American Comics: Multiverse of Madness

315. No Need to Worry About Manpower.

After the commotion ended, everyone gathered in Harley Quinn's office.

It was called an office, but it was actually the former control room of Blackgate Penitentiary. Dozens of large screens displayed surveillance footage from various parts of the prison. From here, Harley Quinn could monitor everyone in Blackgate.

"You're going to be a great leader one day, trust me. I'm very good at judging people," Harley Quinn said warmly, hugging Ashley tightly, wrapping her arms around her from behind.

Ashley initially tried to break free, but Harley Quinn was even clingier than she had imagined, so she eventually gave up resisting and let her be.

"I'm really curious. There are so many powerful super-villains here, so why would they choose you, this crazy woman, as their leader?" Damian asked, recalling the villains in the hall earlier, unable to hold back his question.

"That's because of my irresistible charm, sweetie! Even Gotham's richest man, Bruce Wayne, couldn't resist me!" Harley Quinn winked playfully. However, this statement left the three 'Robins' speechless. It seemed like Harley Quinn was still the only one who hadn't figured out Batman's true identity.

Since the fall of the Justice League, there wasn't much need to keep their identities secret anymore. The reason they still wore their costumes was to give people hope, to show them that there were still heroes fighting back.

Even the slowest of the super-villains had largely figured out who their rivals were by now. Harley Quinn, however, still maintained her mindset of hating Batman but loving Bruce Wayne. Maybe, deep down, Harley Quinn already knew the truth but just didn't want to admit it.

"Don't you get it, little bird? Sometimes, the crazies understand life better than we do."

Captain Boomerang walked in, carrying a crate of booze. He handed everyone a bottle of vodka, then grinned.

"When Amanda Waller was still alive, she sent us to support Manhattan, saying that's where the high officials were. But you've fought those alien monsters too—you know that without any prep, we didn't stand a chance. The mission was a total failure.

"Actually, it wasn't just us. Everyone here is a loser. Bane was pretty much the last one to retreat from Gotham. Before him, Penguin and Joker were already done for. Black Manta fought Aquaman for half his life and still couldn't defend Atlantis. Cheetah was the same.

"Then it was Harley Quinn who brought us all together. She reformed the Suicide Squad and led us to take over Blackgate Penitentiary, giving us a place where we could finally sleep in peace. So if you're wondering why she's the boss—well, that's your answer."

Hearing Captain Boomerang's sarcastic recount of their difficult past, the room fell silent.

Most people here knew Harley Quinn well, but many still had the impression of her as a crazy girl with no boundaries, utterly unpredictable.

But Alex knew that deep down, she loved the Joker. During her time in the Suicide Squad, Harley Quinn and the Joker's relationship was like a long-distance romance. That kind of bittersweet love was unimaginable. When she learned of the Joker's death, Alex could only imagine how devastated she must have been.

"These days, we survive by raiding Lex Luthor's supply shipments," Captain Boomerang said, patting the crate beside him, which was filled with advanced weapons and equipment.

"But it's still not enough," Lois interjected as she connected her laptop to the screen. Three images appeared on the large display. "The engines released by Darkseid have already been activated in the Congo, Indian Ocean, and England."

"What the heck are these things?" Harley Quinn exclaimed.

"They're machines designed to siphon planetary resources. They'll transport Earth's magma and core energy to Apokolips. If they keep running, Earth will be doomed," Lois explained seriously.

"Then we need to destroy them as soon as possible," Captain Boomerang quickly suggested.

"That was the original plan," Clark said as he stepped forward. "But now our primary goal is to blow up Apokolips. It's the only way to bring permanent peace. Once that's done, Mr. Crow will take us to the new Earth."

"Huh??"

At this, everyone who hadn't met Alex before was stunned. They followed Clark's gaze and turned to look at the figure who had been silently lurking in the shadows.

Seeing all eyes on him, Alex nodded slightly, not denying it. "Yes, no matter what, the destruction of this Earth is inevitable. Not only that, but this entire universe will be destroyed. If you want to survive, you'll have to go to another universe."

"Earth… 'New' Earth?! You can take us to another universe!" Captain Boomerang sobered up instantly. He jumped up and rushed to Alex. "Then what are you waiting for? Get us out of here!"

"Unfortunately," Alex raised his head and looked Captain Boomerang directly in the eyes, "if we don't deal with Darkseid, none of you can escape. As the 'New God' of this universe, if I open a large-scale portal, he'll obtain our universe's coordinates. This universe is already done for, and you don't want to see Darkseid destroy another universe by following us through the portal, do you?"

Captain Boomerang opened his mouth but, in the end, said nothing and sat back down, frustrated.

"So, that's the situation. To save everyone who's left, we can't face them head-on. Apokolips has an army of Doomsday-like monsters, bio-weapons enhanced with Kryptonian DNA, just like the original Doomsday," Lois summarized.

Even though she said "Kryptonian," everyone knew the DNA she was talking about came from Superman—Clark.

"Most of those Doomsday-like monsters are currently engaged in battle with the Green Lantern Corps, which gives us an opportunity. The plan is to lure all the Doomsday-like monsters still on Apokolips away so we have a chance to blow up the planet," Clark explained, sharing the plan he and Lois had discussed earlier. "Next, we'll launch simultaneous attacks on two of the engines. This should force Apokolips to send Doomsday-like monsters to Earth as reinforcements, buying time for the team heading to Apokolips."

"Why not attack all three engines at once?" Damian asked, puzzled.

"We... don't have enough manpower," Lois said with a hint of frustration, lowering her head.

"Clark and I have been searching for surviving heroes all over, but very few have responded. We barely managed to find Constantine and Raven, but now they're gone too, so…"

"Don't worry about manpower."

Suddenly, Alex spoke up.

Everyone turned to look at him, only to see a warm smile on his face.

"If it's just a diversion, then leave the task of attacking all three engines to me."

.....

30 advanced chapters on p@treaon
For advance chapters: /Uchiha_Itachi007 (replace @ with a)
316. Both Sides in Action.
317. The Ruins of Baxter building.
318. Blood Battle with the Subterranean Creatures.
319. Crisis Approaches!
320. The 'God' from Beyond.