Flying the through the pale grey sky was like venturing to a vat of steam and oil. The smoke sank into everyone's lungs and made it hard to breath. The air was heavy with melancholy that cut a dark hole into even the most impenetrable skin. Every movement, thought, and glance all felt wrong. Superman looked over at his teammates with a sorrowful gleam in his eyes. His stomach ached for redemption, longed for forgiveness, but he knew better than to ask for what they could never give. This was the war that tore bonds apart.

Superman continued to look forward and soon closed his eyes. He tried to focus on the sound; the sounds of battle and anything that resembled screams, grunts, and discord, but there was nothing. The only sound was the whistling fire of burning planes and warehouses. Nothing was right and it felt wrong not to know what was going on.

Superman gestured for Hawkman and Manhunter to follow him.The smoke was growing denser and was beginning to make the ground hardly visible. Slowly, he lead his team closer to the ground, finally landing in a courtyard. Fiery warehouses stretched across the opening on the far sides, making way for the perfect battle field. A mix of white and colored bodies were littered aimlessly across the cobblestones. Superman tread forward carefully, trying to avoid stepping on any of the fallen.

The heroes kept themselves from looking down to the ground. They knew that they had passed some of their friends; the ones they thought could live forever. Superman continued to lead but felt his emotions way him down. He wanted to mourn for his friends, but he didn't have time. He swallowed his convictions and took a deep breath in. The smell of soot and death burned his lungs and only made Clark feel worse about himself. Forward, we have to keep moving forward.

Manhunter gave a pained expression to Hawkman. He simply nodded and continued to follow Clark. Manhunter wondered if Hawkman felt what everyone else felt. Most of the time, Hawkman stood in silence and agreed with nothing more than a nod. What did he hide behind his mask? What burdens were hidden in his eyes? For once in his life, Manhunter wasn't able to read minds. He couldn't tell what was going on with his friends.

Martian Manhunter finally stopped in his tracks and broke the silence. "I'm sorry."

Both of the other men stopped. Clark looked confused. "What?"

"I'm sorry. It was my fault this happened. If I had just been more careful none of this would have happ-"

"It's okay." Hawkman said. Clark stood by Hawkman and murmured in agreement.

"Look, I just needed t-" A moaning interrupted the three's apologies. Clark's eyes lit up as he realized that someone was alive. He didn't know if it was someone from the same team, but anything would be good news at the moment.

Clark tuned in his senses and focused on the moaning sound. It was coming from their left. Clark turned and saw a pile of stones. "Someone's in there!" Superman rushed to help and began throwing chunks of rock to the side. Manhunter and Hawkman exchanged glances and then began doing the same.

The moaning grew louder as more rocks got thrown to the side. Clark gasped and held out a hand. "Billy? Billy Batson?"

The small body curled into a ball and groaned in pain. His eyes fluttered opened at the sound of a familiar voice. "Superman?"

Clark put a hand on Billy's face. "I'm here."

"I'm sorry," he gasped, "I shouldn't have come back."

Superman began to grow tears in his eyes as he looked at the helpless little boy in front of him. His clothes were torn and fresh scratches showed everywhere on his skin. Clark choked and held Billy closer. "Don't be sorry. This was my fault."

Billy's breath shortened and grew faster. "You know," he swallowed, "I'm glad you're here."

"Me too."

"I'm sorry."

"Stay with me." Clark patted Billy's face. "What happened?"

"The-the Complex was stro-stronger than what I thought. I-I was doing we-well until this girl c-came and hurt me somehow." Billy was holding back tears. "I m-managed to g-get her."

Clark had tears streaming down his face. "God, I'm so sorry."

Billy's eyes started to close and his speech started to trail off. "I-I g-guess I'm not C-Captain Marvel anymore, huh?" Billy tried to give a weak smile.

"No! Stay with me!" Superman shook Billy's shoulder's as more tears flooded onto his cheeks. "Come back!" Superman stared at Billy's body as it went limp. "No!"

Superman held Billy's body close to him. Protecting him from death, trying to protect him from being afraid even though he knew Billy wasn't afraid to die.

She would pay. They all would.

******

Tempest landed behind the Commander with a soft thump. She finally spotted him standing in the alleyway watching his ship. The curves glinted in the moonlight and the ships surrounding it made the huge skull look like it could conquer the universe.

Tempest tilted her head to the side and quickly looked down at Wonder Woman. She sat patiently like a dog. So he intimidates everything he touches.

"Commander, " Tempest stood tall and crossed her arms behind her back, "What is this?" She looked forward and found that her father and her were looking at the remaining soldiers. There were about two dozen of them. Each of them stood rigid with their hands glued to their sides. Fear plastered into their faces behind their white masks.

The Commander's voice echoed throughout the ships. "Thank you for gathering here. Congratulations, you are the remaining warriors of the Complex." His face stayed stern. "You have been loyal and have followed every order I have given and have followed all orders from God." The Commander stepped forward yanking Wonder Woman's chain with him. His eyes darted across the sea of white, watching carefully at who was paying attention. The Commander was about to speak when he saw a flash of movement in the back, and some from the surrounding edges.

Something was wrong. Something with his guards.

He gave a smirk and focused his deadly stare onto the guard in the back. "You there, in the back! Why don't you come and show us how you defeated some of the heroes." The Commander's voice shifted from serious to happy as he opened his arms and smiled with a huge grin. Tempest's eyes scurried around for what her father was looking at. She tensed as she saw the quick paced movements around the edges of the crowd. He's not talking right. What is it he's sensing? Tempest subtly levitated from the ground to get a better view at the crowd. She advanced toward her father as she floated higher. The figures at the edge stopped as soon as the Commander called out the figure in the back.

The crowd parted in half to let the figure through. It appeared to be an awkward looking male who's uniform looked too bulky to fit on him. His pace slowed as he got to the front and he raised his chin to greet the Commander. "I don't think it's my place to say." The voice was low and gruff. His fists tightened at his sides.

"Well, I give you permission to say. The Universe would love to hear your accomplishments."

The figure nervously stepped back and was about to speak when a groan arose from the crowd. The Commander's eyes instinctively went toward the sound and saw one of his soldiers fall to the ground as another came sprinting toward him. The Commander's head turned to see that ten other figures were fighting his remaining soldiers. Anger wiped away the Commander's smile and he soon yelled. "Get them!"

Soon screams began to fill the air again as soldiers fell to the ground. The Commander stepped into the dark alleyway and released Wonder Woman off of her chain. She sprinted toward the crowd on all fours, saliva dripping onto the ground. She began to jump onto random soldiers and started to bite their necks. Blood began to pool on the ground and the soldiers were soon out numbered by the other white ones.

Tempest flew over the crowd and began to throw fire balls, making everyone scatter. She lowered herself closer and threw out her hand slowly squeezing it into a fist. The ten soldiers began to rise from the ground, struggling to get free. The few remaining figures ran to the side and pulled out their electric whips. The humming sound sang in the air.

Tempest took her other hand and swung it to her side, making the masks of all ten soldiers fly off. Tempest held her breath as she saw the faces of the Young Justice snarl at her.

"Well, well, well, if it isn't the Justice League knock offs." Tempest smiled at them.

Nightwing smiled back and replied, "At least we're not ignorant assassins trying to destroy the world."

Tempest raised her fists and swung them down as fast as she could. The group of young heroes crashed into the ground and let out gasps of pain. The soldiers flung their whips and restrained some of the heroes that were now grunting from the electricity.

Without hesitation, Tempest began to suck the air out of the heroes lungs by thinking about how Red Tornado used his wind to do the same thing. Soon they all collapsed onto the ground grabbing their throats. Tempest waved her wrists in a circle and collected the air. She then flicked her wrist and pushed the air toward the heroes, sending them flying. Tempest then levitated them again and made ice surround them, like Captain Cold sometimes did, placing the heroes inside. She made it so that ice traveled outward and formed a cube, freezing the Young Justice.

Tempest landed on the ground an stumbled. Her vision grew hazy as she placed an hand on her head. She winced as a loud ringing sound drummed in her head. What's going on?

The voice echoed again and gently spoke. Your doing too much.

I didn't think I could.

Everyone has limits.

I don't.

Don't go so hard.

I don't have that luxury.

Tempest shook her head to the side and focused her eyes. The pain eventually vanished. The soldiers cheered as Tempest walked to the Commander.

"How do you feel." His voice was kinder.

Tempest relaxed her shoulders. "I'm fine."

"How do you feel?"

Tempest realized that he wanted her to say how strong she felt, how proud she was of what she had become. She wasn't at all. She felt sick and tired. After a few moments of silence she finally answered. "I feel powerful."