Traitor Game L: Existential Crisis

[The Purple Skull]

"Yes, Talia, I am. This threat will not meet his goal.

This is NOT the end of all things.

So says...THE MASTERS!"

And with that, the reunited Masters charge into battle against the Bi-Anti-Monitor!

[Chris Lang]

Mary Jane and Arisia soared through the air with the rest of the Green Lanterns, aiming beams of light at the swarm of Shadow Demons that approached. As much as they tried, however, a few Shadow Demons were bound to slip past them and attack those on the ground.

Mary Jane saw a few such demons. Three of them had managed to slip through the beams of light and they were now heading directly for Xena and Gabrielle. The heroines from ancient Greece were so preoccupied with smashing Battledroids that they most likely would not see the Shadow Demons until it was too late.

Mary Jane wasted no time. She fired a wide beam of emerald light at the Shadow Demons to destroy all three of them before they could touch Xena and Gabrielle. The Shadow Demons soon exploded in rapid succession like clay pigeons.

However, Mary Jane herself was oblivious to a danger behind her.

The Cyborg Manhunter was now lying on the roof of a nearby structure. His arms had been ripped off in the fight with Mon-El, but he was still capable of turning his head, and aiming with his Martian Vision. And now, he saw a chance. A chance to kill a Green Lantern. His eyes glowed as he turned to fire a blast into Mary Jane's back.

"NO!" Arisia screamed. Within a split second, Arisia dove in between Henshaw and her new friend, and took the blast herself. With a cry of pain, she fell to the ground, blood oozing from a horrible burning wound in her chest.

"Arisia!" Mary Jane shouted. She was about to strike Henshaw with a huge Power Ring fist, but Hal Jordan was a step faster. The Cyborg Manhunter was pounded into the structure by a giant green hammer.

"You! You're the same in any universe, aren't you?" Hal said, with anger in his voice. "All you can do is kill. Destroy. Well, no more. It ends here."

Other Green Lanterns swooped in, followed by Mojo, the planet Green Lantern.

The Cyborg Manhunter's further attempts at attacks were blocked by four more Power Ringed shields. The Green Lanterns lashed at him, their Power Ring beams effectively immobilizing him in mid air.

Henshaw sneered. "Are you going to kill me? Ha! You don't have the stomach..."

And then yellow energy beams struck at the Cyborg. Sinestro and a group of Yellow Lanterns (one of them Asuka Langley Soryu) unleashed beams of energy, as well as two captive Shadow Demons, at Henshaw. Henshaw barely had time to scream in agony before the combination tore him apart into three pieces that disintegrated on contact with the Shadow Demons. The Shadow Demons themselves soon exploded.

"What, were you going to try imprisoning him in some ScienceCell?" Sinestro said mockingly. "It would only have been a matter of time before he escaped and tried to destroy everything again. Best to just finish him now and make sure."

Mary Jane knelt down near the fallen Arisia. As much as Mary Jane wanted to tell Arisia to hang on and that she would be fine, one look at the horrible wound in her chest made it painfully clear that Arisia had only a few moments left to live.

"Cyborg gone?" Arisia gasped, blood pouring from her mouth. "Good. You're safe. I guess ... my life had meaning after all."

"Of course it has meaning! You have friends, people willing to fight..." Mary Jane did not finish, as she realized that Arisia was not moving anymore.

Almost as soon as Arisia took her last breath, the Power Ring flew from her finger and soared through the air. "Green Lantern 2815 deceased. Scanning for replacement." a voice could be heard saying as the Ring flew upwards and was lost to sight.

Mary Jane stared at the body for a moment, as a tear came to her eye. "You saved me. You may not have been sure of your past, but ... you did good." she said.

Hal Jordan stood nearby, silently. "We can mourn later." he said grimly. "We need to focus on the battle."

"I know." Mary Jane said. She rose to her feet, and, with the rest of the Green Lanterns, flew off to continue the battle.

OOC: Special thanks to Joe Acro for his help and input with this one.

[Chris Lang]

Xena and Gabrielle had finished off the group of Battledroids they had been fighting, just in time to see Arisia take her last breaths.

Gabrielle took a brief look at Xena. Xena's expression told her everything she needed to know. This was war, and in war there were casualties. All they could do was to try to reduce the number of casualties on their side.

Spider-Girl, meanwhile, was using her webbing and other means to pull more civilians out of the most dangerous parts of the battlefield, and lead them to the safety camp Belldandy had set up. This included Kyon, Jeff-E, Aaron, Mina Murray, the Monster's Mate and Fang, Mary-Kate (who kept babbling strange things about cloning her cat, and weird gossip about celebrities), and Madame Bovary. Spider-Girl was determined to save as many people as she could.

Mina Murray, for her part, appreciated this. "The monsters we are facing here ... may be too powerful for normal people to face. I daresay it might take those on the same level to defeat them. Even if some of them may be monsters themselves."

Forces converge against SuperPower. A being of godlike power on her home Earth, who reigns over a planet through fear and cruelty, she struggles against the might of the gods of Asgard; against those like Judge Death, Deadman, and Rangiku who cannot die; against those who wield death, such as Death the Kid and Light Yagami; or those still of great cosmic might, such as Silver Surfer and Evinlea.

Light Yagami stood to the side. There was no need to engage SuperPower in combat. From all indications, 'SuperPower' counted as her real name due to her strange origins. So that meant Light could write her name in the Death Note, and time her death to occur within the next minute.

However, both he and the other forces facing SuperPower were in for a surprise when the next minute passed...

The mystics begin to gather to form a plan against Batmage. While a few had been holding his might at bay, they yet need to form a plan to incapacitate him for good.

Princess Emerald stood near Amethyst, prepared to assist her. While this was an alternate world's Amethyst, Emerald was willing to follow her lead just as she would the Amethyst from her world.

Elsewhere, Mojo makes bets with the likes of Lobo, Ambush Bug, Dr. Orpheus, Dr. Psycho, the Joker, and others regarding various outcomes.

Nabiki saw this from a distance, and shook her head. While she was all for making bets about outcomes, she was not going to make those bets with the likes of the mad Dr. Psycho or the dangerous and unpredictable Joker.

Against this new mounted assault, and seeing his attacks start to have little effect, The Anti-Monitor summons his ace-in-the-hole. Energy bursts through the ground. A behemoth of a figure rises into the battlefield. Where once there had been one Anti-Monitor, now there were two!

"Long ago, a counterpart of mine participated in these games! Now, we combine our might!"

A large force of energy pours outward, a powerful shockwave that halts The Anti-Monitor's foes and causes a massive earthquake. A blindingly bright light obscures everyone's view. As the light fades, everyone sees the outcome. The Anti-Monitors have joined. This new abomination has a head with two faces, one front and one behind like the Roman god Janus, and has four arms. The Bi-Anti-Monitor is born.

"We will not be defeated!"

Phantom Girl gaped in horror, as did some of the others around her.

"An Anti-Monitor ... twice as powerful?"

Not knowing what to do, she rushed off to find the speedsters. She needed to tell them of her previous experience with the Anti-Monitor.

"Right this way," Roy replies casually. He leads them away from the battlefield, riding the Mobius Treadmill.

Linda followed Roy, but as she did, she could not conceal her concern. The superweapon they were about to find was indeed important, and needed to be dealt with ... but the Anti-Monitor himself appeared to be increasing his power. If the Anti-Monitor himself was not stopped soon, it most likely wouldn't matter what happened to his cannon.

[Joe Acro]

Henshaw barely had time to scream in agony before the combination tore him apart into three pieces that disintegrated on contact with the Shadow Demons. The Shadow Demons themselves soon exploded.

"What, were you going to try imprisoning him in some ScienceCell?" Sinestro said mockingly. "It would only have been a matter of time before he escaped and tried to destroy everything again. Best to just finish him now and make sure."

Another version of Henshaw, one who had himself joined the Sinestro Corps and participated in the games, scowls at the corpse, wondering if this other Henshaw has, unlike himself, managed to find death.

Light Yagami stood to the side. There was no need to engage SuperPower in combat. From all indications, 'SuperPower' counted as her real name due to her strange origins. So that meant Light could write her name in the Death Note, and time her death to occur within the next minute.

However, both he and the other forces facing SuperPower were in for a surprise when the next minute passed...

SuperPower is dead. In her place is Superwoman and Power Woman, no longer merged together. In their confused state, they try to re-fuse, but are not able.

"So be it," Superwoman says. "If this be our last stand, then we will not go quietly!" Sword raised, she charges against her opponents. Power Woman does the same. As individuals, their might is less than half of what it was, but now being two where they had been one does temporarily give them an edge.

But they cannot fight against the insurmountable odds against them. The might they face is too great, too overwhelming. Blow after blow, the women weaken, they stumble, they stagger, they fall. They are overcome. They fight until the bitter end, and then fight no more.

Princess Emerald stood near Amethyst, prepared to assist her. While this was an alternate world's Amethyst, Emerald was willing to follow her lead just as she would the Amethyst from her world.

The mystics have a plan. They have gathered various incarnations of Batman and assorted allies of the Bat, like the Cat, Catwoman, Huntress, Nightwing, and Robin.

"We must act quickly," The Phantom Stranger states. "Assume your positions."

They move according to the plan. Simultaneously, with one voice, Amethyst, Emerald, Madame Xanadu, Willow Rosenberg, Agatha Harkness, Dr. Strange, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, White Witch, Dr. Orpheus, John Constantine, Fabian Grey, and even those who might otherwise be enemies, such as Mordru, The Darkhold Dwarf, and the Enchantress cast a spell. Mystical beams of energy strike each of the Bat figures, picking up the entirety of their memories, of their accomplishments, of their personalities. The beams then dovetail on the other side, striking five individuals:

The Damsel of Bats is a version of what this very Batman could have been, an uncorrupted hero even within a corrupted fantasy.

Red Sonja is an orphan who became a feared heroic figure of her time, who fought against the very magic the Batmage now uses.

Daredevil is a man who like Bruce Wayne spent decided to fix the home that killed his father, and spent years training.

Captain America is a symbol of hope and determination, fighting a seemingly never-ending fight with unwavering morals.

Rock Howard is a fighter against the demons that haunt him, against the corruption forged by the shadows of the past.

Each having already been touched by magic, either within the Traitor Game or without, and each themselves in some way like Batman himself, they make perfect vessels for these mystical energies.

"We will show you the error of your ways. United as what you could have been, we will defeat what you have become," they say together. And the battle commences.

Linda followed Roy, but as she did, she could not conceal her concern. The superweapon they were about to find was indeed important, and needed to be dealt with ... but the Anti-Monitor himself appeared to be increasing his power. If the Anti-Monitor himself was not stopped soon, it most likely wouldn't matter what happened to his cannon.

Linda is right to be concerned. Harbinger still among those in battle, shouts out, "I sense more and more universes being destroyed! We are running out of time!"

[Chris Lang]

As the battle continued to rage, Allebmoog began pacing around. "All right! Where's the rest of the gang? They can't have ALL been defeated, could they?"

As if in answer, Ares, riding Grimlock, approached, tossing Cheerful Key and E. Suburu over a group of zombies that Grimlock was fighting. The pair landed, unconscious, right in front of Allebmoog.

"You were saying?" Ares said. "Your group is pathetic. You really think they're a match for us?"

"Me Grimlock beat imitator Grimlock really fast!" Grimlock interjected, before turning his attention to the zombies.

Kitty Pryde showed up alongside Adelheid Bernstein. They tossed the unconscious form of Jimmy Prison at Allebmoog and Tuscon Wrong. "Your Johnny Cage counterpart challenged Adelheid to a fight. Guess who won." Kitty said, with a satisfied smile.

"Oh, and Pessimus Prime didn't learn from last time." Kitty added. "He was banged up from a fight with Optimus Prime, and I phased through him and messed up his circuits. Here he is." She pointed to the disabled form of Pessimus Prime.

Three versions of Deadpool appeared alongside Thorpool. "This tossing people thing is fun!" said one of the Deadpools. "Here, catch!"

Allebmoog and Tuscon Wrong were knocked over like bowling pins with the unconscious body of Livegolfcourse.

Just as Allebmoog and Tuscon Wrong tried to resume their balance, Negi Springfield and Chisame Hasegawa approached. "This guy who looks like me? Is he one of yours?" Negi asked.

"The baka thought he was funny. He was making all sorts of strange jokes about us." Chisame said. "The whole class of Mahora came together and this is what happened!" Negi and Chisame presented the beaten and battered senseless form of Posi Shelbyville.

"They ... defeated us ALL?" Allebmoog gasped.

"Again?" Tuscon Wrong added.

"Yup." Kitty said. "If you ask me, you guys have been fighting on the wrong side. If you want any sort of future, you'll be fighting on our side to save all the universes."

As a few of the Belasco's Limbo Legion members groaned as they stirred, Tuscon Wrong turned to Allebmoog. "She has a point, you know. We're not THAT nihilistic, you know. Even if we ARE demonic limbo-crazed alternate timeline versions of famous or semi-famous characters. Do you REALLY think the Anti-Monitor's going to reward us for helping him?"

"Well, yeah. I kinda figured it was our best bet, y'know?" Allebmoog said.

"He's not." Kitty said. "All he cares about is destroying all the positive matter universes. He'll probably just destroy you all as well when he thinks you've outlived your usefulness to him."

"I think she's right." Tuscon said.

Allebmoog sighed. "Fine! But that doesn't mean we're nice guys! When this is all over, we're totally going back to being your enemies! Tuscon, find StopStop's meteor hammer and give it to her when she wakes up."

In truth, very few of the Belasco's Limbo Legion were in any shape to fight. Aside from Allebmoog and Tuscon Wrong, only Jimmy Prison, StopStop Yubari, and Livegolfcourse were in good enough condition to join in the fight. The others were taken away to one of the areas where the injured were being attended to.

Bowser, meanwhile, was breathing fire on various zombies, Sandpeople, and Cylons. Kammy Koopa was using her summoning powers to summon Thwomps, Spinies, and Koopatrols to use against Daleks, Cybermen, Cylons, and Battledroids. A few Daleks were crushed by the Thwomps, as the Spinies and Koopatrols quickly moved into action.

Progress was being made in the battle. Enemies had fallen, or had defected to the side of the Multiverse's protectors. But a few of the major enemies still remained. And, most worringly, the Anti-Monitor loomed over the battlefield, seemingly more powerful than before.

OOC: Come on now, we HAD to use the 'Ares riding Grimlock' pic at least once during all this. Wouldn't be a huge epic battle referencing previous Traitor Games without it.

[Chris Lang]

The mystics have a plan. They have gathered various incarnations of Batman and assorted allies of the Bat, like the Cat, Catwoman, Huntress, Nightwing, and Robin.

"We must act quickly," The Phantom Stranger states. "Assume your positions."

They move according to the plan. Simultaneously, with one voice, Amethyst, Emerald, Madame Xanadu, Willow Rosenberg, Agatha Harkness, Dr. Strange, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, White Witch, Dr. Orpheus, John Constantine, Fabian Grey, and even those who might otherwise be enemies, such as Mordru, The Darkhold Dwarf, and the Enchantress cast a spell. Mystical beams of energy strike each of the Bat figures, picking up the entirety of their memories, of their accomplishments, of their personalities. The beams then dovetail on the other side, striking five individuals:

The Damsel of Bats is a version of what this very Batman could have been, an uncorrupted hero even within a corrupted fantasy.

Red Sonja is an orphan who became a feared heroic figure of her time, who fought against the very magic the Batmage now uses.

Daredevil is a man who like Bruce Wayne spent decided to fix the home that killed his father, and spent years training.

Captain America is a symbol of hope and determination, fighting a seemingly never-ending fight with unwavering morals.

Rock Howard is a fighter against the demons that haunt him, against the corruption forged by the shadows of the past.

Each having already been touched by magic, either within the Traitor Game or without, and each themselves in some way like Batman himself, they make perfect vessels for these mystical energies.

"We will show you the error of your ways. United as what you could have been, we will defeat what you have become," they say together. And the battle commences.

Of the five, the Damsel of Bats, especially, had a stake in this, as she knew a version of Batman personally. The Batmage had indeed strayed from the path, and needed to be taught a lesson.

Linda is right to be concerned. Harbinger still among those in battle, shouts out, "I sense more and more universes being destroyed! We are running out of time!"

Allebmoog chimed in. "Oh, will you just lighten up? Were those universes really that sad to lose? I mean, I've totally got a list of the ones that just went."

"Let's see, we just lost a universe where Jenny McCarthy was Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a world where Justin Bieber was President, the All Star Batman and Robin universe -- oh, come on! Did you REALLY think those red skies in several panels of that comic was totally a coincidence? I didn't think so, he he! Oh, and we lost a world where all the Twilight films won Academy Awards for Best Picture, and a world of a fanfic so horrible it makes 'My Immortal' look like a great work of literature. So, no big loss, right?"

Allebmoog was blindsided by a powerful wind gust that hit her with the force of a punch. Storm, from the Exiles, stood nearby.

"We are fighting to save all life." Storm said. "Even those from worlds you might find strange and perverse. Any failure is a tragedy."

"Yeah, you, like, haven't seen those worlds, have you?" Allebmoog said. "But okay, no biggie. I'll just shut up now and help in your efforts."

Allebmoog charged herself up, firing Fire Flower fireballs at approaching Daleks.

Meanwhile, Portgas D. Ace cut loose with his Fire Fist powers, incinerating several Daleks, Cylons, and Battledroids, and destroying several Shadow Demons.

Ace briefly wondered if Marshall D. Teach (aka Blackbeard), the man who betrayed the Whitebeard Pirates, was among those assembled to fight this enemy. Teach was supposedly there with them during the Multiversal Sea adventure with Pirate Kitty and Captain Hook, but Ace had somehow missed seeing him on either of the two pirate vessels. But Ace knew he had best keep his mind on the battle.

Ace was joined in the flame-throwing by Firestar and Firebrand, each of whom fired sheets of flame at approaching Shadow Demons to destroy them.

Laurie Collins, meanwhile, was reunited with Sofia Mantega. The two of them combined their powers to send fear pheremones at Daleks and Sandpeople at a greatly increased rate.

The battle continued. The Cyborg Manhunter had been destroyed. The Starro Squadron had been weakened greatly. Power Woman and Superwoman had been defeated. Zoom had defected to the side of the Multiverse defenders. But Batmage and Darth Jubba had yet to be defeated.

And the Anti-Monitor still remained.

[The Purple Skull]

With time needed for the big guns to stage a final assault, Bob & Karl utilize their greatest offensive maneuver agains the Anti-Monitor.......DISTRACTION!



"Yo 'AM', I ever tell you time I knocked out Vandal Savage?"

"Oh jeez...not THAT story again. Speaking of which, where is Savage? Shouldn't he be here, like, plotting some sort of scheme?"

"I dunno. He wasn't here during the dress rehearsal or the production meeting--as usual---so who the hell knows. Anyway...to the story!"



"So there we were....the End of Time! Me, Karl, the Rogue Avengers, the Limbo Legion....and the ENTIRE FRIGGIN' MULTIVERSE!!"

"Did you really have to scream that last part?"

"Bro, I'm trying to paint a picture. So anyways, I just got back from bangin' Spider-Woman..."

"What?! No you didn't!"

"Bro, he doesn't know that! The hell, dude?!"

"....."

"Now where was I? Oh right, I had just banged Spider-Woman and she just got done saying I was waaay better than Hawkeye, when from a distance, I could see that scoundrel Vandal Savage stirring up mad ****. He was taking everyone out with his magical voodoo stick of destiny that he stole from us."

"He's talking about the Spear of Destiny....which we kinda stole as well."

"For the good of the Multiverse, of course! So yeah, things were looking bleak. So Rogue, who I just banged as well..."

"Rogue turned your advances down like 15 times!"

"Bro...he doesn't know that! C'mon, can you just...okay?!"

"And how the hell did you have sex with Rogue without getting your energy absorbed?!"

"I used a condom, dude. Anyway, she looked me right in the eye and said "Bob, I'm more worried than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs, but I know for sure that you are our only hope!

...

And your penis is enormous."

"OKAY, YEAH! Now I know this story is full of b---"

"Bravery! That's what Karl was trying to say in regards to this story of bravery...and courage....and heroism! You see, when all hope seemed lost, the Bobinator came off the bench. And, baby, I stepped up to the plate, set my foot down, gritted my teeth, winded up, took a swing and..."

"Are you mixing up your story with the time you struck out like 5 times during last year's HYDRA/AIM Company Softball Game?"

"Dammit, Karl!"

"...Sorry. Go on."

"....Wait, I lost my place. What was I talking about again?!"

"....The time we all died today because you were telling a fake ass story about knocking out Vandal Savage."

"He fell back!"

"He tripped over! If anything your "punch" was just a mild abrasion and he just lost his footing."



"BRO, HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT! JEEZ!"

And this diversion went on for another 8 hours or so....but time stood still so who actually knows how long this went...

[Froggy]

Linda stared at her former enemy in surprise. She wants to help us?

One look in the other woman's eyes told Linda that Zoom was serious. It was then that Linda decided to let bygones be bygones.

"The main weapon..." Linda said. "Good idea. This main weapon ... what do you know about it? Is it ... a cannon of some sort?"


Gritting her teeth, she addressed her next words to all the speedsters present, including Roy and Zoom. "All right. We find the cannon. Now, how do we get to it?"

.

Meanwhile, Zoom briefed the others.

"Yes, it is a cannon fueled by antimatter, the same substance destroying universes and contained with a strange alloy. I know it's location but the casing might have changed. If... if you'll let me, in'll lead you all to it while The Anti-Monitor and the others are distracted. As penance" she said, head down, not looking at Linda, Roy or any of the others.

"Long ago, a counterpart of mine participated in these games! Now, we combine our might!"

A large force of energy pours outward, a powerful shockwave that halts The Anti-Monitor's foes and causes a massive earthquake. A blindingly bright light obscures everyone's view. As the light fades, everyone sees the outcome. The Anti-Monitors have joined. This new abomination has a head with two faces, one front and one behind like the Roman god Janus, and has four arms. The Bi-Anti-Monitor is born.

"We will not be defeated!"


"Right this way," Roy replies casually. He leads them away from the battlefield, riding the Mobius Treadmill.

"Bloody Rao!" was heard amidst a chorus of "Great Scott's!" as the Squadron of Supermen rose to their feet and saw the Anti-Monitor's new appearance.

"The Treadmill? Thus will work Lincoln but will we all run on it together or?" Zoom asked him

Darth Jubba, meanwhile, laughed. "Ho ho ho ho! You think you have a chance against me? Vader and Palpatine tried to get rid of me by throwing me into the Sarlacc. But I will be the one who has the last laugh!"

So, this is the Darth Jubba from the Tatooine that Carmen Sandiego visited, Terry thought to himself. He did not say this out loud, since Tyler and Jamie weren't there during the meeting sessions where the Carmen Sandiego scenario was viewed. But he did turn to Tyler and Jamie, and to Rogue. (The Rogue from Traitor Game 11, not Ultra Rogue).

"We'll see about that, Jubba." Terry said. He then gave the signal to Tyler, Jamie, and Rogue.


.

Mon-El watched P.G run of and heard Terry's plan with his super-hearing. He then zipped right off while wishing for Tonya to be safe.
The sound of thunder cracking was heard as Tyler's fist connected with Darth Jubba's fist. The impact sent him flying towards Mon-El who backhanded the Hutt back towards Tyler, who tossed Jamie right at Jubba, who tried to Force toss her but then she went intangible. He attacked Tyler Terrific, who dug his foot into the ground and withstood the Force Lightning launched at him.

"Heh, c'mon SLUG. That tickles. S'all you got?" he asked Jubba, who was unable to respond after Jamie went through him. The Hutt held his head in pain and confusion, his brain disoriented as an Argonian assault of fists launched him towards Mon-El, who vaulted the Hutt into the sky through superior reflexes

"What did the girl do?"

"Jamie poked around in his head, a nifty trick to disable powers. Learned it fighting against my uncle Terrius the Tyrant. Long story short but it'll keep him stunned and off guard long enough for us to put the kibosh on the slug!"

"Take that Sith, Trek forever!" she told him, then stepped aside as Tyler and Mon-El sped towards the Sith.

"Terry, we've got the alley ready, Rogue just needs to complete the oop!" Tyler told her. Mon-El palmed Jubba's head and tossed him towards Tyler Terrific, who then uppercut the Sith high into the sky.

"He's all yours Rogue, get em!"[/QUOTE]


[QUOTE=Froggy]

"We must act quickly," The Phantom Stranger states. "Assume your positions."

They move according to the plan. Simultaneously, with one voice, Amethyst, Emerald, Madame Xanadu, Willow Rosenberg, Agatha Harkness, Dr. Strange, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape, White Witch, Dr. Orpheus, John Constantine, Fabian Grey, and even those who might otherwise be enemies, such as Mordru, The Darkhold Dwarf, and the Enchantress cast a spell. Mystical beams of energy strike each of the Bat figures, picking up the entirety of their memories, of their accomplishments, of their personalities. The beams then dovetail on the other side, striking five individuals:

The Damsel of Bats is a version of what this very Batman could have been, an uncorrupted hero even within a corrupted fantasy.

Red Sonja is an orphan who became a feared heroic figure of her time, who fought against the very magic the Batmage now uses.

Daredevil is a man who like Bruce Wayne spent decided to fix the home that killed his father, and spent years training.

Captain America is a symbol of hope and determination, fighting a seemingly never-ending fight with unwavering morals.

Rock Howard is a fighter against the demons that haunt him, against the corruption forged by the shadows of the past.

Each having already been touched by magic, either within the Traitor Game or without, and each themselves in some way like Batman himself, they make perfect vessels for these mystical energies.

"We will show you the error of your ways. United as what you could have been, we will defeat what you have become," they say together. And the battle commences.


Linda is right to be concerned. Harbinger still among those in battle, shouts out, "I sense more and more universes being destroyed! We are running out of time!"

Rock Howard looked at this man-Batman-before him. Rich kid gone wrong trying to do right. He could've been like this guy if he never knew about his dad, if he never met Terry. He saw Cap and noticed the twinge of regret the man had upon seeing this Batmage but it quickly disappeared because he knew why they were here. Rock felt the energy flowing through him, surging through his body and it burned, but so so good! He had to use it, expel this energy against this Batmage. Rock crossed his arms and hunched over as he ran towards Batmage. Usually the move he was about to do left him in pain from the energy used, the evil nature of it but this felt different. It felt purer, righteous even.

Rock then jumped over Bat, age's head and uncrossed his arms.

"These hands of mine surging with power! We'll defeat you in this form! Feel the RAGING STOOOOOORM!" Rock said, energy flaring up from his body in vicious blue winds of energy that whipped at the Batmage's shields, viciously tearing at them.

[Chris Lang]

Mon-El watched P.G run of and heard Terry's plan with his super-hearing. He then zipped right off while wishing for Tinya to be safe.
The sound of thunder cracking was heard as Tyler's fist connected with Darth Jubba's fist. The impact sent him flying towards Mon-El who backhanded the Hutt back towards Tyler, who tossed Jamie right at Jubba, who tried to Force toss her but then she went intangible. He attacked Tyler Terrific, who dug his foot into the ground and withstood the Force Lightning launched at him.

"Heh, c'mon SLUG. That tickles. S'all you got?" he asked Jubba, who was unable to respond after Jamie went through him. The Hutt held his head in pain and confusion, his brain disoriented as an Argonian assault of fists launched him towards Mon-El, who vaulted the Hutt into the sky through superior reflexes

"What did the girl do?"

"Jamie poked around in his head, a nifty trick to disable powers. Learned it fighting against my uncle Terrius the Tyrant. Long story short but it'll keep him stunned and off guard long enough for us to put the kibosh on the slug!"

"Take that Sith, Trek forever!" she told him, then stepped aside as Tyler and Mon-El sped towards the Sith.

"Terry, we've got the alley ready, Rogue just needs to complete the oop!" Tyler told her. Mon-El palmed Jubba's head and tossed him towards Tyler Terrific, who then uppercut the Sith high into the sky.

"He's all yours Rogue, get em!"

Even a master of the Force such as Darth Jubba was reeling from the combined assault. Jamie's poking around in his head, in particular, left him temporarily unable to use his powers. This, in addition to Tyler and Mon-El's attacks, left the Sith Hutt wide open for what happened next.

"Ah saw what ya did to the other Southern gal! Take THIS!" Rogue declared, flying over to Darth Jubba at incredible speed and punching him directly in the face. Then, she quickly removed her glove for the final part of the plan.

Her bare hand made contact with Jubba's skin for a brief moment. Even with Jubba still disoriented from the prior attacks, he still put up a resistance. But soon, it became clear that the weakened Jubba had fallen prey to Rogue's mutant power. Rogue reeled backwards as several dark and twisted thoughts and memories flew into her head. "Ugh..." Rogue could only say.

Darth Jubba, meanwhile, went crashing down to the ground. The combined attacks had more than taken their toll, and the Sith Hutt was now unconscious.

"Okay, that's it." Terry Franklin said.

Terry Franklin spoke into his communicator, summoning backup from the SHIELD Multiversal Initiative. Within seconds, they were all over Jubba with several high-technology restraints and power inhibitors.

"All right, we can take him to the Vault." Terry said. "This version of Darth Jubba might end up being just as dangerous as the one from Traitor Game 7 if we just let him return to his Tatooine as if nothing happened. He knows too much about the Multiverse now."

Rogue, meanwhile, was still dizzy. "Ah know why Darth Jubba was fightin' us now. He's not on the Anti-Monitor's side. He just wanted to steal the Anti-Monitor's antimatter cannon for himself. That way, he could have somethin' more dangerous than a Death Star at his disposal without havin' ta spend a lot of time, money, and effort tryin' ta build one. Ah ... think ah'm gonna rest for a moment ... till ah got the evil thoughts out of my head."

Terry nodded. "I think I can help you do that." he said. And with that, he zapped Rogue with a SHIELD issue stunning device. Rogue then collapsed.

He turned to the others. "Rogue volunteered for this knowing the risks. I just want to make sure Jubba's personality doesn't suddenly take her over. When she comes to in a few minutes, the power and memory transfer will have worn off."

He spoke directly to Tyler, Jamie, and Mon-El. "Thanks for your help, all of you. That's another boss down. I think all that's left is Batmage. Aside from him, it's just the grunts everyone's still taking down ... and the Anti-Monitor."

Terry then smiled. "And it's great to see you again."

Rock Howard looked at this man-Batman-before him. Rich kid gone wrong trying to do right. He could've been like this guy if he never knew about his dad, if he never met Terry. He saw Cap and noticed the twinge of regret the man had upon seeing this Batmage but it quickly disappeared because he knew why they were here. Rock felt the energy flowing through him, surging through his body and it burned, but so so good! He had to use it, expel this energy against this Batmage. Rock crossed his arms and hunched over as he ran towards Batmage. Usually the move he was about to do left him in pain from the energy used, the evil nature of it but this felt different. It felt purer, righteous even.

Rock then jumped over Bat, age's head and uncrossed his arms.

"These hands of mine surging with power! We'll defeat you in this form! Feel the RAGING STOOOOOORM!" Rock said, energy flaring up from his body in vicious blue winds of energy that whipped at the Batmage's shields, viciously tearing at them.

The Damsel of Bats, too, was surging with magical energy. She stared at the Batmage. Even though she had been chosen as a Traitor during Kulan Gath's game, it was not of her doing. She still held on to her ideals and her beliefs even though she, like everyone else, had been changed by Kulan Gath's spell. The Batmage, on the other hand, had allowed himself to become warped.

"Batmage, you need to learn. We need to show you who you could have been." she said simply.

And so the confrontation with Batmage continued.

[Chris Lang]

Shannon Ford stood at what was basically the SHIELD Multiversal Initiative's camp during this battle. She and the other senior officials present were giving orders through their communicators, receiving information from various installations throughout the universe, and occasionally supervising as injured were brought in. The injured would soon be escorted to the camp run by Belldandy and her sisters Urd and Skuld.

Also brought in were occasional persons SHIELD had been forced to take prisoner due to their actions on the battlefield. Darth Jubba, still unconscious but now shackled with highly advanced chains with inhibitor technology, was moved to the prisoner's section by a squad of agents. Shannon nodded as they moved past.

She was pleased by the outcome to the Darth Jubba fight. Terry had risen to the occasion by working together with his friends from the Traitor Game, and with Mon-El and Rogue. The plan had proven surprisingly successful. Shannon thought for a moment that it would indeed be a pity if Terry continued to turn down full reinstatement as a SHIELD agent. He had clearly grown and changed a lot since those early days as a trainee.

Franziska von Karma approached. "So even in the midst of a war with the fate of all of our universes at stake, you are taking prisoners?" Franziska asked.

Shannon nodded. "If we can. Though what'll happen to them later depends on whether or not there is a later. Why do you ask?"

"I doubt that the Anti-Monitor will be taken alive." Franziska said. "But some of those foolhardy foolish fools who foolishly served him may survive. If you take any of them alive, I will be glad to be the prosecutor at their trial. As for that Happosai, I'm surprised he wasn't found guilty and sent to rot in prison years ago."

"We DID have him in the Vault back when Dirk Anger first started up the Multiversal Initiative.*" Shannon replied. "It's a long story."

American Dream then approached Shannon. "How are you holding up?" Dream asked. "Is everything all right here?"

"We've lost some agents in the battle, but otherwise we're fine." Shannon replied.

"Good." American Dream said. "I've got a few more people here who need the safety of your camp. They're people I met in Traitormania."

With that, American Dream motioned to several wrestlers and other colorful characters, including Ziggler, AJ, and most of the cast from Traitormania. All of whom looked confused and shaken by the events going on around them.

"The Undertaker's still out there ..." Dream said. "With his ties to the supernatural, he's not intimidated at all by this crisis. He's using his darkness powers and lightning effects against every enemy he's encountered."

Shannon nodded. "Good. But we'll escort the rest of the group to safety. Or at least, as safe as anyone CAN be here. Unless the Anti-Monitor is stopped, nowhere will be safe."

American Dream nodded. As did Franziska.

"The fool would kill hundreds of thousands of universes in a vain attempt to eliminate all positive matter worlds. Death is the least he deserves." Franziska said.

Shannon turned to her devices, reading the latest reports. As she did, her expression changed. She appeared, if anything, even more troubled than she had a few minutes ago.

"Agent Ford?" American Dream asked.

Franziska cracked her whip near Shannon's side. To hit Shannon was not Franziska's intent. The noise of the whip cracking next to her would be enough to get Agent Ford's attention.

"Speak! What is troubling you?" Franziska demanded.

"It's ... I just read some disturbing news." Shannon said, trying to maintain her usual composure. "Don't worry. Your worlds are safe. For now, anyway. But ... it's nothing we have to worry about. At least not until this battle is over and we have won. If we fail, then it won't matter."

"We're not going to give up." American Dream said. "All of our worlds may have their faults, but they're still worth fighting for."

"Good." Shannon said. "I have no intention of giving up, either. Nor should any of us."

Franziska nodded in agreement. "Victory or death. Those are our only options."

The battle continued on the battlefield before them. From her vantage point, Shannon could see Ranma, Ukyo, and Cologne teaming up to take down squads of Cybermen and Cylons. She could see Love Child, Prez Rickard, Zee D'Vell, and the Doomtations joining forces to send waves of peace and love toward what was left of the Starro Squadron. She could see the mystics and their chosen magical vessels continuing to confront the Batmage. She could see several skirmishes and fights going on between the Traitor Gamers and the opposing armies.

And she could see Terry Franklin speaking with Tyler, Jamie, Mon-El and the recovering Rogue. Terry's next move would be to clearly evaluate Rogue and see if she was able to continue in the battle.

Shannon decided she would not tell Terry about what she had just read. Not just yet. Terry needed to concentrate on the battle and on his friends. Anything involving his life outside of the Traitor Games could wait until the battle was won.

Shannon resumed speaking into her communicator, giving orders to various agents in the field. The Traitor Gamers needed all the support they could, and the SHIELD Multiversal Initiative would do everything in their power to help them.

* Way back in Traitor Game 12: It's Good to Be Bad. -- Chris, Traitor Game historian

[Chris Lang]

Spider-Girl, meanwhile, continued to use her webbing to snatch innocent people out of danger. Keitaro Urashima was just barely saved by a well-timed web string that pulled him out of reach of a few Shadow Demons.



"You want to make it to Tokyo University, right?" Spider-Girl asked. Keitaro merely nodded.

"Then trust me and I'll get you to the safest place there is here." Spider-Girl replied, as she swung toward Belldandy's camp. She was followed by Formerly Zombie Spider-Man, who had just rescued Lois Lane and a young man named Chris wearing a 'Wolvie 616' t-shirt from a band of Cybermen.

"Thanks for the assist..." Spider-Girl said. Talking to alternate universe versions of her father was always awkward.

"No problem." Formerly Zombie Spider-Man said. "After what happened to me, saving people's lives has become more important than ever."

Formerly Zombie Spider-Man caught a brief glimpse of Zombie Milkman Dan among the group of zombies, and winced. But otherwise, he did not waver from delivering the people he saved to Belldandy's camp.

Spider-Girl, meanwhile, saw the Green Lanterns flying overhead, assisted by Lia Nelson. With Lia's help, they were creating giant lighthouses that emitted powerful beams of light at various Shadow Demons.

Glad to see that. If not for all those light beams, those Shadow Demons could have wiped out half of us by now. Between them and that SHIELD Multiverse thing American Dream helps out, they're helping to save a lot of lives. I ... wait a minute, is that Mom up there?

Spider-Girl noticed the Green Lantern Mary Jane for the first time. In what alternate universe did Mom become a superhero? With the powers of a fictional superhero, at that?

At the moment, May 'Mayday' Parker (aka Spider-Girl) didn't have time to ask. She needed to get Keitaro to the safety of Belldandy's camp.

Mary Jane, meanwhile, saw the various Spider-Men below. None of them appeared to be her husband, but she knew that they were alternate universe counterparts of him. She also caught a brief glimpse of Spider-Girl.

Who is that? She's dressed in a variation of Ben Reilly's Spider-Man costume. Is she related to him?

Mary Jane, however, realized that answers to that question would have to wait. She needed to concentrate on helping the other Green Lanterns, and whoever was in danger.

She then caught a glimpse of Samus Aran, blasting at a few of the living statues. Samus had just successfully blasted a giant letter M to pieces.

A letter M? What is this? Sesame Street all of a sudden?, Mary Jane quipped to herself. She doubted Samus had even heard of Sesame Street.

It was just then that another stone structure approached Samus, and the bounty hunter froze. She stood still, transfixed, staring at a second giant letter M.

"No ... no." Samus said, trembling. "Not ... the other M!"

Mary Jane swooped in, using her Power Ring to create a giant jackhammer. The jackhammer smashed the giant M to pieces.

Mary Jane turned to Samus. "What was THAT all about?" she asked.

"Don't ask." Samus said. "You don't want to know. Just ... never mention it again, all right. I don't want this ruining my reputation."

"Don't worry." Mary Jane said. "I won't say anything."

And something told Mary Jane she really didn't want to know.

Mary Jane then continued with the battle, creating giant lighthouses and lanterns to spread around beams of light to destroy as many Shadow Demons as possible.

The battle continued. Aside from the Anti-Monitor, one sub-boss remained to be defeated. And that was the Batmage.

[Chris Lang]

Elsewhere, Moira MacTaggert's Iron Man suit had sustained a great deal of damage due to repeated blasts it had taken from the various mechanoids. Moira was forced to land and discard her helmet, for the sensors had been rendered useless.

"Och!" Moira scowled. "These Iron Suits are tough, but they're nae match for Force Lightnin' or the magic that the Batmage throws around. And too much damage from the Daleks and Cybermen causes 'em to break down quicker."

A middle-aged, but not unattractive Greek woman stood near where Moira had landed. She was standing near the remains of a shattered Dalek, fascinated by the now-lifeless mutated creature inside the Dalek shell.

"These creatures ... you call them Daleks, is that correct?" Olympia Myklos said.

"Aye, they're tough little devils." Moira said. "Tougher than they look. But ye've seen that by now, haven't ye?"

Olympia nodded. "They are clearly a product of an advanced technology. Those who have killed them have used either strange abilities or even more advanced technology that would make the World's Fair predictions of the future seem old-fashioned. Ah, but we have not yet introduced ourselves. I am Dr. Olympia Myklos, paleontologist and anthropologist."

"I am Dr. Moira MacTaggert. My field is genetics research." Moira replied. "I don't usually wear armor like this, but most of us would have nae chance against these enemies without them."

"Well, I am not one for physical confrontations, most of the time, but I know many people who can't get enough of them." Olympia said with a smile. "I am content to stay back, and then observe the remains of these creatures that have died. I am most curious to know just what the internal biology of the creature inside the Dalek case is like."

"There'll be time for study later, maybe, if we get out of this alive." Moira said. "I think we best get over to the SHIELD agents for now."

"A pity." Olympia said. "I would have liked to have been able to take some of these bodies back home to be studied. Perhaps I would store a few in the Preservation Vats."

Olympia knew, however, that the Scottish geneticist was right. Reluctantly, she followed Moira to the war camp that Shannon Ford and the Multiversal Initiative leaders had set up.

---

Carmen Sandiego, meanwhile, was doing her part, using stolen technology from several different worlds to create light barriers against the Shadow Demons. Though the SHIELD Multiversal Initiative had stopped her Multiversal crime spree, she held them no ill will and considered them friendly enemies. And of course, there was the fact that in this context, they were allies against a common enemy.

She also nodded to her counterpart who had participated in the thirty-seventh Traitor Game. She wondered if there would be time to compare notes regarding their various incredible thefts in their respective worlds. For now, however, she had to focus on using her stolen resources to assist the defenders of the Omniverse.

[Masterbasset]

Disorder.

Such mass. Planet-sized space guardians, enchanters of dozens of magical systems, weaponry from across timelines, all converging into one spot.

It created a lot of noise. It's like a string being plucked too hard on a guitar, a single link being strained on a chain, a discordant and unseemly vibration careening from the battlefield as the trumpets of war blared. To Those listening, it is turning out to be downright impossible to ignore.

Like angry landlords banging on the door of their tenant's apartment, there was a great *THWIP* as the sky was torn in two. It bisected to reveal howling winds and many many eyes.

The Weaver spoke aloud, giddy as can be.

...WE WEAVERS WOULD LIKE A WORD.

And he ended it there, for irony's sake.

spider_army.jpg

The chittering and monologuing of a thousand Weavers, echoed and scratched at the ears of the fighters beneath, and more Weavers than had ever been in one place spilled out of the hole Ripped in the skyline, stretching it's outline to the brim as if it were cloth. Every Custodian of the Worldweave had come to help, and stop the Multiverse's destruction.

With the outrage of Janitors trying to quell a food fight, they swarmed the would-be Destroyers of the Multiverse, the Worldweave they work so hard on. One Weaver made it so Gorilla Grodd could only keep his eyes open if he held his breath, another began to Re-Stitch injuries into health among the injured.

Where was Lung?

[Masterbasset]

I have taken the air, for the ground melts where I step. The crowd gives me wide berth despite my altitude, for I am uncomfortably hot even to those below. I am upwards of 60 feet tall now, and mean to continue. I aim to push this body to its limit, despite theoretically not possessing one.But they see me, and their looks make me swell in power.

I can not but stare at another behemoth in the sky, an Endbringer-esque creature spilling little versions of itself across the battlefield. A fitting test.

Its smaller selves shriveled and died in my aura before I reached the creature-proper. In a test of strength, I pushed a claw into one of its limbs, and found it brittle, vivisecting it. It started to try and envelop around me, but that was a mistake. My flames made its selves shriek as more of its kind died.

And I laughed.

Robbed of it's primary offensive ability, I decided it would be no fun to fight, and plunged myself into its eye. The sound it made was grating on my ears.

Continuing to thrash, we landed on a large mound of land with a large smash, rock and slag splashing outward. This is no predator of value, this is a parasite with no host to suckle, I have claw, scale, and Fire. I use all three to pommel and slash its remains. I roar in triumph.



Is it time to match that Superman?

[Chris Lang]

The chittering and monologuing of a thousand Weavers, echoed and scratched at the ears of the fighters beneath, and more Weavers than had ever been in one place spilled out of the hole Ripped in the skyline, stretching its outline to the brim as if it were cloth. Every Custodian of the Worldweave had come to help, and stop the Multiverse's destruction.

With the outrage of Janitors trying to quell a food fight, they swarmed the would-be Destroyers of the Multiverse, the Worldweave they work so hard on. One Weaver made it so Gorilla Grodd could only keep his eyes open if he held his breath, another began to Re-Stitch injuries into health among the injured.

Where was Lung?[/CENTER]

Cologne observed the arrival of the spider army with interest. "It would appear that we have reinforcements."

The spider creatures were strange, but clearly they were on the side of the Multiverse's defenders. Cologne only hoped her allies would quickly get the message.

Several SHIELD agents raised their weapons, but Shannon Ford spoke up.

"Hold. These spiders are our allies. Our records say they have a vested interest in saving the Multiverse." Shannon said.

The Agents held back, as the Weavers went to work.

"I just hope no one here lets their arachnophobia get the better of them..." Shannon muttered to herself.

Spider-Girl, two incarnations of the Jessica Drew Spider-Woman, Ultimate Spider-Woman, and several versions of Spider-Man stared in amazement as the Weavers not only went into action against the enemies, but also began treating the injured.

"What are these things?" Spider-Girl said. "And where do they come from?"

"I don't know." said one of the Spider-Men. "I've a feeling it's a long story."

Terry Franklin also stared in awe as he stood with the recovering Rogue, along with Tyler and Jamie. He also turned across the battlefield, and saw a strange yellow Omi character among the allies, as well as Garon the dwarf and Yellow Lantern Paris Hilton.

"Am ah seein' things?" Rogue asked. "When did that Paris Hilton gal get a Power Ring?"

"Long story." Terry said. "Or so I'm told. Anyway, I'm glad we have these 'Weavers' and the others here with us. Against something as big as this, we need all the help we can get."