"What is she doing?"
Commissioner Gordon stared in disbelief at Wonder Woman.
Diana was slashing wildly through empty air, moving as if she were locked in a desperate battle against an invisible enemy. Her sword carved violent arcs through the battlefield, each strike more furious than the last.
He turned toward Nightwing, who was barely staying upright with assistance.
"What happened to her?"
Commissioner Gordon could not understand it.
Just moments ago, Wonder Woman had the upper hand. Nightwing had been losing badly, yet she had suddenly abandoned the fight and begun attacking nothing.
She looked completely unhinged.
"She's fighting herself."
Nightwing's voice came out weak and strained.
He leaned against the support holding him steady, forcing himself to stay conscious.
"Batman prepared a contingency plan specifically for Wonder Woman."
Harley Quinn blinked in surprise.
"So this is another one of Batsy's crazy plans?"
Nightwing gave a faint nod.
"Yes."
He paused to catch his breath before continuing.
"Batman said Wonder Woman is a demigoddess. No one willingly wants to fight her, but battle is part of who she is. As an Amazon princess, her fighting spirit runs deeper than almost anyone else's."
His voice weakened further.
"She craves combat, especially one-on-one fights."
Nightwing pressed a hand against his chest, still suffering from the damage Diana had inflicted.
"Batman acquired a magical hallucinogenic potion from the underground magical market. The potion manipulates the subconscious and forces the target to see whatever enemy frightens or unsettles them most."
He exhaled sharply before continuing.
"Then he mixed it with Scarecrow's fear toxin."
Harley raised an eyebrow.
"That sounds ridiculously messed up."
"It's effective," Nightwing replied.
"The victim never realizes they've been affected. To them, everything feels real."
His eyes drifted toward Wonder Woman.
"In Diana's mind, she's fighting someone she truly fears."
Harley folded her arms.
"Wow."
She shook her head.
"That is such a Batman move."
"Seriously, the guy's got issues."
Commissioner Gordon ignored Harley's commentary and looked toward the government building.
"Enough talking."
He adjusted his grip on his weapon.
"Let's move."
Behind them, Wonder Woman continued her violent battle against an enemy only she could see.
Inside the government building, tension spread through every hallway.
Hanna clasped her hands tightly, anxiety written across her face as she stared toward the entrance.
Outside, chaos raged.
Inside, uncertainty settled heavily over everyone.
Beside her stood Betty, bundled in an oatmeal-colored coat over a white turtleneck sweater.
Despite dressing warmly, an uncomfortable chill still lingered.
Whether it came from the weather or fear itself, she could not tell.
"What do we do?"
Betty rubbed warmth into her palms.
"Do we stay here and wait for rescue, or go outside and fight?"
She hesitated briefly.
"Whatever choice you make, Hanna, I'm with you."
Hanna barely reacted.
Her thoughts were elsewhere.
More specifically, with Adrian.
Outside the windows, strange green light painted the sky.
The unnatural glow only made everything feel worse.
Betty sighed quietly.
"Hanna, you should probably worry about yourself right now."
Her voice turned more serious.
"That group could break in any minute."
As if responding to her words, loud cheers suddenly erupted outside.
The resistance had broken through.
Led by Commissioner Gordon, they had successfully stormed the government building.
"Oracle, we've secured Homelander's political headquarters."
Commissioner Gordon spoke into his communicator immediately.
Beside him, Harley Quinn threw both arms into the air excitedly.
"And tell her I blew stuff up!"
Commissioner Gordon completely ignored her.
"Flash and Wonder Woman have both been neutralized," he continued.
"But Nightwing suffered heavy injuries and can't continue fighting."
Far away in Gotham, Barbara Gordon sat inside the Batcave.
"I understand."
Her fingers moved quickly over multiple computer screens.
"We've done everything possible on the ground."
Her tone sharpened.
"The real battle is still happening in the sky. Homelander and the Yellow Lantern Corps are engaged with the Green Lanterns."
She took a breath.
"It's time to help shift the balance."
Barbara pulled up Batman's operational plan.
"After securing the building, immediately broadcast the news."
She continued quickly.
"Let the world know Homelander's headquarters has fallen."
"Then prepare support for the Green Lantern Corps."
Suddenly, Barbara froze.
"No!"
Her voice tightened.
Commissioner Gordon frowned.
"What happened?"
Barbara's fingers moved rapidly across her keyboard.
The room filled with frantic typing.
Batman, currently at the Tower of Fate, immediately joined the communication line.
"What is it, Oracle?"
Barbara pushed her glasses higher.
Her expression darkened.
"There's something inside the system."
She scanned multiple windows at once.
"It's active."
A few seconds later, her eyes widened.
"Found it."
Her breathing quickened.
"Someone's listening to us."
Batman immediately stiffened.
"What?"
"We're being monitored," Barbara said quickly.
"And worse, whoever it is knows we've been watching them."
"Disconnect everything," Batman said immediately.
"I can't."
Frustration flashed across Barbara's face.
"It's already too late."
She typed furiously.
"They traced our communications."
Her voice turned grim.
"They now have the locations of every resistance member who used the network."
Silence followed.
Batman's expression darkened.
"Who could break through your encryption?"
He spoke more to himself than anyone else.
"Victor Stone is in Coast City handling his mission."
He narrowed his eyes.
"Homelander's side shouldn't have anyone capable of this."
Then realization hit.
"Oracle."
His tone sharpened instantly.
"You need to leave the Batcave."
Barbara looked up.
"Now."
"The Batcave is compromised."
Without waiting, Batman switched focus.
"Commissioner Gordon."
"Yes?"
"Spread the news immediately."
"Tell the world the Presidential Building has fallen."
Barbara cut in immediately.
"No."
Her voice rose.
"That's reckless."
"If the enemy already knows our movements, making more noise only makes things worse."
Commissioner Gordon remained silent for a moment.
He trusted Batman.
Enough to know there was a reason.
He interrupted Barbara.
"Oracle."
His voice remained steady.
"I'll hold the line."
Barbara clenched her jaw.
Batman spoke again.
"Good luck."
Commissioner Gordon ended the transmission.
Immediately afterward, Barbara opened a secured communication line directly to Batman.
"What are you doing?"
Her voice shook with anger.
"You know this puts him in danger."
She lowered her head briefly.
"He's my father."
Her frustration spilled out.
"Are you really willing to risk his life?"
Batman stayed silent for a moment.
When he finally spoke, his voice sounded lower than usual.
"I'm sorry."
Then his tone hardened.
"But this is necessary."
Barbara stared at the screen.
"For what?"
"To force Homelander's people into one location."
Batman's eyes narrowed.
"We need an opening."
Barbara frowned.
"An opening for what?"
Batman answered immediately.
"To find whoever is spying on us."
Meanwhile, in Coast City, the resistance had already begun moving.
Black Canary led the charge into Ferris Aircraft.
Inside, Cyborg had successfully hacked the airport systems.
Every operational control was now under resistance control.
"Squads One and Two regroup!"
Black Canary shouted while running ahead.
"Everyone, board the planes!"
Their mission was clear.
Take control of the aircraft.
Support the Green Lantern Corps.
Near one of the windows, Carol Ferris watched everything unfold.
Quietly, she pulled out her phone.
"Hal?"
Her voice lowered.
"Are you there?"
Far above Earth, Hal Jordan punched a Green Lantern away before answering.
"I'm kind of busy right now, Carol."
He sounded distracted.
Still fighting in orbit, he floated between bursts of green light.
"Something's happening at Ferris Aircraft," Carol whispered urgently.
"There are resistance fighters here."
Her eyes shifted toward Black Canary's group.
"They're trying to take the fighter jets."
Hal's expression changed instantly.
"I'm on my way."
Without hesitation, he shot toward Earth.
In the distance, Adrian and Sinestro noticed Hal's sudden departure.
Sinestro frowned.
"What is he doing?"
"At a moment like this?"
His eyes narrowed.
"Running away?"
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
He watched Hal vanish into the atmosphere.
"He has a reason."
Nearby, Guy Gardner noticed too.
One of his arms remained stabilized by a construct created through his ring.
"Hal!"
Guy shouted angrily.
"You bastard, where are you going?"
Moments later, Hal reached Earth.
Descending rapidly through the atmosphere, he spotted Ferris Aircraft below.
Several planes were preparing for takeoff.
Immediately, he summoned a massive green construct hand.
The glowing hand grabbed one of the aircraft and forced it back down.
Hal landed shortly afterward.
Carol rushed toward him.
"Are you okay?"
Hal looked her over quickly.
"Did anyone hurt you?"
"I'm fine."
Carol glanced toward Black Canary's trapped group.
"But what are they even doing here?"
"They're helping."
A new voice interrupted.
Guy descended from the sky.
His expression remained hard.
"It's over, Hal."
He crossed his arms.
"Let the planes leave."
Hal immediately shook his head.
"Not happening."
Guy stepped forward.
"Then I guess we're settling this ourselves."
Hal clenched his fist tighter.
Green energy surged around his ring.
"This isn't your decision."
Guy glared back without backing down.
The air between them turned tense.
Carol stepped directly between both men.
"Enough."
She raised her hands.
"I'm already tired of the macho nonsense."
Her voice sharpened.
"But I'm not standing here while the two of you fight each other."
Hal looked at her, then toward Guy.
"This isn't about fighting."
His jaw tightened.
"It's about justice."
He pointed toward the resistance members.
"They think they can decide what's right for everyone."
His voice turned firmer.
"This is Earth's problem."
"You don't get to dictate what happens here."
Then he added coldly,
"And none of you get to judge Adrian."