A Hero's Multiverse 48 Chapter 46: Legacy

Reading about the execution of Lex Luther, Ethen doesn't feel as happy about it as he initially expected. -Maybe it is my father no killing codex taking effect... Well, years of well-intended brainwas.h.i.+ng must have some longtime effects.-

Remembering his uncle's teachings, Ethen hast so says, that neither man's ethics were really practical, be it uncle Waynes or Kal-Els. Refusing to kill is essentially impossible in this line of work, but killing indiscriminately as Kal does in the name of peace is also wrong. This train of thought comes to a sudden end, as Silver informs him mentally.

(Silver) ''Broken AI program detected...''

(Broken Program) ''... Obviously, you must have many questions like. Where did it come from? Why is it here? Is it a friend or foe? It is time to reveal the truth... I'm Brainiac 5. A descendant of the original Brainiac, but without his homicidal tendencies... In the future, people fear Coluans because of my ancestor. So I elected to come back in time and fix that. Now that I'm done, I'm going back where I belong--the 31st century. The Legion of Super-Heroes will grill me for 'borrowing' a time bubble. But all they really need to know is that I'm on their side, and always will be. Long live the Legion!...''

(Silver) ''Unable to reconstruct any more, but references to an 'Invasion of Brainiac' and a group called 'The Insurgency' have been retrieved.''

Thinking about it, Ethen tells Silver. -Okay, show me the relevant information regarding the invasion.-

(Silver) ''Processing... Displaying personal Log No. 37 of High Councilor El...''

-Having defeated Brainiac, I take control of his s.p.a.ce s.h.i.+p. I vowed to protect the Earth. But to guarantee its safety, I need to expand my vision. Brainiac's s.h.i.+p is the ultimate weapon, but in my hands, it can be so much more. Millions of civilization await rebirth in Brainiac's Collection. I'll find the bravest and strongest warriors among them and I'll start a new Regime--no, a new Legion. The Legion of Superheroes. With it, I'll bring peace not just to Earth, but to the entire universe--and the universes that lie beyond.-

''What the f.u.c.k?!...'' Ethen says out loud, before asking Silver. -... Was there n.o.body to stop him? I mean I am all for peace, but Kal sounds more like a dictator than a benevolent ruler...-

(Silver) ''Only two individuals detected, that could have successfully opposed the High Councilors role. Subjects are Kara Sor-El aka Supergirl and Bruce Wayne aka Batman.''

-What happened to them?-

(Silver) ''Subject Kara Sor-El: Initially banished to the Phantom Zone, now part of 'Project Rebirth'... Psyche evaluation: Following her years, imprisoned, Subject became obsessed with the idea of giving birth to a 'true' Kryptonian. Current location: Fortress of Solitude, Arctic.''

-What about my uncle Bruce?-

(Silver) "Subject Bruce Wayne: Deceased.''

-That much I was able to figure out myself. Any details?-

(Silver) '' Bruce Wayne, aka The Batman, was the leader of the Insurance opposing the rule of the High Councilor...''

Listening to Silver retelling the events leading up to Bruce Wayne's execution, starting with Kal murdering the Joker, the Justice League splitting, the involvement of another Justice League from a parcel dimension and the invasion of Brainiac.

Having heard Silvers retelling of those Events, Ethen finds himself in a moral dilemma. On the one side, he is not entirely against the killing of villains, on the other side, he is against killing already beaten enemies. In Ethens mind, the killing of Joker was wrong in how it happened, not that it happened.

-Silver can you access the files regarding Bruce Wayns execution?-

(Silver) ''Affirmative...''

That said, the interface shows a video clip of Batman's execution. Unmasked, but still wearing his batsuit, Bruce is shown on the screen as he is brought up to the stage where the execution is supposed to take place. Flying in from above, Diana wears a mostly golden Amazonian war armor and carries a scroll and a cla.s.sic executioner greatsword.

-I didn't have to end like this...- Ethen is able to read on his 'mothers' lips since the clip does not contain audio. Unable to see Waynes face since he is turned away from the camera, Ethen is only able to read Diana's answer to something Bruce told her. -... So be it. Be lucky. It will be quick for you... Contrary to Harley you once where a hero.-

Having seen enough, Ethen refrains from seeing the actual execution, since he can already guess what happened.

-He was unarmed and in shackles... He wasn't a threat anymore!..- Thinks Ethen, finding Kal-Els handling of the situation fundamentally wrong and gets angry, as his own sense of justice begins to take shape. -... No killing unarmed enemies.-

That thought, Ethen decides to confront Diana for answers. Knowing his uncles and Kal's firm stance on the matter, he simply need a third Opinion before taking any decisive action. Keeping the wellbeing of his woman in mind, Ethen once again zooms through the corridors, this time to Diana's quarters.

Reaching Dianas Quarters, Ethen finds them unlocked. Walking inside, he finds Diana standing at the dinner table, scoffing some blood.

''What is going on here?'' Ethen asks, helping the weakening Diana stand upright.

Smiling at Ethen, she tells him. ''Everything is happening as it is supposed to happen...'' Smiling at him, she tells him. ''... I am the G.o.ddess of War in a world of absolute peace, how am I supposed to be?''

''How?...'' Asks Ethen, as he leads the weakening by the second woman to the sofas nearby. ''... can I help?''

Smiling up at him from the sofa, Diana tells him. ''You can't not without waging a large scale war killing billions... (Coughing some more blood)... I made my choice long ago when killing Ares... But that isn't the reason why you are here, isn't it?''

Looking down to the most likely dying woman, so identical to his mother, it feels to Ethen like losing her all over again. ''No, I am not... I saw what Kal did to Bruce, Kara and all his other victims. How can you be with somebody like him?''

Making a sad face as a single tear runs down her more and more wrinkly face, Diana tells him. ''Because of love. It is as simple as that...'' Pointing to a silver box on the dining table, she continues. ''... but don't even think for a second that I will refuse to do what has to be done because of it...'' Seeing Ethen retrieve the box from the table, Diana tells Ethen. ''... The box you are currently holding contains Bruce's golden kryptonite dagger. Once lodged in Kal-Els chest it will take all its powers away. Bruce was too weak to do it and I was just a coward in love... (Coughing sounds)... By now your aunt Kara is the last person with the power to undo what Kal did... Free her after you are done with the High Councilor...''

Unable to say anything, Ethen only looks into Dianas slowly dimming eyes, just like a flame that is slowly snuffed out. ''...Oh, how I wish I had given birth to you... I am so...''

Before Diana can finish her sentence, her body has already gone limb, as her soul has already left her body.

-----

At the same time as Diana dies, Kal is informed by Cyborg, who is fused with the Watchtower systems, that Ethen was able to hack into the Regimes servers.

Totally disappointed, Kal asks Cyborg. ''How is that possible? Aren't you the regimes servers?''

''How the h.e.l.l am I supposed to know?...'' Answer asks Cyborg Kal. ''... Your boy is definitely leagues above you and me when it comes to hacking... I am detecting Kryptonite radiation...''

Knowing his teeth in anger, his face deforming into a monstrous mask of rage, Kall asks. ''Where?''

Quick scanning the watchtower, Cyborg locates the source reporting. ''Dianas Quarters!''

''Looks like someone was very naughty and wants to be temporarily grounded in the Phantom Zone...''