Although the meteor could not be stopped, the Watchtower's early warning system gave Metropolis plenty of time to evacuate before it struck. The Justice League, however, were not the only ones tracking the meteor's path. So, too, was Darkseid, who had detected a significant amount of kryptonite hidden in the meteor's core. With the help of Deathstroke, Joker and Harley Quinn, he has entered the destroyed and abandoned Metropolis neighborhood in an attempt to recover the dangerous material. Superman, Flash, Batman and Robin respond immediately, hoping to secure the green element first.
Overconfident, Flash thinks he can use his speed to finish this battle before it begins. He rushes forward and grabs the kryptonite. But he doesn't count on the green radiation, which immediately begins to sap his strength. Deathstroke takes advantage of Flash's temporary weakness. He rushes forward, firing with a quickness that even the Flash can barely match.
As the Flash dodges each and every bullet, as well as Harley Quinn's Smilex bombs, the Kryptonite takes its toll and weakens the hyper hero into unconsciousness. Batman and Robin rush forward in an attempt to protect the kryptonite, but Joker and Harley Quinn blow the boy wonder out of the battle with Smilex bombs. Disappointed by the fact that two of his friends have already been injured fighting for him, Superman decides to take over the battle. He first grabs a barrel of toxic waste and hurls it at the crown prince of crime, sending Joker straight to the emergency ward. He next smashes Deathstroke out of the fight with a pile of tires. But Superman's sudden flurry of attacks puts him in range of the kryptonite. Darkseid tries to take advantage of that fact and sends out his Omega Effect. Unfortunately, even under the negative influence of the Kryptonite, Superman is able to shrug off the effect. He then flies up to take on Darkseid man to man.
Harley Quinn makes her move, rushing up, grabbing the Kryptonite, and eliminating the surprised batman with a Smilex Bomb. She then rushes forward and almost escapes with the radioactive element before Superman sees her. He knocks Darkseid off the building and flies after Harley, grabbing a mailbox on the way. He throws the mailbox at Harley, knocking her down and even closer to the safety of her exit. But then he flies right up next to the insane woman, resists the power of the kryptonite, and knocks her into unconsciosness.
Darkseid then gets Superman's attention by smashing him in the back of the head with a thrown dumpster. Superman, barely able to control his rage, flies back at Darkseid, and knocks the alien megolomaniac out with a crate.
Superman then contacts Metropolis SCU to collect and contain the radioactive kryptonite, while bringing his injured comrades to the robot doctors in the Watchtower.
16 September 2008, 08:02:13 AM
