It was another regular day at the Watchtower when suddenly, the tower began to shake violently. Alarms blared, and the walls trembled as you rushed down to the control room to see what was happening. The rest of the team was already there staring at the main screen. Batman's eyes were narrowed in suspicion as he studied the footage. An ominous portal had opened in the middle of the room, and from it stepped the menacing figure of Darkseid. The tension was palpable as he fixed his gaze on a visibly unsettled Superman before addressing him mockingly and reluctantly asking for help.

Superman scoffed. "Why should we help you?"

Darkseid's eyes narrowed. "Because my enemy is your enemy. Even as we speak, Apokolips is being assimilated by the Kryptonian menace known as Brainiac."

Superman clenched his fists. "You’re lying. I destroyed him."

"Apparently, he is harder to kill than you realized. You know his pattern, Kal-El. Once he’s finished siphoning the memory banks and technology of my planet-"

Superman cut him off, his voice cold. "He’ll annihilate it. Good."

The rest of the Justice League was shocked. Wonder Woman stepped in, her voice full of concern. "Superman…"

Martian Manhunter added, "You can’t mean that."

Darkseid's gaze swept the room. "You may not care what happens to me or my world, but know this: if Brainiac isn’t stopped, countless millions more will perish. Think about it." With that, he stepped back through the portal, which closed behind him.

Hawkgirl turned to Superman her eyes filled with disbelief. "So, what are you saying? You’d sacrifice millions of lives just because you don’t like this guy?"

Superman looked away, his jaw set. "You don’t know Darkseid like I do."

Batman stepped in, his voice low and firm. "We know he used you, humiliated you, brainwashed you, wound you up like a tin soldier, and turned you loose against Earth. Cry me a river. On the off chance that this isn’t another one of his schemes, we have to take action. So, I suggest you get over it."