Stolen Legacy
Written by Hellacre13
Chapter 5:
Himon and the rebel forces sat and looked at each other glumly.
They were hiding in one of the deep caverns underground of Armagetto. They had tried to get information on Orion. All they had been told was that he had been captured when Highfather's forces, led by him, and Darkseid's military clashed on a planet called Taratos that was an ally of New Genesis.
Steppenwolf had led the charge with the intent to destroy and take slaves and aggravate New Genesis. And the rumor was that it was one of the Female Furies that took on Orion and managed to contain him until he was besieged by the more of Darkseid's Elite and taken down.
Orion was not only important to Highfather but he had become important to Himon by way of his daughter, Bekka. His only child, Bekka, had grown up on New Genesis and had fallen in love with Orion. Both were engaged to be married. Himon had not seen her for many months having not had any chance to visit New Genesis due to the war. But he knew she would be distraught. For her sake Orion needed to be rescued.
Himon looked at his men. "We cannot afford to go out and try to attempt a rescue. It is getting harder now to traverse Armagetto and even get near the Citadel. I do not know what power she possesses but she is able to sniff us out."
His second in command a young man called Atek muttered, "Opaque is a witch. She has magical powers to commune with lower creatures who point her to where we are. She also has some of the sympathy of the Hunger Dogs who are willing to lay down their life for her."
Himon said heavily, "I do not understand this one. She is nothing like Bernadeth or Lashina. She can kill them at will but she leaves the young ones and the weak. It is more than just blood letting with her. I thought she was like Barda and Scott and I tried to engage her the last time we clashed in the Necropolis." Himon looked at his prosthetic, mechanical arm and felt the scar running down his face. "I was lucky to get away with my life."
Atek replied, "Well, she was trained by the master assassin herself. And her powers were bestowed upon her by Gods of another world. She spends her time watching and guarding rather than indulging in the excesses like the others."
Himon sighed. "Yes, that is why she is so dangerous."
Atek shivered. "They say she has the face of a monster. That is why she hides it. That if you look into her eyes directly you will turn to stone."
Himon waved that away. "Tales spread to make the rebels and the Hunger dogs uneasy. But last thing I heard was that the Darklord was pleased with her for getting Orion and demoted Lashina and appointed her as head of the Furies."
Atek chewed his finger. "How do we begin to breach that Citadel? We don't have enough rebels to make an assault"
"We don't. We wait. Highfather sent a message. He is sending in assistance."
"Troops?"
"No. A small unit to rescue."
Darkseid, Lord of Apokolips looked at Phythia, the keeper of the Oracle. She was a wizen grotesque hag, who now stood in one of the ruined temples of the Old Gods, deep in the Nercropolis under Armagetto and the Citadel.
Darkseid looked at her. "Why have you summoned me?"
Phythia cackled, "She keeps babbling about the sun rising."
Darkseid's repeated ironically, "The sun? You are indeed a fool. What else?"
She faltered, "The…the tides of time have shifted once more…and your downfall remains …"
His eyes sparked. "I have Orion. That would be impossible."
"He lives still…"
Darkseid floated past her to a dais. Upon an altar, tied down, was the Oracle. A surviving Old God. Whose beauty and glory now lay waste. She was in rags and her frail body was yellow with age. Once powerful eyes were now empty sockets, having been blinded by Darkseid himself an eon ago. She still had the gift of prophesy despite her mindless ramblings. Phythia was her guard and minder. Ensuring she remained alive.
He said roughly, "I am a God. I do not fear. My will be done."
Darkseid bent over the blind Oracle and hissed, "My will be done!"
The Oracle gasped and contorted as if in agony, "I…"
Darkseid repeated more aggressively, "My. Will. Be. Done."
She moaned, and her ragged nails clawed the table, "Your will be done…"
Darkseid straightened up and declared. "I decide fate."
A mother box opened a boomtube and teleported Superman, Barda and Scott outside the walls of Armagetto. They all wore hooded cloaks as they traversed the city that both Scott and Barda knew so well.
Superman stared at the Citadel in the distance. It was like a black giant in the night sky. He was amazed but reviled at his surroundings. There, constant sound of the firepits, the stifling foulness on air, the blood red skies, and the lack of anything green. For someone with senses as super sharp as his it seemed to hit him tenfold. Worse was seeing the shadows of Parademons flying over head and swooping down to arrest Lowlies or simply amuse themselves at their expense.
The newcomers were wise to keep to the shadows. For Superman it was difficult to see the winged guards use the people as they did. Scott had taken care to explain the pecking order in Apokolips and its history.
Superman uttered in amazement, "You actually grew up here?"
Barda gave him an understanding look. "I suppose coming from where you are it seems…different."
"That's putting it mildly."
Scott said, "Apokolips has a deep seated darkness intertwined in its history. It is destined to always be dark."
"Why don't they rebel? God knows there seem to be many of them."
"They do not have the will to do it. Nor the desire. They love and hate Darkseid. It is a debilitating emotion. Believe me, I know it. It took Himon and others…," he looked at Barda, "for me to finally break free." Scott pointed to a tunnel leading down into what seemed to be an old used pit. "This way. Himon awaits."
The reunion between Scott and his mentor was an emotional one. Himon was gratified to see Barda as well.
"I knew Highfather would be sending a team. I never expected to see you two. I thought he would send in Lightray or Forager…"
Scott said gravely, "We have the advantage of knowing the inner workings of Apokolips."
Barda said, "Darkseid believes Scott and I to have fled and he would more than likely not expect us to return. And Steppenwolf and the Elite are engaging New Genesian troops out on Taratos. It is the best time for us to get Orion."
Himon nodded. He looked at Superman. "This is your first time here?"
"It is."
"Do you know Orion?"
"No. I came because Scott and Barda asked me to help."
Himon's brows rose. "You have no stake in this?"
Superman replied, "If as no stake in that I don't know anyone here…well yes, I guess so."
"That is highly magnanimous of you."
He shrugged. "It is what we do for our allies where I come from."
"That would be …this place you have fled to?" Himon glanced at Scott and Barda.
Scott nodded. "Earth. We have found a home there and good friends."
Himon looked at Superman. "I can rest easy that Barda and Scott are in a good place. I feared the worst."
Barda touched his mechanical hand and his scarred cheek. "Your battles have been hard in the last few years, my friend…"
He nodded. "The ongoing war has made matters more difficult for the rebel cause. They have been hunting us out. Our numbers have dwindled in the last two years."
Scott remarked, "And yet you stay?"
Himon nodded. "Highfather needs someone on the inside. But it gets riskier daily. For that I must take the blame. I miscalculated and tried approaching one of them…thinking it would be like you or Barda…Now the Head of the Furies knows my face."
Barda asked eagerly, "Who heads them now? Bernadeth?"
"No. It was the one called Lashina up until a few days ago. It is now one called Opaque."
Barda murmured, "Opaque…What does she look like?"
"I don't know. She wears a helm…" He pointed to his hand and face. "She was responsible for this."
Barda looked at Scott with a worried look. They had no way of knowing if she had survived the rigors of Apokolips.
Superman looked at their exchange a little bemused. "Is there something you two are not telling me?"
Barda began, "I…"
Scott shook his head. "No. We focus on the task at hand."
"Well, when are we going to do this? Because I really want to get this over and done with and get back home. This place feels too oppressive for my liking."
Himon said, "Desaad probably has him."
Scott produced his Mother Box and he announced, "No, Dr. Bedlam has him."
Himon and Atek looked to pick up energy weapons. "We are ready."
Orion was hanging by heavy restraints from a wall in Doctor Bedlam's laboratory. Bedlam stood watching as one of his animates, an android, ministered to the prisoner.
Desaad had wanted the pleasure of torturing Orion, but Darkseid for some reason, denied him and handed Orion over to his chief scientist.
"Pain is something that can be fought. Orion is the Dog of War. He has skills and stamina that knows no bounds. No, Desaad. Not this time. We let Bedlam deal with him."
Now Bedlam watched Orion writhe and groan from the hallucinations he was experiencing from the madness inducing gas that was being fed to him by the android.
Bedlam smiled. "You are strong, offspring of Darkseid and Tigra. But how strong to resist and keep your sanity? I have never used this formula on a New God. We shall see."
Orion raised his head and gnashed his teeth amid the beads of sweat rolling down his brow. "I swear if I get out of this…you will pay…"
Bedlam laughed. "Pay? That would be interesting. You'd have to catch me first. I am pure psionic energy."
He turned his back on him and his incorporeal form flitted across the room to check on a subject on a table, a male lowly who was still alive but whose chest was cut open. He was harvesting organs and trying to fuse it into another feline type species with the aid of his other androids.
Outside the parademon guards patrolled at intervals.
They took the old tunnels underground. Waterways. Now choked up with rubble and dust. But excavated by rebels just wide enough so they could pass through and not allow demon dogs to follow them should they latch onto their scent.
Himon knew one passage that would lead them to the sewers running under the Citadel. They emerged into a dark, grimy, foul smelling passageway, they had now officially entered the maze of corridors that made up the Darkseid's lair. To an outsider it would seem like a labyrinth but to Barda and Scott they knew every turn.
They moved back into the shadows as they could hear the footfalls and heard the sound of heavy breathing.
Superman used his vision and eyes and he said wryly, "I take it these guys are not man's best friend?"
"They are heavily armored and can rip you to pieces," said Barda taking out her mega rod. "I'll try to stun them…"
Superman dropped his cloak and lifted off the floor. "Let me get their attention…"
He blurred before the two mounted parademons and hovered before them at the end of a long corridor. They stared at him for a second, taken aback, then raised their rifles. Superman dipped and veered sideways as he headed straight for them.
By the time Scott, Barda, Himon and Atek emerged onto the corridor, all without their cloaks, they saw two unconscious parademons on the floor and the two hounds were attacking Superman. He flew out of their lunging jaws and clawing paws. He blew upon one's face and a block of ice encased its jaws, making its neck suddenly jerk to the ground due to the heavy weight. Barda used her mega rod to stun it. The other went for Himon and Atek who fired at it but had to run out of its path. Superman caught it by the collar before it could reach them and held it down.
He shouted to Barda as it writhed and growled and tried to get its jaws on him. "Now!"
Barda aimed at it and it stiffened and fell upon him. He pushed it off him and said wryly, "They don't know about baths here I take it? Where to now?"
Scott gestured to a digital projection of a map from mother box, "Bedlam's Infirmary is east of the Orphanage down a winding path. We will encounter more guards. They are stationed here and here."
Superman looked at Himon and Atek, "We will engage them and draw them away while you two go to get Orion."
Guards saw the emergence of three intruders on the open pathway that lead to the Infirmary. They instantly alerted the others stationed further down the path and subterranean walk, pulling them away from the Infirmary.
While they engaged the flying man in red and blue and the two rebels, Scott and Barda were able to skirt the periphery and go past unseen.
The guards carried staff weapons and did not wear any wings. It made engaging them easier for Himon and Atek who held their own in the skirmish. Superman easily disarmed and debilitated them with a burst of heat vision, and super and freezing breath. He used one guard's staff and bent it around its chest like a band. He moved to another one who was still dazed but trying to get up after being blown over like a tumble weed. He fused its wrists together by the gauntlets and hooked him upon a spiked pylon and left him to dangle helplessly. He floated down to see Himon stun the last one.
Superman looked up at the Citadel. It loomed before them as they stood behind the Orphanage and training arena. His eyes scanned and listened. Making sure any movement he saw or heard remained far enough from them. Himon and Atek stood rigid and vigilant, eyes fixed upon each guard for any sign of movement.
But the movement eventually came from above as two flying pods swooped in. The pod hovered in the air and two females somersaulted off the craft and descended.
One was powerful looking with a broad physique and wore heavy boots and rust jumpsuit and a skull cap helmet. The other was tall and slender. She had flaming red hair and wore a claret colored bustier suit with a matching cape. The heavy set one landed before Superman, her sheer weight and power cracking the ground as she did. The other one landed between Himon and Atek.
Her eyes glowed and she laughed and licked her lips, "I am hungry …"
Dr. Bedlam moved to check on his prisoner. The red headed New God was still pulling on his restraints and sweating. He roared, "Loosen me! No! Bekka! Noooo!"
Bedlam laughed and made one of his androids pick up a farhen knife.
He said, "Do you know I wonder if he can feel anything while he is thinking his beloved is dying? Darkseid said I was not to kill him but he never said anything about him having to speak. And I need a tongue for our newest creation…"
One android went to Orion and held his face up to the wall with one hand even as he writhed and struggled. The other hand prized open his while another android moved with the glowing blade.
Even as the tool was about to slip into Orion's mouth, there was the sound of a blast coming from behind them. Bedlam spun around and saw Big Barda firing her mega rod at one of his androids as she and Scott Free entered the chamber.
Bedlam's eyes glowed and used his ability to divide some of his energy to dissipate his power into the remaining five androids.
Barda let out a warrior's cry and she used her ability to draw matter and energy that powered the infirmary. She let off a blast that destroyed one android and then faced another with a swift kick and punch, and tore its head and arms off. Two more jumped her and her mega rod went spinning and clattered to the floor.
Scott went after Dr. Bedlam. Bedlam's energy moved with a lightning speed…jumping from animate into inanimate objects. Scott found himself battling one of the grotesque creations the crazed scientist had been working upon.
Scott took it down and saw him manipulate Barda's mega rod to aim it at Orion himself in order to kill him and inhabit his body.
The energy discharged.
Scott cried, "NO!"
Mother Box met the discharged blast and it rebounded back onto Bedlam. He screamed as his body pulsated with energy and suddenly he was sucked into what seemed a kind of vortex and he was gone with a loud reverberation that sent Scott flying backwards.
The mega rod dropped to the floor with a clatter.
Barda smashed the last android and rushed to help her husband up. She gasped, "What happened? Is he dead?"
Scott said grimly, "No. His body has been transferred elsewhere…"
"Where?"
"I don't know. Mother box's power comes from the Source and now she needs to recharge for a few minutes before she can open up a boomtube. Let us get Orion out of here!"
Orion was still hallucinating when they freed him. He was aggressive and hostile and Barda punched him in the jaw. He sagged to the floor and she lifted him easily into her arms.
Scott said urgently, "Let's go!"
Granny Goodness was in her chambers. She was lounging on a divan styled bed and there were two male Lowlies attending her. One was massaging her bared feet and another cleaning and trimming her nails. She made a sound like a low purring.
"When you are done…I want you to draw my bath and wash my…"
There was an urgent knock. When she did not reply, the knock was accompanied by an impatient, "Granny?"
She rolled her eyes and said, "Come in, Desaad."
He entered and his mouth curled derisively at the scene. He said, "There is a report coming in that rebels have breached the Citadel."
She looked at him scathingly, "And why are you telling me this? Let the guards deal with them like they always do."
"The communication channel with the guards in that sector is down."
She sat up and waved the servants away. "Well, isn't Bloody Mary and Stompa near the Orphanage? Send them to investigate and deal with it."
He said coldly, "I already have."
"So why have you come to me?"
"There is no response from them…"
She scowled. "Where is Lashina, Bernadeth…?"
"They are on a hunting exercise with new recruits on the plains…"
Granny growled. "That leaves…"
"Yes, it leaves her…"
"And where is she?"
"She is with Kanto and Darkseid who are meeting with Mantis and discussing ways to get the bugs of New Genesis to defect to Apokolips."
Granny fumed, "No doubt Kanto gloating over her new founded promotion." She got up and pulled on her boots and cape. "It seems we have no choice."
Darkseid looked at Desaad and Granny. He did not appreciate the interruption. His voice was laced with derision as he replied, "Intruders? Deal with them."
"Stompa and Mary were sent but communication has been cut off and do not know what is happening…" began Desaad.
Darkseid looked at them, his eyes beginning to spark with annoyance. Granny stumbled, "Lashina and Bernadeth are out on a hunt so…they…we…"
Kanto smirked as Darkseid continued to glare.
Mantis rose. "Permit me, Darkseid. I can deal with some rebel scum…"
"No." He spoke to a figure that stood in the shadows. "Opaque. Deal with the intruders."
The figure bowed. "Yes, my Lord."
Superman felt Stompa's feet slam into his mid section and he went flying into an outcrop of rocks. He rose to see her coming down upon him again and this time he caught her leg and slammed her to the floor. She butted his chin with her helmet. He grunted and fell back. Fists came at him. He anticipated them and caught her arm and twisted it behind her.
He lifted her with a "Sorry, but I have no time for this!" and threw her into a nearby wall. She cracked it as she slithered to the ground.
He flew back to see the red headed woman hit Himon with a burst of energy from her eyes that had the ability to move him telekinetically. He was sent flying towards a piked pylon. Superman flew swiftly to grab Himon before he could be skewered. He gently rested him down on the ground.
As he did this Bloody Mary was mentally drawing Atek to her. She cooed, "Come to me, little man. I thirst…"
His face twisted in horror, Atek could not resist her lure. He dropped his weapon and went to her. She drained the life from his body.
She wiped her mouth and turned to see Superman hover above her and her eyes gleamed at the sight of him. "Who are you? You dealt with Stompa easily."
She licked her lips. "I can smell your aroma from here…Come to me…"
Superman felt her begin to telepathetically try to control him. He gritted his teeth and found himself coming towards her.
"Damn…" he muttered and her hands were suddenly upon his chest. She purred and caressed him. "Hmmm, it would be a waste to kill you…You feel so strong…" Her mouth was close to his as if to kiss him. "Open for me, you beautiful brute…"
"Superman!" Himon blasted him from behind with a staff weapon. The tingling jolted him out of her thrall and he suddenly blew cold air into her mouth. Her eyes widened and she choked and stumbled back.
Superman gasped and used his freezing breath to encase her in ice.
Himon limped to him. "Are you okay?"
He nodded. "I am…Who are these women?"
"The Female Furies. A team of Darkseid's Elite warriors…gleaned from among the most powerful of races in the universe and trained to be the best…"
"There are more of them?"
"Yes…By the Source ! Atek!" Himon stumbled to his knees and looked at the dried out shell of his friend.
Superman said softly, "I am sorry, Himon."
Himon sighed heavily. "He was only twenty. They all die young now…Thank you for saving my life…I…."
They looked up to see and hear a shout. It was Barda and Scott. Barda bore the unconscious body of a man. Superman could only assume it was Orion.
Himon exclaimed, "You got him!"
They said urgently, "Yes and we need to go! Now!"
Himon began, "Mother box…"
"Needs time to recharge…We need to move…!"
Barda stared for a moment at the red haired vampire encased in ice, lying unconscious. She then saw Stompa. She almost was tempted to stop and shake Stompa awake and demand answers but Scott shook his head at her.
"My love, even if she was here…What can we do?"
Barda sighed and nodded.
They made their way back towards the direction they came, across the open path towards the opening leading to the subterranean maze of corridors.
Suddenly, sounds of energy weapons could be heard and something coming in fast on the wind. Himon let out a screech of pain and stumbled. They turned to see a group of winged parademons shooting at them. The blasts hit the ground around them.
Scott cried, "Himon!"
Himon winced in pain and tried to rise unsuccessfully, waving at him to go ahead. Scott ignored him and lifted him over his shoulder.
Superman lifted off. "I'll take care of them and catch up. Help him!"
As they disappeared into the opening, Superman flew up and at blurring speed, he ploughed into the group. Heat vision sliced wings and burned weapons. Those that tried jumping on him got spun off him and hurled for over a mile. As he broke the last weapon he turned to fly down to follow his allies.
Then he heard the air rushing at him from behind. He spun around in time to see a dark figure come at him out of nowhere. Fist arching and hitting him straight in the sternum. And a foot whipping up and connecting with his jaw.
He tumbled in the air and plummeted heavily to the ground onto his back. The ground splintered under him.
"Crap," he muttered, somewhat annoyed at himself for allowing himself to get caught off guard.
Superman opened his eyes and saw a figure floating above him. As his mind ticked over to wonder how come he did not hear or see the attack coming he saw the last remnant of a portal in the air vanish.
"Clever…"
He had micro seconds to take in what he saw. His super senses helped him gauge swiftly. It looked female from the shape. Another one of the Furies that Himon mentioned?
He assessed her to be five foot eleven, and one hundred and thirty five pounds. She was attired in a fitted, black, sleeveless, square neck top, and pants and knee high black boots. Silver arm bands circled both her upper arms and a torque around the neck. A war mask that was the combination of an ape and boar covered her face.
He noted this new Fury was hovering. That meant some power of flight.
A hand wearing spiked metal gauntlet that ended near the elbow drew out a long sword from a scabbard over the right shoulder. She lifted it high with both hands over her head. It sizzled with a kind of electrical energy.
Then she was coming down upon him. Hard and fast.
Author's Note: The abilities of a mother box is varied and differs according to writers. It is essentially a living computer that has a bond with its owner. I decided to use the mask from Final Crisis for Diana. I liked the visual impact of this grotesque mask but hated the story Grant Morrison wrote. He pretty much mistreated with Wonder Woman in Final Crisis writing her as a brainwashed, scarred slave of Darkseid, who did nothing proactively to redeem herself in the story.
For my story I love the implication of my Diana hiding her face under this mask.