Chapter Thirty Seven

Donna was lounging on her bed while reading a magazine and snacking from a bag of potato chips when she heard the sound of something falling in the next room. The thud made her sit up and frown. She could hear movement.

"Diana?"

She dropped the magazine and bag and curiously made her way to her sister's room. She had not expected her to come back so soon. She had expected Diana to stay the whole weekend with Clark.

Donna put a teasing smile on her face and began loudly as she pushed the door open, "Okay, Sister, spill the beans and leave nothing out! I want to hear everything! I…Hera, what? Diana?"

Donna paused on the threshold to see a large trunk that usually sat in the corner of the room had been dragged into the middle and Diana was now rummaging among its contents. She was in her Wonder Woman costume and there was a stricken look on her face as she inspected several swords, a bow, mace and several other weapons. She threw them all aside in frustration.

"Diana, what are you doing?"

But Diana barely seemed to hear and notice her. She finally picked up a battle ax and shield. She muttered, "It will do."

Donna grabbed her arm. "Diana, what are you doing?"

When Diana turned Donna took in a sharp breath. Her sister's face was pale and pinched with anxiety.

"Diana, what's wrong? What are you doing with that ax?"

Diana dug her nails in her arm. "Donna, I have to go and bring him back."

"What? Who? What are you talking about?"

" Apokolips has Kal and I have to get him back."

"You what?" Donna looked at her as if she were crazy. "What is he doing in Apokolips? You two were spending time at the Fortress so how…?"

Diana said in a rush, "Darkseid has Kal and time is of the essence! The longer he stays on Apokolips the farther he slips from us! I need to go!"

"What?This makes no sense! Diana! How did he get him?" She blocked her. "Look at me! I am your sister and you owe me an explanation! How in Hades name did Apokolips get Superman?"

She stopped and said woodenly, "I handed him over."

"What?" Donna looked at her in horror and recoiled.

Diana put her hand out as if to placate her. "It's not what you think! I did not hand him over willingly. There was no choice. He thought of the perfect vengeance for me and Kal. He came to me shortly after I won the right to be Themyscira's champion…I was happy that day…I had just been crowned and Kal and I were going to court each other…" Her voice quivered a little. "He must have been watching and waiting. He timed it well. I thought he wanted me back but he had an even crueler plan. He wanted Kal. He recognized the potential in him as a great soldier. He threatened to kill everyone I had grown to love…unless I handed Kal over. And…I agreed."

Donna sank upon the bed and looked aghast as understanding began to dawn upon her. "Hera, you made a deal with Darkseid? To hand over Superman? Diana, you care deeply for him! I know you do! How could you agree to something so…so…insane!"

"You do not know how desperate I have been, Donna. But the option was seeing them murder you, mother, Artemis, Billy, the Kents and they would have done it…and done it brutally…I was hemmed in…I had no way out ….I…,"she tried to explain sorrowfully.

She gasped, "You could have said something! Told me…told our sisters…we could have tried to help…!"

She replied painfully, "He had his minions watching. They were spying on all of you…should I make any move to warn anyone…they would strike…I spent the last few weeks trying to find out from Kal himself ways to take him down and he trusted me so much he told me…He told me about a substance that weakened him. Kryptonite. An rare ore from his dead planet. He kept it in his fortress…I got him to show me…and I planned to use it today…"

Donna put her hand to her mouth. "So you handed him over? Oh, Diana…"

Diana knelt before her. She looked at her with pleading eyes. "I couldn't do it when the time came. I couldn't hand him over. Please believe me…"

Donna looked confused. "But you said…"

"Kal knew. Kal found everything out a week ago but he said nothing. He was testing me. Testing me to see if I would betray him and when I couldn't…he…he…" Her voice dropped to an agonizing whisper. "He made me hand him over. He said…we had to do it…the sacrifice had to be made. Donna, he was always going to sacrifice himself for me and the planet…" Her eyes glistened as her voice trembled.

"Oh Diana," she sighed and to Diana's astonishment, she reached down to hug her. "I knew something was not right. I thought you were just missing Clark…I should have known. How could I not sense that you were unhappy?"

Diana closed her eyes and allowed herself to savor her sister's embrace a few seconds but then she pushed her away and rose. "I have to go."

"Where are you going?" Donna looked alarmed.

Diana was heading for the door. "I have to go and find Scott and Barda. I have to tell them what happened. I need to go to Apokolips and rescue him. I need their help."

Donna's hand grabbed her arm and she cried, "What do you mean you are going to Apokolips?"

Diana turned and looked at her gravely. "Tell my mother what happened."

"But…"

"Donna, please, the longer you detain me, the longer the delay in my getting to Kal."

"Let me come with you."

"No. No. You cannot come with me. Just say a prayer for me," she beseeched and kissed her sister's brow. "If I do not see you again…I love you and I thank you for your faith in me…Tell mother…I love her too…Please, don't follow me. This is my battle, not yours."

Donna stood and watched her leave and held her cheeks in dismay.

Hippolyta listened to Donna in stunned silence as she explained what was happening to Diana via one of the computer monitors in the Hall of History. Phillipus and Euboea stood with her and they occasionally glanced at each other soberly as the magnitude of what Diana was undertaking unfolded.

Donna took in a deep breath as she finished. "Mother, what do we do?"

The Queen turned to Phillipus and said sharply, "Ready the invisible jet and have them pack my armor, the Sandal of Hermes and Gauntlet of Atlas."

Phillipus blinked but bowed. "Yes, my Queen."

She looked at Donna. "Child, you and I will speak again. I need this channel now."

"Mother, what are you going to do?"

"Later, Donna."

She switched Donna off and dialed up the Watchtower. The face of the Martian Manhunter appeared.

He began a little concerned noting her grim look. "Your Majesty, this is a surprise. How are…?"

She interrupted, "J'onn, I have grave news."

It took Diana a little while to find Barda and Scott. First of all, she had to get their address, which she easily found in the Embassy's computer database, and then got a printout of the map. When she got to the quiet, suburban neighborhood she found the couple had gone out. She sat on a chair in their porch and waited and in doing so incurred stares from some curious neighbors.

She waited for twenty minutes and was about to get up and leave, when she heard a car slowing down before the house and then turning up into the driveway. Diana rose. It was Scott and Barda.

They got out of their car and they looked at her in surprise.

Scott and Barda looked at Diana as she paced and told her story. They glanced at each other occasionally but said very little. Diana stopped and faced them. She could see the uncertainty in their eyes.

"You believe me, don't you? Barda, I'm not lying to you."

Barda came to her and rested a hand on her arm. "Diana, we are trying to understand it, believe me. But you must realize what you are asking is not a simple thing. Why did you come to us and not go to the League?"

"You and Scott have a Mother Box and you know Apokolips. If there lies any chance to get in unnoticed then is it with you… Having to go and try to explain to the League would take away precious time…" She looked up into Barda's eyes. "You know, Barda, you know what Darkseid will do with him should he break him…You and I have been there."

"I do know," she said quietly. "But just the three of us? Trying to get him out? That is suicide."

"You managed to get Orion out."

"Yes, but with High Father's and the rebels' aid. Superman was actually with us. The tables would have turned on this time…

"Surely you can speak to Highfather to help us? Superman risked his life for Orion…and I am sure Orion himself would help us. Darksied would never expect us to come back for him."

Scoot said grimly, "Maybe not but if we succeed what then? He will come after the Earth."

Diana clenched her fists. "Darkseid keeps his word when it suits him. If he has Kal as his herald then the survival of the earth is only a matter of time. He will come after the whole galaxy."

"You said he told you he would leave the earth alone now he has Superman," began Barda.

Diana looked out the window at the neighborhood and the man watering his lawn and the child riding her bike and asked, "If you were Darkseid, what would you do?"

Barda exchanged a grave look with Scott.

She turned and they saw the guilt in her eyes. She said low, "My stupidity caused this. It's just for most of my life, I have always been alone…Darkseid did his work well. I didn't know…I didn't understand…I didn't trust enough to ask for help. I thought I had to bear it on my shoulders. He got the vengeance he wanted from me. Kal will possibly never trust me again or become a monster. I would sacrifice the first to get him out. If you can't help me, I go alone. I just need the Mother Box to help me cross dimensions…"

Barda touched her husband's shoulder. "Maybe we could speak to Highfather…?Please, Scott? For me."

Scott sighed. "We can speak to Highfather."

Diana swallowed. "Thank you."

Barda said briskly, "We need to get ready. We can hardly go to New Genesis dressed like this."

Diana waited for five minutes as they disappeared upstairs. She paced the room. Her mind was deep in thought, considering all the possible options on how to breach the Citadel and Desaad's torture chamber. If New Genesis was prepared to help them then it might make their rescue easier. She looked up just in time to see Barda coming down the steps in her armor and headgear and carrying her megarod. The doorbell rang simultaneously.

"Who is that now? We're not expecting anyone," she muttered and moved to twitch the curtain.

"I can get it," volunteered Diana.

Barda groaned, "Oh, damn."

"What is it?" Diana came to stare over her shoulder and she sucked in her breath.

Standing on the door step was none other than Black Canary and Green Lantern.

"Quick! Call Scott!" she hissed. "We must leave now!"

"That will not be necessary."

They spun around to see Batman and the Martian Manhunter standing behind them.

Scott appeared from his study in his own gear. "Okay, I have Mother Box…I…Oh…"

He blinked as he realized they had company.

Batman gave him a dry greeting. "Hello, Scott. Sorry to barge in like this but your guest is wanted by the League." He looked at Diana. "I hope you are not going to make this difficult."

Barda murmured to her, "We can take them on if you want."

Diana swallowed. They could indeed try but she sighed wearily as the front door was opened by Green Lantern and Black Canary. They entered warily. She saw Dinah's worried face and she shook her head. "No, Barda. Not like this."

She turned to Batman and the Manhunter. "How did you know?"

"Your sister told you mother and the Queen called it in," replied J'onn gravely. "You know, Diana, we cannot possibly ignore what you have done."

Diana looked at him with entreating eyes. "J'onn, I did not betray him."

Batman said brusquely, "That remains to be decided. You physically handed a member of the League over to the enemy. You are on a very slippery slope, Wonder Woman."

"Batman, you do not realize what Darkseid had done. What he had been threatening to do…!"she began urgently.

He said coldly, "We do know. When Superman found out, he told us everything. He requested us to stand down while he dealt with you. It seems he was hoping your conscience would kick in. It appears it did not. And now you are here pleading with others to go back in? What did Darkseid promise you for Scott and Barda?"

Diana paled. "What?"

Scott and Barda looked at him a little confounded. Batman asked sarcastically, "You do not mean to tell me you had not considered Darkseid would want to lure you two back as well?"

Diana cried, as if stung, "I'm not plotting to betray Scott and Barda!"

Barda began, "I do not believe she would do such a thing, Batman."

"Really? Did anyone think she would hand over Superman? We are here to take you back to the Watchtower. You are under arrest."

Diana went to J'onn and pleaded, "J'onn, you know I'm telling the truth. Look into my mind. You will see."

J'onn said gravely, "Diana, for weeks you have closed yourself off to me…I cannot vouch for anything that I feel or see. You could be manipulating me too."

"They had placed a telepathic blocker in my head."

"Really? Where is it?" asked Hal.

"They took it out."

Everyone looked at each other. Batman snorted. "Convenient."

Dinah mused, "Her lasso. We can use that surely to…?"

Diana's hand went to her hip and she replied gruffly, "Lashina wrestled it away from me."

Batman began to head for the door. "Very convenient. You are under arrest, Wonder Woman. You will go nowhere until the League can satisfy themselves what happened and what role you played in handing over our chairman to Apokolips."

Diana sat in a chair in the conference room as the senior members of the League gathered. Scott and Barda were present too. Barda would not take no for an answer. For one, she and Scott were experts when it came to anything about Apokolips and second, Diana was her main concern.

Some of the members sat while others stood. Batman, the Martian Manhunter, the two Green Lanterns, Black Canary, Flash and Steel all listened to her story with grim expressions.

She finished with a plea. "I know how it must sound but I'm telling the truth. And the longer we delay the greater the time and chance they have to break him. We need to go and get him!"

Batman spoke first. "You realize that your story sounds very suspect? Why should we believe you? Why should we trust that you really want to rescue Superman? That this is not some ruse to lead us all into a trap?"

Diana looked at all their faces. She could see some shared Batman's skepticism. Other looked uncertain. Only Barda seemed to believe her.

She colored as she began, "Because I love Kal." It was the first time she admitted it openly to anyone. It made her feel stripped. Naked. This confession was akin to her baring her soul.

Hal's brow quirked. "You love him? You mean sleeping with him and then stabbing him with kryptonite? Uh, okaaay."

Diana's fingers curled and she gritted, "I would give my life for him! If I could have gone in his place, I would have. But Darkseid did not want me. This is the vengeance he planned for me. Taking the man that I love in such a way it ruins the only happiness I have known; the trust I have built up between myself and my new home and family and friends. The disappointment I know my mother and his parents would feel eats at me. You won't have to punish or incarcerate me. I'm being punished just by sitting here! And Kal is being tortured and brainwashed as we speak and for the record, I asked Scott and Barda for their help. So how can I lead you into a trap when I never came to you?"

Dinah observed, "She has a point, you know."

Batman said impatiently, "She has proven time and time again that she's capable of breaking rules and she has flouted her probation terms. If you had been keeping a proper eye on her maybe we might not even be here."

Dinah flushed. "I did keep an eye as specified by our rules. We are not paranoid as you, Bruce!"

Flash began, "Look even if we're not sure she's telling the truth, we can't let Supes rot in that hell, can we?"

John Stewart folded his arms. "What? You suggest we just go into Apokolips?"

"Well, we could…sort of …like when Supes went in with Scott and Barda…They have a Mother Box and maybe we can have a rescue mission…"

Batman gave Flash an unimpressed look. "Is that you talking or the part that has a crush on her sister?"

"Hey, that's not fair!"

Batman continued sternly, "I'm not willing to let any member go in. It could be a trap. They could be waiting for us. Hoping we will take her bait; her sad little story that she was forced to do it."

Diana pounded the table. "I'm not lying!"

"Then why didn't you allow Clark to help you?" asked Steel. "We could have helped you. You go and hand him over to the enemy? I'm sorry, Diana, but how are we to take that?"

"I did not hand him over…He made me do it…"

"Oh, Superman made you hand him over? That's even better," remarked Batman. "You are an ex-Fury. Well, versed in deceit and manipulation. Who is to say this isn't what you had planned all along?"

"I don't blame you for being suspicious of me, Batman. You do not know me and why should you or anyone here believe me after all that has happened. But you know Superman. He is your friend. You would know him. He sacrificed himself. It was the only way so Darkseid would not attack the earth or come for those we love. I may not know him as long as most of you, but Kal would die before he allowed innocents to die and it broke my heart to do it. And he needed me to do it. He said to have faith in him. Faith that he could survive Apokolips as I had done." He voice quivered but she held firm and she stood defiantly and proudly, looking them all in the eye.

Everyone was silent.

J'onn said quietly, "When Superman spoke to us, I sensed that he was indeed going to put himself up as bait. I just did not realize he would do this, else I would have stopped him."

Diana said quietly, "You couldn't stop him."

"No. I know that, Diana. Just as I respected what he asked us to do."

Flash, who was finding it hard to stand still and was doing a kind of impatient jig, stopped and cried, "It's exactly what Clark would do. We all know it! I'll be damned to sit here and do nothing. Blue is like a big brother to me. He's always been there for me and if she wants to go get him, I'll go with her!"

Dinah stepped in. "We need to sit and discuss this logically." She looked at Scott, Barda and Diana. "The League would like to discuss this further." She nodded to Hal and John. "Can you escort them to a waiting room? Diana, do we have your word you will not try to leave?"

Diana bowed her head. "I give my word."

The League was split. Some were willing to give Diana the benefit of the doubt while others were on Batman's side. It was too risky. They were still arguing half an hour later when Red Tornado announced that they had visitors.

They were a little stunned to see Queen Hippolyta, Donna and Artemis walking into the conference room.

J'onn rose and bowed. "You Majesty!"

Hippolyta looked at J'onn worriedly. "Where is my daughter?"

Everyone else rose to their feet and gaped. Not everyone knew Artemis was pregnant. And right now she was heavy with child. In fact, she was in her thirty-seventh week, and she looked very irritable and uncomfortable.

"What in God's name are you doing here?" demanded Batman, coming around to face her. "You are in no fit condition to fly."

She gave him a sarcastic look. "I know that and I wouldn't be here unless something warranted it. Believe me when I say I would rather be lying down with my feet up than here."

Flash looked at Donna with a shy smile and waved. "H-hi, Princess." But Donna was too worried to notice. She was looking around for her sister.

Dinah began, "How?"

J"onn explained, "It was the Queen who informed us what Diana was planning to do."

"How did she find out?" asked Batman suspiciously.

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Diana told Donna. Donna thought it wise to tell her mother." She looked at the rest of the League who were trying not to make it seem that they were eyeing her belly. "And yes, I am with child and it is Bruce's."

Hal blinked. "Whoa. Well, anymore cats to let out of the bag here today?" He turned to John. "You and Mari and Shyera are not going to set up house are you?"

"That is not even funny, bro," scowled John.

Hippolyta repeated, "Where is Diana?"

J'onn explained what had taken place. "She is with Scott and Barda in one of the waiting rooms. The League has been trying to come to some consensus on what to do in the current situation."

Hippolyta perceptively observed, "I take it you are divided on what you want to do?"

Dinah wearily, "It's a tough call, Your Majesty. Diana has placed us in a difficult position. She claims she never betrayed Superman and he made her deliver him up to Apokolips and she insists on wanting to go after him. The League can't stand by, no matter the situation. Even if what she says is true, the idea of us putting members at risk to go to that place…"

Hippolyta said firmly, "You are right, of course. Why should you believe Diana?"

They blinked in surprise at her response. Hippolyta continued calmly, "You are not obliged to. But I am her mother. Donna and Artemis are her sisters. We believe her. And I am here to support her. And if that means going to Apokolips, to retrieve the man I owe a huge debt for giving me back my daughter, then so be it."

Donna gasped, "We are going to Apokolips?"

Batman frowned at Artemis. "You can't go to Apokolips!"

Artemis said dryly, "I am not stupid, Bruce. I know I can't go anywhere. But know this, if I was not as big as a whale, I would be going with Diana!"

Batman said exasperated, "Who said anyone was going anywhere?"

Flash suddenly jerked forward to Donna. "Er, I could go and help you…"

Donna gave him a grateful look. "Thank you, Flash."

He rubbed his neck. "Please, it's Wally."

Hippolyta looked at Donna. "No, child. Not we. Me." She gave Flash a slightly amused glance. "That is kind of you, Flash, but Donna is staying here."

Donna protested, "What? Why? I can help!""

Everyone began to speak together, Dinah put her hands on her hips and exchanged a wry look with J'onn and Hippolyta. She cried, "Enough!"

"Hey now!" protested John

"Yow, Dinah!" cried Flash.

"No need to shatter our ear drums, Dinah!" grunted Hal.

She gave them an exasperated look. "Look, we have argued and argued and this is getting us nowhere. Time is slipping away. I propose this goes to a vote! It's simple really. Are we willing to give Diana the benefit of the doubt and do we go after Clark or not?"

Diana stood glumly at a window and stared out at the blackness of space. Scott and Barda were sitting quietly in a corner and speaking in quiet undertones. Not that Diana was paying attention to what they were saying anyway. But they were worried about the length of time the discussion was taking. And Diana clearly was thinking about that too. They hoped that Diana was not incarcerated once more for what she had done. She was on probation and getting into trouble again was not going to do her any favors. They just hoped the League would come to their senses and put a team together to go after Superman. Because a Kryptonian under Darkseid's control would prove to be lethal.

The door suddenly slid open and they saw Black Canary enter. She looked serious.

Diana turned and Scott and Barda stood up. She asked uneasily, "What is the League's decision?"

She gestured to them. "You're all asked to come back to the conference room."

Diana paused near her as Scott and Barda went out first. She whispered, "Dinah, I'm sorry. I never meant to cause you any trouble."

Dinah patted her arm. "I know. Come on"

They crossed the hall and in two minutes time were in the conference room. Diana gasped as she saw her mother and sister. "Mother! Donna! Artemis! What? How?"

Donna rushed to her and hugged her. "I'm so glad to see you're okay."

Diana looked at her still bewildered. "I still don't understand what you are doing here?"

Donna said guiltily, "I was the one who told mother."

Diana sighed heavily. "That I know. But Donna, you may have condemned Kal and all of us."

Donna flushed but she insisted, "Diana, you could not do this alone. I had to tell."

Hippolyta intervened. "Yes, she did. Come here, daughter."

Diana slowly went to her mother and she bowed her head. "Mother…"

Hippolyta cupped her cheeks. "I know what you did was because you had no choice. If it had been me I would have done the same."

Diana's eyes blinked. "W-what?" She stepped away from her, and looked around at everyone. "Then why did you stop me?"

"Donna is right. You cannot do this on your own. We did not lose you once to lose you again."

Barda put a finger up. "Er, your Majesty, Scott and I were going to help her…"

Hippolyta smiled. "I know, Barda. I thank you. You will be pleased to know that we may still be requiring your assistance."

Diana's forehead furrowed. "Mother, what are you doing?"

"Diana, you will be pleased to learn that the League has decided to send a team in to go after Kal-El."

Her heart began to beat faster. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She stared at the others. "What? But…you…Batman…you all did not believe me…"

Artemis, who was sitting at the table, spoke up. "Diana, your family believes in you and so do some of your colleagues. And we all believe in Superman."

J'onn said gravely, "I will not lie to you, Diana. This room is split down the middle on whether they believe you or not. It came down to one member to swing the vote to give you the benefit of the doubt. To agree that a team should be assembled and go and retrieve Clark."

She looked at Flash. He gave a rueful smile. "I voted for you but it wasn't my vote."

Diana's eyes turned to Black Canary. It had to be Dinah. But Black Canary shook her head. "I'm in the same boat as Flash."

"Then who…?"

All eyes turned to Batman. Diana's eyes widened. "You?"

He said gruffly, "He is my friend and someone here needs to the sensible and vigilant one."

Dinah said wryly, "He means the paranoid one."

Diana did not know what to say. She said quietly, "Thank you."

He said, "It does not mean you get to have your own way and do what you want. This mission is going to be a team effort with J'onn and myself coordinating and strategizing it. Due Scott and Barda's experience we will defer to their guidance when we get there."

Diana looked at J'onn, Scott, Barda and Batman."Five of us."

"Six," added Hippolyta. "I am coming too."

Diana gasped. "You? Mother, you can't go…"

She said firmly, "Yes, I can and will. I am the Queen. No one tells me what I can and cannot do. And you are not the only warrior here, Diana. I have what you do not. Three thousand years of experience behind me." He eyes seemed to darken a little as she said, "I want to see these monsters that robbed the Amazons of their princess and you of your childhood."

Clark lay on an examination table in Desaad's torture chamber. He was stretched out, like the Virtruvian man, arms and legs shackled with heavy restrains. His eyes were blinded by a visor and he would feel the electrodes on his chest and limbs. He groaned. The Kyrponite was no longer in his flesh but it was close by. He could feel the radiation coming off it. It kept him weak. He could not move or even see past the visor. The electrodes jolted his nerve endings with a pain that would draw screams from a lesser man. Clark simply gritted his teeth and clenched his fingers and bit back the groans.

He could not see the one called Desaad but he could hear him. He was triumphant and smug.

"Such a strong specimen. You resist crying out. What I wouldn't give to strip your down to muscle and bone and see what drives you. It is not everyday one gets a subject who can heal swiftly like you. It means I get the pleasure of cutting you and then letting you heal and cutting you again."

Clark could hear him pick up something. It was when he felt it incising his chest he knew it was a blade. Weakened from the kryptonite, he felt the pain and he groaned.

Desaad dropped the blade in a tray ten minutes later as Clark lay bleeding from numerous cuts. "You will heal soon enough and we will start all over again." He removed the kryptonite and dropped it into a box. "Pain, Kryptonian, is the key to humiliation. Torture a subject long enough and they become a blubbering mess. And they will do anything to have it stopped. They will give up country, king, religion, family, and principle."

He patted his cheek. The only place unmarred since Desaad did not want to deface what he called a face that would bring advantages to its owner.

"When I am done torturing you, we will begin our reconditioning. I have some very nice memories for you. Memories that will make you one of us. That will make you forget those pathetic earthlings."

The small spaceship with the child moved across the vastness of space at a breathtaking speed. He was barely nine months old but there was intelligence in his eyes as he watched though the glass portal on the side. Stars, asteroids, planets, gases; the cacophony of light and color mirrored in his very blue eyes.

He was on a trajectory for the Solar System.

The ship had barely passed Pluto when there was a flash of light. Like a tunnel opening. A ship appeared. It threw out a tractor beam and the small craft was suddenly caught and pulled into its bowels

Kanto lifted the baby out of his bio matrix. He studied the ship and the cloth the child was wrapped in. The child looked back at him with equally intelligent eyes.

A parademon at his side snorted, "It is a baby. No one has time to rear babies. It's too young. Shall we toss it back?"

"No. I think we have something here that would interest Darkseid very much."

Kal-El sat at on the right hand side of his father. The Dark Lord had two sons but this outsider had sparked his interest and he had adopted him as one of his own. He was now seven and he was watching one of the bloody events whereby the future Furies was being chosen.

"One day you too will be tested, Kal-El, and as you can see it will not be easy. Any who love me, must live to serve me."

Kal-El looked up at the stony faced God. "I will win for you, Father."

"To win you must do anything."

"I will…I will do anything…"

"You cannot do anything you want, Clark, just because you can..."

Clark looked confused and defiant as Pa drove him home from school. "But Tommy was going to beat up Pete and he had already thrown Lana's books in the drain…I don't know why you stopped me! He's a big bully!"

"Yes, he's a bully. Bullies, Clark, are frightened folk. People who don't have a reason to think they will be treated right and so they lash out and try to hurt others before they hurt themselves. You know, Tommy's got no Ma and his Pa is not …well, his Pa gets angry quickly…Remember when we went to the market and saw them shopping?"

Clark frowned. "Yes, his Pa smacked and shouted at him…"

"Imagine if that happens every day."

"Oh." Clark could not imagine it. He had been lavished with love all his life. Sure he had been naughty now and again and got sent to his room and even do extra chores but Pa and Ma never laid a finger on him.

"Tommy is not a happy boy, son. Happy people don't make others unhappy. If Tommy comes at you again, you're going to have to learn to control your anger." He smiled. "Tommy can hit you and yet he can't really hurt you. You're lucky that way. Take it and don't hit back. You're lucky you are Lana and Pete's friend and you can be their shield. Protect them…"

On his tenth birthday Kal-El joined the Elite on his first hunt.

"Come," beckoned Kanto and handed him a sword and gestured to the group of Lowies running across the plains. "Take them down. Used the techniques we taught you. Your father is watching."

Kal-El stepped forward and looked up. A craft hovered overheard. Darkseid, Granny Goodness and Dessaad were looking down at them from the open deck.

Kal-El looked at the sword which he hefted easily for even one his size and cocked his head at the Lowlies. He could hear their hearts racing from where he was. They were terrified.

He could hear Darkseid's voice in his ear piece. "Go on, my son. It is the best birthday present you will ever get."

"This is the best birthday present ever!" cried Clark and hugged his father and mother.

Jonathan and Martha smiled happily as a ten year old Clark ducked under one of the paddock rails and rushed towards the beautiful, young, white stallion that they had purchased for him.

Clark gently stroked the animal as the farmhand held the reins. "He's so beautiful."

"What are you going to call him, Son?" asked Pa and he and Ma came in the paddock via the gate.

Clark laid his head against the animal's side and he could hear its steady heart beat. "Comet."

Kalibak flung a female at his feet. She was a pretty young Daxamite that had been kidnapped in the latest slave raids. She unfortunately had not met Granny's approval to train but she was shapely and well looking and it was thought to let him have her before she was tossed in the brothels. "You did so well out on the raid, Brother. I have a surprise for you. Compliments of Granny."

Kal-El looked down at the girl at his feet. She looked no more than fifteen. A year younger than he was. She looked terrified.

He folded his arms. "Rise."

The girl obeyed. She looked at him anxiously. She had to admit being a little stunned to seeing someone as young and handsome as this. He was already showing the promise of becoming tall and well built. There was something about his eyes. They were a vivid blue and yet seemed to have a kind of real gravity in them. This one was not mindlessly cruel and avaricious.

"Please, do not hurt me." She already had some bruising on her arms and a split lip. A sign that the Furies had not been very happy with her.

"What is your name?"

"Aleena."

"Aleena, you know why you have been brought here?"

She swallowed and bowed her head. "Yes. For your sexual pleasure."

"Do you know what will happen to you if and when I am finished with you?"

She shivered. "I…They said they will take me to the brothels…Please, do not let them send me there…"

"I do not make those decisions. But I also do not intend on taking someone that does not want to be taken. I have had pleasure before. From women willing to give it to me. You do not want to be here…" He opened the door. "The guard will escort you to the brothel."

She clenched her hands. The thought of being thrown to like a piece of meat to anyone made her wince. "And if …if I stay…willingly?"

He shrugged. "If you please me, I may keep you a few nights and put in a good word for you so you can at least choose the males you bed."

The girl sank to her knees. She bit back a sob and put her lips to his hand in gratitude.

Clark leaned in and kissed Lana Lang for the first time.

His heart was racing. He felt his lips tremble as it lay against hers. He was sure he was the luckiest sixteen year old alive.

He drew back and saw Lana was smiling up at him and the moon was shinning down upon them.

All was right in the world.

Kal-El and his battalion of parademons cut through the flank of the Karnian army.

Blood sprayed the air.

Fire lit up the night.

Guns and canons made the ground shake.

The stench of battle was everywhere.

Any last resistance was met with heat, wind and ice from the Kryptonian himself.

Kal-El landed on the terrace of the Palace and his eyes glowed and two beams cut the doors from it's hinges. He floated in as it fell, a terrifying sight to behold, in spiked black armor and helm, his falchion dripping. A blood red cape with a gold symbol like a reversed serpent.

Karnian guards drew their weapons.

He looked at the Karnian king who was now cowering with his family and courtiers.

"Tell them it would be a waste of time. Surrender in the name of Apokolips."

The king screamed at the guards. "For Karnia!"

There was a blur of motion and before any weapon could be drawn, he had broken fingers, arms and necks.

The king gasped as the black clad warrior stood before him, and leaned into his face."In in the name of Apokolips, you will surrender."

"There is no where to go. By the rules of combat, you are our prisoner!" Superman warned as he rose and blew a gust at the beautiful Amazon.

She backed away, dipping low, avoiding the icy breath. "As long as I have breath to fight, I am no one's prisoner!"

She grabbed a lance from a wall and hurled at him. He caught it and broke it into two.

"I don't want to hurt you, Diana. Your wounds are not fully closed."

"Do not call me by that name!"She grabbed a sword and shield.

"It is your name. Diana."

She came at him. "Well, I did not give you leave to use it, Kryptonian!"

He moved back swiftly and somersaulted as she whipped the deadly looking ax at him and when she hurled it at him, he caught it. He bent it into two. She followed up with the shield in his face and in his gut. He grunted but he pivoted around her.

A powerful arm curled about her neck and she could feel his warm breath waving the hairs at her temple.

"My name is Kal-El," he said softly. He caught her right arm and twisted it behind her. "Drop the shield," he ordered.

She dropped the shield.

"Do you surrender?" he asked.

Her eyes glowed defiantly."No!"

"How is the reconditioning going, Desaad?" asked Lashina as she came to sit down at the dining table with him, Kanto, Virman Vundabar and Granny. "Have you broken the Kryptonian yet?"

Desaad looked at her with a sour expression. "It has only been three days. Hardly enough time to break someone who has come to us as a grown man and a Kryptonian at that."

Granny mused, "I take it you are getting some resistance?"

"There has been some trouble wiping his memory. He is very resistive. Kryptonians are very powerful and have the ability to store and recall information at will. I have tried to implant memories into his mind and he actually seems able at times to subvert some of them. It is going to take longer than I expect."

Virman asked, "What of the green stone that weakens him? You could use that."

"Too much of it and we could kill him. Darkseid will have my head. I use it only for torture. And even then he tires to resist the pain."

"He is thinking most likely of his life on Earth. Those insects he is so tethered to," said Granny.

Lashina said scornfully, "Not to mention the little Amazon that he is bedding."

Granny frowned. "He is bedding the Amazon?"

Lashina shrugged. "I think so. At least she was trying to."

"Well, it makes it more important to drive all those emotions out of him," she snorted. She looked at Lashina. "From your expression, I see that you quite would like the chance to do that."

Lashina smiled thinly. "Oh nothing would give me more satisfaction."

"Well, then, when Desaad is done with him, you could try to see if you can comfort him," she said with a malicious smile.

Lashina said smugly, "Your wish is my command, Granny."

Author's Note: So sorry for the very long delay in updating. Time is such a precious commodity these days. Anyway thank you very much for the last reviews.