LINES DRAWN

Chapter Twenty Nine

Artemis tried to shake the bars of the cell and she yelped as it sent a painful shock into her body and sent her backwards. She hit the rear of the cell and slid to the floor clumsily. She rose shakily and stared at Wonder Woman lying on the ground. The bleeding had clotted due to her healing factor but the bullets were still inside, making the wounds look ugly and inflamed.

She felt that stab of uncertainty again but suddenly remembered what Grodd said. Her eyes darkened. Diana had done the unthinkable and actually bedded Superman and from Grodd's smirk and innuendo, it seemed it was a regular occurrence. How could she?!!

Her thoughts, however, were railroaded by what was going on before her eyes. Artemis had no choice but to stare in dismay.

Tala had regained consciousness and she was wriggling in pain in her restraints. Lex had emerged from a room wearing a type of battle suit and he had his henchmen attach him to the lines that went to Tala and the Annihilator.

Tala screamed, "Lex!!! What are you doing?"

He looked up at her. "I'm going to become a God with your help, Tala. I'm going to absorb the consciousness of Brainiac and with its mental powers I will possess others, create and manipulate computer systems, and exert control over time and space. "

"You…you are mad…!!! It…such a thing cannot be done…!"

He smiled up at her as he attached the circuitry to the energy cell on his suit. "I have calculated and it can be done. Your magic and the energy generated by the armor will make it so. We just have to get the armor fueled now and you will do that nicely by giving me every bit of power you have."

He gestured for one of his men to press a lever. Tala felt an agonizing flow of electrons in her body. It began to intensify. The pain made her shriek. "Lex!!! I loved you…How could you do this to me…?"

He said, as the howls of her pain and rage energized the armor, "I will never forget you Tala. There is no greater sacrifice than that which is given upon the altar of love."

The armor began to stir and its powerful magic converged and met the tendrils given off by Tala. It channeled itself thorough Lex's armor and the fragment.

Lex looked as if he was in ecstasy as Tala's shrieks turned into screams.

Artemis screeched, "You're killing her!! Monster!! Brute! Beast upon two legs!!"

But no one paid any heed to her.


Diana groaned. She opened her eyes and saw she was lying upon cold metal floor. She could hear piercing screams and shouting. She groaned and tried to move and saw she was in heavy electrical restraints, which weighted her wrists and ankles. She felt a sharp pain shoot through her as she tried to move. It was then she remembered what happened to her and saw that she had been shot. The wounds were painful and she could see they looked swollen and blue around the ragged edges.

She focused and saw Artemis in the cell with her and she was shouting. Diana tried to break her restraints but to no avail. Lex had done his homework by using a strong alloy. She gritted and gasped as pain assailed her.

"Artemis…"

Artemis turned and saw her. Her eyes were full of anger, dismay, and frustration. "You! This is your fault!! If you hadn't allowed Superman to turn your head none of this would have happened! You had to step up and challenge them to spare his life!! You should have left him alone! I might have been at home still. Living in peace. Away from this disgusting place…"

Diana looked at Tala screaming. "What is he doing to her?'

"He's using her to resurrect some machine called Brainiac…using her magic and the magic of the armor to summon it to himself…"

Diana gasped. "What?"

"He never meant to use the armor to take down the League…" she muttered more to herself than Diana. "He wants to be master over all…"

Diana's eyes clouded. "You're a fool, Sister."

"I am not the one who beds Superman!!!"

Diana flushed.

Artemis gritted. "Is it true?"

"It is."

"How could you? You said you would never do it…Never dishonor our laws…You disgraced us…"

Diana said huskily, "I am no longer subject or Princess of Themyscira. Artemis, I know you must hate me but what you have done here strikes at the whole Amazon way of life. You and I were sisters, we trained together, shared many memories growing up…you and I and Mala. You know I would never do anything to hurt the tribes…and Superman is not evil. He is a good, kind, brave and honorable soul. I could not help but love him. I am not ashamed of it…Hera, I should hate you for what you have done but I can't. I know you are not evil but you must atone for what you have done."

Artemis looked stung and her hands clenched into fists but a final scream from Tala made her turn and she saw the sorceress' body give a final twitch and the head slump between her shoulders.

"Oh Neith…"

Diana whispered, "Hera, she is dead…"

Artemis dropped to her knees and stared speechlessly.


Lex felt the surge of strength filling him, and the suit. He looked up and saw Tala screaming as every bit of her essence was being sucked out of her. The armor seemed to thrive on her anger and agony and the potential it had to draw energy from her magic and emotions was powerful. Lex watched in kind of rapture, waiting, willing himself as the avatar for Braniac's genius and power.

As Tala writhed, she let out a half sobbing cry of rage.

" I will…show…you…who…is…a…God…!!

Lex watched her die and closed his eyes and waited.

He gasped as the entire machine short-circuited and began to burn and hiss, sparks flying everywhere. He grunted as his team came forward with fire extinguishers. He yanked the wires and lines from his suit and backed away and watched them try to put out the fires.

He stared at the Annihilator. The light in its visor and Hephaestus' markings had burned and the armor was frozen. His eyes clouded and he looked at the fragment. Nothing. Nothing was happening. He looked up at Tala.

Impossible!!! It should to have worked!!! He had calculated! He had studied every detail! He had not forced himself to sleep with Tala and lean of her abilities and secrets for nothing!!!!

He turned and glared at Artemis who was staring at him with real revulsion. He snarled, "She must have lied about the armor's abilities!!!"

He stomped across the room. As he did he could feel the floor tremble. It was Grodd still trying to get out by pounding the walls.

Lex bellowed. "Oh be quiet!!!"

Lex faced the two Amazons in the holding cell. "So Wonder Woman, you're awake. Good. I have some plans for you." He glared at Artemis. "Do you know what I do to people who lie or try to deceive me?"

"Exactly what you do to people who ally themselves with you?" she spat sarcastically.

He laughed. "Feisty and foolish. But thanks to you I know how to breach Themyscira's magical shield and we'll be making a nice visit to the island. Starting with the Bana tribe. You can watch me wipe them out …"

Artemis gasped and tried to grab at him but got shocked again. She hit the ground heavily.

Luthor looked at Diana who was regarding him with scornful eyes. "As for you, I should have killed you when I had the chance. Now we will have the League breathing down our necks…" He gestured for his men to take Diana out. "We don't need any excess baggage…Quickly…"

Artemis rose and tried to stop them but only got her self hit to the floor again. Two men hauled Diana out.

Lex gave the red haired woman a sarcastic look. "You couldn't wait to be rid of her. What? You want to save her now? Really, Artemis, you don't know what you want do you?"

She touched her aching jaw and spat, "I know I want to kill you!!!"

He laughed and gestured for them to bring Diana to the open floor and pushed her down to her knees on the ground. He undid her lasso. "I have always been amazed by this tool of yours. Can it really make truth of liars?"

Diana gritted. "You won't get away with this, Lex. The League will stop you."

" I am sure they will try. Especially Superman. I have tried to rid myself of that alien for the last ten years but nothing works!!! He always manages to bounce back. He has no fear or care for himself. But you, now. What a way to tear at his heart. Kill the woman he loves. Grodd is an irritant but he has his uses." Lex tested the lasso around his gauntlet hands and said impressed, "Indestructible, I hear. Can it be used upon an immortal Amazon gifted by the gods of Olympus, I wonder?"


Zatanna stood with the Justice Leaguers in the main control room looking for clues leading to Lex's whereabouts. She watched Superman pace. He had tried using his super sight to comb the entire state but it was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

Diana could be anywhere.

Batman was trying to get in contact with all the other League members to see if anyone had any sightings whilst the Atom and Steel had gone to the Luthor mansion to see if they could get any telling information from his computer files.

Batman said, "Lex is smart. He won't keep anything incriminating. I can't imagine Ray and John finding anything."

Zatanna whispered worriedly, "And while Tala shields them, who knows what they might do to Wonder Woman."

Batman said dryly, "He can hear you, Zee."

She looked surprised. "Oh. Really?"

"Yes. He has enhanced hearing abilities, to put things mildly. He can hear a leaf falling from a tree in the Amazon rain forest if he wanted to."

"Oh." She seemed unsure how to view that. She then queried, "So he and Wonder Woman are an item?"

"Yes."

"Wow…that's gotta even hit Brangelina out of the park. I take it they are not going public?'"

"Superman and Wonder Woman as a couple is something that needs to be kept under wraps. The last thing we need is the paparazzi looking to fuel the gossip rags and they are very private people, especially Superman."

She looked across at him. "His eyes have been doing that devilish thing for the last half hour…He's pissed, huh?"

Batman turned to see Clark's back to him as he stood now on the upper deck staring down at the earth, arms folded across his chest. "Yes, he's pissed."

The teleporter suddenly signaled someone coming in and they all turned to see the Martian Manhunter appear. Superman hovered and landed as he stepped down.

"Any luck, J'onn?"

J'onn was mindful of Zatanna's presence and he said formally, "No, I am sorry, Superman. I cannot home in on her and I think her comlink is turned off or she just can't activate it."

Clark tightened his lips and muttered, "If he hurts her…"

Suddenly Zatanna held her head and cried out in pain. Everyone turned at once.

Batman rose alarmed and put his hand on her shoulder. "Zee?"

She gasped, her hand clutched at his. "The shield!!! It's gone!!!"

Batman blinked. "The shield is gone?"

She looked bewildered. "Some-something powerful was released."

Superman asked urgently, "Can you trace them now?"

She closed her eyes, and saw an airfield. A hanger. Underground passageways. Tala's body suspended from some strange machine. "Yes…yes…I …God, she is dead!! That's why the shield came down!!!"

"Can you get us there?"

Zatanna straightened up and took in a deep breath. "Yes."


Lex regarded Diana whose whole posture, despite being on her knees, was proud. Her eyes were hazed with pain and she was breathing somewhat rapidly from her wounds but she glared at him with a kind of unwavering defiance.

He pulled the rope taut and smiled at her. "Afraid?"

Diana gritted, "I don't fear death if that is what you mean."

"Probably not. You are an Amazon after all but you might fear for him. What he might become when he sees what I have done to you. Think he will remain the Big Blue Boyscout that he is? Keep that no killing code of his? Interesting thought, isn't it?" He made a slack noose.

Diana returned fiercely, "He would never dishonor his code."

Lex looped the lasso around her neck. "Maybe, maybe not but it would be wonderful to try."

He pulled the noose tight and Diana gasped. Lex whispered, "When I am done here I will string your pretty body up for him to see…"

Artemis yelled "Stop!!!"

Lex turned and smiled at her. "Why should I? Isn't this what you wanted?"

He pulled tighter. Diana's colour began to fade and her eyes rolled back. She began to make a choking and spluttering sound.

Lex laughed and was about to give the final decisive tug when a bright light flashed. Before he could react, a blur of blue and red came at him. A hand had him by the neck and his fingers had no choice but to drop the lasso. He was slammed into a wall and hoisted up by the neck, as his legs dangled off the floor.

Lex looked down to see Superman. He could see Zatanna, Batman, and the Martian Manhunter. His henchmen rushed at them with guns. Bullets were fired. The Manhunter phased out and grabbed Diana before she could be hit and flew upwards with her.

Batman and Zatanna took on the henchmen. Zee deflecting the bullets with her magic and Batman taking a couple out with his batarangs.

Superman rasped, "I'm going to break every bone in your body."

Lex sneered, "You couldn't do it. You are all bark and no bite, Boyscout."

The eyes glowed red and Lex could feel the heat. He gasped.

A weak voice seemed to assail Clark's consciousness. "Kal…stop."

It was Diana's voice. He turned to see her in J'onn's arms. Her eyes pleaded with his.

"Please. I'm okay…"

Superman's heat vision subsided and his fingers slacked on Luthors's neck.

This gave Lex the opportunity fire the rocket boosters at the back of his armor and he shot upwards out of Superman's grasp. Superman looked up at Lex irritably. "You are really trying my patience now."

Lex grinned. "Good." He raised his arm and fired a laser at a lever on the wall. The floor opened and out leapt a very enraged Grodd. The gorilla was stunned to see himself caught in a crossfire battle between Justice League and Luthor's tactical team. He roared and attacked both sides, first smacking down the henchmen and breaking their guns and then going for Batman and Zatanna by using his telepathic powers.

Superman had no choice but to rush in to help them. Lex took this opportunity to head out of the laboratory.

J'onn put Diana down in a corner and he went in. He shouted to Clark. "Go!! I've got this!!!"

Superman did not follow Lex. He simply went straight up, bursting through metal floors and into the hanger itself. Lex was heading for his private jet on the landing strip. He had gotten in and was shouting at the pilot to lift off.

The pilot turned the engine on to only hear the jet make a sickening, grinding sound. He watched the whole control system go dead. He saw something like the engine and sheared wings flying past and tumbling in front of them.

He heard the wrenching sound of metal being twisted and he rose with his co-pilot. They burst into the cabin to see the door of the jet had been ripped off, the steward and hostess cowering in the galley and Lex in the middle pressing something on his suit.

"I'll take out the whole crew…if you come closer."

Superman's brows rose. "Suicide? You? Spare me."

He snarled, "I will not go back to jail…I will not…"

An impatient look hazed the cerulean blue eyes. He really had no time for this. Not when all he wanted was to go and see how Diana was.

Superman clapped his hand just sharply enough for the impact to sent a sound wave that sent Lex flying backwards towards the tail end of the cabin, slamming into the wall and ending up resting on the toilet.


The police had been called and they were taking Luthor, Grodd and their accomplices into armored vans. The League stood and watched them being taken away as well as ambulances take away Tala's dead body and injured members of the tactical team. J'onn, Batman and Zatanna volunteered to escort the vehicles. Lex still could not be trusted and once Grodd woke he was dangerous. The Annihilator was to be transported to the Watchtower with the aim to send it back to Themyscira.

Superman was holding an injured Diana in his arms despite her saying she could try to walk. But she needed to speak to Artemis who now stood looking somewhat lost. The Bana woman had half expected to be handcuffed and taken away.

But Diana it seemed had indicated otherwise to the League.

"I need to get you to the Watchtower," Clark was saying. "You're pale, feel cold and clammy and I can tell you're in pain."

"Just a few minutes, Kal. Please put me down."

He reluctantly allowed her on her feet and gave her some space with Artemis, keeping a wary eye on the Bana Amazon.

Diana tried to cover her grimace as she spoke. "Artemis…"

Artemis spun around. Her eyes looked confused and angry. "Why are sparing me? Why did you stop them from taking me like the others?"

"I am not sparing you. I am leaving your punishment to you."

"What?" She looked uncomprehending, even mistrusting.

"You heard me."

Artemis' hand moved to her sword. Superman looked to move in at once but Diana shook her head at him.

The Bana woman held it out and went down on one knee. Her voice was brittle. "Take it. By our laws you have earned the right to execute justice."

Diana took the sword but let it clatter to the ground. "Have you no spine to face up to your deeds?"

Pain and a look of rage filled Artemis' eyes. She cried, "What? What more do you want of me?"

"You do not get off that easily. I want you to search your soul and seek forgiveness from those you wronged. I want you to see the pain you cause in the path you took. I want you to stop running. I want to see the brave sister I grew up with. Who was proud, even pig headed and arrogant but never evil. She had honor." Diana turned away. "You are free to go."

Artemis shouted, "You cannot do this!! You cannot leave it this way…"

But Diana was already walking away from her.

She went into Clark's arms. It was the final message to Artemis. That this was her choice and she had no regrets. Artemis could say nothing but stare wordlessly.

Clark whispered, "Ready to go?"

"Yes...I think it's time I get these bullets out…I…"

Before she could utter a word, the skies above suddenly began to churn. And there was a sound like thunder and disturbance high up in the atmosphere. Lightning flashed.

"What the…" began a policeman.

Everyone stopped and looked up.

"What is it?" wonder Zatanna as the wind seemed to pick up.

"I don't know," murmured Batman.

Superman used his super senses. He said grimly, "It's an electrical storm. But I can't see what could be the cause of it. The skies were blue a moment ago."

J'onn pressed his comlink and seemed to listen. He added gravely, "It seems this is happening around the world. In every major city."

Zatanna looked at Batman. "Bruce, I have a bad feeling about this. This storm seems other worldly…I think something is about to happen."

"Magical you mean?" His voice was not as skeptical as it normally was.

"I don't know. I can feel powerful forces at work…It's what I felt when I was looking for Tala…" She looked at him tentatively. Normally Batman ridiculed the supernatural which was half the reason they use to lock horns.

Batman looked around at his colleagues. "I think we need to go. The police will have to look after these guys today. I for one think we need to look into this and be ready for whatever Zee thinks might be coming."

Zatanna looked startled at that but her lips seemed to smile.


They teleported at once to the Watchtower to see what was going on. There they found Steel, who was already monitoring the strange weather patterns and Mr Terrific in the Coordinator's chair. Green Lantern, Flash, Hawk Girl, the Atom, Green Arrow, and Black Canary, were amongst those that were on active duty.

Clark went with Diana to the infirmary. Down there they found Kimiyo Hoshi, Dr Light, on duty with one of the ground staff as nurse.

Diana insisted she was not going to be put to sleep whilst they operated on her.

"A local anesthetic," she insisted of Kimyo as the doctor set up her trolley. Clark and the nurse helped Diana out of her uniform behind a screen and got her to lie upon a gurney and covered her.

Clark was not pleased and argued, "Diana, you need to rest and heal. After this surgery you need to sleep. I think a general anesthetic would be better…"

She glared, despite looking white as the sheets she lay upon. "No. I am not going under. If something terrible happens as Zatanna says I need to be alert and able to help…"

"Diana, as Chairman I don't permit any one of my colleagues to put themselves at risk and this is no exception."

She looked stung. "Oh, now you're pulling rank on me! Oh very fair, Kal."

He was scowling now. "I'm not pulling rank! I am voicing a professional opinion…"

She frowned back. "You know, if I didn't love you as much as I do I would hit you right now."

Kimiyo rolled her eyes and pushed Clark away. "I really don't need you upsetting the patient. Her vitals are erratic as it is. Stay and hold her hand or go away."

Clark sighed and held her hand. Diana gave a smug smile.

The two bullets were taken out successfully and Diana's wounds were being bandaged by the nurse when John Stewart's voice was heard on the intercom.

"Superman…"

Clark looked up. "Yes, John?"

"You need to get up here now!! You need to see this…"

"What?" began Kimiyo but Clark had blurred out of the room already.

She looked at Diana wryly, "Seriously, how do you deal with that?"

Diana smiled. "He doesn't do it that much. And I'm usually right behind him if he does."


Superman appeared and he saw the worried faces of the League.

"What? What is it?"

"Look."

They pointed to the screens that showed a huge gaping hole in the skies above Metropolis. A large battle ship appeared.

One another screen he saw the same thing happen over New York, Washington, London, Paris…the sound of thunder and the fabric of the sky tearing open and more ships appearing.

Clark's face darkened with recognition. "Boomtubes…"

J'onn looked worried. "H'ronmeer, that means one thing."

"Darkseid."

"But how?" began the Flash. "He was destroyed!! Supes…you saw him destroyed!"

Superman blinked. "I did…Apokolips is actually at war with all sides fighting for the throne. Darkseid is dead and…"

As if on cue, all the monitors of every tv network suddenly went gray and hissed as their transmissions were cut.

The image of Darkseid appeared.

"Insects of Earth. I am Darkseid, ruler of Apokolips, and I have come for my vengeance. I am here because the one you call Superman attempted to destroy me…but he has failed. For this he must be destroyed. But first I will make him suffer. I know his love for this planet that he calls his own, and I will make it burn and become a world of firepits. Those that do not die will be my slaves. You will curse the name of Superman before this day is done. Let the universe howl in despair …because I have returned."

Darkseid's face vanished.

Everyone was speechless.

Batman looked at Zatanna. "Was it possible instead of resurrecting Brainiac, Tala did this?"

Zatanna replied with real dread, "The armor 's energy is so very powerful…Created by a God…Tala's final act upon Lex it seems was to called upon a God himself ... to wage war."


Diana limped into the control room to watch the Watchtower fill with heroes being called in and being delegated by J'onn to go various parts of the planet. It seemed the battleships had been filled with swarms of winged creatures carrying lasers that had begun to descend upon cities across the world.

Superman gritted, "Parademons."

"More and more of them keep appearing over major cities around the world," said the Atom.

"Oh god, what is that??!!" cried Black Canary, pointing to two huge machines coming down upon the east and west coast and beginning to drill into the earth.

Superman muttered, "It's what they do. Drill into the core of the earth, killing every living thing and turning it into a barren world of fire pits." He turned to look at Mr Terrific. "Any sign of Darkseid's mothership?"

Michael Holt looked at the radar. "It just appeared above Metropolis."

"That's where I want to be," declared Clark, preparing to go towards the teleporter.

"I'm coming with you," began Diana.

Clark looked at her and held her by the arms. "You're injured, Diana. Not up to full strength."

"So?"

"So? Do you really have to ask me that?" he sighed.

"Kal, I am coming with you," she interrupted, her jaw set in a stubborn line. "I can fight. I want to fight alongside you for this planet."

He put his forehead to hers uncaring that they were surrounded by allies and ground staff who all gaped now as it was not known by all that they were an item.

"It used to be so easy with Lois or Lana. I just fly off and knew they were safe…but you, you're definitely going to give me gray hairs," he whispered but as if to show her he was more touched than annoyed, he held her close.

She put her arms around him and whispered back. "Get use to it, Mr Kent."

Batman clicked his tongue impatiently, "Alright, alright, break it up, you two! So Diana is going to go with Clark. What about the others?"

"I think J'onn could come with us. He's one of our strongest players, "said Superman, letting Diana go. "J'onn?"

J'onn replied, "It will be my honor to fight along side you both."

Batman nodded. "Fine. That's your three in Metropolis. I need to get to Gotham."

Zatanna touched his arm. "I'll come with you."

"You don't have to,…I can call up Nightwing and…"

"You'll need all the help you can get, Batman."

"I don't think…"

She blocked his mouth with her fingers and more or less repeated Wonder Woman's words to Superman. "I am coming with you."

"Zatanna, I'm not joking …"

Everyone grinned to see Batman glare at her and she slip her arm into his and say, "Come on and stop staring daggers at me. You know that does not work with me. "

"Shyera , Flash and I can go and deal with the diggers, "said Green Lantern, after the snickering at the Dark Knight's expense had stopped.

Green Arrow said, "Go on. We'll deploy the rest of the League."

"The army, air force and navy of all countries are also on high alert," added Mr Terrific.

"Let's hope we have enough to deal with the parademon armies," said one of the younger heroes Dove.

His partner Hawk nodded. "Let's hope. Those demon things look like something out of hell…"

Superman could hear the fear in their voices and see the uneasiness and anxiety in their eyes. Darkseid going after any planet never ended well for its inhabitants. He cleared his throat and addressed his colleagues before he stepped onto the teleporter.

"Darkseid is a God. He is ruthless. He has thousands of those parademons at his command. He will not stop until he lays waste to the whole universe. To him this planet is just a means to get back at me. I wish I could take this fight to him alone but I can't."

His voice was strong with resolve. "But I am glad to know I am not alone. I am part of a team of brave men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting the Earth and that means every person, every animal, every blade of grass! We will not let his arrogance and brutality faze us! We will fight and never surrender! Die in the attempt if we have to! We are the Justice League!!"

Green Lantern stepped forward and put his hand up in solidarity. "To the Justice League!!"

The whole room shouted seriously, "The Justice League!"

"Let's go kick some Apokoliptic ass!!" yelled Flash.

The tension broke and everyone laughed.

Superman smiled and he stood with Wonder Woman and the Martian Manhunter on the teleporting podium. "Good luck, everyone, and fight well!"


Author's Note : I used the armor as part of the magic to resurrect Darkseid. In the JLU cartoon Tala was used as the means to resurrect Brainiac and she used her power to defy Lex by somehow bringing back Darkseid instead. She was killed in the process. She is powerful but I think something forged by a God (Hephaestus made the Annihilator) makes more sense to bring back a Darkseid, who is a God himself.