on stealing and copying powers. But true strength?" Her eyes gleamed with determination. "True strength comes from pushing past your limits, from facing challenges that force you to evolve. I used to fear you, but no more."
Brainiac Queen's eyes flashed, and the ground trembled as she erupted from the rubble with explosive force. The shockwave rocked the island, making the nearby ancient stone structures groan. "You want to see evolution?" Purple energy crackled like lightning around her form as her mechanical body twisted and expanded, nanites reconstructing her frame into something far more menacing.
"Let me show you true evolution!" Her voice became distorted as her form grew to nearly twice its original size.
Massive tentacles, now charged with crackling energy, whipped through the air with devastating speed. Each one fired concentrated energy beams that carved glowing paths through the sky. The barrage forced Kara to push her reflexes to their limit as she weaved between the attacks.
"Now this is getting interesting!" Kara called out, her eyes shining with the thrill of battle. She spun through the air, dodging another volley while analyzing her opponent's new form. "Though I have to say, going bigger doesn't always mean better!"
She shot upward, gathering speed as she climbed higher into the sky. Brainiac Queen's targeting systems tracked her movement, mechanical tentacles adjusting their aim to follow.
"Fleeing will not save you," Brainiac Queen's distorted voice boomed. Multiple tentacles fired simultaneously, creating a web of deadly energy beams.
But Kara wasn't fleeing. At the apex of her climb, she suddenly reversed direction, plummeting downward at tremendous speed. Her body began to glow with an intense blue aura as she channeled her Ki, into her suit expanding the biofield barrier around her.
"HAAAAAA!" Kara's battle cry split the air as she rocketed toward her opponent, becoming a blazing blue comet. Brainiac Queen brought all her tentacles to bear, creating a defensive barrier of concentrated energy.
At the moment of contact, the resulting impact was devastating. The shockwave from their collision sent tremors through the entire island, causing many structures to crack and crumble. When the dust settled, Kara stood in a massive crater, foot buried deep in Brainiac Queen's chest cavity.
The mechanical entity staggered backward, nanites already working to repair the damage. "Aieeeee..." Brainiac Queen screeched in pain registering the damage, her systems trying to recover from the injury and regenerate.
"Like I said," Kara declared, her expression cold as she looked down at the defeated Brainiac Queen, "true strength comes from pushing past your limits—and against true strength, no gimmick can save you."
In her command center, Amanda Waller, seeing this, became livid. She shot up from her chair and slammed her fist on the console, her face contorting with rage. "You insolent child! What have you done to her?" Through gritted teeth, she commanded as her fingers flew across the control panel, "Initiate Emergency Override!"
Brainiac Queen, who had been in pain and struggling to break free, suddenly went quiet. In the next instant, its large razor-sharp claws struck at Kara with tremendous force.
Kara caught both claws easily in her hands, showing no concern for the sudden attack. Noticing the stark change in her opponent's behavior, her eyes narrowed with suspicion. "You're not Brainiac anymore, are you?"
"Perceptive, aren't you?" Waller's voice echoed through Brainiac Queen's communication systems. "This is Amanda Waller, and you've just made a grave mistake. Nobody damages my assets without consequences."
"I see," Kara's voice turned cold. "A human is controlling this Brainiac. Tell me Amanda Waller, do you have any idea what these creatures are? They're not just machines - they're a cosmic plague that has destroyed countless civilizations. By wielding this technology, you've become the very threat you claim to protect Earth from. The hypocrisy is astounding."
"Spare me your self-righteous lectures, alien," Waller spat. "Everything I do is for Earth's protection. We don't need extraterrestrial 'heroes' or meta-human freaks defending our world. Humanity will protect itself! Let go off my asset or else."
As she spoke, Brainiac Queen's claws began to glow with an eerie light. A silvery, liquid-like circuitry oozed onto Kara's hands where she gripped the mechanical arms.
"You truly are a lost cause, Waller. If you think—wait, what?" Kara gasped as the substance made contact with her skin.
"Ah!" The nanites spread rapidly across her palms, attempting to interface with her nervous system. But as the circuitry reached her suit's sleeve, the emblem on her chest pulsed with energy. Arcs of Ki-enhanced lightning crackled across her body, instantly destroying the invasive technology.
"Impossible!" Waller's voice cracked with disbelief. "How did you neutralize the control nanites?"
Phew
Kara took a deep breath, shaking off the tingling sensation from the lightning as her suit's sleeves extended to cover her palms. Her eyes hardened as she realized her brief lapse in focus had given Waller an opening. With a fierce battle cry of "HAAAAAA!" she tightened her grip on Brainiac Queen's arms and ripped the mechanical limbs clean off.
"You little bi—" Waller began, but Kara cut her off.
"ENOUGH!" Kara's voice thundered through the area. "Listen carefully, Waller. The only reason your 'pet' Brainiac still functions is that I'm under strict orders not to interfere drastically with this world's natural progression. Consider these dismembered arms both a warning and a demonstration. Leave, Waller—or next time, my restraint might not hold."
Waller's laughter crackled through Brainiac Queen, harsh and mocking. "You think I care about your warnings? I've dealt with self-righteous heroes before. You're just another monster—"
A thunderous shockwave split the sky, drawing their attention upward. Kara's eyes narrowed as she watched Rachel break the sound barrier, soaring higher with Jon in hot pursuit.
"Looks like your friend is in trouble," Waller sneered. "Surrender now and perhaps I'll—"
A soft chuckle from Kara cut off Waller's words. "Do you think this is funny?" Waller demanded.
"Actually, yes," Kara replied, composing herself. "You have no idea who she is. While you may know her counterpart, your world's Raven, trust me—she's nothing compared to my universe's Raven." Her smile turned cold as she watched the aerial battle unfold. "If you think I'm a monster, as you put it, then she's something far worse... a calamity incarnate."
Waller was momentarily stunned into silence. Before she could respond, another sonic boom echoed across the sky as a figure plummeted earthward at incredible speed.
High above Themyscira, Rachel had been testing her capabilities against Jon for several rounds, deliberately keeping the fight airborne. Each encounter had ended in Jon's defeat, but she had maintained the battle to gather data. However, Mother Empress had just informed her that prolonging the fight could significantly alter this world's natural flow—especially since Team Beta had successfully restored Wonder Woman's powers and was en route to the island with the freed heroes.
Time to end this with style, Rachel decided. She rocketed upward, breaking the sound barrier as Jon gave chase. When she reached her apex above the clouds, bathed in moonlight, she suddenly halted. In one fluid motion, she flipped and drove her heel down onto the unsuspecting Jon as he emerged through the cloud cover, sending him plummeting toward the island below.
But Rachel wasn't finished. Raising her hand toward the falling Kryptonian, she channeled her Ki and whispered, "Dark Sun." Her inner world ignited as power surged through her veins. Dark magical flames coalesced in her palm, forming a sphere as the surrounding temperature skyrocketed. This spell—discovered aboard the Void Sentinel—had previously been beyond her capabilities. But now, in the high integration realm, she could finally manifest it.
The sphere expanded rapidly, causing the clouds to churn and part. Those watching from the island could only stare in horror as a massive orb of dark flames, rivaling Themyscira itself in size, descended toward the falling Jon.
"Oh no!" Rachel's eyes widened in sudden panic. "I overdid it! The power output is way too high!" The dark sun continued its inexorable descent, splitting the heavens as it followed Jon's trajectory, threatening to engulf not just its target but potentially the entire island.
Below on Themyscira, everything grew still as the colossal sphere of dark flames descended. The temperature across Themyscira rose dramatically, causing the very air to shimmer with heat distortion. Warriors, both Amazon and hero alike, could only watch in stunned silence as what appeared to be a second sun, one wreathed in shadows—bore down upon their home.
Diana stood at the forefront with Queen Nubia and the gathered heroes, having watched Rachel's battle unfold above. Now, as this devastating attack descended, Diana's expression grew solemn as she felt its immense power. She knew her daughter would never unleash such an attack without warning and believed this had to be an accident.
The sound of rapid footsteps approached through the stunned crowd as Cheetah and Artemis rushed to Diana's side. Cheetah's fur bristled, her enhanced senses overwhelmed by the sheer power radiating from the dark sun above.
"Diana!" Cheetah called out between ragged breaths. "What the hell is going on up there? The power output… is overkill! Has Rachel lost her mind? She'll destroy not just that boy, but the entire island!"
Diana turned to her friend, her face cast in the eerie glow from above. "No, you and I both know Rachel would never do this on purpose. She's just not to long ago, broken through to the next power level. She's still learning to control her new power and must have misjudged the amount of power needed."
"By the gods," Queen Nubia spoke, her voice carrying the weight of her responsibility as ruler. "Diana, do you have any way to stop this?"
Diana didn't immediately reply. Instead, she remained composed as she studied the descending attack. "Mother Empress, analyze the attack and provide a status report."
"Analysis complete," Mother Empress responded, her voice carrying through Diana's terminal. "The Dark Sun spell, originally from the Void Sentinel archives, has become unstable due to the princess's recent power increase. While she understands the theory behind it, her excitement during casting led to excessive Ki input. Impact analysis shows catastrophic results - immediate vaporization of 80% of Themyscira, followed by severe magical fallout. The residual energy would create dangerous gravitational anomalies and potentially tear the fabric of reality itself. The area would remain a dead zone for at least a century till the reality's laws mend themselves or without intervention from someone possessing power comparable to a King-rank expert or the young master."
A heavy silence fell over the gathered warriors, their faces pale as they processed the implications.
Many warriors instinctively gripped their weapons tighter, seeking a shred of comfort even though they knew their conventional arms would be useless against such overwhelming power.
"Diana," Cheetah's voice was sharp with disbelief, "what was Orach thinking, giving her access to such dangerous magic?"
Diana's jaw tightened. "Trust me, we'll be having a very long discussion about this later when I see him. And Rachel is definitely grounded when we return home."
"Mistress," Mother Empress interjected, "the princess is attempting to intercept and contain the attack."
As if on cue, Rachel's voice crackled through their comms, "Everyone stay calm! I've got this under control... mostly!"
"Raven," Diana called out, her tone carrying maternal concern, "can you reach it in time?"
"I... yes, but I'll need to fully engage my inner world," Rachel replied, already racing toward the descending dark sun. "The spell's too unstable for spatial manipulation."
"No," Diana commanded. "Hold your position. I'll handle this." In one fluid motion, she launched herself skyward, her form blurring as she ascended toward the massive sphere. Pink energy crackled around her as she tapped into her inner world, channeling her God Ki. Her form shifted, first to her Blackberry state, then evolving further into her Cardinal Pink form. Her height increased, her hair lengthening and taking on a brilliant pink hue, her very presence radiating a divine aura.
"Not exactly how I planned to test this form's new limits," Diana mused as she positioned herself before the descending Dark Sun. "But facing my daughter's wayward spell should certainly be challenging enough."
Drawing upon Orach's teachings about Ki manipulation, Diana extended her hands toward the massive sphere. Her God Ki flowed outward, enveloping the Dark Sun in a shimmering layer of pink energy. The oppressive heat across the island began to dissipate as Diana's God Ki systematically transformed Rachel's dark magic, converting and shrinking the sphere until it became pure life force. When the last wisps of the Dark Sun vanished, Diana guided the transformed energy downward, channeling it through her body and into Themyscira's soil.
As the island absorbed this energy, the fires from Jon's earlier attack extinguished themselves, damaged earth mended, and new vegetation burst forth, transforming battle-scarred ground into lush fields. The permeating energy also healed the minor wounds of those present.
"Much better," Diana sighed, releasing her transformation and returning to her normal form. A familiar presence approached from behind.
"Um... Mom?" Rachel's voice was quiet as she hovered beside Diana, her expression beneath her hood downcast like a child caught misbehaving. "I'm really, really sorry about that."
"Do you understand what you did wrong, Rachel?" Diana asked, her voice firm but gentle as she faced her daughter.
"I let my excitement get the better of me," Rachel admitted softly, looking down. "And I shouldn't have attempted such a powerful spell from the higher realms without proper preparation and practice."
"Exactly. Your actions could have had catastrophic consequences," Diana said, then softened her expression. "But I'm proud that you recognize your mistake. However, there must be consequences—you're grounded for a month, and I mean an Earth month. You may continue using the ship's training facilities, but your father will restrict your access to the Void Sentinel archives during this time. Understood?"
"Yes, Mom," Rachel nodded solemnly, accepting her punishment.
Diana regarded her daughter with a mixture of pride and concern. Though Rachel was exceptionally gifted - intelligent, reliable, and responsible beyond her years - she was still a teenager learning to navigate her immense powers. This incident reminded Diana that Rachel needed space to make mistakes and learn from them, with guidance and support from her parents. She decided their upcoming family vacation would be the perfect opportunity to let Rachel simply be a teenager, free from the weight of responsibility.
"Let's rejoin the others," Diana said, descending toward the island with Rachel following close behind.
When they landed, they found the Teen Titans had successfully helped Jon regain control, though his body remained partially cybernetic, with Brainiac Queen's circuitry still visible across his form. The spell that Artemis and Io had prepared had activated upon his contact with Themyscira's soil, helping contain his transformation.
"So that's what the spell does," Rachel murmured, relieved she hadn't allowed her target to crash onto the island during their battle. 'It seems he was under Brainiac's control rather than the Tuffle gene marker. Still, I should verify this.' Having collected a blood sample during their battle, she tapped her terminal to begin scanning for any signs of contamination.
"Good. They managed to save the boy," Diana observed with satisfaction.
"Indeed," Queen Nubia agreed as she approached, but her expression suddenly turned grave. "Amazons!" At her command, the warriors, though battle-worn, raised their weapons and surrounded Diana, Rachel, and Cheetah.
"What's the meaning of this?" Cheetah demanded, her eyes narrowing as she assessed their situation.
"Queen Nubia, surely you realize this confrontation can only end one way," Diana warned, her expression turning solemn.
"I am well aware of your tremendous power," Queen Nubia responded gravely. "We all witnessed it - how this young girl's excitement nearly brought devastation to our home. Yet I've observed you long enough to know that, despite being far more powerful than our Diana, you share her honor and respect for our ways. While we are grateful for your aid today, your group represents too great a risk to our paradise. So, as the Queen of the Amazons I must ask you to please, leave Themyscira."
"Well, that's gratitude for you," Kara called out sardonically from above as she descended, carrying the damaged frame of the Brainiac Queen's severed arms. She unceremoniously dropped them before the Amazon Queen. During the chaos of Rachel's massive attack, Waller had ordered the Brainiac Queen to retreat. Taking advantage of the distraction, the Queen had broken free from Kara's control, transformed, and fled the island at high speed. With the immediate threat of Rachel's dark sun looming, Kara had chosen not to pursue, instead rejoining the group with her battle trophies in hand.
The sight of their enemy's frame, handled so casually by this powerful stranger, sent a ripple of unease through the Amazon ranks. Still, they held their positions, loyal to their queen's command.
Suddenly, a melodious voice cut through the tension as scores of heroes emerged from the shadows, alongside Team Beta. "Queen Nubia, stand down." The Wonder Woman of this universe stepped forward, acknowledging her queen with a nod before turning to face her counterpart.
"So, you're me from another universe?" she asked, studying Diana intently.
"Yes," Diana replied simply, measuring her alternate self with equal curiosity.
"This is seriously trippy," Cheetah muttered to Rachel.
"You can say that again," Rachel whispered back.
Rewinding back to Team Beta's mission...
Team Beta arrived at Gamorra Island through Rachel's spatial ripple under cover of night. Using the chaos of this world's Wonder Woman's assault as cover, Flash phased them through the prison walls. They quickly disguised themselves as guards to avoid detection and protect against any meta-human dampening field technology.
After adjusting Batgirl's guard uniform to match her build, the team split up to cover different wings. As they surveyed the facility, they encountered numerous imprisoned de-powered heroes - some familiar, others unknown. Batgirl's heart clenched when she spotted an adult Supergirl in one cell and a young child huddled in another.
'This is inhumane,' she thought, fists tightening. 'I can't interfere too much with this world's flow, but I'll make damn sure our Amanda Waller never creates something like this.'
The sound of gunfire drew her attention. Using the chaos as cover, she approached Supergirl's cell. With a finger to her lips, she hacked the control panel and freed the prisoner.
"Free the others," Batgirl whispered. "I have another mission."
Racing toward the gunfire after freeing a few more, she activated her comm. "Batman, Flash, I have eyes on..." She froze mid-sentence. Before her stood Wonder Woman - not the godlike warrior she knew from her universe, but still magnificent - defending herself with nothing but sword and gauntlets against overwhelming odds.
A guard's radio crackled with news of a prison riot. Snapping out of her reverie, Batgirl heard Batman's voice, "Batgirl, report. Did you find Wonder Woman?"
"Affirmative. Requesting Flash deliver the crystal to my location ASAP."
Batgirl sprang into action, surprising the guards from behind. Her precise strikes neutralized several before they could react, but two managed to raise their weapons. Suddenly, a chimp tackled one guard while a blonde girl knocked out the other.
"You're the guard who's been freeing prisoners?" the chimp asked, studying her.
Batgirl stared, momentarily stunned. "You... can talk?"
Before the situation could grow more awkward, a man rushed in. "Diana!" The intimate way he supported Wonder Woman set off warning bells in Batgirl's mind.
"Who are you?" Batgirl demanded, noting their closeness.
"You're not asking the questions here," the blonde girl - Cassie - shot back. "For all we know, you're working for Waller."
"While I appreciate your help," Wonder Woman added, "Cassie's right. Identify yourself."
Batgirl removed her helmet, revealing a face Wonder Woman recognized - albeit younger than expected. "I'm Batgirl, from another universe."
"Another universe… I see. That explains your age," Wonder Woman observed. "You're younger than our Barbara."
"We're about five years behind your timeline," Batgirl confirmed. "We're here because an android crossed dimensions and arrived in our universe. But, it encountered someone it really shouldn't have."
"An Amazo android?" Wonder Woman's concern was evident. "Did you contain it?"
Batgirl smiled grimly. "It picked a fight with the wrong person—a friend of our Justice League who possesses power beyond even the creator of our multiverse."
Stunned by her words, Steve and Cassie found her claim absurd, while Wonder Woman and the chimp somehow sensed she wasn't exaggerating
Just then Flash appeared in a crackle of electricity. "Batgirl, you found Wonder Wom-" He stopped short. "Is that Steve Trevor?"
The name hit Batgirl like a thunderbolt. She turned to the man as asked, "You're Steve Trevor?"
Steve nodded cautiously. "Yes. Why does that matter?"
Batgirl and Flash exchanged grave looks. "He can't meet our Diana," Flash said quietly.
"Obviously not," Batgirl replied. "Our Wonder Woman has moved past her first love's death. But, if Rachel sees him near her mother..."
"What?" Wonder Woman processed their words. In another reality, Steve had died, she had moved on, and even had a daughter. 'I…became a mother,' she thought, remembering her earlier conversation with Robin.
"I'll handle this," Batgirl told Flash. "Go help the others."
"Right." Flash threw the crystal to Batgirl and disappeared, his mind racing recalling the boy he had just come across. 'Between Batman's son and Steve Trevor being alive, this reality's dangerous. How will Barbara react to Bruce having a child that's not hers? And Rachel...' He shuddered, imagining Diana's protective daughter discovering her mother's dead love alive in this universe.
Batgirl stepped forward, holding out a glowing crystal. "Wonder Woman, this belongs to you."
"What is it?" Wonder Woman asked, studying the crystalline structure with curiosity.
Batgirl glanced briefly at Steve before addressing Diana directly. "When our ally destroyed Waller's android, he detected a familiar energy signature within it—one that reminded him of someone very dear to him, his fiancée, our Wonder Woman. He managed to extract and preserve your stolen powers within this crystal." She paused, choosing her next words carefully. "We're here not only to return what was taken from you but also to gather intelligence about Amanda Waller. After learning about your universe and your Waller's actions, we need this information to ensure our universe's Waller never becomes such a threat, and to prevent her from creating anything like this prison."
"How do I..." Diana began, choosing to avoid discussing her alternate self's supposed fiancé.
"Just crush it in your hand," Batgirl explained. "The crystal will shatter, and your powers will return to you naturally."
Diana studied the crystal for a moment, then closed her fist around it. The crystal shattered with a soft crackle, releasing a brilliant golden light that enveloped her form. Steve and Cassie stepped back, shielding their eyes from the intense glow.
Unbeknownst to them, the crystal contained not only Wonder Woman's powers but also those of others—all of which were now released, streaming back to their rightful owners.
As the light faded, Wonder Woman stood tall, her presence radiating with renewed power. She flexed her hands, feeling the familiar strength course through her body. "Thank you," she said to Batgirl. "I can feel my powers returning."
"How do you feel?" Steve asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Like myself again," Diana replied, a small smile gracing her features. She turned to Batgirl. "Now, about Amanda Waller—"
A distant explosion interrupted their conversation. Cassie rushed to a nearby window. "More guards are coming. We need to move!"
"She's right," Batgirl agreed. "We should get you and the other freed prisoners to safety first. We can discuss Waller once we're clear of this facility. While our group has our own escape plan, since you initiated this prison break, I assume you have one too. Care to explain?"
Wonder Woman nodded. "Agreed. Although my powers are restored, we should regroup with the others first. Robin can create a portal to Themyscira—that will be our escape route."
"Perfect," Batgirl replied. "We have another team stationed there right now, so we can all regroup together."
Wonder Woman's eyes narrowed. "Why would your team be on Themyscira?"
"We detected two disturbances when we arrived in this universe - one here at the prison, and another at Themyscira. We split up to handle both situations. Our other team is helping defend the island against an attack."
Wonder Woman's expression darkened. "Waller dared to attack my home?" Her fists clenched as cold fury settled over her features. She turned to Steve and Cassie. "Help gather the freed prisoners. I'll clear us a path out."
"Understood," Steve nodded, though he couldn't help noticing Batgirl's concerned glance in his direction.
As they prepared to move, Batgirl activated her comm. "Batman, Wonder Woman's powers are restored and we're evacuating prisoners. Change of plans - we'll be using their portal to Themyscira. Their Robin will conjure it. Status?"
"On my way to you," Batman responded. "I've accessed Waller's network. We'll discuss my findings after regrouping."
The group engaged the guards, with Flash's presence providing an unexpected morale boost to the depowered heroes. When Wonder Woman took flight and began dispatching guards with her restored powers, cheers erupted from the freed prisoners. The battle turned decisively in their favor when smoke bombs suddenly filled the chamber. Through the thick smoke, they glimpsed a familiar silhouette - Batman swooping down to join the fray alongside Batgirl.
As the smoke cleared, revealing Batman and Batgirl in their combat gear, many of the freed heroes grew uneasy. While the figure before them resembled Batman, his darker, more intimidating suit marked him as different from the one they knew.
"You're not our Batman," Robin challenged, stepping forward with clenched fists. "Who are you?"
Batman's eyes narrowed as he gave Robin a brief glance before returning his focus to the mission. He turned to Wonder Woman, who studied this alternate version of her friend with a complex expression. "Is the portal ready? We need to move."
"Don't ignore me!" Robin snapped.
"Pipe down, kid," Batgirl cut in sharply. Robin's constant attitude and non-stop commentary since her arrival—especially during the fight before Batman showed up—had pushed her patience to its limit.
"Enough!" Batman's command cut through the tension. "Robin, you can open the portal. Do it now."
"You don't give me orders, imposter-" Robin began.
"Robin," Wonder Woman interrupted, her voice firm but gentle. "These are allies from another universe. If you won't trust them, trust me. We need that portal now."
Robin hesitated, looking between Wonder Woman and Batman before giving a reluctant nod. "Fine. But only because Wonder Woman vouches for you."
Kneeling down, he retrieved a piece of chalk from his utility belt and carefully wrote 'ANNATAZ' on the floor. Around the word, he drew a perfect circle. As he stood back, the circle began to pulse with dark energy. A small black dot appeared in its center, expanding like ink in water until it reached the circle's edge, forming a swirling portal.
A beautiful woman with long black hair emerged from the darkness. "Your ride to paradise has arrived," Zatanna announced with a theatrical flourish.
"Perfect timing," Robin said, turning to address the freed prisoners. "Everyone through the portal, quickly. We don't know how long it will stay stable."
Flash zipped back from his reconnaissance. "Guards approaching from the east wing! Multiple squads, heavily armed!"
"Flash, you and Batgirl evacuate the injured," Batman commanded, his eyes narrowing behind his cowl. "Wonder Woman and I will hold the rear."
"On it!" Flash and Batgirl responded in unison, immediately moving to help the wounded.
Wonder Woman landed beside Batman. "It is you under there, isn't it, Bruce?"
Batman gave a single nod, readying several specialized batarangs and smoke bombs as he took up a defensive position.
"Thank you," Wonder Woman said softly as she watched the prisoners file through the portal. "For coming to help us."
"This alliance serves both our purposes," Batman replied matter-of-factly. "Nothing more."
A knowing smile curved Wonder Woman's lips. "Definitely Bruce."
The sound of approaching boots and shouted orders grew louder. As the last of the prisoners disappeared through the portal, Wonder Woman and Batman prepared to engage the incoming forces. Robin paused at the portal's edge. "Time to go! You're the last ones!"
Before diving through, Robin shot them one final concerned look. The guards burst into view, weapons raised. Batman's hand flew to his belt, activating his suit's power enhancement. His fist slammed into the floor with devastating force, creating a massive crater that sent the guards tumbling.
"By Hera..." Wonder Woman breathed, startled by the display of power.
"Let's move!" Batman grabbed her hand and together they leapt into the swirling darkness. The portal collapsed behind them, leaving their pursuers cursing in the empty room. Several small bombs rolled to their feet—Batman's parting gift.
"Oh shi—"
BOOM
Present Time
On Themyscira's shores, team Beta regrouped with Diana and the others. As the freed heroes reunited with their comrades, Diana and this universe's Wonder Woman stood face to face, silently studying their counterparts. While nearly identical in appearance, subtle differences marked them as distinct individuals shaped by their own unique experiences.
"It's... peculiar, meeting oneself," Diana said initiating the conversation with a slight smile.
"Indeed. The first time I encountered another version of myself in the multiverse was quite surreal," her counterpart said. "I am deeply grateful for your help today. Without you and your companions, this battle could have ended very differently." Wonder Woman bowed respectfully.
Diana raised her hand, a soft pinkish aura emanating from her form. "Please, stand," she said, using her God Ki to gently lift her counterpart. Wonder Woman's eyes widened in amazement.
"This power... it's unlike anything I've encountered," Wonder Woman breathed. "The divinity within it is extraordinarily pure."
"It's a more refined version of the divine power you possess," Diana explained. "My journey led me down a different path when I met my fiancé. This God Ki, as we call it, transcends the divinity of the gods you know."
"God Ki... interesting. Batgirl mentioned your fiancé—a being who supposedly surpasses even the god of creation. That's quite a claim," Wonder Woman said thoughtfully. "And that armor—it's clearly not Hephaestus's work. Where did you get such advanced equipment?"
"Indeed, it does sound hard to believe, but it's true," Diana chuckled warmly. "As for the armor, it comes from the higher realms where my fiancé originated. After his ship crashed into our universe, and as our love blossomed, he shared his knowledge and power with me, training me beyond what I ever imagined possible."
After a moment of silence, Wonder Woman asked gently, "May I ask... what happened to Steve Trevor in your reality?"
Diana's expression softened with a bittersweet smile as she gazed up at the night sky. Then, turning to face Wonder Woman, she gracefully extended her right hand and used her God Ki to draw the Lasso of Truth from Wonder Woman's hip, grasping one end before Wonder Woman could notice.
"Our histories may differ, but in my world, Steve Trevor died heroically during World War I. He was a brave, flawed man who taught me my first lessons about love. After losing him, I withdrew from the world—until I met Orach. He helped my heart learn to love again, and now we share the joy of being a family and raising our beautiful daughter."
"Your Steve is still alive, isn't he?" Diana noted softly, seeing the truth in her counterpart's eyes.
Wonder Woman nodded. "Yes..."
"Then let me offer you some advice," Diana said with a knowing smile. "Don't wait for him to make the first move. Sometimes men need a gentle push - or perhaps a firm one. Be bold in pursuing your happiness."
The two women shared a moment of understanding laughter.
"Speaking of happiness," Wonder Woman ventured, "you mentioned a daughter?"
Diana's face lit up as she beckoned to Rachel, who approached somewhat reluctantly. Wonder Woman's eyes widened in recognition - despite the advanced gear, this was unmistakably a version of Raven from the Teen Titans.
"Meet Rachel, First Princess of the House of Gula and my daughter," Diana announced with pride. "Though you might know her better as Raven."
The revelation sent ripples of surprise through the gathered heroes, particularly affecting this universe's Wonder Woman and Raven.
"Your daughter?" Wonder Woman asked, clearly struggling to process this information.
Diana smiled warmly. "While not of my blood, Rachel is my daughter in every way that matters. She's my precious little Raven, and her father's beloved princess."
"Mom..." Rachel protested, her face heating up beneath her hood. She fidgeted, clearly considering opening a portal to escape the attention.
Diana chuckled, affectionately patting Rachel's head. "Alright, I'll stop embarrassing you. Why don't you go speak with your counterpart? I noticed her earlier."
Rachel nodded gratefully. With a wave of her hand, she opened a spatial ripple beneath this universe's Raven, who yelped in surprise as she fell through. "Don't worry," Rachel assured the startled onlookers, "I just want to have a private conversation." She stepped through another portal, acknowledging Wonder Woman with a slight nod before disappearing.
"You adopted her," Wonder Woman observed thoughtfully, watching the portal close.
Diana noticed the complex emotions playing across her counterpart's face. "Does that disappoint you?"
"No, of course not," Wonder Woman replied earnestly. "Seeing your bond with her is beautiful, and it shows me I could be a good mother, but..."
"But you wonder if it would be different with a biological child?" Diana finished, her eyes cooling slightly.
Wonder Woman nodded silently.
Diana took a deep breath, her expression turning serious. "Listen carefully. No parent is perfect. Whether a child is adopted or biological, all parents make mistakes. When I have more children, I know I'll stumble sometimes, but what matters is that all my children—Rachel and her future siblings—need the love, guidance, and protection we provide. With that knowledge, I know I will always rise again, with my husband by my side. And I'm blessed to have an amazing support system—my daughter, my future husband, and—"
"And me," Cheetah interjected, stepping forward to place her hand over Diana's where it held the Lasso of Truth. The golden rope glowed brighter at the contact.
"Barbara?" Wonder Woman whispered, clearly stunned to see her arch-nemesis standing alongside her counterpart with such familiarity.
"Yeah, yeah, I know—I'm your enemy in this universe," Cheetah said, rolling her eyes at Wonder Woman before turning to Diana with an exasperated look. "Di, this universe is seriously messed up. Can you believe I'm actually your enemy here?"
"What?" Diana's eyes widened in disbelief.
"You should have seen it earlier," Cheetah continued, shaking her head. "I was trying to help Artemis and she actually attacked me! Thought I was working for Waller. Had to knock some sense into her before she'd believe otherwise." She turned back to the still-stunned Wonder Woman. "Look, I'm Barbara Minerva, an accomplished curator, Batman's partner and Diana's best friend. Where we come from, we support each other through everything." Her expression softened as she added, "And when the time comes for either of us to have children, we'll be there for each other."
A thoughtful look crossed her face as she turned back to Diana. "Though... we never really discussed what would happen if we both ended up pregnant at the same time. Can you imagine? Our men would completely lose it."
Diana's eyes widened at the thought. "You're right - neither Orach nor Bruce would handle that well. We'd definitely need Mother Empress's help."
Ahem
Batman's gravelly voice cut through their conversation. "If you two are quite finished discussing hypothetical pregnancies in front of everyone," he said, his tone carrying a hint of exasperation, "we have more pressing matters to address. This conversation can wait until we're back in our universe." Meanwhile, Batgirl discreetly activated her recorder, knowing Rachel wouldn't want to miss this priceless moment.
The two women glanced around, suddenly aware of their audience — dozens of champions trying and failing to hide their amusement. Their mouths twitched as they realized the inappropriateness of their conversation.
"Right..." Cheetah mumbled, her face flushing as she released Diana's hand. "Batman has a point. We'll plan this out properly back home." She quickly made her way to Batman's side, trying to maintain her dignity.
"Indeed," Diana agreed, keeping her composure as she carefully returned the Lasso to Wonder Woman. "It's an important discussion - for another time." She watched as Cheetah took her place beside Batman, both women pointedly ignoring the barely suppressed chuckles around them.
"At any rate," Diana said with a gentle smile, "don't waste time worrying. Make the most of the time you have now."
"I appreciate the advice," Wonder Woman said with a gentle smile. Seeing the strong friendship between her counterpart and Cheetah's counterpart gave her hope that perhaps one day, she too could rebuild her relationship with her universe's Barbara.
Just then from the gathering of heroes, this universe's Superman stepped forward, his expression thoughtful. "While we're grateful for your assistance in restoring Wonder Woman's powers, I have to ask — why take such a risk coming here? And more importantly, how did you manage to reach our universe? We know we're isolated from the multiverse."
As if on cue, two spatial rifts opened. Rachel materialized beside Batgirl, while this universe's Raven rejoined the Teen Titans, visibly shaken from her conversation with her counterpart.
"We came with three specific objectives," Diana explained, raising three fingers. "First, to restore your Wonder Woman's powers. One of our own destroyed the android that stole her powers, and without our intervention, those powers would have been lost forever. This made us partly responsible for maintaining the natural balance of your world, so we had to act. Second, to study your Amanda Waller's capabilities—understanding her actions here will help us anticipate and counter our own universe's Waller. And third," she gestured toward Kara, "to help Supergirl gain combat experience against Brainiac and overcome her past traumas."
Superman's expression softened as he glanced at his cousin's younger counterpart. "I understand. However, there's still the matter of our universe's isolation. Waller has positioned a powerful entity in the Bleed - a space between universes - that intercepts any attempted multiversal travel. How did you bypass this?"
Diana's expression grew serious. While they had known about this universe's isolation, learning about Waller's multiversal sentry was concerning. The mention of the "Bleed" particularly caught her attention, reminding her of the Void Realm. She made a mental note to discuss this with Orach upon their return.
"Batman," she turned to her companion, "what have we learned about this situation?"
"This universe's Waller has become extremely dangerous," Batman replied grimly. "She's created a bridge to the multiverse and is using advanced androids to collect powered individuals — some even our counterparts — building an army under her control. The sentry Superman mentioned is just one of her assets, stationed in the Bleed to prevent unauthorized multiversal travel."
A heavy silence fell over the assembled heroes.
"Which is precisely why we need to understand how you breached our universe's defenses," came a gravelly voice. This universe's Batman emerged from the shadows, a Mother Box in hand, studying the visitors intently.
The alternate universe team - Batman, Diana, Cheetah, Batgirl, Rachel, Kara and Flash - observed this universe's Batman carefully especially noting the Mother Box he carried.
"I can't disclose the specifics," Batman replied carefully, "but we have access to technology from realms beyond conventional understanding. Combined with Diana's unique abilities, it allows us safe passage through dimensional barriers. What concerns me more," he added, studying the Mother Box, "is why you're carrying such powerful New God technology."
The statement was met with mixed reactions among the assembled heroes. Some exchanged concerned glances, while others appeared doubtful of such a bold claim.
This universe's Batman leaned forward, his voice carrying a sharp edge. "You expect us to believe your technology can simply bypass Waller's dimensional barriers? Technology that even New Gods haven't managed to overcome?"
"Yes," Batman replied flatly, his own eyes narrowing. "Now, explain why you're carrying a Mother Box."
Batman of this universe studied his counterpart carefully before speaking, his tone measured. "The Mother Box is part of our contingency plan. We've decided it's time to confront Amanda Waller directly."
"A bold move," Batman replied, his analytical mind already working through the implications. "You intend to use it to generate a Boom Tube, bypassing her defenses and positioning your forces directly above her headquarters and forces."
This universe's Batman grunted at being read so easily, though he found it more tolerable coming from his counterpart. He confirmed with a nod. "A conventional approach would be suicide. The Mother Box technology offers our best chance at a surgical strike."
Batman nodded in agreement with his counterpart. "I wish you success in your mission," he said firmly, turning to rejoin his group. His curt response left many heroes stunned.
Nightwing stepped forward, his expression earnest. "Please, wait. Given your incredible abilities, we need your help. Amanda Waller threatens not just our universe, but the entire multiverse. Join us in this fight."
"He's right," Superman interjected. "And can you be certain of your safe return with Waller's sentry guarding the Bleed?"
Wonder Woman stepped forward adding. "I know it's asking much, but with your power, we could end this threat once and for all." Around her, the assembled heroes nodded in agreement.
Diana's team exchanged meaningful glances - Cheetah, Rachel, Kara, Batman, Batgirl, and Flash - before all eyes settled on Diana and Rachel.
"Di," Cheetah spoke first, her voice gentle. "What's your take on this?"
Flash stepped forward. "We should consider helping them. Waller's actions here are unconscionable."
"I agree," Batgirl added solemnly, memories of the prison fresh in her mind. "After what we've seen, we can't just walk away."
Kara stood quietly beside Rachel. Through her training on the Void Sentinel and lessons about the higher realms, she understood the delicate balance required when higher realm beings interfere with a lower realm's natural flow. Even the smallest actions could ripple outward with unforeseen consequences.
As recipients of power from the higher realms through Orach, Diana and Rachel were bound by the House of Gula's principles, and their group—beings of the universe protected by both the House of Gula and Orach himself—shared this obligation. Breaking these rules wouldn't merely invite Orach's displeasure—it could destabilize the very fabric of reality they sought to protect.
Though learning that Jon was her counterpart's nephew stirred a personal connection within her, Kara recognized why Diana and Rachel, as members of the House of Gula, must limit their involvement. She knew that once Diana and Rachel decided to return home, the rest of them would ultimately follow.
Batman also remained quiet. Having worked closely with Orach, he understood these principles well and expected a similar outcome.
Diana shook her head gently. "I know you want our help, but we can't stay. We have rules we must follow about interfering with other universes. We've done what we came here to do - anything more could cause problems we can't predict. You are strong and capable heroes in your own right. I believe you can handle this challenge on your own."
"But surely there must be something you can do," this universe's Flash pleaded. "With your power—"
"Power isn't the issue," Batman interjected, his voice firm. "It's about maintaining the natural order. Each universe must face its own challenges and evolve on its own terms."
Diana nodded, her expression compassionate but resolute. "You already have everything you need to succeed. Your Mother Box strategy is sound, and your team is capable. Sometimes the greatest help we can offer is stepping aside and allowing others to realize their own strength."
Robin stepped forward. "Wait a minute. What kind of nonsense is this? Amanda Waller clearly threatens the entire multiverse. Would you really let her continue taking over universes and capturing their heroes? With each universe she visits, her army of powered individuals grows stronger. What happens when she reaches your universe? What then? Could you truly face her full army alone?"
"ENOUGH!" Queen Nubia's voice thundered through the area, commanding instant silence. "Son of Batman, you and your companions may not comprehend the magnitude of their power, but we Amazons have witnessed it firsthand. Their abilities transcend our understanding. While we welcome allies, we must stand on our own feet. If our universe birthed this threat, then it must be our champions who defeat it."
As she finished speaking, she noticed an unsettling change in Diana's group, particularly Cheetah, whose gaze had fixed intently on Robin. The young hero shifted uncomfortably under their collective scrutiny.
"What's with all the staring?" Robin demanded, his voice carrying a note of wariness.
Cheetah stepped forward, her voice carefully controlled. "Queen Nubia called you 'son of Batman.' What exactly does that mean?"
"It means exactly what it sounds like," Robin retorted, irritation clear in his tone. "I'm Batman's son."
"Adopted?" Cheetah pressed, her fists clenching involuntarily.
"No," Robin snapped, bristling at the implication. "I'm his biological son!"
Cheetah froze at Robin's words, then the atmosphere shifted palpably. Her demeanor changed dramatically — her body tensed, and waves of killing intent rolled off her, causing experienced warriors to instinctively move into defensive positions. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman quickly positioned themselves between her and Robin.
"Your mother," Cheetah said finally, each word precise and careful, as if keeping something terrible contained. Her tail lashed once, twice before she continued. "Tell me who she is."
The assembled heroes exchanged worried glances, some remembering Cheetah's earlier claims about being the alternate Batman's partner. The implications began to dawn on them.
"What's it to you?" Robin challenged, though he couldn't completely hide his unease.
ROAR
A bone-chilling roar shook the island as Cheetah's form began to shift. Her hair lengthened, claws extended, and her face transformed into a fearsome maw. "I asked you a question," she growled, her voice barely human.
"Talia Al Ghul," this universe's Batman interjected firmly, stepping forward.
Cheetah's rage intensified at the name, her aura becoming even more menacing. This was the same name she had uncovered of the woman who had drugged her Bruce a while back. She turned to Batman, her voice trembling with barely controlled emotion. "Tell me something - were you drugged when he was conceived?"
A heavy silence fell over the gathering. Batman met her gaze steadily, recognizing the pain behind her fury. "Yes," he answered simply.
The admission seemed to deflate Cheetah's rage. Her features slowly returned to normal as she took several deep breaths. "Thank you for your honesty," she said quietly, before turning away to rejoin her Batman. Now she no longer cared about this universe—all she wanted was to return home, have a serious conversation with Bruce, and hunt down that bitch Talia Al Ghul.
Batman had remained silent throughout the exchange, his thoughts churning. Months ago, he and Barbara had investigated who had drugged him that night—a night that remained a blur in his memory. Learning it was Talia Al Ghul, daughter of his former mentor Ra's Al Ghul, had left him both angry and ashamed at his carelessness. Now, seeing that this universe's Batman had also been drugged by Talia—resulting in a son—gave his own encounter disturbing new significance. What troubled him even more was what his trained senses detected in Robin: the unmistakable aura of someone who had taken lives. He and Cheetah would need to have a serious discussion about all of this once they returned home.
As the tension dissipated, Superman stepped forward. "Queen Nubia is right. We understand and respect your decision. What you've done for us—especially restoring Diana's powers—has already given us renewed hope. Waller... she's our responsibility now."
Wonder Woman moved to join him, her voice filled with conviction. "Thank you all once more. You're right—though the fight ahead will be fierce, we are more than capable of facing it. May Hera watch over your journey, and may the blessings of all the gods go with you."
Diana turned to address her group. "It's time. Shall we?"
The group nodded in agreement, prepared for their journey home.
Diana tapped on her terminal and called out. "Mother Empress, initialize return protocol."
"Affirmative, Mistress," the AI's voice responded crisply through Diana's terminal. "Establishing secure transit pathway."
Through a coordinated sequence, Mother Empress sent the signal to Void Sentinel, which maintained continuous links with Diana's, Rachel's, and Kara's terminals. From there, Crescent relayed it to Cyborg. This carefully orchestrated pathway enabled Mother Empress to bypass any restrictions on this universe.
Soon the air before them began to crackle with energy, reality itself splitting apart as a swirling portal materialized. One by one, Diana's group exchanged final glances with their counterparts before stepping through the dimensional gateway, leaving behind a universe that was about to become an epicenter of a major event.