Chapter 2: Scattered Across Time and Space
Mount Justice - Young Justice Headquarters
As Eleryc, Supergirl, and Artemis entered the main hall of Mount Justice, they found it unusually busy. Teams were returning from various missions, and with them came the strangers they had encountered.
"Looks like we weren't the only ones who found someone interesting today," Artemis remarked, observing the commotion.
Nightwing approached them, his expression serious. "Kara, Artemis—good, you're back. We need to talk."
Eleryc stepped forward. "I believe I might be able to explain some of what's happening."
Before he could continue, the main entrance opened again. Aqualad entered, carrying an unconscious young woman in a red gi with black hair.
"She requires medical attention," Kaldur announced. "I found her near the bay, wounded and alone."
Eleryc's eyes widened in recognition. "Cassa!" He rushed forward, relief evident on his face. "My sister—she made it through after all."
As the medical team took Cassa to the infirmary, Robin approached with news. "That's not all. The League just reported energy anomalies all over the globe. They're picking up power signatures unlike anything they've encountered before."
"Not entirely true," said a voice from across the room. The young man in the orange gi whom Starfire had brought in was now awake, leaning against the wall with arms crossed. "These energy signatures—they're Saiyan ki. And they're familiar."
"Goten," Eleryc acknowledged with a nod. "I had a feeling you might be here too."
Supergirl looked between them in confusion. "You know each other?"
"Not exactly," Goten replied. "But I recognize his energy signature. It's similar to someone I once knew—someone who tried to destroy everything."
Tension filled the room as Young Justice members exchanged wary glances.
Eleryc raised his hands in a placating gesture. "It's a long story, and one we don't have time for right now. What matters is that we're all here for the same reason—to prevent a catastrophe."
"Perhaps we should all introduce ourselves properly," Nightwing suggested diplomatically. "And then compare notes on why we're here."
Metropolis - Downtown
Tarro moved through the crowded streets of Metropolis with practiced ease, his senses alert for any trace of familiar ki. As a time patroller of Saiyan lineage, he had been trained to blend in, to observe without being observed. His brown tail, wrapped securely around his waist, remained hidden beneath his blue gi.
His scouter beeped softly, indicating a power level above average nearby. Turning down an alley, he found himself face to face with a young woman with fiery orange hair. She wore combat-ready attire and had an unmistakable aura of power about her.
"Winter," Tarro said, recognizing her immediately. "I didn't expect to find you so quickly."
The woman frowned, clearly not recognizing him. "Who are you? How do you know my name?"
Tarro realized his mistake. This wasn't his timeline's Winter—this was an earlier version of her, before they had met in his own time.
"My apologies," he said carefully. "I'm Tarro, a time patroller. In my timeline, we worked together. But I see this is our first meeting from your perspective."
Winter's eyes narrowed suspiciously. "Time patroller? That doesn't explain how you found me."
"I was tracking unusual Saiyan energy signatures. Yours stood out—it's remarkably similar to your brother's."
"Houjin?" Her expression softened slightly at the mention of her brother. "Have you found him too?"
"Not yet, but if you're here, he can't be far. The temporal displacement would have kept related individuals relatively close to each other."
Winter considered this information. "I was separated from him when we came through the portal. We were trying to escape our timeline—everything was falling apart after Universe 7 lost the Tournament of Power."
Tarro nodded grimly. "That explains one mystery, at least. We detected multiple breaches in the timestream—refugees from doomed timelines seeking sanctuary."
"And you came to send us back?" Winter challenged, her hands glowing with energy.
"No," Tarro assured her. "We came to understand what's happening and to help stabilize this timeline. Too many displaced individuals with powers like ours could cause irreparable damage to the fabric of reality."
Winter relaxed slightly. "Then perhaps we can help each other. I need to find my brother, and you need to account for temporal refugees."
"Agreed. But first, there's someone else we should find—my cousin Daikon. He's investigating Coastal City."
Coastal City - Industrial District
Daikon's search had led him to an abandoned warehouse where he'd detected multiple power signatures converging. With his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, he cautiously entered through a broken window.
Inside, he found four individuals engaged in tense conversation. He recognized two immediately—Aiko, the half-Saiyan half-Wolfman hybrid, and her sister Scarlett. They were fellow time patrollers from his unit, though they seemed surprised to see him here.
The other two were strangers to him: a tall man with dark skin and orange hair that seemed to defy gravity, and a young woman with black hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a red and black battle suit.
"Daikon?" Aiko exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same," he replied, stepping fully into the light. "Tarro, Zero, and I detected temporal anomalies. The Supreme Kai of Time sent us to investigate."
The dark-skinned man with orange hair stepped forward, his power barely contained. "I am Houjin. This is Pan, granddaughter of Kakarot."
Daikon's eyes widened at the mention of Kakarot—better known as Goku in most timelines. "Son Goku's granddaughter? Then you're from—"
"A future where Universe 7 lost the Tournament of Power," Pan confirmed. "My uncle Goten sent me here before Zeno erased our universe completely. I was supposed to find him, but I got separated during transfer."
"Goten is here too?" Scarlett asked. "This is worse than we thought. The timestream is unraveling if this many powerful beings have been displaced."
Houjin crossed his arms, the ground trembling slightly beneath him even at rest—a testament to his barely restrained power as a variant of the Legendary Super Saiyan. "We didn't come here by accident. We were guided."
"Guided? By whom?" Daikon asked.
"A being who called himself the Observer," Pan explained. "He said this timeline was a nexus point—a place where the fate of multiple universes would be decided."
Aiko and Scarlett exchanged concerned glances. "We need to contact headquarters," Aiko said. "If someone is deliberately gathering fighters from across the multiverse, we need to know why."
"First, we find the others," Daikon insisted. "My cousin Tarro is in Metropolis, and Zero is investigating another energy signature to the north."
Houjin nodded. "My sister Winter is somewhere in this city. I can sense her energy, but it's faint."
"Then we split up," Scarlett suggested. "Aiko and I will find Zero. Daikon, you and Houjin look for Winter. Pan, can you track Goten's energy signature?"
The young quarter-Saiyan nodded confidently. "He's my uncle. Our ki resonates on the same frequency."
"Good. Find him and determine if he knows anything about this Observer," Daikon instructed. "We'll rendezvous at these coordinates in three hours."
As they departed, none of them noticed the small drone hovering near the ceiling, transmitting everything it had recorded to a remote location where a figure shrouded in darkness watched with great interest.
Mount Justice - Infirmary
Cassa's eyes fluttered open to find her brother Eleryc sitting beside her bed, relief evident on his face.
"Welcome back," he said softly. "You had me worried."
Cassa attempted to sit up, wincing at the pain. "Where are we? Did it work?"
"We're at Young Justice headquarters, approximately twenty years before our timeline. And yes, it worked—mostly. We got separated in transit."
"The others?"
"Some have arrived. Goten is here. We're still accounting for the rest."
Cassa's expression darkened. "Eleryc, something interfered with our jump. I felt it—a presence in the time stream. Something ancient and malevolent."
"I felt it too. Do you think it was them? The deities who corrupted the Amazons in our time?"
"Perhaps," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Or something worse. Something that exists outside of time itself."
The door opened, and Supergirl entered with Doctor Midnight. "How's our patient?" the heroine asked.
"Recovering," Eleryc answered. "Cassa, this is Supergirl—Kara Zor-El."
Cassa studied the Kryptonian with interest. "So you're the legendary Supergirl. In our time, your legacy inspired generations of heroes."
Supergirl seemed taken aback by this. "Legacy? What happens to me in your timeline?"
Eleryc and Cassa exchanged a look. "You were one of the last to fall," Eleryc said carefully. "After the male heroes were eliminated, you led what remained of Earth's defenders against the invasion."
"You died saving millions," Cassa added softly. "But without the full strength of the Justice League, even your sacrifice wasn't enough to turn the tide."
Supergirl absorbed this sobering information. "Well, we're going to make sure that future never happens. The team is gathering in the briefing room. Once you're feeling up to it, we could use your knowledge."
After they left, Cassa turned to her brother. "You didn't tell her everything."
"No," Eleryc admitted. "Some truths are too dangerous right now. If they knew about our... heritage, they might not trust us."
Cassa nodded in understanding. Both of them carried a terrible secret—they had inherited a portion of Goku Black's power, the corrupt Supreme Kai who had once attempted to eradicate all mortals. It was a dark legacy they struggled with daily, the power of Zamasu flowing through their veins both a blessing and a curse.
"We'll tell them when the time is right," she agreed. "For now, we focus on finding the others and identifying the threat."
Northern Wilderness - Isolated Valley
Zero, his blue skin and red eyes striking against the white snow, stood atop a frozen ridge. The bio-armor that covered parts of his body gleamed silver in the sunlight as he surveyed the valley below.
His scouter had led him here, to a power signature unlike any other—not Saiyan, not human, not even from this dimension. Whatever it was, it had punched a hole through reality to arrive here.
A flash of movement caught his attention. Two figures emerged from a cave: a young man with lavender hair wearing a Capsule Corp jacket, and a young woman with blue hair in similar attire.
"Trunks and Bulla," Zero muttered to himself, recognizing the children of Vegeta and Bulma from another timeline. "Curious. Why would they be here?"
He descended from his perch, making no attempt to hide his approach. As a member of Frieza's race, he knew his appearance might trigger hostile reactions from Saiyans, but he had long since learned to overcome such prejudices in his role as a time patroller.
"Identify yourself!" Trunks called out, his hand moving to the sword strapped to his back.
Zero raised his hands in a peaceful gesture. "I am Zero, Time Patroller of the Galactic Time Control Agency. I mean you no harm."
Bulla stepped forward, placing a restraining hand on her brother's arm. "Time Patroller? Then you know why we're here?"
"I know you're displaced from your proper timeline," Zero replied cautiously. "What I don't know is why or how."
Trunks relaxed slightly but remained wary. "We were sent here by our mother. Our universe was facing annihilation after losing the Tournament of Power. She used the last of her technology to send us somewhere safe."
"You're not the only refugees to arrive here," Zero informed them. "We've detected multiple temporal incursions. Goten, Pan, and others from your universe have also appeared."
Hope flashed across Bulla's face. "Goten's here? And Pan? Where?"
"We're still locating everyone," Zero explained. "But something about this mass displacement feels orchestrated. Too many powerful warriors arriving in the same timeline can't be coincidence."
Trunks nodded grimly. "Before we left, our mother mentioned something. She said this world was a nexus point—a timeline where a crucial battle would determine the fate of the multiverse."
Zero's red eyes narrowed. "The Supreme Kai of Time said something similar when she dispatched us. This timeline must be protected at all costs."
"Then we should find the others," Bulla suggested. "Together, we might make sense of why we've all been brought here."
As they prepared to leave, Zero paused, his senses alerting him to another presence. "We're not alone."
From the shadows of the cave emerged a tall, imposing figure. Though humanoid in appearance, there was something distinctly alien about him—his skin had a subtle metallic sheen, and symbols of unknown origin adorned his armor.
"Perceptive," the stranger commented, his voice resonating with power. "As expected from a time patroller."
Zero moved protectively in front of Trunks and Bulla. "Identify yourself."
The figure smiled, though it did not reach his eyes. "I have many names across many realities. But you may call me the Observer."
Mount Justice - Briefing Room
The gathered heroes and time-displaced warriors formed an impressive assembly. Young Justice members—Supergirl, Robin, Nightwing, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy, Artemis, Miss Martian, Superboy, and Aqualad—stood alongside Eleryc, the recently recovered Cassa, and Goten.
"Let me get this straight," Nightwing said after Eleryc finished explaining. "In your future, the Amazons are manipulated into killing all male heroes, which leads to Earth's fall and humanity's extinction."
"That's the simplified version, yes," Eleryc confirmed.
"And you all came back to prevent this," Robin added. "But got scattered across time and space in the process."
"Not just us," Cassa interjected. "We're detecting others—allies from parallel timelines who were facing their own extinction events."
Goten stepped forward. "In my timeline, Universe 7 lost the Tournament of Power. Zeno erased everything. Before the end, Beerus and Whis sent me here with the last of their power."
"And you believe all these disparate threats are somehow connected?" Aqualad asked skeptically.
"They must be," Eleryc insisted. "Too many warriors from too many timelines arriving at once can't be coincidence. Something—or someone—wanted us all here."
The computer terminal beeped, signaling an incoming communication. Robin activated it, revealing Daikon's face on the screen.
"This is Daikon of the Time Patrol. Am I reaching Young Justice headquarters?"
"You are," Nightwing confirmed. "How did you get this frequency?"
"The Supreme Kai of Time provided it. We've been monitoring temporal anomalies centered on your timeline. We believe they represent an existential threat to the multiverse."
Eleryc moved into view of the camera. "Daikon, it's Eleryc. I'm with Young Justice and Cassa. Goten is here too."
Relief flashed across Daikon's face. "Good. We've located others—Houjin and his sister Winter, Pan, Aiko and Scarlett. Trunks and Bulla have been found by Zero."
"Then we're almost all accounted for," Cassa noted.
"Almost," Daikon agreed grimly. "But there's something else. Trunks and Bulla encountered someone calling himself the Observer. He claims to be responsible for bringing us all here."
A chill ran through the room at this news.
"Did they learn his intentions?" Eleryc asked urgently.
"Only that he believes a great battle is coming—one that will determine the fate of all realities. He's gathering warriors from across the multiverse to fight in it."
"Or to be sacrificed in it," Cassa suggested darkly.
Supergirl stepped forward. "Tell everyone to converge on Mount Justice. If there's a threat to this timeline—to any timeline—Young Justice and the Justice League will stand against it."
"And they won't stand alone," Eleryc added, his eyes meeting Kara's with newfound respect. "We've all lost our homes, our families, our entire realities. We won't let it happen again—not to this world."
As the gathering of heroes prepared for what was to come, a shadow passed briefly over the mountain that housed their headquarters—a dark ship, cloaked from conventional detection, observing from the clouds above.
Inside, the Observer stood before a wall of monitors displaying each of the gathered warriors. Beside him, shrouded figures whispered in ancient tongues.
"They are assembling as predicted," the Observer noted. "All the pieces moving into place."
"And the catalyst?" one of the shrouded figures asked.
The Observer gestured to a particular monitor showing Eleryc and Cassa. "The siblings carry the seed of destruction within them. When the time is right, their inherited power will awaken fully. The power of a god who once sought to purify all reality."
"And the Amazons?"
"Already, the first whispers reach their shores. Queen Hippolyta dreams of warning signs, of men with the power of gods threatening everything she holds dear." The Observer smiled coldly. "History repeats itself—but this time, with warriors from across the multiverse as pawns in the game."
"And when they have served their purpose?"
The Observer's eyes gleamed with ancient malice. "Then this reality, like all the others, will know the truth that has eluded mortals since the dawn of creation: There is no escaping destiny. There is only the void that awaits all things."
Behind him, on a throne constructed of materials not found in any known universe, sat a figure so still it might have been carved from stone—a being whose very presence bent light around it, whose identity remained concealed even from its own servants.
The true architect of what was to come watched in silence as the pieces of its grand design fell into place.
The Gathering Storm
Mount Justice - Command Center
The mountain fortress had never seen such an assembly. Over the course of the next several hours, warriors from across multiple timelines converged on Young Justice headquarters. The main hall buzzed with nervous energy as displaced heroes shared their stories and assessed their combined strength.
Trunks and Bulla arrived with Zero, their Capsule Corp jackets a stark reminder of the advanced civilization they'd lost. Pan followed shortly after, her youthful appearance belying the tremendous power that radiated from her quarter-Saiyan heritage. Houjin entered with his sister Winter, the ground trembling slightly with each of his steps—a testament to his legendary power being barely contained even at rest.
Aiko and Scarlett brought up the rear, their time patroller armor marking them as the most experienced in dealing with temporal anomalies. Tarro joined them, having successfully located Winter in Metropolis as planned.
"Nineteen displaced warriors," Nightwing calculated aloud, studying the assembled group. "Plus Young Justice and the League. That's more raw power than this timeline has ever seen gathered in one place."
"Power that could tear reality apart if not properly controlled," Daikon warned. "The Supreme Kai of Time is monitoring the situation, but she's concerned about temporal stability."
Batman's voice cut through the chatter as he entered via the Zeta tube transport. "Which is why we need to understand exactly what we're dealing with."
The Dark Knight's presence commanded immediate attention. Even warriors who had never encountered him seemed to sense his tactical brilliance and natural leadership.
"The Observer," Batman continued, his analytical gaze taking in each new arrival. "Tell me everything about this encounter."
Zero stepped forward. "He appeared to know we were coming. Spoke of a great battle that would determine the fate of all realities. His power signature was unlike anything I've encountered—not from any known species or dimension."
"And these shrouded figures Trunks mentioned?"
"They remained hidden," Trunks replied. "But I sensed something ancient about them. Something that existed long before most civilizations."
Eleryc and Cassa exchanged worried glances. The description triggered memories of their own timeline's apocalypse—whispers of entities that had manipulated events from the shadows.
"There's something else," Cassa said reluctantly. "In our timeline, the corruption of the Amazons wasn't random. There were signs of outside influence—beings that existed beyond conventional reality."
"You think the Observer might be connected to whatever destroyed your timeline?" Supergirl asked.
"It's possible," Eleryc confirmed. "The pattern fits. Gather powerful warriors under the pretense of preventing catastrophe, then manipulate events to ensure that very catastrophe occurs."
Robin's fingers flew across his computer interface. "I'm detecting unusual energy readings around Themyscira. Whatever's influencing the Amazons in the future timeline might already be starting here."
Themyscira - Royal Palace
Queen Hippolyta stood on her balcony overlooking Paradise Island, her face troubled by the visions that had plagued her sleep. In her dreams, she saw men with the power of gods—warriors whose very presence threatened to unravel the careful balance her people had maintained for centuries.
"My Queen," General Philippus approached cautiously. "The scrying pools have revealed disturbing images. Beings of immense power have appeared across Man's World. Some bear the aura of divinity itself."
Hippolyta's jaw tightened. The ancient laws were clear—when mortals gained godlike power, they inevitably fell to corruption and tyranny. It was why the Amazons had been created, why they served as guardians against such threats.
"Assemble the war council," she commanded. "If these visions speak true, we may need to act to protect both our island and Man's World from this growing threat."
What the Queen couldn't see were the subtle shadows that danced at the edges of her vision—whispers of influence that had been planted like seeds in her dreams. The Observer's agents worked slowly, patiently, turning the Amazons' noble purpose into the weapon that would doom them all.
Mount Justice - Strategy Room
"The situation is escalating faster than we anticipated," Superman's voice carried through the communication link from the Watchtower. "Lex Luthor has detected the energy signatures and is already mobilizing LexCorp resources to study them."
"That's not our biggest concern," Wonder Woman's voice joined the conversation. "I've been in contact with my mother. The Amazons are... unsettled by reports of these new arrivals. Some are calling for preemptive action."
A heavy silence fell over the room. Everyone understood the implications.
"In our timeline," Cassa said quietly, "it started exactly like this. Fear leading to mistrust, mistrust leading to action, action leading to war."
"Then we break the cycle," Nightwing declared. "We find this Observer and stop him before he can complete whatever he's planning."
"Easier said than done," Daikon cautioned. "If he's powerful enough to manipulate temporal streams and gather warriors from across the multiverse, a direct confrontation might not be wise."
Goten stepped forward, his usually carefree demeanor replaced by grim determination. "In my timeline, before the end, Beerus told me something. He said there were beings that existed between realities—parasites that fed on the destruction of universes."
"Parasites?" Flash's voice crackled through the comm. "You mean they deliberately cause universal extinction events?"
"To feed," Pan confirmed, her young voice heavy with knowledge beyond her years. "Uncle Goten told me the stories. Beings that exist in the spaces between realities, growing stronger with each universe they consume."
Zero's red eyes narrowed as he processed this information. "That would explain the pattern. Gather the strongest warriors from doomed timelines, use them to destabilize a stable reality, then feed on the resulting destruction."
"But why this timeline?" Artemis asked. "What makes this reality special?"
Batman's expression grew even more grim. "Because this is a nexus point. Events here ripple across multiple realities. Destroy this timeline, and the cascade effect would be catastrophic."
"How many universes are we talking about?" Miss Martian asked telepathically, her mental voice betraying her fear.
"Potentially all of them," Eleryc answered soberly. "If the Observer succeeds here, he could unravel the entire multiverse."
The Observer's Ship - Cloaked in Earth's Orbit
Deep within the alien vessel, the Observer stood before his master's throne, reporting on the progress of his manipulation.
"The Amazons stir as predicted," he said to the motionless figure shrouded in darkness. "Queen Hippolyta's dreams have been seeded with the necessary fears. Soon she will act to 'protect' her people and Man's World from the assembled warriors."
The being on the throne spoke without moving, its voice seeming to come from the very fabric of reality itself. "And the catalyst?"
"The siblings grow stronger. Their inherited power responds to the proximity of so many other warriors. Soon, they will be unable to suppress what flows in their veins."
"The power of Zamasu," the dark figure mused. "How fitting that a god's corruption will be the key to unmaking creation itself."
The Observer bowed deeply. "When shall we move to the final phase?"
"When the first blood is spilled in anger between former allies," came the reply. "When Amazon steel tastes the blood of those they once called friends. Then the cascade will begin, and all realities will know the peace of absolute nothingness."
Mount Justice - Personal Quarters
Late that evening, Eleryc sat alone in his assigned room, struggling with the dark power that coursed through his veins. Each time he was near other powerful beings, the influence of Zamasu's corruption grew stronger, whispering seductive promises of justice achieved through the elimination of all mortals.
A soft knock interrupted his meditation. Cassa entered, her expression showing she was fighting the same internal battle.
"It's getting harder to suppress," she admitted, sitting beside her brother.
"I know," Eleryc replied. "Being around so many powerful warriors is like fuel to the fire. The voice grows stronger."
"What if we told them?" Cassa suggested. "Young Justice, the League—they might understand."
Eleryc shook his head. "Would you trust someone who carried the power of a genocidal god? Especially when that person was trying to prevent the very genocide they had the power to commit?"
Their conversation was interrupted by another presence—Supergirl, hovering outside their window. Her enhanced hearing had caught fragments of their discussion.
"May I come in?" Kara asked gently.
After a moment's hesitation, Eleryc opened the window. "How much did you hear?"
"Enough," she replied, entering the room. "You're afraid of your own power. That's actually reassuring."
Cassa looked puzzled. "Reassuring?"
"The greatest heroes I know are the ones who fear what they're capable of," Supergirl explained. "It's the ones who embrace unlimited power without question that become the real threats."
She studied both siblings carefully. "This corruption you mentioned—it's not who you are. It's something you carry, something you fight against every day. That fight makes you heroes, not the power itself."
"You don't understand," Eleryc said desperately. "In our timeline, when the stress became too great, when we watched everyone we cared about die, the voice of Zamasu took control. We became the very thing we fought against."
"But you're not in that timeline anymore," Kara pointed out. "You're here, now, with people who will stand beside you. You don't have to fight this alone."
Before either sibling could respond, alarms began blaring throughout Mount Justice. Robin's voice echoed through the comm system:
"All hands to the main hall! We're detecting massive energy signatures approaching from the Mediterranean. Amazon battle formations are heading straight for the United States mainland."
As the three rushed toward the main hall, none of them noticed the shadow that detached itself from the corner of the room—a scout sent by the Observer to monitor the conversation.
The final phase had begun.
The stage was set for the confrontation that would determine not just the fate of one timeline, but the survival of the entire multiverse. Ancient prejudices, carefully nurtured fears, and the weight of inherited power all converged toward a single, catastrophic moment.
In the depths of space, an ancient evil that fed on the destruction of realities watched with growing hunger as its carefully laid plans approached their culmination.
To be continued in Chapter 3: The Gathering Storm part 1