Ethan looked at Barry, then at Batman and considered his answer carefully. "The question isn't can I fix it. The question is should I fix it. And the answer to that is more complicated than you might like."
Barry's confusion was written all over his face. "What do you mean by that? If you can fix it, why wouldn't you?"
Batman narrowed his eyes and Ethan continued with the patient tone of someone explaining something fundamental, "It's exactly as I said. Let me give you an example so you can understand this better, Barry. I'm not the type of parent who will stop their child from putting their finger in a power socket and simply tell them it's dangerous—only for the child to want to try it again the moment the parent's back is turned."
He leaned forward slightly as his blue eyes intense. "I'm the type who dares them to put their finger in the socket so they can understand the consequences of their actions firsthand. Pain is an excellent teacher and Experience is the best education."
Anna rolled her eyes and thought to herself, 'If we ever have kids, I'm absolutely certain Ethan will be the most overprotective dad this universe has ever seen. He'll probably put tracking spells on them and create pocket dimensions just to keep them safe.'
But she didn't say that out loud and ruin his lecture to the former speedster. This was important—Barry needed to understand what he'd done.
Barry was shocked and Batman continued listening intently as Ethan pressed forward, "This world is your mess to clean up, Barry. You caused this reality to exist. You broke the timeline. So you'd better start thinking of ways to get your speed back and try to understand what you've done here so you can undo it properly."
His voice took on an edge. "I'm not here to babysit a speedster who plays with timelines without understanding the consequences. I'm going to make sure you understand them thoroughly."
Batman seemed to be thinking deeply about something while Barry asked in shock, "But... how can you expect me to do this? I don't have my speed now, and Let's not forget, you're a hero too! You're supposed to protect people and care for them! I understand this was my mistake, but you can fix it now, right? I promise I won't do this again. Just... please fix it."
Ethan stopped him with a raised hand. "Let's set aside me being a hero for now, and let me be very clear about something. I do care about the people I met in the original timeline. I wanted to make that world a better place—that's why I created the Aeon Biotech branch there. But thanks to you, except for Diana who's currently in my universe, everything and everyone I cared about in that timeline are gone."
His expression hardened. "So let me tell you what I'm thinking of doing in case you hoped I'd just swoop in and save the day. I'm considering erasing this timeline entirely and creating a new one where Barry Allen never gets the Speed Force. I'll take the Speed Force itself out of the equation so that at least one timeline will be free from these Flashpoint catastrophes."
Batman raised an eyebrow and Barry was genuinely shocked. He hadn't expected this response from someone who seemed to care so much about doing the right thing.
"You can't—" Barry started to protest.
"I can and I will in a few hours," Ethan interrupted calmly. "So you have at least one chance to get your speed back before I erase this timeline. That is, if you can manage it."
Barry stood in shock and Ethan then addressed Batman directly, "I do have one question, though. Why the bat? I mean seriously, I can understand Bruce's choice—he fell into that hole after his parents' death, bats filled the sky and caused trauma that defined his symbol. But why did you choose a bat, Mr. Wayne? There are many other animals out there. Owls, for example, would make an excellent nocturnal predator theme."
Anna just shook her head but her mind was working. 'Ethan said Barry has a few hours. He wouldn't give that specific timeframe unless something was about to happen. Something terrible that would kill this world if Barry doesn't have his speed to stop it.'
Batman just stared at Ethan and didn't respond.
Barry couldn't tell what was going on in Ethan's head—one moment threatening him with timeline erasure, the next asking casual questions about costume choices like they were discussing fashion.
Ethan shrugged. "Don't answer if you don't want to. Anyway, I'll be back shortly. Going to rescue someone and do something productive instead of wasting time here."
He waved his hand in a circular motion and a red portal opened. The other side showed what looked like a basement or underground facility.
Ethan looked directly into Batman's eyes and said seriously, "Let me show you something, Mr. Wayne. Something that might ease your worries and give you purpose."
He activated his Genesis Telepathy and transferred a concentrated package of information directly into Thomas Wayne's mind—everything that had happened to Bruce Wayne in the original timeline of this universe. The training, the crusade against crime, the victories and losses, the life of the son who should have lived.
Batman's eyes widened as a sudden wave of memories and history appeared directly in his consciousness. It was like watching his son's entire life play out in fast-forward—every triumph, every tragedy, every moment that defined him as a hero.
His breathing became fast and his hands clenched unconsciously. All of this happened in mere seconds, but Ethan made sure Thomas's brain wasn't damaged by the sudden influx of foreign memories.
Ethan turned to Anna. "Want to tag along or stay here?"
Anna didn't hesitate. "I'll come with you. I have some questions, honey."
Ethan smiled at her—he had a pretty good idea what she wanted to ask. He looked back at Batman and smirked. "I can assure you that the Wayne bloodline will be carried forward in that timeline. And your son is very popular with the ladies, so you can rest assured, Mr. Wayne. Grandchildren are definitely in your hypothetical future."
He laughed openly. Anna tried to control her own laughter. Even Barry smiled a little and sighed, thinking, 'Maybe Ethan is doing all this to teach me a lesson and will actually step in before things get really dangerous.'
Ethan also sent a telepathic message to Jean, who was consoling Elizabeth somewhere in the manor above, Meet us inside Wayne Manor in a few minutes. I'm going to save someone this world hasn't met yet.
Then Ethan and Anna stepped through the portal and it closed behind them.
Left alone in the torture chamber that passed for a Batcave, Barry turned to Batman. "So... I believe he shared part of Bruce's history from the original timeline with you?"
He can guess because that's the only thing that will motivate Batman to help him.
Batman didn't respond for several seconds. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a weight that hadn't been there before, "What do you need to get your speed back?"
After learning his son's life—even though it wasn't what any parent would hope for their child, filled with violence and loss and endless struggle—Thomas Wayne could put his hand on his heart and say with absolute certainty that he was proud. Proud of the man his son had become. Proud of the difference he'd made.
And he would do anything to make sure that timeline was restored.
Barry nodded, understanding that they were now working together. "I need every chemical from the original accident recreated here. And I need a really bad thunderstorm."
As if on cue, the sound of thunder echoed through the basement, muffled but unmistakable. The storm outside was intensifying.
Batman's lips quirked in what might have been the ghost of a smile. "Welcome to Gotham."
...
(Underground Base - Hidden Beneath Metropolis)
Ethan and Anna stepped out of the portal into a cold, sterile basement corridor. The walls were concrete reinforced with steel, the lighting was harsh fluorescent strips, and the air had that recycled quality of a facility that existed deep underground.
They stood before a sealed room—heavy metal door with multiple electronic locks, observation window made of reinforced glass, warning signs indicating biohazard protocols.
The moment they materialized, alarms began blaring throughout the facility. Red emergency lights started flashing. Heavy security doors slammed open at both ends of the corridor and armed personnel poured out—at least thirty of them, all wearing tactical gear and carrying automatic weapons.
The weapons were immediately pointed at Ethan and Anna.
"FREEZE! Don't move! Hands above your heads where we can see them!" the lead soldier shouted, his voice amplified by the enclosed space.
Ethan and Anna looked at each other for a long moment. Then they burst into laughter—genuine, delighted laughter that echoed strangely against the alarm sirens.
The head of the security team took a step forward, clearly confused by this reaction. "This isn't a place you can just visit without authorization. Identify yourselves immediately."
Anna was still laughing as she said, "This is the first thing I've found genuinely hilarious since coming to this world."
Ethan nodded, wiping tears of mirth from his eyes. "Yeah, it improved my mood quite a bit actually." He turned to address the soldiers directly. "As thanks for making me laugh, I won't kill you. Now be good boys and take a nap."
His irises glowed blue and every single soldier immediately collapsed to the ground, falling into magically-induced sleep. Then Ethan turned his attention to the automated weapon systems—ceiling-mounted turrets that were tracking them with red targeting lasers.
The turrets simply disintegrated, turning to fine dust that drifted to the ground like ash.
Ethan nodded in satisfaction and turned back to the sealed room. But Anna's expression had become serious again. "Ethan, what's going to happen in a few hours? You didn't give Barry a specific timeframe unless something terrible is about to occur."
Ethan smiled and pulled her into his arms. "My Southern belle understands me so well."
Anna rolled her eyes but hugged him back tightly. "Please. I know the man I fell in love with and married. You're not going to let this world die—that much I can tell just by looking at you."
She pulled back slightly to look at his face with serious intent. "I know you can see the terrible things that happened here. And I'd bet a hundred dollars that you've also seen the future along with the past. Not just one possibility, but many. I'm worried that—"
He kissed her forehead gently, cutting off her concern. "Thank you for worrying about me. As for what happened to this world... I'll give you a quick review."
His irises glowed blue as he activated his telepathy and let her see what he'd witnessed—the twisted histories, the altered fates, the cascade of consequences that had created this broken reality.
Bruce Wayne dying in Crime Alley instead of his parents. Martha Wayne's sanity shattering, her grief transforming her into the Joker of this world—complete madness born from losing her child. Thomas Wayne becoming a brutal, violent version of Batman. Eventually putting a bullet in his wife's mouth to end her reign of terror and madness.
Hal Jordan never becoming Green Lantern, the ring choosing someone else from another planet.
Shazam not being a single hero but the entire Vasquez family sharing the power—six siblings instead of one chosen champion.
Diana becoming Queen of the Amazons after her mother Hippolyta died in some conflict.
Arthur Curry becoming King of Atlantis by force rather than birthright, ruling with an iron fist.
The alliance between Atlantis and Themyscira that should have brought peace.
The affair between Diana and Arthur that violated that alliance.
Mera's jealousy driving her to attempt Diana's assassination. Her death at the hands of the Amazonian Queen triggering the war that would consume the world.
Anna blinked rapidly after seeing all of this and breathed out slowly, "Wow. Now I understand why Jean said this world is completely fucked up. It truly is."
She looked at Ethan with an expression that was part concern, part disgust. "Didn't you find it disturbing that Diana and Arthur were... together like that?"
Ethan sighed deeply. "Yeah, it was definitely something I didn't like seeing. But thankfully, this world's Diana looks slightly different from our Diana—different facial structure and different bearing. I know she isn't our Diana, so there isn't much emotional issue for me."
Anna nodded in understanding and slowly turned to face the sealed door. "If what you've shown me is correct, then in that room..."
She paused and realization dawning slowly. Thanks to what Ethan had shared, she now knew exactly who was imprisoned behind that door.
Ethan nodded gravely. "Yeah. Let's save her."
They separated and Ethan raised his hand toward the door. Red runic circles materialized in the air, spinning as they interfaced with the electronic locks. The heavy bolts disengaged with loud metallic clunks and the door swung open.
Inside, red emergency lighting bathed everything in crimson. The room was large—more like a cell than a laboratory. Sterile white walls, observation equipment on one side, and in the far corner...
A thin figure was trembling after hearing the door open. Curled into herself, trying to make her body as small as possible, clearly expecting more pain and experimentation.
Anna's eyes blazed with barely controlled fury. But Ethan held her hand gently and gestured for her to take the lead. Violence could come later—right now, this person needed kindness.
Anna nodded, understanding immediately. She approached slowly, keeping her body language non-threatening, and spoke in the gentlest voice she could manage, "Hey. No need to be afraid. We're here to save you from this place."
The figure—clearly female—turned to face them. She was heartbreakingly thin, almost skeletal from malnutrition and abuse. Her clothes were little more than rags, torn and stained. Her hair was matted and dirty. But even in this condition, there was something in her eyes—a spark that hadn't been completely extinguished.
Anna knelt down slowly, bringing herself to eye level. "Don't worry. My name is Anna Carter. This is my husband, Ethan Carter. We're here to save you. I promise they won't harm you anymore. You're safe now."
Anna extended her hand carefully, giving the woman the choice to accept or refuse.
The woman looked doubtful, her eyes flickering between Anna's face and Ethan's figure standing further back. She'd learned not to trust anyone in this place.
Ethan smiled gently and activated his Genesis Empathy—not to read her emotions, but to project his own. To let her feel the genuine compassion, the sincere desire to help, the complete lack of malicious intent.
The woman's eyes widened as she felt their true emotions. After so long surrounded by cruelty and scientific detachment, genuine kindness felt almost alien.
Slowly, hesitantly, she reached out and took Anna's hand.
Anna helped her stand, supporting most of her weight as the woman's legs shook from disuse and weakness. She tried to speak, words in a language that neither Ethan nor Anna recognized—possibly Kryptonian.
Then, switching to English with a heavy accent, "Thank... you."
Ethan's eyes glowed blue as he stepped closer. "Don't worry, and don't be afraid. Let me help you."
He raised his hand in front of her and golden Genesis energy began flowing from his palm into her body. The power was gentle, healing, restorative—targeting the damage done by months or years of captivity and experimentation.
In an instant, her body became more vibrant. Color returned to her skin. Her muscles filled out to healthy proportions. Her hair cleaned itself and regained its natural luster—blonde, bright, almost glowing in the red emergency lighting.
Within seconds, she looked like a completely different person. Healthy, strong, and undeniably beautiful.
She stared at her own hands in amazement, flexing fingers that now had strength instead of trembling weakness.
Ethan raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Wow. You Kryptonians really are something else. You're absorbing my Genesis power like a sponge—your cells are practically hungry for energy."
She looked at him with surprise and confusion. "How did you—"
He gently cut her off. "I know a few things about you and why you're imprisoned here. We'll talk about everything later after we get out. But let me finish healing you first."
She nodded, trusting these strangers more than she'd trusted anyone since arriving on Earth. She could feel the strength flowing into her—power unlike anything she'd ever experienced before.
Anna stopped supporting her, realizing the woman could now stand on her own. She watched as Ethan also used transfiguration magic to replace the rags with proper clothing—a black suit with an S-symbol on the chest, similar to a Kryptonian uniform but without a cape.
After a few more moments, Ethan stopped the energy flow. "That's enough for now. We don't want to overcharge you. How do you feel?"
She looked at her hands again, making fists and opening them repeatedly, feeling the power in her muscles. "I feel... amazing. I feel like I could punch a hole through a mountain."
Anna laughed warmly. "You can do much more than that, sugar."
Ethan smiled with genuine pleasure. "I'm glad you've recovered. Now, allow me to introduce ourselves properly again. I'm Ethan Carter. This is my wife, Anna Carter."
The woman stood straighter, "Nice to meet you, Mr and Mrs. Carter. My name is Kara Zor-El."
Yeah… this is Kara Zor-El—also known as Supergirl in another timeline. But in this world, her pod arrived before Kal-El's.
She crash-landed here first… and instead of being rescued, she was captured by the authorities—and experimented on.
Suddenly, the entire facility shook. Dust fell from the ceiling and the emergency lights flickered. Ethan's senses immediately detected what was happening—the facility was now surrounded. Soldiers, vehicles, heavy weapons. Someone had called for serious reinforcements.
Ethan turned to Kara with an apologetic smile. "Let's get you out of here in style, shall we?"
Kara nodded, her expression hardening. After everything they'd done to her here, she had no sympathy for whoever was coming.
Anna's smile shifted into something sharp and deeply dangerous. The kind of expression that made even Ethan slightly nervous. "Let me clean up some demons wearing human skin."
Ethan thought silently to himself, 'Sorry, whoever's involved in imprisoning Kara. You've got an angry Southern belle on your ass now. You won't even survive long enough to see the final battle.'
Anna was already walking toward the exit, Kara followed, testing her restored strength with each step.
This rescue was about to become very loud and very violent.
...
[Wayne Manor - Rooftop]
Rain lashed against the rooftop of Wayne Manor, driven by winds that howled through Gotham's perpetual storm. Lightning illuminated the dark sky in irregular flashes, casting everything in stark white-and-shadow contrast.
Batman was arranging equipment with practiced efficiency—chemical containers positioned precisely, electrical connections double-checked, the antenna assembly secured against the wind.
In the center of this makeshift laboratory sat Barry Allen, strapped into a metal chair that bristled with wires and tubes connecting to containers of chemicals both familiar and exotic.
Behind the chair stood a large antenna structure—cobbled together from salvaged parts but functional, designed to attract lightning from the storm above.
Batman's gravelly voice cut through the sound of rain, "This is crazy. You ought to be in Arkham."
Barry picked up a metal helmet—more cage than protection, designed to conduct rather than insulate—and placed it on his head with shaking hands. "Maybe. But I have to recreate the exact conditions that happened during the accident that gave me my speed. It made me the Flash once. Surely it can do it again... I hope."
He looked at Batman with desperate determination. "Now, tie me up."
Batman secured Barry's hands and legs with thick straps and then moved toward the machine assembly in the back. His voice carried doubt despite his actions, "You know what they say about lightning. It doesn't strike in the same place twice."
Barry smiled despite his fear and the rain streaming down his face. "They say a lot of things. Now, why don't you start that machine and let's find out if they're right?"
Batman's hand hovered over the activation lever for just a moment—a rare instance of hesitation from the Dark Knight. Then he pulled it down firmly.
The machine hummed to life. The antenna began crackling with small arcs of electricity, creating a corona of blue-white light that danced along its length. The smell of ozone filled the air, mixing with the scent of rain and chemicals.
Barry and Batman both looked upward at the storm-dark sky. Lightning flashed in the distance, still too far away.
Barry's voice rose in a desperate shout aimed at the heavens: "Come on! I'm right here! Hit me! Just once!"
Meanwhile, Jean and Elizabeth were making their way toward the rooftop. Jean had tracked Batman and Barry's location using her telepathy after finishing her conversation with Elizabeth, who had been deeply shaken by the words of Barry.
Elizabeth's expression was troubled as they climbed the stairs. Jean placed a comforting hand on her shoulder and they reached the rooftop access door together.
The door burst open and they emerged into the storm. Rain immediately tried to soaked them both, but Jean raised a casual telekinetic shield that diverted the water before it could drench them completely.
Batman turned toward the newcomers. Barry, still strapped to his chair, looked up at the sky and shouted again, "Hit me once! I'm right here!"
Elizabeth's eyes widened as she took in the scene—Barry tied to a chair, surrounded by volatile chemicals, with an antenna literally designed to attract lightning positioned directly behind him. Her hands flew to her mouth in shock and she shouted over the storm, "Is he trying to kill himself?! Did Ethan-sama's slapping drive him to suicide?!"
Before Jean could respond with reassurance, the universe answered Barry's plea.
CRACK-BOOOOM!
A massive bolt of lightning struck the antenna with devastating force. The thunder was instantaneous and deafening, shaking the entire rooftop. Electricity arced down the antenna's length and channeled directly into Barry's body.
Barry screamed—a sound of pure agony that competed with the thunder itself.
But the machine wasn't built to handle that much power. Sparks erupted from connection points and the glass containers holding the chemicals began to crack under the electrical stress. Then they shattered completely, spraying their contents across Barry and the surrounding area.
Fire erupted instantly—the chemicals were volatile and the heat from the lightning strike provided ignition. Flames engulfed Barry's chair and began spreading across the rooftop with terrifying speed.
Barry's screams intensified as the fire reached him, no longer just from electrical pain but from burning flesh.
Elizabeth's face went pale and she took an involuntary step forward. Batman was already moving toward the fire extinguisher mounted on the wall, his cape billowing in the wind.
Jean's reaction was faster than either of them.
She waved her hand with casual authority and the fire simply ceased to exist. Not extinguished by water or smothered by chemicals—just stopped burning, as if Jean had told reality that fire was no longer permitted in this location.
Jean immediately moved toward Barry's still-smoking form. A green magic circle materialized beneath the chair and healing energy began flowing upward into his body. The burns started to fade, charred skin regenerating, hair regrowing where it had been singed away.
Elizabeth hovered nearby with worried eyes, wanting to help but unsure what she could do. And she didn't want to interfere with Jean's technique.
Batman stood several feet away and watched the magic circle with inscrutable eyes behind his mask. He observed Jean's healing technique, noted the green energy's effects, cataloged everything for later analysis. No one knew what conclusions he was drawing.
Jean's voice carried irritation as she worked, "Seriously, whose crazy idea was this?"
Batman didn't respond. Barry was being healed but remained unconscious, his body too overwhelmed by the trauma to maintain awareness.
Jean's expression shifted from irritation to concern as she completed the healing. She turned to Batman with serious intent. "We need to move him inside. And I want to talk about what exactly you two were trying to accomplish here. Immediately."
Batman gave a single nod of acknowledgment. Jean used her telekinesis to lift Barry's unconscious form gently into the air and they all moved back toward the interior of the manor, leaving the storm and the smoking remains of the equipment behind.
...
[Metropolis - Outside of the Underground Facility]
The surface above the underground facility had transformed into a warzone.
Bullets filled the air in constant streams from dozens of automatic weapons. Rockets streaked across the battlefield, leaving smoke trails in their wake. Grenades exploded with regular frequency, throwing up clouds of dirt and debris. Every conventional weapon available to the military forces present was being employed simultaneously.
But they couldn't stop the march of an angry Southern belle and a newly-freed Kryptonian.
Anna and Kara hadn't even attempted conversation or negotiation when they'd emerged from the facility to find an entire army waiting for them with weapons drawn. Anna had immediately engaged, her eyes blazing with righteous fury at what these people had done to Kara.
Kara had followed her lead, testing her restored strength against targets that absolutely deserved everything she could dish out.
Meanwhile, several dozen meters away from the combat, Ethan stood casually eating an ice cream cone he'd materialized from his inventory. Vanilla with chocolate chips. He licked it contentedly while watching Anna and Kara systematically dismantle the military response.
'Yeah, Anna's holding back,' he thought with amusement, observing her punches that sent soldiers flying but didn't turn them into red mist. 'She's making sure they'll survive. They just won't be able to walk—or think straight—for several months even with the best medical care available.'
Kara, on the other hand, was new to her strength and wasn't holding back nearly as much. She'd also killed several people already—soldiers who had been particularly aggressive or who she recognized from her imprisonment.
Surprisingly, she didn't seem emotionally affected by taking lives. Either she'd processed it already during her captivity, or Kryptonian psychology was different from human norms regarding violence.
But as the battle continued, Kara suddenly stumbled mid-flight. Her hands went to her head and she grimaced in obvious discomfort. Her super-hearing was picking up every heartbeat for miles, her enhanced vision was showing her microscopic details she didn't want to see, her sense of smell was overwhelmed by the blood and chemical scents from the battlefield.
The sensory overload was becoming debilitating.
Ethan's expression became more focused and he activated his Genesis Telepathy. He reached out to Kara's mind gently and began teaching her—not with words, but with direct mental instruction on how to create mental filters for her enhanced senses. How to dial down the sensitivity, how to focus on relevant input while screening out the noise.
Kara's eyes widened as the technique clicked into place. Within seconds, the overwhelming flood of sensation became manageable. She could control what she heard, what she saw, what she smelled. The relief on her face was immediate.
'She's talented,' Ethan noted with approval. 'Picked that up faster than I expected. She's got good instincts.'
With her senses under control, Kara returned to the fight with renewed confidence. Together with Anna, they destroyed another wave of reinforcements that had been rushing to the battlefield.
Then Ethan looked up at the sky and his expression shifted to anticipation. "About time he got here."
An energy blast—bright blue and crackling with power—streaked down from above, aimed directly at Anna's position.
Anna didn't even bother to defend herself. The blast hit her square in the chest.
BOOM!
Smoke and debris erupted from the impact point, obscuring everything.
Kara's eyes widened in alarm and she turned toward where Anna had been standing.
A figure descended from the sky with a heavy mechanical thud that cracked the pavement beneath its feet.
It was half-man, half-machine—one side of the face still recognizably human, the other covered in advanced cybernetic plating. Weapons systems extended from his arms and back, plasma cannons, missile launchers, energy projectors. All of them were currently aimed at Kara and Ethan.
The figure's synthesized voice carried authority, "Let's not take this any further. Stand down."
The smoke from the energy blast began to clear.
Anna stood in exactly the same position she'd been in before the attack. Not a single scratch on her. Her clothes weren't even singed. She looked completely bored.
"About damn time," she said with genuine enthusiasm, her Southern accent thickening with excitement. "I was actually looking forward to fighting you."
She vanished from her position and reappeared directly in front of the cyborg so fast he barely had time to register the movement.
"Let's find out the difference between you and the guy from the original timeline," Anna said with a dangerous smile.
Her fist shot forward—not holding back nearly as much as she had with the soldiers. The punch connected with devastating force and the cyborg's entire weapons array shattered like glass. The impact sent him flying backward, his body tumbling through the air before crashing through two buildings in sequence. Both structures collapsed from the damage.
Kara's mouth hung open in shock. "Wow. You're... really strong."
Anna grinned and looked back over her shoulder. "Darling, you haven't seen half of what I can do."
Ethan sighed and finished the last of his ice cream before making his way toward where Cyborg had landed. "I really hope he's still alive. Otherwise I'll have to use Chronokinesis to bring him back too, and that's just tedious."
He called back to Anna and Kara, "It's about time we head back anyway. We've dealt with all the units they dispatched here and they won't be sending more reinforcements. Humans are critically short on manpower right now—most of their military is tied up dealing with the Atlantean-Amazon war."
Ethan found Cyborg after lifting a massive concrete floor slab that had fallen on top of him. The half-machine man was barely alive, his human side showing severe trauma, his mechanical components sparking and malfunctioning.
Ethan raised his hand and activated his Chronokinesis. Green temporal energy flowed over Cyborg's body and time reversed for him specifically—injuries healing, broken components reassembling, damage undoing itself.
Within moments, Cyborg was restored to perfect condition, though he remained unconscious from the shock.
Ethan turned to where Kara was floating a few feet off the ground and Anna was casually dusting off her clothes as if she'd just finished a light workout rather than demolishing an army.
"Let's go back," Ethan said and opened a red portal. The other side showed Wayne Manor's interior—specifically, a hallway near the main entrance.
Anna walked through first with confident strides. Kara followed more hesitantly, still processing everything that had just happened. Ethan brought up the rear, carrying Cyborg's unconscious form over one shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
The portal sealed shut behind them and the battlefield fell silent except for the groans of injured soldiers and the crackling of small fires.
The rescue of Kara Zor-El was complete and it's time to find out what the Speedster did during this time.