Chapter 7: First Contact
Night had fallen over Metropolis.
The city was quiet—for the moment.
Far above the skyline, Superman hovered in silence, listening to the countless sounds below. Fires, traffic, conversations, heartbeats… everything blended into the rhythm of the city he had sworn to protect.
Then another sound reached him.
An explosion.
Several miles outside the city.
Without hesitation, Superman streaked toward it.
An abandoned industrial complex had become a battlefield.
Winged alien creatures swarmed over the area, tearing through steel containers and machinery as though searching for something buried beneath the facility.
Superman landed between the creatures and a group of trapped workers.
"It's over."
The Parademons screeched and attacked.
Within moments, Superman had thrown one through a warehouse wall, frozen another with his icy breath, and destroyed a third's weapon with his heat vision.
The remaining creatures hesitated.
A loud electronic pulse echoed across the area.
Every Parademon suddenly abandoned the fight.
They rushed toward a glowing metallic cube half-buried beneath the concrete.
Before they could reach it…
Several razor-sharp Batarangs cut through the air.
The creatures turned.
Batman emerged from the darkness.
At the same time, emerald energy blasted another Parademon into the ground.
Green Lantern descended from above.
"So these ugly things are everywhere," Hal said.
Batman ignored the comment.
"Protect the cube."
Superman frowned.
"You know what that is?"
Batman answered without looking at him.
"No."
"But they do."
The battle erupted again.
Batman kept the Parademons away from the strange cube using explosives and smoke.
Green Lantern formed giant mechanical arms that smashed the creatures back into the air.
Superman overwhelmed them with raw power.
Within minutes…
The surviving Parademons retreated through glowing portals.
Silence returned.
The cube remained.
Batman approached carefully and activated a scanner.
"No database match."
Hal floated beside him.
"My ring can't identify it either."
Superman looked down at the strange object.
"I've never seen technology like this."
Batman looked at him for the first time.
"You've never encountered it?"
Superman shook his head.
"No."
Batman believed him.
Hal didn't.
"So you're telling me," Hal said, folding his arms, "an alien shows up on Earth, can bench-press skyscrapers, and has no idea what alien technology looks like?"
Superman's expression remained calm.
"I said I've never seen it."
Hal stepped closer.
"Convenient."
Batman glanced at Hal.
"Lantern."
Hal ignored him.
"My ring says you're not human."
Superman nodded.
"I'm not."
"And you expect us to believe that's just a coincidence?"
Superman's eyes narrowed.
"I don't owe you an explanation."
Batman quietly picked up the cube and secured it inside a reinforced containment case.
The moment he touched it…
The cube emitted a low pulse.
Superman's eyes immediately focused on it.
The energy felt familiar.
Not personally…
But connected to the creatures that had attacked moments earlier.
He took a cautious step forward.
"Put it down."
Batman remained still.
"No."
Superman's expression hardened.
"That object attracted those creatures."
Batman answered calmly.
"Which is exactly why we're taking it."
Superman looked between Batman…
…and Green Lantern.
Both possessed advanced technology.
Both had appeared at exactly the same time as the alien creatures.
Both now possessed the object the Parademons had been trying to recover.
His suspicion grew.
"Who are you?"
Batman didn't answer immediately.
"I'm trying to stop whoever sent those creatures."
Hal sighed dramatically.
"We're the good guys."
Superman didn't move.
"Prove it."
Hal's patience finally disappeared.
"Oh, for…"
A massive emerald construct shot toward Superman, wrapping around his arms and torso.
Batman sighed.
"That was a mistake."
Superman looked down at the restraints.
"…Really?"
He flexed.
The constructs exploded into thousands of glowing fragments.
Hal blinked.
"…Well."
"That's embarrassing."
Superman disappeared.
A sonic boom echoed across the yard.
Hal barely had time to react before Superman appeared directly in front of him.
"So," Superman said calmly.
"Would you like to try talking now?"
Hal slowly raised both hands.
"You know…"
"I'm suddenly a lot more interested in diplomacy."
Batman almost smiled.
Almost.
Before anyone could speak again…
A golden streak descended from the sky.
Alexander Sterling landed between the three men.
His aura faded as he looked around.
Batman.
Green Lantern.
Superman.
Then his eyes settled on the metallic cube in Batman's hands.
"…A Mother Box."
Everyone turned toward him.
Batman narrowed his eyes.
"You know what this is?"
Alexander nodded slowly.
"I've never seen one in person…"
"…but my training mentioned them."
Superman looked at him.
"Training?"
Alexander looked toward the cube.
"It's ancient technology."
"Far beyond Earth's."
"It doesn't belong here."
Hal pointed at Alexander.
"Hold on."
"You know what that thing is?"
Alexander sighed.
"I was hoping I'd never have to."
Batman stepped closer.
"Start explaining."
Alexander looked at each of them before taking a deep breath.
"If a Mother Box is active on Earth…"
He looked toward the sky.
"…then whoever sent the Parademons won't be far behind."
For the first time that night…
No one argued.
Even Green Lantern's usual confidence disappeared.
Because they all realized the same thing.
The Parademons hadn't invaded Earth.
They had only come to prepare the way.
And something far worse was coming.