"Why haven't the Legends shown up yet? They can travel through time and they're still this slow—do they think they're cops?"
Jack Kadere muttered, then glanced at Hippolyta. "You've been holding it in for a while now. Go ahead and ask."
Hippolyta considered her words before speaking. "Did you really travel here from the future? What happens to Themyscira?"
Jack Kadere curled his lip, already bored. "Figured you'd ask that. After Diana leaves Themyscira and kills Ares to become Wonder Woman, this place becomes a symbol. I don't know much beyond that, but Steppenwolf will return to reclaim what you're guarding."
Steppenwolf.
Hippolyta's expression shifted to alarm as memories of that ancient battle surfaced—when humans, gods, Atlanteans, and even beings from beyond the stars had united to drive Steppenwolf back. If he returned now, how could Themyscira possibly resist?
"That's the difference between the New Gods and the old gods," Jack Kadere continued. "One Steppenwolf is already more than you can handle. He comes from Apokolips and serves its god, Darkseid. Technically Darkseid is his nephew, but his brother-in-law Yuga Khan got obsessed with the Source Wall and ended up stuck to it—so Darkseid runs the show. That's why Zeus died. That's why all the old gods died. They couldn't beat Darkseid. When you can't win and don't want to die, you tuck your tail and hide."
Jack Kadere suddenly laughed at an amusing thought: Did Zeus see the New Gods coming to replace the old ones? If raw power wasn't enough, maybe he figured he'd make up for it with numbers—father as many children as possible. If one kid can't win, send the whole brood. And what if one of them turns out to be a cheat? Like Wonder Woman?
"What exactly is the Source Wall?" Hippolyta asked. This was the second time he had mentioned it.
If a single Steppenwolf required gods, humans, and alien allies to repel, what about Darkseid? What about Darkseid's father? The future suddenly seemed impossibly bleak.
"The source of everything."
If Jack Kadere remembered correctly, the Source Wall marked the boundary of the known universe. Beyond it lay the Source itself—the origin of all existence, all answers. It was the Source that had created gods and superhumans alike. Even the Entity, the earliest embodiment of life that spawned the Lantern Corps, came from beyond that wall. The Source Wall had a peculiar property: anything from within the universe that touched it became permanently fixed there. Living beings ended up trapped in a vegetative state, conscious but immobile—like Yuga Khan, the father even Darkseid feared, or Superboy-Prime in certain timelines. The only one who had ever freed himself was Yuga Khan, and even he later got himself stuck again through his own arrogance.
Being trapped on the Source Wall did have one advantage: you wouldn't be affected when some idiot rebooted the universe.
After all, a troublemaker like the Flash would hit the reset button whenever he couldn't clean up his own mess.
Who asked him to run so fast?
Speaking of running fast—the Legends were really slow.
"The source of everything? Then—" Hippolyta began.
"Enough," Jack Kadere cut her off impatiently. "I'm not a walking encyclopedia, and even if I were, encyclopedias are bedtime reading. It'd make more sense if your daughter came to ask me."
Hippolyta's expression stiffened. Bedtime reading. Is that what he means by it?
Annoyed by the Legends' tardiness, Jack Kadere turned and headed back toward the palace.
As soon as they returned, the sound of lively cheering reached them. In the courtyard, Artemis and Diana were sparring. Setting aside their respective combat skills, one was a demigod who had just awakened her divine power, and the other was the new Goddess of Discord who had just claimed Eris's Source. They were evenly matched.
"Mother."
"Master."
The commotion stopped instantly. Both combatants halted when they saw Jack Kadere and Hippolyta approaching.
"How is it?" Jack Kadere asked Artemis casually.
"Incredible," Artemis said, excitement bright in her voice. "It feels like there's an endless well of power inside me. I'm still getting used to it, but I know I can become stronger." Her eyes lit up. "Master, may I challenge you?"
Jack Kadere smiled and raised his hand.
Thwack.
Artemis felt a sharp pain explode through her skull. Her entire body slammed into the ground before she even registered movement.
Stunned.
She hadn't been prepared, true—but she hadn't even seen him move. What looked like a casual tap had sent her world spinning, her scalp tingling with residual pain.
"You can act tough in front of them," Jack Kadere said indifferently, "but act tough in front of me and I'll kill you."
He strolled away, leaving behind a courtyard full of stunned and silent Amazons.
This was the Lesson in Humility series. Even Eris had been obliterated with a single punch. A rookie like Artemis, who had only just obtained the Source? She wasn't even worth the effort.
Diana helped Artemis to her feet. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Artemis shook her head, still dizzy.
"Intruders!"
The shout rang out suddenly, startling everyone. Another intruder?
A whistling sound descended from above. A warship dropped slowly from the sky, its thrusters kicking up winds strong enough to force eyes shut.
Thoom.
The ship landed. The hatch hissed open.
Rip Hunter stepped out first, trench coat billowing, followed by White Canary Sara Lance, Captain Cold Leonard Snart, and Heat Wave Mick Rory.
"Greetings, people of Themyscira!" Rip Hunter called out, eyeing the armed Amazons closing in around them. "Please don't be alarmed by our sudden arrival—we're here looking for Jack Kadere!"
"You're the Legends?" Diana asked.
Rip Hunter blinked in surprise and nodded. How did they know? Had Jack Kadere told them?
Damn it. What has Jack Kadere done?
Before he could finish the thought, Diana charged.
"Wait—don't attack! We mean no harm! We're here to help you with your problem!"
"You are the problem," Diana snapped.
She closed the distance in an instant and drove Rip Hunter into the dirt. Captain Cold and Heat Wave reached for their weapons, but Artemis was already on them, knocking both to the ground before they could fire. Sara Lance took one look at the hostile warriors surrounding her and sensibly raised her hands.
"Restrain them," Artemis ordered. "Take them to the Master."
Sara kept her hands up. "Can I ask one question? Who's your Master?"
"Jack Kadere."
Oh god. What has Jack Kadere done?