The ursurper and the king: Aquaman

(Dimension one, the watchtower)

(Flash and Cyborg are on a commuter when Superman comes in to monitor their progress)

Superman: Nothing yet?

Zatanna: I know they're alive, but I haven't been able to locate them

Superman: Cyborg?

Cyborg: The energy signature from the park doesn't match anything in the database

Flash: Why don't I just vibrate at the same frequency as the energy signature and follow them?

Superman: Because we don't know if they went somewhere dangerous

Cyborg: Or if they went anywhere at all. Superman's right. It's too risky

Flash: Too bad I wasn't fast enough to catch them in the first place

Superman: We'll find them. We have to

Zatanna: Erehw era ouy?

(Flash types at lightning speed on the keyboard)

(Dimension two, Atlantis)

Atlantean: A pleasure most rare, your highness

Aquaman: I need information on the surface world governance. History and current structure

Atlantean: Ah. For the treaty negotiations with the high counselor?

Aquaman: Yes. The treaty discussions

Atlantean: I'm afraid our resources are limited. Superman has been less than willing to reveal his regime's inner workings

Aquaman: Tell me what you know. Recount the events of his ascension. A thorough review may illuminate new strategies for negotiations

Atlantean: I am humbled, sire. Five years ago, the criminal named Joker deceived Superman into killing his wife and unborn son, and destroying Metropolis. Consumed by grief, Superman killed the Joker

Aquaman: Yes. We all remember where we were that day

Atlantean: Afterward he showed no restraint. Judge, jury, and executioner, he and other like minded meta humans quickly reined in the criminal element

Aquaman: Which made him quite popular

Atlantean: The surface world was desperate for strong leadership. So Superman consolidated his power, and he created the one earth government. Democratic institutions were swept away

Guard: Sire. The high counselor's envoys await you in the throne room

(Aquaman walks to the throne room to find the alternate versions of Flash and Shazam)

Aquaman: Flash. Shazam. Welcome

Alt. Shazam: Your highness. It's an honor to meet you

Alt. Flash: And to be the first surface people to visit Atlantis

Aquaman: Yes. We have important matters to discuss. The treaty

Alt. Flash: The final draft. Superman is glad you agreed to his terms

Aquaman: May I?

(Alternate Flash hands Aquaman a tablet)

(Aquaman reads the text on the tablet but furrows his brows)

Alt. Shazam: Is there a problem, your highness?

Aquaman: This is complete subjugation. Superman will rule Atlantis!

Alt. Flash: It's what you agreed to. It's what we expect

Aquaman: You threaten me? Tread carefully in my waters

Alt. Flash: We have our orders

(Alternate Shazam charges up a lightning blast and throws it at Aquaman, who jumps out of the way)

(Alternate Flash tried to run at Aquaman, but got hit by the lightning blast, stunning him)

(Aquaman lands with a roll and throws his trident at Alternate Shazam)

(Alternate Shazam backhands the trident away, only to get punched by Aquaman)

(Flash running punches Aquaman a couple of times, only to get grabbed and headbutted)

Aquaman: You can tell Superman... HE WILL NOT HAVE ATLANTIS!

(Aquaman fights Flash and wins with a shock from his trident)

Aquaman: Your orders be damned

(Alternate Shazam charges up another lightning blast, only for Aquaman to jump out of the way again)

Aquaman: Lets not take this any further. I want to talk to Superman

Aquaman: You don't "talk to Superman". You do what he wants. And you're gonna do what you promised

(Aquaman fights Alternate Shazam and wins with a slap from his trident)

Aquaman: You two make sorry diplomats

(Some Atlanten guards come running into the throne room with an alternate version of Aquaman)

Guard: There he is, sire!

Aquaman: Well then. Parallel dimension it is

Alt. Aquaman: Who do you work for, ursurper? Manta? Ocean Master?

Aquaman: I am the king of Atlantis! I answer to no one. Unlike you

Alt Aquaman: Mind your tongue

Aquaman: You would give away your kingdom like a pair of worn boots. To a surface dweller?!

Alt. Aquaman: The treaty requires Superman to maintain earth's oceans. And to recognize our autonomy

Aquaman: You put your army in his beck and call

Alt Aquaman: A necessary compromise

Aquaman: More like appeasement

Alt. Aquaman: I grow tired of this. Take him!

(The atlantean guards try to attack Aquaman, but he powers through them with almost no trouble)

(Alternate Aquaman punches Aquaman a couple of times and kicks him)

(Aquaman throws a kick at Alternate Aquaman, only for him to dodge it and punch him a couple of more times)

(Alternate Aquaman tries to clap Aquaman's ears, but he gets blocked and kicked in the face)

Aquaman: I had planned to offer you help. I've changed my mind!

(Aquaman fights Alternate Aquaman and wins with a tidal wave)

Aquaman: Now lets discuss a revised foreign policy

(A wave of Atlantean guards come rushing in)

Alt. Aquaman: Kill him!

(Aquaman punches a guard, but they all appear to be frozen)

Aquaman: What now?

(Ares teleports in)

Ares: They do tend to fight first, don't they? Though, I may have stoked the fires a bit...

Aquaman: Ares. Why are you here?

Ares: I feed on conflict. Until today I'd been starving. I sensed the return of aggression, and sought out it's cause

Aquaman: You did more than that. You brought us here

Ares: No. But I can guess who did

Aquaman: My fire doesn't need stoking, Ares! Tell me who

Ares: You presume to command me?

Aquaman: I do. And you will obey!

(Aquaman fights Ares and wins with a trident slam)

Aquaman: You're weak, Ares

Ares: Superman's reign has nearly eliminated conflict. Left me virtually powerless

Aquaman: So if you didn't bring us here, then who did?

Ares: Those who would end Superman's rule. The insurgents

Aquaman: Heroes?

Ares: Only one. All other heroes who challenged Superman have been eliminated

Aquaman: He killed them... And the only ones left are those who joined him?

Ares: Yes. Along with a small cadre of former villains. Whose loyalty was bought... Or coerced

Aquaman: I need to join my colleagues

Ares: They're with the insurgents as we speak

Aquaman: Send me to them

(Soon, at insurgency HQ)

(Aquaman appears from some fire)

Green Lantern: How did you get here?

Aquaman: Ares. But not our Ares

Green Arrow: We know. Meet not-our-Batman

Alt. Batman: I was wondering how to retrieve you from Atlantis

(Green Arrow swallows a pill)

Aquaman: Headache?

Green Arrow: Trying to prevent one

Alt. Batman: It's a durability enhancer. 5U93R

Aquaman: How can a pill allow-

Alt. Batman: Kryptonian nanotech. Increases the tensile strength of bone and tissue by several thousand percent

Echo: I gotta admit, it's impressive

Green Arrow: Bats can tell you the rest later if you're having trouble sleeping. He borrowed the recipe from Superman. Supes gives it to his flunkies

Aquaman: Yes. I met a couple of our evil twins

Alt. Batman: They're not evil. Most obey Superman out of fear. Or they believe he's right and have lost perspective

Aquaman: So you're the only one left?

(Lex Luthor walks into the room with Oracle)

Lex Luthor/Oracle: Not the only one

Echo: What?

Aquaman: What is this?!

Green Arrow: How are you even alive?

Alt. Batman: He's with me. Oracle's been our technical expert

Lex Luthor: And unlike your Luthor, I've never indulged in law-breaking. Superman doesn't suspect his best friend is funding the insurgency

Alt. Batman: Luthor's involvement is a secret. People critical of Superman disappear. Government officials, activists, reporters...

Sub Zero: Such dishonorable tactics

Wonder Woman: Well, now that we're all here, explain why you chose us

Green Arrow: And why you didn't ask before yanking us over. We were kinda busy

Lex Luthor: The nuclear bomb? It didn't go off. Your transfer somehow prevented it

Green Arrow: How did you know about that?

Lex Luthor: We've been monitoring your world for some time. You all specifically

Scorpion: I do not wish to be watched, baldy

(Echo lightly elbows Scorpion)

Oracle: You all were best suited for our plan

Echo: What plan?

Alt. Batman: I have a weapon to take down Superman. A kryptonite based laser that-

Green Arrow: Hold on, a kryptonite weapon?! You kill him, you're no better than he is

Scorpion: Who cares?

Alt. Batman: I didn't say kill. It will incapacitate him, and nothing more. The weapon's in the bat cave. I need your DNA to unlock it

(At the fortress of solitude)

(Doomsday is almost in stasis with a collar around his neck)

(Alternate Superman is on a computer)

Alt. Wonder Woman: The collar's working. Good. Re-education wasn't going to affect him

Alt. Superman: Mm

Alt. Wonder Woman: You sure you don't want me to stay?

(Alternate Superman doesn't answer)

Alt. Wonder Woman: Kal. I know you didn't lose your super hearing. Are you ok with this? With us?

Alt. Superman: Of course

Alt. Wonder Woman: I'm not trying to replace her. I just thought we-

Alt. Superman: I know. Go on. I'm fine

Alt. Wonder Woman: I'm going. I just came in to tell you that Lantern's-

Alt. Superman: On his way in. I guess my super hearing IS working

(As Alternate Wonder Woman leaves, Yellow Lantern walks in)

Yellow Lantern: High counselor. Love Diana's new look

Alt. Superman: Mm

Yellow Lantern: We have a problem. I ran into Diana's twin. And someone who looked a lot like Oliver Queen. And Hal Jordan

(Alternate Superman furrows his brow in confusion)

Alt. Superman: Find them. And any others who might be out there. I want to know everything