NEW ALLIANCES
Chapter 28
Artemis stood in the underground installation that Lex Luthor had created under a hanger. It stood in an abandoned airfield on the outside of the city and its purpose was to house the weapon the tactical team had stolen from Themyscira. She was standing and staring as the Annihilator was carried in by several of the unit whilst Tala was directing where they should put it. The place that they were in was like a kind of laboratory, hosting all manner of equipment and electrical machinery. Artemis was not versed with the technology of man's world and to her it looked like strange labyrinth of tubes, wires and glass.
The armor was placed on a dais and had heavy, metal restraints placed around its limbs and torso.
Artemis stared at the armor.
The irony of the situation was not lost upon her. It would have never been built but for her. She had done it for the protection of the Amazons against men. She had been exiled out of love for her tribe. Diana and Superman had been the impetus for it all. The lost contest. Seeing Diana stand up in defense of the Kryptonian, Hippolyta pardoning and freeing him. Their influence of the Bana…it all had lead to her life being turned upside down. When she joined with Lex's forces, she was doing it because of her need to assuage her anger and her hurt pride and because of Tala. Tala had struck the right note with her. Here was someone who knew what she wanted. Who was a powerful woman. Who was vital to Luthor's plans for the destruction of Superman and the League. Tala sleeping with Lex was something that Artemis viewed with disgust but then no one was perfect. Tala had taken her in and given her purpose in a world that was baffling to her sensibilities.
She was indebt to Tala.
But why was she feeling so …uneasy? Artemis tried to suppress the images on seeing fellow amazons down by bullets.
She chided herself. They had been warned to stand down. They did not listen. Hippolyta did not listen. It was Hippolyta's fault they were in the mess they were. Diana and Hippolyta. And Superman.
Was Hippolya dead?
Arrtemis did not know and she tried not to ponder about it. They had other things to occupy her mind. Like the Annihilator and how they could take down the League. She watched as Tala cast a spell to shield over the installation. It would protect them from being discovered by the likes of a Superman.
The sorceress smiled down at her from the large dais the armor now sat upon.
"Well, my dear, we did it. The armor is ours now."
Artemis crossed her arms over her chest. She said darkly, "I hope you realize at what cost to the Amazons."
Tala gave her an amused look. "Oh come, getting cold feet now? One must always have casualties if one expects to seek any sort of glory."
Artemis said gruffly, "You promised not to touch the Bana. I expect you to honor that."
Tala smiled at her and cooed. "But of course. Lex got what he wanted, why should he waste time with the Amazons now?"
Artemis added, "I may be exiled but they are still my tribe. They are just misguided and misdirected under the influence of Hippolyta."
Tala shrugged, "Well, if we can neutralize the League, then maybe you can go and claim back your place in your tribe. I called Lex and told him about the armor and he's very pleased. He says he has a surprise for us."
Artemis took in a deep breath. "The sooner we get a plan in place the better. I am tired of this world. I do not belong here…"
Tala barely heard her. She was marveling at the armor and the material it was made of and the fact that powerful forces gave it life. She stroked Hephaestus mark upon the chest plate. "Made by the hands of a god. Amazing. So it comes to life when sparked off by rage?"
"Yes. One must speak the words to waken it."
"What an amazing creation. The magic must be truly powerful. We should have gone for this first instead of relying on Cadmus and the creature."
"Be mindful that the Princess does know how to stop it."
"Yes, you did mention that. Lex is aware of it. Makes me wonder what he has up his sleeve to combat that eventuality." Tala stepped down. "Well, let us go see Lex and tell him about our success. He can't get away just yet." She gestured to the tactical team to take their places above ground and at certain points along the corridors and in the room itself. "Keep and eye out for intruders and guard the armor with your lives."
Artemis nodded as Tala vanished.
Superman and Wonder Woman were flying above Metropolis when they were called in by the Atom to return to the Watchtower. They both teleported in and as they stepped off found the Atom and Green Arrow standing with Batman and a slender, petite woman in what was a top hat and black tails. However, she wore fishnet stockings and heels instead of trousers. She was very pretty and was clearly familiar with Batman by the way she was regarding him.
Batman introduced her as Zatanna Zatara, a sorceress. Batman's voice was raspier than usual and Clark gave him an amused look.
Diana looked at her hopefully. "You can locate Tala?"
Zatanna said, "It won't be easy if she is as strong as you say. But I need something to home in one them. It's not as simple as just saying a spell and appearing before them."
"Something to home in? Like what?
"Something that is part of them. . Hair. Skin. Nails. Blood. Or even something that they owned."
Clark and Diana looked at each other ruefully.
Zatanna added, "Or at least something they had some emotional connection with. Memory. Something that would act like a marker?"
Clark rubbed his chin. "I could go break into Lex Corp Tower and see what I could find. "Or maybe Bruce could go surprise Waller again."
Zatanna gave Batman an ironic look. "I thought you would be more prepared."
The Dark Knight said dryly, "I didn't say it would be easy."
Diana said, "So we may not be able to get something we can link to Tala but what about Artemis?"
Green Arrow mused, "There's an idea. How are we going to do that exactly?"
Diana said, "One moment. I think I have something."
They watched Diana leave the room and take the elevator down. As they waited, Zatanna looked around. "So this is the Watchtower, huh? Your toys get bigger and bigger, Bruce."
The others looked on with some surprise to hear her address him by his name.
Batman replied, "And more expensive. Impressed enough to want to put your name on the roster?"
She smiled and looked out the main window. "I'm a sorceress. Technology does not impress me much. Wow, nice view though. Who is in charge of this outfit?"
The Atom spoke up. "No one is in charge per say. We have a democratically elected chairman."
She looked at Superman. "Who is you."
He smiled. "Guilty as charged." He looked at Batman. "You never mentioned wanting her to join to the League."
Zatanna said lightly, "Oh Bruce tries to keep my name under wraps. It's not many people who has seen him throw a tantrum and cry."
Superman, Green Arrow and Ray exclaimed. "What!?"
Batman glared at her and said defensively to his colleagues, "I was eight years old."
She smiled sweetly at him. "I know. It was cute back then. Remember how you would go hide in the old grandfather clock and pretend it was a machine to go to the center of the earth?"
"Zee…" he began with an exasperated look.
Zatanna giggled but looked at the other JLA-ers. "Sorry. I shouldn't tease him. He hates that."
Clark looked at Bruce to Zatanna. "So, you and Bruce know each other well?"
They both replied at once.
Batman said, "Our fathers knew each other."
Zatanna said, "We met at Bruce's eighth birthday party."
They gave each other a slightly ironic look.
Green Arrow mused, "Oh, so you two go way back?"
Zatanna corrected. "We met way back but only more or less got to know each other when he trained with my father fifteen years ago."
"Trained?"
"My father was master escape artist and magician John Zatara."
"Was?" asked the Atom.
"He died," she replied quietly. Her blue eyes had a painful look even as they seemed to meet Batman's inadvertently.
Batman's hand seemed to almost reach for her shoulder but he dropped it as the elevator opened and Wonder Woman returned. Diana carried something in her hand. It was a sword.
Everyone looked at her curiously. She presented it. "I fought with this sword in the Contest and Artemis was my opponent. Apart from myself, she was the only one to touch it."
Zatanna took it and studied it. "Well, this will do very well."
She suddenly spoke some soft words and the sword levitated and hovered in the air. A kind of white light surrounded it and Zee spoke.
"WOHS SIMETRA!"
Ghostly images of the titan haired Amazon appeared of her fighting Diana in a sandy ring. Then it was followed by seeing her standing before Lex Luthor and Tala. They were in a room. The room seemed to pan out and then they could see it was a large, Georgian styled, three story building in the middle of large immaculate lawns.
Superman's voice said grimly, "That's his mansion."
A ball of light appeared on the grounds of Luthor mansion. Stepping out of the light was Zatanna, Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman. They were under the cover of darkness and the mansion house was some distance away. They could see from where they stood behind some trees and shrubs that there were guards on patrol.
Batman said, "We can take them out easily."
"She is a powerful sorceress. I can sense her. We must be careful and not alert anyone to our presence," said Zatanna. "I'll help us bypass the guards."
Diana looked at Clark worriedly. "Steer clear of Tala, Kal. You know magic weakens you."
The two men looked at each other and muttered something about hating magic.
Tala and Artemis were with Lex in the large opulent sitting room. He had just come back from a fund raiser for campaign finances, or at least that was what he needed the public to believe. He was in his tuxedo, having just returned.
"So what is the surprise, Lex?" asked Tala.
He gestured to the women. "I want you to meet someone."
Curiously they followed him into the study and to their surprise they saw a tall black haired Primate.
Tala exclaimed, "Gorilla Grodd?!"
Grodd smiled. "Hello, Tala. Good to see you again."
Aretmis looked at him warily. "Who is this ape?"
Grodd looked at the young woman with a scathing look. "Who is this primitive homo sapien you have contracted now, Luthor?"
Luthor waved at her dismissively, "Never mind her. Have you got the fragment?"
Grodd opened his palm and displayed a strange kind of circuitry. Lex's eyes widened and he reached for it.
Grodd closed his fist. "Ah ah. What am I getting out of this?"
Luthor smiled. "The armor, of course."
"What?" exclaimed Tala.
"What?" gasped Artemis.
Grodd said warily, "So you managed to get it, did you?"
"Oh yes, indeed. You can have it. It will help you defeat Solovar once and for all."
"But Lex," began Tala bewildered.
Grodd gave him a strange look. "I find it odd you would want this fragment over the armor. What could you even do with it?"
Lex smiled. "Oh, let us say I have plans for it."
"I will hand it over when I see the armor."
Lex bowed. "As you wish."
Artemis cried, "You cannot do this!!! The armor was to defeat the League!!!"
Lex gave her an impatient look. "I will use the armor as I see fit and I don't question my intention to defeat the League. Tala shut her up please."
Tala put her hand on her shoulder. "He knows what he is doing I am sure, child. Calm down."
"But, Tala, he's going back on his word!!"
Tala drew her away and hissed. "Hold your peace. Lex is patient but not tolerant. I have trust in him that he will do as he says."
Artemis gritted. "You have compromised your judgment by sleeping with him, Tala…"
Tala scowled. "Now you are crossing the line. We have taken you in and trusted you with our secrets. We have one common goal. To defeat the League. Do you think Lex will just let that go? He hates Superman more than you. Now stop being an ungrateful brat. Or else you can go out there by yourself and see who will be as welcoming and understanding of your vendetta and plight than us!"
Artemis' face paled and she clenched her fists. "I am only doing this because I trust you, Tala."
Tala smiled. "There's a good girl. Now let's try to act like adults and maybe the boys will include us in their conversation."
Lex went to his desk and picked up two guns and slipped them in his waistband. He smiled. "I had to leave it at home when I went to the fundraiser. Right, shall we go? Tala, can you transport us?"
She said, "I think I can I…"
Before she could finish her sentence as huge ball of light came crashing through the window and hit Tala in the chest. She went flying backwards and slammed into the wall.
Lex, Artemis, and Grodd turned to stare out the window in astonishment.
Hovering in the air were Superman, Wonder Woman and a young woman in a top hat and tails.
Grodd roared as Superman came at him and they smashed through the walls and landed some five doors door the wing.
Artemis pulled out her arrows and fired three in succession at Diana. Diana used her bracelets to deflect them and then she flew at her. Artemis pulled out a sword from her side and waited for the Amazon princess to come at her.
Tala sat up and shook her head and glared at Zatanna. "Who are you?"
Zatanna said, "I am here to stop you." Zatanna sent out a ball of energy which Tala deflected this time.
"Cocky little witch, aren't you?"
Tala waved her hand and Lex's heavy writing desk rose and went flying at her. It hit her hard and she went flying back out the hole in the window. Tala levitated and went after her.
Meanwhile, Lex had moved swiftly and headed out the door to escape. He was yards from the door when a line came from above and wrapped itself around him. He tripped and fell and looked up to see the Batman perched on the banister of the master staircase.
Tala saw Zatanna use her power to rip out a whole tree trunk and send it after her. She was hit like a bat hitting a ball and screeched as she fell into a whole fountain. Dripping and fuming, she wiped her eyes. Using the same water she made it rise and take the shape of a fist and it hit Zatanna in the gut. Zatanna fell to the ground also dripping wet.
They could hear Grodd and Superman pounding each other from where they were and they saw bits of Lex's mansion crumble. The guards around the mansion could be seen all standing immobile. Zatanna had put up a spell upon them to freeze them. They could only watch and do nothing.
Tala hurled an energy bolt at her which she dissipated with a spell by changing it into smoke.
Tala saw a huge statue come at her. She shattered it to pieces with a spell and then sent the debris back at Zatanna. Zatanna put up a shield and they both gasped as Superman and Grodd came smashing right in the middle of their battle.
Grodd rose and telepathically communed to Tala. "Swap foes!!!"
"What?"
"He cannot abide magic and I can control her mind…Do it now before the Amazon comes to even up the odds!!!"
Tala moved her attention to Superman and Grodd to Zatanna.
Superman felt Tala hit him with magical force and he groaned and fell from the sky. Zatanna tried to help but found her mind fogging up.
She could not remember a spell. She could not speak!!!
Grodd loomed over her and he smiled. "Very pretty but very dangerous!!" He back slapped her and she went flying into an unconscious heap.
Tala then allowed Grodd to pick up the weakened Man of Steel and slam his head into the concrete of the fountain. Superman grunted and fell dazed.
Grodd looked at Tala.
"Now for the Amazon."
Artemis did not have all Diana's abilities but she was a strong, immortal Amazon with martial skills that could rival Diana's training. She also carried a strong sword that was forged by very skilled Bana smiths and very sharp. Capable of even cutting the durable Amazon Princess' skin.
She had not expected at this juncture to even face Diana. But seeing her now with the League simply reinforced and reactivated the hurt she felt at being ousted from her homeland and because the day Superman came he changed everything.
She was swinging the sword at Diana. Diana ducked and lifted a chair and the blade sliced through it. Diana's bracelets raised and took the blade on them. She used her legs and whipped it under the Bana's legs and tripped her over. Artemis fell back heavily and she felt hands grab her by the scruff of her neck and lift her. Diana was furious with her but she seemed to be holding back.
"How could you do this, Artemis? Ally yourself with these people? Lex is a villain!"
Artemis twisted and whipped her legs and kicked Diana in the gut. Diana gasped but saw the follow up and grabbed her. She body slammed her into the door. The door cracked and splintered. They fell into the hallway just in time to see Batman hauling Lex to his feet. Lex was bound within a grapple.
Diana put her arm on Artemis' neck. "Don't make me hurt you, Sister."
Artemis spat and struggled. "I am not your sister, man lover!! You are a disgrace to the name Amazon! You and your mother are…"
She got no further as Diana's fist connected with her jaw and knocked her out.
Diana looked up at Batman. "You okay?"
Batman nodded. "Yes. I wonder where the others…?"
Before he got to answer, Gorilla Grodd and Tala appeared.
Tala went for Diana, sending out a tendril of energy. But Diana anticipated her with the bracelets and she flew up and over her and knocked her down from behind. Grodd bear-hugged Batman from behind and swung him around. The Dark Knight flew into the glass mirror in the foyer wall and shattered it. He fell to the floor unconscious.
Diana gasped to see her ally disabled. She got even more worried when Grodd smiled and said, "It would interest you to know that Superman and the little witch are down too. You are on your own, Princess of the Amazons."
Diana gritted, "I have faced worse odds."
She went for him and to Grodd's surprise she was strong and agile and very fast. They traded blows and when Grodd tried to invade her mind she snorted scornfully, "You cannot control my mind. I am an avatar of truth. I carry Hestia's lasso. I am immune to illusion."
Luthor, meanwhile, was hissing at Tala to untie him.
Tala rose and obeyed. He rasped. "Stop Wonder Woman!!! She will ruin our plans!!!"
Tala watched Diana unfurl her lasso. She was about to fling it over Grodd. Tala waved her hands at the crossed spears on the wall on the landing of the master staircase. They flew at Diana.
Diana somersaulted over the weapons and using the momentum of the lasso over Grodd swung him around until he collided into Tala and they both went crashing into the walls.
Diana stood up breathing heavily, her hands clenched ready for them to attack again. She was about to go in after them when she heard a click.
Before she could turn the bullet hit her just below the left rib. Diana gasped and turned and saw another hit her in the shoulder.
Lex was looking at her with a smile, the gun still pointed at her. He fired again but this time she had enough strength to block the next four bullets.
His brows rose as she was panting and double over, the wounds bleeding freely. "You"re good. I respect that."
He smiled to see her sway and fall unconscious. He turned to see Tala and Grodd stumble back into the room. He said acidly, "I appreciate you two not doing your best to destroy my home. Come on. Let's go before they wake up. Tala, wake your little Bana."
Tala smacked Artemis on the cheek. "Wake up!!!" When that didn't work she conjured water and doused it on her face. Artemis sat up spluttering. She looked around them confused for a moment.
Tala said dryly, "Yes. It is a mess, but we have neutralized the League. Come on, get up. We leave now."
Artemis winched and held her jaw as she rose. Her eyes fell on Diana. She asked stunned, "Is she?"
Lex said, "No, she isn't dead. Just got two bullets in her."
Grodd sniffed at Diana. "You know, it might be worth while bringing this one."
Lex rolled his eyes. "I know you have a thing for human women, Grodd, but this one is not your type, take it from me."
Grodd cut him off derisively, " I am sure I could persuade her but what I mean is as a sort of bargaining chip. I smell Superman on her."
Lex's brow creased. "What?"
Artemis' eyes clouded.
Grodd nodded and said mockingly, "Don't let me spell it out for you."
"You're sure?"
Grodd said sarcastically, "No less sure that you are on Tala."
Lex looked at Diana. "Is that so? Well, this works in our favour. Take her. And when Superman comes for her, we will be waiting."
Clark opened his eyes and groaned. He sat up and shook his head. He focused and saw Zatanna lying unconscious on the ground. He scanned her to ensure she was not hurt. He pressed his comlink.
"Is anyone there? Bruce? Diana?"
Batman's voice came back. "I'm in the mansion, Clark."
"Are you okay?"
"Fine…where are you?"
"Outside with Zatanna."
"Is she okay?" Bruce's voice sounded worried.
Superman nodded. "She's just out. No damage from what I could see. I can't see or hear anything. I take it they escaped?"
"It looks that way." His voice hesitated. "Clark… I can't see or find Diana."
Clark stiffened. "What?"
"I think they took her…There seems to have been a fight and blood stains …"
Before Bruce could finish his sentence, Clark blurred in before him, Zatanna in his arms. He handed her over to Batman. His face looked pinched with worry. He rose off the ground. "I'm going to comb the place."
Batman walked into a shattered living room and rested Zatanna down upon the sofa which miraculously was still in one piece. He touched the bruise on her face gently and stroked a tendril off her face.
He then cleared his throat and called briskly, "Zatanna!"
She uttered a tiny groan and opened her eyes. She looked up to see him. "Bruce?" She sat up and frowned, "She got one up on me, didn't she?"
"They got one up one up on all of us."
"It was that damned gorilla. He invaded my mind. I couldn't even remember my spells…"
"You okay? Can you stand?"
"Yes." She rose and looked around. "Wow, what a mess. Where is Luthor?"
"Gone."
"Any idea where?"
"You could try to track them down but this time I'm sure Tala will make sure to shield them all."
Before she could reply Superman appeared. He looked pale and worried. "I can't find Diana anywhere but I saw the blood droplets in the foyer…It's hers, Bruce."
Batman's hand came down on his friend's shoulders. "I'm sure she's alive. They wouldn't bother taking her if she was otherwise."
Superman's eyes seemed to glow red. "What is the bastard up to this time?"
Lex, Tala, Grodd, holding the injured Wonder Woman over his shoulder, and Artemis appeared in the hanger and made their way down to the chamber that harbored the armor. Both Lex and Grodd stood and stared at the Annihilator with real appreciation. They had not really known what to expect and had half wondered if such a thing truly existed.
"It's real…" remarked Grodd.
Lex gestured for two of his henchmen to take Diana off Grodd and shackle her wrists and ankles and put her in a holding cell. He walked up to Grodd who was scanning the armor with the eye of a connoisseur.
"So, here is the armor. Time to swap."
Grodd slipped his finger in his belt and produced the fragment. He dropped it into Lex's hand. "No tricks. I can read your every thoughts, remember."
Lex raised his brow. "But of course not."
He took the fragment with a light in his eyes, feasting greedily upon it. It had taken him many months to track down this fragment. He had known of Superman's defeat of the Brainiac android years ago and that the swarm intelligence of nano-technological units had been neutralized and destroyed. This last fragment had been left behind and had been found by the military. How it ended up in Grodd's hands was a mystery but Lex had every intention of getting it for himself and using it to his advantage. Grodd did not suspect he could do anything much with a fragment. Grodd was right in a way. No scientific mind could do much with the fragment by itself. But he had no intention relying on science.
Grodd asked, "How does one activate it?"
Artemis gritted under her breath, "I cannot believe he is doing this."
Tala murmured, "Hush. All will be well."
Lex looked at Tala and called, "Tala, the spell to rouse it?"
Tala stepped forward, and produced something like a scroll from her girdle. Grodd smiled at her. "Thank you, my dear, Tala."
"You're welcome, Grodd," she bowed.
Grodd unfurled the scroll and looked up at the armor and recited the words,
"Hephaestus' mighty vessel, chosen weapon of Ares, Arise and Destroy at my command."
The Annihilator's visor gleamed red and the etching on its chest glowed but it did not move.
Grodd frowned. "It does not respond."
Lex smiled. "It needs fuel."
"What is that?"
Lex turned to Tala.
She smiled and suddenly a ball of energy glowed between her palms. Before Grodd could turn, the ball was flung at him and he went crashing to the floor. Grodd roared and tried to rise but Tala was prepared it seemed. More energy balls came at him. He was driven back and when he reached a part of the floor, Lex went to a lever on the wall and pulled it. The whole floor seemed to yawn open and Grodd fell into a deep circular chamber.
As he fell heavily to the bottom, electrical beams seemed to arc over him. Grodd pounded the walls. "Luthor!!! You will pay for this treachery!!!"
Lex pushed up the lever and the chamber closed over. "Oh I think not, Grodd. It's only what you would have done given the opportunity."
Artemis' eyes looked relieved. "You are not giving it to him?"
Lex said, "Of course not. I'm not a fool. The armor has a very important role to play."
Artemis looked at Tala. "You planned this together?"
She smiled. "I told you, my dear. Lex knows what he is doing." Tala went up to Lex and stroked his chest. "Now what, my love?"
He looked at her with an enigmatic smile. "Now we use the fragment and resurrect the consciousness of the Braniac android. This, my darling, Tala, is where your magic comes in. I need you to bring it here."
Tala looked dubious. "Lex, my magic is strong but this intelligence is not even on the earth…I do not know if I can track it down and bring it here by myself."
He pushed her off. "I know. That's why we have gotten some extra help. You are the conduit, Tala, but the Annihilator will provide the energy source." To her bemusement a large electrical net fell from above and on top of her. Tala cried out in pain as it discharged enough energy to make her collapse to the floor.
Artemis shrieked, "You monster!!!" Her hand moved to draw her bow and arrow. Lex pointed the gun at her. "Ah ah. Unless you want to go to…where is it…Tartarus?" He gestured to his henchmen who came behind her and grabbed her.
Artemis gasped and struggled. "You will not get away with this!!!"
He said, "But I will and you should congratulate yourself because you helped me. I will let you live to see what your vitriol and vendetta has brought to the world. When I am done with the League, I will make a visit to Amazons once more."
It was like being slapped awake in the face. Artemis felt them drag her and fling her into the cell that held the unconscious Wonder Woman. She watched in horror as they took Tala and began to carry her towards a machine that she had thought was a type of generator. Tala was placed in a circular transparent chamber, her limbs put in restraints, so she was suspended over the Annihilator.
Artemis pounded the cell in dismay and anger. "Neith, what have I done?"
Author's Note : I am loosely using the plot in JLU of Luthor trying to resurrect Brainiac. I am not using the Legion of Doom. Lex , as I mentioned, would not waste his time gathering villains again after the failed Injustice Gang and he is too greedy to share power or sit by and take orders from the likes of Grodd (who was the Head of the Legion of Doom in the cartoon) anyway. If Lex deals with villains, in my mind, it is usually to ultimately grab power from them.
Thanks for reading and reviewing and hope everyone has a happy and prosperous 2010. :)
