58 - Cause

"Guardians," Hal Jordan looked up at the Oan guardians.

The short-tall blue humanoids beings looked down on Green Lantern Hal Jordan. Their eyes held an otherworldly wisdom. They were the self-appointed Guardians of the Universe, believed to the first intelligent species of the universe. The ones that lead to keep peace across the universe.

"Hal Jordan, we were expecting your arrival," One of the leading heads spoke.

"Then you should know why I am here," Hal looked at them all, his head turning. "Who was it that attacked earth? Why is he targeting it?" He questioned.

The guardians remained silent for a moment before one of them spoke, "We will answer your question, but we would like you to answer our question," 

"What is it?" Hal asked.

The Oan waved as the will created a construct of a nightmarish creature, one that Green Lantern recognized. The burning creature that invoked a instinctual horror in Green Lanterns mind.

"We would like to know where this being is?" Guardian asked.

"On earth," Hal answered. "What is he? I have never met one like him."

"They are the ancestors of who you would call Martians, originating from the Mars your sister planet. They were suppose to not be one in existence as they have evolved, gotten better. This ones existence is rare and a danger to the peace of the universe."

Hal looked at the frightening being, he somehow got the gist that they were dangerous as he had first hand experience on their strength. The guy was powerful than any he had met and he had fought four of them without breaking much sweat.

But, "Why is he dangerous?" Hal questioned.

The Guardians looked at each other, conversing psychically before one answered Hal Jordan's question.

"They are what we call used to call Inferno. They are Cataclysmic. Disaster. Fire...Birth," The construct changed and displayed an eldritch horror of Burning Martians spawning. "The psychic suffering of others combined with the physical condition of the Inferno allows them to asexually reproduce. As a species, they exist to cause suffering and burn and breed. Nothing more."

"This," Hal felt true horror.

The implications were clear to him. If this being, this horror, wasn't confined, the earth, a place filled with suffering would become a breading house for the Inferno.

"We would like you to bring him to us," Guardian spoke, "Take the best of the Lanterns in case he retaliate."

"Okay," Hal agreed, he was about to turn to leave, but he remembered why he was here, "About my question?"

"We will have that conversation after the threat is dealt with," The Guardian told.

"Okay," Hal nodded and took his leave.

..

"The Lanterns can't contain an Inferno," One of the Guardians spoke up. "They are not equipped to engage."

"They have, the ring is powerful enough," Other responded.

"We can always intervene in case things deviate," Another suggested.

"Let us leave this to the Lanterns for now. The Inferno didn't seem aggressive like his brethren, but we need to know if more exists."

***

"Diana, are you sure you want to do this?" 

"Yes, mother," 

Diana now stood outside the temple of the gods. She was here to converse with the gods of Olympus. She was out of her armor and was wearing a normal dress. She had cleaned herself to be here, to be present before the gods, Aphrodite to be exact. 

She left her mother and walked into the temple. The long corridor had the depictions of many gods and titan fall, telling the glorious history of Olympians and their shenanigans. These one who were more empathized were the twelve Olympians.

Diana carried the offering that she would present today to the gods. She arrived at the alter of the gods. This room contained twelve alter, each for the twelve major gods of Olympus. She placed one offering at each alter, to each god.

Zeus was offered wine and a crown she had forged, Hera was offered lilies, honey and milk she had gathered, Poseidon was offered a shark she had hunted herself, Demeter was offered wheat, Athena was offered olive oil, Apollo laurel leaves and sunflower, Artemis honey and fruits, Ares blood of minotaur, Aphrodite perfumes and oil, Hephaestus jewelry and incense, Hermes a painting and Dionysus wine and grapes.

She placed all the offering and knelt in the center of the alters to prey to her gods.

"Gods of Olympus, here my words and grant me your audience. I come before you seeking knowledge. I seek your wisdom and guidance."

She bowed her head, her fist clenched.

"Zeus, father of gods, I beseech you to reveal to me the secret of Darkseid's intention.

Hera, queen of Olympus, protector of the family, lend me your wisdom and foresight.

Athena, goddess of strategy and warfare, grant me the knowledge and guide my mind.

...

.."

Diana prayed to all the god, asking for their audience. She kept her head low as she finished her request. She waited in trepidation, waiting for the gods to answer. As the echoes of her prayer faded into silence, a stirring of divine energy filled the air. The statues of the gods seem to come alive, their eyes glowing with otherworldly light as they consider her plea.

A voice, soft yet resonant, filled the chamber, speaking with the authority of the Divine. The statue of a man with feathery wings on his legs lit up. Its eyes looked down at Diana. The messenger of gods was now gracing the alter with his presence. 

"Daughter of Themyscira, your words have reached the ear of the gods, and we have heard your plea. To grant you the knowledge you seek, an offering should be made. An exchange, a trade."

Diana didn't look up, she knew that she would need to make a sacrifices when she requested a meeting with the gods. She was prepared.

"What do I need to do?" She asked.

"Bring us the one that fought the foe, one that who wields the Spear of Destiny. Bring him before us and you may receive the knowledge you seek," Hermes spoke, his voice commanding.

Diana looked up, she couldn't understand why they would demand the person who stopped the threat. She wanted explanation, but Hermes cut her off.

"Do not questions the god's intentions, Daughter of Themyscira. This is not a request but an order." 

With that the presence of Hermes vanished from the alter, leaving Diana to sit in silence.

***

The change of power didn't affect the people much as most would think.

Zion had taken control but he had not explicitly change the system. He had let the leader keep their rule as they were. He understood that sudden change would cause trouble and invoke people to retaliate. At the same time he was not going to let the wrongs go.

He was a singular force, he was a deterrent with enough power to make the leader bend the knee, but he didn't have the force to enforce his laws. The Mechmorphs were something that unique to this universe and they were a peaceful species, he would keep them safe as their creator. They were not his slave but subjects to be cared for.

So, he did the best of his situation. He used his deterring power to make slight changes, one that wouldn't cause much retaliation, one that goes under the radar. He was changing the world and when people realize that it has been changed, the new will be their norm. 

But that didn't mean some didn't retaliate. 

The countries had withdrawn their forces from other countries under his order. Such as US army from Iraq, which lead the terrorist group to run wild and take hostages. They threatened, to have the towns they controlled to be given independence. This cause many steering and many turned to Nion, to see what his answer was.

Zion was annoyed because he was watching a movie with Mark when the news arrived. Mark was panicked and gave ideas to save the hostage. But Zion called to one of his associates, the fastest man alive, The Flash. It took one minute to solve the problem as that was all it took to convince Barry to intervene. He then called another number, connecting to Kara. He asked her to go and protect the civilians before he arrived.

Zion as the higher power guarantied that his intervention would cause problem, And you know what happened. 

Flash captured all the terrorists, all of them. No one was left free and all of them knelt, hundreds of them, before the camera that they used to show hostages. Kara was present to protect and give security to the hostages.

Z.A.I immediately pulled up all the crimes of the terrorist after they were subdued. Zion was revolted. Zion glitched and the billboards and news channel displayed the scene.

"Hello everyone, I am Nion as you all know," Zion was back in his outfit, his visor black. "I am responding to the hostage situation." Zion turned the camera and showed the hundreds of restrained terrorists.

"These are the ones that demanded independence by taking hostages," Zion spoke from the background. "But they have all been captured." 

Zion turned the camera to The Flash and Kara, "You should congratulate these heroes who answered my call for help. They have not only saved and protected the hostages, but also captured these men.

I would like to give my thanks, Flash and Supergirl." 

Zion turned it to the terrorists, "Now to you guys, what's your problem? What's the point?"

Zion waited for someone to answer but they didn't show any reaction. Then he remembered that the translation was not turned On.

"Okay, now its on. You understand me?" Zion asked and they reacted. "Okay, lets return back to the question. Why are you doing all this? All this horror? What's the point of it all? Aren't they all humans? You are all the same."

Zion could see that they wanted to, he removed the gag on the guy near him and looked him in the eyes. The man looked angry. "They have come to infect our tradition, you come to force your belief on us."

"You kidding me? You killed children and rapped women, terrorized families, committed genocide, all of your are no better then what you say others are doing to you. Now tell me who gave you the right to do all this?" Zion asked.

"They are lesser, we are the chosen of god. Those that believe otherwise are lesser," He spoke back. 

Zion wanted to smack him and he did, "A god who tells you to kill another because he believe in another is no god. All life is sacred. I am annoyed, do not push your faith on another. If you have disagreement, debate, try to solve it civilized." Zion kicked the guy.

"Idiots."

Zion was pissed off as he could see all their crimes, all that was proudly telecast. He had pages on each and everyone of them and he had the right to decide their crime.

"All of you have chosen to take life, to infringe on others rights. So, I shall do the same. All of you shall be executed before the mass now. I am a believer but I got no mercy for you." Zion turned waved his hand, and fire ignited on all of them.

Flash tried to save them but the flame moved as if they were alive and burned all. Even the wind and water couldn't extinguish the flames of suffering and hate. The cries of horror and pain and suffering echoed across the countries, birthing a new fear in all that watched. They saw what the being on the highest order could do and what he would do.

Kara didn't moved to even help, she watched them all burn without a waver in her heart. She had learned of horrors that humans committed with she learned of earth and she didn't have pity for them. She stood behind Zion on this execution.

Zion turned back to the camera, "The only reason some of you are left alive is because I can kill you anytime I want. Do not even think for a moment you hold power to escape my grasp. I am coming for all of you, every single one of you.

And Gotham is first on my list."

Zion closed the broadcast with that statement.