New Genesis Alliance

Once upon a time, far across the stars, there were two worlds that could not have been more different.

One was Apokolips, all iron towers and fire and smoke, ruled by the stone-grey tyrant Darkseid. The other was New Genesis, a shining, peaceful world of golden light, ruled by a wise and gentle leader named Highfather Izaya. For a long time the two worlds had kept an uneasy peace. But peace does not always last forever.

One quiet evening, the sky above New Genesis cracked open. At the very same moment, far away on Earth, the sky above Metropolis cracked open too. Not one Boom Tube, those swirling orange doorways Darkseid used to travel across the stars in an instant, but a dozen of them, all at once. Out of every one poured Parademons, Darkseid's armored soldiers, wave after wave after wave.

Highfather Izaya understood immediately. This was Darkseid's biggest move yet, against two worlds at the very same time.

So Izaya called together his bravest champions. There was Orion, a warrior with fire in his eyes and thunder in his fists. There was Lightray, who moved so fast he seemed made of sunshine itself. There was Big Barda, tall and strong and utterly fearless. And there was Mister Miracle — whose true name was Scott Free — the greatest escape artist the universe had ever known.

Across the stars, word reached the Justice League on Earth. Superman and Wonder Woman rose into the smoky sky above Metropolis, ready to stand and fight, just as they always did.

Can you imagine it? Two worlds, one enormous battle, heroes from both sides finding each other in the chaos?

Lightray streaked between the towers of Metropolis in a blaze of gold, gathering scattered Parademons and herding them toward Cyborg and his glowing Mother Box, which flickered on and held them back like a wall of light.

Big Barda moved through the battle like she had written the whole plan herself — because, in a way, she had. Long ago, before she came to love New Genesis, Big Barda had led Apokolips's fiercest soldiers, a group called the Female Furies. She knew every move the Parademons would try before they tried it. "They fight like I trained them," she said quietly, "because I did." She turned that old knowledge into something good, calling out exactly where the heroes needed to be.

Meanwhile, in a narrow alley, Mister Miracle let himself get surrounded. A squad of Parademons closed in, certain they had trapped the great escape artist at last. But Scott Free only smiled. He had rigged mirrors and cables the moment he arrived, and with one small click, the trap sprang backward. The Parademons tumbled into their own net, and Mister Miracle stepped out, brushing off his hands. "Ta-da," he said softly, and went to help the others.

Batman and the Flash cleared frightened families from the streets, and Wonder Woman's golden lasso and silver bracelets held the very center of the battle, unbroken.

And then, at last, the sky cracked one final time, and Darkseid himself stepped through, tall as a mountain, eyes glowing red.

Orion flew straight toward him. Father and son. It had been a very long time since they had stood this close.

"Come home, Orion," Darkseid said, his voice low and rumbling, like stones grinding together deep in the earth.

Orion's hands trembled, just a little. But his voice did not. "New Genesis is my home," he said. "You made sure of that, a long time ago."

For one quiet heartbeat, something almost like sadness passed across Darkseid's stone face. Just one heartbeat. Then it was gone.

Orion's fists blazed with golden light — the Astro-Force, a power all his own — and he pushed his father backward, step by step. Lightray sent one final, brilliant flash across the battlefield, and the last of the Parademons stumbled, dazzled and lost. Barda and Scott worked together to seal the final Boom Tube shut, using a Mother Box they had captured in the fight.

Surrounded now, and watching his army scattered across two worlds, Darkseid understood he had lost again. He opened one last portal beneath his own feet.

"This alliance will not last forever," he warned, sinking through the swirling orange light. And then he was gone.

Metropolis stood quiet under a clearing sky. New Genesis shone gold once more. Highfather Izaya crossed the distance between the two worlds and clasped Superman's hand warmly.

"Two worlds," Izaya said, smiling. "One league."

Far away, on a cold stone throne, Darkseid sat alone, already thinking of what he might try next. But that is a story for another night.

Tonight, on New Genesis and on Earth alike, the heroes had stood together — and they had won. And somewhere among them, a son who had once feared he might have to fight his father forever went home to New Genesis, tired but proud, knowing exactly where he belonged.

Sleep well, little hero. The stars are watching over you tonight.