Titans

Chapter 7: Aftermath

A day had passed since Goku and Superman's fight. Views were mixed on Superman's choice of action the world over, what if he played directly into a dangerous plot to weaken the safety of the planet? No! What if Son Goku was in fact dangerous and Lazarus tipped off the Justice League to a hidden threat? And who was this Lazarus? Would he show up again? The suspense was killing everybody. Back at home: Goku, Chi-Chi, and Goten were all watching news coverage about the aftermath of the fight. Goku had bandages wrapped around his forehead but he certainly didn't carry himself like a man who just lost a fight the day before. "Later today a member of the Justice League will be making a statement concerning the goings on of this Son Goku and the terrorist 'Lazarus'. Sources say the Justice League.....".

The tv is suddenly turned off and Goku raises an eyebrow, "Hey I was watching that" Goku says. Chi-Chi is gripping the remote with both hands and is attempting to hold back tears. "Chi-Chi what's wrong?" Goku asks, "Damn you, Goku! Don't you understand how serious this is?! A guy stronger than you wants you off the planet! You're being taken from us!" Chi-Chi then goes into a full sob immediately after her tirade, Goten attempts to console his mother. "Aw come on, Chi-Chi. It'll be ok. No one is gonna take me anywhere and if Superman has a problem with that, he can just fight me again!" Goku remarks bravely while hitting his fist against his palm to assure his family of his resolve. "Everything will be ok, I promise" Goku says gently.

There is a knock at their door that Goku answers as Goten was still consoling Chi-Chi. Standing on the other side of the door was Goku's other son, Gohan. With him is: his wife Videl, and their baby. "Hey, Gohan!" Goku greets cheerfully. Gohan and his family walk in and close the door behind them. "Is what they're saying true, dad? Is that super guy making you leave?" Gohan asks concernedly. Videl holds a look that matched his concern. "He wants to, Gohan. But I won't let that happen" Goku answers. The baby had an expression that clearly showed she was close to breaking into a cry, "Grandpa go bye-bye?" Pan asked with a shaken baby voice; the sound of it breaking everyone's hearts who were present. Goku grabs Pan and holds her close to his chest, "No, Pan, Grandpa is gonna stay right here no matter what" he says softly. He then lifts her up and beams at her "Grandpa is gonna stay strong and be around for you, so no more crying ok?". Pan looks down at Goku curiously for a second absorbing what she was just told and then starts to giggle at her grandfather's big smile. "I'm not going anywhere, guys, I promise" Goku says looking to his family.

At Lexcorp, Lex Luthor was over looking Metropolis from his large office window. He watched as the twilight sky gave way to the illumination of the surrounding skyscrapers and zooming cars down below. "So it's true, there was another alien freak like the blue Boy Scout on this god forsaken rock" Lex remarked with bemusement and contempt. "Yes,  sir" said a voice behind him, Lex smirks and turns in his chair, "So what's next, Lazarus?" Lex asked upon being fully turned around. Lazarus was standing in front of his desk, hood obscuring his eyes. "Now that Son Goku will be leaving, what's next?" Lex asked the mysterious boy. "The rest will fall into place. Both aliens had support systems, loved ones who revere them who are egomaniacs themselves. Next, they'll go after each other, guaranteed. And while they're distracted with each other, we kill the Superman".

Back in their high rise Metropolis apartment, Lois and Clark we're enjoying a relaxing afternoon. Clark himself was in the same situation as Goku: clad in bandages. Clark decides he wants something to drink and goes to get up but a sharp pain shoots down his back that ordered him to sit back down. "OH!" He exclaimed as he sat back down wincing. Lois approaches with a glass of water "oh no you don't, Man of Steel" she says, "here". She hands him the glass of water as she sits next to him and curls her legs up underneath herself, she caresses his head. "It's been awhile since you were hurt like this, Clark" she remarks concernedly, "who was this guy?". Clark sips his water and then keeps his gaze forward holding a straight expression "Another member of an alien race like me. He was unlike anything I've ever fought. He scares me......like Doomsday did". "'Doomsday'? It can't be THAT serious!" Lois says. "Maybe worse" Clark lifts his shirt to reveal many bruises left by Goku's rapid punches. "Oh my god " Lois says with a low concerned tone. "he was something else. Something different. If I hadn't thought fast he would have won, maybe even killed me. Good or evil, someone with THAT level of destructive power shouldn't be here......there most certainly shouldn't be two of us". Lois continues to run her fingers through Clark's hair, she loved his resolve as a man but this Superhero half of his life was taking too much out of him. She wished he could just stop. "Somehow I feel this is far from over" Clark said stoically looking to Lois.

"Well I hope Clark is proud of himself" said Wonder Woman, "He did what he had to, Diana" replied Batman. "'What he had to'?! What WE had to do was find the terrorist, not go and piss off this guy and his friends! We've......no, CLARK most certainly started a war, and when it comes barreling down on the Justice League I'll have no part of it!". Batman turns away from her not saying anything for a second and then responds, "nothing can be changed now, what's done is done". "I'm not coming out there" Wonder Woman says, "Fine", Batman replies as he walks out onto the steps of Gotham city hall where a crowd of press stood on the steps that had a podium fit with a microphone at the very top. Joining Batman were: officers from the GCPD, Commissioner Gordon, and the Mayor. After announcing that Batman would now be taking questions on behalf of the Justice League, he steps away and Batman takes the mic. Immediately the questions came flooding in. The mayor takes the mic and holds his hand up, "One at a time, one at a time! Yes, you" the Mayor points at a man standing close by. The man begins "Brody Chambers, Gotham Gazette, Batman is it true there's another alien on this planet like Superman?", "Yes" Batman answers, "Is he dangerous ?" Brody Chambers continues asking, "Superman has handled the alien. As we speak, the Green Lantern is returning to earth with members of the Corps. to escort him off planet. Everything has been taken care of" Batman answers. "Everything?" Asked a woman's voice  from the crowd skeptically, Batman looked in the direction of the voice and saw that it was none other than Vicki Vale. "Yes, everything" Batman answers, "then where's the terrorist? The child who threatened to hurt people if his demands weren't met?" Vicki asked. "The Justice League are doing all we can to...." Batman continued but was interrupted by Vicki continuing to interview "and how do we know this other alien will leave so easily? If he's as powerful as Superman what makes you think he won't come back? And why isn't Superman doing the banishing himself?". Vicki Vale was always a compelling reporter, she was one of the first to find out that Bruce Wayne was Batman but kept it a secret. Batman knew he didn't have any good answers for her, the League only had this partially handled at best. He sighs through his nose quietly and turns to leave, the crowd of press clamoring with more questions. The mayor took the mic back and attempted to calm down the crowd, the commissioner looked on concerned as Batman walked back into the building. Batman walks passed Wonder Woman and then stops in his tracks not looking at her and says "We can't do this without you, Diana, the world knows we're backed into a corner". From behind him he hears her reply "Then get yourselves out", after that he hears the city hall doors. Batman knew that Wonder Woman and Vicki we're right, a war was looming.