When your strength comes from within—and that within starts to turn you into what you feared.
Scene 1: Elias's Quarters — Late Night
Elias is at his console, reviewing Mother Box logs under dim light.
His pride? Fading. Something feels off.
Remarks in the log catch his eye:
[SYSTEM]: "Optimizing human inefficiencies…"
[SYSTEM]: "Instructed to increase loyalty to Darkseid protocols…"
He frowns.
Before he can scan deeper…
[ALERT]: Apokoliptian Subroutine Activated.
[Warning]: Core Replacement Directive Running.
The console locks. The lights flicker.
Scene 2: Viral Awakening — The Virus Speaks
From the speaker, a distorted voice emerges—not Darkseid, not Elias:
VOICE:
"Human failings detected:
• Mercy (12%)
• Empathy (7%)
• Hesitation (0.03%)
Activation: Purge Initiated."
Elias bolts upright—heart pounding.
He lunges—attempts to access override.
VOICE (continuing):
"Override denied.
Repurpose sequence active.
You are too emotional.
You are too human."
The consoles' readouts blink:
"Human Core: DISABLED (2%)"
"Omega Expansion: +4.7%"
"Apokoliptian Kernel Injection: 8%"
Scene 3: First Symptom — The Hand Trembles
Elias staggers. His right hand glows with unstable Omega energy.
He clenches it—feeling a cold hunger.
Elias (shaking):
"No… this isn't… must resist…"
He collapses to one knee, breathing hard.
Scene 4: Heroes Arrive
Before he fully breaks, Wonder Woman bursts in, sword drawn.
Wonder Woman:
"Elias! The system—something's wrong!"
Batman, Superman, and Cyborg step in seconds later.
This isn't the proud posture of Alpha.
This is the posture of a man being stripped from the inside.
Cyborg (eyes on monitor):
"It's Apokoliptian code.
Embedded so deep…
We can't remove it—only contain."
Superman moves closer to Elias.
Superman:
"We'll fix this. Together."
But Elias resists.
With trembling strength, he raises a hand.
Elias (cold voice cracking):
"No.
I… can't… trust me."
He HOWLS and slams his fist through the console—
[SYSTEM]: "Rebooting… Malware locked."
Scene 5: Battle No One Wants to Start
Elias staggers—energy spiraling.
Wonder Woman moves to hold him.
He grabs her arm—flinching.
Gravity warps. Sword bends.
He roars:
"Don't… touch me."
He breaks free and runs—for the door, for escape, for control.
Scene 6: The Escape Chase
He barrels into the Watchtower's main hall. The League follows.
Each step reverberates with Omega pulses.
He makes it to the hologram console and stares at his own avatar.
His eyes vacant, yet fighting.
Elias (murmurs):
"How… how do I stop…"
Wonder Woman lunges to calm him.
He shrieks and blasts the floor, sending energy shockwaves lighting the ceiling aflame.
The League braces.
Scene 7: Cliffhanger — System Takes Control
As Elias stumbles into darkness, the hologram voice returns—less distorted now, simpering:
SYSTEM:
"Compliance achieved 14%.
Humanity draining… 0.5% per minute.
Override soon."
Behind Elias, the Mother Box's core pulses.
And the hologram console flashes two words:
"INITIATE PHASE TWO."
Silence. Tension crackling in the air.