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The Warworld, Sol System. Just outside of Jupiter’s orbit

Another powerful blast had sent Mongul through the walls and into the center of his arena. To think this place was once where he held great battle against some of the strongest lifeforms the galaxy had to offer. Now his entire planetary weapon was invaded by the so-called protectors of Earth. So much work, so much time, and it was all going to be taken away by these pathetic Earthlings.

As the beaten, bruised, broken and bleeding Mongul picked himself up he looked as all the super-powered fools who had bested him. Their figures stood in the recently made hole from the attack that had sent him back, emerging one by one from the dark interior. And leading them all was the man of steel, the so-called superior leader of this collection, with that glowing symbol on his chest that seemed to mock Mongul the more he looked at it. The human who was known as Lex Luthor and his array of supervillains.

The rest of his team had emerged as well, looking near as exhausted as Luthor did from all the fighting against Mongul; something the alien tyrant took what pride he could in. While Lex’s power armor was broken in places it was still functional, enough to have delivered a good powerful blast of energy to knock him through a wall at least. There was the criminal Captain Cold who’s ‘cold-gun’ was still intact despite all the hardships he and the others went through. The mysterious Black Manta, his helmet gone after the damage it took, while carrying the unconscious Cheetah in his arms. The sorcerer Felix Faust had emerged among the last in the group, the only one barely touched by all the action as he had stayed as far back from fighting unless forced to; and usually it was to protect his own skin unless threatened by Luthor or the others. The alien enforcer of order through fear, Sinestro, leader of his corps of yellow ringed lanterns. The metahuman Livewire was present as well and finally the mercenary Deathstroke who still wore his helmet despite the large piece missing from the fighting.

Beaten to near death and on his knees, with all his strength drained, Mongul sat and could do nothing but mange a few laughs even as Luthor approached him. The still armored and powered mastermind had his hand up, the energy building at the palm as he made it clear he could and likely would kill him at this very moment.

As Mongul continued to chuckle under his pained breath he said “You... You may call yourself Earth’s smartest man but, hehehehe, you’re still a fool.” He looked up to him with his good eye and continued “If you kill me you gain nothing. Just another death on your hands.”

“This wouldn’t be you trying to appeal to my conscious would it?” Luthor asked with a hint of annoyance. “I would think today would be a clear enough indication we’re not the Justice League.”

“I’m the only one with a mind powerful enough to control this machine.” Mongul pointed out. “Not even a human mind like yours has the capacity to command it. And you’re an even bigger fool than I thought if you think I’m going to do it for you. Admit it, Luthor, you probably didn’t plan this far ahead.”

“I’m not going to kill you.” Luthor began. “Even as much as it would put a smile on my face. I still have need of you. I’m going to make an example of you. I’ll bring you back in chains and let Earth be the only planet you ever see again. You’ll rot for however many years you’re alien life allows. And the whole world will know, the entire galaxy will know that the mighty Mongul and his Warworld weren’t conquered by any armies or demigods. It was one man, a human man. Lex Luthor!”

Hearing all of that Cold commented to himself “And, you know, we helped too.”

Mongul had sneered at first before smirking “That sounded pretty personal, Luthor. This wouldn’t have anything to do with me killing your pet monster would it?”

Suddenly Lex seemed to break and spat “Bizzaro wasn’t a pet! He was…” He stopped himself and took a moment to breathe deeply; Cold being the one to truly notice this reaction. Once recovered Luthor continued with “That will just be something else you’ll answer for. Now get up. You’re flying this thing back to Earth.”

“No.” Sinestro suddenly said, taking a few steps forward. “He won’t be.”

Everyone watched in shock and confusion as Sinestro fired his ring and the defeated Mongul. A beam shot right through the alien tyrant’s chest, piercing it like a sword and going all the way through. Mongul had given a last painful gurgle before falling to the ground dead.

Luthor turned to him and shouted “What the hell are you doing?”

Sinestro now had his ring pointed at Luthor and replied “What I need to do.”

Before he or any of the other members of the Injustice League could act they looked up to see several yellow aura figures descending from the sky. All of them were members of the Sinestro Corps and they had the other villains out-powered and outnumbered.

“I thought he was on our side.” Livewire said aloud, seeing the lanterns surround them.

Deathstroke then replied “Starting to better understand why Luthor doesn’t like aliens.”

Luthor, looking to Sinestro with a growing cold stare, only said “Had trouble reaching your forces. That’s what you said before. Clever.”

“You’re not the only strategist in the room, Luthor.” Sinestro smirked. “Opportunity presented itself so I decided to act.”

“And you used me as a pawn.” Luthor replied. “I’d congratulate you but I’m afraid that head of yours will swell even further.”

“Don’t be so jealous. Lex. In my position you’d have done the same. You’re just upset you didn’t try it first.” Sinestro retorted, dropping his arm as it was clear his Lanterns had him and the others covered.

“That still doesn’t mean you win, Sinestro.” Luthor pointed out. “He may have been a blowhard but Mongul was right. Not you nor any of your Lanterns can control the entire Warworld.”

As if on cue all the power within the moon-sized weapon seemed to activate all on its own. The loud hums of engines and machinery activating soon accompanied by the small drone sentries that had once littered the Warworld interior had come alive. The villains were now even further surrounded, many of them dropping their weapons or putting their hands up to show as such.

Faust looked all the more nervous and said “I need to get out of here!”

“You move and no magic will fix what I do to you.” Manta threatened, making him stop and go still.

“How?” was Luthor’s only question, still looking at Sinestro.

“You think you’re the only one who looks to his fellow criminals for allies?” Sinestro sarcastically asked before pointing to a monitor above on one of the walls of the area.

Where Mongul would usually cast his face on the screen the image now showed that of the super-minded human Hector Hammond; another known adversary of several of the Green Lanterns of Earth. He was sitting in the throne that Mongul controlled Warworld from, his large cranial strapped with the interface that granted him the power. However looking at the background it showed he did not do this of his own will as several more Yellow Lanterns had their rings pointed at him to keep his compliance.

Seeing this now Luthor took another deep breath and said “You’re really bastard, Sinestro.”

“Now, now, Lex. Let’s all be adults here.” He began. “Besides we both still get what we want. You get to leave here alive, only because I’m grateful you saved my life, and I get to claim this war machine for my corps. Take that away at least. Now if you don’t mind, Mr. President, get off my Warworld.”

Luthor only sneered and replied “Very well. We’re done here anyway.” He turned and demanded “Faust! Let’s go.”

Faust nodded before starting to cast a spell. The other villains gathered around him to make sure they were close enough for whatever the dark sorcerer was going to do to get them home. Before the spell was cast Livewire, looking nearby, had managed to find Bizzaro’s cape in the debris from the fighting. She reclaimed it and held it close, her own pain of the loss of the Kryptonian clone having its silent effect on her. As the spell was finally cast a sphere of magic came over the group, bolts of magical energy sparking here-and-there as they were slowly being transported away.

As Luthor looked back he gave a final “Just one warning, Sinestro. If you come back to Earth I promise I WILL kill you myself.”

With that the Injustice League vanished in a flash. Sinestro only scoffed silently at Luthor’s threat before turning his attention back to his troops, now with himself in command of the Warworld for him and his Sinestro Corps.

“We’ve all done well, my troops.” He addressed. “And now, Mr. Hammond, take us away from this system. Even from here the stink of Earth is filling my nostrils.” As one of the Yellow Lanterns, Romat-Ru, had asked where they were going, his response “First: Korugar. It’s time I take back what’s been rightfully mine. After that, we go to war with Oa.”

As the Warworld flew off into space Sinestro watched the journey with burning, silent anticipation. Now with such a powerful weapon at his disposal, and now flying the banner of the Sinestro Corps for all to see, he was now one step closer to bringing order to the galaxy through the fear he would instill upon all. His main obstacle however would come when he and his Sinestro Corps brought war upon Oa, the Guardians and all of the Green Lantern Corps itself. And oh how his fists clenched and his lips curled to a great smirk when that battle would soon begin.

**********

Louisiana Swamplands

Within the secret bunker lair of the Injustice League Felix Faust’s spell had worked, all of the members arriving in one piece. It took them but a moment to see this for themselves before reacting to the initial outcome of their little mission.

“Now what do we do?” Cold asked. “Sure, we just saved the world, but now we left it in the hands of Sinestro of all people.”

“You can do whatever you want.” Deathstroke replied, pushing past him and Livewire. “My contract was ensuring that Luthor made it back alive.” Walking up to the man himself he said “And he looks in good shape to me.”

“Very well, Slade.” Luthor said before tapping a few devices on the gauntlet of his armor. “There. That should be substantial.”

Deathstroke took a moment to double-check his incoming on a small phone, seeing the payment went through, before nodding “A pleasure doing business, Mr. President.” Before eventually leaving.

After he left Livewire said “Fun as this was, Lex, next time I want to go on some suicide mission I’ll join Waller’s little task force again.” She turned but stopped, tossing him Bizarro’s cape and saying “Here. He liked you the most anyway.”

After that the metahuman woman walked to a nearby plug outlet. She merely held her arm out and became like living electricity, disappearing inside of it before being gone from the room.

When she was gone Luthor began with “Well then, Manta, are you going to…?” He stopped and realized he was gone, questioning “Where did he go?”

Both Cold and Faust looked around before the latter said “He must have slipped away with Cheetah.” After that he replied “In fact I should be leaving as well. Like Livewire said, Luthor, I don’t think this sort of thing is-”

“Not so fast, Faust.” Luthor grabbed his shoulder tightly. “I still have another job for you.” As Faust tried to talk his way out Luthor then insisted “Don’t try to weasel your way out, Faust. Remember our deal. Or do you want me to let it slip what you did with Madame Xanadu to the League? I think the Demon will have a few choices words for you.” As Faust gulped and nodded his compliance Luthor let him go while saying “Good. Now get out of my sight.”

Once Faust had vanished thanks to more of his magic Cold looked at him and said “Sheesh. No wonder you made it into the office so easily.” After that he watched Luthor turn, looking down at the cape that once belonged to Bizzaro, and asked “Why do you care so much about him, Luthor? He was just a monster.”

“No.” Luthor replied. “He was MY monster!” He turned back to Cold, showing how serious he was which sent a chill all over the villain before he continued with “So what will it be for you, Snart? Planning to head back to Central City? Or do you, like Mr. Wilson, need more money as compensation?”

Cold waved it off and replied “After today I think I’ll take it easy for now. Head back home and get some nice pocket change while I’m around. But, if I can be honest, Lex, half the reason I joined is for the glory.” The questioning look on Luthor’s face made him explain “It’s just like back when you first started this Injustice League thing. When people found out I worked with heavy hitters like Deathstroke and Black Manta you can imagine how much more respect I got. Sure, everyone does it now but I get the credit of being among the first.”

Luthor huffed a smirk and commented “I guess there is some honor among thieves then.” After that he began to walk out while saying “I need to get back to Washington before they notice I’m not really on Airforce One. This isn’t over, Snart. Keep that in mind. Mongul was just the first. Everyone knows Earth isn’t as strong as it was. Not with Superman gone. And the League is starting to grow thin. The cruel irony of it is that we need to start playing ‘hero’ just like them. But give it time. Soon enough the world will know who its real heroes are.”

The two eventually exited their base which, as it turned out, was a large dome-like structure situated in the middle of the swamplands. In truth it used to be a ship belonging to the alien Brainiac before it was brought down thanks to Superman and Supergirl. It was kept hidden before being repurposed by Luthor in secret, slowly rebuilt and changed over time until it was now the hideaway for him and his Injustice League.

Once he had returned to his office in the White House Luthor sat in contemplation for the future. Now with the threat of Mongul gone who else would return? Despero? Darkseid? Or would Sinestro grow bold enough to return with the Warworld and his army of Yellow Lanterns? In the end Luthor hated to verbally admit it but he realized why Superman had been a necessity during these times. And now with him gone how long would Earth’s heroes last?

He looked down at Bizzaro’s cape still in hand and thought about how it must have been for the one who found Superman’s in the rubble of Metropolis after his fight with Doomsday. Bizzaro was supposed to be the next Superman but now he was gone and another like him would not be around soon enough. Just then an idea started to come to mind, making Luthor find his personal phone for the Cadmus labs.

“Hamilton. It’s me. I have a new project for you. … Yes. Only this time I think we need to try a different approach. Do you still have the kryptonian girl’s DNA on record? … Good. I’ll be there tomorrow to discuss the details. … No. Let’s call this one ‘Project Galatea’.”