We of this Earth are so small and powerless...yet every decision we make spawns a new world. And though we fought Apokolips with everything we had...and sacrificed an unimaginable amount...it wasn't enough. No matter how much we struggle...the end must come. 
Earth 2: World's End #26 is an issue of the series Earth 2: World's End (Volume 1) with a cover date of June, 2015. It was published on April 1, 2015.
Synopsis for "End Times"
On the surface of Earth 2, as the planet dies - being consumed by Apokolips - Alan Scott (Green Lantern) engages in battle with Darkseid. Alan contemplates that, while they've fought hard, it may not be enough. Even using the power of all of the Avatars of the Parliament of Earth, magnified by the multiversal lensing, he still may not be able to defeat Darkseid. Seemingly restored after the last battle, Darkseid fires his Omega Beams and knocks Alan to the ground, telling him that he is no savior. Alan tries to get up, and though he's connected to many Earths, the death of his Earth weighs him down. His power seems to seep out of him, and the Wonders start to recover and stand up. Jonni Thunder and Queen Marella (Aquawoman) ponder this, but Marella says he's gone, and her people need her help. Thomas Wayne (Batman II) and Kara Zor-El (Power Girl) help Helena Wayne (Huntress) to her feet. She says that she is fine, as is the Codex, but the fleet has been destroyed, and they don't have a way off the planet. Val Zod (Superman II) rises and says they still can save some people from the crashed evac ships. Seeing one of the ships aflame overhead, Flash (Jay Garrick) races off to save his mom, before Hawkgirl (Kendra Munoz-Saunders) has a chance to stop him. Oliver Queen (Red Arrow) says to let him go, as this group already has more than enough on their plate. Kara and Helena share a moment, glad to see one another still intact, and hopeful the Codex can help them start again.
Val, Lois Lane (Red Tornado), and Kara fly off - Val to rescue survivors, the two women to fend off Darkseid's advance. Darkseid approaches a group of survivors, and they plead with him to stop, but he says they are nothing now but fodder for Apokolips. Before he can attack, Kara crashes into him, with Lois following up with another attack. The two do decently, but he punches both of them away, and fires his Omega Beams after Kara. Kara flies away, dodging the beams, and manages to outspeed them. Lois taunts him around this, saying she'll be able to find Val. Before she can say Superman, he fires Omega Beams at Lois, knocking her to the ground.
With a voiceover from Green Lantern, a montage of scenes are shown at the battlefield outside of Atom's Haven. Kalibak leading his Reapers to attack the ships; Darkseid standing calmly, firing Omega Beams; Apokoliptian Nobles (Rectifier, Lowest, Arcanis) attacking an evac ship. Alan notes that with all of this happening, it makes it seem as if their world had no meaning beyond that of feeding Apokolips. He notes that the Oracle is watching this destruction silently and without intervening.
On the TSS Endurance, the generation ship in Apokolips' orbit, Fury, Mister Terrific (Michael Holt), Sandman (Wesley Dodds), and Mister Miracle realize that the battle has been lost. Only some of the ships survived Darkseid's onslaught, and they will need to depart very soon with the few survivors who did make it off the planet.
Down in Atom's Haven, in the hangar bay, Commander Sonia Sato and Captain Steel (Henry Heywood, Jr.) realize their evac ships cannot make it off the planet, and without any options, Sato orders them to land; they will need to find a new strategy. Sato radios to Jimmy Olsen, in one of the hangar bay tunnels, and tells him as much, and he confirms that he can take control of them all remotely with his Mother Box / Source powers. Lieutenant Ayin protests, saying they'll be even more exposed, but as Apokolips closes in around the planet, Sato says they have no choice, as there is no escape route.
At the site of the battle with Darkseid, Alan lays on the ground, contemplating how love is the only thing that keeps us from seeing death as inevitable. Sam Zhao (Avatar of the White) appears next to Alan and tells him it is time for him to ascend. He explains that, as the last Avatar of the planet, and having absorbed the powers of the rest of the Parliament of Earth, Alan must now absorb the soul of the planet and become one with it. This will mean him losing the last of his humanity, and losing his memories of Sam. Alan tries to protest, but Sam tells him it is the only way; he needs to channel all of this power into his ring in order to save humanity. Sam reveals that he had been chosen as the Avatar of the White as a test for Alan, to see if he was ready to give it all up to save the world. With a final embrace, Alan says goodbye to Sam, and the Green Lantern ascends.
Back in Atom's Haven, Flash rushes into the escape bay and finds his mother. She says that they don't have long until the world ends, but she's glad he's there with her. At this, he realizes he needs to try and help the others, and tells her he cannot stay. She pleads with him to stay, as she doesn't want to die alone.
Elsewhere, Yolanda Montez (former Avatar of the Red) tries to escape, and calls out to people in the crowd that there is room in one of the evac ships. Unfortunately, Darkseid blasts onto the scene and starts additional destruction, seemingly targeting Yolanda next. Before he can make a second attack, Alan flies into the fray and attacks him, propelling him backwards and away from the crowd. Alan thinks to himself that the Green is fighting for all of the lives of the world, for hope, and for inner potential. With an uppercut, he taps into his multiversal powers and uses the force of multiple earths to launch Darkseid off his feet, and tells him that he now will understand how it feels to be small and defeated.
Back in the hangar, Kalibak orders the nobles and forces of Apokolips to slaughter the survivors. Flash says to his mom that this is why he needs to leave her, and tells her to get to safety.
Outside the hangar bay tunnel in Atom's Haven, Jimmy Olsen - Mother Box in hand - says that only the Green Lantern can face Darkseid, but they still need to deal with Kalibak and the Court of Apokolips. Captain Steel, Commander Sato, Red Arrow, Huntress, and Hawkgirl will fight on the ground, and Val, Kara, and Lois will fight from the sky. The ground team defends their position, with Oliver emphasizing protecting the Codex, and Hawkgirl greeting Flash as he returns to their side.
Back in Atom's Haven at the forward gun battery, Thomas and Dick Grayson return to the turrets to resume firing on the enemy. Grayson expresses his concern about their situation, but Thomas tells him that this last push is the most important. Looking down the sights, Thomas finds Green Lantern sitting cross-legged, seeming to meditate, much to Thomas' frustration.
Green Lantern rises, and unlocks the full multiversal potential of the Green. Stripped of his humanity, he can now use the lensing technique, and lifts all of the survivors off of the planet.
We see a montage. First, Val tackles Kalibak at the abandoned ruins of Atom's Haven, to prevent him from pursuing the escaping survivors. Then, in the forward gun battery, Dick and Thomas say they'll fight until the end. At the battlefield outside Atom's Haven, Flash runs, apologizing to his mom under his breath. Over in the ruins outside Atom's Haven, Yolanda tries to help other survivors escape. Up in space, the Oracle is still observing.
In the main battlefield outside Atom's Haven, Green Lantern continues to focus his power, and says that he needs only a moment more and he can save everyone. Darkseid charges at him, and other Wonders (Val, Flash, Thomas, Dick) pursue the villain. Darkseid knocks them all aside, saying their time is up. Yolanda yells that they won't die like this. Green Lantern charges his energy, and Darkseid shoots Omega Beams at the group. There is an explosion, and it seems the day is lost. Alan thinks to himself that while Apokolips has won, they won't forget this day.
From space, we see Apokolips fully cover Earth, the Oracle still observing, and the multitude of the Endurance ships.
Aboard the TSS Endurance, the lead ship of the Earth 2 escape flotilla, Mister Terrific gives the command for all ships to depart, as their planet is gone. Holt tries to remain positive, but Sloan says their chances of finding another sustainable planet that is hospitable yet uninhabited is unlikely. Behind them stand Jimmy Olsen, Captain Steel, Commander Sato, Oliver Queen, Helena Wayne, and Kara Zor-El. Sato says that at least they escaped; Oliver says the next step is finding a new home. Holt notices that Oliver is bleeding, but Red Arrow brushes it off, and instead hands over the Codex. There's a loud noise, and the announcement goes out that the ships are ready to take off.
In the Court of Apokolips, Darkseid and his Nobles (Paternus, Rectifier, Lowest, Arcanis) listen to a broadcast transmission from Jimmy Olsen to other survivors of Earth, saying that the planet is lost, and advising people to try and stay safe. Darkseid prepares to finish consuming the planet and its people. Jimmy tells them that they need to leave now, or risk further defeat from Darkseid. Queen Marella and Commander Sato agree that they hope to find a new peace between the Atlanteans and land-dwelling humans. Fury tells Miracle that she's proud of the humans; he informs her he won't be joining her, and senses stowaways that he wants to take care of. Lois and Helena comfort Kara, saying that Thomas and Val are strong, and will find a way to survive. Kendra comforts Mrs. Garrick, telling her that Flash was a hero.
Appearing in "End Times"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
- Aquawoman
- Avatar of the White
- Dick Grayson
- Fury
- Jimmy Olsen
- Jonni Thunder
- Mister Miracle
- Mister Terrific
- Obsidian (Dies)
- The Parliament of Earth (Mentioned only)
- Red Arrow
- Terry Sloan
- World Army
- Captain Steel
- Commander Sato
- Lieutenant Ayin
- Sandman
- Yolanda Montez
Antagonists:
Other Characters:
- Batman I (Bruce Wayne) (Mentioned only)
- Mrs. Garrick
- Oracle
Locations:
- Apokolips
- Court of Apokolips
- Earth 2
- Earth (Destroyed)
- United States of America
- Oklahoma City
- Atom's Haven
- Forward Gun Battery
- Hangar Bay
- Hangar Bay Tunnel
- Atom's Haven
- Oklahoma City
- United States of America
- Earth/Apokolips Orbit
- Earth (Destroyed)
Items:
- Codex
- Mother Box
- Sam's Engagement Ring
Vehicles:
- TSS Endurance
Concepts:
Notes
- In one panel, the Symbol of El on Val's Kryptonian suit was depicted red instead of white.
- The fates of Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, Batman, and Dick Grayson are later revealed when they are seen alive in Convergence.
- This issue is reprinted in Earth 2: World's End Vol. 2.
See Also