Chapter 619: The Son of Darkseid

The Justice League Watchtower -

The Earth turned slowly below, a blue marble suspended in the infinite darkness of space, the observation deck was empty save for two men, Batman, standing before the massive window with his arms crossed, and Martian Manhunter, seated at the nearby console, his green form still and contemplative.

Then the air shifted.

It was subtle but Batman’s hand moved instinctively toward his utility belt. J’onn’s eyes glowed faintly as his telepathic senses reached out, searching for the source.

A figure materialized on the observation deck, he was tall taller than Batman, broader than J’onn, his form radiating a power, he wore armor of silver and red, a being from New Genesis.

Orion.

Son of Darkseid. Champion of New Genesis. The dog of war who had been raised to hate his own father.

Batman’s voice was flat. "Orion."

Orion inclined his head in a gesture of respect. "Batman, Martian Manhunter, it has been a long time."

J’onn rose from his seat, his expression cautious but not hostile. "It has. We had not expected to see you again. The last time you were here, you helped us against the forces of Apokolips."

"And I would help you again, if needed." Orion paused, his gaze sweeping across the observation deck. "But that is not why I am here."

Batman’s eyes narrowed. "Then why are you here?"

Orion was silent for a moment. Then he spoke.

"I am here to inquire about the Shadow Monarch. Arthur Blackwynd. I wish to meet with him."

Batman and J’onn exchanged a glance.

"Arthur is not here," Batman said. "He’s... occupied."

Orion’s eyes narrowed. "Occupied. Where?"

"I don’t know."

Orion’s jaw tightened. "You expect me to believe that? You, of all people? The Batman who has contingency plans for every being on this planet, who monitors every threat, who knows the location of every hero and villain on Earth, you expect me to believe you don’t know where the Shadow Monarch is? "

Batman’s voice was calm. "Even if I wanted to find him, I couldn’t. Arthur doesn’t leave trails behind him, he doesn’t have a fixed location. He moves through shadows and dimensions in ways that even my tech can’t track. And right now, he’s somewhere none of us can reach."

Orion studied him for a long moment."You truly don’t know."

"No."

Orion was silent. He turned, walking toward the observation window, his gaze fixed on Earth below. His voice, when it came, was quieter.

"He killed Darkseid, and he destroyed Apokolips. He ended a war that had raged for centuries in a single, decisive battle." He paused. "And you are not wary of him? You, who are wary of everyone?"

Batman stepped forward. "Is New Genesis afraid? Because that’s what this sounds like. You’re afraid that he finished a war between gods that remained alive for centuries... and you didn’t."

Orion’s shoulders tensed. He didn’t turn.

"Highfather is wary," he admitted. "He has reason to be. The Shadow Monarch is an unknown quantity. He wields power that surpasses the New Gods themselves. He commands armies of the dead and an entire Lantern Corps, I’m sure you understand why." He paused. "And this happened in a very short amount of time."

"He’s not one of you," Batman said. "Is that what this is about? He’s not a New God, so he must be a threat?"

Orion turned, his eyes blazing. "You do not understand. The balance of power in the cosmos has shifted. The Shadow Monarch has done what no one else could, he has defeated Darkseid, sealed the Anti-Monitor. And from what we know, he has created new beings of darkness who answer to him alone. He has become something that even the Highfather cannot predict."

"And that frightens you."

"Yes." Orion’s voice was honest. "It frightens me too. It frightens the Highfather. It frightens all of New Genesis. Because we do not know what he will do next. We do not know what he wants. We do not know if he will turn his eyes toward us when he is done with his enemies, so Highfather allied himself with beings that directly oppose him."

Batman was silent for a moment. Then he spoke, "Then you should know something. Highfather has made a mistake."

Orion’s eyes narrowed. "What?"

"Arthur is not your enemy, he fights for this world, just the same way we do, the same things you fight for. He has no interest in New Genesis. He has no interest in conquest. He has no interest in power for its own sake." Batman paused. "But if your Highfather truly has allied himself with the Rulers, the beings Arthur is currently at war with then he has made himself an enemy of the Shadow Monarch. And that is a mistake you will not survive."

Orion’s face went pale. "What war... what are you talking about?"

"It seems he already has then since you are here.." Batman’s voice was cold. "The Rulers have been influencing Earth for months. They kidnapped one of Arthur’s friends. They are the reason Arthur is not here right now, he’s fighting them. And if Highfather has made contact with them, if he has allied himself with them in any way, then he has chosen the wrong side."

Orion stared at him. His voice was barely a whisper. "The Rulers... they are the beings of light."

"They are not what you think they are." J’onn spoke for the first time, his voice calm but firm. "We have seen their influence here, we also have seen their armies. They are controllers and they seek to shape the universe according to their own design, and they will destroy anyone who stands in their way, this is basically what they are doing with Arthur, they fear his growing strength."

Orion’s hands clenched at his sides. "Highfather is wise.. He would not.."

"Your Highfather is a fool." Batman’s voice was sharp, cutting through Orion’s protest. "If he has truly allied himself with the Rulers, then he has put New Genesis in danger. Arthur will not stop until the Rulers are destroyed. And if New Genesis stands with them, it will fall with them."

Orion was silent for a long moment. His face was unreadable, a mask of stone that hid the turmoil beneath, then he spoke.

"What do you want me to do?"

Batman met his eyes. "Go back to New Genesis. Talk to Highfather. Tell him what you’ve learned. Tell him that the Shadow Monarch is not his enemy, unless he chooses to make him one, I don’t care how you do it, just convince him, tell him that the Rulers are not what they seem. And tell him that if he truly cares about the balance of power in the cosmos, he will stay out of this war, because this is not something he wants to mess with."

Orion studied him for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.

"I will do as you ask." He paused. "But I cannot promise that Highfather will listen."

"Then at least you will have tried."

Orion turned toward the observation window one last time, his gaze fixed on the Earth below.

"He killed Darkseid," he said quietly. "My father. The being I have hated my entire existence. He killed him, and I felt... nothing. No relief. No joy. Just... emptiness." He paused. "And now you tell me he is not a monster. That he is not a tyrant, and that he fights for his family, his friends, his world."

"That’s right." Batman confirmed.

Orion turned back to face them. "Then perhaps I have misjudged him, we all did."

He raised his hand, and a Boom Tube opened behind him, a tear in reality that crackled with light and energy.

"I will deliver your message, Batman. But I make no promises about what comes next."

"We wouldn’t expect you to."

Orion stepped through the Boom Tube and was gone.

The observation deck fell silent.

J’onn spoke first. "Do you think he will listen?"

Batman’s voice was flat. "I think he will try. Whether Highfather listens is another matter entirely."

"What if he doesn’t?"

Batman turned back to the observation window, his gaze fixed on the Earth below.

"Then New Genesis will learn the same lesson the Rulers are about to learn. That Arthur Blackwynd is not a being to be underestimated. And that the darkness he commands is not something to be feared, unless you give him a reason to use it... I fear that I too have been in that dilemma for a very long time, so I understand exactly what they are going through, I’ve only recently been convinced."

J’onn was silent for a moment. "He is a good man. Arthur. He fights for the right reasons, always has."

"I know." Batman’s voice was softer now. "That’s why I’m not worried about him now. I’m worried about the people who think they can control him."

He turned away from the window.

"Come on. We have work to do."

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