On Earth-500, the Justice Alliance of America are their alternate Earth's greatest heroes. But on an adjacent alternate Earth...

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EARTH-501:

On Earth-501, events are reversed from its nearest AU neighbour. Here, there are no superheroes, only a grim cabal of supervillains known as the Crime Lords of Amerika. Owlgirl is the newest incarnation of the addictive supercortex surgery that has been passed along from Thomas Wayne Sr to Thomas Wayne Jr to Barbara Keane, the malific daughter of slain mobster James Gordon. Ultraboy is the son of the deceased Ultraman and his lover, tabloid journalist Lois Lang. Jesse Quark is the daughter of the deceased Johnny Quick and his wife, transtemporal criminal Iris Russell Allen. Power Ring is Jessika Cruze, the inheritor of the accursed Volthoom Ring. Super-Girl is the protege of the first Super-Woman, the late Amazon Avenger from Reformation Island. They are the second generation of metahuman villains on their Earth, but no less malignant for their relative youth.

In their satellite, the CLA kept surveillance over the hapless planet below. Earth-501 was not a happy world, as one can guess. Above Amerika, there were still visible scars from the Second Civil War that had erupted between the United States and the secessionist "Reformed States of Amerika," ending with a reciprocal nuclear strike that had obliterated Dallas, Miami and Atlanta on one side, and Boston, Detroit and Atlantic City on the other. On the eastern seaboard, global flooding had destroyed many of the port cities, while in Braseal, the former Amazon rainforest was aflame. In Antarctica, the western ice shelf had shattered and fragmented, causing massive tsunami throughout the Southern Pacific and Atlantic, inundating Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Chile. Having fought off a Khu'und alien invasion recently (because they were determined to be only ones who exploited Earth, never mind any parvenu would-be alien newcomers), the Crime Lords had devastated much of the Moon, causing lunar debris to swirl above the satellite's surface. 

His eyes still ruby red from 'disciplining' a food riot in the ruins of Rio de Janeiro, Ultraboy strode arrogantly from the teleporter, raising an eyebrow at the intent gaze of Owlgirl, who nodded toward the panopticon, the CLA's ultracomputer: "Barbara. What's caught your interest?"
"You should really see this, Louis. Look, we're all quite aware that this world is all but played out. Fairly soon, we'll have to abandon it as a write-off, due to the nuclear exchanges and climate change that have taken their toll over the last three decades. So, what do we do next?"
"Invade those weaklings on Rann over at Alpha Centauri?"
Owlgirl shook her head: "Alanna Sardath's fought us before. Added to which, they're too technologically advanced, even given the espionage activities you and Deana have managed over the years. We can defend ourselves if Rann ever attacks us, but we're in no condition to launch an offensive invasion ourselves."
"What about further afield?"
"Tau Ceti, Epsilon Eridani and Epsilon Indi have the otherwise nearest habitable zoned exoplanets and they're too close in terms of electromagnetic spectra activity. They've been receiving Earth telecommunications for decades and know how to prepare defensive action should we ever venture out that far. Added to which, there's that infernal defensive interstellar forcescreen out at the twenty light year radius from us. So, spatial expansion is out."
"Transtemporal, then?"
Owlgirl looked up: "No, for the same reason. This is a determinist universe, not a voluntarist one, Louis. We all know what happens in the future. For this world, there isn't one. As early as next century, Earth is a lifeless overclouded hellworld with an environment akin to neighbouring Venus. And timetravel to the past is locked so we can't launch an invasion of the Martian Federation billions of years ago when that world was habitable. Which only leaves sideways."
"What, you mean an alternate universe?" Super-Girl (Deanna Troilus) had arrived while the two CLA founders were conversing.
"Exactly, Dee. And this is the adjacent universe to our own..." Owlgirl motioned toward the screen before them.
Ultraboy sneered: "Hey, what is this, some kind of practical joke?! Those aren't realists who use their power to exploit their inferiors. They're altruists."
Owlgirl nodded: "Because these individuals belong to the Justice Alliance of America, believe it or not. On this Earth, Ayn Rand never became president as she did in our United States of Amerika, and never implemented her Freedom Agenda. They don't believe in individual self-determination and entrepreneurial freedom to exploit the weak and inferior."
"There seem to be an awful lot of these Alliance altruists, Barb."
"You're not wrong, Deanna. Fortunately, they seem unaware of our particular alternate universe and its relative proximity to their own. I suggest we send Jesse over there on a reconnaissance mission. And then, when we've gathered enough information and framed a proper strategy, we attack and subdue this inferior Earth."

EARTH-500: JAA SEABASE:

"Honoured Elder?"
The Monhegan Shaman Merokee had appeared before Lightning Girl, who sat up immediately and closed her book:
"Bella, are there any members of your august Alliance available? I have serious news to impart which may affect all of you."
"Lightning!" Bella Fawcett exclaimed, transforming the young African-American woman into the Worlds Mightiest Maiden.

As she entered the conference room, Superman, Robin, Three-Face, the Flash and Green Lantern were present:
"Is that all of us?"
Superman sighed: "Kara's away leading a team to divert the pending possible  collision of the rogue planet Anakaro with Barnard's World. The sunspot activity on Barnards Star is playing havoc with our internal communication network, Bella. Merokee appeared to us as well. So, what's this all about?"
The Monhegan elder and shaman motioned to what seemed to be a view of the Earth from thousands of kilometres above its surface, but it was visibly not their own Earth. As he gestured further, with horror the assembled Alliance members witnessed the spectacle of devastated and ruined cities, with the jagged stumps of fallen skyscrapers, and telltale images of obliterated human and animal outlines shadows imprinted on rock outcrops:
"Madre de Dios. Did this alternate Earth experience a nuclear war?" Green Lantern exclaimed.
"No, Jose Hernandez. There was a second US civil war on this Earth, but sadly that is not all that is wrong with it." The view switched to the Antarctic and the shattered remnants of the West Antarctic continental shelf. There was more. Torrential rain and flooding had obliterated Florida, Bangladesh, Mauritius and the Netherlands. In a shaken voice, Superman said in the sudden silence:
"Honoured Elder, is that Earth doomed? Does it have its own metahumans?"
With a downcast face. Merokee nodded: "I am afraid the answer is yes to your first question, Kalel. Wrong political leadership, accelerated consumption of fossil fuels and deforestation caused the rapid escalation of human-centred climate disaster. The average global temperature has risen four degrees there."
Lightning Girl closed her eyes: "Is there anything we can do to save those poor people? And where are their own metas?"
"I know this hurts you, Bella, my daughter, and I would not expose the ruin of this alternate Earth to you unless it were absolutely imperative. And in answer to your question..."
The images of the Crime Lords of Amerika materialised before them:
"No." Three-Face said, her hand over her mouth.

"You know these characters, Evelyn?"

With a shudder, Evelyn Dent managed to suppress her revulsion and horror at the individuals before her:
"We're in deep trouble, everyone. No, I haven't had the profound displeasure personally, but they look all too familiar. They're younger versions of the Crime Syndicate of America from back on Earth-Three. But Earth-Three was destroyed. This doesn't make sense. No, wait. Where there's one, there might be multiple alternate Earth versions of that hellspawn. So, let me guess. These folks must be the offspring of their Earth's Crime Syndicate, given their resemblance. So... Ultraboy, Super-Girl, a speedster who's probably the daughter of Johnny Quick, Owlwoman or Owlgirl, and Power Ring. I think it's obvious who they're doppelgangers of. Merokee, Honoured Elder, do these Crime Syndicate progeny have the strengths and weaknesses of their parents?"
"In some important ways, Evelyn Dent, they differ from your own ordeal with their Earth-Three equivalents. Ultraboy is vulnerable to blue kryptonite. Super-Girl is Super-Woman's stepsister, and so has her Amazon vulnerabilities, Jesse Quark has an analogue to your own abilities, Tanaka Rei, and Power Ring is vulnerable to the colour purple, Jose Hernandez."
"Evelyn? You've confronted something like this before. What do you suggest?"
"Well, it's not rocket science, Kal. Bella?"
"Why isn't our sentient Metaverse stopping them in its tracks?"
"For a very simple reason. Universe-501 is also sentient and wants to dispose of the Crime Lords, as they are called."
"But aren't there any heroic metahumans at all on their Earth?" The Flash asked.
Merokee motioned to a graveyard: "Behold. These are the memorials to the Justice Underground there, who valiantly held on against the carnage of these individuals and their blighted parents for as long as they could."
"I suggest this. Bella, you take on Super-Girl. Kal, you're best suited to combat Ultraboy. Tanaka, your target is Jesse Quark. Which leaves you to challenge Owlgirl, Robin, and Jose pitted against Power Ring. One other thing, Merokee. Are they inevitably victorious on their own Earth, as the old Crime Syndicate was on Earth-Three?"
"As I noted, its Universe-501 wants them gone and is dumping the problem they represent on our own Earth."

COLORADO DAM: 

As Superman soared high above the Colorado River toward its emblematic dam, he witnessed the brash young challenger rise to pummel the tonnes of masonry and concrete into oblivion. Superman headed downward to intercept him: "Sorry, kid. Playtime's over."
Ultraboy scowled at his father's alternate analogue: "So you're this world's Kryptonian standardbearer? And yet you undertake to protect your weakling inferiors on this planet, despite that?"
"Your mother was half-Terran, brat."
"Don't remind me. However, she was the most intelligent woman on this planet, as well as the most ruthless and avaricious. Father and she were perfectly matched."
"Why do you want to do this? Why not knuckle down and save your own world?"
Ultraboy let out a derisive laugh: "Why? Its humans got themselves into an irreparable quagmire of their own creation. The Lords have no obligation or duty to save them from themselves. Rao, you really are unlike my old father, aren't you?"
"You do realise I'm not going to let you destroy that dam, right?"
And with that, combat was joined. The older and younger man pummelled each other, although Superman's greater experience and training enabled him to throw Ultraboy into the upper atmosphere, when the young offspring of Ultraman noticed the presence of the Moon and accelerated toward it. Superman hurled him away again, above the elliptic. Ultraboy checked his tumble and began to move toward his opponent, when Superman produced an all too familiar blue radioactive heavy element:
"Ahhhhh! Kryptonite!"
"Always keep some variants in the Fortress for safekeeping. I believe this variety is Blue K from your own universe?"
"Y-you can't k-kill me, y-you're t-too... don't..."
"Uh uh, brat. That's an inertron gag over your mouth. In your condition, you don't get to pull a verbal two-step and teleport us back to your own universe, given what Merokee told us." And with that, Superman took the unconscious son of the Menace of Tomorrow in his arms, with enough blue kryptonite to subdue his opponent and keep him unconscious.

MAUNA LOA:

Lightning Girl had arrived at Hawaii's Mauna Loa volcano long before Super-Girl could do so and awaited her target. Super-Girl scowled:
"Who the hell are you, girly? I was expecting Wonder Woman or someone from her lineage."
"Sorry, they're busy. Newsflash, S-Girl. You don't get to trash two planets just because you're a nihilist adrenalin junkie. Call yourself an Amazon?! On this Earth and the one I came from, the Amazons are a civilisation of humanity, peace and tranquility. They only take up arms when they're forced to."
"Stop preaching. And why are you so grateful to the people on this antheap? We're well above them, their natural superiors."
Lightning Girl shook her head: "You don't get to set off the fireworks here, lady. I watched my home Earth burn and die. I will never allow that to happen here, least of all as a consequence of someone who watched millions of people die and did nothing to save them."
"Save it, bleeding heart. I'm going to wipe the sea with you!" With a snarl, Super-Girl shot forward. But Lightning Girl had faced training room scenarios with Earth-500's Wonder Woman and her opponent's tactics resembled hers too much. She evaded Super-Girl's brash initiation of hostilities and caught her in a bearhug, plunging into the ocean. Too bad it was the Pacific, not the Atlantic, and none of Aata's people were around, she reflected, as Super-Girl thrashed against the iron restraint that the World's Mightiest Maiden held her within. They emerged from the waters as Super-Girl finally broke Lightning Girl's hold and sneered at the other young woman:
"Nicely done. Too bad you won't survive to the end of this bout."
"Big words. Now, where was I? Ah, yes. Race you!"  But like her brother Captain Thunder, Bella Fawcett had the power of a tornado, the speed of a hare, the courage of ancient Uncas, the imperviousness of diamond, the flight prowess of an eagle and the tenacity of a charging ram. And while Super-Girl was Amazon-trained and used to triumph in combat, this time even her prodigious abilities were no match for her opponent, as Lightning Girl outpaced her, grabbed her Amazon lasso of submission and ordered her opponent to stand down and lose consciousness. As she soared back up out of the volcano, relieved to have averted a greater tragedy, a vestige of unease persisted. This had been too easy.

JOVIAN ORBIT:

Green Lantern's mark was several million miles away. He vaporised the free floating ice and rock projectiles that Power Ring hurled at him. 
"Stop this! I don't know about your Earth, but we Green Lanterns are pledged to serve other sapient life." Jose Hernandez telepathed through his ring.
"And what thanks do you get for it?  I am the holder of the power ring, and the Lantern of V-Valor. I killed to get my hands on it."
Jose caught the undertone of fevered, sadistic excitement in the woman's self-presentation:
"Aee. You are addicted to this power ring, aren't you, Cruze? It tired of its previous partner and made you desire it, and it will discard you in turn."
"No! You don't get to lay down the law to me, weakling. I am not bound by your sanctimonious foolishness."
"Holding this ring and serving in the Green Lantern Hegemony is a privilege and so is protecting others. You abuse yours. That has to stop."
"You will not stand in our way! The Crime Lords rule our Earth and we will dominate this one as well. Ah. I was wondering when you'd step up..." Jessika Cruze's lips curled in brutal glee as she sharpened stone and metal projectiles and then hurled them at her opponent. But Jose Hernandez had served as this sector's Green Lantern for more than five years and he did not intend to give up quite so easily. In any case, none of the myccorhizal fungi that his ring was vulnerable to existed out here. Unlike the gaseous envelope that surrounded their gargantuan neighbour. And  Jessika Cruze was so intent on mindless mayhem against her rival, she didn't see the fusillade of bromine ice that was hurtling toward her from the Jovian surface until it was too late. There was a flash of violet light and Power Ring was floating in space, unable to speak the trigger word that would have sent her and her counterpart back to her own blighted Earth.

CENTRAL CITY:

"And so that's it, Tan. From what Kal and Bella have told me, Ultraboy and Super-Girl were no match for our experience and discipline. Basically, Power Ring is addicted to her weapon. It's a parasitic or addictive relationship. You see a lot of it growing up in Rio. I think the same might be true of your own designated target, the Quark woman..."
"I'll get back to you, Jose. She looks like a no-show. Not sure why. From what I can tell from the residue, she's gone uptime. I would pursue her, but her trajectory suggests it was primarily evasive and she doesn't intend to return here with advanced future weaponry against us. Looks like Ms. Quark has deserted her erstwhile comrades, which means she's a lot more sensible than they are. Which may render her a future threat.

INTERLUDE: 25TH CENTURY:

"Sure. I owe those others nothing. So why did you want me to come uptime, anyway?"
James Olsen sat back in his ambichair and grinned malevolently at the speedster:
"Well now, from what you've told me, your own Earth will be dead in decades due to a runaway greenhouse reaction. Tactical advice? Unlike other alternate Earths, Tanaka Rei's Flash does not have an antithetical speedster to challenge him on our side of the moral compass. A 'reverse-Flash' or 'rival', if you will. Ms Chambers, I propose to train you and equip you to serve as that challenger and antithesis."
"'Reverse Flash' sounds like I owe that bozo something. But Rival...now that has the right resonance. Thanks for the assist, Mr O. Hey, does being uptime mean that there are all manner of historical records about my opposite number?"
"In abundance. You realised that without the necessary expertise and training, you could not prevail against the speedster. Which means you have the requisite wisdom to serve as a future threat to him and his female companion, "Ms Flash."  I think we will work very well together."

GOTHAM CITY:

Finally, in Gotham, Robin the Girl Wonder and Owlgirl, the Darknight Devastator, found themselves almost equally matched. Their respective minds were working overtime trying to assess the threat that the other posed. Robin recognised the facial features and the intonations of her voice, although she had been momentarily thrown by Owlgirl's probable identity. On Earth-500 after all, it had been Barbara Gordon who had inherited her mother's schizophrenia and who was in residential psychiatric care, while her brother Thomas served as Batboy in the Young Defenders. She knew that it might not be the case on other alternate Earths. Evidently there, Barbara Keane hadn't married Jim Gordon and brought up her daughter alone and was on the wrong side of the law. Good thing she'd sat down with Evelyn and discussed the probable training that Thomas Wayne had provided his distaff counterpart with.  From the way she fought, evidently she had the same enhanced cerebral cortex that Owlman had been gifted with. She was certainly proving a tough opponent. Meanwhile, Owlgirl scrutinised Robin as they fought. The facial resemblance was obvious- this was probably the daughter of Tom Wayne's brother Bruce, who hadn't been killed as a child on this Earth. And...Selina Kyle, Battlecat. Or whatever she was called on this Earth. The kid was good. No wonder, she'd been trained by her world's best. Unlike her companions, she didn't intend to underestimate her opponent or fall victim to some overblown, grandiose sense of self-entitlement. As time wore on, Owlgirl realised that they were too evenly matched.  Logic suggested that in this given situation, Robin might have the advantage of local terrain, due to adaptation to this world's specific enviromental conditions. Ah well. It had been a good gambit. And while it was good to see that Jesse had placed her own self-preservation over any overblown Crime Lords esprit de corps, it was time to beat a well-advised retreat. Time to leave. Breaking contact, Barbara Keane uttered the word "Volthoom." In an instant, her image surged across the visible spectrum and then into abrupt invisibility. Robin picked herself up from the ground and triggered the JAA teleporter. Something wasn't right about this. She'd have to sit down and talk to Evelyn about her Crime Syndicate.

EPILOGUE:

After Ultraboy, Super-Girl and Power Ring had been made secure and transported to the United Worlds prison planet Takron-Galtos, the Justice Alliance sat in their headquarters debriefing:
"So  Jesse Quark avoided combat altogether and you can't trace her tachyon squall, Tan? That's serious. When Hermes gets back from that Anakaro rescue mission, we'll see if his tech can track her. From the orientation of the tachyons in her residual trail, you think she's gone uptime?"
The Flash nodded: "Yes, Kal. I've got a sinking feeling we haven't seen the last of her. Just what I need, a renegade speedster in my rogues gallery. Knew it was too good to last without one."
"Evelyn?"
"I've been talking it over with Helena. We think Owlgirl went back to her own Earth, where we can't follow her. Smart move, really. Over there, she has the competitive advantage. And it looks like my preventative measures were justified, making sure that none of the others could use the safe word Volthoom, after the entity that created the power ring and its charging lantern on Earths Three and...501." Three-Face said, gesturing at the conference room's main viewscreen.
"What? You mean it's our neighbouring universe?!" Robin exclaimed. 
"Jose analysed the catalysis around where Owlgirl fled the scene. The trace element residue present has a specific radioactive imprint that's  consistent with travel to an adjacent AU."
"Which means Owlgirl has an opportunity to retrain, review her combat techniques and recruit a new contingent of Crime Lords. This isn't over." Superman concluded.

After Superwoman returned, she had something to tell her husband:
"Kal? Hermes did a pregnancy test as our mission medic. It was positive. We're going to have a baby, sweetheart."
Superman's whoop of pleasure reverberated around the Alliance headquarters. 



THE END [2.20 PM, MARCH 7, 2023]