Breathless Chapter 6
Fire and Smoke
JLA Universe
Midwest
Black Canary watched as Batman removed several “ice” pellets from a compartment next to his seat. She didn’t see where he placed them. From a side panel of the cockpit he pulled a flame-thrower and what looked like some sort of science fiction gun. It reminded her of the gun that Mr. Freeze had used back at the bank. He hooked the flame-thrower over his shoulder and it disappeared behind him underneath his cowl. She didn’t see where the “space gun,” disappeared to. He made sure that he had a good supply of his deadly, throwing blades, as well as some specially modified ones. He turned to face her, ready.
He was fascinating to watch. No movements were wasted. There was a powerful grace and a magical deceptiveness to his movements. One moment there was something in his hand and the next it was gone. Try as she might she never quite saw where he hid his weapons, except for the flame-thrower. They had been on the ground for just a few seconds and he was ready to go.
“What do I get to use?” Black Canary asked. Her arms were crossed and her face formed a questioning pout. Without realizing that it had happened, she had gone from feeling intimidated in his presence to feeling comfortable and trusting.
Batman looked at her and almost smiled. She certainly didn’t seem to be intimidated by him anymore. “Do you know how to use a flame-thrower?”
She stared back at him big eyed. “No.”
Batman looked her over, considering the options. She didn’t have many places to hide or carry weapons, and he was certain that she was going to be very uncomfortable if they had to be outside in the cold for too long.
“Here, take some of these,” he said, offering her a few freeze pellets, and then he pulled out an extra cowl and handed it to her. She gave him a quizzical look.
“It will keep you warm,” he explained.
She took it, draping it around herself. It was definitely warm. The material was light but she sensed that it would be strong and durable like her companion.
She smiled up at him. What was visible of his face was expressionless, but she knew that her humorless new friend was going to be looking out for her. “I’m ready.”
“Take this as well,” he said placing a small electronic device in the palm of her hand. “It is both a signaling device and a com-link. I don’t want you leaving my side but, if for any reason we are separated, we’ll still be able to communicate and I will be able to locate you. You activate it by placing it in your ear and pressing this button.” He demonstrated it to her.
Dinah took her new toy. She was filled with excitement and fear. She had gone from being a superhero’s daughter to crime fighter in the last few hours. She had met Superman and Batman and was now helping them fight some sort of alien creatures. As unbelievable as the circumstances seemed, she felt a new confidence permeating her being.
She placed the device in her ear, pressed the button and spoke, “Can you hear me now?” she grinned, somewhat nervous.
“Loud and clear,” he answered turning around. He opened a hatch and dropped to the ground a few feet below. Dinah took a deep breath, taking control of her nerves, and then dropped from the warmth and safety of the jet, down into the cold darkness beside her new, grim friend.
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Arctic
Superman plunged into the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. He sped deep under the ice. He continued until he came to a vertical shaft and he shot up through it, eventually emerging from the freezing waters, inside a large cavernous room. He set down on the ice and quickly stripped his uniform from his body.
Setting his frozen uniform down on the ice, he focused his heat vision on it. He continued until the material glowed from the heat. He stood naked and unaffected by the negative 50-degree air. Steam rose from his body as the drops of ocean water evaporated off of him.
He finished superheating his suit and had just begun to scan it with his microscopic vision for residue from the alien creature they had vanquished, when he suddenly heard a familiar sound. Spinning around he saw the lovely form of Di-ana lying bound and unconscious on the icy floor of the cavern and a large nightmarish creature standing over her.
The white nightmare saw him simultaneously. With a vicious snarl it launched itself at him.
Superman had rarely been angry as a boy. His life, growing up with his adoptive parents Jonathan and Martha, had been one of warmth and peace. His rare displays of anger had always been mild and counterbalanced by the love, kindness and understanding of his beloved parents. Not only had he learned to master and control his powers as they had slowly begun to manifest themselves, but he had never really been exposed to a situation that had truly tempted him to let go and lose control.
Seeing Di-ana again, bound and at the mercy of the monster attacking him at the entrance to his own home, caused him, for the first time in his life, to truly lose control of his temper. He felt a rage he had never before experienced. His uniform lay forgotten on the ice, as with a shout, he launched himself naked, straight at the creature that dared to invade his home and harm the woman he had been unable to stop thinking about for the last several hours.
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Metropolis
Barry and Wally stood before the doors of the Daily Planet in their civilian garb.
“This is the place,” Barry said. “But I have no idea how to contact him.”
“It would be nice if we could just pick up the phone and call him,” Wally complained.
“Do you think that the monster we stopped back home had something to do with what happened to Aunt Iris, Uncle Barry?”
“I don’t think so Son. Whoever or whatever killed Iris is still out there. Whatever it was that we fought seemed a little too easy to take down. I have a feeling that something more is going on but I have no idea what it is,” Barry answered.
Most offices were now closed it being Saturday night. But the city’s nightlife was in full swing. Barry and Wally continued walking down a well-lit street. They were passing a home entertainment store. There were many wide-screen and plasma screen TV’s visible through the display window.
An image caught Barry’s eye. Stopping, they went into the store to watch and listen. There was footage of a tall, athletic, brown haired man in a green, black and white uniform, flying and engaging a strange yellow creature. He defeated the monster and flew away with an unconscious girl in his arms.
“Uncle Barry! That’s the Green Lantern! Wasn’t that just awesome!” Wally gushed.
“That was very impressive,” Barry agreed.
“Do you think he would help us?” Wally asked suddenly quiet again.
“I would imagine he would if we were able to talk to him,” Barry responded.
Just then a reporter came on stating that there had been an unconfirmed attack on a farm in the Midwest. A recorded phone call to 911 was played. A man’s voice was heard asking for help. The man said he and his family were under attack by several large, alien creatures. There was gunfire and then silence. The farm was an hour away from the city of Forest Hills.
“You think Superman is there?” Wally asked hopefully.
“I guess we’re going to find out,” Barry answered.
The two blurred into their costumes and sped to the Midwest.
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Central City
Hal floated down slowly into the park where, minutes ago, the two Flashes had taken down a giant, fire emitting monster. The police and the press were everywhere.
He was immediately beset on all sides by the press and civilians. Giving his most winsome smile, he inquired as to the whereabouts of the Flash. No one knew.
An attractive reporter asked if there was an alien invasion going on. Some of the crowd laughed at the question. Those who had witnessed the attack in the park did not.
The reporter was nonplussed. She pointed out the fact that, in addition to the attack in Central City, Green Lantern had fought a creature in Coast City and there had been reports of alien attacks in Gotham, Middleton and in the Midwest there was a family under attack.
Hal looked the reporter over appreciatively. He took careful note of her nametag, then looking deeply and sincerely into her eyes he answered, “Yes Miss Vale. It appears that we may be under attack. But rest assured. You will be safe. My friend, the Flash and I have everything under control. I can’t stop to talk more right now. It looks like there’s more work for me to do still tonight. If you’d like to give me your card I’ll be more than happy to continue this interview after all the aliens have been dealt with.”
He gave her his most charming smile, then shot up into the air. “Ring. Take me to the location of the family that is under attack in the Midwest.” Instantly the ring pulled him north.
The crowd of fans, reporters and onlookers watched as the tall and handsome hero disappeared leaving a trail of green energy.
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Arctic
Kator instinctively shot up into the air upon hearing Shayera scream his name. He turned toward the tunnel from which the creature had emerged, firing his pulse rifle as he rose. He was surprised to see what looked like a large man fall to the ground. He had scored several direct hits as the man had flown, without the aid of wings, after him.
For a moment he took his eyes from the fallen man and focused on his wingmen. He was horrified to see three of them attacking the fourth. It was his childhood friend, Jotan Jot.
“Traitors!” He screamed into his com-link as he dropped to the aid of his friend.
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Syndicate Universe
Metropolis
Daily Planet
The newsroom became very quiet as Lieutenant Clark Kent entered. He was feared worldwide. It was rumored that anyone taken into custody by the Lieutenant was generally never seen again. There was little fear of criminals, but the people feared the Syndicate and the military.
Di-ana’s scent was here, but he sensed she was already gone. Ultraman knew just who to talk to in order to find out where she had gone.
Locating his victim, he marched over to Jimmy Olsen’s desk. He was cringing on the floor.
“Stand up! Spineless Boy!” Ultraman barked at him.
The terrified Jimmy stood, trembling. “Yes Sir,” he gulped. He feared he might pass out. He was fairly certain that if he did, he would not wake up.
Lt. Clark Kent grabbed him by the arm and effortlessly dragged him out of the newsroom and into a back hall. Slamming him into a wall, he lowered his face until he was eye to eye with him. “Where is Lois Lane?” He said it quietly, but there was nothing but menace in his voice.
“I..I..I d..don’t kn…know. I thought she was here.” Jimmy stammered. He found his feet were dangling in the air as the Lt. picked him up with one arm.
“I don’t believe you,” he continued in his terrifyingly quiet voice.
Jimmy lost control of his bladder. “I thought she was in her office! I swear!” he whimpered. He was certain that he was going to die.
“She was here.” It was not a question.
“Yes! I talked to her a little while ago! She shoed me from her office and I haven’t seen her since! I swear!” Jimmy sobbed.
The Lt. dropped him in disgust. He had wasted the trip. She was not at Owlman’s home, she was not at the Floating Fortress and she was not at the Daily Planet. He would just have to find her later. He was overdue for the Syndicate meeting. He left the Daily Planet in a foul mood. Stepping into an alley he teleported to the Syndicate Satellite.
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Midwest
The burning ranch was a few yards away. There were hills and trees everywhere around the little field they had landed in.
Batman was scanning for the creature and the people they had seen running from it. There was a shout and the sound of gunfire off to their left.
They sped towards the sound. As they crested the small hill that separated them from their goal, they spied a creature standing over a body. They couldn’t tell if it was an adult or a child or if he or she were alive. There was a man rushing the creature firing his handgun into it. The bullets didn’t seem to be having any effect.
Batman knelt and aimed the gun Canary had seen him pick up back on the jet at the creature’s head and fired. Canary watched as the head was suddenly encased in ice. Batman turned off his com-link, looked at her and nodded.
Dinah ran forward a couple of paces crouched. She opened her mouth, there was a soft click in the back of her throat and her sonic scream shattered the ice-encased head of the creature. The body of the monster stayed upright for a few more seconds, then it collapsed to the ground.
The man who had attacked the creature was down as well, trapped beneath the body of the monster. Batman rushed to his side. He was unconscious but okay. There was a young teenaged boy on the ground almost under the fallen creature. Batman turned his com-link back on as he checked the boy for vital signs and injuries. He had a concussion and a couple of broken ribs, but he would survive.
“Canary. Let’s keep going. We need to make sure the rest of the family is okay.”
There was no response. “Canary, if you can hear me then answer.”
Batman went silent and melted into the dark, making his way back to where he had left Canary. He found her unconscious on the ground, covered with the cowl he had given her. He could see where she had been struck on the head. It appeared to be a glancing blow. She was breathing shallowly.
Sensing movement to his left, he turned to see another creature coming towards him. He realized suddenly that there were six of the creatures closing in on him and Canary. Hoisting Canary effortlessly over a shoulder he rushed the closest creature firing the old ice ray gun, he had taken from Mr. Freeze several months ago, at its head. The creature’s head was instantly encased in ice and it stopped moving.
Batman ran past it, turning slightly to fire at the next closest creature, encasing its head in ice as well. Holstering the ice ray, he pulled two of his modified throwing blades. He stopped, tapped a button on each one and then flicked one then the other at zeach of the frozen heads.
His aim was flawless. Each blade found its mark. The blades embedded deep into the ice. There were three soft beeps and then the blades, and the heads, exploded.
As the two heads exploded he ducked down, hugging the ground covering the Black Canary. Two down, four to go.
Batman spoke quietly into his cowl. “Start ignition sequence. To my location and hover.”
He watched the four remaining creatures to see if they responded to his voice. It seemed they had not heard him.
Batman cradled the unconscious girl in his arms underneath his cowl and cape, shielding her from the cold and from the four remaining monsters. It seemed that they could not see him or sense him at the moment. He wondered if it had to do with his lack of movement, the darkness and the color and insulation of his cowl and costume.
The four remaining ones seemed more humanoid somehow. Batman took advantage of the pause in the fight to study them closely. They were powerfully built but grotesque and somewhat sluggish. It was as if they had no voluntary control over their own movements.
It seemed to Batman, that for such powerful looking vicious creatures, they were remarkably easy to defeat. He wondered, briefly, if there was something bigger going on. Something about this wasn’t right.
One of the displays in his mask went green. “Cable,” he whispered into it. He silently and carefully wrapped the cowl and cape he had given to the Black Canary around her and slowly reached up grasping the cable that had lowered from his silent hovering jet. Batman secured the cable around the girl gently, making sure she would not fall.
“You’re going to be okay,” he whispered in her ear while watching the creatures carefully. One seemed to have responded to his quiet voice and was staring right at him.
Batman kept himself completely still watching to see what the creature would do. It stepped towards him. In that very moment the girl stirred giving out a soft groan. All four creatures turned staring at their location.
Batman sprang up, performing a round out towards the closest alien, firing the freeze ray at the creature’s feet. As he leaped away from the Black Canary, he said “Up,” into his cowl. The four sets of eyes were trained on him as the girl was zipped silently, straight up into the safety of the waiting jet.
Batman flicked two explosive blades at the first monsters frozen feet while simultaneously firing the freeze ray at the second closest creature coming at him. As the creature’s feet exploded the display in his mask again showed that the Black Canary was securely in the jet. “Home,” he said calmly as he rolled out the way of the third monsters fist. He came up firing the freeze ray at it.
He watched his display as his silent jet sped away towards Gotham. “Superman. Could use some backup,” he spoke calmly into his com-link.
He heard a garbled response and what sounded like a shriek and then the link went dead.
The first of the four was without legs but crawling towards him. The second was, for the moment frozen in place. The third had a frozen arm and was swinging it at his head. Batman rushed the creature frozen in place, rolling, at the last moment, out of the way of the third creature’s frozen fist.
The creature that was frozen in place swung both of its massive fists down at the spot where he had been just moment ago as the creature with the frozen arm swung at him from behind. The frozen arm of creature number 3 smashed into one of the frozen legs of creature number 2. The arm and leg shattered just as creature number 2’s fists came down smashing creature number 3 to the ground.
Batman came out of his roll firing his freeze ray at the fourth monster. He discovered with disgust that it was no longer working. The creature grabbed at him but he was no longer there. He ran to the side throwing the useless gun at the creature followed by one of his explosive blades. The gun bounced harmlessly off the monsters body. The explosive blade made a hole in its torso, but did not slow it down.
“Superman. Anytime now.”
No response. He would have to handle this himself.
Batman pulled freeze pellets from his utility belt and threw them at the fourth creature’s feet. The feet were encased in ice but the fourth creature just smashed the ice away and continued towards him.
He ran up the hill towards the burning house on the other side. As he ran he pulled the flame-thrower from behind him. When he reached the top he turned kneeling, and aimed the weapon at the closest creature. As soon as the pilot flame was on he pulled the trigger. The flame shot out engulfing the torso of the monster. The creature opened its mouth and what sounded like a mocking laugh came out. Still firing the flame-thrower, he simultaneously flicked one of his explosives, throwing blades right into the monsters open mouth.
Batman leaped, somersaulting backwards down the other side of the hill, as the creature reached for him. Its head exploded as his feet touched the ground. He suddenly realized what had seemed wrong to him. The farm was on fire, but the creatures did not seem to posses the ability to make fire nor were they near to the farmhouse.
He raced back up the hill towards the three maimed monsters. As he aimed at the closest one, twin beams of heat shot down out of the sky, igniting his flame-thrower. Batman threw the superheated weapon to his left and rolled to his right. He could feel the heat through his insulated gloves.
As Batman came out of his roll he saw that there was a large man standing over him. He was slightly bigger than himself but not larger than Superman. Batman came up fighting. He had a blade in each hand. He stabbed at the man’s shoulder, but the blade snapped in half.
Batman was startled. He knew he might very well lose this one, but he didn’t back down. Flicking the second blade at the man as a distraction he removed a third modified throwing blade from his belt. He flicked this one at the man, deliberately slow.
The man caught the blade out of the air and smiled cruelly at him. The smile froze on his lips as the blade activated and sent a powerful charge of electricity through his body.
While the man convulsed, Batman swept his feet out from under him, knocking him to the ground. He was completely startled, as he rose to his feet to find his opponent already standing.
The man struck him in the chest with blinding speed. Batman fell down the hill, plowing a trench in the snow. He came to a stop at the bottom of the hill. He knew that he was about to lose consciousness and he could see the man standing over him again. The man’s eyes began to glow red. “Super strength, super speed, heat vis…,” he thought briefly as he drifted.
He was still staring up at the red eyes, struggling for breath. As the darkness began to swallow him, he saw something or someone smash into the man with the red eyes, taking him off of his feet, and then he passed out.
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Arctic
Fortress
As Superman collided with the nightmarish creature, he heard Batman’s voice in his com-link requesting his help. He smashed the creature to the ice holding it by the throat as he started to answer his new friend. The creature wasn’t done. It gave a bloodcurdling shriek as it slashed the side of his head with a clawed hand, smashing the com-link to pieces and drawing blood from Superman.
Superman brought his fist smashing down at the creatures face but it was no longer there. Going intangible, Protex escaped Superman’s viselike grip and coming up behind him, slashed his naked back open with his claws once again.
Superman turned with blinding speed and punched the monster across the ice cavern before it could again disappear on him. As he sped after the monster, pressing the attack, his open wounds closed.
Protex went invisible and wrapped the end of his tail around Superman’s neck just as he came to a stop, and flung him to the ice face down. Pouncing on him he began repeatedly smashing his clawed fist into the back of Superman’s head, driving it deeper into the ice.
Superman had never fought such a powerful foe. It was truly the first time he had been hurt other than with kryptonite or magic. He had always wondered if there were other beings as powerful as he. This one was certainly pretty close if not a match. His anger fueled his strength. He planted his hands firmly in the ice and gave a mighty heave backwards. The nightmare was thrown off.
Moving at super speed, he attacked the creature, punching it from every direction. The monster dropped to its knee’s. Superman’s last punch landed the monster near to the slowly stirring form of Di-ana. Being near her seemed to infuse the creature with a new burst of energy. It staggered to its feet and reached for her.
“NOOOOO!!” Superman shouted. He flew at monster unleashing his heat vision on it as he went.
The monster let out a bloodcurdling shriek of agony and disappeared, still shrieking, in a flash of light.
Superman stood over the spot where the creature had been a moment ago. He was still coming down from the battle rage that had consumed him.
“Superman?” the voice was soft and weak.
Superman looked down, remembering that he was not alone. Di-ana was sitting up, staring blankly at his crotch. She seemed weak and she was starting to turn blue. He scooped her up in his arms and flew to the entrance of his fortress. Touching it, the heavy door opened, allowing them passage into the warmth within.
He flew her to his living area and laid her on one of his couches. It was made from Kryptonian crystals. Clark had put many layers of cloth to make them more comfortable. The hardness did not bother him but he always hoped to one day have company.
She was staring up at him. She seemed to be in shock. Clark carefully warmed her body up with the same heat vision that had moments before sent the wicked monster into shrieks of agony. Slowly her color came back.
Her focus began to return as well. She was looking at him with a little more understanding. Putting on her most innocent look, she raised her wrists to him showing him that she was again bound like the first time they had met earlier that day.
Superman smiled and freed her wrists. She sat up quickly and pulled his face down into a deep and sensual kiss. He returned the kiss eagerly, pouring all of his bottled up passion and loneliness into it.
He again noticed the strength with which Di-ana held and kissed him. He could actually feel her grip on his face. Then she was caressing his chest and cooing into his mouth as they continued to kiss. She continued tracing patterns along his naked chest and torso slowly going south.
Clark held her gently, one hand was lost in her lovely disheveled, raven locks, the other lay tenderly on her slender waist.
She smiled inwardly. She seemed unaffected by her ordeal. She had found Superman again. Recruiting him to help her was going to be all too easy. He, like every male she had ever encountered, could not resist her. But there the similarities ended. He was just as powerful as Jur-li but so much younger and innocent looking. He was touching her as if she were made of glass.
She remembered that while Jur-li had never been a kind man, he had been gentle with her for a time. She pushed thoughts of the monster that was her husband from her mind as she focused on the kiss that she was sharing with her rescuer.
She had never experienced such passion in a kiss. It appeared that he was truly kissing for the first time and didn’t want it to end. She continued her caresses. Her body was on fire. He was already as good as hers. She knew that once she shared her body with his that he would be her willing slave.
Her hand trailed down further. He suddenly jumped back turning several different shades of pink, red and purple.
Di-ana had just stroked his very naked and very aroused member.
Her eyes sparkled wickedly. “Wow Superman. That is very, very, impressive. Is that all for me?” She asked as she slowly got her breath back. She was staring unashamedly at his very excited manhood.
There was no way for Clark to hide his arousal. “I’m s..s..sorry. I..I f..f..forgot that I was n..n..naked for a m..m..moment,” he stammered.
“You don’t have to apologize to me. I think you look much better naked,” she toyed with him. “If it will make you feel more comfortable I’ll take off my clothes as well. That way you won’t have to feel so lonely.” She was eyeing him like a hawk looking at rabbit.
“Di-ana. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that to you. You’ve been through enough, without me, going and taking advantage of you like that. It’s no way for a lady to be treated,” he said, trying, unsuccessfully, to hide himself from her devouring eyes.
Her eyes sparkled wickedly. “You’re a virgin, aren’t you?” It wasn’t a question. This was going to be more fun than she had expected.
“I…Um…What do you mean? I’ve kissed girls, um, a girl, ah, before,” Superman responded lamely. There was something trying to break through the lust and passion induced fog that was clouding his mind.
She was walking towards him. He felt like he was watching a hungry lioness stalking her next meal.
He continued to back away. His back hit the wall and she was once again pressed against him. She was kissing his powerful chest and making very provocative sounds.
Superman was breathing hard. He felt like he was going to explode. He wanted nothing more than to just surrender to his desire for this woman who obviously desired him. She was throwing herself at him. He was quickly losing his resolve.
She was on her tiptoes, nibbling one of his ears. “Thank you for saving me from that awful monster,” she whispered. And then she was caressing his erection again.
Superman yelped at the unfamiliar, yet amazing sensation. At the same time her words triggered his memory. The memory pierced his lust filled fog and he suddenly had the resolve to resist surrendering to the willing and lovely vision before him.
“A friend needs my help,” he croaked. “I’m sorry, Di-ana, I have to go. I’ll be back, I promise.”
He blurred out of her embrace and into his bedroom, leaving a very startled, confused and frustrated Di-ana, and grabbed a new uniform. He dressed and then sped to the outer cave where he had left his first uniform. He scanned his boots for left over residue. There was none, just the black crystal that Batman’s twin had thrown at him earlier that day. He put the boots back on and slide the black crystal into one of them then plunged back into icy underwater entrance to his home.
He ached with need and was struggling to focus his mind on helping his friend.
Superman burst to the surface and flew straight up into the air. His com-link was destroyed but he knew he could focus his hearing and try to zoom in on Batman or Canary’s heartbeat to find them. He closed his eyes and began to filter out the sounds and suddenly stopped.
There was a life and death battle going on just miles away from his home right here on the ice. He would have to investigate it. Batman had sounded in control when he had heard him and he knew how capable he was, just from the little while he had been in his presence.
Making his choice he sped towards the sound of conflict just miles from his front porch. “I’m coming Batman,” he promised as he sped over the ice in the opposite direction of his friend.
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Syndicate Universe
Ivy Town
Molecule Man’s Lab
Owlman stared at the word Fortress for a few seconds. He knew that it must be where Protex had taken Di-ana, and he was pretty sure that Protex would not be stupid enough to confront Ultraman if he could avoid it. No this had to be the home of Ultraman’s look a like he had met earlier that day.
He imagined that this “Ultraman” possessed the same abilities as the real Ultraman but different weaknesses as evidenced by his reaction to the black crystal.
Regardless he had to stop the monster and get Di-ana back. He continued to frantically study the dials and displays. Controlling himself he found a box on the screen labeled “duration.” There was an infinity symbol in the box. Hitting the drop down display he saw that there were several duration options spanning from ten minutes to infinity. He clicked on the ten-minute option. It had already been at least four minutes since they had disappeared.
Owlman set about preparing himself for their arrival. He didn’t know if one or both would return. He readied his flame-thrower and his explosives for Protex.
If Di-ana returned alone he was certain he could convince the nymphomaniac to show her gratitude for rescuing her. If she happened to be bound like she had been when she disappeared then he wouldn’t have to worry about convincing her of anything. He smirked at the thought.
His display told him that seven minutes had passed. He began to look at the logs of the uses made on the machine. It showed that he had been transported to Metropolis earlier that day around lunchtime. He knew it!
It also showed that Di-ana had been sent to Gotham a few hours after lunch. Maybe she had met the other Ultraman as well. He would have to pay this one a visit now that he knew how to do it.
Owlman looked back at the display. Three seconds left. He readied himself next to the pad where they had disappeared.
There was a bright flash, and a shrieking, smoking, Protex collapsed to the ground at Owlman’s feet.
“Welcome home,” he smiled down at him as he fired his flame-thrower into him at full power. “I guess today, just isn’t your lucky day,” he sneered at writhing monster.
Protex had never felt pain like he did when he had been punched by the naked man in the ice cave, but when the Ultraman look a like, had unleashed his heat vision on him, he had known that it was the end.
By some miracle he had been teleported back to Ray’s lab. No, it had been Owlman. The punishment that Owlman was pouring into him was tremendous but nothing compared to pain he had endured at the hands of Ultraman’s twin. His body convulsed with pain. He lashed his tail out, knocking the weapon from Owlman’s hands. He half leaped, half crawled toward the door.
Owlman threw two of his explosives at Protex’s head. They went off, knocking him back to the ground. He picked up his flame-thrower and continued to pour it into the fallen creature until his smoking form stopped moving. “So long, monster,” he snarled.
Satisfied that Protex was dead, Owlman turned back to the displays trying to figure out a way to teleport himself to Superwoman’s location.
There was a slight noise.
Owlman spun around flame-thrower ready. Protex was gone.
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JLA Universe
Arctic
Kator Hol dropped like a missile plowing into two of his friends’ three opponents, knocking them off of their feet. He was on his feet instantly. He ran the first of the two through the heart, with his energy blade, before he could gain his feet. Traitors deserved no honor.
The second leaped to his feet and swung his energy mace at him. Kator side stepped parrying the blow with his shield and drove his blade through the man’s ribs, piercing his lungs and his heart. He yanked the blade out in disgust and turned to his friends’ aid as the second traitor fell to the snow.
Jotan had dispatched his opponent but he was injured. “They aren’t Thanagarian wingmen, Kator. If they were I do not think I would have survived their surprise attack. I think they are Khunds.”
Khunds looked almost exactly like Thangarians, just slightly paler. Kator could not believe that he had been deceived. The seventeen men under his and Thanatos’s command were extremely loyal and good friends. They had been through many battles and special operations together. He should have known if even one of them was being impersonated.
He looked down at the dead men and bent to check their uniforms. The one Jotan had dispatched lay staring blankly into the heavens. Kator ran his hand along his helmet and uniform then along his gauntlets. As he touched the inside of his left gauntlet the dead man’s features changed revealing the face of a Khund.
Kator stood straight up looking at his friend. “Shayera!” he shouted into his com-link. There was no response.
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Aboard the ship
After Shayera had noticed movement coming from the tunnel and had shouted her warning to Kator, she stood from her station and readied herself to disembark the ship and assist him. She did not immediately see the attack from the three wingmen. Her brother, Kantos, did not see them either as he rose to join his sister.
“Where are you two going?” Thanatos asked them.
“We are going to aid the Captain in the battle sir,” Kantos replied.
“Yes that is a good idea, but I want you two to stay here to help me with surveillance,” he said.
They began to protest but Thanatos was already selecting eight other wingmen to send to the aid of their second captain.
The eight wingmen readied to go without hesitation, eager to fight alongside their captain and friends.
Kantos had no trouble with the eight men that Thanatos had selected to go down. They were all good men but he couldn’t understand why their captain wouldn’t let Shayera go with them to aid Kator. She was as good as any of the men.
“Sir. One of us can run surveillance easily. If you will permit, I will stay so that Shayera may go,” he suggested respectfully. His eyes trailed to the monitor. He was shocked to see three of the four wingmen that had gone with Kator attacking the fourth wingman.
“Traitors!” The incredulous rage in Kator’s voice came across the com-link loud and clear.
Shayera turned to look at the monitor screen, her face draining of all color. The eight wingmen had just dropped out the ship. Shayera walked towards the hatch determined to help Kator. Kantos moved to assist his sister. The hatch would not open.
They turned to see five pulse rifles trained on them. Thanatos touched the inside of one of his gauntlets. The face of their Captain disappeared to reveal the face of an enemy Khund. The man grinned at them. The four remaining wingmen also touched their gauntlets revealing themselves to be Khunds as well.
“If it makes you feel any better, the eight I just sent to die are true Thanagarian wingmen,” the lead Khund said conversationally as he shut off the com-link between the ship and the wingmen outside.
Kantos was certain that he could take most the imposters with his training but he had to think about his sister. His mind was working furiously for a way to get them to lower their rifles if only for a second.
“You may go if you like,” the Khund was saying, looking at Kantos. “Wingman Shayera will come with us.”
Shayera and Kantos looked at each other. She was partially shielded from their line of sight and fire by her brother’s body. Their conversation was silent.
“Why do you need wingman Shayera?” Kantos asked fearing the answer. It seemed they didn’t know that they were brother and sister.
“She’ll provide some much needed entertainment to us before we send her on to a future of entertainment,” the Khund replied, looking Kantos in the eyes. The other Khunds wore sneers on their faces.
Kantos felt his pulse rifle pressed into his hand and a shield was touching the back of his leg. “Okay. I’ll go. As long as you’re not planning on killing her, I can take my chances outside.”
“Good. I’ll open the hatch when wingman Shayera has moved over to me,” the head Khund said.
The other Khunds had lowered their pulse rifles slightly. It was all the opening the highly trained brother and sister needed.
Kantos whipped up his pulse rifle and opened fire with blinding speed. Shayera stepped in front of him bringing up his large energy shield. Two Khunds were down before the rest could react.
The head Khund had unintentionally opened the hatch as his body lurched backwards against the console in reaction to Kantos’s unexpected attack.
Kantos felt the cold air. Instantly his plans changed from recapturing the ship to getting his sister out of harm’s way. Firing viciously at the three remaining Khunds he grasped his sister’s harness firmly with his other hand and jerked her, with all of his strength off of her feet and out the open hatch into the cold arctic air.
For a moment he stood unshielded as he prepared to drop behind his surprised and enraged sister. Shayera saw his body lurch twice and then he was dropping, lifelessly, after her.
“Kantos!!” Shayera screamed his name as her nth metal stopped her fall. She unfurled her wings and shot after him. She caught him just meters above the ice then soared towards where Kator and the loyal wingmen were fighting, she assumed, the traitors.
Suddenly she realized that there were six wingmen fighting furiously against a single large man. The man was flying without the aid of wings or nth metal. Four loyal wingmen lay still in the snow.
As she watched another soldier fell, broken, to the ground. She laid the body of her brother tenderly on the ground. Then with a shout of rage she flew to the aid of her captain and friends.
Something was wrong on the ship! Had the Khunds taken it over as well? Kator was desperate. He had to make sure Shayera was all right.
“Down Captain!” Jantos shouted as he shoved Kator to the side and lifted his pulse rifle firing.
Kator spun to face what Jantos was firing at raising his shield as he did. He felt something brush past him at tremendous speed knocking him off balance. Regaining his balance he shot into the air turning and tracking, trying to locate their new enemy.
He saw the body of his friend lying in the snow. There were two smoking holes in his helmet. Not allowing himself to give into despair or blind rage he continued scanning for the enemy. He could hear more of his wingmen coming, at least he hoped they were his wingmen and not imposters.
Then he saw him. It was the man he had dropped with his pulse rifle minutes before. He floated in the air several meters from him. He was sneering at him.
Kator raised his pulse rifle to fire on him, but the man was no longer there. Too late he saw him floating on his left just before he struck him from the sky. It felt as if his shield might have cracked from the impact.
He was able to gain control again before he landed. Soaring back up he spotted the man staring at him. His eyes glowed red and Kator instinctively raised his shield. He felt the heat and power of the blast as his damaged shield took the impact as he was driven back.
Then his wingmen were upon him. The man was struck from the sky by an energy mace, but recovered quickly sped back up to the attack. Kator himself sped to the aid of his brave men.
By the time he reached them two had already fallen. The men were fighting with all their skill, strength and rage but it seemed to have little effect on the man.
Another wingman fell. Now there were six of them altogether against the powerful enemy.
Kator and his wingmen fought the losing battle desperately. They had not come this far to fail. Another of his brave men fell broken to the ground. The man was laughing, mocking their futile efforts.
Through the shouts of his men and the whistle of their weapons Kator heard the battle shout of his beloved Shayera. It made his blood run cold. Her energy mace struck the man in the back of the head.
The man winced spinning to confront his new bold attacker. Kator dropped his shield and, grasping his own energy mace in both hands, brought it down with all his might on top of the man head. His mace shattered, but the man dropped from the sky to the ice.
Kator was not finished. Drawing his energy sword he dropped down after the monster in a man’s body. As he reached him, he saw with satisfaction, that his enemy’s head was bleeding. He drew back his sword ready to stab him through the head. As he did so, he watched in disbelief as the wound closed.
The man looked up at him. Kator struck. The energy blade penetrated through the man’s shoulder. The man yelled in surprise but reacted with blinding speed wrapping his good hand around Kator’s throat and soaring into the sky past the other wingmen. Kator was sure that he was going to die. He hoped that his men would be able to take the man down again like he had, and finish him before he could recover.
He was trying desperately to grasp his blade and pull it from the man’s shoulder but he was quickly losing strength and focus.
There was a whoosh. He thought he saw a blur of red and blue. The death grip on his throat was gone and he was falling.
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Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle
Arthur could not believe it. He had lost the creature. His wife and four shark friends were by his side. He knew he was faster than the monster. So it must have changed direction.
The king of Atlantis began to rise slowly from the murky depths into warmer waters. He inquired telepathically of his ocean friends. There were no answers at first. Then he began to receive dozens of answers in the negative. These were not all that helpful. Finally, a school of fish answered that a large grey creature had attacked them and was currently following a cruise vessel.
The king turned to his Queen. “Now we have to protect the humans as well,” he said telepathically. “Let’s go kill this monster.”
They sped off again, grim and determined, into the darkness, after the beast.
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Themyscira
Diana fell into a deep sleep. The sleep was unnaturally deep. A form slowly took shape next to her. It looked almost like smoke in the form of a man with wings. Or perhaps it was a man with wings in the form of smoke.
The form bent over Diana and touched her head.
Diana opened her eyes. She was again on the beach where she, her sister, her mother, Phillipus and several other Amazons had been the previous afternoon. The sun was shining brightly overhead. Her eagle friends were flying around agitated.
She noticed that her mother wore something of a scowl on her face. She was looking at her. There were many Amazons standing around the beach. All were armed.
Looking down at herself she saw that she was wearing the armor made for the champion of the tournament. She was confused. As she continued to look around she saw a huge nightmarish creature lying on the beach there was a large powerful looking blond man and a beautiful red haired woman standing next to him. She wondered why her mother had allowed a man on the island.
As she looked around the images began to swirl and fade. Suddenly she was looking into the face of a man. His face was inches from hers. It seemed it might be a handsome face but it was contorted in rage and there was a hint of madness in it. She saw one of his fists pulled back. His hand was very large and there was blood on it. She sensed that it was her blood. She looked to the side as the large fist descended slowly. She saw her sister Amazons and her mother lying, scattered on the ground. She felt helpless and lost.
She tossed in bed moaning. The image of the cruel face began to fade. She was looking at a very beautiful face. The features were kind and strong and innocent. She suddenly realized that it was the same as the cruel face. She felt dread in her stomach. Her little sister standing next to him, she was crying.
Diana began to wake up. The form touched her head again. Diana fell back to sleep. She could see her goddesses. They were talking to her. “It is your duty to win the contest and champion the cause of peace and wisdom and strength to the world, child.” They said to her. She couldn’t tell if one or all of them said it.
She bowed her head. “But my Mother will not allow me to enter the contest,” she admitted.
The images faded again. She heard the words, “You will be champion,” as she was lost to an oblivion of dreamless sleep.
The form moved over to the sleeping form of the Queen lying next to the younger girl. The form of a hand lightly touched the young girl’s hair. “Tonight you will sleep in peace, child, but you will show your mettle after Helios has entered the sky a second time.”
The form then touched the Queen’s brow. “You must see,” it whispered to her.
The beautiful Queen opened her eyes. Her hands were bound and she was in chains. Before and behind her were all of her Amazon sisters. All looked beaten and defeated. There was a look of despair on every face. Her friend Phillipus was chained in front of her.
A strange giant yellow monster of a man walked up to her leering. He grabbed her by the hair pulling her towards him. She could hear the indignant cries of her sisters as the monster touched their queen.
Suddenly two forms knocked the monster off of his feet. It seemed they had fallen from the sky. They stood with their backs to her separating her from the monster. She could see that they were very young men, older than her Donna but younger than Diana. They were as tall as herself and slender of build yet already powerfully muscled for their age. They had thick black hair and their clothing was like her own but masculine.
The monster attacked them and they fought back as one. The images began to fade. She could just make out the face of one of the beautiful boys and she heard the words Yia Yia, just as they disappeared.
The Queen turned restlessly next to her youngest daughter. She began to awaken but the form touched her head once more and she fell back into a deep and dreamless slumber.
