Chapter Eighty-Five.


Mareena stepped into the cave. Facing her was Helena, Whitney, Donna, Artemis, Megan, Zatanna, Sara, Raquel, Jesse, and Harry.

"The League doesn't know what to do next," Mareena said. "After tonight, none of them know who to trust."

"But, we do," Harry said. "And they'll find out what they need to do. But, the Light knows about this base. They know everything."

Harry's eyes swept over the members of the group.

"It's not Thea's fault," Harry said.

"No one says it was," Sara replied.

Most of the team looked solemn despite this fact. Harry swept to each and every team member.

"Even if the League's future is not bright, our path is clear,' Mareena said. "And I think we can all agree on one thing. We've all outgrown this cave and what it can do."

"And to our team members old and new…"

Harry's eyes fell on Raquel and Jesse, two of their most recent recruits. Jesse looked at Harry and looked at Whitney and then looked back towards Harry and also to Mareena.

"Sure, you want me on the team?" Jesse asked. "I mean...I'm nowhere near as experienced as Kid Flash, and two speedsters on the team, wouldn't that be a little…."

"That would be fine," Whitney said. "Besides, you bring a whole lot more to the team than speed."

"Whitney's right," Helena said. "So, what's the plan."

"We're all dying to know," Artemis said.

Harry snapped his fingers and Genesis walked into the room. She displayed a three dimensional display of a very elaborate headquarters. The Team's eyes were up and running. It had anything, if anything, it was even better than the Watchtower.

"When?" Mareena asked.

"It will be up and running within the next month," Harry said. "Until then…."

"We'll adapt," Helena offered.

"Agreed," Mareena said.


Klarion stood out, so close to having everything. Until Superboy yanked it away from him. Oh, Klarion would like nothing better than to rip that little brat apart. Tear him limb from limb.

"Failed yet again."

Nora Darhk appeared from behind Klarion and Klarion turned his head towards her, scorn flashing through her eyes.

"What do you want?"

A very wicked smile cropped up over Nora's face when she stared Klarion down.

"I want to prove that kind of power is wasted on someone like you," Nora said. "And it would be better served on someone like me."

A golden cage locked Klarion into place. Klarion screamed out, realizing what was happening, and not being able to do anything to stop it. The blood curdling scream hit the cage, so no one could hear it. Nora stabbed Klarion through the cage with a stone, and siphoned the energy.

Slowly, slowly, Klarion faded away, screaming in agony.

"If you think...you can handle this power...you'd be wrong!" Klarion yelled. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA!"

"I can handle it better than you," Nora said. "And you should be honored. In death, you will be far more useful."

Nora drank in the power and left Klarion a small husk of dust, floating in the wind. She took three steps forward and collapsed on the ground.

"Did you really think it would be that easy to escape me?"

"No, I'm stronger," Nora said.

"I must thank you," the voice cackled in Nora's ear. "Taking the power from a Chaos God...that will benefit me once I rise. And I grow stronger. And you will fulfill your duty."

Nora screamed, pain agonizing. Her attempts to escape the deal her father had made, it burned her severely. The mark of Trigon appeared on the palm of her hand to remind Nora of the situation she had been in.

"The sixteenth year approaches soon," the voice reminded Nora. "And you will help secure the portal. Only then will you have the freedom you seek. Make no mistake about it...your willing compliance is...optional."

Nora howled out in agony as the dark energy swelled through her body. And then suddenly, peace and quiet. Despite the mark still burning on the palm of her hand.

"Trigon will rise," she murmured.


What was left of this branch of Cadmus laid on the ground. Otis and a small private security force moved in. Following them, was Lex Luthor.

"Clear out all of the assets for transport," Lex said. "Especially her."

Lex's eyes fell on the suspended form of a fifteen year old Thea Queen. The original Speedy, minus an arm, had been kept, for genetic material over the past three years. Just in case of a failsafe. And Lex had the perfect failsafe for her. He always had a backup.

"We must move," Lex said. "The duplicate will be after her as will the Green Arrow."


Greta Hayes moved through a graveyard. Several hulking figures stalked her from behind. Still trapped, floating and flickering between worlds, Greta sensed great power. Terrible power.

She must escape and find Superman, find him now.

"There is no escape for you. Your secret will be her salvation."

One of the figures just narrowly missed Greta. The maze of darkness and shadows, twisted and turned in pretty much every direction possible. Greta just shivered in response.

She had to escape. There was no way around it. But, was escape not impossible in this situation?


"This isn't going to work."

A very dazed Felicity Smoak walked her way down the steps. She had been very frustrated, the moment she learned the news. And very angry as well, although she kept a calm demeanor. She had been used as an unwitting pawn, much as Thea had. Information had been passed to Thea, who passed it to her handlers.

All of them, all of them who caused this. They would all pay. Felicity did not know when or how.

Of course, there was the matter with Oliver, and something that was brewing. And Felicity got that Oliver wanted to find his real sister.

The moment Felicity turned the corner, she noticed Oliver's wedding ring pinned to the wall by an arrow, along with a note. Felicity tore the note from the wall.

Felicity:

I'm going to find her, no matter the cost. And if she's dead, Luthor and the rest will join her in the ground. That's what I swear with my dying breath.

Take Care of Yourself. And None Of This is Your Fault. It's Mine.

Better Luck Next Time,

Ollie.

The wedding ring clattered to the floor and the note still clung in Felicity's hand. Felicity stared outside of the window and her heart pounded. She could not even rage, just collapsing onto the nearest chair, in a fit of despair.

Tonight had broken her. The revelation she almost helped, unwittingly and unknowingly, bring an end to the Justice League. The information she told Thea, had been given to them. Given to them, to trap the League, and to...Felicity could have screamed.

She would never be able to live with herself if she could not make this right. Felicity just did not know how it would happen.


Madame Xanadu hunched over the table. The vibrations she felt were quite peculiar and they came right before a very particular duo of people entered the shop. One of them was a handsome dark haired man with green eyes, and a very strong build, who seemed somewhat familiar. The other a dark haired woman,dressed in a trenchcoat, a button up shirt, and jeans, who Xanadu sensed had gone under a chance.

"So, have you come here to perhaps find out what your future holds?" Xanadu asked.

"No," the woman said. "All of these parlor tricks might dazzle people, but you give off the impression of a charlatan, when you are worth so much more, aren't you, luv?"

"The energies I feel in this shop are real," Xanadu said. "But, non-believers will always be skeptical."

"No, I believe that there's something flowing in you, but the little specks through future are insulting to someone with such a storied past," the woman said. "Isn't it...Nimue?"

That particular name caused her to react.

"The name's Constantine, Joan Constantine," she said.

"I thought there was a familiar aura about you," Nimue said. "And this isn't...surely it's not Harry P…."

"In another lifetime," Harry said. "But, I'm not here to discuss my distant past."

"Of course, but it is not everyday someone comes across Death's master," Nimue said in aw.

"I'm here to discuss your future, and your fate," Harry said.

The Helmet of Fate had been presented to Nimue. A flash of energy flickered around her and she drew in a very deep breath in response.

"Are you a true believer, Lady Nimue?" Harry asked. "Or will just be content to be someone who will be forever using her vast magical abilities to predict the mundane."

Nimue placed her hands on the helmet. And in that moment of time, everything changed.

X-X-


The broken body of Vandal Savage laid on the table. Hugo Strange, and a second man cut into him. The man's face resembled Bruce Wayne's from the shadows.

"We were very lucky to have you come under our care, Mr. Savage" Strange said. "But before you recover...I believe you can help us in other ways."

Strange extracted another vile of blood from the caveman, who had been heavily sedated. Still alive but in the worst pain possible.

"Yes, your longevity will help our research," the Bruce Wayne doppelganger said.

"But, don't worry, we will make you beautiful once more."

A man wearing a bloody smock started to hum opera music in the background. He wore a mask on his face, resembling a pig. The opera music got louder and louder as the pig-masked man sang off key.

The candles flickered, causing the surgical scars on Bruce Wayne's face to become visible in the light.


Creepy shadows surrounded a temple on Isla de las Munecas, better known as the Island of the Dolls. Several dolls adorned the wall, each of them more creepy then the last. And then at the back of the temple, several larger dolls, who looked very much human laid out on tables.

A blonde haired woman, with a haunted look on her face, appeared, clutching a doll in her hand. She leaned down towards the doll and whispered to it.

"They have forsaken you," the woman breathed at the doll. "They have left you behind. But...don't worry...you're perfect...you're perfect. You, Chloe Sullivan, will live on forever."

The woman broke out into a smile and placed the doll upon an alter. From the shadows, a man with greying hair moved, with two gentlemen who dragged a scared young woman past the blonde.

"Another one of your tests," the woman said.

"Yes," the man said. "This is a perfect place of operation for the Dollmaker."

"Oh, you've done so much to help me," the woman said. "You will have a place in my new order, Baron Barton Mathis."

The woman had been strapped to the table by the Dollmaker. No one other than the few inside of the temple could hear her screams, as the plaster has risen above the table.

"You are beautiful," Dollmaker said. "But, age ravishes us all. Don't worry...you will be preserved in mint condition, forever beautiful. And never having to go with the pains of aging ...your skin...will be forever unchanged."

The screams echoed through the woman. The blonde standing at the edge of the table had a morse look on her face and walked away. She took a folded newspaper clipping, with an article written about this Superman, from Lois Lane. And also one about the return of Superwoman.

"Oh, Chloe, if you can see your old friends now," the woman murmured. "But, you were perfect. And he will be perfect as well. So powerful, so strong, so durable...the perfect...vessel."

Chloe Sullivan's eyes flashed with malicious energy. The doll she held eyes had shifted. Turned from a docile state into one of near fury.

"There will be no salvation," the woman said to the doll.


In the early morning hours, Marie and Megan walked outside of the club. They were laughing, hanging out and having a good time.

Suddenly, the duo stopped short, with a girl, dressed in a schoolgirl uniform appeared in front of them. A haunted look appeared in her eyes. She looked Eurasian by the first glimpse.

"Are you lost?" Marie asked.

No words. The girl lashed out and stabbed Marie directly in the stomach.

It happened so quickly, that Megan could hardly believe her eyes. She ripped the blood stained knife away from the young girl who could stab Marie again. The girl's eyes widened and then she ran off.

Megan took off her coat, to help stabilize the blood spurting from Marie. She could not worry about the girl. While Megan was no doctor, the girl tapped a gusher with that knife and the blood oozed out of her stomach like geyser.

"Someone call for help!" Megan screamed desperately.

The screams continued to echo through, as Megan tried, vainly, to stop the bleeding. Her mind started to scream in agony.

Suddenly, Harry dropped down next to her. The scream of anguish had caught him wherever he was.

"Here," Harry said.

One look indicated that Marie had lost a lot of blood already, despite Megan's best efforts


Anissa returned to the subway station after visiting her dad. Things had gotten pretty bad, and Anissa kicked herself for leaving too late.

A trio of rough looking black gentlemen appeared next to her.

"Hey, baby, girl like you doesn't need to be out there all alone," one of the men said.

"I'm fine," Anissa said.

"Oh, you very fine," one of the men said with a leer. "But...people down this tunnel...they eat up black girls like you at night...you'll be a body down in this tunnel."

The foul smell of alcohol penetrated Anissa's nostrils. She tried to step back, but one of the men grabbed her from behind.

"Now, we take care of you, real good care of you,'' the man said. "And I'm sure you can take good care of us."

The man attempted to grope Anissa. Only he did not get too far, given that Anissa took him down to the ground with a judo throw.

"Oh, bitch, you just made the wrong move!" one of the men said, withdrawing a knife.

Anissa blocked it with her hand and jumped up high into the air. She always had been able to get a high leap, but now, she smashed down onto the ground hard. She rocked the man and sent him flying back. Which caused the walls of the subway station to rock.

"What are you, some kind of freak?" the final man standing said. "Let's get out of it...screw this!"

The man rushed back as far as he could go. Anissa walked into the bathroom of the subway station. Her fist curled up and she smashed the sink.

Porcelain cracked and the mirror shattered. The glass flew at the ground and landed just beside her feet.

"Oh sweet Jesus, I've got powers," Anissa muttered.

She fumbled for her phone and started dialing immediately.

"Come on, come on, pick up," Anissa said.

A couple of well-dressed gentlemen walking towards the bathroom.

"Make sure the tunnel's secured."

"Of course, Mr. Lincoln wants this to go without a hitch."

Anissa crept around the corner, still trying to get a hold of the person she was on her phone. She saw the well dressed gentlemen make their way around the corner, with another small group. They had been shipping something big.

"Tobias is going to be tripping when he finds out that Mr. Lincoln has muscled in."

"Nah, that pale ass fool is yesterday's news.

Anissa thought about calling the police, but would they do any good? Best to see where these guys wear heading. And were they talking about Tobias Whale? Anissa thought he died years ago. And who was this Mr. Lincoln?


Queen Bee stepped into the room, facing a crowd.

"Both Savage and Klarion are indisposed," Queen Bee said. "And Ocean Master is going to be set up for a fall...his usefulness has long since expired."

"Will there be others?"

"Yes, there will be others," Queen Bee said. "And Lex is still strong, as is the Brain, and your father."

Talia al Ghul slipped into the room to join Queen Bee. Scandal followed her into the room, with a stoic Nora sweeping into the room. And then a blue skinned woman with red hair, dressed in formal business attire entered the room.

"Indigo, welcome," Queen Bee said. "A pleasure for you to be here."

"The pleasure is mine," Indigo said.

A red haired woman entered the room. Raya Vestri stepped through the shadows.

"Queen Bee," Raya said.

"Thank you my dear, for helping out deliver my message," Queen Bee said.

A seventh chair opened up on the table, with its occupant showing up next to it. She put her calling card down, a chess piece.

That of the White Queen. An attractive woman dressed in a white button up blouse and tight white pants appeared at the table. Emma Frost just broke out into a smile.

"The Inner Circle is where we want them to be," Emma said. "The Black Queen offers her regrets that she cannot attend. Especially given how she started the ball rolling for what we are doing."

"Well, with a little help."

Everyone turned around and came face to face with the eighth member of their party. A very attractive dark skinned woman, dressed in Kryptonian battle armor appeared before them. The party of seven all rose to face her.

"Lyta, your presence is always welcomed with this Council," Queen Bee said.

"Always appreciated," Lyta Zod said. "And now we have Phase One complete."

"More will have become aware of Earth," Indigo said. "They will come."

"And now we move onto Phase Two,' Queen Bee said.

The women all smiled. The future would be here. And soon, he would lead them to greater heights.

To Be Continued in Young Justice Rebirth Volume Two on June 14th, 2020.