Meanwhile on the Watchtower something bad happens

Everyone at the Watchtower were getting nervous. More and more superheroes were arriving at the space station after Wonder Woman declared a worldwide emergency. Dozens scrambled through the halls in preparation of a calamity while most were busy loading the Javelins. The remaining leaders of the League were in a meeting. Inside, the core members of the League sat around a round table, anxiously waiting for an explanation for what was going on.

"Glad to see you all here." Diana said, looking around the room. In front of her sat some of the oldest and most experienced superheroes that were part of the League.

Hal Jordon, Barry Allen, J’onn J’onns, Arthur Curry, Victor Stone and Kent Nelson sat at the table, waiting for an answer. That the latter was present showed just how serious the situation was.

"So, Diana, why are we all here?" asked Hal calmly, looking to Diana who had been unusually quiet. But instead of her speaking up, Dr. Fate answered the question for her.

"We are at a pivotal point. Today the fate of this world will be decided by all the beings here on this station. It will depend on our actions on whether it survives or is broken utterly."

"Oh, can you be a little more specific?" asked Cyborg, leaning forward. "Or do we have to interpret your warnings like a horoscope?"

"I don't know exactly what the cause these future events are, however..." The powerful entity of order summoned a golden glowing ankh behind him. The arcane magical powers moving around him to form a representation of the Earth, a version of the Earth that had gone VERY wrong! What they saw there was not the Earth they recognized. Everywhere they could see, clouds of black smoke coming from volcanoes dotting the continents, vomiting choking black smoke into the air along with columns of raging fire and magma. At other places they saw enormous scars stretching hundreds of miles across the whole continent, like the cracked surface of a dried-out lake. North and South America looked dead; dried of all moisture and life and leaving a crumbling, volcanic wasteland in its stead. Across the now dark brown Atlantic ocean, where England was, they could only see a kind of permanent mega storm rage, which consisted of deep red clouds swirling like the angry gaze of some terrible demon. Europe was just… Gone, swallowed up by the Mediterranean and leaving the rest of Asia and Russia as crumbled and shattered islands of land being worn down by furious crashing waves of poisoned ocean waters.

The sight itself was enough to make some of the heroes recoil, but the view changed to focus completely on a destroyed city back at the states. A single monolith surrounded by devastation let everyone know it was Washington DC. Everywhere, the city burned and out of the smoke they could see a lone figure appear, striding through the ruins.

"Darkseid!" growled Hal Jordan. "So, he's attacking Earth?"

"This event is inevitable." Said Dr. Fate as the vision disappeared. "But he is coming with a new army. The visions are full of chaos and incoherent images. He will overrun this world."

"And it starts today?" asked Cyborg, hastily starting to work with the computer. "Oh...f...uck!"

"Cyborg." Diana spoke sternly, but when she saw the expression on his face, she realized that something bad was happening. "Victor, what’s going on?"

"Something is happening in Gotham. It’s like 5 years ago all over again.”

“Of course, it’s the anniversary of the war. There's the duel between Bruce and Cain today after the Halloween celebrations, they do this every year.” Said Diana and hoped that this would be the cause of Victor’s worry. But a new Battle between Bruce and Dracula would be terrifying and could bring devastation to the entire Planet if it ever came to it. Bruce was much more powerful than he was 5 Years ago. And Dracula would never again be stopped by Bastet this time.

“No. That's not for another four hours.” Explained Cyborg. “Besides, I can't get any more signals out of the city. There is definitely something going on.“

"I knew we should have killed that guy back then." Hal said eagerly, but Dr. Fate merely shook his head and smiled.

"No one in this fortress would be able to do that. Even I am not granted that power. However, I think it is these events there that have triggered my visions." replied Dr. Fate very calmly and seriously. “This could indeed be the turning point he saw. A new war would massively weaken the Earth's defenses.

"Find out what this is. If the peace between them is shattered, we need to prepare for the worst. Hal. You inform everyone that we need to prepare for a blitz launch. I'll get my weapons and then we'll leave for Gotham." Said the Amazon sternly and full of concern. Superman had not been seen for days, his apartment was found destroyed and now this. She had even asked Lex Luthor if he had seen the man of steel, she even used the lasso of truth on him. But he didn't know anything either and that meant they didn't have Superman on their side.

Angrily, she went into the cabin wondering how they were going to pull this off. If Dracula had broken the peace or Bruce had lost control, it would be a terrible fight.

In her cabin, the Amazon was hastily gathering her things when she suddenly spun around and saw a boom box portal open behind her. Stunned, she watched as Darkseid himself stepped through the portal. In the confines of the cabin, he took up almost the entirety of the space. Like an oppressive shadow in a dark room, he took up all her vision. She immediately reached for her weapon, but Darkseid made no move to attack.

"What in Hera's name are you doing here?"

But instead of answering her, he simply pressed a button on his bracer. Immediately Diana could hear some kind of... music. If you really wanted to call it that. It sounded like the worst singers in the world trying to sing the worst opera. There were human sounds that sang partly low, partly high and formed a kind of chorus. A chant that roughly resembled words and yet were completely incomprehensible.

The only thing Diana could really hear was a devastating realization that she just wasn't good enough, that no matter how hard she tried, it just didn't make sense. All her strength, all her efforts, everything was worthless compared to the depressing truth. The universe was a terrible place and no matter how bright she wanted to shine; it would never be enough. This realization hit Diana like a slap in the face. She had fought for so many years and now finally realized that it was all pointless.

Darkseid didn't even smile as Diana sank to her knees and tears streamed down her cheeks. The mighty Amazon stared up at him with uncertainty, as if searching for meaning in her life.

The cacophony roared in her ears, further robbing her of any hope that she could do anything about this hopelessness.

"Tell me who you are?" said Darkseid with a cold, serious expression, folding his arms behind his back.

"I...am Diana. Princess of the Amazons." She said softly, and Darkseid frowned. Behind him, Sleez stepped out of the portal and stared lustfully down at the broken woman. Only then did the ugly figure look up at his master.

"It seems to be working Lord Darkseid."

"Not really. The Anti-Life was supposed to destroy any sense of will or identity in her mind. However, her mind, while now in my control, is still intact. Splintered, broken, pliable, but only so long as she is exposed to this copy you have created." Said Darkseid sternly.

"I am sorry, Lord Darkseid." Said Sleez, backing away. “These heroes have been exposed to the freedom of the Anti-Life equation in the past and found ways to undo it. Even be immune to it! I have tried to find a loophole, to expose them to anti-life’s ultimate truth once more and not have it be denied, that there is only Darksied. So, I created what the humans called an ‘ear worm’. I translated the equation into a melody, a sickly melody that, just like a worm would burrow into their minds and eat until nothing was left but YOU… I have failed, my master.”

Darkseid's wrath was legendary, but apparently this one had no intention of punishing him.

"It may not be a complete failure. It will just take a little longer." Said Darkseid calmly. "Stand up Amazon."

No sooner said than Diana rose and simply looked at him.

"You will now listen carefully!"

*

Meanwhile, in the main room of the Tower.

"Arghhh..." groaned Dr. Fate suddenly, holding his hand to his helmet. "It's starting now! I'm going to try to find out what's going on!"

"You can forget it, Fate. There's something going on in Gotham! Something bad!" said Cyborg, activating the monitors in the room. Through a satellite feed looking straight down into Gotham, the Justice League spotted a warzone where once stood a festival. The krypto-wolves were in full force fighting with the lycanthropes in one feed, while another showed what could best be a hurricane over the world tree where heat vision could be seen cutting through the clouds. Another showed the army of Themyscira marching into the city, while another… Showed a hideous two-headed monster pulverizing buildings.

"What's going on down there?!" asked Hal irritated as he watched some things explode without any impact being seen. Crypto-wolves and Amazons were everywhere. “Who are they attacking?”

"Don't forget that vampires are invisible on camera. So, we wouldn't be able to perceive them in the slightest. But why are the Amazons on the scene?" Aqua-Man paused to consider that. Then the screen made everyone look away when an intense white light erupted in Gotham. "Just what is going on down there?"

While everyone was looking at the monitor, the door opened, and Diana stepped back inside. But she ignored the monitor completely and walked directly toward Dr. Fate, who was hovering cross-legged slightly above the floor.

Walking slowly behind him, she grabbed his head, and before the mighty Dr. Fate could react, a loud crack was heard. With a lightning fast movement and her full strength, she had snapped his neck and turned his face onto his back. Even the powerful entity inside the helmet was incapable of controlling a dead body.

"DIANA?" Screamed Hal, stunned as he realized what had just happened. The shock and bewilderment robbed even the toughest and most hardened heroes of focus, making them hesitate out of disbelief. But Diana looked ignored them completely and activated the speakers of the room.

Immediately the cacophony of Darkseid sounded in the room while Diana pulled the golden helmet from Dr. Fate's dead body. Her muscles tensed to the point of bursting as she tried to destroy the helmet, but even her legendary strength was not enough to dent it even a little.

The others in the room clutched at their ears and screamed, some falling to their knees while others were petrified in horror. One by one, they went through the same transformation that Diana had gone through. It was too much for Hal. Even through his will, the loss of all his ideals was just too much for his mind. With a desperate gesture, he pointed the ring directly at his face and created one last construct. His head was smashed by a massive hammer before the ring fell powerlessly to the ground. Normally, it would have returned to Oa on the spot, but under the influence of the Anti-Life, the power of the ring was extinguished.

Even though the Anti-Life was only a copy of the original, it was powerful enough to rewrite the heroes' minds. The effects taking root as they got to their feet and stood, waiting for instructions as Darkseid entered the room, his hands still behind his back as he inspected his new recruits. Looking over to his first champion, he found Diana struggling to crush the helmet of Fate.

"Save it Amazon. Your power is not enough to destroy this helmet!" said Darkseid as he stood before her. Diana fell to one knee and presented the golden helm to her master. He took the helmet from her and to make his point, he tested his Omega Beam against the object. Even his most powerful attack bounced harmlessly off the helmet.

"Interesting!"

Then he looked at Cyborg, whose body was the only one undergoing a physical transformation. His cybernetic implants reshaped his body, forming new, body parts and changing his color from a polished chrome to a dark, coarse black.

“Take this.” Darkseid commanded, presenting a recording of the anti-life equation Sleez had fabricated for him. "You will make sure everyone on the station hears it immediately!"

"Yes Master." Said Cyborg submissively. The machine in his body had completely taken control, and soon every living creature on the watchtower was hearing this horribly beautiful music. Not a single living being was immune to the corrupting influence of Darkside’s weapon.

Hearing the screams of everyone in the station from their respective places, Darkseid closed his eyes and exhaled, hearing it all around him. Turning, he found Sleez and Granny Goodness had now entered the meeting room, looking over their new prizes and nudging Hal’s body away from her foot.

"Lord Darkseid? Why don't you use this new creation to attack the whole Earth?" asked Granny Goodness.

"Because the power of this copy is not enough to encompass an entire planet. Refinement will be needed, improvement, until my victory is absolute and assured. Sleek. Open a boom tube back to my Apokalyps, we shall bring this station into orbit around my throne world. We will reshape their minds and bodies. Sharpen them into the blades needed to cut deep into this untapped planet. When we are certain of their submission, they will lead my forces and attack this wretched world, and ALL will be Darkseid! How unfortunate that the Kryptonian had escaped me. But it will be glorious to see him have to fight his dearest and closest allies!"

Allowing himself a smirk, the new God chuckled and turned his attention to Diana.

“You and your new furies will make a spectacle of his death, you shall turn his fondest memories into nightmares, betray every vow and trust he had with you. You will murder the ones he cherishes and defile their remains, and once his heart is broken, his will shattered, and strength robbed will you end him before me.”

Remaining on one knee, Diana smiled sadistically, her eyes wild with perverse and cruel thoughts taking root with his every word.

“Darkseid is order, Darkseid is truth, Darkseid is ALL! Darkseid… IS.”

Shortly thereafter, the entire watchtower disappeared completely without a trace from all of Earth's monitors.