******JLA Universe******
******Gotham City******
Bruce Wayne was entering the city heading towards Crime Alley when he saw Superman soaring away with the mystery woman. Taking note of the direction he was taking he continued on to the Wayne Foundation. Pulling into the parking structure he drove straight towards the back wall. With a voice command the wall slid back, and he entered one of his hidden "caves".
He planned on having these throughout the city but as of now there were three, not counting the cave at the mansion. The other two were located at Wayne Enterprises and at Gotham Harbor. The one at Wayne Enterprises was the best stocked of the three but this one had what he needed and was nearest to Crime Alley.
It was getting close to one o'clock and it was Saturday. Although it was not dark yet the building would be mostly deserted and the snow fall was heavy enough to make it darker than normal.
Bruce leaped from his car and quickly made his way over to a wall that was stocked with all manner of gadgets. Most of the gadgets were his own inventions, or had been modified by him for use in his grim war. Some were discarded prototypes that had grabbed his interest.
Bruce pulled on an insulated Batman uniform and grabbed a handful of weapons that would fit into his belt. He entered a hidden elevator that sped him to the top. He had a small, silent, modified jet that he had recently completed working on, waiting for him on the top floor that only he had access to. He would eventually have to move it permanently to the "cave", but at the moment he was glad he hadn't.
Batman hopped into the cockpit of his small craft and shot out in the direction he had seen Superman and his beautiful passenger go just minutes before. He scanned the area below him for heat signatures and was quickly rewarded. As he was descending one of the heat signatures disappeared.
******Small Clearing Outside of Gotham City******
Superman stood staring at the emptiness that had just a moment ago been filled with the loveliest woman he had ever seen. Confusion and disappointment battled for dominance across his features. She was in some serious trouble, and he desperately wanted to help, but had no clue how to begin to look for her. He was so engrossed with thoughts of Di-ana that it wasn't until he saw the sleek black craft landing from a hover position that he realized he was no longer alone.
Superman watched as the cockpit opened. The pilot exited the craft by leaping almost straight up into the air, somersaulting forward and landing with the grace of a jungle cat. At first Superman thought it was the same man he had met earlier. He was dressed in all grey and black and had a similar build to the other, but his suit resembled a bat not an owl, and their heartbeats were distinct. This one, like the other, was obviously a man of tremendous physical power and presence. He seemed to give off an air of danger and energy that was almost tangible. Even with his powers of vision, the man almost seemed like a shadow in the snow. He stood staring at him from behind his cowl. Superman knew, without ever having seen him or a photo of him, that this was the Batman.
Superman was impressed. He wondered what abilities the Batman had. It seemed he could not fly. But Superman was certain that if a criminal were to cross his path, whether or not Batman could fly, would be the least of their worries.
"Hello Batman," Superman smiled.
******Batman******
As his jet landed, Batman was already cataloging the man standing in the snow before him. This Superman was definitely a physical presence. While he was not that fond of the primary colors, he had to admit the blue and red were impressive on Superman. He was a good two to three inches taller than himself, and at six four he was considered a tall man. The blue suit, red boots and red cape seemed to enhance his tremendous size. His muscles seemed to ripple underneath the cloth. He had thick dark hair like himself with a rebellious s-shaped curl that fell down onto his forehead. He was not close enough to tell eye color, and his face was perhaps the most honest and friendly he had ever seen. He seemed excited and wistful at the same time. He knew from seeing news footage, and reading the articles from the Daily Planet, that this "man" was an alien, he could fly, he could, apparently, move faster than the speed of light. He could give off some kind of heat or laser beams from his eyes and he could see through solid objects. He was extremely strong. He had been able to catch a falling helicopter with ease and bullets and grenades could not hurt him.
It seemed that this Superman did not know all of his abilities as of yet nor the extent of his strength. He had told Lois Lane, in his interview, that he was not invincible. There was something out there that could hurt him but, he had wisely declined to disclose what that was. Batman knew he would have to find out what this weakness was. If this Superman ever turned on humanity he would have to be stopped.
"Superman" Batman returned.
His voice was not friendly. It was deep and gravelly. It did not invite frivolity.
Both were silent for a moment facing each other in the falling snow.
Batman started the conversation with two questions. "Why did you come here?" and, "Where is the woman?"
Superman had wanted to meet Batman for some time and was somewhat disappointed in his demeanor. He decided to go ahead and answer his questions. Perhaps Batman could help him find the girl.
"I came to help the woman you are asking me about. It seemed she was in trouble. She vanished in midsentence just before you arrived. Oh yes, I was also hoping to meet you. "
Batman was taken aback. His answer about the woman matched what he had seen on his heat signature screen, but he had not been expecting the last bit about hoping to meet him.
Batman started to respond and then stopped as if he were listening to something else.
Superman concentrated his hearing. He heard a police scanner. There was a report of a man freezing a bank vault door and killing a security guard.
"Excuse me, but I have a pressing matter that can't wait," Batman hissed and headed back to his jet.
"Could you use a hand?" Superman asked.
Batman turned with a curious look on the visible part of his face. He seemed to consider. "If you think you can keep up and not get in my way," he answered with the hint of a smile. It would be interesting to see Superman in action up close.
"I'll do my best," Superman grinned back.
A moment later Superman followed Batman's sleek, silent, jet back towards Gotham. As he flew after the dark warrior, he couldn't help wondering where the beautiful Di-ana was, and if she was ok.
******Parallel Dimension******
******Floating Fortress******
"…lf to YOU!" Superwoman screamed in disbelief. No one had ever rejected her advances, or the influence of her lasso. Her lasso had magical properties that caused whoever touched it to give full rein to his or her base desires.
Superwoman suddenly froze. In a panic she realized she was no longer with the one called 'Superman' and she was back home in the Fortress. She could not let Ultraman find her. She knew she could not endure another moment of his cruel abuse. He seemed to have given in to a cold fury directed at her. No amount of pleading had saved her so far.
She had to change and teleport out before he returned. She hoped he was not there at the moment. If so, she knew she would not escape. He would certainly know she was there.
Superwoman made her way to their room. She shuddered as she looked at the crumpled bed remembering the agonies her husband had put her through for the last two days. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to regain her composure and went to the closet. She twirled into a business suit, a hair bun, a hat and a pair of glasses and Di-ana, Princess of the Amazons; the feared Superwoman, was transformed into Lois Lane of the Daily Planet. With the press of a button she teleported to her office and was, for the moment, safe.
******Two Days Ago******
Ultraman floated a mile above the earth. He could hear and smell almost everything at once when he didn't focus. When he wanted to, he could focus on a particular sight sound or smell. Today he was focusing in on a sound. It was not a pleasant sound to him. In fact, it transformed his normally calm, attractive visage into one of unconcealed turmoil, rage and just a hint of madness.
It was the sound of betrayal, the sound of his wife with another. He could not see her because the walls of the cave she was betraying him in were lined with lead. But he could hear every sound.
If Di-ana were not his wife the sounds might have been comical to him. It was obvious to him that Superwoman was not receiving pleasure from Owlman. But then Di-ana wasn't interested in satisfaction, if she had wanted satisfaction she would have been with her husband. No, today she was interested in provoking her lovers' pride.
A growl escaped Jur-li's lips. Di-ana was his! She had been his for the past ten years. He never denied her. He was the most powerful being on the planet, perhaps the known galaxies. He had taken control of the world for her. Still she seemed to take pleasure in showing him how little she thought of him. How little he meant to her. How much she despised him.
He had had enough. He would no longer be her joke. She would not mock him again.
******Owlman's Cave******
Superwoman smiled to herself. She was sure Jur-li was watching or listening. He knew her well enough not to trust her. But she knew he would take her back. He always took her back. He was her devoted slave. Every affair she had ended with the death of her playmate and her back in the arms of Jur-li.
The excuses were that she had been "fooled, taken advantage of," "it was not her fault" and she was young and naïve".
He never accused her. He simply killed her "attacker" and took her back to his bed. There he would violently and passionately show her to whom she belonged.
Today was different. This was not just a man she was with. She was with his best friend.
Di-ana closed her eyes and tried to imagine what Jur-li would do to her once he found her.
This was going to be interesting. The fool wouldn't kill his best friend who was sweating over her trying to show her how a real man satisfied a woman. Not that Thomas lacked the skills of pleasing a woman. He was, in fact, quite the lover. But the skills that brought other women hours of endless pleasure did little to appease her voracious appetite.
She made all the right sounds for Thomas. She could feel him in her but barely. Di-ana wrapped her arms around Thomas's neck caressing his head and his shoulders. He really was a magnificent looking man. Every inch of him was massively muscled and well toned. Yet she had never met a man or being as physically magnificent or powerful as Jur-li.
But Jur-li bored her. He would do whatever she wished. He had no spine when it came to her, unless she was with another. It was then he became a man in her eyes.
"Let's see how you like this Di-ana" Owlman said with a smirk as he suddenly clasped her bracelets together, tearing her thoughts instantly back to the present.
Di-ana felt her powers leave her and almost as quickly became very aware of what Thomas was doing to her. She tried to free herself and fight Thomas off but he was too strong and was prepared for her.
"You think that you are the only one that can play a game?" he asked her smugly. "For the next couple of hours you are going to be mine. Willing or unwilling, you can enjoy yourself if you like. It makes no difference to me. I am going to enjoy you."
Di-ana felt intense pleasure for the first time from one other than her husband, but she was too consumed with indignant rage to enjoy it. She was no longer in control and had become the plaything of perhaps the scariest man she knew. Her mind and body revolted. She refused to be helpless especially before a man. But she could do nothing.
And then he was there. Owlman sensed him as well and turned to face Ultraman without bothering to pull out of Superwoman.
"So you came to see what your woman really likes?" he asked with a sneer.
Ultraman backhanded him off of Superwoman, sending him across the room to fall in a heap on the floor. Owlman did not move. Jur-li turned to look at Di-ana. Her wrists were bound together and to the wall. She was open, and wet. Her smell was intoxicating and very inviting. There was not a more beautiful woman on the planet, or any of the numerous planets he had been to. There was also not a more treacherous or unfaithful one.
She put on a pleading look for him. "Jur-li" she begged. "Release me and take me home."
"No, I don't think I will just yet. I'm going to have you first," Jur-li said coldly.
Di-ana panicked. "My wrists are bound! I am without my powers!"
"Yes, so you are."
"You will hurt me!" Di-ana shouted.
"Yes, I imagine I will. But no more than you have hurt me," Jur-li snarled.
Superwoman could not remember the last time she had been frightened. Now she trembled with fear. She knew that Jur-li was going to hurt her badly. She did not know if she would survive and she could tell that he did not care.
She had made a mistake. She had pushed him too far with her infidelities and now something in Jur-li had changed.
Jur-li was powerful. Superwoman had never met another that could match him for raw power, friend or foe.
Jur-li could be cruel and impatient but with her had always been gentle and patient; and she had despised him for it. Now the gentle Jur-li was dead. Killed by her hand.
She cried out when he took her. He stared coldly into her eyes as he continued his savage assault. Her screams were muffled by the sound proofed walls of the cave. Not that there was anyone who could have or would have rescued her.
An hour later Ultraman stood over the broken form of Di-ana. "Don't worry, my love. I'm going to fly you to the fortress and use the healing ray on you. You'll be good as new in no time and then we can do this all over again. We'll have the whole weekend to ourselves" he grinned down at her.
"Jur-li, no, please no," Di-ana whispered weakly through bruised lips.
Ultraman lifted her up in his arms tenderly. "Yes, my love. I promise this will be a weekend you will never forget."
A smiling Ultraman flew towards the fortress carrying Di-ana gently against his chest.
Di-ana wept silently in despair.
******One Day Ago******
******Floating Fortress******
Superwoman awoke suddenly, her whole body trembling. She did not know how long she had been unconscious but she was grateful for the respite from the pain. She saw that she had again been strapped to a table, with her wrists still bound, under the healing ray.
She could tell that she had been there for more than thirty minutes as most of her body felt mended. She struggled furiously to escape her bonds but to no avail. She lay still gasping for breath. Ultraman seemed to have gone completely mad. No amount of pleading or promising had moved him. He only wanted to hurt her. His goal, it seemed was to inflict as much pain and humiliation without her losing consciousness.
Di-ana tried coming up with plan of escape. Several minutes had passed since she had come to. And she again struggled vainly against her bonds.
Suddenly, Ultraman was standing over her. His handsome face smiling down at her. "So you're finally awake again. Good. I wanted us to have one more bout of lovemaking before I leave. I promise I'll come home as quickly as I can. Johnny and Guy wanted to go over a plan with me."
"Jur-li, No!"
"Don't worry. I won't be too long." He laughed at his cruel joke.
"He undid her straps, leaving her wrists bound and carried the screaming and terrified Superwoman back to their bedroom.
******Parallel Dimension******
******Present Day******
******Ivy Town University******
******Molecule Man's Lab******
******Lunchtime******
Ray Palmer, also known as, Molecule Man, was in his late twenties. He had dark brown hair and was of medium build. He was just completing work on his new teleporter that he and Protex had been working on for several weeks now. He hoped this one would work properly. The last one instead of teleporting had caused spontaneous combustion.
He had started working from scratch, trying to figure out what had gone wrong. He was sure he had it right now. He would need a test subject.
Protex, was a white Martian. He was nearly Ultraman's equal in strength. He had the same powers of flight. He was not nearly as fast but he could also become immaterial, shape shift, he was a telepath, and he had a tail. He had a set of vicious looking teeth and loved to prey on humans. He was the last known survivor of his kind.
Neither the school faculty nor the syndicate knew of their project. They had worked the last few months in secret. And now it was time to test their machine.
Ray's prime candidate was Owlman because he was sleeping with his wife Jean.
Ray homed in on Owlman's signal device, programmed the machine for Metropolis, and with a satisfied grin, turned it on.
Owlman did not reappear in Metropolis. Wherever it was that he had gone he reappeared back in Gotham ten minutes later.
******Parallel Dimension******
******Present Day******
******Gotham******
Owlman stood confused for a moment. He was in his cave. The black crystal he had been carrying around since Ultraman's attack was gone. He would have to get a new one if he wanted to have an edge. He had no idea where he'd been but he knew that the man he had met was not Ultraman and he had a pretty good idea who was responsible. He would have to pay Ray Palmer a visit he thought smiling to himself.
******Parallel Dimension******
******Present Day: Dinnertime******
******Ivy Town******
Ray was disappointed. "Okay, so he's alive. Now that we know it works let's try teleporting Superwoman to Gotham. That should get Ultraman in Owlman's face."
Again they fired the machine. Like Owlman, Superwoman disappeared only to show up again ten minutes later.
Ray was frustrated. His plan was not working. "Okay let's call it a day. Monday we'll come back and see if we can't send Ultraman, Johnny Quick and Power Ring to the Bermuda Triangle."
******JLA Dimension******
******Space******
Eight objects sped towards the earth with a ninth coming in from a different direction. One landed in Gotham, one in Central City, one in Coast City, one in the Arctic, one in Middleton, two landed in the Midwest almost on top of one another. The first burrowed down deep into the hill it struck the other impacted softly on the surface. The eighth object crashed into the Caribbean, close to the Bermuda Triangle. The ninth did not crash.