42 Chapter 40: Fate of the Kryptonian Race

---Meanwhile in a Universe inside the DC Multiverse a couple of years in the past...---

Earth is under attack from Brainiac and Superman, Damian aka Nightwing and Black Adam are desperately searching for a way to stop them in the Kryptonian archives of the Fortress of Solitude.

Flying above Adam and Nightwing, Superman asks them. ''Did you find anything?''

''I analyzed the Kryptonian data, as you asked...'' Says Damian, before stating. ''... You didn't miss anything. They just didn't have an answer for Brainiac ''

Frustrated Superman tells his two companions. ''There has to be something. A blind spot, a weakness. Brute force won't be enough.''

''When your powers are restored...'' Begins Black Adam, before stating his intentions for leaving. ''... I should leave for Kahndaq, make sure its defenses are prepared.''

Frowning Superman asks him. ''Brainiac hasn't attacked yet?''

''The Rock of Eternity's magic hides Kahndaq from prying eyes, even Brainiac's...'' Explains Black Adam. ''... But I don't expect him to be fooled forever.''

Their conversation comes to a sudden end, as Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl comes flying into the fortress confronting Superman. ''Kal, we need to talk!''

Turning to his two helpers, Superman tells them. ''Just give me a minute, both of you... '' Turning to Kara he tells her. ''... Damian told me what happened. Is Diana all right?''

''She's fine. But she was gonna kill Harley. I've never seen her so cold-blooded...''

', Yes, it is unfortunate...'' Begins Superman, before being interrupted by his cousin. ''... I know what was she thinking?''

'No, it's s unfortunate Diana chose now to deal with Harley...'' States Superman, his face turning cold as ice. ''... More unfortunate that you got in the way...''

''What?''

''... The Joker sickened Harley's mind beyond healing. When she relapses, innocent people will die!''

Sickened by her cousin's remarks, Kara shouts at him. ''Innocent people are dying now. She was helping us!''

''Don't be naive, Kara. Harley's a criminal!...'' States Superman, his eyes glowing dangerously red. ''... My only mistake was not dealing with her sooner.''

Shocked once again, Kara starts connecting the dots. ''Diana said the Joker was executed... Were you the one...?''

Confirming her worst suspicions, Kal-El tells her.''I took one life to save millions.''

Sad, Kara asks. ''But it wasn't just one, Kal, was it? How many? How many?!...'' Stepping closer to her cousin, she caresses the S symbol on his chest. ''... Everywhere I go people are afraid of this... Now I know why.''

''It's not how I wanted things. But humans...'' Stopping himself from getting angry, Superman tells her. ''... They've been slaughtering each other for millennia. I stopped that violence... It's not how I wanted things. But humans... They need strong leadership. We have to save them from themselves.''

Shocked for the last time, the image Kara had of her cousin comes crashing down. ''Whose son are you Jor-El's? Or General Zod's?''

That said, Kara turns around, leaving the Fortress and a mad Kal-El behind.

-----

As the war against Brainiac comes to an end Superman and Batman finally confront the enemy on his own Flagship.

Facing both Batman and Superman, Brainiac greets. ''Even an advanced society like Krypton recognizes my superiority. In time, the entire universe will adhere to my design.''

Smirking Batman tells him. ''Unless we stop you!''

''I offer nothing less than deliverance...'' States Brainiac, as he stops walking before the two of them. ''... Your environment is poisoned, your civilization has exhausted its resources. The Earth's decline cannot be reversed.''

''We'll find a way!'' Confident Batman tells the robot, prompting Superman to comment. ''We always do!''

The two heroes rush at Brainiac and attack from two sides, but Brainiac deftly blocks and parries the punches and kicks. He then stands and lets his tendril fight both at the same time. Batman is picked up by the throat and Superman is pinned against the side of the ship. Batman's about to choke to death, but Brainiac then throws him aside as Superman flies towards him.

Brainiac swats the Kryptonian away like a fly. Superman and Brainiac float towards each other...and Superman double ax-handles the robot to the ground.

Standing back up and stepping in front of the Kryptonian smiling Brainiac tells him. ''Earths time is up... Having vivisected countless Kryptonians in the past, they have already taught me much about the nature of your powers.

''Allow me to give you a proper demonstration!'' Superman says, before being downed by Brainiac. Getting back on his feet he hears the robot.

''I match your strength! You cannot match my intellect!...'' Comments Brainiac. ''... You are only a Kryptonian of which I have killed BILLIONS!''

Brainiac in fact truly is the superior intellect and he also has home-field advantage as his ship also attacks Superman too. But, incensed by the destruction of his second home, Superman's strength and determination cannot be underestimated. Fighting a close fight, Kal, in the end, wins only because of sheer will and power, as he puts Brainiac into sleep mode.

Staggering a bit, he tells the downed enemy. ''That was for Krypton!'

Rubbing his neck, Batman joins Kal saying. ''Good. Should make it easier to cut him off from the Betas.''

That said, Badman draws a disruptor from his belt and fires it at Brainiac, who just lies on the floor as if not believing he lost.

Satisfied with his handiwork, he speaks into his communicator while walking to a large window facing earth. ''This is Batman. Brainiac is down.''

Over the comm Cyborg replies. ''The disruptor worked! All the Betas are shutting down!''

Landing next to Batman Superman says, also looking at the planet below. ''We did it!''

At that moment the ship starts to lurch. Surprised Superman asks. ''What's happening?!''

''Brainiac's mind is the ships CPU. Apparently, he doesn't have a backup system.'' Explains Batman, as the ship starts to fall from space, heading for a crash landing on Earth.

Looking horrified, Kal states. ''If we crash, all the cities preserved onboard...''

Nodding Bruce confirms Kal's suspicion. ''Destroyed.''

Superman then turns to the control chair, getting an idea. Sitting in the chair he grabs two still-glowing tendrils.

''Clark, wait!...''

''You said yourself. This ship is controlled by pure thought.''

''... This could KILL you!''

Smoking at his friend and enemy, Superman tells him with a shrug. ''Sounds like a job for me.''

That said, Superman jams the tendrils into his head, screaming as they attach to him. The ship drops into the atmosphere, aiming for Gotham, which had not been digitized yet. Batman holds on as Superman pours his thoughts into the ship, fighting against the programming Brainiac installed in it. Just as it's about to turn Gotham into a crater just like Metropolis,...the ship veers and flies back up! Superman is still hurting from the sensation, though.

''Create a bypass loop... Put the ship on autopilot.'' Advises Bruce.

''Hrnn! Trying!''

Hearing that, Batman checks on Superman, who is still fighting, watching him struggle.

''We need to get you out of there!''

''Not... yet... the cities...'' Says Superman, shaking his head, while thinking harder. As he does, many of the cities previously digitized by Brainiac reappear on Earth.

''Yes! We can do this!'' States Batman watching cities and people return.

Shaking his head Superman sadly comments while falling out of Brainiacs chair. ''Not all of it. I couldn't save everyone... Some cities are still trapped in the collection. Others were lost... wiped from the ship's memory. Metropolis... Coast City...''

With sudden resolve, Superman looks over at the still-rebooting body of Brainiac. He walks over, preparing to finish the job. But Batman intercepts him saying. ''Clark, no!...''

Looking at Batman with a 'what the fuck' look in his eyes, Superman hears out what Badman has to say. ''... Even if I agreed that he should die, you can't. We need him alive to save the rest of our cities.''

Shaking his head Kal states. ''No, we don't! With more time and Cyborg's help, the Ship will obey me!''

''Or we could lose more cities.''

''This is no different than Joker...'' Reminds Superman Batman, getting visibly angry. ''... If you'd killed him, we might have...''

''It was never that simple, Clark!''

''Yes, it was and is, Bruce! Metropolis and Coast City are gone!...''

Slowly Batman draws a golden dagger from his belt secretly, while asking. ''... How many more innocent people need to die before you accept that some lives need to be taken?''

Suddenly Batman slices the dagger across Superman's chest... and the Man of Steel actually bleeds. Groaning he hits the floor in pain, before seeing his glove stained with his own blood, asking. ''My powers?! How did you?!''

Smirking, Batman explains, showing his golden dagger. ''Gold Kryptonite... courtesy of Luthor. Now stay down! Enough exposure and you'll be de-powered permanently!''

Standing up and facing his attacker, his former friend... now, a bitter enemy, Superman shouts, angrily, his eyes shooting lasers. ''This madness has to end, Bruce!''...