Chapter 126 [Three Weeks Later—Luthor Mansion]

[A/N: Here's where things take another dark turn...]

With Luna's rise, all activities came to a halt on the mansion's grounds. The groundskeepers put everything away for the night. The kitchen staff cleaned the dinner dishes. The elderly butler wiped the table down. He changed the linen out for the breakfast service.

Pursuits occupied the residents. Miranda and Jasmine discussed their future plans. Gwen, Angie, Dubois and Peter discussed their respective moves from New York to there. Lex studied the latest stock information.

While everything seemed pristine, it was anything but….

A black van pulled up along the mansion's entrance off of the state road. Its tail lights flashed as if it was in distress. A Middle Eastern man in a grey set of coveralls stooped by the rear tire. Despite his apparent checking of the tire, his hand remained beside a pistol with a silencer. He pressed his earpiece. "Falcon to Flock. Road is still."

"Over." A voice crackled in his ear.

Two dozen dark suited operatives spread out across the south and east perimeters. Much like the ancient ninja, Shadow obscured their movements. Their feet kissed the grass and fresh dirt without sound. Their insulated suits refracted infrared and motion detector security beams. Precision marked their way.

Their darts disposed of the mansion's security forces without much effort.

Their tools picked the front door lock without effort. They slipped in.

The leader, a burly man mountain, motioned toward the stairs. "The Princess and the Tramp. The Sultan wants them. The emirate's possessions are to be returned as well." He directed them to either side of the stairs. Then he led a dozen of his best operatives up there.

"Do you think I am that lax, my Brothers and Sisters?" Jasmine stepped into view. Her scimitar flashed in the lamplight. Her eyes narrowed. "STAND DOWN! THAT IS AN ORDER!"

"Former Princess Jasmine, you are no longer our leader! You betray our very ethics! You are to surrender yourself and the temptress for judgment! By order of your father, Mahmud, Sultan of Javalastan!" the Man Mountain commanded.

"Temptress? He's kidding. Right?" Miranda held her kitana in her first position.

"He means it." Jasmine readied herself. "Leave. I will hold them off."

"In a pig's eye! Oh wait. Pork is verboten to them too." Miranda's eyes narrowed. HEY! WE GOT COMPANY? UNCLE DAVE! AUNTIE! MR. PARKER!

"Your American humor makes your situation worse, Witch!" Man Mountain raised his staff. "You cannot win. You cannot call for help. We have a jamming field on your phones." He motioned to his peers. "POSITIONS!"

The Spider Signal coated the entire area in a crimson spider-webbed glow.

"You mean assume the position?" Spider-Man crawled into view along the raised ceiling.

"Another costumed freak!" Man Mountain raised his gun.

"Freak? FREAK? Seriously? You just hurt my widdle feelings!" Spidey swung down. His booted feet smashed into his chest. He watched the attacker hit the wall. With deft movements, he webbed the goon in place. "You guys need some serious help."

"HE IS CORRECT! STAND DOWN!" Jasmine ordered again.

The ninja went into first position. As one, they attacked….

Then, as one they floated in mid-air….

"LISSEN TA' BUG BOY, DUM'ASSES!" The Child curled his lip. His open left eye narrowed to a slit. "AH GOT A MIND TA….!"

Lex rushed down the hall. He wormed his way between Jasmine and Miranda. "HEY! PUT THEM DOWN!"

"AW, LEXIE! NUTS!" The Child kicked at the bottom stair. "FINE!" He dropped the attackers to the floor like so many sacks of potatoes. "THEY AIN'T TAKIN' 'EM!"

The attackers' earbuds crackled. They listened intently. Then, as one, they moved up the stairs. One dropped an ornate scroll at Jasmine's feet. They looked in different rooms but passed them by. Then they rushed into Jasmine's and Miranda's room.

"Jas, they can't!" Miranda protested.

Jasmine read the scroll. Her eyes teared up. She dropped her knees. "They…they can. Father? Father, why?"

"CARPET STAYS!" the Child spat.

"That foul thing can choke her!" the second in command spat. He stomped into the room. Within only a few minutes, he and the others had carried out all of Jasmine's former possessions except the gi she wore, her scimitar and sword.

"Better get him down." Spidey ripped the webbing. "Get lost, Tubby." He motioned for the door.

"This isn't over, Gentlemen." Lex vowed. His eyes met each of theirs. Fury and Vengeance burned brightly in there. His mouth set in a firm line. "NOW GET OUT!"

The Man Mountain motioned to his comrades. Seeing the last one give an 'all clear' sign, he scoffed. "These are Javalastan's goods not a traitor's! Be grateful our Sultan does not want blood, Infidel!"

"Infidel?" Spider-Man tensed. "What is this? Some bad crusade movie?"

"They ain't worth it, Bug Boy. Let 'em go spit!" The Child gave the last interlopers a telekinetic shove out the door. Then he slammed it shut behind them. He stalked up the stairs and toward Miranda. "Hey, Miri-Ma! Jasie!"

"My…father….he…he…" Jasmine sobbed. "I'M NO TRAITOR! I HAVE DONE NOTHING!"

"As Mr. Luthor said, this isn't over, Jas." Miranda embraced her. "It's going to be all right."

"You bet it is." Lex glanced up at Spider-Man. "Think the Black Panther will listen to you?"

"Uh…maybe. He's not from Jasmine's emirate though. What's he going to do?" Spider-Man threw his hands up.

"Spider-Man! Are you all right?" Gwen called from down the hall.

"WE'RE GOOD, GWENDY!" Spidey back to her. "Wait. T 'Challa's a king. I get it. Sorry, Lex."

"No problem. Talk to Gwen. As soon as I'm done, the Big Kid's taking you to the Wakandan Embassy." Lex stomped back toward the library.

"I'll call our Sensei. He won't take this either." Miranda helped Jasmine to her feet. "Let's go." She guided the other woman down the hall and toward their devastated room.

Hell itself was about to come down….