In ‘DCeased’ (2019) #1, Cyborg is infected with the Anti-Life Equation virus. At the beginning of the issue, the Justice League has foiled an invasion by Darkseid. Superman and Batman order Darkseid to not return to Earth. Wonder Woman has bound Darkseid in the Lasso of Truth, which compels him to speak the Truth. Surprisingly, Darkseid uncoils the Lasso of Truth and states he has what he came for, leaving in a Boom Tube without further battle.

At that moment, Batman’s tracking device signals that Cyborg is missing. Batman states Cyborg is not in Metropolis, and not on Earth. Asked by Flash how Batman knows, the Dark Knight says he has a location monitor in one of Cyborg’s programs. Superman asks Batman if Cyborg knew the Dark Knight was tracking him. Then Flash asks if Batman has a tracking device on Superman. With a pause, Batman answers in the negative.

Desaad has abducted Cyborg on Apokolips. The purpose of Darkseid’s plan is to obtain the first half of the ALE. Desaad reveals to Cyborg that Darkseid seeks the second half of the ALE and suspects Cyborg possesses it. Cyborg questions Darkseid’s motives and at that moment, the monarch shows up. He asks Desaad to cut Cyborg’s tongue. Darkseid wants to use Motherbox in order to add Darkseid’s half of the ALE to Cyborg’s system.

However, Desaad points out that Cyborg will likely not survive the process and the ALE will cease to exist. At that moment, Darkseid summons the Black Racer with the Motherbox. After Desaad grows Cyborg a new tongue, he takes a piece of the Black Racer and corrupts the ALE merged to Cyborg with it. The ALE virus was born. Though Desaad was immune to disease. Desaad tried to send Cyborg away with the ALE virus, but to no use. Darkseid was infected with the ALE virus. Darkseid went raving mad.

Cyborg is Boom-Tubed to Metropolis. Immediately, he goes online. The ALE virus spread from its patient zero as a techno-organic virus to the Internet. Cyborg attempted to firewall himself but it was too late. an Elseworlds story, was this a celebration of darkness, a romanticization of horror stories? As the pandemonium in Metropolis will prove, Elseworld stories tend to be too dark. That may also be the case for mainstream continuity stories.

Reminiscent of the best horror stories, the ALE virus jumped from media to media spreading horror. People literally tried to tear the equation from their heads. They have turned into zombies. At the home of Scott Free and Big Barda, Superman succeeded in recruiting the heroes, when suddenly, he heard the world screaming. He flew into the streets and saw the pandemonium. Distraught, he sped to his family and destroyed the cellphone and the television screen with his heat vision before Jon and Damian could access them.