AN: Thanks for the reviews!

The Bounty Hunter

Part Seven

Bzoun's was a very popular night club. Creatures from all over the universe attended. Some for entertainment; some to perform shady business from the minuscule drug deals to plotting assassinations and country or world takeover. Criminals, businessmen and the rich with too much credits to spend were frequents. Hal frequent this place a lot whenever he wanted to find a criminal.

Shayera read the lights streaming over the building in alien words. "Bzoun's," Shayera read the name. "I've been here before. All types of scum walk through this place."

A minotaur bouncer stepped out of the club. He carried two drunk aliens on his muscled arms and tossed them on the street. "Get out you fragging scum! No money! No service!"

"Talik!" Hal stepped up to the minotaur.

Talik turned. He smiled seeing his friend. "Hal!" The two did an alien handshake. "Been a while. Oa got you here looking for someone?"

"Not Oa. This is personal." Hal introduced J'onn and Shayera. "My friends and I are looking for a punk who attacked us and kidnapped our friend."

"You know Bzoun's brings all kinds of people," Talik said. "I've seen it all."

"Maybe you've seen him." Hal pulled out a photo of Kal. "Have you seen this guy? Do you know his name?"

Talik looked at the picture. His eyes widen like saucers and his copper skin darkened to a deep shade of brown.

Hal noticed the sudden change and sweat forming on Talik's face. "Hey, are you sick?"

Talik shook his head. His hand shook as he returned Kal's picture to Hal. "No. Not sick. I've seen that face. He came here two months ago. He and his dog. Krippo, Crappy," Talik tried to recall the name. "Something like that. He seemed normal and I let him through. Thirty minutes later, I hear noises from inside. I go in and I see him beating up Chevak and two of his body guards."

"Chevak." Hal knew that name. He explained to J'onn and Shayera. "He's a big kingpin on Moltin. He's rumored to be responsible for poisoning the children on Elkin. Children fourteen and younger have been struck with diseases and famine due to his organization stealing the planet's life nutrients. The adults survive but not the children. Half of the kid's population died."

"Was," Talik corrected him. "Chevak was a kingpin. The guy put one of Chevak's goons head up the Chevak's ass." Hal winced. "I never saw anything so disturbing. I had nightmares. Then his dog dragged one of Chevak's bodyguards of the club by his nether regions. Rumor has it they couldn't fix him. The club was a wreck but the man took out all the credits Chevak had on him and gave it to me for repairs. I never got his name, but I heard Chevak is on Starlag's penal planet."

"I don't have any sympathy for this Chevak character," Shayera said who considered Talik's story a waste of time. If he didn't know the man's name, he only needed to say so. "If you don't know who this guy is, then perhaps the people inside will." Shayera brushed past him and went inside the club.

"Later T!" Hal followed after Shayera.

J'onn was last to enter the club but before he did so, he looked back at Talik. For someone as strong and imposing to be frightened of the man who kidnapped Diana, J'onn found that very disturbing and his concern for Diana grew.

Alien techno beats boomed over the room. Alien women of all various color and species dressed in miniskirts and tanked tops walked the room with drinks in hand. Women danced on the floor and circled the room above, dancing on hover discs. Some aliens sneered, others looked away once they saw Hal. They weren't fans of Green Lanterns.

Hal lead J'onn and Shayera them through the crowded dance floor to the private VIP upstairs. The people who would know anything would be found here. He opened the door to find a purple skinned woman on her knees servicing the alien he wanted to talk to. Kish was an orange skinned creature with green hair. Without the bright colors of his skin, he closely resembled a human form of a fox. His eyes were closed and mouth opened with soft moans coming out. They weren't alone. A woman danced above on a hover disc to the loud beats of the music.

Shayera slammed her mace on the sound system, killing the music. The purple woman pulled from Kish and the dancing woman stopped. Kish opened his eyes stunned at his audience.

"Party's over," Shayera declared. "We got business with you."

Kish scowled at Shayera, ready to curse her out but saw Hal. He raised his fist, flashing his ring. "You heard the woman. Party's over."

The women quickly left the room. Annoyed, Kish pulled up his pants. "A little warning next time, Jordan."

"I'm in a hurry. You're always in the know of what's going on. You've encountered a lot of low lives in space."

Kish grinned. "I like living on the edge. Nothing and no one scares me."

Good. Because Hal was concerned with Talik being scared of that mystery man. Kish had more experienced dealing with dangerous individuals. Hal held up Kal's photo. "Have you seen this guy, Kish?"

Kish's carrot orange skin turned a deep shade of green. He put a hand on his mouth, instantly recoiling, trying to stop the sickness in his stomach from rising. Unfortunately, he couldn't keep it down. Hal jumped out of the way to avoid the vomit spewing from Kish's mouth.

"Whoa, dude!"

"I take that as a yes." Shayera stepped over the vomit. She grabbed Kish's arm and slammed him into a wall. "What's his name? How do you know him?"

"Kal," Kish squeaked. Kish looked around hoping Kal would not show up just by mentioning his name. "He and his dog are scary. You can't run from him. He'll find you. He took my brother. He's locked up because of him."

"Why is your brother locked up?" J'onn asked.

"He might've sideswiped a family in air car, which forced them to crash. He might've not stopped to help and kept going, leaving them to die. He might've been in hiding since."

"Might've?"

"All right he did," Kish admitted. "But Kal didn't have to break my arm when I tried to stop him from taking my brother." He looked at Hal. "Can I go now?"

"Um, we came to you," Hal told him.

"I know but I don't like saying Kal's name and staying in the same place for long."

Hal stepped out of the way, letting Kish quickly leave the room.

"That's the second person intimidated by Kal," J'onn observed. "I worry for Diana's condition to be in the company of a man who can cause so much fear."

"It got us a name," Shayera said. "We're making progress." She turned to Hal, her annoyance evident in her voice. "Do you know anyone we can go to who won't be scared of this guy if we flash his picture?"

Hal had to think because he wasn't sure. "There's a Bull Kath Hound I know that frequents here." Hal lead them from VIP, down the main floor and to the level below the club. Here, underground deals were made.

Standing at the entrance to the door was a Bull Kath Hound. No one got past him without his approval. He was tall, strong and very intimidating. When he saw Hal and his friends approaching, the wolfish creature crossed his arms over his chest.

"No Green Lanterns allowed."

"I'm not trying to get in, Frig. I want questions answered." He held up Kal's picture. "Do you know him?"

Frig's face paled.

"Every time we show this guy's picture, people's face changes colors. Just how big a threat is he?" Shayera wondered.

"Talk," Hal snapped. "Who is he?"

"Kal. He's a bounty hunter." Frig looked away from the picture. Just seeing Kal's face was scary. "He beat me and my friends because we were protecting our friend, Krag. He's a Bull Kath Hound, too. His dog nearly chewed my butt off." He pointed to his rear. "I can't even sit right for the next six weeks because of him. Why do you want to know about him?"

Hal put away Kal's picture. "He captured a friend of ours. We're trying to find her."

"She's as good as gone. You won't ever see her again. Once Kal goes after you, he catches you and there's no point of return."

"We won't give up on our friend." All this talk about Kal being unstoppable was irritating Shayera. He won't be so unstoppable when she got her hands on him again. "Tell us all you know about him. His usual hang outs, any friends he has, any family."

Frig snorted. "You think if I knew his hangouts I would go there? I like to avoid whatever place he frequents."

J'onn stepped forward. Listening to the stories of Kal, he was getting a theory about him. "Then perhaps you can answer this for us. If Kal is a bounty hunter, was your friend doing something evil?"

"My friend was framed."

"You are lying," J'onn told him. J'onn wasn't one to read minds but the situation was dire with Diana. Even without mind reading, Frig's body language gave away he wasn't being truthful. "Aside from being a killer, it seems Krag was bullying an entire kingdom until Kal was hired to stop him."

Shayera turned her eyes on Frig. Her mace sparkled with electricity. "So your friend provoke Kal to come after him." She raised her mace. "Don't think about lying to us."

Frig snorted. "You think that mace scares me after what I've been through with Kal and his dog? I'll admit my friend, Frag was a bad person in your eyes but it doesn't matter bad or good Kal will go after you. He only cares about his payment."

"We should leave," J'onn decided. "We've heard enough here."

Back in the Javalin, the three discussed what they've learned from their trip to Bzoun's.

"I hate to admit it," Shayera said, "but Frig's right. Bad or good this Kal, the bounty hunter, will go after you if the price is right."

J'onn had a different opinion. "I know we have not talked to many people who know Kal but aside from Diana, Kal went after individuals committing crimes. By that record alone, I find it very odd, he would go after Diana."

"He's a bounty hunter, J'onn. He did it for the money. All his jobs are for the money which means someone wanted Diana." But who? Shayera wondered. "You're in space more than us, Hal. Are you sure you haven't come across Kal?"

"He's a bounty hunter, Shayera. There are many bounty hunters in space."

"But one who does jobs similar to space cops should be on the Green Lanterns radar, should it not?" J'onn questioned.

"Maybe," Hal said. "But this isn't exactly my sector. Unless he's causing serious trouble, Oa won't bother with him. We have other matters like Sinestro and the Red Lantern Corps to deal with."

Shayera's cop instincts tuned into J'onn. There was a way he spoke of Kal that irked her. "You're not thinking like Flash are you, J'onn? You're not thinking Kal's a good guy."

"I think there is more to him than we are led to believe. Recall the injuries done to the Chevak, Kish and Frig."

As much as Hal trusted J'onn, he had to disagree with him on this. "I'm not gonna say they didn't deserve that, J'onn, but did you deserve pushing that positron sphere out of your body? Did Bruce deserve the injuries he received? Did any of us deserve our injuries because we were trying to protect our friend? No! I don't believe Kal man is good. This guy is evil and we have to find Diana as soon as possible."

"I agree with Hal," Shayera sided with him. "Kal's a bounty hunter. Hal, do you know any that may know Kal?"

"I've tangled with a few; even worked with some. The last one I crossed paths with was Lobo. He got in my way when I was fighting Sinestro. His bike was wrecked by Sinestro but he took it out on me because he thought I was in the way. Because of him, Sinestro got away."

"It's as good a start as any."

Hal agreed. He turned his pilot seat around and started up the Javalin. "Certain circles say Lobo hangs around Queen Maxima of Almerac. That's our best bet."

"Aw, do you have to go Lobo?"

Lobo zipped up his jeans and tossed on his white tank shirt. After Maxima's outburst of him leaving, Lobo decided to stay on Almerac another week. He figured keeping her company and satisfying her a little longer will cool her fiery temper. He would drop her but the sex was too good to stay away from for long.

"Sorry, babe. The Main Man has a job to take." He has been out of it for three weeks now. He had to get back in there and take bounties. He couldn't have Kal bragging about his jobs. Lobo also didn't want any enemies of his thinking he was getting soft.

Maxima stepped out of her bathroom nude. She went to her closet, looking for something to wear. "Like you need the credits. Marry me and you have all the credits you need."

"I like to make my own money. If I marry you for the money I'd feel like a prostitute. The Main Man earns his pay."

Maxima picked out her warrior outfit. She could use a good exercise. While she was getting good sex exercise from Lobo, she needed to hone her warrior skills. She was ruler of the planet. She always have to be in top form. "You can earn it satisfying me and think of it, you'll be king."

"Nah." Lobo blew off the idea. "I like things the way they are."

Maxima slipped on her warrior suit. She pulled the sleek, black outfit over her hips. "You mean open."

"There's nothing wrong with being open," Lobo said as he put on his leather jacket. "I'm free. You're free."

Maxima zipped up her suit and attached her cape to her shoulders. She sat on her bed and slipped on her boots. She knew what Lobo meant. He didn't want to commit. "But there's no one better than you, baby. I don't want open except for my legs when I'm with you."

Lobo was saved from responding when Karli rapidly knocked on the door. "Your Highness, we have guests. They want to see Lobo."

Maxima sighed. "It's not more trash like Kal is it?"

"It has to be Kal," Lobo said. "Only Kal knows I'm here."

Maxima grabbed her sword off the wall. "Honestly, baby, you can do better than him. You need friends who are not as hairy."

"I have a lot of hair."

Maxima kissed his cheek. "Yes, but you look good with it. Kal is repulsive. I bet he has so much hair to hide an even more hideous face."

Lobo left the room and followed Karli. Sex was great with Maxima but he was getting annoyed with her insulting Kal. They had a rough start but over the past thirteen years, Lobo and Kal formed a strong friendship. Much to his displeasure, Maxima tagged along only to make fun of Kal. However, instead of seeing Kal and his dog, Lobo and Maxima were greeted by a Green Lantern, a Thanagarian and a green man neither met before.

"Who are you people?" Maxima asked.

Lobo recognized one. "Hal Jordan. You fragging punk! You got in my way to beat up Sinestro!"

Hal groaned. "Are you still on that? And it was you who got in my way!"

Lobo lunged at Hal. Hal created a giant green fist and punched Lobo. Lobo collided with Hal's fist and soared upward, only stopping when he hit Maxima's ceiling and falling hard on the ground.

Maxima unsheathed her sword. "No one hits my man but me!" Maxima charged on Hal. Her sword was held high, ready to bring it down on the Green Lantern.

Shayera intervened. She blocked Maxima's attack on Hal by slamming her mace against Maxima's sword. The electric charge from Shayera's mace, travelled through Maxima's sword to Maxima herself. The sudden pulse of electricity coursed through the Queen of Almerac and knocked her off her feet.

Maxima grinned as she pushed herself back on her feet. Her eyes were lit up in excitement. "It's a fight you want, bird lady. It's a fight you get!"

Shayera twirled her mace. "Bring it!"

Lobo got back on his feet, too. "Cheap shot, Jordan, and that's all you get."

With Lobo and Hal, Maxima and Shayera ready to fight each other, J'onn intervened. Fighting will only delay finding Diana. J'onn grew thirty feet in size. He bent down to pick up Lobo with one hand, holding him by his leather jacket. He picked up Maxima with his other hand, holding the Queen of Almerac by her cape.

Maxima swung her arms and kicked her legs at J'onn but was really kicking air. "Release me you green giant! I am Maxima, Head of the Royal House, Queen of Almerac!"

"Yeah!" Lobo kicked air as well. "Don't manhandle the Main Man!"

"We are not here to fight." In his giant size, J'onn's voice boomed over everyone. "We are looking for our friend. She was kidnapped. We are hoping Lobo knows the man who kidnapped our friend."

Lobo stopped swinging his arms and legs. "What friend?"

Sensing Lobo would cooperate, J'onn gently placed Lobo and Maxima back on the floor.

Shayera answered, "Kal, the bounty hunter. Do you know him?"

Maxima laughed. "Probably needed a lay and the only way he could get it is by taking it."

Kidnapped woman? Lobo wondered. "Are you from Earth? Kal mentioned something about getting a babe named Wonder Woman."

"That's our friend!" Finally! A break! Shayera ordered, "Tell us where he has taken her!"

"Frag off!" Lobo snapped back at Shayera. "I don't have to tell you anything!"

J'onn read Lobo's mind. Diana's situation was worse than he thought. "Apokolips. Darkseid wanted her."

"Hey!" Lobo stared at J'onn baffled. "Who told?"

"You did," J'onn told him. "I read your mind."

"That's not fair!" Lobo whined. "That's cheating!"

"I agree." Maxima blocked Lobo from J'onn. "Will I ever get a commitment out of you, Lobo?"

"Huh?"

Maxima turned to J'onn. "What does his mind say? Yes? No?"

Lobo turned Maxima away from J'onn. "You can't do that!" To J'onn, he said, "Don't answer her!"

"Yes, I can!" Maxima said hotly. "I've been waiting on you for years. I need to know if I should cut my losses!"

"Who cares!" Shayera yelled. If she had Black Canary's siren cry, she would put it to good use. Watching Lobo and Maxima bicker was annoying, especially with Diana in dire straits. "We only want to know of our friend! Why does Darkseid want Wonder Woman?"

Lobo snorted. "Like I'll tell you."

J'onn didn't need Lobo to tell them. He could read his mind and what he read was disturbing. "He wants her as his bride."

Lobo stomped his feet. "Stop reading my mind!"

"We have to get to Apokolips immediately." This was worse than Hal thought. What suffering was Diana going through?

"So?" Lobo saw nothing wrong in Darkseid's desire. "He wants a bride. Let him have his fun."

"What your friend wants from Darkseid," J'onn warned, "know that he will not get it."

Lobo pointed a threatening finger at J'onn. "I told you to stop reading my mind." He narrowed his eyes. "What do you mean Kal won't get what he wants?"

"Darkseid uses people to get what he wants. He'll make any deal and once his uses has been fulfilled he'll kill or find some other perverse way to continue to use the fool who made a bargain with him."

Lobo didn't like what J'onn was suggesting. Was it possible Kal was walking into a trap if he wasn't in one already? "Are you saying my buddy's in trouble?"

"Yes."

That's all Lobo needed to hear. "If you're going to Apokolips, I want in."

"You're not going to Apokolips by yourself," Maxima argued. "I'm going with you." She let out an excited breath of air. "What a workout that would be to take on Darkseid's cronies."

"Who cares about your friend?" Shayera said. "Whatever Darkseid has planned for him, he deserves it. Find your own way. We're getting our friend back."

"I think it will be best if we join forces," J'onn spoke wisely. "It will take too long to go back to Earth and get reinforcements. Also, with Diana on Apokolips, we need to rescue her as soon as possible. Queen Maxima and Lobo are strong. We have the same goal. We want to rescue our friend and they want to rescue theirs."

"Uh, I'm only going to aide Lobo and test myself against Darkseid's cronies." Maxima want to make that clear. "I could care less about that ugly mug Kal."

"Okay, fine. We'll all go." Hal wanted to stop the fighting and get going. Diana's life was at stake. Hang on, Diana. We're on our way.

Diana opened her eyes to a sea of red silk. Normally Diana slept on her side or back. Very rare she slept on her stomach. She thought back to last night and remembered why. The nymphs. It was them and their sex that forced that awful dream about Kal on her.

She sat up. The shirt she slept in was pushed to her waist. The effects of her dream was still evident between her legs. Stupid dream. Looking around she didn't see the star of her dream in the room. "Where is that man?" she wondered.

Diana got out of bed. The bathroom was partially opened. Carefully, she pushed the door opened, pleased Kal wasn't inside. Diana remembered he entered this room with her lasso. Perhaps it was still here. She searched all over: between the towels in the linen closet, under the sink, the drawers in the vanity, feeling around the walls and floor for a secret opening but found nothing.

"You won't find it in here."

Diana jumped at the voice. She looked up from her spot on the floor to Kal.

"Good morning, Princess."

Kal stood in the doorway with arms crossed over his massive chest. Their eyes locked and her traitorous heart skipped a beat. Her mind briefly drifted back to her dream when Kal kissed her, his fingers caressed her, when his lips descended lower to kiss her-

Stupid heart. Stupid Kal. Stupid dream. Stupid nymph world.

"What are you doing here?"

"Looking for you. For a second, I thought you had escaped."

Diana stood. She leaned against the sink. "You can see I haven't."

"Once you have bathed and dressed, I will escort you to breakfast." He held up her uniform on a hangar. "I had it cleaned. I know you don't want to wear nymph clothes and bring even more attention to yourself."

Diana took the hangar. "Are they still out there?"

"They've moved to their rooms." Though tempted to tease Diana about last night, he didn't. He needed Diana on his side if he was going to get her to agree with the wild idea he concocted last night. He told her. "I'll wait for you."

Thirty minutes later, Kal escorted Diana outside. It was a nice, warm morning. Usually more nymphs would be up and around but many were resting in their rooms. None were outside taking part in their daily exercise or a swim by the lake. It gave Kal and Diana the privacy they needed.

Kal lead Diana to a gazebo. Waiting at the bottom of the steps was Krypto. His face was currently buried in a bowl of food.

"Krypto," Diana knelt to rub the dog's head and back. "How are you this morning?"

Kal watched Diana and Krypto. To his amazement, Krypto responded to Diana's touches. Kal thought Krypto would growl and bite Diana for what she did but it seemed Krypto forgave her. He even rolled on his side to allow Diana to rub his belly.

Diana giggled at Krypto's actions and obliged him with belly rubs. "How is he?" she asked Kal.

"Much better. His wounds have closed. He only needs to rest some more." He took Diana's hands off Krypto. His dog actually whined. "Come on. Let Krypto finish his meal and let's eat breakfast."

Diana took her seat across from Kal and wiped her hands on a cleaning cloth. Breakfast of fruits, nuts and steaming meat filled her plate with a pitcher of juice on the table to help her wash the food down.

After yesterday, Diana wasn't comfortable in Kal's presence. She felt things she knew she shouldn't feel for him. He kidnapped her. He wanted to turn her over to Darkseid. She should reach across the table and strangle this man, but as Kal's masculine scent wafted around her, she was overwhelmed with a desire to kiss him.

Diana wasn't one to be impressed with a man solely on looks but Kal was clearly the exception. She never saw a more handsome man and never had a man to rock her with such wild sensations or caused her to have such vivid, erotic dreams.

Diana chewed on her strawberries. She quickly ate the cool fruit in hopes of it squelching the heat in her body. She had to cool her body, cool her heart around him. He's the enemy she told herself. He wants to turn you over to Darkseid. He's handsome but he's an enemy. There's nothing redeemable about him.

"Princess," Kal interrupted her thoughts, "I should tell you something about myself and my reasons for turning you over to Darkseid."

The food slipped from Diana's fork and back on her plate. He was going to tell her his reasons? She never thought there was more to Kal other than collecting a payment. Her stomach twisted. She worried how this may affect her. "Why are you deciding to do this now?"

"I think I should be honest with you." Kal's eyes bored into hers. She saw guilt. Her heart jumped. Diana gripped her fork to steady herself. She can't have sympathy for him. She can't. "Krypto and I were found in a spaceship floating in space by a bounty hunter. I was a baby, not even a year old and Krypto was a pup. He and his wife, who was also a bounty hunter, raised me, taught me all about the family business."

Urvashi told Diana Kal was adopted but she didn't expect he was found in space. She felt her heart twinge as she thought of Kal as an innocent baby floating in space alone. "What about your birth parents?"

Kal shrugged. "I have no memory of them. I don't know who I am. I was abandoned by them."

"You don't know that," Diana told him. She cringe at the sympathy in her voice. Of all the times to be compassionate. "Perhaps there was another reason why your parents had to send you away."

"Maybe." Kal wasn't so sure. "Thirteen years ago I came home to find my adoptive parents dead and my home in flames. A friend of the family was murdered with them, too."

Thirteen years ago. He had to have been a child, perhaps a teenager. Her heart twisted again. "Was it an enemy?"

"No. Anyone who wanted revenge on them were locked up. For thirteen years I've been trying to find the truth but no one knew why. Until recently, I didn't have a way to find out."

Diana figured this is where Darkseid entered the picture. "Darkseid?"

"Yes," Kal admitted, "and you."

"Me?"

"Yes. I never met Darkseid until over a week ago. I don't usually kidnap women and take them to men who will force them to be their bride. In fact, I never do. The jobs I take I'm actually helping people but Darkseid offered me a chance to find out who killed my parents and learn who my birth parents are." He gazed at Diana apologetically. "I'm sorry for kidnapping you and hurting your friends but Darkseid tempted me with an offer I couldn't refuse."

Diana gripped her fists tightly. She knew what Darkseid did. He used Kal, tempted him with something he desired and forced him to kidnap her and hurt her friends in the process. That monster was pure evil. "What does Darkseid have?"

"A Rubix. It's a cube device where information is stored. He let me touch it and I saw my birth parents. I think it was left for me by them. How Darkseid got it, I don't know. With that Rubix, I will know who my birth parents are and why they abandoned me. I will know who I am and where I come from."

For the first time, Diana cursed her gifts. Granted with Athena's wisdom and compassion, she understood Kal's reasons. She could no longer be angry with him. If she were in his shoes, her actions would've followed a similar path. Her gaze traveled over Kal. He was blunt, arrogant and rough around the edges but his confession to her, told Diana there was a good man inside. He finally came to his senses to do the right thing, but he still made a deal with the devil and couldn't get out of it so easily.

He would need her help.

"Darkseid has the key to you learning of your past but how do you know Darkseid is telling you the truth of the knowledge of your adoptive parents' death?"

"I don't but if he does I will finally know."

Diana sense much anger in Kal over the death of his adoptive parents. He had to let that anger go. "And then what? Are you going to avenge their deaths assuming their killer is alive?"

"I don't know but at least I will know." Kal preferred to cross that bridge when he got there. "There are so many questions about their deaths. That morning, they wanted to tell me something. It sounded important. I think it had to do with my parents and they are killed before they could tell me. I have to know if there was a connection. I also don't understand why Letroi was there." He explained, "He's the family friend that was killed, too. He wasn't there when I left home."

"Perhaps Letroi's enemies followed him there," Diana put the idea out. She figured Kal wondered that as well so she put out a new theory. "Do you think Darkseid had something to do with it?"

"I don't see how. My parents were scared of Darkseid. They stayed away from him and anyone connected to him, and they wanted me to do the same. I've abided their wishes until now."

"Maybe your birth parents knew him," Diana suggested. "Maybe they sent you away for your safety and not abandoned you. Then your adoptive parents raised you and Darkseid found you after all these years. When he did, your adoptive parents were killed. It could also explain why Darkseid has the Rubix."

Kal never considered that possibility. "It's possible, but it hurts to think I am responsible for their deaths."

"No, not you," Diana corrected Kal. "Darkseid." Kal never tangled with Darkseid but she has. She knew what he was capable of and Kal for all his experience as a bounty hunter, did not. "Kal-El, I know Darkseid. I've dealt with him. How can you be sure he won't betray you when you turn me over?"

"Honestly, I am having second doubts about the deal I made. However, if I don't turn you over to Darkseid, he will be hunting for us until he has you. If I betray him, there's a small window of opportunity to do so and for both us to get what we want."

Her freedom and truth of Kal's past. Diana didn't know Kal long but she knew this wasn't something he suddenly thought up. It's been weighing on his mind. "What do you suggest, Kal-El?"

"An alliance. If you help me retrieve the Rubix, the truth of my adoptive parents' death, I will stop Darkseid from taking you as his bride."

An alliance with Kal, her kidnapper? As crazy as it sounded, Diana was considering the idea. They did work well together when they escaped Bolloq. She didn't want to be Darkseid's bride and Kal was reneging on his deal with the ruler of Apokolips. Her physical attraction to him was probably blinding her judgment but right now, but she saw an alliance as her only way to freedom.

She needed proof of Kal's change of heart.

"Let me use my lasso on you. Then I'll believe you."

To Diana's surprise, Kal stood. He raised his shirt to show he had Diana's lasso wrapped around his chest. "Now do you believe me?"

Diana's mouth opened in shock. He had her lasso on him the entire time. He knew she would doubt him and wore proof of his honesty.

What choice did she have now?

"Well, Kal-El, looks like you have a partner."

AN: Next stop: Apokolips!

Unoaranya: Thanks. Something tells me you visited many nymph worlds before the little lady and baby came in your life. ;) Yep, Diana's an emotional mess but she is doing well keeping it in check so far. Now she has something to distract her from her emotions.

Wonderbee: Thanks! Sometimes I think you are hacking onto my computer to read future chapters. LOL! How did you know I was bringing Lobo back?

KaliAnn: Thanks. You're right. Plots have been stirred and an alliance have been made at last. Urvashi's advice worked for Kal. I don't think Darkseid will be too happy with Kal when he returns to Apokolips. Just a hunch. :P

Ben: If it's like the Kal in the comics and on JL, it would be funny and hair pulling to see Kal resist such temptation. Hal would never leave the nymph world. LOL! Fanci would make him though. Now, you know I had to pull the rug from you on the dream. It's too soon for that type of fun yet. It's evil of me but fun at the same time. Thanks for the names. I may use that.

Hellacre: The chase scene was my favorite, too. I've been sitting on that for weeks. LOL! Thanks. No sexy scenes between Kal and Diana but I think that's okay since they are teaming up again.

Madge: LOL! He might say yes if Diana rejects him. ;)

Battousai: Nah. Last chapter is as far as they will go until they get this Darkseid matter out of the way. Have to deal with that first. J'onn is willing to give Kal the benefit of the doubt. Hal and Shayera, not so much. Kind of hints of what Kal faces in the future. There are so many issues I have to deal with. It's so because I have scenes running in my mind now especially when Kal meets Hippolyta.