Chapter XV: A Complete Failure

A Lantern screamed, "Attack!"

John flew to Guy and caught him. "John, tell Hal to get out of there!"

"What?"

"It's a feint! They're not really attacking! The Guardians want the Sinestro Corps destroyed. You think we came all the way out here without a plan? Mogo, a living planet with a will powered weapon. Why do you think we dragged him across space? How much Will do you think something that size has?"

The planet started to glow and the Green Lanterns flew out of the way of it, before it shot a ginormous beam of energy that killed dozens if not hundreds of Yellow Lanterns in an instant.

In the Batcave Dinah took a gun out of a case Alfred showed her. Batman called, "Dinah. The sky is green. That's our signal."

"Batman? You're supposed to be safe in the Tower Of Fate."

"Not now. Do you have the weapon?"

"I do."

"I'm afraid you only get one shot, Miss Lance," he handed her a Kryptonite tipped bullet."

"I know you're angry. I know what he took from you. But when the chance comes to take him down... try not to kill him. Remember who Clark was."

"I remember. But I can't guarantee anything," she loaded the bullet, "The guy with the best aim is dead."

What used to be the GCPD stood outside of the Hall Of Justice along with an explosive Itachi clone and Martian Manhunter. Gordon announced, "Take your pills and be ready. We're trying to take out one of the smartest people on Earth and a man who can cross continents in a heartbeat. The guards outside and everyone inside will be as Invulnerable as we are. Don't hold back."

The clone walked up to the Hall and a guard walked up to it right before it exploded. Sending the guard through the window, along with the whole front of the Hall being destroyed.

Flash caught the guard that flew through the window, "It's ok, I've got you."

She took her helmet off to reveal herself as Catwoman, "My hero," But before Flash could do anything she planted a device on his neck that knocked him out. "This isn't permanent. Batman doesn't want you hurt. But your part in all this is over."

Catwoman heard a staff swing at her head and blocked it, breaking the staff. "What Is that? What did you do to Flash?!"

"I just stopped the electrical impulses running down his spine. Don't worry. He's still the fastest man on Earth from the neck up."

Damian gritted his teeth, "My father made this device, didn't he? He was always thinking of creatively sick new ways to hurt heroes. You think he hasn't developed something that exploits all of your weaknesses? You honestly think he loved you, Catwoman? You think he hasn't created something that tears you open? That exposes you and leaves you a broken husk?"

Catwoman side eyes him and her eye twitched, "Urgh. Shut. Up. You know what? All the other Robin's were good for Batman. But you, Damian--your father is so much better off without you. You're just this joyless, entitled, moody, whining little shit. And you hurt Burce. I'm going to punish you for that."

At an airfield Hal stood alongside three Yellow Lanterns including Sinestro. And Carol was next to him. Guy started talking to him, "You know. I did everything I could to convince them. I told them that there was no way Hal Jordan would side with Sinestro. I promised them you'd come around. You were supposed to be the best of us, man. You were the ones the Guardians chose. Me, John, Kyle.... we only got the gig because you weren't around. You're not supposed to be Superman's puppet. You're supposed to be better than this!"

Sinestro smiled, "Shut him up. End him!"

He looked down, "I'm a cynical bastard, but I still had faith in you, Hal," They blasted at him but a bubble protected him, "Yeah. That's not going to work. You think we didn't prepare? We didn't come all this way to have our asses handed to us. I never stopped believing in you, Hal, but the Guardians gave up."

Hal's eyes went wide, "Ganthet?"

Ganthet raised a hand and everyone flew back. Sinestro threw a jet at him that was easily blocked. Guy picked up Carol and started flying away, Hal got in his way, "Guy! Give her to me!"

"It's okay, Hal. Guy saved me. He"-"GIVE HER TO ME!" Hal grabbed her wrist.

Guy told him, "Calm the hell down! You think the Guardians will let you stand against them with their power?"

Hal attacked him in response and Ganthet stated, "Hal Jordan. You have broken your oath. You are not worthy of wielding Green Lantern's Light."

"No." He tried to reach out for his ring but started falling. "Sinestro!! Save Carol."

"No."

"Please!"

"We need you in this war. Save her yourself," he offered him a yellow ring with a sinister grin. Hal looked at it with a tensed brow. "Don't be ridiculous! This isn't a moral quandary! You're powerless, Jordan. Carol will die. Take it, save her."

Hal shit his eyes and accepted the ring.

"Now, feel her fear. Use it!" He caught her. "They tried to cast you aside. They tried to take her from you. They tore us apart, but they forced us together again, Hal. You, and I. We are one corps again. Let us show them fear."

Back to Batman and Oracle they were both viewing the battle, and it seemed like they were starting to lose. "Damn it! What are they doing? Oracle, tell the Green Lanterns to come back together. Superman and Sinestro corps are deliberately stretching them out. They're spreading the war across the world, they're moving the battle to populated areas. They know the Green Lanterns won't take out civilians," Oracle's eyes narrowed at the screen and Batman looked at her. "What Is it? What's wrong?"

"I don't know. There was something in the system and then it was gone," Her eyes went wide, "There. Someone's tracking us!"

"What?"

"The Regime knows we're listening!"

"Shut down the servers!"

"It's too late! They're coming. They're moving through my proxies like they're not even there!"

Batman narrowed his eyes, "Cyborg."

"I know you're there." On the Watchtower Cyborg has almost finished tracking down Oracle when Lex Luthor came to the Tower. "Lex. I've traced the hack in our communications to someone called Oracle. Whoever it is they've masked themselves well, but I'll have their location in"-"No. You won't."

Cyborg turned his head to see a knocked out Luthor along with Gordon and Manhunter. Manhunter blitzed him before he could do anything and knelt down on his unconscious form. Gordon asked, "Any idea how to turn it off?"

Manhunter shook his head, "No, I"-Gordon pushed him aside and grabbed the metal part of Cyborg's face and ripped it off. "I don't understand tech, but nothing runs if you turn it off."

Barbera confirmed that the trace was gone and Manhunter asked, "Lex could you teleport Cyborg down for collection?"

Lex nodded, "You understand why I couldn't act directly, right?"

"Yes, hopefully you do a better job as a spy than I did."

Lex grinned and walked off.

Manhunter asked Gordon, "Is there anything I can do for you?"

Gordon was pale and sweating, "I'm gonna need a moment to myself."

Manhunter walked off and Gordon called Oracle, "Oracle?"

"Commissioner?"

"I'm on the Watchtower, tell Bullock and Montoya that Cyborg is being sent for collection."

"And what about you Commissioner Gordon?"

"Could we speak on a closed channel?"

"Dad?"

"Barbera. I wish you could see this. It looks so beautiful from up here. You can't fear or violence or hatred. It's just... calm. Superman is a criminal. Nothing more. He can't be allowed to hold all this in his hands."

Bruce said, "We won't let him, Jim."

"It's good to hear your voice, Batman."

"It's Bruce."

Jim looked down and smiled, "No, it isn't. It was never Bruce."

"No. It's been an honor to serve Gotham with you."

"Keep serving her."

"Dad, Bullock is standing by. Just get to the teleporter and"-"I'm sorry, Barbera. But you're strong, you always have been. Stay strong. The resistance needs you. I love you. I'm Sorry I have to say goodbye."

Her eyes tensed and tears started welling up, "Dad? Please.... don't."

Jim put a hand on the window. "Batman. I guess I... I guess I get to disappear on you for once."

"Jim? Jim...?"

The Batwing shot at Superman and he glared. "Bruce." He destroyed it with heat vision and Black Canary came out of the smoke screaming directly into his ears. They both flew down to the ground. "Is he down? Canary. Is Superman down?"

"No."

Superman put up a hand, "I never wanted to hurt you, Dinah. I never wanted to hurt anyone."

"Oh SHUT UP!" She glared daggers at him, "You want me to feel sorry for you? You're the most powerful thing on Earth. Stop pretending that someone else is to blame. It's pathetic. You have supervision. You're telling me that you can't see the evil, murdering dictator you've become? I'm just glad Lois died before she saw you like this."

Superman grabbed her jaw and gritted his teeth, "You don't talk about Lois."

"Do you remember what I told you at Ollie's funeral?" Superman's eyes went wide as he looked down at his chest and saw a green gun wound in it. "Kryptonite bullet. You weren't faster than that. Were you?" She kicked him in the face, "I told you I'd tear you down. I missed anything vital on purpose. I promised Batman I'd grant you the mercy you denied Ollie, you son of a bitch. Everything you've done to him--," she leaned into his face and gritted her teeth, "--And Bruce still cares about your worthless life. But your reign is over. And the evil you brought to Earth is done. Without you, the Sinestro Corps will crumble. Without you. They will fall apart. And all those you sold your twisted dream to, all those you tricked into fighting for you, they are already falling. The Hall Of Justice has Fallen. We are taking your allies. We're hiding them. They won't be coming to rescue you. Guy. Can you hear me?"

"Can you speak up? I'm in the middle of an Intergalactic war."

She smiled, "We did it. Superman is down."

"Well done, Dinah."

"Tell Ganthet to come and get him. Get this evil bastard off of our planet. No...." her face was filled with dread.

She turned around to see Superman using a Yellow Lantern ring and pulling out the bullet. Before she could do anything he heat blasted her right through her stomach and she fell.

She faced him and smiled, "You lose. Contact Lenses. They recorded everything. Everything I saw, they saw. And I saw the truth. You're being streamed around the world. You don't get to hide behind your hero facade any longer. You might win this war. You might kill all those who tried to stop you. But everyone will know what you are now. They'll know you're..... you're not their savior. The whole world will fear you."

On Themyscira, Itachi just knocked out everyone and carried Wonderwoman on his shoulder outside, 'There were smarter ways to go about doing this rather than a full on assault, but I'm putting my trust into Batman's plans for now,' She was abnormally heavy and he started sweating. When he got a broadcast, "I am ordering a full retreat. The Green Lanterns are falling. Guy Gardner is down. Black Canary... Black Canary has fallen. It's over. We can't win this."

Itachi's eyes went wide and he looked up at the sky with Chakra enhanced eyes and saw Superman push the planet Mogo into the Sun. 'Damn it. Damn it! I have to get out of her fast before'- suddenly he collapsed to the ground ground Wonderwoman fell beside him. "What's going on with my body? Something is wrong."

He tried to stand up, but to no avail. He felt like he was starving to death, and even noticed that he was skinnier. Before he could think of anything else. Superman landed in front of him, in a Yellow Lantern suit. Itachi gritted his teeth, "What.... what did you...."- Superman put finger on his lips, "Don't expel any more energy than what you're already losing."

He picked him up and started flying North, "We have one of the smartest men on Earth, the fastest man/thinker alive, and a living computer, along with an entire space corps watching us from below. It was inevitable that we'd eventually find out that you were a spy, Itachi. Remember what you had for breakfast this morning? We put chemicals in your food. Energy blockers and destroyers. The ATP in your body is killing itself, along with your fat cells and carbs. Chakra is connected directly to your stamina, so that takes care of that. You aren't going to be able to use any troublesome hallucinations or any of your other tricks now. If this goes untreated then you'll die, which is why I'm taking you somewhere where that won't be a problem. You can thank Batman for coming up with the idea." They landed at the Fortress Of Solitude.

Manhunter looked up Itachi's location on the Watchtower and saw that he was at the Fortress Of Solitude. "Batman, we have a serious problem. Itachi has been captured and is at the Fortress Of Solitude."

"What?! Goddammit..... Itachi is too valuable of an asset to lose.... but there's nothing we can do.

"I'm going."

"No, you nearly died last time you faced him."

"I won't make the same mistake again. Besides, I owe him my life."

Batman's forehead tensed, "He just took a dip in the sun, and has a Yellow Lantern ring filled by the fear of billions of people right now. I'm not sure if your hits would even phase him right now, we have to wait for now. But I assure you, we'll break him out eventually."

Manhunter gritted his teeth, but relented, "Fine."

Superman dragged Itachi on the floor. "How did you...."-"Lex had suspicions already and had Cyborg use cctv all around Gotham to see where you were going, using a DNA filter we saw that it was you, and Sinestro brought more to my attention when we first met, even still I didn't want to believe, but then I come here and see you trying to capture Wonderwoman." Superman closed his eyes and shook his head, "Out of all the people.... I expected that you'd be the most eager to join me, but I guess you can't help but betray people, can't you?" He glared down at him. "You're even more dangerous than Batman, I'm not taking any chances with you, which is why you're going to where I sent the Titans." They arrived in front of the Phantom Zone portal. Itachi's eyes went wide.

'The Titans? I'll worry about that later. Right now I'm dealing with an unstoppable Superman, my only chance is to touch the seal on my leg so I can get some Chakra back, but even then what could I do? Using Susanoo would use too much Chakra, and I wouldn't be able to beat him in that state. My only chance is Genjutsu, but he knows this trick, I'll have to somehow make him look at me.'

Itachi slowly started reaching towards his leg, but Superman noticed and grabbed his arm. Then he crushed it, breaking the bones. Itachi screamed in pain, "What did I tell you about not moving?"

Itachi was completely helpless, left at the mercy of Superman. Superman said nothing else and threw him into the portal. He started falling and it felt like he was underwater, but he fell at a normal speed he would in air. He kept falling and falling until he landed on a rock. When he got up he saw that he wasn't alone on the rock. There were other aliens on it, likely prisoners. They got into a fighting stance and Itachi quickly undid the seal on his leg, rejuvenating his body with Chakra. And then he got into a fighting stance himself.

End: Year Two