Stolen Legacy
Written by Hellacre13
Chapter 39
Orion and the Martian Manhunter both appeared in one of the dark labyrinthine passageways that led to Dr Bedlam's infirmary with the aid of Orion's Mother Box.
Orion said gruffly, "There are four parademon guards on perimeter. Two at the door and two on the flank."
J'onn nodded. "I shall take the two at the entrance if you take the other two."
"Done."
"Let me go first."
J'onn shape-shifted into the guise of a guard and headed towards the entrance. Orion got into his Astro harness and waited.
J'onn greeted them. "I am here to relieve you."
"Relieve us?" One of the guards gave him an odd look. "We have two more hours here before we get off…Oooffff!"
It took J'onn mere seconds to vanish and appear in front of him, grab his rifle, phase behind him and knock him out with two sharp and powerful hits to the back and head. The other guard was about to raise his weapon to fire at him. J'onn's eyes glowed and the guard held his head and screeched in fear as he began to hear voices in his head.
This alerted the other guards on the flanks. "What in the Source's name…?"
They were about to rush at him when they gasped as Orion came swooping down upon them in his Astro harness. They barely had time to come at J'onn when he fired at them with the harness' guns. They both fell to the floor.
J'onn winced. "You did not have to kill them, Orion."
Orion gave him a scathing look as he hovered just a few feet above the ground. "Are you here to preach at me, Martian, over these conscienceless sheep or rescue your comrade?"
J'onn sighed and decided it was wise not to argue. He looked at the heavy metal doors. "What now?"
Orion looked at his Mother Box and said on a low growl, "They reinforced the doors since I was here. I can sense him in there."
J'onn looked at him quickly. "Is he alright?"
"I do not mean Superman. I mean that bastard Bedlam."
J'onn could feel the anger rippling off Orion. He knew that Orion had been kept and tortured in this place and it was clear that he had some unfinished business.
"Orion, we need to be careful, if Superman is not in there…"
But Orion was not listening to him. He growled, "The element of surprise is what we have. We use it!" He fired two heavy shots at the doors and a hole was blown into it. "I will engage them. You look for the Kryptonian!" He zoomed inside.
J'onn sighed wearily, "H'romeer, give me patience."
He phased into the floor.
Dr Bedlam was inside with his android helpers torturing and experimenting on victims. They knew that there was some confrontation going on between the rebels and their own troops in Armagetto. It was nothing new. Over the years there had been much insurgent activity and this was no exception. It did not stop them from doing their work.
When the door blew open, the androids were all alerted by an alarm and the announcement of the automated security system. "Intruder alert!"
Bedlam looked at the monitors as he saw Orion burst into the main chamber. He cursed and shouted at the androids, "Get him!"
Orion let out a roar and headed straight for them. "Today the Dog of War is going to make you crawl for what you did to me, Apokolips filth!"
As Orion faced off with the androids powered by Bedlam, J'onn phased up into the long corridor that ran the length of the many cells that held torture victims. J'onn swiftly flew past, looking into the cells, looking for Clark. He could see no sign of him.
J'onn pressed his comlink. "Orion, the reason I cannot home in on anything is because he is not here!"
Orion, who had just shot down one android, was somersaulting off his harness to leap at another. They crashed into the floor. Orion snapped as he smashed its head into the floor over and over. "I am busy at the moment! Though you could come and help me if you can pull yourself away for a moment! Make sure that rat Bedlam does not sneak out of here!"
J'onn was about to fly towards the main chamber when he paused. He stared at the victims in their cells and those chained to walls and tables. The more distraction there was the better really. Moving swiftly J'onn began to release the many prisoners from their shackles and cells. They stared at him in astonishment. Some were not in any state to even run or walk with the amount of torture done to them. J'onn communed telepathically with the ones who had their senses and strength. He showed them the way out by mentally projecting the tunnels underground.
"Go…Help those who cannot move. This is your one chance. Save yourselves."
Some scrambled to their feet and tried to help others. But there were a few who were so mutilated and psychotic, they had to be left behind.
As they ran, J'onn flew towards Orion, phasing through the walls to get to him. He hovered in the air; Orion was on his third android. Unfettered, Orion was a force to be reckoned with. He was a fierce warrior and his rage often made him unstoppable. There were three more androids and they were converging on Orion.
J'onn morphed into a large, winged serpent and coiled around one and took it up and up breaking though the ceiling. He squeezed until he could feel the metal crack. It fell into three sheared parts. The energy driving it jumped and went back down into the other two in the chamber.
Bedlam cursed as he saw four of his androids were gone and he had only two left to divide his life force. The last time he was attacked in the lab, Orion himself was taken under his nose, and he had been sent into a vortex. It had taken them a while to find him and bring him home. Now he was not going to let that happen if he could help it. He watched the Martian fly back down and slammed into the second to last android and take it down easily.
Orion, having twisted the head of his opponent, looked up to see Bedlam now inhabiting the remaining android.
"You are going to pay for what you did to me!" he snarled and jumped onto his Astro harness and came at him with blinding speed.
Bedlam lifted his mechanical arm and fired at him. The Astro harness created a force field and the blasts bounced off the shield. Orion projected a tractor beam and it caught him in it and began to draw him in. Bedlam resisted but Orion grabbed him by the neck, and slammed him into the wall. His body slithered to the floor.
Powerful hands reached down and lifted him up. "Where I am going to send you will never be found!"
Bedlam reached out with his mind, using his mind manipulation powers. Orion's rage was an easy bridge to get into his psyche. Orion gritted his teeth as he felt a powerful force still his hand and he was suddenly feeling himself being pushed back and his mind was being filled with images of Bekka being killed.
Orion's fingers were weakening around his neck and he gasped, "Noooo….! Bekka….!"
Bedlam snarled, "You think you can destroy me? I am immortal and I can make you destroy yourself." He laughed. "See how they mutilate her body! She is alive while they do it! You could not even help her…She will feel every burn and cut."
Orion gritted his teeth as his Mother Box fought back and tried to calm his mind. "Bekka! No….This is…not…real…Bekka…Nooo! I will kill you!"
J'onn could feel the immense rage and pain pulsating in the air as it rolled off them in waves. He could feel the battle between them and he knew he had to help Orion. Mother Box would explode with the rage and pain. J'onn suddenly launched himself at them blinding speed and hit Orion away from Bedlam's grasp and used his own powerful ability to absorb energy and encompassed and surrounded Bedlam with it.
"Go!" he communed to Orion.
Orion who had been slammed into a wall on impact now staggered to his feet. He shouted, "No…you, fool, cannot do that…You will …be…consumed!"
Orion gasped as the energy that drove Bedlam suddenly caused the last android to explode and he could see J'onn's body trying in vain as it morphed and contorted to contain it. The whole building began to shake and the ground began to crack under his feet.
"Orion! Go! I can only hold him for so long!"
"But…"
"Fate will need you more than it will need me."
Orion jumped upon the Astro harness and flew out. As he did glanced back he could see the Martian's body shattering into pieces as Bedlam's energy dissipated and caused the entire building to implode upon its self.
Batman, Barda and Scott navigated their way carefully to Desaad's own personal torture chamber. There was no way they would have kept someone as powerful as Superman where they broke the young female trainees.
"He is an adult male and Kryptonian. Desaad will keep him in his domain. There is no way he will allow Granny or any of the others to interfere. Superman will be his and his alone to break."
The guards along the way were swiftly dealt with.
Batman and Barda easily took them down. It also helped that they were thin on the ground since the attack on Armagetto by New Genesis and the rebels. The battle could even be heard from the Citadel and they could see the horizon lighting up with lasers and fire.
"We have to be quick," cried Scott, as they hurried along the corridor. "We do not know how long the fleet and rebels will hold them!"
They came to stop near the doors to the chamber. Scott looked at Batman. "Desaad is very cunning. Do not underestimate him."
Barda pointed her mega-rod at the door and blew a hole into it.
They entered the large chamber and saw four tables. Three of them were empty. And lying upon the last one was not a Kryptonian but a Kigorian, a large black spider body with bald human face, green skin, large fangs, and prehensile green skinned hand on its forelegs. Desaad had been gleefully cutting into it until the door exploded.
His eyes widened as he saw them and he stepped back swiftly from the Kigorian.
He bellowed, "Intruders!"
Over a dozen small spherical robots suddenly leaped into the air and came after them. As they spun in the air, they fired energy bolts.
"Evil Eyes!" cried Barda.
Barda used her mega rod to counter the fire off one and somersaulted over the table to avoid the blast of another. She grabbed up one of the many deadly blades on Desaad's work bench and tossed it with deadly precision at another, causing it to short circuit and explode above them. Batman used his own lasers from his suit to destroy two more and his retractable wings came out as he leaped into the air and took evasive action.
Barda shouted at her husband who had taken down another couple of the spheres with his own energy weapon. "Scott, catch Desaad!"
Scott looked and saw the master torturer slinking into an adjoining chamber and he knew Desaad had many a secret passageway to get out if he needed to flee. He was not going to let him get away so easily.
Scott went after him; his swiftness and agility enabling him to dive and twist his way out of the firing line of the remaining Evil Eyes. He came just in time to see Desaad pressing a panel and one of the walls opening up. Before he could vanish, Scott used his Mother Box to create a sonic beam that hit Desaad in the back. He went sprawling on his face. Before he could recover, Scott was above him and hauling him by his collar to his feet.
"Running away without saying hello?" He gave him a punch in the jaw for good measure.
Desaad winced as Scott dragged him roughly to the main chamber. They halted for a few moments watching as Barda and Batman took out the last two spheres. Scott flung him into the middle of the floor.
Batman and Barda turned and came forward.
Barda began scathingly, "Trying to run away as usual, you cowardly serpent? Where is Superman?"
Desaad looked at them with a derisive look. "Well, well, well…Did you come to rescue the Kryptonian? Is it you that have put on this spectacular show in Armagetto? How courageous of you. I never would have guessed you would be so foolish to risk your lives for one man. But…you are too late."
Barda grabbed him by the throat and repeated, "Where is he?"
Desaad smirked at her. "I do not know."
"You do not know? I will make you think and remember," she snapped and began to press her thumbs carefully on two pressure points on his neck.
Desaad choked and gasped.
Scott put his hand on her arm. "My love, he is no good to us dead."
"He will be better off dead for everyone's sake," she gritted, but she pushed him down onto the floor.
Desaad coughed and spluttered, as he tried to catch his breath
"I know but we can use him as a shield or for barter," he replied.
Batman, meanwhile, was scanning the other the tables. He stopped at the round one. He studied the manacles and indentations on the tough metal. They looked like nail marks. He could also see a warping of the metal where the head and heels had been as well. He could measure the height of the victim and deduce its mass and built. The tools of torture next to the bed still had blood on them. Batman produced a small device from his belt and scraped off a few red specks and dropped it into the analyzing strip. From the JLA database, the blood was identified as Kryptonian.
"He was here. Tortured on this very table."
Barda's eyes flickered worriedly at her husband. "They have broken him already?"
Scott looked grim. "I thought they might have needed more time…"
They all turned to Desaad.
Barda glared at him. "Well? Speak!"
He had a smug look even amid his pallor. "You are too late to save him. He is one of us now."
"Where is he, Desaad?" asked Scott.
"Where else would he be? By his father's right hand."
They all muttered, "Darkseid,"
Batman pressed his comlink at once. "J'onn. Diana. Darkseid has Clark! We need to regroup as soon as we can!"
Orion's voice could be heard after a minute. "I hear you, Batman."
"Orion? Where are you? Where is J'onn?"
"I can use Mother Box to find you." His voice suddenly was strained and hesitant. "The Martian…I think he might be dead."
"What?"
"He took on Bedlam and the whole infirmary imploded. I saw his body break apart…."
Barda put her hand to her cheek in dismay and Scott closed his eyes. Batman stared mutely as if lost for a moment.
Desaad laughed. "It sounds as if you are in over your heads. One of your group has died it would seem. You cannot go up against Bedlam and expect to come out without consequences. You can displace energy but never destroy it. Your friend would have died in vain. If you are wise, you would go and beg Darkseid's pardon for even coming into Apokolips. He may just decide to let one of you keep your heads if you can give him something worth his while…to even the odds in the war…"
Barda raised him by his collar with a scathing, "You want us betray New Genesis? Unlikely."
"Then you will all die," he promised.
Diana and Hippolyta headed towards the Orphanage. Diana led the way via a series of dark, winding, underground passageways. The air was stale and musty and occasionally the passageway got very dark or stank of rotting flesh. Eventually they flew up a series of very old ventilation shafts.
Hippolyta grimaced. "Are you sure this is the right way, Daughter? It looks like all dead ends."
"Mother, I know this place very well. I was raised here and as an ex head Fury I had the privilege to go where I pleased and I made myself memorize all the secret tunnels. They can be very confusing and while many are dead ends, there are a select few that are not. My sense of direction has always been good and I remember them well. This one will lead us directly under the Orphanage. In fact, we are nearly there."
Diana reached the end of the shaft and with her elbow knocked the sealed covering down. She peered out into what was none other than the cellar of the Orphanage, directly under the kitchen. She could see and hear no movement or voices and she crawled out.
Hippolyta followed and looked around at the stockpile of food. There were large cuts of smoked and dried meat hanging from hooks, crates of strange looking fruit and vegetables, jars with preserved food and meat, powders, herbs and vessels filled with variety of wine and juices. "These orphans eat well."
Diana corrected her. "The Elite eat well. The food and drink here is gotten from far and wide reaches of the universe. Granny especially has a likeness for exotic foods." She took in a deep breath, lifted her battle ax and began to float up the staircase to the door. "We need to be careful. If we encounter any young trainees and Lowly servants, we try to inflict minimal harm upon them. They are innocent in all of this."
Hippolyta drew her sword and lifted off the floor. "As you wish."
Diana took a deep breath and pressed button on the side to open the door.
The two Lowly cooks in the kitchen gasped and dropped their utensils in shock as they saw the two women emerge. One was about to reach for an alarm when Hippolyta swiftly put herself and her blade between the woman and the button.
"I would not do that were I you."
Diana looked at them and gestured curtly to the cellar. "Get inside."
The two servants shrank and obeyed. Diana closed the door behind them and punched the socket on the wall. They would not be able to get out by themselves.
Diana peered out the doors of the kitchen to the main dining hall and then gestured at her mother. "It's clear!"
They flew swiftly past it and emerged onto a long corridor. Diana took a swift look and saw two guards. She gestured to her mother silently. Hippolyta nodded. They both took to the air and with a speed that took the two guards by surprise, they dispatched them swiftly and efficiently. Diana was about to drag them into a small water closet when they heard footsteps and saw two young trainees round the corner.
The females were Valoi and Khund. The elder looked to be about fifteen while her companion was about thirteen. Their eyes widened to see Diana and Hipployta with the two unconscious guards.
Before they could turn to run, Diana said sharply, "Vastala!Stop!"
The Valoi seemed to freeze at the sound of the voice. She turned in astonishment and saw Diana remove her helm. Her eyes widened and she gasped. "You! You…How? They will kill you if they see you here!"
The Khund tugged at her fellow novice's arm. "What are you doing? We must report them!"
The Valoi hissed to her companion, "Do you know who this is? This is…was…our leader…The one called Opaque…the one they forbade us to speak about."
Diana put her hand out. "I am not here to hurt you or any of your sisters…but I am here for a friend of mine. That is all I want. Please…I only ask you let me pass."
The Khund gasped, "Let her pass? Is she mad?"
Dian said gently, "Vastala, I was always fair with you, was I not?"
Vastala blinked. That was true. Of all the Furies, the one called Diana had been the only one never to pick on her or any of the trainees out of spite and malice when she had come to Apokolips seven years ago. Unfortunately her Khund companion was new, having on arrived two years ago and she did not know her. She knew the harsh, unforgiving nature of Lashina and the others.
The Valoi seemed to consider her words and answered, "Yes…you were."
The Khund cried, "You cannot be serious! If they found out we knew they were here…they will punish us severely…" Her voice rasped. "I will not be whipped again or sent to the pits…I will not!"
She backed away and began to run. Vastala looked at Diana with contrite eyes and she gave her a regretful bow. "I am sorry. I cannot risk punishment." She ran after her companion.
Diana cursed. "Damn it! Mother, come quickly! They will alert more guards!"
Hippolyta began, "I could stop them!"
Diana shook her head. "No. We don't have the time! We must get my lasso and rendezvous with the others."
"You said the Fury called Lashina has your lasso. How do we find her? Those girls would have known…"
Diana took to the air and she pointed to a spiraling staircase at the end of the corridor. "She took it but I guarantee you she will not have it."
Hippolyta blinked. "Who then?"
"Granny will have it. All spoils of war go to her first for approval and the lasso is something she will not allow anyone else to keep. Cover me, please. I'm relying on you to deal with the guards."
Hippolyta could already hear the sound of guards coming down the corridor. She turned and faced the noise. She raised her sword. "I can do that. Go, my child!"
Granny Goodness had sent her Furies out to deal with the troublesome rebels and the fleet from New Genesis since Kalibak and Virman were both off planet. She had no qualms that Lashina, Mad Harriet, Stompa, Bloody Mary and the parademons would not be able to deal with the situation.
It was tiresome. Rebel skirmishes were expected but a squadron coming in boldly to attack was unprecedented. She wondered why the sudden recklessness. It was almost a suicidal move as far as she could see. She was being kept abreast of the battle by Lashina through regular updates. She was certain within the hour they should have driven the rebels back underground and destroyed most of the fleet.
She poured herself a goblet of the finest Quargion wine and sank upon a couch and put her feet up. She wondered why Darkseid had not sent out the Kryptonian. It would have been a good a chance as any to see if the brainwashing had been effective and to gauge the alien's vast array of powers. Granny smiled. Lashina had not been in the best of moods when she had been forced to leave her bed chamber. But Granny knew that her sour demeanor was perhaps due to the fact that the Kryptonian had not been easy to manipulate. Lashina had grudgingly reported that they had not mated. But she promised Granny that she would use her all her wiles when she returned. She had put it down to the unpredictable nature of one who was from a race long defunct. No one knew how he would react or how malleable he would be. And it had been mere hours since he left Desaad's torture chamber. Lashina was confident that she would break his arrogance. All she needed was time.
If all went well, Granny thought she might see if she could convince Darkseid to allow them to use his extraordinary DNA to breed. What warriors they would create if they could successfully fuse his genes with the best the universe had to offer. For a moment Granny was regretful the Amazon had left them. What a combination those two might have been. Godly magic and the rawest yet most evolved power of the universe.
At the thought of the Amazon, her eyes fell upon the glowing rope in a glass case across the room mounted on the wall. Lashina, like a good Fury, had surrendered it to her superior. She had not been very happy to give it up but the rope had refused to do anything for her. Even Bedlam had taken it and tried to see if he could distill its properties but he had been unable as well to make it display its powers. Granny was left to display it as a souvenir along with other treasures stolen and seized from prisoners and victims.
She drained her wine and was about to rise to pour herself another glass and consider calling for her male Lowly slaves, when she heard a commotion outside her chamber.
Granny scowled. "What the…?"
She did not get further when she saw the doors to her chamber hacked in by an axe and a pair of hands peeled the metal apart as if it were paper.
Granny rose swiftly and reached for an alpha mace: a spiked weapon that fired enormous amounts of energy and could distort gravitational fields.
Her eyes widened and then she suddenly guffawed loudly as she saw Diana standing on the threshold. "You came back for him or that?" Her eyes glanced at the lasso on the wall.
Diana gritted holding her axe up. "Both!"
"Oh my, you must be quite smitten with him, little princess, to be so bold and defy Darkseid. But you are too late. He is ours now."
Diana flew at her. "We'll see about that."
Granny teleported before Diana could reach her and sent several fire-pit balls at her. Diana ducked as they hit and exploded behind her, bringing down a shelving unit of Granny's souvenirs of skulls. Diana picked up the large couch to fling it at her. Granny swiftly dodged it and it smashed the glass showcases to smithereens. Granny somersaulted with great speed and agility, grabbed the lasso as it fell to the floor and she moved swiftly to the balcony. Diana watched her vault over the rails and landed to the ground below. The ground shook and she looked up at her with a laugh and teleported across the courtyard into the training arena. She leaped upon the podium that she was accustomed to sitting upon while watching the Furies train.
Diana gritted her teeth, flew off the balcony and dived like an eagle after its prey. Her battle axe went arching into the air as she hurled it at her with deadly speed and accuracy. Granny stood on the podium and did not move. Her face wore a smug look.
Diana gasped in astonishment as the handle of the axe was caught midair by an electrical tendril and sent back at Diana. She used her shield to cover herself. The axe hit the shield hard and the force sent her flying backwards into the ground of the arena.
She looked up to see four discs hovering above her. Upon them were Lashina, Stompa, Mad Harriet and Bloody Mary.
Lashina gave her a scornful but mocking look as she reeled in her energy whip. "You came back? For the Kryptonian? How sentimental you have become, Princess."
Diana watched them warily.
Lashina continued, "You even managed to get New Genesis' help to breach Apokolips. Well, it will not be long before we destroy that entire fleet and this time there will be no mercy for you or your friends. Get her!"
Diana hurled her shield with all her strength and dived for her axe. The shield hit Stompa in the gut and sent her careening into stands of the arena. Mad Harriet gave a snarl and leaped at her, claws slashing at her several times, trying to break her defenses. Diana deflected the claws with her bracelets and pivoted, whipping her leg around to connect with her jaw. As she landed in the dirt, Bloody Mary attacked from behind and tried to grab her around the neck and sink her teeth into her flesh. Diana anticipated her and flipped her over her head and threw her hard into the side of the podium that Granny stood upon.
Granny did not look happy as the podium shook and she screeched at Lashina. "Stop wasting time and take her down! By the Source, it is four against one!"
Lashina sent out her bands. Diana ducked, dived and somersaulted away from them. Lashina sent her whip out again and it curled around Diana's legs and unbalanced her. She fell onto her back.
Stompa leaped into the air and came down at her. She rolled to the side avoiding the heavy boot which was known to crush heads.
Bloody Mary used her telekinesis to uproot a large pylon and hurl it at her. Diana swung her ax and sliced it into two.
Mad Harriet's claws slashed from behind and Diana felt it score into her armor and even as she spun to hit her with the butt of the ax, a claw gashed her arm. Diana winced but her fingers caught Harriet's wrist before she could follow up and she swiftly twisted and broke it.
Even as Harriet screeched in pain, Lashina, Stompa and Bloody Mary regrouped and came at her again.
Once again she anticipated what they would do. She had trained, fought and led these women for years. Stompa would come first. She was the strongest but the slowest and the most impatient. She came at Diana her powerful fist flying. Diana grabbed her by the arm and used her own momentum and flung her at Harriet who was trying to bend her claws around her wrist to put the bones back in place and immobilize it.
Bloody Mary snarled and her eyes turned red. She tried to get into Diana's mind but with the eagle armor and her own gift from Athena, the Amazon could not be mind-controlled. Mary growled in annoyance and put her hand out and used her telekinesis to grab Diana's axe out of her grasp. She advanced on her, the axe swinging. Diana bent backwards as it flew past her face, narrowly brushing the top of her helm.
Mary hissed, "You think you are clever and better than us…But you will not be getting away this time!"
Diana's hand shot out and grabbed the blade of the axe that was coming at her again. Blood leaked from her fingers as she ripped it off Mary. She spun it and used the knob to break her nose with a swift jab. The energy vampire staggered and Diana pivoted and hit her in the spine with the butt with all her might. Mary went down.
Granny cursed at them from the podium. "Imbeciles! Fools. Incompetents! Lashina, you better make short work of her because I am running out of patience!"
Lashina nodded at Granny and moved forward. She struck her whip to the ground and circled Diana. "So, it is now you and me, Princess."
Diana wiped her bleeding hand on the scarf at her neck. "So it would seem."
"Humph, as it has always been. Poetic in a way, I suppose."
Diana looked at her axe and she surprised her by flinging it to the floor. "We could do this properly."
Lashina's brow rose as Diana removed her eagle helm and rested it to the ground.
Diana challenged, "Unless you are scared to face me properly. With none of those lackeys at your side."
Lashina studied her for a moment then dropped her whip. "We shall see who is scared."
They stood and faced each other and then with a war like cry, Lashina attacked.
Grany watched them use all the martial training they knew to attack each other from her perch and her face was pinched with impatience as she watched them smash into the walls of the stands and the fight take to the sloping seats. They were both fierce warriors and evenly matched in speed and strength. Diana's power of flight allowed her to move freely but Lashina used her flying bands to even the advantage. Diana tumbled over a series of seats as a band hit her in the back. Lashina leaped upon her and they were soon grappling and rolling in the aisle until they toppled to the bottom of the pavilion.
Lashina smashed her head back on the rails and lifted her and flung her into the arena. Diana rolled onto her back in time to see Lashina's heel coming upon her head. She caught her foot and grabbed her by one of the bands on her thigh and lifted her over her head. Lashina smashed into one of the gates.
Diana rose and she eyed her opponent who shook her head as if to clear her brain. Lashina's lips curled into an ugly sneer as her eyes landed on her whip. She activated it and it flew to her hand.
She snarled, "Enough of this! It ends now!"
Diana's lips curled. "You cannot even fight fairly."
"Oh, please. I am a real Fury. Not a failure like you. I will win at any price. And believe me when I say, I am already half way there." She smiled viciously. "He is very good in bed, you know. I could bed him for a month and not get bored. But you already knew that, didn't you?"
Diana's eyes flickered. She tried to keep the dismay from creeping onto her features. She vowed, "He will not be with you for long."
"You really think you can take him from us? Or that he would want to go? He is one of us now. Darkseid would kill you first." She cracked the whip.
"He can come back. I did. You and your Lord will not keep Kal from his home and those who love him." Diana evaded tendril by leaping back into the air.
"Ha. Even if you did manage to do the impossible…you think he will forgive you for betraying him? You sold him out."
She sent the whip at her again. Diana ducked.
"He will always remember what you did and what you made him become. He will hate you."
Diana gasped as the whip flicked at her cheek and burned her.
"But I think you will not even get to leave here…much less save him. I made sure to burn an impression in his mind only a couple of hours ago." The whip crackled and caught her around the neck. "When we are done with this little invasion I might even be generous enough to ask Granny to allow you to wear a servant's collar. My own Lowly fell off the balcony only yesterday. If you are obedient, I might allow you to even watch while we copulate."
Diana gnashed her teeth in anger and disgust; she caught the whip, and despite the jarring pain, wound it around her bare hands and dragged a surprised Lashina towards her. "I would rather have my eyes gouged!"
She smashed her fist into her cheek. Lashina staggered but she recovered to pull out a farhen knife from her boot. She slashed at her. Diana gasped as it burned her but she caught her opponent's wrist and bent the blade back at Lashina.
They slammed against the wall and pushing at each other, strengths tested. Diana let out a angry cry and pushed the point of the weapon just above her jugular.
Lashina could feel herself losing the fight and her voice rasped, "Kal-El has such strong hands. A hot mouth. I like his firm buttocks and hard delicious manhood. We rutted for hours…He is much better than Grayven. Odd how it is we two share the same taste in males. First Grayven. Now Kal-El."
Diana pressed the point closer, even as Lashina pushed against her. She could see blood beginning to pour from Lashina's nose. It was beginning to burn the Fury from the inside. The rage in her was powerful and the thought of Clark brainwashed and manipulated so he could become a beast like Grayven and copulate with someone like Lashina made her sick to her stomach and enraged her.
"Never compare Kal to that animal."
Lashina let out a screech of agony as the knife began to burn.
Diana wanted to drive the knife further and up into Lashina's brain but something made her watch the woman. She looked at the blood and the pain in her glazed eyes and she suddenly realized what she was doing.
Diana suddenly moved back and pulled the blade back. She flung the knife aside.
Lashina gasped and sagged on the wall. Blood flecked her lips."Typical weak Amazon."
Diana jabbed her in the neck and paralyzed her. She crumpled weakly to the floor having lost the use of her legs. Diana gave her a scathing look. "You are not worth it. You are the murderer. Not I. Not anymore. Apokolips has tainted enough of my soul."
She spat at her and turned away. Instantly she felt a painful energy bolt hit her in the chest. Diana went flying off her feet and onto the floor. She groaned and looked up to see Granny Goodness standing up and producing another fire ball to hurl it at her. Diana rose shakily to her feet only to have something hit her and keep her pinned to the floor. It was from the alpha mace.
Diana tried to move but she was immobilized by a great weight. Granny followed up with a bolt of energy. Diana groaned as pain jarred her bones.
Granny leaped from the podium, her eyes shining with malice. "You are impressive but you are just a slip of a girl. A bastard of magic and myth. You cannot best me." She fired again. Diana convulsed on the floor. "And you will never see this lasso again. When I am done here with you, I shall pass you over to Kalibak and Virman before we toss you to the brothels. They both have always wanted to plumb your depths. It will be a nice surprise for them when they get back from their mission."
Granny was about to hit her again when something knocked her from behind. She went sprawling face down on the floor. When she looked up she saw a woman in armor fly in and land before her; eyes flashing in anger. A long deadly sword was in her grasp.
Granny gasped in disbelief. "Who…?"
Hippolyta snarled, "That is my child that you are hurting, you monstrous woman! You will not lay a finger on her again!"
Granny cackled. "Your child? So the Queen of the Amazons is on Apokolips too. Ha! This is good fortune indeed. We get not only the cub…but vixen that suckled her."
She sent fire balls at her. Hippolyta used the blade of the sword to deflect and absorb them all. She moved with a swiftness and agility that made Granny's teeth gnash in frustration. She aimed the alpha mace at her but Hippolyta moved too swiftly. The sandals of Hermes allowed her to evade even the gravitational shifts. She tumbled in the air and sliced the alpha mace into two as she landed in front of Granny.
She caught Granny Goodness by the collar and gave her a powerful punch that sent her flying straight out of the arena and into a window of the Orphanage.
She fell into the foyer and smashed into a large center pillar.
Before Granny could rise, Hippolyta was already hovering over her. She caught her by the white hair and swung her around and smashed her into a wall that had mounted weapons.
Granny slithered to the ground, two spears and a shield falling upon her.
Hippolyta landed and said, "Your reign of terror will come to an end. You will not torture any of these children again."
Granny spat as she picked up a long spear and hurled it at her. "I shall see you join your pathetic daughter! You will be nothing better than a whore, Queen of the Amazons. But you have experience at being used, have you not? It will be like old times for you."
Hippolyta caught the spear and spun it around and took aim. She threw it swiftly and it speared Granny to the wall by the fabric of her cape. Hippolyta then hurled the sword of Hephaestus at her.
Pinned to the wall by both weapons, in addition to one being magical, Granny struggled like a bug pinned to a board.
Hippolyta floated towards her and she reached for the lasso at her waist. "This does not belong to you." She hooked it upon her own hip.
Granny snarled, "You think you have won this round…Darkseid's wrath will fall upon you…You will see your people suffer and enslaved…"
Hippolyta looked at her through hooded eyes. She said calmly, "Yes, I know he will try. But that does not change that I have won this battle with you. You see, I believe monsters should be slain not caged so they could escape and run rampant and cause more pain and suffering."
The Queen of the Amazons swiftly pulled out her sword and the spear. Granny slithered to the floor. She was about to pull out an ultrasonic gun from her boot when the sword of Hephaestus flashed and her head was cleaved from her body.
Hippolyta watched the short fat body crumple to the floor and the head roll to entrance. Granny's face was frozen in an expression of surprise.
Hippolyta wiped the blood on the cape of the corpse and she heaved a resigned but tired sigh. She was about to lift off to find Diana, when she heard a voice.
"You killed her."
It was Diana. She had come in via the smashed window. She had her helm tucked under her arm and her axe in the other.
Hippolyta looked at Granny and then her daughter. "I did."
Diana stared at Granny's head. "I can't believe she's…dead.'
Hippolyta said gravely, "It was combat, Diana. I have not lifted a weapon or killed for centuries. I have never killed lightly."
Diana looked at her mother and sighed. "I know."
Hippolyta handed over the lasso. "This belongs to you."
Diana blinked. "But I lied and deceived you all and lost it…"
She touched her cheek. "My child, you now know the value of truth. You have earned it the hard way. Take it."
Diana felt her eyes mist over as she took the lasso. "Thank you, Mother."
Hippolyta squeezed her hand.
Diana could feel a surge of energy renew her as the lasso rested against her hip. She said urgently as she put on her helm, "It will only be a matter of time the Furies recover and regroup. We need to meet up with the others."
Hippolyta nodded. "Let us go!"
Kal-El was watching the progress of the Furies and parademons against the rebels and New Genesian fleet from a window in the throne room. His superior vision and hearing made him attune to everything going on in Armagetto. If he wondered why his lord was keeping him from the battle he kept his own counsel.
Suddenly there were urgent footsteps and a guard came in. He came to the dais and bowed low before Darkseid.
"My lord, there are reports of intruders in the Citadel. It seems Dr Bedlam's infirmary, Desaad's torture chamber and the Orphanage has been breached. There are rumors that the traitors Scott and Barda and the usurper Orion are here with several other allies. Many of the prisoners from the Infirmary have been released and are trying to escape even as we speak."
Darkseid leaned back in his throne and laced his fingers together. He was silent for a moment. Kal-El turned at that and waited for his response. The guard looked uneasy as if fearful of disintegration.
Finally Darkseid ordered, "Send out the Hell Hounds to claim the prisoners. Do not stop until every one of them is torn to pieces."
The guard bowed. "Yes, my lord." He did not move.
Darkseid frowned. "Did you not hear me?"
The guard looked up a little uneasily. "I did, Sire…but…but what of the intruders…?"
Kal-El put his helm on and pulled his broad sword. "Allow me to deal with them, my lord."
Darkseid put his hand up to stop him. "No." He gestured for the guard to withdraw. "You can leave."
The guard bowed and scurried away in relief.
Kal-El gave him a strange look. "Why?"
"Let us wait and see if they can manage to find their way here."
Kal-El's brows drew together. "You want them to come here?"
Darkseid replied, "Why yes, Kal-El. You are only reserved to fight the best. If they can reach here unscathed by the Elite and parademons and sentinels…then you shall deal with them."
"This is a waste of time…" he began.
Darkseid interrupted coldly, "Are you questioning me?"
Kal-El stiffened and bowed in deference. "No, sire."
"Good. Now keep an eye on the battle and tell me what is happening."
Darkseid watched him turn and resume his gaze back upon Armagetto.
You shall seal your allegiance to Apokolips and fealty to me by the ultimate test...by killing them…one by one…starting with the one you loved in your old life…the one that betrayed you…the Amazon.
Author's Note. : Sorry for the long delay. Thank you for your patience and kind words. I will try to update faster next chapter.