Godwar, Part 2: Battleground, chapter 10: Alliances

Talks to God spoke up for the first time since the meeting had begun. "Excuse me, but I am comprehending this correctly, am I not? One of your own has been abducted by this Darkseid?"

"That's correct."

"And you plan to rescue her?"

"If possible, yes."

The two Hunters looked at each other for a moment. Then, Talks spoke up again. "We are with you in this endeavor."

Robin shook his head. "I thank you, sir, but this really doesn't concern you. You needn't get involved…"

"We are already involved. A friend of our friends has been abducted, and is very likely to be subjected to mistreatment. To do nothing about it would be to dishonor the teachings of the One," and here, he inclined his head towards the Orb, "as well as our own honor. I believe I can speak for all of us when I say we could not sit idly by and let this injustice happen. Honor would not permit it."

"Well, don't get me wrong," said Robin, "If you're determined, we could sure use the help. Just as long as you know what you're getting into. At least….at least we may have a way of getting there. Now if we just had some idea where to look…."

A throat cleared behind him. "In that," said Highfather Izaya's holographic image, materializing right behind Robin, "We may be able to help."

…

While Highfather Izaya was not physically present, he did send them detailed maps of their target, Apokokips, and its major city, Armaghetto. "It is quite possible the girl is being kept here." His holographic finger traced a line to a pyramid-shaped structure. "Virmin Vunderbar's fortress. Ever since their recent reunification underneath their dark master, it has been combined with Granny Goodness's orphanage, and is a place where new recruits are taken for initial processing." A concerned look flashed across his kindly face. "If so, time is of the essence. The initial stages of this processing are….less than pleasant. To understate the matter greatly."

Robin bit his lip. "This 'processing'…."

Izaya spread his hands. "Darkseid will break her. If she is as young and inexperienced as you say, this will not be that hard a task. But it will, of course, be highly unpleasant for the girl. Then he will….rebuild her, I suppose you'd say. To be his absolute, adoring slave. With many humans, this is really not that hard a process."

"She wouldn't be the first person—the first hero, even—to break under torture. Yeah, I understand. Well. Let's review our resources, shall we? Orb? Are you in on this?"

{{Of course, Robin.}}

"Talks to God? We all would really understand if your people decided this wasn't their fight…"

"Robin. Might I have a few words with the One, please?"

"Of course." The rest moved off a ways, so as to give the Hunters some room with the Orb. Talks to God spoke with the Orb in the whistling, clicking Hunter speech. Distracts the Prey still seemed a little shellshocked, but nodded at several things Talks to God said.

The Talks to God produced his communicator and said what the onlookers guessed was a few words with his commanding officer. At the conclusion of which, the Orb….disappeared.

On board the bridge of the Deson, the Orb materialized, right in front of Seer of the Way. Seer's eyes grew twice as big when he saw the blacker-than-black, not-quite-there phenomenon that was the Orb. "Great One….!" Talks to God had warned him, but it was still a shock, to have the object of their centuries-long search, basically standing right in front of him.

The Orb "spoke" up, its image relayed to all the other ships in the fleet. {{I am the One. I bring you greetings, and welcome, my children.

A great evil has occurred to an innocent upon the planet below. I go with others to right this injustice. Let those who would follow me, do so.}} And then, it flickered out.

{{There,}} it said, rematerializing in the Titans' conference room. {{I have relayed the message you instructed me to relay. Though I am not sure what good it will do.}}

The two Hunters looked at each other. Though their faces were alien, Robin, watching them, got the distinct impression that it was a knowing look. "Anyway. Resources. Kitten? Can you work the Osiran matrix device, get us to Apokolips?"

"Hey," spoke up Angelique. They'd almost forgotten she was there. "Don't forget about me!"

Robin went over to her. This would take tact. "Angelique. Look, this…is really not something you need to get involved in…."

"Oh, no, not again!" She put her hands on her hips and glared up at him.

"…but I tell you what: I'll make a deal with you. Ask your Father Alpha for his permission. If he says yes, then I have no problem with you going with us." There. That ought to take care of that, he thought.

Angelique studied him for a long, long moment. For perhaps the first time, he realized that, although she looked like a little human girl, she really wasn't, not anymore. Her expression proved impossible to read. "Alright. I'll do it."

…

{{Absolutely not, daughter.}}

{{But Father Alpha….*!}} Angelique had teleported back to the Kindred's hive.

{{Do not 'But Father Alpha' me. This 'Apokolips' sounds like the last place in all creation you should go. No. That is final.}} Then he softened, somewhat. {{Child, listen. Think. This is a very dangerous mission your friends are embarking on. They might not come back, even with all the help these Hunters and this Orb can provide. And if they do not, who will care for this city you wish to protect? How will you ever find your mother?

{{And there is another matter. It is entirely possible that you yourself may be caught, captured. You know you are powerful. Would you really have the technology that makes you so powerful fall into the hands of this Darkseid? That would be somewhat counterproductive, do you not think?

{{And another matter still. If your friends do not come back, but are captured, they may need rescuing themselves. You would be able to provide valuable, indeed, vital information to whomever goes to do so. So there are many reasons for you to stay, and no good reason for you to go. The matter is settled.}}

Angelique was silent for a long, long moment, eyes downcast. Then she sighed. {{You are right, Father. I see that now. As always, your logic is flawless. I cannot argue with it.}} She came up and hugged him. {{I will go to my room, now.}} And she left.

…

Back at the Tower, Robin was still assessing their available resources. He was a little proud of himself for coming up with such an airtight way of keeping Angelique out of danger. Once she got a little older, she'd be a valuable member of the team, but for right now, no matter how powerful she was, the fact remained that she was a child, and he just couldn't sanction her going into a battle like this. He wished none of them had to.

Highfather Izaya had given them detailed maps of the place where Tara was most likely being held, but had stressed that few things on Apokolips remained stable for long. The hologram of the warrior with him, Orion, had looked like he desperately wanted to accompany them, but he'd said nothing. Robin could understand: for Orion to get involved directly would violate the uneasy truce between Apokolips and New Genesis.

Kitten, Hank and Talks to God joined him at the table. The Orb was nearby, looking over their shoulders, that is, in the sense that anything without visible eyes could be said to look. "Okay," he said, "best way is in and out, fast as possible. That whole place is one huge deathtrap. We don't go wandering down hallways looking for her. In fact, if we can, let's find out where she is, and just plain knock down a few walls to get to her. It's not like we can sneak in and out, anyway. Cy, we got anything that could do that?"

"If you do not, we do," interjected Distracts the Prey. "Coherent spacial displacement beam. We use it for slicing obdurate materials. It will not matter what these walls are made of; their substance will be subject to teleportation like all other matter, once the space-time around and throughout them warps."

"Good deal. Talks? You're sure your people are behind us on this? I mean, if not, now's the time to say-*"

"Robin," Talks to God broke in, almost sharply, "as a friend, I advise you never to use that particular wording in the hearing of any other of my kind, regarding this matter, or one like it. Distracts the Prey and I understand your concern, but to suggest that we would not accompany you, would not follow the One….well, many would regard that as an insult to our collective honor. And to even vaguely hint that some of us might turn back and leave you once we arrived at this Apokolips…..well, I would not imply that, were I you."

Robin colored. "I'm sorry, Talks to God. I guess I misspoke."

"You did, but the misspeaking is forgivable. This time."

Warrior race, assessed Robin, beginning to grin. Think low-key, rational Klingons. Could be whooooole lots worse. "Okay, people, let's get busy…."

…

Tara came to consciousness, wondering where she was. Wherever it was, it was completely dark and hot. And she couldn't move. She couldn't even wiggle.

With a start, she realized she was tied onto an 'X' shaped frame, and that she was totally and entirely naked. Even her earrings were gone. The frame she was lashed to pushed her hips outward somewhat, and pulled her arms back, so that she felt horribly exposed. Exhibited, even. Like she was on display. And there was no doubt, from the position she found herself in, that it was intended to be a sexual display.

She tried to use her powers, to free herself, but nothing happened. Again and again she tried, with a mounting sense of desperation, but with no result. It was as if her powers were just gone. With a sinking sensation, she realized that her condition wasn't likely to change anytime soon, or, if so, not for the better.

Few people strip a girl naked and tie her, spread-eagled to a frame, for any good purpose.

Then the lights came on, and she knew there was no good purpose to it.

The green-clad figure in the room might be described as "matronly," but one look at her face cured Tara of any feelings other than fear. It was the face of someone who not only could do horrible things to someone, but would actually rather enjoy it.

"Well," said Granny Goodness, clipboard in hand. "I see that you've decided to wake up and rejoin us. Good, good. Now we can get started."

To be continued…