Chapter XIV: Sky Turns Green

As Superman and Sinestro dealt with the Green Lanterns, Itachi has been spending most of his time in Gotham lately. A super soldier came across a young couple. "Citizens! It's past curfew."

"What?"

He grabbed the man's arm and twisted it, and the girl backed up, "What the hell?"

"You are on the street past curfew. By order's of Superman you will be taken and"-"Hey Stormtrooper, they're not making any trouble. Let's just let these two go home, okay?" Bullock said leaning on a car.

"Superman has declared a curfew. You are in violation of"-"Oh, calm down, you overzealous thug. We're one the same team here," he started reaching into his Trench coat.

The soldier started approaching him, "Hands where I can see them!"

"Oh, you stupid.... I'm not reaching for a gun. I'm reaching for my"- he got back handed through a store window. He still had his hand in his coat, "You.... have the right to remain silent. Anything you... hnng.... say can and will be used against you in the court of law." He pulled out his badge.

"You are not the law anymore."

Gotham was protesting the recent take over of their city by Superman's super soldiers. Once the soldiers got tired of telling them to go home they started using force and a fight broke out.

Gordon stood in a warehouse in front of everyone who used to be apart of the GCPD. "It's boiling over out there. Superman doesn't understand. Gotham won't just sit still while Superpowered thugs take over the city. He thinks marching soldiers in, Declaring Curfews, and beating people up will result in order. But Gotham citizens have never been known for their compliance. We know this, we know violence alone doesn't get the job done."

Gordon, Bullock, Montoya, Huntress, Batwoman, Catwoman, and Itachi stood on stage. Itachi wore a slightly modernized version of his old Anbu outfit, with everything being more armored with a crow mask.

A woman in the crowd stated, "We don't have a job anymore."

"We still have a job to do. It just got a lot harder and a lot bigger. We need to protect Gotham's citizens from their so-called protectors. And we need to keep our city safe."

Another man in the crowd asked, "And how do you propose we do that, Commissioner? You know what happened to Bullock. He had a badge in his hand when they did that to him!"

"Yeah, I did have a badge in my hand. And now I'm standing here for a reason."

Gordon stated, "You won't need your badges anymore."

One of the women stepped up, "We won't need our badges anymore? You're asking us to quit the force? How are we supposed to pay our bills?"

Huntress stated, "We have a private benefactor. You will all be very well taken care of financially."

Gordon said, "I understand your concerns and I didn't bring you here to waste your time."

"Why did you bring us here?"

"Because you're good police. You care about this city and its people. And every single one of you has stood up to authority without fear when you thought it was the right thing to do. Some of you have even stood up to me. I'm offering you a chance to stand up for what's right again. I'm offering you a chance to be police."

A man asked, "How? How are we supposed to do the job with them in our city?"

Batwoman showed off the pill, "With this."

"Our city is at war. The Birds Of Prey have started a resistance, but they can't do it alone. They need soldiers. If you agree to join the resistance, this will be your new badge."

"What is it?"

"This--" he swallowed the pill and Bullock pointed a gun at his head and shot it. Eyes went wide in the crowd, but the bullet fell off his head crushed. "--This is the game changer."

Everyone who stood on top of the stage was now out in an alley waiting for the opportunity to strike. Black Canary talked to Oracle while Itachi stared at a pill in his hand. Huntress asked him, "How do you think that pill would affect you?"

"When I don't use Chakra to enhance my abilities, I'm just a normal human. The pill would probably work the same on me as it would for anyone else. Although I'm curious if I can stack Chakra on top of that."

"You might be able to take on Superman yourself if you could do that, maybe hold off though so they can't report back to someone with abilities like yours."

"Of course. Although I doubt I'd be able to beat Superman on my own even then."

There was a scream in the alley which they took as their cue. They all hopped onto the scene. Batwoman slammed a guard into the ground, Huntress took out two, and Bullock went through two of them like a Football player. Itachi ran up on one, 'Let's see if this works,' He applied Chakra to his finger to add onto his already powered up strength and flicked him with his pinkie which sent him flying into a wall.

Gordon close lined one and some of them gathered around the downed agent. Bullock stated, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say"-"No."

Bullock's eyebrows raised, "Commish?"

"Pick him up. And bring the other one. They're an invading army, not criminals. We're going to be interrogating them for as much information as we can get, and holding them without due process. We won't read them their rights. They don't have any."

As that went on, Green Lantern and Sinestro were far away in space on a mission to find the Ur-Forge. The mission was to get it before the Guardians did. And they just found it.

"We got it, we actually got it."

"Yes. We did it."

"It'll take both of us to transport it off world. You'll never move it on your own," Green Lantern couldn't help but worry about how nothing involving the Ur-Forge would end well, whether it landed in the hands of Sinestro, Superman, or the Guardians. But his worries ended when Sinestro destroyed it.

He gawked and his mouth tensed, "You.... you, of all people," he smiled, "No one can use it now."

Sinestro smiled back, "You were worried, weren't you? That little tang of not quite fear.... we're you more afraid of what the Ur-Forge would do in the Guardians hands, Superman's.... or mine?"

"How could I be afraid..." he shook his hand, "When you were the one at my back?"

When they got back to Earth, Superman greeted them with red eyes, "Hal? Empty handed? The Guardian's haven't"- Hal put his hands up, "I'm sorry Kal-El. The Ur-Forge was destroyed. We couldn't salvage it."

"Destroyed.... that.... is for the best. Our people will be safe after all. Thank you. Hal. Thank you, Sinestro. At least it didn't fall into the wrong hands."

"No... no, it did not."

Seven months have passed since that mission and what looked like a meteor was about to hit Chicago, until Sinestro intercepted it. "Despero!! I won't let you hurt these people, monster. How dare you attack the Earth!"

Despero's brow tensed, "How dare I?" Sinestro grabbed him and flew him out of the building, "I don't know what sick game you're playing here, Sinestro. But you know full well why I'm here. Your damn Corps attacked me and threw me down here to"-"Stop it, Despero! I don't want to hurt you."

Despero's whole face tensed and his eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about?" John and Hal started flying over. He looked at his hands, "What are you doing?"

"You don't have to... just stand down."

Despero put his hands around Sinestro's neck, "What is this? Release my hands!!"

He put an energy bubble around Despero's neck. "Please. Don't make me do this!" He snapped his neck, turning his head around like an owl. "Hal, I... I didn't have a choice. He would have..."

"I understand Sinestro. We saw. I'm just glad you arrived in time to stop him from doing more damage."

Sinestro flew down to the damaged building, "There will be people who need us in that building."

John said, "I didn't think that there could be any redemption for Sinestro. But, all of the good he's done these past few months-- I still can't believe it."

Hal replied, "I think we need to believe it, John. People can change"

In one of Batman's hideouts Itachi stood over Martian Manhunter who was now fully recovered. He opened his eyes, "Itachi? What happened?"

Superman nearly killed you until stepped in and stopped him, do you remember?"

He looked down in thought for a moment before nodding, "Yes.... I do. At the time I didn't expect Superman would go as far as to do something like that..... Well, I am in your debt, thank you, Itachi."

"I'm glad you're ok..... I heard what you were saying while you were inside Wonderwoman, you were going to kill her."

Green Lantern turned his head away, "Wonderwoman..... she is not the Wonderwoman we know anymore. Had she not fed her poison to Superman, things might have been different now."

Itachi leaned forward, "I don't want to kill any of our friends, but you're willing to do something Batman can't, and he'd have a problem with you if he found out your intentions."

Manhunter looked back at him and narrowed his eyes, "Are you going to tell him I shouldn't be on the team now?"

Itachi waved a hand, "No, not at all. I just want to make sure I can count on you if I ever need you for something Batman wouldn't condone." He offered his hand for Manhunter to shake.

Manhunter looked down at the hand and raised a brow, "Such as?"

"Nothing yet, but I can guarantee that to win this war we'll need to do things Batman isn't willing to do. I already have Black Adam, Huntress, and Aquaman on my side."

Martian Manhunter stood still for a minute, before accepting the hand.

In a Hospital, Dinah just finished giving birth. And her bag was glowing green. She took the Lantern communication device out and Guy asked, "Dinah, is it safe to speak?"

"Yeah, it's ok."

"It's time, Dinah."

"How long?"

"Our full force has gathered, but we'll need three weeks to move our secret weapon. We only get one shot at this. We'll need you and your resistance force ready on the ground when we come."

"I understand. The Green Lantern Corps, the Sinestro Corps, Superman's forces. Are you sure you can fight this war without the planet being torn apart?"

"No, which is why we're bringing our own Planet."

Three weeks later they lost the element of surprise when they were spotted. Superman soon made a broadcast to the whole world with Sinestro behind him, "People of Earth. A war is coming tomorrow. We did not start this war. We did not invite this war. But our world will soon be attacked by agents working for powerful intergalactic beings. These self proclaimed "Guardians of the Universe" seek to undo everything we have achieved. The Rouge nations we've toppled. The wars we've ended. The private forces that we have established as super powered peace keepers across the globe. All of it will be for nothing. If these Guardians and their Green Lantern corps succeed, everything we've fought for will be lost. Yes, we have powerful allies, but I urge every single person on Earth to join us and oppose these Alien Invaders. Fight for your world. Do not let these aliens take your way of life from you-- from your families. Get out on the streets and fight for your future!"

Barbara and Dinah watched and Barbera asked, "Is he...?"

"Yes. He's eloquently and passionately inspiring the entire world to get out and be human shields."

"The Green Lantern's attack will be severely hampered if there are civilians every"-"What's that?"

"They're codes."

Dinah raised a brow, "Codes for what?"

Barbara smiled, "They're codes that go to the Watchtower communications system. Itachi has been giving it to us every time they've changed it."

Zatanna appeared, "It's time."

Barbara put a hand on Dinah's arm, "Dinah, you don't have to do this. Ollie doesn't need avenging."

Dinah looked down at her baby and smiled, "If I don't fight, and we lose, what world would I be leaving for him?" Her expression steeled, "I'm going to take down Superman. I'm going to make sure Conner has a future."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

At the Tower Of Fate Batman talked to Zatanna and Catwoman, and finished some of his Rehab and stated, "We're out of time, Alfred. Oracle. I'd like to talk to them. All of them."

"Opening the channel."

"The war is coming. The Green Lanterns will be here tomorrow. I'm sorry. I'm sorry it has come to this. I'm sorry any of you need to fight in this war, but you all know your roles. This may be our only chance to take down Superman. He has shown that he no longer values life, and the murderous Sinestro corps will be beside him. I'm sorry that some of you won't be coming home tomorrow. And I'm sorry to ask you to say your goodbyes. To family, to friends, to friends, to children, to husbands, and wives. Tomorrow, the tyranny of Superman will be ended by all of you. And I'm sorry I can't fight alongside you.

Alfred approached Zatanna, "Zatanna. I believe it's time, if you'd be so kind as to send Ms. Kyle, Mrs. Lance, and I to the Batcave?"

"Alfred?"

"Please, Master Bruce. Did you really think I'd sit back while our friends went to war?"

"No... I guess not."

Zatanna teleported the three of them away and Batman asked her, "Zatanna. If the unthinkable happens. Don't get involved. We will need you for plan B. No, send me to Oracle."

"They think you're staying here, safe, Bruce."

"They think what I need them to think. Oracle has agreed not to say anything," he gritted his teeth, "I don't care how broken I am. I will make sure Superman goes down."

The next day Itachi finished breakfast and stood on the teleporter of the Watchtower. "Cyborg, I'm going to Themyscira. They'll want to seize the opportunity to capture her while she's injured."

"Good thinking," Cyborg sent him down. And when he was gone, he smirked.

Itachi teleported into the room Wonderwoman was being cared for in and multiple spears started poking at his neck. He put his hands up, "No worries, I'm a friend of Superman's. I'm staying here to make sure no one attempts to capture her."

They lowered their spears and a guard said, "I'm insulted that Superman thinks we can't defend her ourselves, but fine. Stay."

Itachi gave her a fake smile and when they went back to their normal post Itachi's eyes narrowed at the sky. 'When the sky turns green. That's the signal.... Taking him down now wasn't ideal since people still love him enough to go out on the streets for him, but we can't just stand by and let the Green Lanterns fight him on their own,' he rubbed his stomach, 'Strange. Even though I just ate, I'm already hungry again.'

The Green Lantern Corps arrived near Earth. John had raised brows, "They brought Mogo?"

Hal said, "And what looks like half the corps."

Guy flew over to them and gave off a playful expression, "Hal, John. So... this is all kinds of nuts, right? Oh. Hey, look. Your 'saviors' are here," Superman and the Yellow Lantern corps arrived near them and Superman came to the three of them. "Here we go. So before this whole intergalactic war thing, I just wanted to make one last appeal to sanity," he dropped the playful expression and his mouth tensed, "Help us take down the Sinestro Corps. Then stand trial. You get judged fairly. The Earth keeps spinning. None of our friends die."

Superman glared, "No one dies if you leave."

Guy gestured to him, "Don't do this man. Have some perspective. You have super vision or whatever. Take a good look at your allies. They're the Sinestro corps, chosen because they can instill fear. They're the very definition of Bad Guy. Half of them are just spikes and sharp teeth," he pointed at Arkillo, "That guy's name is Arkillo, he literally has 'kill' in his name."

Superman crossed his arms, "For now, they are useful. The enemy of my enemy"-"Is sometimes just a much worse enemy. You're not going to win this. I don't want to hurt you, any of you. I'm trying to protect you, and our friends."

"We don't need your 'protection.' We've seen how your 'Guardians' have guarded worlds in the past."

Guy scrunched his brow, "We can stop this, Clark. Just you and me. Just words. You get that, right?"

Superman looked down, "Guy," before glaring at him, "You were always an embarrassment to the Justice League. Now, you're an embarrassment to your planet too."

Guy gritted his teeth and glared while making a wrecking ball for a hand, "Oh, screw you you sanctimonious piece of"- Superman side stepped him and broke his arm before grabbing him by his face. "I don't want you in this fight," and throwing him away.