Post by redsycorax on Feb 12, 2023 2:11:22 GMT
The Justice Alliance are Earth-500's mightiest heroes, but why have the lives of some individuals who are heroic on other alternate Earths diverged so radically here?
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ABOVE THE PACIFIC OCEAN:
"Jose! Behind you!" Warned by his lover Hermes Trimegistus, Green Lantern pivoted and hit the intruder with a power beam, thrusting the flame-haired, skull-faced creature back. As the Justice Alliance regrouped, Superwoman delivered a swift knock out blow to Satanna the sorceress before she could utter one of her magical words. Robin had earlier crash-tackled Black Banshee and subdued her, while the Flash had neutralised the threat posed by his coeval speedster, the android Silver Cyclone. Batman had fired a cryogenic grenade from his utility belt at Elastiman, leaving him frozen and in coiled disarray.
"I will triumph! I am the strongest of these amateurs!"
"Wait a minute! I recognise this character, he has an analogue back on Earth-Three. Professor Ronald Stein, who discovered a matrix enabling him to harness subatomic energies, who coerced two young students, Ronald Raymond and Jason Rusch, into joining him, effectively killing them. He's called Deathstorm there. But I know his modus operandi and this character's far too inexperienced for that." Three-Face called to the others.
The skullfaced monstrosity snarled in anger: "That will be the last time you betray any of us, young woman!"
"Oh, no, you don't, creep!" Captain Thunder intercepted the energy bolt meant for the woman he loved as she blew him a kiss:
"That's one I owe you, sweetheart." Three-Face winked.
"You were saying, Three?" Lightning Girl soared into action alongside her brother.
"Deathstorm's abilities are matter malleability, heat pattern cognisance, flight and intangibility. They don't work on organic objects."
"Damn you!" The skull-faced intruder screeched, as Aquaman sideswiped him with a whale's waterspout, causing the extinguishment of his abilities. Neutralised, he was no match for Green Lantern's power beam this time and joined the rest of his Injustice League companions in incarceration, before a VTOL arrived moments later to return them to Belle Rive.
As the Alliance debriefed, Superwoman frowned: "Flash, you've probably had more contact with AUs than any of the rest of us. Why are you so bewildered at our latest supervillain adversary?"
"Well, as Evelyn said, yeah, there is a Deathstorm supervillain analogue on her native Earth-Three. But this... "Furnace" character that's just met us for the first time seems to also have heroic analogues elsewhere in the multiverse. One of them's an Earth-One Justice Leaguer named Firestorm. That's not the only thing. I've been meaning to bring it up for some time. Black Banshee, Elastiman, Silver Cyclone, Satanna and now Furnace all have heroic analogues elsewhere."
"So why did their E500 analogues turn out bad pennies?"
"It makes sense, though. Remember, our universe is sapient, and while beneficent asylum seekers from other alternate universes seek sanctuary here and are welcome, AU supervillains and tinpot metatyrants are unable to gain entry here."
"So, what's going on here? Why are those Injustice Leaguers inverted versions of heroes elsewhere?"
"I know what you mean, Kara. It's almost as if there's a project manufacturing them..."
OUTSIDE METROPOLIS:
In a deserted cavern outside Metropolis, a redoubt of advanced technology existed. It had been secreted there for almost fifty years, preceding the arrival of Superman and Superwoman on Earth-500 in the seventies, and operated without government oversight. The Genetexcel Project had undertaken many questionable activities, such as engineering "DNAliens" from cloned human DNA material and then introducing microsurgical alterations to create artificial metahumans, but lack of due diligence meant that the original objectives of Genetexcel were first compromised, then abandoned altogether. The Genetexcel Project was renamed "The Foundry" and the survival of its life forms was contingent on their effectiveness as supervillains. And thus Superman and Superwoman fought DNAliens such as Aurae, Goldenguard and X2, putting down the appearance of such metahuman villains to opportunism and darkside individual science. (Their "darkside" descriptor turned out to be literally true, given the provenance of the shell corporations and 'dark finance' that had enabled the stealth corporate takeover of the original Genetexcel Project.
As Goldenguard stepped into the chief executive's office, he nodded: "Director Olsen."
James Olsen, Foundry chief executive, turned to face his most promising protege:
"Harper. Sit down. May I say, that kryptonite recovery mission was an excellent move? Pity about Aurae, but that asset was always difficult to control."
It did not escape James Harper, the clone of the one-time Golden Age Metropolis hero the Golden Guardian, that Olsen routinely referred to DNAlien charges as "assets", effectively dehumanising them. He had even gone so far as to install genetic failsafe 'triggers' to spontaneously degrade cellular material if the 'assets' were compromised through incarceration or detailed scientific investigation. But then, Olsen had always had a dark edge to him. He'd been sacked from the Daily Planet by its editor, Lois Lane, over his tabloid style exploits and unethical conduct, but had used the severance pay to attend Metropolis University, where he showed prodigious promise over recombinant DNA technology. And thus, after an excellent job interview performance, he was recruited as Genetexcel morphed into the Foundry.
Goldenguard cleared his throat: "Thank you, sir. But why was this necessary? Superman and Superwoman are immune to kryptonite now and have been ever since the late Alexander Luthor came up with his kryptonite antidote. All of our attempts to reweaponise the alien element have fallen short of purpose."
Olsen nodded: "Oh yes, and I know head office is becoming hesitant about further funding, but the Injustice League has strengthened our bargaining hand."
"Director, our theft of genetic material from alternate universes has gone undetected so far, but that may not last. And Aurae's death on our last mission removed the sole DNAlien that could traverse alternate universes with relative ease and focus."
"Ah, but Harper, you have a neural net overlay inside your brain. If it comes to an alternate Metropolis, you have the inherited experience of the original Golden Guardian. Now, are you ready to mount the retrieval mission for our Injustice League progeny?" There it was again, Olsen's choice of vocabulary. It implied that Black Banshee, Satanna, Furnace, Elastiman and Silver Cyclone were somehow 'superior' to mere 'assets' such as Goldenguard and his companions. Was it mere careflessness, or did Olsen regard his earlier creations as somehow 'flawed,', 'experimental' or even 'inferior?'
DAILY PLANET:
"Lois? You wanted to see us?"
The Daily Planet editor was seated at her desk, looking pensive:
"There's a problem and I think it might be a major one. One of my journalists, Steven Lombard, has gone missing in the caverns beneath Mount Metro."
"And Metropolis Emergency Services haven't been able to find any sign of him?"
"I wouldn't have troubled you otherwise, but he isn't the only one. I got a message from Vicki Vale at the Gotham Gazette. The same thing happened to Nelly Majors last week, in the same area."
Superman and Superwoman exchanged worried expressions:
"There's something else, isn't there?"
"This isn't the first time. In fact, it's been happening for the last fifty years. And what's worse, I'm afraid that one of my former employees is involved. One James Olsen."
"Batman told us about him, Lois. He was a tabloid journalist, wasn't he?"
"Yes, and when I found out he'd been taking bribes from corrupt city officials, I sacked him on the spot. I thought he'd reformed. My sister Lucille used to be sweet on him, until he turned dark. He cut her off after he returned to Metropolis University and discovered an aptitude for science. In particular...genetics."
"Oh, blazes..." Superwoman said softly
"Lois, how would the Planet like an exclusive? We can't be sure until we investigate the area in question, but thank you. As ever, your professional expertise has proven invaluable."
BENEATH MOUNT METRO:
As Captain Thunder and Lightning Girl broke through into a cavernous expanse, Green Lantern swept his power beam across the shadowy interior. He nodded to the others: "There's nothing magical there that the ring detects. Let's be careful, though."
"Wait. Is that who I think it is...Jim? James Harper, Goldenguard?"
A masked and uniformed gilded figure emerged, carrying a shield: "Robin. It's been some time."
"Are you on this "Foundry" project's trail too? It'd be good to have the company."
"No, Robin. I'm not on its trail. I'm...part of the "trail..."
He flung his shield at the incoming Alliance members. Green Lantern swatted it aside:
"You'll have to do better than that, friend."
"Jim, how could you do this? You were on our side of the ledger!" Robin cried in confusion and anger.
"I have no choice, Robin. Literally."
Superman used his x-ray and microscopic vision: "Young man, there's a neurological anomaly there. From what I can see, it's subveinous and there are a tracery of threads leading to your heart and lungs. So you're telling the truth."
"Kalel, this...this is obscene. You're saying young James here has been weaponised as if he were just an inert, unliving object and that he has some sort of 'fail safe' switch inside him which will kill him if he defies his creator's wishes?" Superwoman gasped in revulsion.
"'Creator?' But I've known James for years. We were members of the Young Defenders first iteration together!" Robin replied, shocked.
As Goldenguard looked away, she swallowed as Batman gently held his daughter's shoulder: "Robin? He isn't the James Harper you fought alongside. He's a clone."
"But...Batman, he knew me. His nonverbal cues and responses were exactly like the original Goldenguards."
"He has a neural network in his brain, which means he shares the original's memories, training...and feelings, Robin."
At that moment, they were distracted by a guttural roar as a blond haired behemoth towered from the darkness and lunged toward them. Lightning Girl surged forward and slammed him into the rock of the cavern around them. She was startled as it fell to the ground, lifeless. Batman stepped forward and played his utility belt torch over the corpse:
"Steven Lombard. And judging from the faint colouration to his skin, I'd say this particular clone was deliberately exposed to mutagenic gamma radiation."
Robin looked up at Superman: "Kal, does that mean that...that this failsafe switch Batman talked about was incorporated into all of the Foundry's clones?"
Superman nodded: "I'm afraid so, Robin. And Lightning Girl? Don't reproach yourself for this. You weren't the one who deliberately triggered this Brute's internal response when you knocked him out."
"Look out, Kal!" Wonder Woman said, as her magical lasso snagged on a female intruder, still vaguely recognisable as Nelly Majors, except for her blazing scarlet eyes.
Batman dashed a black smoke grenade down at the newcomer, who gave a shriek and then collapsed.
"Why is he doing this!?" Robin sobbed, overcome at the implications for the young man she still considered her friend.
"Olsen? I don't know, Helena. Bruce?"
"It looks like Goldenguard has divided loyalties, everyone. Look. He's left a tracer sphere here on the ground."
"Dad, we've got to get to him before Olsen can murder him as well!"
Superwoman nodded, her face grim and determined: "You're absolutely right,Helena. This is murder. And the Alliance cannot allow it to continue. Kal, Willie, Bella, Jose, with me. Hermes, Tanaka, Kator and Shay, second echelon. Aata, J'Onn, use telepathic scan, see if there are any marine creatures here we can tap if the need arises. Bruce, Helena, Oliver, Evelyn, rearguard. Mysta, get ready to teleport us out if we can't manage this."
"Check, Kara."
FOUNDRY MAIN COMMAND:
X2 turned to Olsen: "Director, the Justice Alliance will soon be here."
"You're an experienced telepath, X. Your abilities will come in handy against the Atlantean mutant and the Martian. It is to your credit that we remained concealed for too long."
"Can we trust Harper? I told you what he believes- that he feels deeply ambivalent about the morality of our objectives."
"I have never had any doubts about your own loyalties, X. You have my permission to trigger his cessation sequence if you discover that ambivalence has turned into outright treachery and treason. Ah. It seems we have guests. Welcome to the Foundry, Justice Alliance." As the facing side of the cave bulged outward and then shattered, the Alliance came face to face with its chief adversary/
Superwoman stepped forward: "James Olsen, this is unconscionable. You will immediately cease operations or face the consequences."
"Why should I do that, Superwoman? Do you honestly think anyone cares about mere genetic duplicates of baseline human beings?"
"Enough. What you have deliberately done here is depraved and corrupt almost beyond imagination. These clones are sentient beings in their own right, not flesh machines that you can manufacture, abuse and discard on a grotesque whim. This will not be allowed to stand."
"Who's going to stop me, Superwoman? You and your husband?" And then Olsen brought forward varicoloured meteors. Superman and Superwoman staggered as a familiar pain coursed through their bodies: "K-kryptonite? But Lex Luthor created an antidote for us before he died... why isn't it...green?"
"Get away from them!" Lightning Girl accelerated forward and plucked the fragments from his hand, before Green Lantern's power beam vaporised it. As Superman and Superwoman slowly recovered, Flash and Green Lantern experienced the next strand of their adversary's attack as X2 triggered superspeed ataxia in one and disrupted Green Lantern's control over his power ring, reaching out to further incapacitate Aquaman and J'Onn J'Onnz. But although X2 was a prodigious telepath, he lacked the decades of expertise that the Martian Manhunter had when it came to his psionic abilities. X2 began to visibly sweat, grit his teeth and tire as a furious Olsen looked on. As the DNAlien fell to his knees, Olsen coldly and calculatedly triggered the failsafe anatomy in his charge's body.
"Monster!" Robin screamed.
"Goldenguard, you saw the price of failure. From what X there told me, you have doubts about this enterprise. Granted, you're not as much of an asset as the Injustice League, but you're still one of my original charges and I will let you live. You have equivalent combat proficiency to the more baseline members of the Alliance. Kill them!"
"No."
"You dare defy me?! Knowing the consequences of that disobedience?"
"You are not my master, Olsen. If I have to die, then so be it. I will not be your henchperson any longer."
"Very well, then. Die-" But as Olsen thumbed the transceiver to activate the grisly, anatomical dead person's switch, Green Lantern had recovered sufficiently to send a power beam arcing across the room to intercept and disrupt the radiation. It never reached Goldenguard, who turned and hurled his shield toward his former tormentor, meaning to incapitate him. However, with a derisive sneer and flash of polychromatic light, James Olsen teleported away from the Foundry.
EPILOGUE:
At X2's funeral, Robin, now dressed as Helena Wayne, sat beside Goldenguard, in his civilian attire as James Harper:
"It's over, now. That murdering tyrant can't reach you anymore."
Harper smiled back at her: "I know. Thanks to your father's medical expertise, the subveinous failsafe has been permanently decactivated. And thank you for freeing me."
"James, I know I speak for the others when I say that the Justice Alliance would be proud and willing to have you within our ranks." Superwoman said as she shook his hand.
"It's tempting, Kara. However, the fact is that Olsen escaped and before he did so, he killed several of my companions. As long as he's allowed to roam free, he will always be a threat to the safety and welfare of clones across this world. I hope you understand, but my first priority has to be to keep them safe and free from Olsen's tyranny."
Helena watched as James walked away down the avenue of poplars. Turning to her father, she whispered:
"Dad, will I ever see him again?"
"I don't know, honey. Godwilling, yes."
THE END [1.30 PM, FEBRUARY 14, 2023]
++
ABOVE THE PACIFIC OCEAN:
"Jose! Behind you!" Warned by his lover Hermes Trimegistus, Green Lantern pivoted and hit the intruder with a power beam, thrusting the flame-haired, skull-faced creature back. As the Justice Alliance regrouped, Superwoman delivered a swift knock out blow to Satanna the sorceress before she could utter one of her magical words. Robin had earlier crash-tackled Black Banshee and subdued her, while the Flash had neutralised the threat posed by his coeval speedster, the android Silver Cyclone. Batman had fired a cryogenic grenade from his utility belt at Elastiman, leaving him frozen and in coiled disarray.
"I will triumph! I am the strongest of these amateurs!"
"Wait a minute! I recognise this character, he has an analogue back on Earth-Three. Professor Ronald Stein, who discovered a matrix enabling him to harness subatomic energies, who coerced two young students, Ronald Raymond and Jason Rusch, into joining him, effectively killing them. He's called Deathstorm there. But I know his modus operandi and this character's far too inexperienced for that." Three-Face called to the others.
The skullfaced monstrosity snarled in anger: "That will be the last time you betray any of us, young woman!"
"Oh, no, you don't, creep!" Captain Thunder intercepted the energy bolt meant for the woman he loved as she blew him a kiss:
"That's one I owe you, sweetheart." Three-Face winked.
"You were saying, Three?" Lightning Girl soared into action alongside her brother.
"Deathstorm's abilities are matter malleability, heat pattern cognisance, flight and intangibility. They don't work on organic objects."
"Damn you!" The skull-faced intruder screeched, as Aquaman sideswiped him with a whale's waterspout, causing the extinguishment of his abilities. Neutralised, he was no match for Green Lantern's power beam this time and joined the rest of his Injustice League companions in incarceration, before a VTOL arrived moments later to return them to Belle Rive.
As the Alliance debriefed, Superwoman frowned: "Flash, you've probably had more contact with AUs than any of the rest of us. Why are you so bewildered at our latest supervillain adversary?"
"Well, as Evelyn said, yeah, there is a Deathstorm supervillain analogue on her native Earth-Three. But this... "Furnace" character that's just met us for the first time seems to also have heroic analogues elsewhere in the multiverse. One of them's an Earth-One Justice Leaguer named Firestorm. That's not the only thing. I've been meaning to bring it up for some time. Black Banshee, Elastiman, Silver Cyclone, Satanna and now Furnace all have heroic analogues elsewhere."
"So why did their E500 analogues turn out bad pennies?"
"It makes sense, though. Remember, our universe is sapient, and while beneficent asylum seekers from other alternate universes seek sanctuary here and are welcome, AU supervillains and tinpot metatyrants are unable to gain entry here."
"So, what's going on here? Why are those Injustice Leaguers inverted versions of heroes elsewhere?"
"I know what you mean, Kara. It's almost as if there's a project manufacturing them..."
OUTSIDE METROPOLIS:
In a deserted cavern outside Metropolis, a redoubt of advanced technology existed. It had been secreted there for almost fifty years, preceding the arrival of Superman and Superwoman on Earth-500 in the seventies, and operated without government oversight. The Genetexcel Project had undertaken many questionable activities, such as engineering "DNAliens" from cloned human DNA material and then introducing microsurgical alterations to create artificial metahumans, but lack of due diligence meant that the original objectives of Genetexcel were first compromised, then abandoned altogether. The Genetexcel Project was renamed "The Foundry" and the survival of its life forms was contingent on their effectiveness as supervillains. And thus Superman and Superwoman fought DNAliens such as Aurae, Goldenguard and X2, putting down the appearance of such metahuman villains to opportunism and darkside individual science. (Their "darkside" descriptor turned out to be literally true, given the provenance of the shell corporations and 'dark finance' that had enabled the stealth corporate takeover of the original Genetexcel Project.
As Goldenguard stepped into the chief executive's office, he nodded: "Director Olsen."
James Olsen, Foundry chief executive, turned to face his most promising protege:
"Harper. Sit down. May I say, that kryptonite recovery mission was an excellent move? Pity about Aurae, but that asset was always difficult to control."
It did not escape James Harper, the clone of the one-time Golden Age Metropolis hero the Golden Guardian, that Olsen routinely referred to DNAlien charges as "assets", effectively dehumanising them. He had even gone so far as to install genetic failsafe 'triggers' to spontaneously degrade cellular material if the 'assets' were compromised through incarceration or detailed scientific investigation. But then, Olsen had always had a dark edge to him. He'd been sacked from the Daily Planet by its editor, Lois Lane, over his tabloid style exploits and unethical conduct, but had used the severance pay to attend Metropolis University, where he showed prodigious promise over recombinant DNA technology. And thus, after an excellent job interview performance, he was recruited as Genetexcel morphed into the Foundry.
Goldenguard cleared his throat: "Thank you, sir. But why was this necessary? Superman and Superwoman are immune to kryptonite now and have been ever since the late Alexander Luthor came up with his kryptonite antidote. All of our attempts to reweaponise the alien element have fallen short of purpose."
Olsen nodded: "Oh yes, and I know head office is becoming hesitant about further funding, but the Injustice League has strengthened our bargaining hand."
"Director, our theft of genetic material from alternate universes has gone undetected so far, but that may not last. And Aurae's death on our last mission removed the sole DNAlien that could traverse alternate universes with relative ease and focus."
"Ah, but Harper, you have a neural net overlay inside your brain. If it comes to an alternate Metropolis, you have the inherited experience of the original Golden Guardian. Now, are you ready to mount the retrieval mission for our Injustice League progeny?" There it was again, Olsen's choice of vocabulary. It implied that Black Banshee, Satanna, Furnace, Elastiman and Silver Cyclone were somehow 'superior' to mere 'assets' such as Goldenguard and his companions. Was it mere careflessness, or did Olsen regard his earlier creations as somehow 'flawed,', 'experimental' or even 'inferior?'
DAILY PLANET:
"Lois? You wanted to see us?"
The Daily Planet editor was seated at her desk, looking pensive:
"There's a problem and I think it might be a major one. One of my journalists, Steven Lombard, has gone missing in the caverns beneath Mount Metro."
"And Metropolis Emergency Services haven't been able to find any sign of him?"
"I wouldn't have troubled you otherwise, but he isn't the only one. I got a message from Vicki Vale at the Gotham Gazette. The same thing happened to Nelly Majors last week, in the same area."
Superman and Superwoman exchanged worried expressions:
"There's something else, isn't there?"
"This isn't the first time. In fact, it's been happening for the last fifty years. And what's worse, I'm afraid that one of my former employees is involved. One James Olsen."
"Batman told us about him, Lois. He was a tabloid journalist, wasn't he?"
"Yes, and when I found out he'd been taking bribes from corrupt city officials, I sacked him on the spot. I thought he'd reformed. My sister Lucille used to be sweet on him, until he turned dark. He cut her off after he returned to Metropolis University and discovered an aptitude for science. In particular...genetics."
"Oh, blazes..." Superwoman said softly
"Lois, how would the Planet like an exclusive? We can't be sure until we investigate the area in question, but thank you. As ever, your professional expertise has proven invaluable."
BENEATH MOUNT METRO:
As Captain Thunder and Lightning Girl broke through into a cavernous expanse, Green Lantern swept his power beam across the shadowy interior. He nodded to the others: "There's nothing magical there that the ring detects. Let's be careful, though."
"Wait. Is that who I think it is...Jim? James Harper, Goldenguard?"
A masked and uniformed gilded figure emerged, carrying a shield: "Robin. It's been some time."
"Are you on this "Foundry" project's trail too? It'd be good to have the company."
"No, Robin. I'm not on its trail. I'm...part of the "trail..."
He flung his shield at the incoming Alliance members. Green Lantern swatted it aside:
"You'll have to do better than that, friend."
"Jim, how could you do this? You were on our side of the ledger!" Robin cried in confusion and anger.
"I have no choice, Robin. Literally."
Superman used his x-ray and microscopic vision: "Young man, there's a neurological anomaly there. From what I can see, it's subveinous and there are a tracery of threads leading to your heart and lungs. So you're telling the truth."
"Kalel, this...this is obscene. You're saying young James here has been weaponised as if he were just an inert, unliving object and that he has some sort of 'fail safe' switch inside him which will kill him if he defies his creator's wishes?" Superwoman gasped in revulsion.
"'Creator?' But I've known James for years. We were members of the Young Defenders first iteration together!" Robin replied, shocked.
As Goldenguard looked away, she swallowed as Batman gently held his daughter's shoulder: "Robin? He isn't the James Harper you fought alongside. He's a clone."
"But...Batman, he knew me. His nonverbal cues and responses were exactly like the original Goldenguards."
"He has a neural network in his brain, which means he shares the original's memories, training...and feelings, Robin."
At that moment, they were distracted by a guttural roar as a blond haired behemoth towered from the darkness and lunged toward them. Lightning Girl surged forward and slammed him into the rock of the cavern around them. She was startled as it fell to the ground, lifeless. Batman stepped forward and played his utility belt torch over the corpse:
"Steven Lombard. And judging from the faint colouration to his skin, I'd say this particular clone was deliberately exposed to mutagenic gamma radiation."
Robin looked up at Superman: "Kal, does that mean that...that this failsafe switch Batman talked about was incorporated into all of the Foundry's clones?"
Superman nodded: "I'm afraid so, Robin. And Lightning Girl? Don't reproach yourself for this. You weren't the one who deliberately triggered this Brute's internal response when you knocked him out."
"Look out, Kal!" Wonder Woman said, as her magical lasso snagged on a female intruder, still vaguely recognisable as Nelly Majors, except for her blazing scarlet eyes.
Batman dashed a black smoke grenade down at the newcomer, who gave a shriek and then collapsed.
"Why is he doing this!?" Robin sobbed, overcome at the implications for the young man she still considered her friend.
"Olsen? I don't know, Helena. Bruce?"
"It looks like Goldenguard has divided loyalties, everyone. Look. He's left a tracer sphere here on the ground."
"Dad, we've got to get to him before Olsen can murder him as well!"
Superwoman nodded, her face grim and determined: "You're absolutely right,Helena. This is murder. And the Alliance cannot allow it to continue. Kal, Willie, Bella, Jose, with me. Hermes, Tanaka, Kator and Shay, second echelon. Aata, J'Onn, use telepathic scan, see if there are any marine creatures here we can tap if the need arises. Bruce, Helena, Oliver, Evelyn, rearguard. Mysta, get ready to teleport us out if we can't manage this."
"Check, Kara."
FOUNDRY MAIN COMMAND:
X2 turned to Olsen: "Director, the Justice Alliance will soon be here."
"You're an experienced telepath, X. Your abilities will come in handy against the Atlantean mutant and the Martian. It is to your credit that we remained concealed for too long."
"Can we trust Harper? I told you what he believes- that he feels deeply ambivalent about the morality of our objectives."
"I have never had any doubts about your own loyalties, X. You have my permission to trigger his cessation sequence if you discover that ambivalence has turned into outright treachery and treason. Ah. It seems we have guests. Welcome to the Foundry, Justice Alliance." As the facing side of the cave bulged outward and then shattered, the Alliance came face to face with its chief adversary/
Superwoman stepped forward: "James Olsen, this is unconscionable. You will immediately cease operations or face the consequences."
"Why should I do that, Superwoman? Do you honestly think anyone cares about mere genetic duplicates of baseline human beings?"
"Enough. What you have deliberately done here is depraved and corrupt almost beyond imagination. These clones are sentient beings in their own right, not flesh machines that you can manufacture, abuse and discard on a grotesque whim. This will not be allowed to stand."
"Who's going to stop me, Superwoman? You and your husband?" And then Olsen brought forward varicoloured meteors. Superman and Superwoman staggered as a familiar pain coursed through their bodies: "K-kryptonite? But Lex Luthor created an antidote for us before he died... why isn't it...green?"
"Get away from them!" Lightning Girl accelerated forward and plucked the fragments from his hand, before Green Lantern's power beam vaporised it. As Superman and Superwoman slowly recovered, Flash and Green Lantern experienced the next strand of their adversary's attack as X2 triggered superspeed ataxia in one and disrupted Green Lantern's control over his power ring, reaching out to further incapacitate Aquaman and J'Onn J'Onnz. But although X2 was a prodigious telepath, he lacked the decades of expertise that the Martian Manhunter had when it came to his psionic abilities. X2 began to visibly sweat, grit his teeth and tire as a furious Olsen looked on. As the DNAlien fell to his knees, Olsen coldly and calculatedly triggered the failsafe anatomy in his charge's body.
"Monster!" Robin screamed.
"Goldenguard, you saw the price of failure. From what X there told me, you have doubts about this enterprise. Granted, you're not as much of an asset as the Injustice League, but you're still one of my original charges and I will let you live. You have equivalent combat proficiency to the more baseline members of the Alliance. Kill them!"
"No."
"You dare defy me?! Knowing the consequences of that disobedience?"
"You are not my master, Olsen. If I have to die, then so be it. I will not be your henchperson any longer."
"Very well, then. Die-" But as Olsen thumbed the transceiver to activate the grisly, anatomical dead person's switch, Green Lantern had recovered sufficiently to send a power beam arcing across the room to intercept and disrupt the radiation. It never reached Goldenguard, who turned and hurled his shield toward his former tormentor, meaning to incapitate him. However, with a derisive sneer and flash of polychromatic light, James Olsen teleported away from the Foundry.
EPILOGUE:
At X2's funeral, Robin, now dressed as Helena Wayne, sat beside Goldenguard, in his civilian attire as James Harper:
"It's over, now. That murdering tyrant can't reach you anymore."
Harper smiled back at her: "I know. Thanks to your father's medical expertise, the subveinous failsafe has been permanently decactivated. And thank you for freeing me."
"James, I know I speak for the others when I say that the Justice Alliance would be proud and willing to have you within our ranks." Superwoman said as she shook his hand.
"It's tempting, Kara. However, the fact is that Olsen escaped and before he did so, he killed several of my companions. As long as he's allowed to roam free, he will always be a threat to the safety and welfare of clones across this world. I hope you understand, but my first priority has to be to keep them safe and free from Olsen's tyranny."
Helena watched as James walked away down the avenue of poplars. Turning to her father, she whispered:
"Dad, will I ever see him again?"
"I don't know, honey. Godwilling, yes."
THE END [1.30 PM, FEBRUARY 14, 2023]