InsaneJournal

So Piper's been having a very bad time throughout Countdown. Winds up energy-handcuffed to the Trickster, on the run for murder, and being hunted down by other rogues. And as if that weren't annoying enough, Trickster's being a homophobic jackass about the possibility that they might be killed together. Trickster finally gets over that bit, only to be shot full of holes by Deadshot as he attempts to protect Piper. Oh, and they're still handcuffed together. And a twenty-four hour self destruct countdown has been activated.

Still trying to find a way to survive, Piper ends up heading out into the desert, carrying, then dragging the corpse of his friend. He's seemingly rescued by a tunnel of light, only to find himself in the middle of an Apokolips that's being destroyed/assimilated by Brother Eye and the OMAC. Desaad pops up, imploring Piper to play the Anti-Life Equation on his flute and become a god, only to make the stupid, stupid mistake of revealing that all of the shit that's happened to Piper so far? Is his doing, in order to break Piper's will.

As OMAC is closing in and everything's falling apart, Desaad continues to harangue Piper to play the Anti-Life Equation. Piper seemingly gives in...







Hell, yeah.