Chapter Text
EXT. SKY ABOVE HOPE SPRINGS. MOSAIC. DAY.
Lana Lang, Guy Gardner, and John Stewart face off against Conduit, who's backed up by Bizarro #2 and Bizarro #3.
CONDUIT
Lana, you have to introduce me to the
new guys.
Lana holds out a hand to stop Guy before he can even begin to move.
CONDUIT
Did you even warn them about the kind
of monsters there are out here?
Conduit moves back as the two Bizarros begin to advance. THEN, a powerful gust of wind knocks all parties off balance for a moment. Alan Scott, THE GREEN LANTERN, has entered the scene. In his hands he holds a sword made of dazzling green light, which has skewered Bizarro #2! Lana darts around them and targets Conduit. They trade rapid fire blows in the air, but Conduit quickly takes the upper hand by maneuvering around Lana with several teleports in quick succession, knocking her off balance with a series of quick strikes before delivering a pro-wrestling style spear, sending both of them crashing down through the roof of one of the buildings below.
INT. ALIEN BUILDING.
A cloud of dust surrounds the spot where Conduit and Lana crashed through the roof. Alien bystanders scatter in fear as Conduit stands over his former best friend, pinning her to the ground with his metal tendrils. Lana grows an additional set of legs to push herself up, and Conduit responds by channeling massive amounts of electricity into her body. Lana glares up at Conduit with a look of defiance as she pushes forward with all her might. Suddenly, Conduit teleports into the air behind Lana, causing her to lunge forward from the sudden lack of resistance, just as John Stewart and Guy Gardner rush into the scene. Conduit grabs the two force field-clad heroes with his metal tendrils as he falls to the ground, slamming them both into the floor in the process. Lana assumes a fighting stance in front of Conduit as he glares at her, the room still shaking from the impact.
EXT. SKY ABOVE HOPE SPRINGS. MOSAIC. DAY.
Bizarro #2 stares at the Green Lantern with a blank expression as it grabs the blade with both hands. Its hands and eyes crackle with blue energy before it lets loose with a blast of laser vision. Alan Scott puts up a force field just in time to block the blast, but is sent flying backwards. The sword sticking through #2 de-materializes, and its wound crackles with energy as it rapidly heals. The two Bizarros fly after Alan Scott, who comes to a stop mid air as he conjures a sword and shield. The drones hone in for the kill, but #3 is suddenly and violently knocked off course when The Martian Manhunter enters the fight. #2 stops to look at this for just a moment, allowing Alan Scott to come in with a titanic swing of his sword, which #2 blocks with its forearm, creating a massive shock wave in the skies above Mosaic.
INT. ALIEN BUILDING.
Conduit retracts his tendrils as he stands up, leaving a battered John Stewart and Guy Gardner at his feet. He and Lana stare each other down. Barry darts into the scene, quickly grabbing Guy and John and pulling them back behind Lana.
BARRY
Lana, you alright?
LANA
I'm alright.
BARRY
You want help with this guy?
LANA
We've got it. Go check on Hal and the
others.
BARRY
I'm a communicator away if you need
anything.
(to Conduit)
Just so you know, I replaced you in
the karaoke act.
Barry dashes away as John and Guy get to their feet.
EXT. MARKETPLACE. HOPE SPRINGS. MOSAIC. DAY.
Hal lays in the dirt while Alex and Carol kneel by his side. Alex is checking Hal's vitals.
ALEX
There aren't any immediate signs of
cardiac damage.
CAROL
How would you know?
ALEX
I have this whole... genius thing, I
guess.
HAL
(dazed)
It's true, he's very very smart.
"ALEX/CAROL"
(unison)
Be quiet!
Hal pipes down and the other two get back to worrying.
BEAT
Alex and Carol make eye contact as the sound of footsteps gets their attention.
VOICE
(O.S.)
Don't get up.
Alex and Carol look to see a humanoid alien with blue skin and scarlet hair, wearing a black uniform with gold accents and sporting a yellow power ring. He is MIKAAL TOMAS OF THE YELLOW LANTERN CORPS.
MIKAAL TOMAS
It would be pointless to struggle.
It's at this moment that Barry Allen, THE FLASH, dashes into the scene in full costume, kicking up an enormous amount of dust and startling Mikaal Tomas. The Flash turns back to his friends.
THE FLASH
Please tell me he just said something
ironic.
CAROL
What're you wearing?
THE FLASH
It's my superhero costume.
CAROL
You're a superhero?
THE FLASH
Did we- did we not mention that part?
The Flash is suddenly ensnared in a golden aura.
THE FLASH
'Scuse me just a second.
The energy field holds The Flash still, preventing his movement as he floats up into the air and toward Mikaal Tomas.
THE FLASH
Hey there.
MIKAAL TOMAS
What... are you?
THE FLASH
I know how your ring works, you know.
I know all about it. You need to
concentrate to make it work, yeah?
MIKAAL TOMAS
What of-?
The Flash begins to vibrate rapidly.
THE FLASH
(vibrating)
I apologize in advance for the
headache.
The intensity of the vibration rapidly intensifies very quickly. Tomas redoubles his focus, but is quickly overwhelmed: there is a "flash" of golden light, and THE Flash lands on the ground in a cool three-point hero stance, free! Mikaal Tomas, who had reeled back from the blinding light, looks down at the scarlet speedster and glares. The Flash looks up at the rogue and smiles.
EXT. SKY ABOVE HOPE SPRINGS. MOSAIC. DAY.
J'onn J'onzz and #3 trade titanic blows in the sky above Hope Springs. J'onn's eyes glow a deep red color, but the disks on #3's forehead glow and J'onn recoils in pain from the psychic feedback.
J'ONN
(pained)
*aaaahhh!*
J'onn tries to grab at #3's head with a series of lightning fast movements, which #3 quickly dodges, J'onn's fingertips only barely phasing through #3's shoulders as it bobs and weaves. #3's eyes begin to light up with blue energy, and J'onn dodges out of the way of a blast of laser vision, stretching his arm around to grab #3's face as he does and phasing his fingers in to grasp the circuitry inside. The metal dots light up and make a crackling noise, and J'onn grimaces with pain.
J'ONN
(grimaced)
*pain*
J'onn retracts his arm as he flies forward with great force, pushing #3 into a nearby rocky outcropping with a titanic crash. J'onn then goes intangible and flies forward, phasing THROUGH #3 and INTO the rocks just as #3 pulls itself up out of the rocks and into the air. J'onn then SHOOTS out like a rocket, tackling #3 and sending the both of them flying back toward Alan Scott's battle. Scott is slashing fiercely at #2 with his energy sword, shock-waves echoing with each strike as #2 blocks. #2 starts charging up its own eye lasers, but is suddenly knocked away when #3 slams into it with incredible force. #3 hangs in the air for a moment, dazed, giving Alan Scott and J'onn J'onzz an opening; with J'onn's left fist doubling its size and mass and Alan Scott's right fist crackling with emerald energy, the two of them punch #3 in the face simultaneously, sending it rocketing through the air. J'onn turns to Alan Scott.
J'ONN
Hello, I am J'onn J'onzz.
ALAN SCOTT
We met once, I remember. Thanks for
that.
The conversation is cut short when both Bizarros return, each clashing with one of the heroes and generating a wave of force in the process. Both heroes are pushed back by the attack.
J'ONN
This is tiresome.
ALAN SCOTT
Agreed.
J'onn's eyes glow a deep red.
J'ONN
(echoing)
I have a plan.
Alan Scott's eyes glow a bright green, and he smiles.
ALAN SCOTT
Groovy.
The two heroes disengage and create considerable distance between themselves and the Bizarros. As they hover side by side, their eyes continue to glow as their faces go blank with concentration. The Bizarros advance, but whisper-thin sheets of glowing green energy begin to materializes and wrap themselves around them. The rate at which these sheets materialize and wrap around the clones begins to accelerate as soon as they first appear, and very quickly the Bizarros find themselves struggling against an infinite number of layers of infinitely thin force-fields, creating a constricting force that would confound even the Man of Steel!
J'ONN
(echoing)
Stay focused!
J'onn's arms stretch forward toward the two clones. His hands phase into their foreheads, and he grasps at the circuitry inside. The metal disks light up and make a crackling noise as both Alan and J'onn grimace with pain. The Bizarros begin to find some give in their bindings. Energy spews forth from the heads of the two clones as J'onn pulls with all of his might, and YANKS the metal disks and some of the interior circuitry out of their heads. The glowing in J'onn's eyes intensifies.
J'ONN
(echoing)
SLEEP!
The two clones go limp and drop out of the sky like rocks. J'onn turns to Alan.
J'ONN
Follow me.
INT. ALIEN BUILDING.
A frantic battle is taking place as Guy Gardner, wielding Hal Jordan's ring, John Stewart, wielding the Star Rod and Cosmic Converter Belt, and Lana Lang, wielding bug powers, dart around the room as they attempt to pin down Conduit, who teleports around at lightning speeds. Conduit stymies the heroes, making rapid fire sneak attacks and forcing his opponents to dodge or block, keeping them off balance and one step behind him. In a blur of motion, J'onn and Alan enter the scene, making a b-line for Conduit. The scene goes into slow motion just as J'onn is about to strike Conduit, and the cyborg teleports behind him, the scene returning to normal speed as Conduit twist around in the air to grab the Martian with his metal tendrils. Conduit sends a powerful current through the Martian Manhunter's body.
J'ONN
*just the worst sound*
Lana lunges at Conduit with a Hercules Beetle + Pistol Shrimp haymaker, creating a shock-wave that knocks everyone else back and sends Conduit CRASHING into the stone floor. Lana lunges to strike again, but Conduit teleports behind her, grabs her, and violently electrocutes her as he punches her INTO the stone floor, making the crater left by his initial impact DOUBLE in size. In a flash of green light, Alan Scott launches at Conduit, knocking him off of Lana and pinning him to the wall. Alan Scott stands in front of him, holding the hilt of the energy sword that has run Conduit through and literally nailed him to the wall.
CONDUIT
(pained)
*cough**gag* oh wow...
ALAN SCOTT
That's enough, son.
CONDUIT
(pained)
Real glad I don't have any organs.
(quiet)
Ow.
John and Guy help Lana and J'onn to their feet.
ALAN SCOTT
Those things up there fought like
Daxamites.
J'ONN
Close. Kryptonians.
ALAN SCOTT
I thought they were extinct.
CONDUIT
(quietly)
Oh don't I wish.
Conduit grasps Scott's arm with his tendrils and pulls himself FORWARD on the blade, getting close enough to violently head-butt Alan Scott in the face. Scott stumbles back, and the sword dematerializes as he loses focus. Conduit drops to his feat.
CONDUIT
*heavy breathing*
Lana catches Alan Scott and helps him stay on his feet.
LANA
What's the matter, Pete? Getting
tired?
CONDUIT
(out of breath)
Not even close.
Conduit cups his hands together.
CONDUIT
It's like you said.
A tiny ball of green energy appears between Conduit's hands, slowly growing larger.
CONDUIT
Upgrades.
The energy ball rapidly expands as Conduit throws it forward. Alan, Guy, and John all put up force fields while Lana and J'onn duck for cover, as the ball of energy explodes.
EXT. MARKETPLACE. HOPE SPRINGS. MOSAIC. DAY.
Mikaal Tomas braces himself with a defensive aura as The Flash zig-zags the battlefield, pummeling the villain with rapid fire strikes from every angle. As Tomas defends against the super speed volley of blows, he concentrates the energy of his ring downward into the ground, generating a thorny terrain to trip up the speedster. The Flash trips as he dodges to avoid the spikes. His left arm is pierced by one as tumbles over.
THE FLASH
(pained)
*pain*
The Flash tumbles to a halt on the dusty ground, cutting his leg on another spike in the process.
THE FLASH
(heavy breathing)
Ah! Oh man!
Mikaal Tomas conjures a cloud of daggers that fly at the scarlet speedster, who darts out of the way just BARELY in time. He runs a considerable distance before changing course and launching himself at Tomas at top speed. Unfortunately, he is knocked off course when an enormous object comes falling out of the sky; standing at eight feet tall exactly, weighting 1,125 pounds, and fortified by a glowing aura of golden energy, MONGUL crashes into the ground like a comet, generating a shock-wave that knocks Tomas off balance. The Flash is launched into the air by the force of Mongul's landing, making him an easy target for Mongul to snatch out of the air. The fingers of his enormous hands wrap entirely around the teen's body, pinning his arms to his chest. Mikaal Tomas picks himself up.
MONGUL
I grew tired of waiting, Tomas.
MIKAAL TOMAS
I had everything under control,
Mongul!
MONGUL
(sarcastic)
I don't doubt that. Did you do your
cloud of daggers?
MIKAAL TOMAS
I was wearing him down, and you're
supposed to be guarding the ship.
MONGUL
I chose to rest in the ship, I do not
stand guard, and I have no patience
for games, Tomas.
Barry, struggling for breath, begins to vibrate rapidly, trying to loosen Mongul's grip. Mongul looks at the boy in his hand curiously, and then smiles.
MONGUL
You're quite a funny little thing,
aren't you?
Mongul tightens his grip on Barry. As he does so, his ring glows, and the intensity of the aura around him increases. Mongul's smile widens, but his eyes show pure malice.
MONGUL
That tickles.
Mongul bashes Barry into the ground with incredible force, creating a powerful shock-wave and kicking up a huge cloud of dust. Mongul proceeds to press Barry into the ground, causing him to burrow further down like a drill. Two of them to start to sink.
MONGUL
Sinestro's affection for pageantry and
spectacle is beyond my understanding.
Mongul flies up into the air. Bruised and battered, Barry continues to vibrate rapidly, trying to shake Mongul's grip and get free. Mongul looks down at Barry again with the same hate filled smile, and Barry spits blood in his face with the force of a bullet, which bounces off his fave, leaving only a shallow mark.
MONGUL
Delightful!
Mongul flies down, creating another crater impact and burrowing down into the ground. By the market stalls, Alex and Carol drag Hal behind an abandoned market stand to take cover. Deep in the ground, Mongul holds the ever-defiant Flash down against an enormous stone, boring into it as his vibrating struggle continues.
MONGUL
As I was saying, I have no interest in
"shattering the limits of the mind."
Mongul stands up straight and holds Barry into the air. The glow around his hand intensifies further as his grip tightens.
MONGUL
To me, the ring is a means of
multiplying the strength I have used
to conquer worlds.
Barry grits his teeth as he struggles against Mongul for just a moment longer, but his vibration begins to slow and sputter before he goes limp and passes out. Mongul lets up his grip and floats back to ground level. Mongul lands next to Mikaal and tosses the unconscious Barry at his feet.
BARRY
(unconscious)
*gasp**wheeze*
MIKAAL TOMAS
Was that necessary?
MONGUL
Everything I do is necessary.
Mikaal holds out his ring. A golden light shines out and scans Barry, and a yellow holographic display appears in the air, listing the biographical information of Bartholomew Henry Allen, A.K.A. "The Flash!"
MIKAAL TOMAS
He's a human, from Earth. It says his
body is infused with zero-point
energy.
MONGUL
Explains the speed.
MIKAAL TOMAS
He's listed as interrogation priority.
MONGUL
He's breathing, so he's probably
alive. I think that's how humans work.
MIKAAL TOMAS
I think you're right.
Nearby, Alex and Carol crouch behind a stand. Hal is laying at their feet, still recovering.
CAROL
(quiet and annoyed)
What are we going to do?
ALEX
(quiet and trying to think)
I think we can make a run for it.
HAL
(quiet and in pain)
I don't feel included in that.
CAROL
(whispering)
Maybe they haven't-
Wood splinters as the market stand is smashed by Mongul's giant glowing hand.
MIKAAL TOMAS
(O.S.)
Don't hurt them, Mongul.
Mikaal approaches. In front of him are holographic displays for the biographical information regarding Harold Jordan, Caroline Ferris, and Alexander Luthor. All of them are interrogation priority.
CAROL
(incredulous)
Why me?
Mongul grabs Carol, pinning her mouth shut with his thumb, and lifts her into the air.
CAROL
(muffled)
*mph!*
MONGUL
I have heard so many people say that.
EXT. GOTHAM METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE. NIGHT.
Establishing shot.
INT. PERFORMANCE HALL. GOTHAM METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.
The performance of Pagliacci continues. Kate and Tatsu sit side by side in the Kane family's box seats.
KATE
(whispering)
Tatsu?
TATSU
(whispering)
Hm?
KATE
(whispering)
How are you enjoying the opera?
TATSU
(whispering)
It's very interesting. I don't
understand any of the words, do you?
KATE
(whispering)
Not at all, I'm completely lost.
Kate smiles, which Tatsu returns. Kate then looks around for a moment.
KATE
(whispering)
They've been gone for a while, haven't
they?
TATSU
(whispering)
Oh. Um...
Tatsu glances down at a flashcard concealed in her hand which reads "If Kate asks questions: I DON'T KNOW, BUT I THINK THEY'LL BE GONE FOR A WHILE." Tatsu glances back up at Kate.
TATSU
(whispering)
I don't know, but I think they'll be
gone for a while.
KATE
(whispering)
So... they're not coming back time any
soon?
TATSU
(whispering)
... yes.
KATE
(whispering)
Do they do this a lot?
TATSU
(whispering)
... yes.
KATE
(whispering)
... dang, Bruce.
INT. ABANDONED OPERA HOUSE. GOTHAM UNDERGROUND.
Bruce stands in the ruins of the old Opera House's backstage area. High up behind him on the landing Bruce had climbed down onto to reach this place, THE TALON stands and watches Bruce with its glowing red eyes. With a single step, the Talon leaps down and lands with an enormous thud almost directly behind Bruce. Bruce, startled, stumbles but catches himself as he turns to look at the Talon. The Talon stops, and looks Bruce up and down.
BEAT
TALON
What is the password?
BRUCE
... password?
BEAT
TALON
What is the password?
BRUCE
Okay, shot in the dark here,
"swordfish?"
BEAT
TALON
Your non-compliance has been logged in
the court record.
The Talon LUNGES at Bruce! Bruce falls back and uses his grappling hook to get away up into the rafters! As Bruce quickly ascends, the Talon leaps at the wall, bounces off of it, and leaps up to Bruce, slashing the line with its claws and grabbing Bruce, pulling him down. The Talon lands on its feet, clutching Bruce in its hands. Bruce begins punching at its face to try and get free, but Talon completely no-sells Bruce's blows.
SELINA
(O.S.)
GO LIMP, WONDER BOY!
Bruce does as he's told. The Talon turns just in time for Selina to run up at stab it in the left eye with her knife. As the Talon staggers back, Selina grabs Bruce and pulls him out of harm's way. The Talon comes to a stop and reaches up to pull the knife out of its eye. It drops the knife to the ground as it stands up straight to glare at Selina and Bruce, thick brown blood oozing out of its eye.
BRUCE
Now might be a good time to-
SELINA
Yeah.
Selina pulls out her whip. Bruce pulls out his bo-staff. Selina clicks a button on her communicator.
INT. PERFORMANCE HALL. GOTHAM METROPOLITAN OPERA HOUSE.
A quiet buzzing sound emanates from the bag at Tatsu's feet.
TATSU
(whispering)
Excuse me.
Tatsu bends down and reaches into her bag to take out her pager, which is vibrating and flashing the word "EMERGENCY!" Tatsu sits back up and turns to Kate.
TATSU
(whispering)
I have to go now.
Tatsu stands up. She picks up her bag and exits.
BEAT
Kate stands up and starts to follow.
KATE
(whispering)
What the f-?!
INT. ABANDONED OPERA HOUSE. GOTHAM UNDERGROUND.
Selina and Bruce are fiercely locked in battle with the Talon. Selina quickly dodges several slashes from its claws, and Bruce counters with a series of quick strikes with his bo staff, all of which seem to do little more than nudge the Talon. It grabs Bruce's staff in it's hands and shoves him away with its foot. Selina attacks with her whip, snaring the Talon by the neck. Selina tries to pull the Talon off its feet, winding her whip around her arms for leverage, but the Talon grabs the whip and flings Selina through the air INTO Bruce, knocking both to the ground. The Talon walks forward, the whip falling to the ground as it uncoils. Talon approaches, preparing to strike Selina with its claws, when TATSU rockets into the scene, attacking with a swipe of her katana. The Talon is knocked back by the force of the attack, and Tatsu stands in a cool hero stance, sword in hand, her body faintly glowing with a spiritual aura.
KATE
(O.S.)
Ah!
Bruce and Selina look up to see Kate dangling from the broken ladder. Bruce turns to Tatsu.
BRUCE
She followed you?!
TATSU
... that appears to be the case, yes.
The Talon rushes at Tatsu and slashes wildly with its claws, forcing Tatsu to go on the defensive. Bruce turns to Selina.
BRUCE
Let me borrow your grapple, you back
up Tatsu.
Selina hands her grapple to Bruce and rushes into the fight, scooping her whip and knife up off the ground on the way. She uses the whip to snag one of Talon's arms, giving Tatsu the opening to go on the offensive, delivering a powerful slash. Bruce holds up the grapple, and takes aim. The grapple shoots out and embeds itself in the wall right beside where Kate is hanging.
KATE
Ah!
Bruce retracts the line and SHOOTS up into the air, coming to a rest beside his cousin.
BRUCE
Hey Kate.
KATE
Bruce, what the hell is going on?
BRUCE
Can we talk down there?
KATE
... yeah okay.
Bruce hooks his arm around Kate and kicks off the wall, repelling down to the landing below. They hit the ground with a thud, and Kate immediately gets up and runs to the rusty catwalk overlooking the fight. Tatsu slashes at the Talon with wild precision, battering it back but failing to cut deeply. Tatsu takes a step back, closes her eyes, takes a deep breath, and tightens her grip on her sword. She attacks the Talon, but its reflexes are too great, and it sidesteps the attack with a superhuman dodge, causing Tatsu to stumble forward. The Talon turns to deliver a killing blow with its claws, but its wrist is snagged by Selina's whip. The Talon turns to look at Selina as it casually cuts the whip with its claws.
SELINA
(quietly)
Should've seen that coming.
Up on the catwalk, Bruce approaches Kate. Without turning to look at him, Kate addresses her cousin.
KATE
Bruce, what the HELL is going on?!
Down below, the Talon hears this and looks up. It stops as it takes a moment to look directly at Kate.
KATE
Is he looking at me?
The Talon drops a smoke bomb and leaps up to the catwalk in a single fluid motion, landing next to Kate with a loud thud that causes the catwalk to shudder, smoke trailing behind it.
KATE
Ah!
Down below, Tatsu stumbles out of the thick smoke cloud, coughing. She looks up and sees the Talon approaching Kate on the catwalk.
TALON
What is the password?
KATE
I don't... there's a password?
BRUCE
What?
Down below, Tatsu closes her eyes, breaths in deep, and steadies her sword stance. As she breathes and concentrates, the world around her falls away, giving way to darkness, and the faint glowing aura around her body intensifies. Back up on the catwalk, Bruce gets between his cousin and the Talon.
BRUCE
Why are you doing this again?
TALON
What is the password?
KATE
No one told me anything about any
passwords!
BRUCE
Why now?!
Down below, the darkness around Tatsu is illuminated by the glowing auras of the other people in the room, shown in bright shades of yellow and blue. The Talon's aura is sickly and green, unnatural in appearance. With her eyes closed, Tatsu can visualize the lines of motion all around her, not just the people but the currents of air themselves. Tatsu grips her sword tighter and breaths deep. The aura around her sword flares up, and wisps of spiritual energy fly off of it, swirling around Tatsu, and then the room, creating a path from her to the catwalk above. Tatsu slows her breathing, and the aura around her shrinks while its brightness intensifies. The wispy paths of spiritual energy retreat back into her, intensifying her aura even more, and the world around Tatsu returns to normal.
BEAT
With EXPLOSIVE force, Tatsu dashes forward, cracking the rotten floorboards in the spot she had been standing on and generating a burst of air pressure that completely dissipates the smoke. She hits the far wall and immediately ricochets off, leaving a cracked indentation as she launches herself up to the catwalks, where the Talon advances toward Bruce and Kate.
TALON
Your non-compliance has been logged in
the court record.
In the span of a blink, Tatsu lands on the railing of the catwalk next to the Talon, and then hops down beside, around, and then behind it while swinging and sheathing her sword in one full motion. There is just a moment's pause before the force of her landing is felt, a shock-wave and a gust of air as the catwalk begins to buckle. Tatsu maintains her footing on the now crooked surface, and slides the last inch of her blade into its scabbard at the exact moment that the Talon's torso slices diagonally in two from shoulder to hip. As the Talon's body falls, Tatsu stands up and turns to Bruce and Kate, who are hanging onto the railing to keep their footing.
TATSU
(giddy)
Holy crap did you see that?!
KATE
That was... very impressive.
BEAT
The catwalk shudders and then falls. All three of our heroes brace themselves on the railings as the catwalk plummets to the floor below. They land with a thud, causing the rotten floorboards to finally give. Selina sees this and picks herself up off the unsteady ground.
SELINA
God damn it!
The catwalk drops down into the unknown dark depths below.
BRUCE/KATE/TATSU
(simultaneously)
*screaming*
Selina runs toward the growing hole in the ground and dives in after the plummeting catwalk. The party falls into darkness.
INT. ALIEN BUILDING.
In the aftermath of the explosion, Lana helps a dazed J'onn back to his feet. Alan Scott, John Stewart, and Guy Gardner lower the layers of force fields they had used for protection. Conduit is nowhere to be seen.
ALAN SCOTT
He's gone.
J'ONN
We need to regroup.
Lana activates her communicator.
LANA
Barry.
Silence. Everyone looks concerned.
LANA
(quiet panic)
Barry, come-!
Lana is cut off when The Martian Manhunter flies away in a burst of speed so powerful it kicks up a gust of wind.
EXT. SKY ABOVE HOPE SPRINGS. MOSAIC. DAY.
J'onn zips over the settlement of Hope Springs. He stops over the scene of Barry's fight with the Yellow Lanterns, now empty and full of signs of a struggle. J'onn scans the surrounding area with his senses, flying over Hope Springs and coming to a stop over the space port, not far from where the Starship is parked. He hovers to a stop over a landing pad, covered in smoke and steam from a recent takeoff. The large display on the side of the pad reads "DEPARTURE STATUS: ON TIME." Slowly, quietly, J'onn lands. He closes his eyes, and opens up his senses. Alan Scott lands behind him.
ALAN SCOTT
Mr. J'onzz-
J'ONN
Their ship left a warp signature. I
can follow it.
ALAN SCOTT
That's good news, but we-
J'ONN
Take care of them for me, Mr. Scott.
J'onn turns to look at Alan Scott. His eyes glow red as Alan's glow green.
J'ONN
(echo)
The future depends on it.
J'onn flies off into the sky with the speed and force of a sonic boom. Alan Scott, The Green Lantern, watches him go, a look of grim resolve on his face.
ALAN SCOTT
(quietly)
That answers my questions.
INT. SPACESHIP.
Bruised and battered, Barry Allen rouses back to consciousness. He finds himself laying on his side, on the floor, hands bound behind his back. Carol, Alex, and Hal turn to look as he stirs. They are all sitting in the corner of this dark place, illuminated by some light source some distance ahead of them. They have been similarly handcuffed. He sits upright, and looks around. He sees that he is in the rear compartment of a spaceship, directly behind the area where Mongul and Mikaal Tomas are piloting it. Right behind the two pilots, Conduit is leaning against the wall in a roguish stance. In front of them, through the view screen, we can see out into space: The spaceship is approaching an enormous structure hanging in space, a collection of jagged metal spires covered in skyscrapers and lit up with sickly yellow city lights, all unfolding from an enormous metal sphere one thousand kilometers in diameter with the logo of the Sinestro Corps emblazoned on it. They are arriving at RANX, THE SENTIENT CITY.
THE END