Justice League II: Dread

Chapter Twenty-Two: Metropolis

Metropolis, 5/28/15, 6:00 PM

Blue Devil hoisted up Kyle onto his back as Stargirl struggled to keep up with the demon.  The demon was flying at a rate that even Stargirl could barely get to.  She flew up behind him as he zoomed up into the air of Metropolis towards the rooftops.  She looked back down at the ground at one point as the Atlantean ship went below the water, with her friends on board.

"Blue Devil!"  Stargirl screamed, but her words were lost in the air.  Blue Devil was far ahead of her now.  She screamed again, but it was no use.  He was headed for a rooftop, she could talk to him there.

Blue Devil reached the rooftop of a former Lex Corp building and Stargirl landed next to him exhausted.  He was barely touched by the flight.

"You alright?"  He asked as he lay Kyle down on the roof.

"I'm...ugh I've been better."  She let out as she collapsed on all fours.  She felt as though she could throw up her entire lunch, but somehow she held it in.

"Look, we've gotta contact the Justice League."  Blue Devil explained, "They will know what to-"

"The Justice League is... is dealing with another threat.  My... my friends, they-"

"Look we don't have time."  Blue Devil continued, "I know what the Ring's plans are-"

"The Ring?"  Kyle asked as he sat up, he was awake, but looked weak to do much more than talk.

"The Ring of Evil is what they're calling themselves."  Blue Devil sighed as he paced, "Look we don't-"

"Explain."  Kyle said boldly.

"I don't-"

"Please.  We can't be in the dark on this."  Stargirl insisted, she wanted to know what was really going on.

Blue Devil sighed again and finally stopped his pacing.  He stood on the edge of the building looking out at the horizon.

"Look.  The Ring of Evil is a group of... 'super-villains' formed after your little incident in Uraria.  They have pledged to take over the planet through force and also by killing off all possible opponents.  They formed a plan to kill the members of the Justice League and then... well you."

"Us?  The Team?"  Kyle asked in shock.

"How do you know all of this?"  Stargirl asked narrowing her eyes.

"Because I worked as an undercover agent for Red Tornado in their ranks."  Blue Devil explained, "The Justice League sought me out for the job after they had been tracking several high level threats moving towards each other.  The Ring's council includes Ra's Al Ghul, Atomic Skull, Sinestro, Professor Zoom, Cheetah, and Ocean Master.  They've been working together and even formed that plan to assault Mount Justice II."

"But you didn't tell us?"  Stargirl asked raising an eyebrow in suspicion.

"I didn't know at the time.  The operation was between their highest members only.  I had no access to the information.  I found out only after it happened.  By then... it was too late."

"So what are they planning?  Why did they want Ed- I mean Kid Devil."

"They wanted Eddie Bloomberg because of his powers being similar to mine.  They figured that with his powers they could easily begin to separate the Justice League and the Team through his teleportation, a power I lack."

"What about Batman's death?  Did they plan that too?"  Kyle asked.

"No.  The Joker acted on his own insanity there."  Blue Devil sighed, "It's a shame such a great man had to die like that.  Batman was one of the only ones whom could have stopped this."