DC/Marvel: Access Denied

Chapter 7

By Christopher W. Blaine

e-mail: darth_yoshi@yahoo.com

DISCLAIMER: The characters and situations contained in this story are ©2003 by either DC Comics Inc. or Marvel Entertainment Group and are used without permission for fan-related, non-profit entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2003 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in part or as a whole without the express permission of the author.

Earth-CA (Captain America, Wonder Woman, Spider-Man, Dr. Banner, Batgirl, Super-Woman, Hawkman and the Flying Fox)…

"What a crap-hole," Hawkman said as he looked around at the burning landscape. Fires and small explosions dotted the entire area and the air smelled of brimstone and burning flesh. "You want to save this place?" he asked.

Wonder Woman scowled. "This isn't our Earth," she announced to the group and Captain America confirmed it.

"We're on Apokolips."

Hawkman belched and lifted into the air, Super-Woman and Wonder Woman next to him. Several meters in the air they stopped and hovered, the two Wardens surveying the area with their enhanced vision. Wonder Woman remained on guard and explained what she knew about this world. "It is the home of Darkseid, perhaps the most evil man to ever be born…"

"Next to Holocaust," Super-Woman added.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah…so why did Nightwing send us here?" Hawkman asked. There was nothing living around them for miles, though Super-Woman said she could see some workers stoking giant furnaces. It appeared that they were stranded in the middle of a giant engine, but what it powered was not immediately apparent.

"I can't believe that Nightwing would make that sort of mistake," Bruce said. He was sweating, the heat was very uncomfortable and he was starting to get agitated. He glanced down at the metallic band around his arm and could almost feel the soothing Kryptonian drugs being pumped into his system. For now, it was agreed that Bruce Banner's brain was needed more than the Hulk's muscle.

"There was no mistake," a deep voice said. Wonder Woman shot down from the sky and took a defensive stance in front of Captain America. Out of the shadows stepped a massive bulk of a man. He was nearly as tall and broad as the Hulk, but there was no gleam of rage in his eyes. There was only the coolness of hate. "It was I, Darkseid, who diverted your transport to the Earth."

"Villain!" Wonder Woman cried out. She took a step forward, her fists in front of her, her jaw set for action. "I should have known that someone as foul as you would be in league with something as hellish as Holocaust!"

Captain America leaned back and adjusted his grip on his mighty shield, ready to sling it as soon as the Amazing Amazon moved. The Flying Fox watched all of this from his position next to Batgirl, whom he had been enjoying the company of for the past few days. It intrigued him the way Captain America was able to assess any member of the team and guess their actions. He tried to assume the same sort of stance, but felt ridiculous. He had no idea what was going on or whom Darkseid was.

"Darkseid does not ally himself with things, Amazon," the ruler of Apokolips said. Then he grinned, a most horrible sight to behold. "Still angry over the end of our affair?"

"You betrayed my people! You promised peace and used us to further your plans of conquest," Wonder Woman sneered. Super-Woman came down next to her, guessing that her Amazon friend would soon need her help.

"Your feelings of inadequacy because you could not keep me in your bed do not concern me, Diana," Darkseid said as he moved into the light. They noted that he had several guards with him as well, all of them clad in bulky green armor. There was also a small man in purple robes, toadying before his master.

"We cannot trust them, master," Desaad warned and then he pointed a crooked finger at Super-Woman. "They bring strange allies. They wish to remove you from your glorious throne!"

Super-Woman crossed her arms over her chest. "You just said you brought us here, so that must mean you need us."

Darkseid narrowed his eyes. "You are Kryptonian, are you not?"

"Maybe," Super-Woman said, not relaxing her stance. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Be careful, Shyla," Wonder Woman said, her eyes never leaving Darkseid. "He preaches about order but he sows the seeds of chaos."

"You slept with that pig?" Hawkman asked from above. "Lordy, then you must be starving for some of the Colonel's special recipe, baby."

Darkseid turned his gaze up at Hawkman. "It has been a long time since I had pheasant."

Hawkman grabbed his crotch. "I got your pheasant, pal! How about you tell us why we shouldn't kick your ass all over this lovely garden of joy you call home?"

"Agreed, Darkseid," Captain America said, stepping up. "Let's forego the ritual battle and here what you have to say."

"Finally, a voice of reason," Darkseid said. Desaad tried to say something, but the master of Apokolips cut him off with a chop of the hand. Darkseid began speaking slowly. "I know of this creature that has decimated the Earth. He is a creature of dreams, a construct of essences from beyond this universe."

"We already know this," Captain America said. He lowered his shield and moved in front of Wonder Woman. "Do you know how to defeat him?"

"He has a psychic link somewhere…"

"We're already working on that, dumbass," Hawkman called. "Do you have anything useful to say or do you make it a habit to bore everyone by overstating the obvious?"

Darkseid ignored the Winged Wonder and instead concentrated on Captain America. He couldn't help but let his eyes drift to Super-Woman though. "Once his psychic link is cut, he will no longer be able to expand his abilities. Through his link he gains more intellect, more imagination and willpower. Originally, he was a creature driven by an insane rage, but now he is convinced he is a god."

"It seems to me that you have the same problem," Wonder Woman hissed. Darkseid smiled again and she looked away.

Another man stepped out of the darkness, a tall thin one wearing a golden helmet with very long horns. When he spoke, there was a hint of a Scandinavian accent. "Then there are those of us who are gods regardless of other's thoughts."

Darkseid turned to his companion. "Ah, Loki, how good of you to join with us." He turned back to the group of heroes. "Allow me to present the Norse god of trickery."

"Another bastard who would claim godhood," Wonder Woman said. "We should leave this place now!"

"What is going on here, Darkseid?" Captain America finally asked, tired of the game of words. "Do you want to help?"

"Of course we wish to help, you mortal slug," Loki snapped. "Diana, how can you associate with such rabble? What is this, a crimson haired Aphrodite?" Loki stepped forward and reached for Super-Woman's hand. "A rare gem among the mortal kind."

Super-Woman took his hand and squeezed. Hawkman chuckled when he heard the god's bones crack under the pressure. Loki screamed and fell back, his eyes wide in disbelief. "It is not possible!"

"I'm not that kind of Kryptonian," Super-Woman said, reaching down and picking Loki up by the front of his tunic. Hawkman dropped down and took a position next to his teammate. "Now, can we discuss…?"

Darkseid started laughing. "Please, put down my ally. I promise he won't try anything so stupid again." When Super-Woman complied, Darkseid shook his head. "You are quite a specimen. I wonder where Kal-El was hiding you." Loki scurried behind Desaad, nursing his broken hand and muttering a curse under his breath.

"Diana, it is you I must speak with," Darkseid said. Wonder Woman shook her head, stating she wasn't about to fall for that old trick. "Fine. I will arrange a boom tube to transport you to your dead world where you will meet an inglorious end. Eventually Holocaust will kill everything there and will move on to another world. Perhaps fair Apokolips. Perhaps some other world such as Thanagar."

Despite his desire to let out a smart comment, Hawkman held his tongue. Wonder Woman still wasn't convinced and so Darkseid shrugged. Turning away, he led his entourage back into the doorway they had originally come out of. Desaad returned a moment later, explaining that he would arrange their transportation off of Apokolips.

"Diana?" Spider-Man asked. The wall-crawler had been silent but now moved to his friend. They had shared in many adventures together and he was privy to the broken heart that Wonder Woman had because of Darkseid. Years before, the ruler of Apokolips had approached the Amazons of Earth in hopes of having them broker a peace agreement between their two planets. Wonder Woman had been seduced by Darkseid, who had the ability to be extremely charming when he wanted to.

It had, of course, all been a ruse and in the end, the Justice League and the Avengers had been able to defeat the forces of Apokolips. Wonder Woman, however, had not been able to completely get over being betrayed.

He came up and put a hand on her shoulder. "You know he has the information we need," he whispered into her ear. Unknown to him, Super-Woman was picking up the entire conversation with her super-hearing. "We can go back home and hopefully beat the snot out of Holocaust, but think of the lives we could save if we could get some useful information."

She turned away. "You do not know what you ask. He cannot be trusted."

"Can we take the chance?" Spider-Man asked. He was then joined by Captain America. He assured Diana that it was the only way.

"We cannot go in blind. He does know something that we don't, but I don't understand why it is you he wants to discuss it with." Wonder Woman suggested that he probably would demand some sort of "favor" for the information. "Is that such a high price to pay?"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing, that Captain America was suggesting she prostitute herself for information. She saw the look of distress on Super-Woman's face also. The Star-Spangled Avenger seemed to gauge the mood. "I'm not asking you to do anything you don't want to do; but if we're going to war, I want the best weapons I can get."

She relented, but Super-Woman decided that Captain America had compromised his leadership by his words. Whatever happened after this, the Wardens would be following her commands only.

Wonder Woman walked over to Desaad. "I want to speak with Darkseid."

The little man rubbed his hands together and stared hungrily at her bosom. "Of course, of course. Follow Desaad, Princess Diana. Come! Come!" he cackled, taking her by the hand. She resisted pulling away and went with him.

Super-Woman tried to use her X-ray vision, but the entire world seemed permeated with lead contamination. She sighed. "I suppose we wait then." She shouldered past Captain America, refusing to acknowledge his little shout of surprise and called Hawkman over to her.

"Katar, something is going on with Cap," she said in a low voice. She watched as Captain America and Spider-Man moved over to check on Bruce. "Do you know what happened before they came here?"

The Thanagarian put his hands on his hips. "I don't know if it means anything, but I heard that Johnny Storm was involved in some heavy duty crap and that it was the Avengers who found him. He's the last surviving member of his team."

"Who found him exactly?" she asked.

"I suppose it was big red, white and blue over there," he replied. "In fact, he's the only Avenger that survived." He saw the wrinkled brow on her face. "You know, normally at this time, I'd ask you what you're smoking. These Earthlings practically worship anyone in those colors. You don't suspect him of anything, do you?"

"I don't know," she replied and then she tapped her bottom lip with her finger. "There's something strange about him and the Human Torch. They don't act like they're human sometimes. Did you hear the way Cap suggested that Wonder Woman screw anyone with information?"

"Yeah, it's just awful thinking about that," Hawkman replied.

"Pig! You know what I'm talking about. You say a lot of rude things, but we both know you only have eyes for Dawnstar. But he sounded like he really meant it. That doesn't sound like American ideals to me."

Hawkman yawned. "What do you expect from a race that divides the planet up the way they do?"

"Just do me a favor and keep an eye on Cap for me?"

He agreed and she moved back to where the Flying Fox and Batgirl were engaged in conversation. She noticed that Captain America was keeping his eye on her and suddenly she did not feel very safe.

Darkseid sat upon his ebony throne with Loki off in the corner still in shock that a mere mortal could inflict such pain on him. He watched as his former lover entered the throne room. She was still proud and haughty, just the way he remembered her. He wondered how she would feel if she knew that he still loved her.

The demands of being the ruler of Apokolips came before personal considerations though and so he would have to continue the ruse he currently perpetuated. "Ah, my little dove does return."

"Enough talk," Wonder Woman said. She pushed Desaad away roughly and he slammed into the far wall. His groans of pain told Darkseid that his toady was still alive. "You have information?"

"The creature is vulnerable to magic," Darkseid announced. "Before I had an agent kill Thor," he noted that her hands started trembling at the announcement, "it was observed that the creature could be hurt by items that were magical in nature."

"Why are you telling me?"

"Because, my dear sweet Diana, you are a magical being. You are the only one of your kind, a living, breathing creation of pure magic. You have no human qualities. You are no godling or immortal, but a thing." He shifted in his throne and leaned forward. "That still isn't enough."

"I didn't think it was," she replied.

"There were others of course: Dr. Strange, Dr. Fate, Wonder Girl…the list goes on and on. However, they won't have all of the information that I have including a way to get close enough to Holocaust to strike the killing blow." Darkseid sat back. "Please, tell me you aren't interested."

"And the price?"

"Oh, the price is very high, Diana," he said. His voice then seemed to take on a sad tone. "I just wonder if you are willing to pay it."