The meeting room on the top floor of M & C Hotel gleamed in the morning light. Glass windows offered a panoramic view of the city, and the quiet hum of wind from outside filled the silence between three figures seated at a sleek obsidian conference table.
Ethan Carter, Anna Marie, and the enigmatic Dr. Pamela Lillian Isley sat in a triangle of tension.
After returning from Themyscira earlier that morning, Ethan had quickly been briefed by Anna. She described her unexpected encounter with a red-haired, green-skinned woman who introduced herself as Dr. Pamela Isley AKA Poison Ivy. Or rather, the version of her who had not yet completely gone rogue and asked for an audience with Ethan.
Ethan had an idea on why she was here and agreed for the meeting.
Now, she sat calmly before them, dressed modestly in a green suit that concealed her skin, with glasses balanced on her nose and a slight, reserved smile on her lips.
Ethan leaned forward with his elbows on the table while his fingers loosely intertwined.
"Let me get this straight," he said evenly before locking eyes with her. "You want to work with me—because you believe what I'm doing is beneficial for plant life?"
Pamela gave a sharp nod, her eyes gleaming behind her glasses.
"As a biologist… no, as a daughter of nature, I've spent my life creating enhancements for plant growth. Splicing genetics, engineering chloroplast efficiency, manipulating bio-photonics… But your work," she said with increasing excitement, "your fertilizer has done what I never could. You're not promoting growth—you're rewriting the rules of nature itself."
Her smile turned almost reverent.
"I've never been jealous of another scientist… until now. I want to help you. I want to be part of this."
Ethan remained silent, observing the intensity in her voice. The way she spoke wasn't just admiration—it was borderline worship.
Pamela pressed on, voice softening slightly. "I've seen what your formula has done to barren land. What you're doing… it's revolutionary. I just want to be part of it. I want to see the world green again."
'There it is,' Ethan thought. 'The obsession. But it's not evil. Not yet.'
"I won't share the formula," Ethan said, his voice firm. "Not now. Maybe not ever. But if our goals align, and you prove that you can be trusted, we'll see where that road leads."
Pamela nodded immediately while her eyes burning with resolve. "I'll prove myself. I promise you that, Dr. Carter."
She stood gracefully and exited the room without another word, her enthusiasm leaving a strange aftertaste in the air.
The moment the door closed, Anna finally looked at Ethan, her jaw tight. "You really want to work with her?"
"You don't approve."
"She's a villain, Ethan. You know who she becomes. What she's done. Why even risk it?"
"Because she hasn't become that yet," Ethan replied calmly. "She's on the edge, sure. But what if she doesn't have to fall? What if this is her fork in the road?"
"And if she chooses the wrong path?"
"Then I'll know the second she thinks it. I'm not naïve, Anna. But I also know what it feels like to be pushed into becoming something worse. I won't push her. But I'll guide her if she lets me."
Anna frowned, crossing her arms. "You better not regret it. Because I swear, I don't trust her one bit."
"And that's why you're here."
Anna sighed and shook her head while brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. She glanced sideways at Ethan.
"So, how did it go with your Amazon girlfriend's mother?"
Ethan groaned and rubbed his temples. "Like a four-hour interrogation wrapped in flowers and tradition."
Anna snorted. "So… they like you?"
"Let's just say I didn't get thrown off the island. That's a win."
Anna smiled softly but didn't press further.
Ethan leaned back in his chair with his eyes on the door Pamela had exited through. 'Time will tell if this was a wise move... or a mistake I'll have to bury in the future.'
------------------
The day passed uneventfully, a rare moment of calm in Ethan Carter's increasingly chaotic life. At Aeon Biotech, he handed off most of the CEO responsibilities to Lena Luthor. Her aptitude and ambition made her the perfect candidate.
To ease her transition into the role, Ethan also brought in Eve Teschmacher—Lena's trusted aide and bodyguard from her Luthor days. Efficient, razor-sharp, and unfailingly loyal, Eve was now officially Lena's executive assistant.
After a full day of meetings, signatures, and a quiet handover of power, Ethan took the evening to relax. He spent time with Anna and Diana, and surprisingly, Didi joined them as well.
And to Ethan's amusement, she and Diana were already getting along surprisingly well—a goddess of war and a cosmic aspect of death chatting over wine like old friends.
Later that night, Ethan received a ping from Victor Stone.
"The meeting's happening tonight. Star Labs. Everyone's coming."
Ethan simply nodded from where he stood on the balcony, watching the moon.
------------
Location: Star Labs – Justice League Temporary Headquarters
Inside a high-security meeting chamber, seven of the powerful beings on the planet (except Batman) sat around a circular conference table.
Barry Allen, The Flash, tapping his fingers. Followed by Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Cyborg, Diana who is seated beside Ethan and Shazam.
Barry was the first to break the silence. He tapped the table as he leaned back in his seat
"You know, it would've been better if we had our actual base for this. STAR Labs doesn't exactly scream 'secret global council'."
Victor responded by flicking the projector on. A massive hologram spun slowly above the center of the table.
The Watchtower.
A 3D hologram rotated slowly—it was the image of a large orbital space station.
"That's the plan. I've been designing a new Watchtower to orbit Earth. Fully equipped with threat-detection systems, living quarters, and reinforced tech from Apokolips—boom tube ready."
Hal let out a low whistle. "Well damn. That's impressive."
Batman spoke next with his arms crossed. "It's not just about flashy towers. We need ground-level presence too. A forward base on Earth."
Flash gave him a lazy grin. "Wow, Bats actually agrees with me. Someone mark the date."
Diana chuckled softly beside Ethan, but her expression turned serious as Batman turned toward the center.
"Now that the jokes are done," Batman said, voice like flint, "let's talk about the real reason you called this meeting. Ethan?"
All eyes turned toward him.
Flash leaned forward. "Yeah, what's the real deal?"
Ethan sat straight, calm but assertive. "Alright. I'll get straight to the point. Superpowered individuals—dangerous ones—are becoming more frequent."
"The world is changing," his voice was calm yet commanding. "People with godlike powers are appearing more frequently. And while some choose heroism, others choose chaos. Now, ask yourself—how many times have we locked someone away only for them to escape and kill more innocent lives?"
He let the words sink in.
"Take Joker, for example. How many times has he been captured, imprisoned... only to break out again? How many lives did he take between each escape? Reverse Flash? Zod, who showed up a few months ago from space? The question isn't if they'll escape again. It's when."
"They're escalating. Stronger. Smarter. More ruthless. We're doing our best, but let's be honest—we can't keep locking them in boxes they keep breaking out of."
Batman narrowed his eyes. "So what are you suggesting? That we start executing them? Throw away the keys?"
Ethan smirked slightly. "No. I'm suggesting something smarter."
Flash leaned forward. "You talking about like, meta prisons or something? We already got a few."
"I'm talking about something more permanent," Ethan said. "I'm talking about the Phantom Zone."
He tapped the projector. A new image appeared: the swirling void of the Phantom Zone.
The room fell silent.
Hal blinked. "Wait… how do you even know about that? That's Kryptonian tech."
Superman stared at him, eyes narrowing slightly. "Only a handful of people even know the Phantom Zone exists. Where did you learn about it?"
Ethan shrugged. "Does it matter? I know what it is, I know what it does, and I know it's the best solution for certain kinds of threats."
Shazam looked confused. "What's a Phantom Zone? Sounds spooky."
Victor interjected, "It's a pocket dimension originally designed by Kryptonians to imprison their worst criminals. It doesn't age you. Doesn't kill you. It just... contains you. No time, no escape, and very, very secure."
Hal looked skeptical. "And you want us to throw people into this thing?"
Ethan continued, "Let me be clear—I'm not proposing we throw every petty thief into eternal oblivion. I'm saying, for cases like Joker, Reverse Flash, Zod—people who have no regard for life, no redemption, no limits—we create a voting system within the League. When necessary, we act. We contain. Not kill. Not torture. Just… exile."
Batman's voice cut through the room like a blade. "So what—you want us to play gods now? Decide who lives and who gets banished to some endless void? That's not justice. It's exile. That's tyranny."
Ethan looked at him coolly. "Then tell me, Bruce. How many people did Joker kill last time he escaped Arkham? How many children, families, officers, innocents paid for your idealism with their lives? Ten? Twenty? More? And how many will he kill next time? Because there will be a next time."
Batman didn't flinch, but his eyes narrowed.
"You believe in redemption," Ethan continued. "That's noble. But the universe isn't noble. It's dangerous. And sometimes, we have to be cold."
Batman's jaw tightened. "We don't get to play executioner."
"I'm not executing anyone. I'm preventing slaughter. There's a difference." Ethan's voice was low, calm, but laced with iron.
Green Lantern chimed in. "Can't believe I'm saying this—but I'm with Bats."
Ethan chuckled. "Hell just froze over."
"We're the Justice League, not the Council of Elrond."
Ethan continued, "Ah yes, because being the League means watching cities burn while we twiddle our thumbs over moral theory."
Diana, who had remained silent, finally spoke. "I understand both sides. Justice without compassion becomes tyranny. But compassion without wisdom becomes recklessness."
Superman frowned. "Even so... this is a massive step. The League was never meant to be judge and jury. And If we use the Phantom Zone… we need strict governance. Transparency."
Ethan nodded. "That's what I proposed. A vote. League majority decides. Psychological analysis, crime severity, power scale—all factors. Add transparency. But don't pretend this world can survive much longer playing catch-up with monsters."
Diana leaned in. "This isn't an easy decision. But Ethan has a point. We can't save everyone."
Flash scratched the back of his head. "I mean… if we sent Reverse Flash there, I'd sleep better at night. Just saying."
Batman spoke again, quieter this time. "We're not the law."
Ethan turned to him fully now, voice colder.
"Who made the law, Bruce? Men did. Fallible, biased, slow men. Tell me—how many times has the law saved anyone from Joker? From Bane? From Grodd? We don't follow law for law's sake. We follow it because it protects. And if it stops doing that… we change it."
The silence hung thick.
"We are evolving," Ethan said, "The threats are evolving. So must we."
He glanced around the table. "Or we'll keep burying innocents. Again. And again. And again."
The hologram of the Phantom Zone pulsed in the air—black, vast, eternal.
Batman didn't respond.
But he didn't argue again either.
Flash looked around. "So what? Vote now?"
"Not yet," Batman said. "We need time."
Ethan stood, gaze scanning the table. "Take all the time you want. But remember this: the next time someone escapes and that blood is on our hands... don't say I didn't warn you."
He stepped back, red light swirling at his feet as a portal opened beneath him.
"Meeting adjourned."
And just like that, Ethan was gone—leaving behind silence, uncertainty, and the question no one wanted to answer:
What if he was right?
---------------
Two days later, the morning sun filtered through the glass walls of Aeon Biotech's towering headquarters, casting golden streaks across the marble floor of Ethan's executive office. The atmosphere was calm, but beneath the surface, Ethan Carter had plans in motion—plans that would shape the future of the company and the fate of certain individuals.
Seated behind his sleek, obsidian desk, Ethan tapped his finger rhythmically as he spoke through the intercom.
"Lena, come in."
Moments later, Lena Luthor stepped into the office, her sharp heels clicking softly on the floor. Immaculate as ever in a tailored suit, she held a tempad in one hand and a thick folder in the other.
"You asked for the dirt on Lex," she said, placing both items neatly in front of him. "Everything you asked for. His shell companies, his secret research labs, bribes, offshore accounts, arms deals—even a few things that surprised me."
Ethan picked up the folder, flipping through a few pages with a faint smirk. He didn't even need to read it. He'd already skimmed her mind the moment she entered the room. Lena was efficient, meticulous, and most importantly—loyal. She hadn't held back a single thing.
"Perfect," Ethan said smoothly, setting the folder down. "You've done well, Lena."
She gave a nod, but her eyes flicked to his, searching.
"What about Pamela? How's she doing with the fertilizer project?"
"Better than expected," Lena said. "She's already increased production by thirty percent. Efficiency, cost reduction, and even added a few modifications to enhance sustainability. She may be a little... eccentric, but the results speak for themselves."
Ethan chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair with an approving nod. "Good. Very good."
Then he leaned forward slightly, a glint of amusement sparking in his eyes.
"So, how about I reward you for your hard work?"
Lena blinked. Her breath caught just slightly. That look in his eyes—intense, unreadable—sent a jolt of unexpected tension down her spine.
She instinctively stepped back half a pace, her brain immediately diving into a spiral of chaotic thoughts, Is he seriously going there? Right now? Office fantasy? With Anna still around? Her face flushed slightly, not with fear, but... possibility.
Ethan's smirk widened. "What are you thinking, Lena?"
His voice echoed with clarity that made her heart skip a beat.
"I meant I'm naming you CEO of Aeon Biotech. While I'll remain Chairman, the operational reins are yours."
Her mind screeched to a halt.
"You're kidding, boss," she said aloud, her voice somewhere between disbelief and stunned laughter.
Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Do I look like I joke about corporate succession?"
Lena blinked. "But—why now? Why me?"
"I've been thinking about it for a while," Ethan replied calmly. "You're capable, smarter than most in any room, and you've already proven you can make tough decisions. Besides... I'm not from this world, Lena. I may not always be here. This company needs a steady hand."
She stared at him for a long moment. There was silence in the room, broken only by the hum of the central A/C.
Finally, Lena gave a small, solemn nod. "Then I'll work hard to meet your expectations."
Ethan's smile returned, laced with warmth this time. "Don't work hard. Work smart."
He paused, then leaned forward slightly again, this time with the weight of authority behind his words.
"And if Lex tries anything funny... remember the file you just gave me. I want him crushed, Lena. No mercy."
There was a flicker in her eyes—something darker, sharper than her usual calm demeanor.
"I'll make sure he regrets ever crossing paths with us," she said.
Ethan nodded in satisfaction, rising from his chair and adjusting his cuff. "You've got this."
As Lena turned to leave, a small thought drifted through her mind—unfiltered, involuntary: Boss is really... good.
------------------
The wind was cool that evening, brushing gently through the blonde strands of Ethan Carter's hair as he stood atop the M & C Hotel's rooftop terrace.
The sky had turned a deep violet, painted with streaks of crimson and gold as the sun dipped beneath the horizon. A bottle of coke rested in his hand, condensation sliding lazily down the glass as he took a slow sip, enjoying the rare moment of peace.
His gaze wandered over the city skyline, lights flickering to life one by one as dusk gave way to night. There were always pieces moving—schemes unfolding, alliances shifting—but right now, none of that mattered. It was quiet. It was still.
A familiar voice broke the silence behind him. "You enjoy the view, huh?"
Ethan smiled, not even turning around. "Yeah... It's a bit peaceful now. Rare thing these days."
Death herself—Didi—stepped beside him, her presence as casual as always, yet unshakably otherworldly. She leaned against the railing, looking out over the city with him.
"Peaceful is boring for most people," Didi said in a teasing tone.
"For most," Ethan echoed as his eyes gleaming with amusement. "But not for people like us. Peace is the kind of luxury you don't even know you're missing until the chaos stops screaming in your ear."
She raised an eyebrow. "That sounds suspiciously poetic. Been drinking more than just coke?"
He chuckled. "Only sugar high today, I promise."
Their shoulders brushed slightly as they stood in silence again, watching the world move below them.
Though Ethan was wary of her at first, he gradually began to trust her. Now, she's not just an ally—he sees her as a true friend and companion.
Then he turned while his eyes twinkling with mischief. "You know, Didi... if you weren't literally Death, I might've asked you out by now."
Didi blinked, then let out a small laugh. "Are you seriously flirting with me right now? With Death?"
He grinned. "I don't discriminate. Blondes, brunettes, goddesses, cosmic concepts—Death with a capital D—it's all fair game."
She laughed again, the sound musical despite the title she carried. "You're ridiculous."
"And yet, here you are. Enjoying it."
Before the playful banter could continue, Ethan's expression softened slightly. He took another sip of his coke before saying, "I'll be leaving soon. Anna and I. We've stayed longer than we planned."
Didi's face remained neutral, but her eyes flickered, just for a second. "When will you be back?"
Ethan exhaled slowly, leaning on the railing. "I don't know. Time doesn't work the same between our worlds. One day here is a week there. So far… four months passed here."
Didi stared at the city, her voice quieter now. "That's a long time."
Ethan turned his head toward her, something new in his eyes. "You know, I didn't expect to… like you this much. I mean, you're Death. I figured we'd clash or you'd be all cryptic and grim. But you're actually—well—kind of a friend now."
She smiled. "Kind of?"
He shrugged. "I'm still not sure if hugging you is safe."
Her laughter was soft this time, but it lingered.
Then, her tone shifted. "Can I come to your universe then?"
Ethan's brows rose in surprise, the question catching him completely off guard. He stared at her for a beat, the coke bottle frozen mid-air.
"You… want to come with me?" he asked. "Why?"
Didi looked at him with an unreadable expression. "I'd like to visit it."
He blinked, speechless for a moment. "You're Death. Can you even cross to other universes? And aren't you supposed to be… you know, busy?"
She smiled faintly, then lifted her hands and looked at them, as if trying to explain something more abstract than words could carry.
"You're forgetting," she said quietly, "I reincarnated into a human body. I'm still me—still doing my work—but not bound to the same rules. This form," she raised her fingers gently, "contains my essence, yes. But I'm also here to live. To feel. To experience what it means to exist beyond my purpose. And also for your info, though my mortal form remains here, my true essence is already at work elsewhere."
Her eyes flicked back to him, filled with a subtle yearning.
"It's my first time visiting any universe outside my own. And after everything I've seen from you, Ethan… I want to see yours. I'm curious about you and your universe."
Ethan tilted his head, the corners of his mouth twitching into a small smile.
"Are you saying you're curious about me?"
"I'm saying you're not boring, Ethan Carter," she replied evenly. "And maybe it wouldn't hurt to see what makes your world so important."
He looked at her for a long time. Not with suspicion, not with amusement—but with understanding.
He then leaned back against the railing, processing her words. The idea of Death as a curious tourist wasn't exactly on his bingo card for the week, but then again—his entire life was already stranger than fiction.
"You know," he said before turning to look back over the city, "if you come with me, you're probably going to have a very different kind of chaos. Not your soul-reaping kind. More like multiverse-level headaches and annoying villains with god complexes."
She grinned. "Sounds like a vacation."
Ethan took another sip of his coke, then glanced at her sideways. "Well then, Death... pack your bags."
------------------------
Author's Note:
Hey guys!
How did you like the chapter?
I need your thoughts on something—I've been thinking about starting another fanfic. This one would focus solely on Wolverine, not like my Alpha in the MCU fic. It would explore his powers getting a massive boost, pushing him to a whole new level.
But here's the thing:
If I start that new fic, updates for this one might slow down. I don't have a lot of time to juggle two stories consistently because of work—and I really don't like keeping you all waiting.
So, what do you think?
Should I go for it, or keep focusing on this story for now? Let me know your thoughts in the comments—your feedback really helps!