The portal deposited the group back in Gotham, but the city was quieter now. Rain pattered against the rooftops, and the distant hum of sirens was the only sign of life. For a moment, the four warriors stood in silence, catching their breath after the chaos of the nexus.

Kei, glancing at Teri: "You were holding back, weren't you? Against Time Freezer."

Teri, adjusting his temporal anchor: "Not holding back—waiting. I needed him to expose his full control of the nexus. If I'd acted too soon, we might've been trapped there forever."

Ignis, leaning against a wall, her flames dim: "Next time, maybe share that plan. I thought we were seconds away from being erased."

Lucifer, brushing nonexistent dust from his coat: "It's charming, your little team dynamic. But I'd prefer to avoid more near-death experiences if possible. So, what's next, Commander Teri?"

Teri hesitated, his expression darkening. "Next, we figure out why my brother betrayed us—and why he sent us here."

Unmasking the Past

Back at the Batcave, the group gathered around a holographic display, courtesy of Bruce Wayne. Teri's fingers danced across the console, pulling up fragmented data he'd salvaged from the nexus. Kei and Ignis stood close, their expressions a mix of curiosity and unease.

Kei, softly: "Teri, you've barely mentioned your brother. What happened between you two?"

Teri's jaw tightened. "He was once one of us—a protector. We fought side by side to keep the balance between realms. But something changed. He became obsessed with power, with bending the multiverse to his will."

Ignis, frowning: "And you think this... betrayal is tied to Time Freezer?"

Teri, nodding: "He's been pulling strings behind the scenes. Time Freezer was just a pawn in a larger game."

Lucifer leaned against a console, his eyes narrowing. "And this larger game—does it involve that shadowy figure we glimpsed in the nexus?"

Teri hesitated, then pulled up an image from the data. A hologram of a man appeared—tall, imposing, and clad in armor that shimmered with an unnatural light. His face was eerily familiar, yet twisted with malice.

Kei, her voice shaking: "That's... Saren. Your brother."

The Revelation

The group fell silent. Kei's mind raced with memories—of Saren's kind smile, his unwavering loyalty, and the day he disappeared without a trace.

Kei, breaking the silence: "He was always the one who believed in us, who pushed us to be better. What happened to him?"

Teri's expression darkened. "He found something—an artifact of unimaginable power. It corrupted him. He believes he's doing the right thing, but his vision for the multiverse is a nightmare. He'll destroy entire realities to achieve it."

Ignis, crossing her arms: "So, what's the plan? Do we stop him, or try to save him?"

Lucifer smirked. "Saving him? That's optimistic. People like him don't usually come back from the abyss."

Kei shot him a glare. "We don't leave our own behind."

Preparing for War

As the group deliberated, Bruce entered the room, his cape trailing behind him. "I've been monitoring anomalies across the multiverse. If Saren's involved, we'll need more than just the four of you to stop him."

Batman, looking at Teri: "I assume you have a way to track him?"

Teri held up his temporal anchor. "This can locate his signature across dimensions, but it'll take time."

Ignis, grinning: "Good thing we've got plenty of that."

Bruce activated a second hologram, revealing a list of potential allies across the multiverse—heroes, anti-heroes, and even villains who could be convinced to fight against Saren's growing threat.

Kei, scanning the list: "This is insane. Some of these names... they'd never work with us."

Lucifer chuckled. "Everyone has a price, darling. The trick is finding what it is."

The Call to Arms

The first name on the list caught Kei's eye: Diana Prince, Wonder Woman. Her strength and wisdom would be invaluable, but convincing her to join a mission as dangerous as this wouldn't be easy. Other names followed: Doctor Fate, Shazam, Black Adam, and even the enigmatic Etrigan the Demon.

Kei, determined: "If we're going to stop Saren, we'll need all the help we can get. Let's start making calls."

Teri nodded, his gaze hardening. "This isn't just about stopping my brother anymore. It's about saving the multiverse from itself."

To Be Continued...

The group prepared for the journey ahead, each of them carrying the weight of what was to come. As they set out to gather their allies, the shadow of Saren loomed ever closer, his plans threatening to unravel everything they held dear. The multiverse teetered on the brink, and the battle to save it was only just beginning.