Space Fight.

Atrocitus stood on the bridge of the Shard and looked at his most powerful officers. In front of him stood Zilius Zox, the small ball consisting almost entirely of a mouth, Vice, one of his most capable advisors, the wild Rankorr, the cat-like Dex-Starr and Skallox. Bleez was just about to leave as he wanted to get the Shard's guns ready. By necessity he had also called in Guy Gardner. The cheeky man was only present because he had fought with these people before.

Atrocitus looked at the data when Guy addressed him without permission.

"We should strike immediately! Let me go first! I still have a score to settle with these idiots of the League."

"Like we need your help." Zox laughed and saw Guy glowing red.

"Has anyone asked you for your opinion, you rubber ball?"

"What do you know about the defenses of this world?" Atrocitus asked calmly, but the tone was somber enough to make it clear that he was tired of this childish bickering.

"The Watchtower is the only orbital system they have. Armed with a single ion cannon, they pose no threat to the Shard's shields. The three Kryptonians may be dangerous, but I'll have no trouble dealing with them."

"Then why do our sensors pick up two orbital objects?" he asked impatiently.

"Heaven. One is the ISS. That's a baby space station. It's not even armed! Do I see fear?" laughed Guy and to everyone's surprise, the most powerful Red Lantern remained completely calm and activated a monitor.

Behind him the image of the watchtower appeared and right next to him a huge spaceship could be seen. This ship was about twice the size of the Watchtower. It was a masterpiece of beauty and elegance in contrast to the space station. A long-drawn-out bow that ran a V-shape to the rear and bundled into 4 powerful engines. On the right and left were 2 bulges which seemed to be a kind of landing zone. All in all, it reminded of a warship by its shape and size, but by its fine decorations and elegance rather of a luxury cruiser.

"Does this look like a small space station?"

"What's that?" asked Guy, confused. "Strange. My ring has no information about the ship."

The other Red Lantern also looked confused until their leader accessed the Shard's databases.

"Identify ship. Scanning... accessing database of Sector 2292. Vessel identified. "Kryptonian vessel. class. Definition. Battleship class of Krypton. No historical battles known. According to database, Krypton was destroyed 219 years ago... update database. Krypton has reappeared in sector 2292. Seram class threat classification. Omega level threat."

"Omega?" said Atrocitus amazed and looked to the other Red Lantern. "EVERYONE TO THE BATTLE STATIONS!" he shouted as the ship ignited its powerful engines and slowly began to move. Although the ship itself seemed tiny compared to the shard, all the Red Lantern looked at the monitors that now showed Batman.

"This is Watchtower to the Red Lantern. Stand down."

"I'll kill you!" yelled Guy and caught a blow from Dex.

"Do you really think I'm falling for that bluff?" Atrocitus asked and raised an eyebrow.

" If you think so," was the only answer from Batman before the picture went out. On the second monitor one could see parts of the ship's hull liquefying and forming into guns. Although the ship had lost none of its elegance, it suddenly looked like a weapon-gazing monster.

"This is just a bluff! Everyone knows there are no more Kryptonian ships," said one of the lanterns, but he didn't seem sure.

"Incoming fire!" yelled one of the pilots and because of the size of the Shard, all evasive maneuvers were pointless. The first salvo bounced off the mighty shields without effect, but still the whole base shook violently.

"Status!" Atrocitus roared angrily and clenched his fists.

"Shields at 87%. Weapon systems have acquired targets!"

"Ignore the Watchtower! All weapons on the ship! He roared angrily and hastily, the guns were aligned, and fire was opened.

Bridge of the Hyperion.

The commander sat calmly on the bridge, looking emotionless and cool at his crew.

"Helmsman. Course 210.922. Gunnery. Fire focus on the lower booms of this ship. Transfer shield power from sector 2 to sector 9."

The calmness and composure of the man impressed Batman. He had been aboard the ship rather accidentally when the sensors detected Red Lantern Base. The fact that the President of the United States was on board at the time should have made him feel a little uncomfortable, but so far, it's been a rather one-sided fight. The Hyperion lived up to its name as the flagship of the Kryptonian fleet. The ship was more than a match for the Shard. Although smaller, it was more agile and capable of inflicting devastating damage. The fact that the hits were swallowed by the shield and settled at almost 70% was very reassuring.

"Here we go" said Batman calmly and the admiral looked up. Hundreds of smaller red dots were approaching from the shard.

"Missiles?"

"Red Lantern. Batman to Watchtower! Where the hell is Superman?"

"We can't reach him!"

Within minutes, the fortunes of battle had turned dramatically. The Hyperion was an equal opponent for the Shard in ship-to-ship combat, but it was not powerful enough to take on hundreds of Red Lantern. The shields had completely failed in the meantime and the Lanterns concentrated their attacks on the weapons. Here and there the Hyperion scored a hit, but the small targets were just too fast. But every Red Lantern that was hit by one of the shots left nothing but a red ring that disappeared into the vastness of the universe.

Batman started to like this admiral. Even now, when the shit was boiling over, he remained cold as an iceberg. A matching mask and a black cape and he would fit in well in Gotham. Even when the bridge was hit by several hits, he stayed cold as ice and gave his orders in a cold, clear voice. Batman cursed inside that he could do nothing. He wasn't familiar with the technique, he wasn't an expert in such fights and his abilities were very limited.

Just as the Hyperion began to enter the earth's gravitational field, Batman finally saw three stripes shooting out of the watchtower. Finally, the Kryptonians had appeared. Power Girl, Supergirl and Superman went straight into hand-to-hand combat with the Red Lantern and fought a heated battle with them. This gave the Hyperion time to use its last ounce of power to bring itself into a stable orbit. All weapons were deactivated, the shields no longer existed, and the hull was ripped in dozens of places. It was hopeless for this ship.

But just when it couldn't get any worse, the universe was suddenly bathed in a red light and something came out of the sun appearing on the horizon of the Earth. Something very... very... Very big.

Meanwhile on earth.

Eternicus was sitting in the library reading a story about a wooden doll that came to life and wished to be a real child. Thoughtfully, he closed the book and began to think. Deep in thought he left the city and looked around. Far and wide there was not a soul to be seen. Slowly he raised his right hand and concentrated.

The story with the doll had given him an idea. In his present form he was incapable of begetting a dragon... since no mortal being could withstand this energy, but what if he had a less powerful form?

In his mind he started to imagine a human being and tried to create it until he looked at his... let's say... masterpiece.

A shell without content. He knew what humans looked like from the outside and how their souls shimmered, but he had no idea how they worked at all.

"And back to the library," he laughed and swam back to study anatomy books and the like. Just as he was studying these books, he looked up and smiled.

"But this is going to be an unfair fight."

At the same time, he asked one of the magicians to create a bubble of air around him, which he gladly did. Curious, the magician looked on and was amazed as if in front of Eternicus, from which nothing suddenly a heart emerged. Slowly throbbing, the heart began to create veins that branched out and spread further and further. After the bloodlines were there, bones, muscles and skin formed before his eyes until a perfect duplicate of Eternicus stood before him.

"What do you think, my Lord? Would this creature pass for human?" Eternicus asked, looking skeptically at his work, which just opened its eyes and had the same golden eyes as the original.

"What...is that?"

"Oh, that's easy. I have only created a mortal shell for myself with which I will have less influence on your kind. Said the human Eternicus suddenly and the real Eternicus nodded. It was a bit confusing to be in both bodies at the same time and it was hard to perceive. But he soon realized that only one of them had to close his eyes and it was fine again.

"Please remember that unlike you, I can't breathe down here!"

"I know that!"

"Well. I know you like to forget such ridiculous details!"

The magician watched amused and fascinated as the two of them argued with each other and yet were one and the same person.

"You are right. And now the magician says. I would like to get a woman pregnant. What do I have to do to get her pregnant?"

"ohhhh ... KING ARTHUR!" shouted the magician completely confused.