| abstract
| - Three years ago in the Pamir Mountains of Central Asia. David Graves battles extreme weather as he searches for something near Mount Sumeru, a place known by some for its connection to the afterlife. David encounters a large deity with six arms. Exhausted, David begs for help. Instead the deity tells David he must complete the journey on his own power. At the urging of this deity, David continues to head towards a mystic temple of some sort; at first rowing his small boat, then attempting to walk, and finally crawling the rest of the way. In the present, we see Steve Trevor, still imprisoned in a room where David Graves has taken him. The room is windowless and has large pipes exposed, suggesting it is a basement of some kind. Trevor is bleeding and exhausted from being tortured by Graves last issue. Trevor is bound to a chair with clamps that restrain him at the wrists. He struggles and breaks free. As he attempts to head through an exit door, he is assaulted by some supernatural entities that use ghostly arms and hands to grope at Steve. The entities call out to Steve, suggesting they want to feed on Steve's personal loss and emotional pain. Aquaman helps rescue survivors of a cruise ship that has shipwrecked. Some TV reporters get in his face, rudely suggesting that there are other super-heroes more deserving of Justice League membership. Aquaman shakes off the insult. Cyborg summons him to an emergency Justice League meeting. Aquaman tells Cyborg he is too busy. But then Aquaman reminds himself of an earlier time when he served the needs of Atlantis as its King, out of a sense of duty and responsibility, even when it was difficult. Aquaman tells Cyborg he is on the way. At the Watchtower, Batman explains to the other members that somebody named Graves has been attacking, torturing, and interrogating Justice League enemies. When Green Lantern asks why this is even a problem, he is told that Graves has been collecting information about their secrets, including weaknesses and relationships of the Justice League members. Cyborg proceeds to provide some of the details. Graves shows up at the Watchtower, using Steve Trevor's access code to get past the satellite's security system. Wonder Woman wants to know what Graves has done to Steve Trevor. As she lunges towards Graves, he seems to use occult powers to suck the life out of her, leaving her emaciated and in shock. Demons help him accomplish this; demons he first encountered in the Pamir Mountains. In flashbacks, we see when Graves first encountered the demons. David was looking to reunite with his deceased family members. He sees them in spirit form. The deities tell Graves he will rejoin his family, and he will have his vengeance. Then Graves seems to absorb several of the demons, rather painfully. The images suggest that Graves may be absorbing the spirits of his deceased wife and children. Back in the Watchtower, Batman says, "Take him," and the team attacks. But each member in turn has his life force sucked out, as the demons feed on each member's emotional pain and personal loss. As Superman is the final victim, the other heroes already lie on the floor, lifeless and emaciated.
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