章節 58: Chapter 57
The so-called Injustice Superman refers to the work Injustice: Gods Among Us, including the games and adapted comics.
Everything began with Joker's evil conspiracy. He used illusions to make Superman accidentally kill his pregnant wife, Lois Lane, and also destroy half of Metropolis with a bomb explosion that killed thousands of people.
This time, Joker no longer wanted to drag Batman into the abyss; instead, he set his sights on Superman. Joker tried everything, even taking his own life, to be killed by Superman.
Joker succeeded. He drove Superman paranoid and mad. From then on, Superman stopped holding back and began acting as judge, jury, and executioner.
For a time, almost the entire Justice League, except for Batman and a few others, stood by Superman's side.
Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Cyborg, Shazam, even Superman's enemy Ra's al Ghul, and even the fifth-dimensional troublemakers and Robin, Batman's former ally, all joined him.
Even Aquaman, who initially resisted, eventually compromised.
Superman set out to bring peace by eliminating criminals before they could hurt others.
But over time, his team also began to lose their way. After tasting the ease and convenience of this method, they got out of control.
The world soon felt threatened and intimidated. Everyone began to feel unsafe.
After all, if criminals are punished before they commit a crime, who can guarantee they themselves won't be treated as criminals?
Maybe the idea of Injustice Superman had merit, but he was too extreme. Punishing someone before they've actually committed a crime is simply wrong.
"Are we wrong?"
Kara suddenly asked, not questioning herself but Bruce: "So we're wrong, huh? We shouldn't stop Ra's in advance? We should wait until he kills millions, then put him in a prison he can escape from at any time, and catch him again after he hurts millions more. Maybe after he's killed everyone in the world."
"That's what we're supposed to do, right Bruce?"
Bruce looked at Kara intently.
He seemed to understand something.
If Bruce had known the Injustice Superman, he'd see that Kara was dangerous, and that she might rise up to become the next Injustice Superman at any time.
"You're so extreme," Bruce snapped as he put his helmet back on, clearly disappointed in Kara.
"You're too weak, Bruce," Kara put on her own helmet again, her tone full of disdain. "Have you ever witnessed the cruelty of nature? When hyenas hunt buffalo, do you know the first place they attack? Maybe being a man makes you shiver—your spine, or perhaps your hips?"
At the end, Kara let out an unrestrained laugh.
Because when hyenas besiege a buffalo, especially a male one, the easiest and most convenient place to attack is the crotch.
"Do you know what the first thing a male lion does when he takes over a pride of lionesses? He kills all the offspring of the previous king—the cubs."
"Do you think because they're animals, they have no reference value at all? Maybe. I'm just saying I've seen a cruel and terrifying natural world, and humans are part of nature too."
"Even though we don't need to do those things to survive, I'm just telling you: the killing never ends. Humanity hasn't forgotten its most primitive sins."
"You have to remember, what we're trying to protect are those good people who won't hurt others, not to be a shield for the damned people who have blood on their hands. If you can't even handle that, Bruce, you really don't deserve the title of superhero."
"You're an icon of justice, Bruce, and after everything you've been through, you still believe in it."
"But I'm the kind of person who would rather kill one person to save millions."
"Don't worry, I won't turn into Superman, because I don't hurt innocent people. And even though Gotham City is beyond saving, I won't ignore the fact that there are good, innocent people still living in it."
"However, even if you gave me another chance, even if you tried to stop me, I'd kill Ra's again."
"I don't care if he lives or dies, and I don't care what you think of me."
"All I know is that if we hadn't stopped him, millions of people in Gotham would have died."
"Aren't you afraid of what would happen if we didn't stop him?"
A moment ago, Bruce's beliefs had the upper hand, but now, Kara was fighting back.
It's a paradox. No one really knows what the right choice is.
It's like when you know someone will kill in five years—intentionally.
But five years earlier, that person is still innocent. Can you act then?
Do you even have the right to punish someone for something they haven't done yet?
And Bruce's biggest fear is that Kara will taste success from this time and continue down this path, killing criminals before they've even committed a crime. That would only make her the very criminal she claims to stop.
Bruce's worry isn't unfounded. He still doesn't fully know the extent of Kara's power, and if she were to turn into an Injustice Superman, with her strength as a female Kryptonian, the whole world would be at risk.
For now, though, even though they defeated Ra's and prevented the crisis, the tension between them remained.
Kara glared at Bruce.
Bruce returned the look, filled with concern.
A rift had formed between the two of them, and they both knew their ideals were in conflict.
But Kara still respected Bruce's philosophy. She thought of him as a benchmark for justice, but believed she couldn't live by it herself—not because she didn't want to, but because she thought that burden was something superheroes had to carry.
"Bruce, do you really think throwing them into prison is the right thing to do?"
Kara still harbored some resentment, and didn't hesitate to point out: "The criminal who killed your parents only served 14 years in prison before being released."
"Released, as if your parents' lives were worth just fourteen years."
Gotham City didn't seem to have the death penalty.
"I don't think it's unfair because I know you. I'm not speaking from personal grievances. I just think that sometimes the so-called respect for human rights and life is actually the most disrespectful thing."
"If someone takes two lives, they only serve fourteen years, but the people they killed never come back. They never wake up."
"To me, the crime of taking someone's life is the most unforgivable sin."
"Everyone has only one life, and no one has the right to take that away."
"Including me. I have no right to take a criminal's life."
"But when those who deserve to die aren't punished—when someone shields them, including this damn law—how many more lives will be destroyed? How many people have been ruined by that gang leader you arrested? How many have died because of him? And in a few years, he'll be free to enjoy life again. Are you just going to watch more people die because of him?"
"If no one else will step up and stop it, then I will. I don't care about the blood on my hands."
There was no hesitation or uncertainty in Kara's eyes anymore; her conviction was resolute.
Bruce looked at her and could only sigh silently. There was no reasoning with her.
If he were still the old Bruce, maybe he would have agreed with Kara, including his younger self who once wanted to kill the man who murdered his parents upon his release.
But he wasn't that Bruce anymore.
"Kara," Bruce called her name.
Kara shook her head. "Don't even start, Bruce. I've already made up my mind."
"No, Kara," Bruce said. He wasn't going to argue about beliefs anymore; he was about to bring up something else. "Speaking of which, we forgot to call Gordon to let him know he doesn't need to blow up the viaduct. By the way, did you stop the control system?"
Kara spread her hands. "Judging by the speed of the train, definitely not."
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