After I said that, I blitzed toward her at blinding lightning speed, driving a fist straight into her stomach. The impact launched her through multiple walls like a wrecking ball on fast-forward. I didn't slow down; I followed right after.
She finally stopped, slamming into a pile of scrap metal with a deafening crash. Before the dust even settled, she shot back up into the air, murder in her eyes, and flew straight at me. Her punch came fast, but it was the kick to my side that actually sent me skidding across the floor. I dug my feet in and stopped myself easily, rolling my shoulders like it was nothing.
I turned toward her again and closed the distance in a blink. We traded blow for blow—her strikes had power, sure, and she clearly had some fighting skill, but it was obvious she relied way too much on her superpowers.
"You know," I said between punches, "for an Amazon, you suck as a warrior."
Her glare sharpened. "Shut up, you worm!" She threw a punch, and I weaved under it.
"I mean, seriously," I continued, grinning, "isn't your whole thing being a warrior? And here I am, kicking your ass, and I'm only seventeen."
I drove a fist into her kidney, making her gasp, then followed up with a brutal uppercut that snapped her head back.
"Aaaaaaaa!" she screamed, launching herself at me like a missile. She slammed into my midsection and didn't stop, carrying us both down, smashing straight through the floor until we hit the basement with an earth-shaking crash.
She landed on top of me and started hammering punches down, each one slamming into my head and chest. Yeah, I felt them, but they weren't enough to keep me down. I charged up the energy in my chest and unleashed a blast point-blank, sending her flying. She smashed into a pile of crates, splintering wood everywhere, but popped right back up. I was already on my feet too.
"You know," I said, dusting off my shoulder, "I gotta ask, what made you so twisted? I thought Amazons were supposed to be the good guys. Wait… lemme guess. They're actually evil in this universe? If that's the case, this place really does suck."
"I don't have to answer to you, worm," she spat, "especially since you'll be dead soon."
I laughed, loud and hard. "Hahahahaha!"
She blinked at me, confused.
"Sorry, it's just… really funny that you think you can beat me. I've been holding back this whole time."
Her eyes went wide.
I let the grin fade, my tone shifting. "Now… I'm done playing." My entire body glowed a vibrant green, the energy surging until it hummed in the air around me.
Then I moved.
One instant I was standing there, the next I was in her face, my fist driving into her and sending her rocketing into the wall hard enough to dent the metal. I didn't stop. I blurred forward, unleashing a barrage, fists slamming into her over and over at blinding speed. I lost count after a hundred hits.
When I finally stopped, she dropped to her hands and knees, gasping for breath. I stepped beside her, slid my foot under her stomach, and then—
WHAM!
A single, brutal kick sent her rocketing upward, smashing through floor after floor of the base until she disappeared into the upper levels.
I shot upward, breaking through the floors until I found her in the same room where we'd started. The Justice League and the Crime Syndicate were still trading blows around us, but all I saw was her.
Superwoman dragged herself to her feet. For someone I'd just sent through half the base, she could take a ridiculous beating.
I landed hard and started walking toward her, slow and deliberate.
"I've gotta admit," Superwoman said, "you're way stronger than my Dial ever was. And you've got a lot of power. Too bad you wasted it playing the ' hero' game. I could use that Omnitrix way better than you ever could."
"Yeah, see, that's your problem," I said, shaking my head. "The only person here wasting their power is you. Seriously, being a villain? That's the best you came up with? It's like one day you realized you were stronger than everyone else, so your big master plan was… be evil. At least pretend you've got some imagination."
I stepped closer, eyes locked on hers. "You didn't even have to be a hero, but you could've been something. Instead, you chose the most cliché, sad route possible—hurting innocent people, being known as a sociopath, a killer… and never having anyone truly love you. So tell me, aren't you just… sad?"
Her jaw clenched. She didn't answer. Instead, she charged.
I didn't hesitate. I charged right at her, our fists colliding in mid-strike with a bone-jarring BOOM that sent a shockwave rippling through the room.
I followed up with another punch, she met me fist for fist. Every strike shook the air, tiny shockwaves bursting with each impact. I picked up the pace. So did she. The faster we went, the more it felt like we were trading thunderbolts.
Finally, I pulled back, cranked up my right arm, and slammed it into her chest. The impact blasted her across the room, straight into Power Ring. Both of them crashed into a wall, rubble raining down. He was out cold instantly. She was barely hanging on.
I grinned. "Nice. Two-for-one deal."
Then everything froze. The bomb vanished, along with Owlman. Both sides, Syndicate and Justice League, stopped fighting.
"What just happened? Where is my bomb?" Ultraman demanded.
Lex's face darkened. "He's taking the Q.E.D. to Earth Prime. If he detonates it, he'll destroy all realities."
Johnny Quick looked uneasy. "Yeah, I don't like the sound of that."
"Don't listen to them," Superwoman croaked, staggering upright. "Owlman just took the bomb to a safe location—"
Ultraman snapped his head toward her. "Don't try to con me. What are you two plotting?"
Batman was already at a console, typing furiously. "No way to follow him. We're locked out."
Lex stepped in. "Unless someone vibrates fast enough to piggyback onto Owlman's coordinates. But it would take insane speed."
The Flash zipped forward. "I'm your guy."
Batman didn't even look up. "No, you're not. You're too slow."
"What?" Flash blinked.
Johnny Quick blurred in beside him. "But I'm not. I can do it."
"Listen—" Flash started.
"No, you listen," Quick cut him off. "This would blow up my Earth too. I'm not about to let that happen."
Batman's voice was cold. "It could be dangerous."
"Not could," I interrupted, shifting back to my regular form. "Would. If he does it, he'll burn out. Speed up his own aging until there's nothing left."
Everyone turned to me.
Superman's voice was low. "What are you saying?"
"I'm saying if Johnny does this, he dies. For sure. So how about we don't go down that road?" I reached into my belt, pulled out a palm-sized device, and clicked a side panel. The metal folded out, transforming with a smooth shnk-shnk-shnk until I was holding my own Multiverse gun.
I smirked. "Good thing I brought a backup plan."
I walked up beside Batman, fiddling with the Multiverse gun until the coordinates locked. The screen pulsed green.
"Okay, I got it. Let's go," I said.
Batman's voice cut sharp. "You're not going."
"Yes, I am. One, you can't fight him and disarm the bomb. Two, this gun only works for me. Don't pout, get ready to fight your evil counterpart."
I pulled the trigger, and the world folded around us.
When we reappeared, Earth Prime stretched out in front of us, a dead husk of a world, nothing but ash and silence. The sight alone made my chest tighten. But Owlman was there, standing by the bomb, fingers brushing across its glowing surface.
He turned slowly. "Welcome to Earth Prime… where it all began. Before thought. Before choice. One Earth, one history. Then came man, then came the illusion of free will. And every choice birthed another branch. Billions of people, billions of choices. Infinite Earths. All tied back to this one."
Batman's eyes narrowed. "So if this Earth dies…"
"They all die," Owlman finished, a faint smile curling.
I stepped forward. "Do you even hear yourself? You're talking about killing billions and billions of lives. For what?"
"To cut out the disease," Owlman said softly. "To make a real choice."
I shook my head, disgusted. "No. This isn't some grand philosophy; it's you throwing a tantrum because you can't stand the idea that you're not the center of the story. You can't handle a world where you're not the main character."
His smirk deepened. "You know, Omni, I've studied your counterparts. That device, the Omnitrix, it could have changed the whole Multiverse. Every version of you chose not to. Wasteful. They refused to make a real choice. They stayed trapped in illusions."
I glared at him. "The only illusion here is you thinking this is going to work."
Owlman's fingers tapped the bomb's interface. Lights flared across its core.
"Oh, it will," he whispered.
The Q.E.D. bomb roared to life.
Owlman charged, cape snapping like wings.
"I got the bomb!" I shouted.
We both sprinted forward. Batman veered toward Owlman, fists clenched, while I kept my eyes locked on the glowing monstrosity humming in the center of the room.
The control panel stared back at me, alien and impossible. My fingers froze. Yeah, I have no idea what I'm doing here in human form.
"Hey, Omnitrix, can you shut this thing down?" I muttered.
"Affirmative. Accessing… allow me a few seconds," the Omnitrix chimed.
A sharp twang echoed, Owlman had flicked one of his razor-discs at me. Instinct kicked in. I twisted aside, the blade hissing past my cheek.
"Keep him busy!" I yelled over my shoulder.
Batman didn't need the reminder. He was already moving like a shadow, striking harder, faster, forcing Owlman into defense.
The bomb's screen flickered. "Deactivation in progress…"
Then with a hiss, the device shut down. A small core unit slid free from the housing, pulsing with raw energy. I grabbed it.
The Omnitrix dial popped open. My hand slammed down.
"Feedback!"
I pressed my hands against the core and drank it in. Lightning arcs crawled over my body as the power drained, the device collapsing into useless scrap.
I turned toward the fight. Batman had Owlman locked in, but the bastard still wasn't down.
"Hey, bird-brain, catch this!"
I released a blast of pure energy. It slammed into Owlman, flinging him across the dirt and leaving him sprawled, unconscious. The hum of the Q.E.D. bomb was off. Silence filled the chamber.
I walked over to where Batman stood over Owlman's unconscious body.
"Man, you look like crap. Was he really that tough?" I asked.
"Yes," Batman grunted. "Mainly because of his suit. It boosted his strength and agility."
"Oh, cool. You should probably upgrade your own suit with that when we get back home," I said casually.
But Batman's eyes narrowed. "What did he mean about the Omnitrix being able to change the Multiverse?"
I groaned. "Wow, after all that, that's the first thing you want to talk about? At least take a second to soak it in, we just saved all of reality."
Batman's glare didn't budge. "What did he mean?" His tone was sharp, demanding.
"I told you before, that intimidation routine doesn't work on me. I'm not scared of you, and I don't have to answer."
"If that device can do what I think it can," Batman said, voice like steel, "it shouldn't be in the hands of a child."
"Oh, right. So I should just hand it over to you? To a guy who dresses like a bat and fights lunatics every night? A guy who clings to a 'no-kill rule' but will stand by and let villains kill themselves anyway? You were ready to let Johnny Quick sacrifice himself without even telling him. That's not justice, that's hypocrisy, Bruce."
His eyes flashed when I said his name. I shifted back to my human form, staring him down.
"That device should be handed to the League. We'll secure it, make sure no one ever misuses it. The Multiverse needs to be protected."
I clenched my fists. "Did you seriously just compare me to Owlman? Why the hell would I want to destroy reality? I've got people I love back home." My voice cracked with anger.
"And what happens if one day those people are hurt? Or killed?" Batman asked coldly. "How do I know you won't lose control and become just like him? Seeking revenge?"
"Because I know that's not what they'd want!" I shot back. "They'd want justice, not vengeance. Don't you dare try to shove your no-kill rule down my throat. Not every hero lives by it, and for good reason."
"There is never a good reason to kill," Batman growled.
I laughed bitterly. "Tell that to everyone Joker's murdered because you couldn't finish the job. You think he'll ever change? Be a normal man? No, you and I both know the only reason Joker does what he does is because of you. The only way you'll ever stop him is by killing him… or by giving up being Batman. And we both know there's nothing in you but Batman."
Batman didn't answer me. He just hefted Owlman's unconscious body over his shoulder.
"Let's go back. We can discuss this later, with the League," he said flatly.
I stepped closer."Tell me… have you ever counted?"
He paused. "What?"
"The people Joker's killed. All the blood on his hands. You ever think about that number? Or do you just hide in your philosophies instead?"
Silence. He said nothing. And that told me everything.
I grabbed the Multiverse gun from my hip, activated it, and in a blink we were back on Earth-2.
We rematerialized in the Syndicate's moon base. The battlefield hadn't shifted much, Power Ring was still knocked out cold, Superwoman tied up and beaten from our fight.
"We saved the Multiverse," I said, holstering the gun.
"Good to know," Ultraman sneered. "Now get your asses off my moon."
"Oh, that's cute. You think you're not going to jail?" I smirked. "We're still hauling you in. And since you didn't know about Owlman and Superwoman's little psycho plan, maybe I'll talk to the president about skipping the death penalty. Maybe. If I feel like it."
Ultraman's eyes narrowed. "And it's cute you think you can beat me. Or that you have the authority to."
"First off, you're just a knockoff Superman, so yeah, I can take you. Second, I don't need authority to kick your ass." I flicked the Omnitrix dial. "So what's it gonna be? I can bring you in warm… or bring you in unconscious. Please pick unconscious. I've been dying to test out General."
The Syndicate squared up, ready for round two, then a ripple of green shimmered through the air. Martian Manhunter appeared, flanked by squadrons of armored soldiers storming the bay.
And behind them, rolling up in a tank of all things, was the President himself. Gray hair, eyepatch, scowl like stone.
"…Why does that guy look familiar?" I muttered. Then louder: "Nice work, J'onn. You brought the Marines."
Martian Manhunter's voice was calm but firm. "The President was displeased by the attack on his daughter's life. He brought reinforcements."
"Nuclear reinforcements," the President growled, patting the tank beside him. "One for each of you."
The Syndicate froze. For all their power, even they weren't stupid enough to fight nukes. Slowly, grudgingly, they raised their hands.
"Good choice," I said with a grin.
One Hour Later
All the Justice League, both from my Earth and this one, were gathered behind the White House, standing in the garden with the President.
"You can't know how grateful I am," the President said, his voice heavy with relief. "You didn't just save a world. You gave back our world. I've already dispatched the National Guard to support local law enforcement in rounding up the Syndicate's allies."
"Happy to help, Mr. President," Superman replied.
That's when it hit me. I froze mid-thought. "Oh man…"
Everyone turned.
"What is it?" Flash asked.
"None of my friends back home are ever gonna believe me when I tell them I saved a whole world. Actually, scratch that, saved the Multiverse."
Silence. Dead quiet. Until the President suddenly burst out laughing.
"It amazes me," he said, shaking his head. "You're not him, you're far too young, but your mannerisms, the way you talk, the way you carry yourself… you remind me of him."
"Wait, hold up. My counterpart knew you? He knew the President?"
"He knew me long before I was President," the man admitted. "Let's just say… I wasn't always squeaky clean."
"…Okay, that's ominous. Definitely something more to that story, but I'm gonna leave it alone," I said quickly.
"Smart kid," he smirked. "Anyway—"
Before he could finish, Morgan suddenly grabbed me by the arm. "I need to speak with him. Privately."
She didn't even wait for me to agree before dragging me away from the group.
"Uh—okay? Guess we're doing this. Don't leave me here, people!" I called back, half-joking.
We walked a fair distance until it was just the two of us. Morgan stopped, looking nervous, no, scared.
"Morgan," I said gently. "Whatever it is, just say it."
She blurted it out. "I think you should take the Omnitrix."
That floored me. "Wait, what? Why?"
Her eyes dropped to the device on her wrist. "I don't think I'm worthy of it. When John used it, he was… natural. Perfect alien every time, always saving the day. My first time? I turned into some plant-thing that spit fire, and I nearly barbecued Plastic Man. I can't be like John. I can't be like you." Her voice cracked on the last word.
I stepped closer, meeting her eyes. "Believe it or not, that's a good thing."
She blinked. "What?"
"The Omnitrix doesn't make you a hero. It's a tool. Just like your armor. Yeah, you made a mistake on your first try, but that's normal. You'll get better. John didn't become a pro overnight. I guarantee he trained with each alien, learned their limits, pushed their strengths. Same way I did.
"But you? You're you. You're crazy smart, inventive, stubborn in the best ways. That's what makes you right for this. You'll find your own fighting style. You'll make it yours. So don't try to be John. Don't try to be me. Be Morgan."
I turned, motioning toward the rest of the League. "And don't forget, you've got friends. People who'll back you up every step of the way. Never be afraid to ask them. You might learn something new."
She stared at the Omnitrix, then back at me. Suddenly, without warning, she threw her arms around me in a hug.
"I wish you could stay," she whispered. "But I know you've got loved ones waiting for you on your Earth."
I hugged her back. "I do. But don't ever be afraid to visit. Ask for help if you need it. I'll always be there, especially for a friend."
We broke the hug. For the first time since I met her, Morgan actually looked confident with that device on her wrist.
After reassuring Morgan, I returned with her to the group. By then, everyone else had already said their goodbyes. My Justice League was heading toward the designated spot to prepare for our return home. I followed behind—until a hand gripped my shoulder.
I turned. Cassandra.
"Something wrong?" I asked.
She shook her head softly. "No. I just wanted to thank you for fixing my Dial's Omnitrix. You don't know what that means to me."
I could imagine. I hugged her, and she hugged me back without hesitation.
"I read some of his files," I told her quietly. "He loved you like a mother. He was lucky to have you."
Her voice wavered. "And I was lucky to have him. Please… be safe. Don't do anything reckless."
We broke the hug.
"Trust me," I smirked. "My teacher back home beat that part out of me a long time ago."
She almost smiled. "Then thank Killmonger for me."
That caught me off guard. I turned back, confused, but she was already walking toward her League again.
"…Man, this world is hella weird," I muttered.
I rejoined my team, pulled out the Multiverse gun, and activated it. In an instant, we teleported back to our Earth, arriving inside the Watchtower hangar.
"Home sweet home." I stretched. "It's been a long day, and I really just want to go cuddle with my girlfriends. So, goodbye everyone."
I started walking away, but Wonder Woman's hand landed firmly on my shoulder.
"Wait, Omni. We still have one more matter to discuss."
I groaned. "Seriously? It's been a long day. Can we talk about this next time?"
"I'm sorry," she said, unyielding. "This cannot wait."
I sighed and dragged my feet after the others.
In the main meeting hall of the Watchtower, all the Justice League members, both the ones who traveled to Earth-2 and those who stayed behind, were already seated. I wasn't about to stand, though. Instead, I used Diamondhead to shape myself a chair, a diamond throne, to be exact, and sat down like a king.
"Alright," I muttered, lounging back. "Let's get this over with."
Superman leaned forward. "We already briefed the rest of the Justice League about your Omnitrix and about that message embedded in it."
"Okay," I said. "And?"
Captain Atom crossed his arms. "And we think you shouldn't be using it."
"Not all of us," Wonder Woman clarified, glancing at him. "But enough of us have concerns."
"Well, sucks for the ones who want to take it," I said. "Because it can't come off. Even if you chopped off my hand, the Omnitrix would just protect me."
Hawkman stepped in, smug. "We have brilliant scientists. We'll figure it out."
Before I could answer, the Omnitrix's voice echoed through the chamber: "Attempting to hack me with your so-called brilliant scientists is truly laughable."
Every single Leaguer froze.
"Yeah," I said casually, "some of you saw the message. You forgot this thing has a crazy smart AI in it."
"That is… actually pretty cool," Shazam muttered.
Mr. Terrific leaned forward. "So, hypothetically, could we hack you?"
The Omnitrix practically scoffed. "I was built by the most intelligent being across five galaxies. Compared to him, your scientists are toddlers smearing finger paint on walls."
The room went dead silent.
"…Okay, forgot to warn you," I said quickly, holding up my hands. "He's a little sassy. That wasn't me."
Nobody laughed. Tough crowd.
"Anyway," I continued, "you've got your answer. From the literal watch. So I'm just gonna head out now—"
"Not yet," Batman cut in, voice like a blade. "If you won't answer, then maybe the Omnitrix will. What are your weaknesses? What are its aliens' weaknesses?"
"I will not answer," the Omnitrix replied instantly.
Batman's eyes narrowed. "Why?"
"Because the one called Batman is attempting to gather tactical data that could be used against my host. My host is too kind to say it, but I will: you are a potential threat."
"I'm not a threat," Batman said flatly. "Unless he becomes one."
"Incorrect. Despite my host's actions to help, you have shown only hostility toward him. He may not see you as an enemy, but I will always consider you a potential one."
Cyborg rubbed his face. "Yeah… I really don't like the sound of that. Especially from a device with a billion alien forms in it."
I leaned back in my diamond chair. "Relax. You don't have to worry about me, or my Omnitrix, unless you're planning to throw hands with me."
Wonder Woman's eyes sharpened. "Omnitrix, answer me this. Are you capable of destroying the universe?"
The Omnitrix paused, then spoke evenly: "I am not. That function was deemed unnecessary by my creator, given the layers of fail-safes protecting both myself and my host."
The League absorbed that in silence, the weight of the words hanging heavy.
"If we're done talking about me," I said, leaning back in my diamond chair, "are you guys gonna talk about the fact that Batman has contingency plans on all of you?"
The whole room froze.
"We will address that later," Wonder Woman said sharply. "And stop trying to shift the tension away from yourself, it won't work."
"Worth a shot," I muttered.
Superman cleared his throat. "Omni, there's another team. A place for young heroes to learn and grow together. I think it's best if you join them."
"No thanks," I said flatly.
His brow furrowed. "May I ask why?"
"You mean besides the fact that one of your teammates tried to uncover my identity, forcing me to learn all of yours, or the fact that he's been nothing but hostile toward me even though I've only used the Omnitrix to help?" I asked, my tone sharp.
Silence fell over the room. Batman said nothing.
"Sorry, Superman. I really respect you, a lot actually. And maybe, maybe, if Batman didn't pull the crap he pulled, I might've said yes. But he did. And I'm not about to join any team where one of the members treats me like that. So no Young Justice, no Justice League. It's not happening.
"I'm not saying I'm your enemy. I'm just saying you'll never see me sitting at this table." I stood up. "You all have plenty to talk about without me anyway."
I turned and walked toward the door.
"We are not done asking you questions," Captain Atom barked.
"Too bad," I shot back over my shoulder. "I'm done answering them."
And with that, I walked out, leaving the League in silence.