XV
Meanwhile at Apokolips Inkorporeyted in St Petersburg, Russia
"WHAT!"
A timid Desaad swiftly shuffled down the hallway and towards his boss's booming voice. Bursting into the room he flung the door open. The old man fell to his knees goveling.
"Boss I can explain…." he said stumbling over his words.
Darkseid's crimson gaze fell upon his oldest confidant trembling on the floor. His heavy footsteps shook the ground as he made his way towards his second in command. Darkseid knet down to Desaad's level.
"Oh please do old friend," he growled as he rested his forearms on his knees. "Please explain to me why my prize didn't return to Themyscira?"
Desaad tried to speak, but only gibberish came out.
"Enough!" Darkseid shouted.
He grabbed Desaad by his chin and forced him to look into his red eyes. The fire behind them started to seep from their corners.
"NOW EXPLAIN TO ME WHY SHE WASN'T ON THEMYSCIRA WHEN THE FURIES ARRIVED," Darkseid said slowly.
Desaad gulped hard. He knew not answering his boss's question would result in his death.
"...She was supposed to return after her mission was complete," Desaad replied.
"Supposed to…." Darkseid bellowed. "Supposed to…. SHE DIDN'T RETURN LAST NIGHT OR THIS MORNING?"
In anger Darkseid clenched Desaad's chin tighter causing him to cry out in pain.
"AHHH," Desaad screamed.
"That wasn't an answer old friend," Darkseid added. "WHERE IS MY PRIZE?"
Clenching his eyes closed Desaad cried, "Maybe Ultraman has her…"
"That 'boy'..." he mocked.
"Yes," Desaad replied as he looked into Darkseid's eyes. "He must have her."
A gentle laugh left Darkseid mouth. He slowly loosened his grip upon Desaad's face. The old man let out a sigh of relief. Still holding Dessad's face, Darkseid pulled Desaad's face closer to his own.
"You don't say," Darkseid muttered softly. "Maybe I'll just ask him to give her back."
Desaad nodded quickly, "No one wants a gang war…."
"But I do!" Darkseid replied.
As he spoke he tossed Desaad away from him. The old man slid across the marbled floor until he slowly came to a stop.
"Have the boomtubes prepped and ready in an hour, Darkseid added. "I'm going to pay Metropolis a little visit tonight."
Desaad picked himself off the floor and bowed low before Darkseid.
"Should I have a few of the New Gods join you?" he said as he backed away from Darkseid.
"None of you will be needed for this task," Darkseid replied. "I'm going to make my grand entrance into Metropolis alone."
"As you wish," Desaad answered.
"Oh and Desaad, have reservations made at the Cat's Den," Darkseid ordered. "I hear the dancers there are sublime."
Back in Metropolis
After leaving the caverns under Bruce's house I felt slightly better than when I arrived. His horny ass had that effect on people. He took your mind off of whatever was bothering you. With his eyes everywhere Diana would be safe here in my city.
Stepping out of his home a car was waiting for me with Arthur standing beside it.
"I didn't ask for a car," I said as I approached him.
"And I didn't ask to be stuck on land but here I am," he replied as he opened the door the car.
I laughed. Arthur was a good soldier. He'd been with me since day one. He along with myself, Barry and Jordan, were the ones that survived. Nothing like the being military weapons to bring people together. I trusted all of them with my life and then some. They all had their faults, but at the end of the day we were brothers.
As I entered the car I felt J'onzz trying to contact me.
"How is she?" I said as the door closed behind me.
"She's fine…" J'onzz replied.
As J'onzz spoke I watched Arthur look at me through the rear view mirror. His eyes told me all I needed to know. Something had happened to Diana.
"Arthur…"
"Yes, Arthur…" J'onzz said.
His voice went up two octaves.
I put J'onzz on mute and moved closer to Arthur.
"What did he do to her?" I asked as I gripped the sides of the drivers. Leaning in close to Arthur's ear I growled low.
"Clark you know I never kiss and till," Arthur replied as he tilted his head to look back at me. .
"If you want to live you'll tell," I hissed into his ear.
He lifted his hand patted me on my head.
"Clark you old dog, you likes her," he said as he messed up my curls. "Don't you boy…"
Rage filled me until I blasted out the windshield of the car with my heat vision.
"Outrageous!" he said tossing his hands up into the air. "I just washed that."
"What have J'onzz done with the girl…"
"He took her to The Cat's Den…" Arthur said.
"Come again," I said. "Thought you said he was taking her to Selina's gentlemen's club…"
I was taken aback by Arthur's statement. He asked me if he could take her out. He said nothing about taking her to that place. I didn't frequent that place and I owned it. Too many breakable temptations.
"Aye," Arthur said.
Over the revving of the car's engine I cussed a blue streak.
"Damnit J'onzz," I hissed as I reconnected our link.
"Clark I can explain…."
"Where is she now?" I asked.
"With Selina learning a dance routine…"
"WHAT?!"
"Clark calm down," he said.
"You know men fuck the dancers there J'onzz," I hissed.
"Clark I know but its just…."
"No buts!" I hissed.
I looked up at Arthur. He knew what I wanted.
"To The Cat's Den," he said.
"Arthur don't bring him…." J'onzz said.
"I'm sorry J'onzz the line it breaking up…." Arthur laughed.
"This is a telepathic link you damn fish," J'onzz shouted back.
Both men bicker back and forth over top of one another. She shouldn't be in a place like that not ever. I closed my eyes and blocked out their voices. I tried to focus in on her. Even the faintest of whimpers would have set her apart from anyone in this city. After watching over her sleep last night, I knew enough noises from her to pick her out of a crowd.
It took a few moments to pinpoint her location.
"So why are you helping that big blue ass?" I heard Selina voice.
"J'onzz said Ultraman would be hurt financially if you didn't have a dancer," Diana replied. "So here I am. I want to help…"
She was too innocent for this world of mine. I cleared my throat. The through of those dirty men at The Cat's Den even looking at her made my blood boil. Both men stopped talking. I was about to insult J'onzz but Selina's voice caught me off guard.
"Right, what does he have on you sweet cheeks?" Selina asked.
"Nothing," Diana replied.
"So you're screwing him?"
"Screwing him?"
"Well damn," Selina replied. "Look Dinah we've got a real virgin here with us…"
"A virgin?" Diana asked.
"Untouched by a anyone sexually," Selina laughed. "Where are you from? An island?"
"Yes Themyscira…" Diana replied.
There was an innocence to her replies.
"Clark…"
Arthur had turned back to face me.
"What?" I snapped at him.
"We still going to Selina's?"
"Or course," I replied.
Arthur looked me up and down.
"Dressed like that?" Arthur asked.
I looked down at myself. I was still in my sleepwear.
"Fine, take me home," I replied. "Then we're off to Selina's."
Arthur nodded and began to drive us off. I sat back in my seat.
"Clark…" J'onzz called out.
"Don't even," I replied. "I'll deal with you when I get there."
"She wanted to help you," he replied.
"No you lied to her to get her to do something for you," I hissed.
"The Cat's Den is apart of our business,"
"No it's apart of Bruce's business," I replied.
J'onzz didn't reply. He couldn't. Again they all think I'm some dumb monster. Even J'onzz. I knew all their business.
"Don't allow her on that stage J'onzz…" I ordered.
J'onzz waited for a moment before answering me.
"I'll try," he said softly.
"If you want to see tomorrow you won't," I growl.
