The Batcave
Batman rewound the footage taken of the battle in Metropolis for the thirtieth time in a row. The images moved backwards like puppets, stopping only at the moment Darkseid sent his beams into Angel's head. The footage had been taken from his state-of-the-art satellites overhead, giving him a perfect view. He saw the Omega Beams zapping into her, but had they done their job? Was it a latent effect Darkseid had sent into her mind? Had she been compelled to go into the boom tube?
Batman didn't know and what Batman didn't know worried him. No matter if leaving had truly been her own idea or placed on her mind by Darkseid when the Omega Beams had hit her, the fact of the matter was that Angel was gone to the one place he would have rather she not go at all.
As the matter stood, however, she was on Apokolips now and there was nothing at all he could do about it. He was tempted to use the Phantom Projector pen but even if the pen could track her all the way through the galaxy to Apokolips the speed of it would no doubt be incredibly slow. Another fact was that simply Clark was worried. So far Superman hadn't asked him about the pen or if he had used it, perhaps not wanting that fateful conversation just yet. If he could find another way to stop her, one that didn't involve the pen then he would use that. As much as he didn't trust Angel, she was still Clark's cousin, someone he cared for very much.
As Batman worked through trying to unravel what was really happening in the footage, the rev of a motorcycle engine echoed throughout the Batcave. A single bright beam of light sped down the long ramp over a black chasm and in a few moments Red Hoods bike sat idling beside the Batmobile.
"You aren't welcomed here anymore, Jason," Batman said brusquely, not moving from his chair or taking his eyes off the footage.
Red Hood dismounted from the bike and shrugged as he walked towards the Batcomputer. "So you've been telling me, but I need some information Oracle can't give me. Seems like some of Luthor's men are snooping around the Narrows. I followed 'em thinking they were some of Bane's goons at first but they're too skilled to be his type of thug. Know anything about that, Bruce?"
"Luthor's obsessed with anything Kryptonian," Batman replied smoothly, showing none of the alarm now ringing through his mind. If Luthor was in the Narrow, did that mean he remembered what had happened at the Fortress of Solitude?
"Think he knows that Angel is Superman's cousin?" Red Hood asked as he looked up at the videos playing in backwards slow-motion on the screens.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Batman said evenly. He tapped a button, making the video move forward again, only in extra slow-motion, starting from the moment where Darkseid was smashing Angel into the ground, causing a massive crater. "I appreciate the information, Jason, but leave Luthor and his thugs to me."
Red Hood snorted. "Why should I?"
"Why shouldn't you?" Batman returned, his grim tone never changing.
Red Hood stared at the back of Batman's cowl then sighed and looked back up to the screen. "I always hate it when you do that." He grew silent for a moment then said, "I guess I feel invested in this a little, you know? I felt… like I got where Angel was coming from. She just wanted to belong and now all this mess. I want to help anyway I can. I want to know why Luthor's men are in town and if it has to do with Angel."
"If you wanted to help you shouldn't have told her to leave Earth," Batman pointed out.
Red Hood couldn't help but cringe a little. He had told her that, but he believed his frequencies had been turned off. But, of course, Batman would have found a way to reactivate them and hear every word he'd said. He was Batman after all. "She didn't want to be here, Bruce. She just wanted to be free of all this."
"Someone with her powers, no training, no guidance, and an upbringing with the worst criminals in the known universe doesn't have that luxury," Batman replied sternly. "I wish it was different but it isn't. This world has too many jeopardies as is."
"And who are you to decide who's a jeopardy and who isn't before they even do anything?" Red Hood shot back, feeling anger growing within him. "Maybe the problem wasn't where she came from or what she is, maybe the problem is the whole Justice League. Maybe if you saw her as Angel before you saw her as a potential threat none of this would have happened."
Batman shook his head. "You met her for less than a few hours, Jason. You didn't know her."
"Maybe I don't, but I know why she leapt through that portal." He leaned over the console and fully froze the video, showing the instance where Angel went flying through the Boom Tube after a wounded Darkseid. "Fact is, you may know her more than I do, but you didn't see her as Angel, you saw her as Superman's cousin, a high flying superpowered Kryptonian who lacks Superman's arrow straight moral compass, which was only backed up in your mind when she went to the Narrows, just looking for a world she could wrap her head around. You're used to farm boy Clark and god complex Zod, not someone like Angel.
"You superimposed her situation to Superman's and when she didn't measure up even close to him, you overcorrected and instantly assumed she was going to be the next world-level threat like Zod even though she's never acted once like that megalomaniac. You kept her on a tight leash, gave her rules she didn't understand, and promised hope that if she started being someone she isn't, someone you're more comfortable allowing around the planet, she'd be free to do as she pleased." He pointed emphatically at the image on the screen. "This is what you get Bruce, someone so desperate to prove their loyalty in a world they don't understand, they'll follow Darkseid to his hell world to bring back his skull just to prove she won't be like him, that she's on your side. So yeah, you're right, I don't understand her, but you don't understand her, and she doesn't understand us. That's why we are where we are. And who knows what's happening now. Because of all this she could be getting tortured by Darkseid, becoming one of his furies. She could be dead, Bruce. She could be in more pain than we could ever possibly imagine."
8888
Arnog's Galactical Flight Dealership
Arnog Intrazy, resident Space-Flight Dealership owner and entrepreneur smiled his most oily smile, which was saying something since as a Tau, his body was mostly green gelatinous goo. As a used spaceship salesman, Arnog prided himself on being a one of a kind who could convince even the most hesitant to purchase a Spaz Frag. After all, if someone was coming to his show room, it meant that they wanted to buy some sort of ship. The only obstacle was getting them to buy that vehicle from him.
Looking over the humanoid female and her cloaked associate, Arnog was certain he had just nailed a couple of saps. The woman, at least what Arnog assumed was a woman, looked around, astounded by the dozens on dozens of spaceships parked in the lot while the hulking male, if indeed that's what he was, was draped in a large black cloak with a hood set low over his head, hiding his face.
The woman was looking around, no doubt astounded by his second-hand collection of shiny chrome space crafts from the known galaxy. There would no doubt be something she liked. If the big, bulky brute was a servant or some sort didn't matter, the female looked like she was holding all the cards out of the pair of them.
"Welcome to Arnog's Galactical Flight dealership, the only one in its class from here to the Alpha Centauri sector. You, young lady, what can I do you and the gentlemen for? An exotic speeder? Or how about something more spacious in a child friendly lightyear cruiser? I have the lowest prices in the galaxy. I'm Arnog Intrazy, if you don't shop with me you're down right crazy! Now what can I show you?"
"We have not come for your ships," the cloaked, large figure cut in.
"We came for bikes," the woman added on, her eyes now focusing on Arnog. "Spaz Frags."
What passed for a heart in Arnog's chest dropped into what would have passed for a stomach in another creature. "Spaz Frags, but my dear lady, according to Galactic Law seven two two dash five, Spaz Frags and their manufacture have been outlawed for at least two decades now. They're far to dangerous. More people have died via Spaz Frag accident then the amount of Spaz Frags actually sold."
"You got 'em or not?" the female asked, nonplused by the answer.
Arnog began to sprout beads of goo that doubled as his sweat secretions. "Madam, please, as I have said, Spaz Frags are illegal for manufacture or sale."
"She only asked if you had 'em Arni." Heavy footsteps crunched behind Arnog. "She didn't say she was buyin' 'em."
Arnog gulped loudly, instantly recognizing the voice and the only person who used that hated nickname on him. He had sold spare parts of Spaz Frags as needed to his number one customer – Lobo. "I know an upstanding gentleman like yourself wouldn't steal from me, Lobo. You, a bounty hunter sworn to catch criminals."
"Eh put a clod in yer mug slimeball." Lobo's arm swung around Arnog's scalloped shoulders, sinking a little into his green gelatinous form. "Nobodies robbing you. The lady isn't paying, the gentleman is. Let's call him an anonymous buyer. You know you can trust me, I need ya for parts. They ain't undercover fuzz or nothin' so lighten up will ya?"
Arnog dabbed his brow with a tentacle, absorbing the green goo that had beaded there. "Fair enough, Lobo, but let's not talk here." He waved his tentacle to a run-down office in the middle of the lot. "Let's talk business inside."
The quartet moved through the maze-like lot and once they crammed themselves inside the small dealership office, Arnog locked the door and drew the yellowing shades over the windows. The squat, goo-made creature waddled behind his desk and pushed a button hidden under the old metal surface. The floor sighed on mechanical pistons as it slowly dropped down, revealing the show room only criminals or the very wealthy got to see.
Below the surface of the office were two rows of exclusive and banned space craft. Ships from Mongul's Warworld stood beside old Tamaranean war vessels. Ships of all shapes and sizes sat gathering dust and, in a corner, left in near blackness, stood two top of the line Spaz Frags. They still gleamed chrome in the dull light and while they weren't as personalized and Lobo's bike, the two hogs looked especially dangerous.
"These are the last two I have in stock," Arnog informed them as he waddled towards the bikes. "I've got parts aplenty but these are the last two I have that were fully assembled in the factory before it exploded and the laws were put into place." He ran a tentacle over one of the seats. "They're really very delicate things to put together. One wrong move and an employee was dead. I don't know how Lobo's survived so long riding one."
"They're just what we're looking for." The woman went over to the other bike and straddled the faux leather seat.
Arnog couldn't help but flash a smile, his salesmen coming out once more. "I'm glad to hear it, but they don't come cheap. Not only are they some of the last of their kind, you can't even buy knock-offs. A collector would love them, a rich collector."
"I told you, Arni, they're good for it," Lobo reiterated as he leaned against a wall, watching the trio.
Arnog chuckled nervously. "I'm sure they've convinced you of that fact, Lobo, but I remain unconvinced." He wiggled his tentacles together and looked at the hulking figure under the cloak. "How do you plan to pay?"
"Trade-in," the bulky creature replied simply.
Arnog scoffed in surprise more than in insult, though there was a good deal of that too. "And just what ship could you possibly trade in that can equal the value of two mint condition Spaz Frags? A Thanagarian battle cruiser? A Khund Mothership?!"
"An Apokolips A-Class war ship, complete with Mother Box technology and multi-galactical Hyperjump."
Arnog rolled his bulbous eyes. "Oh please, to have personal access to something like that you'd have to be the spawn of Darkseid himself."
"As a matter of fact…." The big man lowered his hood and the face of Kalibak stared down at Arnog.
If Arnog could have paled he would have. A goo puddle formed under him and quivered in gelatinous fear. "Oh… oh dear."
"Something wrong?" the woman asked almost innocently. She leaned over the handles and grinned at Arnog as if it was all some kind of amusing event.
Arnog gulped once more and mustered what little courage he had in him. "Actually yes. I may sell some dubious wares here, but I'm not inclined to sell them to the sons of cosmic despots. I have my limits, you understand."
"It's a fair trade, Arni," Lobo reminded him. "They aren't cheatin' ya. You're getting a fraggin' Apokolips war ship. You can sell it under the table to a hundred greedy planets for triple the value of both hogs combined."
Arnog tossed his head, making goo splatter. "No deal, I know what happens when you get involved with people from Apokolips, it doesn't end well. I've heard what your father has done, subjugated dozens of worlds and eradicated any who he could not control."
Kalibak's eyes narrowed angrily. "I am not my father."
"The answer's still no," Arnog repeated bravely. "You could pay me in a fleet of Apokoliptian ships and the answer would still be no. No, no, no, no, no!"
8888
The orbiting used space ship lot shuddered as if in the throes of an earthquake as two Spaz Frag 5000's burst from under the lot in a hail of space ship parts and synthesized rock. Sparks and flames flew in their wake as other ships exploded from their combustible exit. Behind the toxic exhaust fumes belching from their tailpipes, they left a gaping whole in the side of the floating ship's lot with a bubbling Arnog holding the access codes and cards to Kalibak's ship. He was the new owner of an A-class Apokolips war ship whether he liked it or not.
Kara was sure it hadn't been clear to Arnog then, but now that they were flying through the black void of space with the hogs, she was certain what had gone over his head before was now coming in crystal clear. Getting the bikes had never been a discussion. They hadn't been asking.
Kara looked back only once at the destruction they'd caused then revved the engine of the hog and threw her head back, laughing in the sheer exhilaration of freedom the bike gave her. It felt good to have the seat of the bike under her and no one could say they hadn't taken then mostly honestly. Sure, Arnog was gonna have to do a lot of repairs, but that was his problem. He shouldn't have said no so many times.
While Kara was still enjoying the ride, a third Spaz Frag joined them, sidling up to the bike Kara had claimed as her own, leaving her in the middle with a smiling Kalibak on her left and a smirking Lobo on her right. "Fraggin' moons, I didn't know Kryptonian laser eyes could hit so hard."
"They do when I'm angry enough," Kara laughed. "I can't take all the credit, though, Kalibak got a few good hits in too."
Kalibak grunted thoughtfully in reply, but it was unmistakable there was a deep pleasure in his eyes. He had not taken the father comment well. It was a testament to not being like his father than Arnog was still living at all.
"I won't be surprised if Arni quits the whole racket after this," Lobo commented as he did a final lookback at the smoldering lot. Another ship had burst into flames making a colossal fireball behind them.
"Sorry you lost your parts man, Lobo," Kara replied almost sheepishly. She couldn't fathom anyone taking Lobo as a customer after something like that.
Lobo shrugged cavalierly. "Don't sweat it. It is what it is. There's a bunch of scuzz bags like Arni out here in the galaxy, I'm bound to find another one eventually."
"You are not angry?" Kalibak asked curiously.
"Nah, but you two owe me extra for making me lose my parts guy. You know how hard it is to find a thermo gun for this bad boy? Really. Fraggin'. Hard. How are you two planning on paying me anyway? What've you got now that Kalibak's ships been cashed in?"
Kara took one hand off the handle to rub the back of her neck. "I haven't got that far in the plan."
"Yer joking…." Lobo stared at her, his mouth agape. "Ye didn't have a step to pay me?" He kicked his bike into high gear, speeding ahead of them, then turned quickly, blocking their bikes with his own. "No one and I mean no one, cheats the Main Man!"
"Calm down, you're not being cheated," Kara promised. "I'll find you a way to get your money. I just don't have a plan right now."
Lobo threw up his hands. "And do you think the answer is just gonna fly through the fraggin' sky?!"
Even as the word's left his mouth, a satellite-eqsue billboard with flashing red and yellow lights drifted beside them. A smiling blue woman in a bikini was on the billboard, holding a tray of exotic looking drinks while gambling tables were behind her. The board moved like a screen, showing other alien species throwing dice and throwing up their hands when they won.
Overtop the entire floating billboard, blinked the name Dax's Intergalactic Casino and the coordinates to reach the swanky new gambling hall.
As the sign went floating by the trio, Kara nodded slowly to Lobo's question. "Well, I wasn't planning on it being that easy, but hey, I'll take it."