Chapter Text
There was a time when the Old Gods died...
Plagued by sin and strife, they died in flames!
from their ashes two worlds formed...
As equal in power as they were in philosophy!
On one world; they evolved a utopia for all who lived n the world of New Genesis and it's floating capital city of Supertown! No disease or pain knew the inhabitants of this heavenly paradise!
On the other; a despotic wasteland of the world filled with fire and ash. On this world known as Apokolips; selfishness and cruelty was the law of the land and kindness and smiles were met with offense and punishment.
These two worlds were the homes of...
THE NEW GODS
These worlds inevitably came to war with eachother; a merciless terrifying war where billions were lost on both sides and neither side giving an inch! On the 100th day of the 100th year of this terrible war; an uneasy armistice was struck between the worlds of both worlds. They would exchange their sons to put an end to the war.
The wise and noble ruler of New Genesis; the Highfather would raise the son of Apokolips on New Genesis as his own. The boy Orion knew only kindness and tenderness.
However; the son of New Genesis known as Scott was sent by the despotic ruler of Apokolips to his orphanage of fear. The matron Granny Goodness showed Scott no such kindness and tortured him with the other poor children as he was raised to serve his new father; the despotic tyrant Darkseid before he escaped and roams Apokolips trying to do good whenever he could.
As the boys grew up and the worlds settled into the uneasy peace; it was known that this fragile peace would not last forever and one day war would one day erupt once more...
"I am sorry to interrupt what is... I mean no disrespect as your story is riveting and everything..." said of the voice of Maxwell Lord seated at a table with people in suits with the wall showing a logo for his company LordTech; the man talking with calmness and and apologetic tone as he was facing a man with a beard and glasses next to an easel where he was showing off slides with epic looking drawings for his presentation. "I mean that your pitch... Is wow and it's such a story... I love the work in the drawings... Mr..." Lord said looking to his notes as the man coughed.
"Flashman. Funky Flashman and these slides were the word of talented artists who I could not do without! They drew and brought the story to life and I only awesomely accentuated their stories by putting my words to the drawings!" the man clarified as the people in suits looked in disbelief as Lord fake coughed.
"Yes... Thank you for clarifying Mr Flashman... But I think that you would be better off pitching this to a movie or TV studio. We develop technologies and sponsor superheroes. Plus we are quite busy with a lot of work..." Lord then said as Funky then grinned.
"That's why I am here! You see the son of Darkseid himself; I represent him as his manager and PR agent! He has against all probabilities; escaped the dark forces since he made his escape on Apokolips! I have named him Mr Miracle and you should be begging him to join your little Justice Gang!" Funky then replied as they then looked at him.
"Well Mr Flashman; if you would bring your client... This Mr Miracle here then I am sure that we could set up a proper audition..." Lord then said as Funky cleared his breath.
"He is rather busy at the moment. Fighting the good fight against the evil that rules the only home that he has ever known. You know how superheroes can be!" Funky then said as they then stared at him.
"Well if we give you a contact number; you can call us when he is available." a woman in a suit then asked as Funky then grinned.
"I will be sure to do that; I will have a talk with him once I finally able to get him to agree to take on my services..." Funky then said as they then blinked at him.
"Take on your services... I thought that you said that you were his manager?" asked a man in a suit incredulously as Funky then cleared his breath.
"Well... Not officially... Most of the time; he asks that I leave him alone but I am wearing him down and I am sure that one day soon; he will see the benefits of taking the Fantastic Funky Flashman as his man and to have his story showed to the true believers everywhere!" Funky then replied as they stared at him.
"Let me get this straight... You came here on behalf of someone who hasn't accepted you as his manager?" Lord asked wanting to be sure as Funky then stared at him awkwardly. "Can we get security in here please..." Lord asked looking behind to his assistant as Funky gathered his slides and got out a device from his jacket.
"No need Mr Lord; I know where I am not wanted. I will come back another time and with the Mighty Marvel known as Mr Miracle himself!" Funky then said as he used the devoice to open up some sort of portal that seemed to be sucking in the chairs and table. The people in there screamed and ran to the back of the room as Funky then went through the portal. The people were screaming as they fought against the portal but then it disappeared as they looked back and saw the mess that the office was left in.
"Where do you find these guys Max?" asked one of the people in suits incredulously to Lord who just stared.
Apokolips; a charred wasteland where large volcanic pits littered the landscape; monstrous winged dark green creatures patrolled the sky and everywhere there were large billboard like screens broadcasting one simple message 'DARKSEID IS'.
Cloaked figures were watching from a high cliff; looking down as there were a labor camp where there were the creatures keeping on watch while figures were whipping weak starved slaves to carry out their duties of mining rocks. A figure with a binocular device wearing a dark green cloak was watching with disgust; looking to the creatures and an in progress statue being carved with only the legs finished as more slaves were carving it.
"Please... We have been at it for fifty hours now... Could we at least get some liquid to drink..." pleaded one of the slaves and one of the figures with whips angrily began attacking the poor slave with the man's disgust showing.
"I can't watch anymore... If there is any time to strike..." the figure in the green cloak then said throwing the binoculars away and grabbing a blaster as a woman in a purple cloak then grabbed his wrist.
"Please Scott... I know how it looks and what you can be like... But we can't afford to lose anymore potential recruits... Our numbers are dwindling enough as it is." pleaded the woman as Scott then gave her a look.
"Look down... Those poor slaves look like they don't have any energy to carry out the tasks that they are being forced to do... How can we expect them to agree to be soldiers Grace?" Scott asked the woman Grace who looked into his eyes.
"Freedom comes at a cost and if the people of Apokolips ever expect to be free then they must be willing to fight for it! You would be surprised what hope motivates someone to do." Grace then said as Scott smiled coming in closer to her face and she did the same. They then shared an embrace and kiss.
After they let go; they all readied their blasters as Grace then looked serious as she declared "okay Hunger Dogs; let's show them our bite!" Grace then led the troops roaring as they then began firing at the creatures. "Take these Parademons!" Grace then yelled at the flying creatures Parademons as they then began shooting at the staff of the camp before they could fully take on the invading forces.
"Hunger Dogs... Low wretches that dare try and stand up to the natural order of the world..." yelled a monocle and dark red military suit wearing figure who was acting as the warden. Parademons swarmed the forces and soon they were overwhelmed as Scott was going to work breaking the chains of the slaves and gathering together but then they were all surrounded by Parademons.
Scott looked around and saw his allies starting to be overwhelmed as he then threw his cloak away to reveal a bright red and yellow bodysuit and then put on a similarly coloured mask. "Hey Vundabar! Watch this escape attempt!" Scott then said taking out a device as Grace facepalmed with him opening up a portal. The then pushed the slaves through as Scott then jumped up to tackle the Parademons as they were being pulled through the portal; the slaves screamed as they were pulled through.
Scott then shot at the Parademons and they were distracted and closed the portal. He then tackled Vundabar with a punch to the face and got to his fellow Hunger Dogs. "Time for an escape!" Scott yelled as he opened up a portal to pull all of them through.
A figure in dark red and dark blue bodysuit with a silver helmet was thrown aside and landed not too gracefully on the ground. The figure grunted and felt in pain but stubbornly got on his feet as he looked up at the much larger opponent whose size towered over him. It was a muscular hulking bute of a figure in dark green armor with long black hair and a black beard. "Orion; once I finish breaking your body and spirit; I will present your head as trophy to Father! He will see that I am the one true son of Darkseid; be grateful that you will get to be my stepping stone brother!" taunted the much larger figure as the smaller figure known as Orion lunged himself at the larger figure and managed to bruise his face and punched at his stomach.
"Do not insult me by calling me brother! I have disowned you and the figure whose blood that I draw from! He is not my father and he would no sooner acknowledge you as his son! You are nothing more than a weapon at best Kalibak!" Orion snapped back as he gathered his strength and power and managed to put more power in his punches and sent Kalibak to the ground.
However Kalibak vanished and Orion was met with a redheaded woman in a black and bodysuit; "You have certainly taking a beaten Orion. Perhaps it's time that you take a break?" suggested the woman as Orion took off his helmet to show his red hair as he went closer to her.
"I need all the training that I can get. If I can't master how to beat Kalibak; then how could I possibly hope to kill his father?" Orion asked as the woman shook her head. "Plus if I have gotten too hurt then it's on you for designing this training simulation to be so realistic!" Orion then said with a smirk as she then playfully tapped his shoulder.
"Blaming me... Is this what I have to expect from you? I sure know how to pick men..." she playfully retorted as Orion brought her closer as they embraced. There was a wof whistle and then noticed that standing there with his arms folded smirking was an orange haired man with a golden mask that exposed his face and hair as well as a white, red and golden bodysuit. "What are you doing Lightray?" asked the woman with a sigh as Orion looked annoyed.
"Hey; don't stop on my account Bekka..." teased Lightray as they then just stared at him as he then sighed. "Okay... Highfather wants to see you Orion." Lightray then explained as Orion then nodded and Bekka said goodbye to Orion. "So... Have you relaxed more? A beauty like that as your girlfriend with brains to match; if I were you I would focus more on her than fighting..." Lightray told Orion with a smirk as they went through the golden corridors as Orion gave him a look. Everyone passing them by; bowed before Orion.
"I have to be focused and ready. My destiny is fight Darkseid in a fight to the death. I have to kill him when the time comes or the universe is doomed." Orion then told Lightray sternly who then fake yawned.
"You shouldn't be too ruled by a prophecy given by someone who does nothing but sits on his butt all of the time... Live a little; after you beat him and save the universe... What will you do then?" Lightray asked as they then came across the chambers.
Out of the chambers was a pink skinned humanoid insect in white attire who almost bumped into Orion and Lightray who were surprised to see him. "Orion... My apologies; I am Forager and I am an ambassador sent from the Mound on behalf of my Queen..." the stranger then introduced himself in an apologetic tone as they looked at him.
"A Bug was allowed up here in Supertown?" Lightray asked with wide eyes as then emerged with a frown was figure with long white hair, a long white beard, dark purple robes and a royal looking staff.
"To discuss a treaty of of an alliance between our people Lightray. For too long we have been separate when we share New Genesis." the figure then said as Orion looked at him.
"But Highfather; we have been fine up here and what could we do allying themselves with the Bugs? They are unimportant..." Orion asked as the figure known as the Highfather gave a stern look to Orion as Forager looked uncomfortable.
"You shouldn't be so close minded Orion and if we don't reach out our hands offering aid; how can we expect others to offer their own hand when we need it? We don't need to be alienating potential allies and friends." scolded Highfather as Orion then followed him inside the room which had the walls filled with pictures of Orion as well as Highfather with several individuals. Highfather stopped to stare at him with newborn Scott before looking away. "The Wonder Staff has been directing information to me through the Source... Telling me that the War with Apokolips may soon erupt once more..." Highfather then solemnly explained as Orion then became alarmed.
"We must get the military ready... All potential recruits enlisted... On the clock training..." Orion then said at once as Highfather then went to put a hand on his shoulder.
"We will be prepared my boy; I assure you but I don't want you to be so gung-ho about running into a war that has yet to start up again. Being wreckless will be your undoing and I don't wish to lose another son." Highfather then told him as he then went to a device on a podium and turned it on.
It showed a vision of the outside of space to show what looked to be an unending wall; "Through the Mother Box; we can glance at the Source! The power of the New Gods filled with unending knowledge; we must trust that the Source is warning us for a reason! To prepare ourself but with wisdom!" Highfather then said as Orion sighed.
"I know of this but the fool with the chair has told me of my destiny... To fight Darkseid to the end in a fire pit... I must know that I will beat him..." Orion then said as a sound was heard behind them. They looked and glared as there was a figure clad in dark blue bodysuit with silver circuitry pattern on it as well as a full face mask with a hole for his face. His hands were together as he sat on a high tech green chair. "Metron." Orion stated to the intruder in the room.
"Your Astro Force versus your father's Omega Effect. It will indeed be a spectacle to witness." Metron then stated in a low whisper as he looked at the vision. "The Source... What I would give to see it's secrets..." Metron stated as Orion scoffed causing Metron to glance his way.
"Shouldn't you be content with the knowledge beyond time and space that your Mobius Chair gives you Metron?" Orion asked with his arms folded as Metron shook his head.
"It breaks any barrier except for the ones protecting the Source's secrets. Including how you are expected to triumph in the coming war?" Metron asked as Highfather angrily rounded on Metron.
"You would do well to watch your tone when acting as a guest here Metron. Don't think that I am not well aware of the fact that you hold no allegiance to here or Apokolips. You may have given the prophecy of Orion's destiny but that doesn't give you the right to say what you wish." Highfather warned Metron who stared at him. "Was there a point to your visit?" Highfather asked as Metron gave a slight nod.
"Kalibak is leading forces onto a planet that it closer to New Genesis than it is to Apokolips. Do with this information as you wish." Metron then said as he then vanished.
Orion then got his helmet to put it on; "Apokolips knows too well that we can retaliate against any invading forces on our territory or under our protection! It's time that I put my training to work against the real Kalibak!" Orion said seriously as Highfather put his hand on his shoulder.
"May the Old Gods be on your side Orion; Kalibak may not have Darkseid's mind but we must be prepared for anything that is in store." Highfather then told him softly as Orion then nodded.
At the camp where the Hunger Dogs were housed; an angry looking man was rounding on Scott who had his mask off. "Look at what you did; one of your wreckless heroics..." yelled the man as Scott then looked at him.
"Look at what I did? You mean once more saving people suffering and giving them a taste of freedom?" Scott retorted as the man then scoffed with many of the Hunger Dogs giving dirty looks towards Scott.
"All you are doing is stopping us from getting more soldiers while we die out there on these missions! How can you expect us to one day topple Darkseid if our numbers remain so low that it's a joke! We need an army to stand something resembling a chance against Darkseid!" the man snapped back at Scott who glared at him.
"We need to be better than the evil we are fighting against! How can we stand up against evil if we rescue those suffering and tell them that they have been conscripted into an army! We chose to fight for us and all of them and we can't force them to choose to fight!" Scott then told him as the man reached for the Mother Box.
"We need more numbers; we are going to where you have been sending the slaves..." snapped the man as he began wrestling the device but then it showed a vision showing bodies of slaves on a green planet with many alive ones asking what do they do before getting a rock to bash against their heads.
Scott looked on in shock and confusion as they all took this in; "What... What is going on... They got freedom... Why would they..." Scott muttered as they rounded on him with glares.
"They have just been killing themselves... Too many on Apokolips have been conditioned to serve and or suffer under our god for 'Darkseid Is'. He is everything and our lives are all of his; all you have been doing is taking these souls away from their dark god! If we took them back; we could have convinced them to fight but now they have been wasted... They died unable to accept their own freedom when they could have fought for something more important than their lives!" snapped the man as Scott just stood shell shocked before running to his tent.
Scott laid onto his covers with a sigh and then entered Grace; "Nothing seems to go right Grace... Whenever I do good... Or try to... It always backfires... Why do I continue doing this..." Scott asked as Grace gently put her hand on his cheek.
"Because you have hope... Hope will carry us through... Hope that we can stand up against an unstoppable evil and topple it down to the ground... When I first saw you; everyone thought that you were naïve But I see a strong courageous warrior... The son of Highfather... Maybe your sense of heroics will one day lead to our victory..." Grace told him encouragingly as she was over him and seductively embraced him and he smiled as he took her closer and they kissed...
Orion was preparing himself as he was putting on a high tech harness which attached to his feet and arms. "Are you alright with using the Astro Harness since everything that I helped create is dangerous to your health?" jokingly asked Bekka coming up to Orion who just smiled at her.
"I am fine Bekka and the Astro Harness has always served me well. As do your other inventions like the Mother Box." Orion then said as Bekka's smirk grew.
"So you are into me for my brains and my gadgets? Are my looks and everything else just a plus?" Bekka asked as she came close to affectionately put her finger to his chin and Lightray smirked as he came closer.
"As much as I would love for you both to get a room; we have Apokolips butt to kick." Lightray then said as Bekka then walked away with them looking disappointed. Bekka then came to a Mother Box and opened it up to show a portal.
"Don't have too much fun out there and be careful!" Bekka then warned as Lightray then started glowing golden and then flew right into the portal. Orion readied the controls on his harness and began flying through the portal.
They were both in space and saw a large ship flying towards a planet leading a large swarm of Parademons. Lightray then flew right at the Parademons and then zapping them with energy blasts as Orion began flying towards them and focused his Astro Force through his Harness to began shooting at the Parademons himself.
Orion looked more focused as he was shooting at them while Lightray looked more excited and carefree as he was blasting them. The Parademons then noticed and started swarming them with them bgena shooting more down and pushed them away as they tried to dogpile on them.
Focus on the Parademons while I go for the source..." Orion told his friend as he flew at the ship and focused a blast right at the ship with a hole forming. He then flew in and emerging from the cockpit was the real life Kalibak.
Kalibak then lunged at Orion and punching at him as Orion then began blasting at him. Kalibak looked disoriented but took the hits as he then grabbed at Orion and pushed him back but Orion used his Harness to steady himself. "So Orion runs to his doom... If you are so desperate to die then who am I to deny you your wish?" Kalibak taunted as he then lunged at orion to punch at his punch and gut.
Orion took it while grunintg form the pain but began shooting at Kalibak who gathering his strength through the Harness. A blast sent Kalibak flying back with him landing with a thud. Orion the nflew at Klaibak and then punched at him as a figure made himself known.
The figure was in black knight like armor with a dark red double lightning bolt symbol complete with a horned helmet. The figure then gout out a sheathed sword as he then lunged at Orion and pierched through the Harness. Orion then fought back against the figure but he struggled with breathing as the figure then caught him by the neck.
The figure then with great strength then threw him right at the wall with him landing with a strong thud. Orion then gatehred his strength to start blasting at the figure with the damaged Harness but the figure just took the hits head on like it was nothing. At great speed; he then got to Orion and picked him up by the throat and started punching hard at his face.
The figure then stopped and then dropped Orion; "Steppenwolf has called us back Kalibak." the figure then told Kalibak who was struggling to get up. The figure then set up a Mother Box to open up a portal.
"I can finish off Orion myself Brutaal..." protested Kalibak as the figure then went and picked up Kalibak and then flew right through the portal. Orion gathered his stnreghto to try and fly after them but the portal vanished and he ended up being sucked right into space through the hall in the ship.
Orion managed to catch the dead Parademons filling the air of space as Lightray caught him; "Orion... What happened? You looked like you were in the fight of your life?" asked Lightray concerned.
Scott awakened in his tent finding the space next to him empty; "Grace... Are you awake... Was I so bad that you went back to your own tent..." Scott asked jokingly getting up and going to grace's tent but spotted her speaking a device.
"It wasn't a total lost. It turned out that the slaves have been killing themselves after getting their 'freedom'. Their lives were in more despair but they found a future without all that they knew even more horrifying than just living their lives... You should have seen the look on his face when he realised..." Grace was whispering into the device with a grin but then spotted Scott standing there looking confused. "Scott... I didn't hear you..." Grace muttered as Scott looked at her in disbelief.
"Grace... What was that... Are you... Did you sell us out? After all that we have done together... The months working together... Getting closer... Fighting for our freedom... How could you? Please tell me that you didn't turn your back on the cause... You made me think that there was a real chance that we could take it all down?" Scott whispered sound betrayed as Grace looked at him. "Why did you? Why?" Scott asked as she then snickered.
"Did I really... You should see yourself... Asking me why I betrayed a cause that I never believed in... I was born to serve Darkseid and I still do... He loved the pitch that I gave him... Set up a rebellion to give the wretches on his world hope for something more; asking him to imagine how much despair they would feel when it is inevitably crushed and their hopes dashed..." Grace explained in a whisper as Scott stared at her as if he was seeing her for the first time.
"So it was all a lie... Everything... Including us..." Scott asked as Grace shrugged and brought out a Mother Box to which his eyes widened.
"Pretty much yes. I did enjoy our time together; fooling your head with delusions of something better and you in bed... I hoped that this could continue until I could bare Highfather's grandchild to use against New Genesis but using your own Mother Box to take you to Darkseid himself will do..." Grace taunted as Scott angrily tackled her as they then began fighting over the Mother Box with them punching eachother.
"Now that we are breaking up... I found your moans annoying..." Scott then said as she got out a hidden knife to try and stab at him but he then managed to kick her back. He then fixed up his suit and put on his mask and opened up a portal and Grace then tackled him as they went through it with them fighting.
Grace was pushed through and banged her head against a rock as Scott managed to readied himself. "So... Another ally betrayed me... Back to square one again..." Scott muttered as he looked behind another another portal opened up. He then facepalmed groaning "oh no... Not you again... As if I couldn't feel worse..."
"Scott please tell me; what grand adventure has Mr Miracle himself finished today?" asked Funky Flashman coming up to him and Scott started walking away.
"Please just leave me alone..." Scott pleaded as Funky followed him as they left the stirring Grace's body.
Inside the palace of New Genesis; Orion without his helmet was being tended to by medical staff as Lightray and Bekka were looking at him with great worry and concern as Highfather stood there taking in the story. "You say that this warrior was called 'Brutaal' by Kalibak?" Highfather asked as Orion then nodded with a grunt of pain as the medical staff told him to rest.
"Yes... Despite his smaller size; he seemed to be much stronger than Kalibak and took orders directly from Steppenwolf it seems... " Orion then said as he then noticed Highfather pondering something as his eyebrows were raised. "Do you know something Highfather?" Orion asked as Highfather put his head down.
"I have ears on Apokolips... They said that it was about 30 years ago when Apokolips got it's hands on a child; one that would be raised under the direct supervision of Steppenwolf despite the normal method... The child was named Brutaal and was brought on Steppnwolf's hunts when he was able to... Said to be forged into a great warrior in service of Darkseid..." Highfather explained as Orion grunted as he got up to the protests of the medical staff.
"I must go back to training... I wasn't able to do anything against him... If the War is coming again... I must kill this brute before he causes trouble during the War..." Orion then said stubbornly as Bekka went to force him to sit down.
"You are in no state to do anything; you need to rest and not to force yourself to go on some suicide mission which will do you no good! We need to be fully rested and not getting yourself killed and wounding the hearts of all that cares and loves you!" Bekka sternly told Orion who was ready to argue but Highfather came forward.
"She is right Orion; there will be plenty of time to strategize and come up with a plan to deal with Brutaal when you are fully healed. Your body can only do so much when you are injured and badly beaten. You will take all the rest that is required of you by the doctors. Highfather's orders." Highfather then told him as Orion reluctantly complied.
"Don't worry pal... We will get him when you are ready... He won't have the element of surprise next time..." Lightray assured Orion giving him a thumbs up. They were not aware that watching from outside the window on the flaoting Mobius Chair was Metron with his arms folded up.
"Orion was definitely not prepared for his first encounter with Brutaal. Let's see if Orion will be able to overcome the might of my experiment for the final fight with Darkseid to come to pass." Metron whispered to himself as he then vanished before he could be noticed.
The high castle of Apokolips; the only place on this wretched planet with anything resembling comfort. The dark despot sat on his throne with a figure clad in a dark purple cloak shook his head standing at his spot by the throne as Parademons were grabbing the terrified Grace as she was dragged there on her knees. "Master Darkseid... Please... I have faithfully served you... The idiot got lucky... I amassed an army of fools ready to kill themselves for your own amusement... Please give me another chance..." pleaded the tearful Grace as Darkseid wordlessly commanded the Parademons dragged her away to be executed for her failure.
An obtuse elderly smiling woman in a dark red robe came towards the throne and kneeled down; "Master Darkseid. While Grace's 'rebellion' scheme has failed; it also leaves poor Scott all by himself. Grace was also keeping an eye on him so perhaps it is time to send the Furies after him?" asked the woman sounding sickenly sweet and the despot gave a slight nod.
The woman then faced a large muscular black haired woman in dark blue and gold armor holding a golden rod weapon. "Barda. You are to lead the Furies and fetch your misguided friend Scott so he can be brought home. Do you understand my dear?" the older woman asked as if asking her child to do a little favour.
The woman known as Barda looked uncertain but pushed it away to looked serious as she kneeled; "I understand Granny... I shall succeed for Master Darkseid!" Barda replied sounding determined.