DCU Justice League #9 Absolute Justice

"Take back the Lincoln Memorial! We need those grounds!"

 

 

The shout of the woman over the comms caused the Argus troops to advance. The Reflecting Pool was filled with bodies of soldiers, casualties of the invasion. The White Martian's command ship sat behind the memorial, holding the building as a base.

 

 

The soldiers rushed forward, firing off round after round of ammunition at the beasts. The aliens were hardly affected by the bullets, seemingly becoming more enraged. A few of the White Martians leaped forward, beginning to attack the men.

 

 

"Aghggah," cried one of them as they were impaled by an arm of an invader. Another had a similar reaction as their arms were torn off.

 

 

"Ms. Waller, our weapons aren't doing enough damage to them. We need to re-" The man stopped his sentence as he looked up at one of the monsters. It had its hands stretched out to attack. The soldier felt his heart drop as the alien reached forward.

 

 

A flash of lightning appeared in his vision, causing him to blink. He watched the streak dart around the front of the memorial, the Martians it passed disappearing.

 

 

The lightning returned in front of him after all of the aliens were gone. Standing in front of him was a man in a red and yellow costume, the Flash. "Sorry we're late, had a bit of a headache this morning," quipped the hero, giving the soldier a slight wave. "We can handle it from here."

 

 

The man sped off to the memorial, a gust of wind following him.'Wait,' thought the soldier. 'We?'

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

J'onn J'onzz floated next to the Washington Monument. He watched as the streak of lightning that was Barry Allen ran across the Reflecting Pool, quickly dealing with the White Martian's that were in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

 

 

He was relieved that all of the heroes were freed from their prisons, his mind link being successful. He had a small smile form on his face as he saw the red and blue blur soar past him. A black jet in the shape of a bat, followed by a green light passed him next. After seeing another green light fly by, a small platform carrying Aquaman, Green Arrow, and Black Canary, he decided he too should join the battle.

 

 

As he flew over the memorial, he saw Wonder Woman and Queen Mera already on the site, slashing through their enemies. Dropping down to the fight, he joined Superman in blasting the army with heat vision. Both of the Green Lanterns were airborne, following Batman to the warship-filled skys.

 

 

Black Canary was back to back with Green Arrow, the two working in perfect harmony together, taking out alien after alien with sonic cries or trick arrows. Flash danced around the battlefield, his movements barely registering to the invaders. Aquaman joined his wife and the Amazon in their melee assault.

 

 

J'onn witnessed the main vessel shift, a small hatch opening. His senses told him who was exiting immediately. A rage that he didn't think he possessed boiled within him.

 

 

'Hello, Filth.'

 

 

'Brother.'

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

Hal shot a large rocket construct from his ring, taking down one of the warships flying overhead. He smirked as he watched the black jet zoom past him. The vehicle opened its bottom compartment, launching cryo-missles out at one of the ships. The large vessel began to ice over at the point of impact, allowing Hal to smash it into hundreds of pieces with a bat construct.

 

 

The jet took a nosedive, dodging a large laser that sounded off from one of the larger ships. Hal took notice, sending his arm forward and creating a thin beam of light that passed through the warship's hull. The beam expanded like a fan, slicing the ship clean across the middle. As the remains fell, John flew past him, twin shoulder cannons rattling off energy bullets at the scout ships that swarmed the sky.

 

 

Hal weaved past a cannon shot sent from one of the ships. Creating drills on both of his fists, he rocketed towards the attacker. The drills spun rapidly at impact, burrowing directly through the ship. Upon reaching the other end, he turned and let it explode behind him.

 

 

Moving on from the destruction, he took note of the scout ship charging it's cannon shot. His eyes watched as it shot an explosive laser aimed directly at Bruce. It hit the wing, causing Bruce to eject. Hal quickly zipped over, catching the Dark Knight in an overgrown elevator.

 

 

"Up or down, bats?" Asked Hal, smirking at Bruce's predicament.

 

 

"Not the time, Jordan," retorted Bruce, narrowing his lensed eyes while looking at the Lantern.

 

 

"Yeah ye- Wait Jordan!?" Exclaimed Hal, baffled at the call of his name.

 

 

John flew by the two, shaking his head at the exchange. "Talk about that later," he ordered, pointing to the grounds below. "They're all converging at the main vessel. We need to go help."

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

J'onn stared down his brother as he floated out of the Martian vessel. His hands were out to the side, like the sun shined only on him. 'So, filth, how has it been running away? Letting your own kind be butchered?'

 

 

J'onn grit his teeth. 'That is not what happened, brother. You attempted to kill me!'

 

 

'It's a shame, really. I thought that plan would have worked. ' He landed on the ground, observing the various heroes attack his troops before turning to his brother. 'How do you like my new look? Does it scare you like real fire? Will you cower like I know you to do?'

 

 

'I will never cower. Especially not from you, J'ymm.' J'onn watched his brother's eyes twitch.

 

 

'That name is dead, with the rest of the J'onzz. I am Ma'alefa'ak… and you will fear me before you die.' Ma'alefa'ak then leapt into the air, J'onn following his movements. The two clashed in the sky, hands both stretching in an attempt to be larger than each other.

 

 

Below them, the battle of the other heroes and the army continued. Clark slammed his hands into one of the Martian's chests, ripping it in half. Turning his head down, he assisted Bruce by using his heat vision on an attacker. The Martian's cries allerted Bruce, performing a somersault and launching an explosive batarang at the alien.

 

 

Mera was wildly slashing her water katana at the mob of aliens. Using her free hand, she created a chain that wrapped around multiple of them leaving them completely immobilized. Hal took advantage of it, creating a saw blade that removed the heads of the creatures, their lifeless forms falling to the floor.

 

 

Arthur impaled one of the aliens with his trident, swinging the beast over his shoulder. The body that was splayed on the dirt sizzled as it was hit by a summoned bolt of lightning. Removing his trident from the fried enemy , Arthur threw it, taking down one of the creatures about to attack Dinah. She pivoted her foot, striking the trident to deepen it into the creature behind her. Arthur once again summoned the lightning of Poseidon. Turning back around, Dinah let out a devastating cry to an alien in front of her. The sound waves tore the creature apart, leaving white goop in the attack's wake.

 

 

Oliver was rapidly sliding arrows from his quiver to his bow, launching them into the attackers. Against his back was Diana, slashing away as his rearguard. The two moved in sync, Diana adapting to his movements through decades of training. They dodged and attacked in perfect formation, stopping the aliens from getting near each other. Diana removed her lasso from her belt, eyeing Barry speeding around the field.

 

 

"Flash," she called, Barry turning his head as he ran. "Catch!"

 

 

Diana threw the lasso into the air, Barry leaping up to grab hold. The speedster began to sprint around the field with the lasso, coiling it around his enemies. After rounding up as many as he could, John flew to him, smashing the group with a mallet construct multiple times. Fading the construct, all that were left were white remains.

 

 

J'onn was thrown to the ground by his brother, rolling to a crouching position. He looked up to see his brother place his hand to his head. J'onn knew he was attempting a psychic attack, so he prepared one of his own. The two both initiated their attacks, causing a small shockwave of psychic energy.

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

The world was twisted as J'onn opened his eyes. Red sands were drenched in blood, civilization crumbled to rubble. J'onn felt a voice pierce his eardrums.

 

 

"Doesn't look too beautiful, does it? A world where the filth survived. The White long extinct." His brother was in his Martian form, the tattoos of flames still present on his stomach.

 

 

"This isn't a game, brother,"J'onn spoke, his tone angered and long done with his brother's act of war. "Earth has done nothing wrong."

 

 

"Oh haven't they?" He asked. "They've harbored you for decades! They murdered one of my own!" His brother's composure was faltering, his true character breaking the facade.

 

 

J'onn took a step forward, anger completely taking over his voice. "And!? You would slaughter millions for an act of petty revenge? Are you still a child, J'ymm?"

 

 

Ma'alefa'ak clenched his fists. "I told you that's not my name anymore!" His act broke, his anger destroying the character he had made to mentally break his brother. Suddenly silver chains wrapped around J'onn's body, locking him in place. "I told you… I am Ma'alefa'ak."

 

 

J'onn narrowed his eyes as he looked at his brother. "What do you want then brother? To eliminate me?"

 

 

Ma'alefa'ak began to laugh maniacally. "Eliminate you?" He asked inquisitively. "No, filth. I will make you suffer," his words twisted, the malice from before returning. "I will break your mind until you don't even remember your daughter's name."

 

 

J'onn clenched his fists at the mention of K'hym, but instantly dropped them as he felt heat on his body. The chains wrapped around him began to glow, fire erupting off of them. He watched as flames began to swirl around him and his brother, a circle forming. The fire danced in his eyes, burning into his soul, causing him to yell in agony.

 

 

"Yes. Scream. Scream for everything you, and your kind, have ever done."

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

An Arrow landed in the stomach of one of the White Martians. After a few ticks, the arrowhead exploded, sending the Martian splattering across the ground. Oliver reached to his quiver, a look of slight worry as he felt nothing.

 

 

His head turned to the blonde woman beside him. "Hey pretty bird, I'm all outta arrows."

 

 

She ducked under a swipe from the Martian in front of her, tilting her head up and letting off a scream that took off the invader's head. "That doesn't seem like my problem."

 

 

She placed a hand in his shoulder, pushing him to a crouch. Her leg raised, performing a roundhouse kick to another one of the attackers.

 

 

Bruce shot his grappling gun at one of the Martians, pulling himself towards it. A kick caused it to stumble, only for a streak of lightning to pass by, taking the alien down. Barry stopped in front of Bruce, giving himself a moment to breathe.

 

 

"There are just too many of them," Barrry huffed out. "It's getting a little tiring." He watched as Bruce's eyes narrowed, looking at the giant machine.

 

 

"Superman hasn't been able to penetrate the vessel's outer shell. We need a way to get inside." He continued to stare as Hal flew down to join the two.

 

 

"Can't J'onn phase through it? He'd be able to get inside."

 

 

"No," stated Bruce bluntly. "He's busy with their leader."

 

 

Barry looked between the two, then to the vessel. "GL, make me a ramp." Both Hal and Bruce looked at him confused by the request. "If you get me to that hatch, I can phase through it."

 

 

"Y-you can phase!?" Hal asked loudly, Barry giving him a nod.

 

 

"Once inside, place this down on the main control panel. It'll send a reverse frequency, shutting down all of their tech." Bruce took a small, bat-shaped device from his belt and placed it into Barry's palm.

 

 

Hal created a small ramp, wrapping around the vessel up to the small hatch on the top. Barry's body lit up with lightning, his blurred form quickly running up the construct. Upon reaching the hatch, his body began to vibrate, slipping directly through the shell into the vessel.

 

 

Hal returned to Bruce, shielding him from an electrical surge that appeared from the giant warship. The two looked up to see the ships in the sky begin to fall. John and Clark both flew into the air, Hal following to reduce the damage of the falling ships.

 

 

Bruce watched as a ball of lightning leapt from the main vessel. The electricity stopped, revealing a smiling Barry. "All done."

 

 

Bruce gave him a nod in return, watching as the red beam that shot out of the vessel changed to a bright blue, purifying the sky. The White Martians all began to smoke, their skin sizzling. The aliens began to fall, their skin melting as the machine's solar laser began to shine on them.

 

 

Arthur lowered his trident, the base hitting the ground. Mera and Diana both lowered their swords, watching the army fall. Oliver and Dinah both smiled at each other, the last of the aliens in the area falling.

 

 

Bruce noticed J'onn and Ma'alefa'ak both still in a psychic battle. The White Martian's skin was sizzling, but he seemed to have some resistance to it. Bruce realized that it was up to J'onn at this point. It all depended on him.

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

J'onn screamed in agony as the flames scorched his mind. His brain raced as he thought for a means of escape, but his brother's hold was too strong.

 

 

"It hurts, doesn't it?" Questioned his Ma'alefa'ak, smirking as he watched him thrash in his bindings. "Good, let it rip your consciousness apart." His brother's smile sent shivers down his spine, the utter malice immeasurable.

 

 

"J'ymm, stop this!" J'onn cried, barely able to speak.

 

 

His brother began to laugh. "You still are calling me that name. I… told you… I…"

 

 

J'onn noticed his brother's voice begin to stutter. The chains wrapped around him began to loosen, the flames dissipating. His arms finally were able to snap the chains, his brother wincing at the effect.

 

 

"H-how… how are you… you filthy…" His brother's words began to slur, sweat dripping down his face. He instantly lunged at J'onn.

 

 

J'onn raised his hand, a barrier forming in front of him. His brother slammed into the invisible wall hard, sending him to the ground.

 

 

"You butchered my people," J'onn spoke, summoning chains of his own. They burst from the ground, wrapping around his brother's legs. "You invade my new home." Two more chains erupted from the ground, wrapping around both of his wrists. "You attempt to destroy everything beautiful Earth has to offer!" A final chain appeared from the sand, wrapping around his neck.

 

 

"How!?"

 

 

His brother's cry went unanswered as walls began to raise around him. "You will never hurt anyone ever again." The walls fully surrounded Ma'alefa'ak, a sole opening for J'onn to peer into. "I will not kill you, but you will never leave your own mind," spoke J'onn, a sense of calm in his voice. "This will be your eternal purgatory."

 

 

J'onn closed his eyes, ready to exit the plane. "You b-better kill me! Because i-if you d-don't… I-I'll be b-back!"

 

 

J'onn sighed. "And I, brother, shall be waiting."

 

 

-~-~-

 

 

J'onn's eyes opened to an orange colored sky, no longer red. Six faces hovered over his own, Barry, Oliver, Dinah, Diana, Arthur, and Mera.

 

 

"Welcome back to the real world," joked Oliver, reaching a hand down to him. He took it, pulling himself up to a stand. "Thought we lost you there for a second."

 

 

"It is done," spoke J'onn. "My brother is trapped in his own mind."

 

 

"You did it," stated Barry, splaying his hands up like they held a sign. "Martian Manhunter saves the day."

 

 

J'onn looked at Barry with an inquisitive look. "Martian… Manhunter?"

 

 

Barry let out a small chuckle. "Y'know, your hero name. You can't run around calling yourself your actual name."

 

 

J'onn nodded slightly before turning his head. Bruce was standing over Ma'alefa'ak. He had removed his cape, covering the villain to prevent the solar laser from killing him. J'onn would need to thank the Dark Knight later.

 

 

Clark, Hal, and John all flew to the ground, joining the group. The 11 of them stood together, the sun rising behind them, painting them all with an orange glow.

 

 

They had won. The world was safe once again.

Done