answers to reviewers questions or statements:

jack hal: We shall see.

rmarcano321: None, they don't exist.

MeteorElDrago: It'll be some time before Peter moves against them, he knows that they'll be expecting some sort of retaliation from him, so it's best to wait until their guard is lowered.

chimera629: Diana and Faora outclass him in physical strength and unless Carol absorbs a sufficient amount of energy to augment her powers, she and Psylocke are physically weaker than Peter.

Zayden StormVoid: I thought of getting rid of Vision but then I realized that keeping him around opened up a few possibilities further down the road. This won't be the last time we see Peter's darker nature, in fact this will be the most tame of the moments to come. The soul Stone will be one of the last stones that Peter will retrieve.

guest: Peter's not making too many advances to Apokoliptian technology for one simple reason, insurance. If there ever comes a time he has to flee or is betrayed, he'll need an edge or two.

Harbinger of Kaos: Yes, their aware but Bekka was before any of them and they know not to say anything within earshot of Peter. Their isn't too much amnesty, but they aren't too fond that she holds a special place in Peter's heart. Yes, the blade looks similar and Forager does look like his YJ counterpart. Yes, they live.

colbyburningham: What do you mean?

Ryu otsutsuki: No, they won't be giving the weapon to Peter.

Joe Lawyer: Yeah, in this universe, Peter's creed is more along the lines of 'With Great Power Comes Even Greater Opportunity', the more power he gains, the more he can accomplish. The reason for Peter's patience with Diana is for two reasons, the first is that he still loves Bekka and isn't willing to move on from her even after all these years, like she is with him. The second is that Peter doesn't want to risk something that'll earn his father's wrath, the guy made it clear to Peter to not screw this up. So if that means waiting her out, he'll do it. Plus just because your wife says something's okay,, is it really ever?

superpirce: Peter based Ultron's brain pattern off his and his studies with the Mind stone and his own work from Vision.

darthwolf: The brutality is coming, and it will be when Peter heads to a earth on his father's orders.

djberneman: No, Peter's changes are coming from being a child of Darkseid, as Vision said. Peter will use the power of the stone he has soon.

Disclaimer: I don't own any Marvel or DC characters seen, mentioned or used.


Cold... it was cold.

Far colder than Diana has ever felt in her life, colder than the artic tundra, colder than the void of space. It was more like all heat had been violently removed rather than merely absent, either because of distance or design.

'Where am I?' Diana thought as she took in her surroundings, looking for any distinguishing landmarks or hints as to where she was. One moment she was getting ready for bed, clad in a nightgown that showed far more of her figure then she'd like, and the next she's finding herself standing in some sort of dark void with no light visible and an unparalleled chill running over her very exposed body.

'I really need to find sleepwear with more layers' Diana thought dryly as she resisted the urge to shiver at the icy atmosphere.

"R-Release me... nowwww…"

Diana froze at the distant voice, her eyes searching left and right, up and down, for it's owner "Hello?"

"R-Release me... nowwww…" the voice repeated, coming from somewhere behind Diana.

The former Princess of Themyscira frowned as she began to slowly walk towards the source of the unknown voice, even though every instinct within her was telling her to stay away. For all she know, it was someone in need of help... though a small part of her wondered that if someone, something was trapped here, it had to be for good reason. After several minutes of wandering in the cold darkness, Diana saw a light up ahead. she quickly picked up speed and started to make out more details as she neared the light source.

There was a single figure, lying on their knees with their hands shackled to the floor and a hood thrown over their head. Their body was badly malnourished and pale with deep bloody scabs covering what flesh she could see. The figure made another pained cough, their entire body shaking from the action as Diana knelt down beside the being.

"P-Please... r-release me..." the figure whispered, their voice laced with pain and so dry that Diana wondered when the last time they had a drink of any sort of liquid.

"Who are you?" Diana asked as she reached up for the hood before she stopped and waited.

"I... I was a king once... a g-great king..." the voice of thee figure cracked before anger filled it "T-Then my s-sons... b-b-betrayed me..."

The figure's covered head then turned towards Diana and she felt their eyes bore right into her own "P-Please... r-release meeee…"

Diana nodded as she grabbed the hood and gently lifted it off the figure's head before her eyes widened as she saw their face. Dread and terror rose up inside of her as she recognized the being, even in this withered state. It was the creature from her dream, the one that attacked Earth and was going to kill Clark and all her friends.

"R-Release me... my beauty"

...

Diana was suddenly back in her and Peter's room, the figure that was bound before her gone. She blinked several times as she scanned the room to see that she was alone. She let out a sigh of exhaustion as she prepared to head off to bed before she realized that she was holding something in her hand. she looked down and paled at what she held.

It was the hood she removed from the figure.

"Great Hera..." Diana said with shock as she stared at the hood before she dropped it to the floor, the fabric still as cold as the void she found it and it's owner in.

The hood blankly stared back up at her as the Amazon tried to understand what it was that she saw and how she came to hold something from what she thought to be a vision, nothing more.

'But visions don't leave you with something tangible' Diana thought worriedly.

She contemplated telling Peter, but what was she supposed to say? That she's been having odd nightmares and visions and in one of these, she was able to bring something back with her that she held in such dreams? Even by her standards, it seemed ridiculous, and she's friends with a ten year old that can turn into a godlike being. Before Diana could make a decision, she heard her commlink go off. Her brow furrowed a little as she went back into her room and made her way over to the small nightstand that she placed her communicator and answered it.

"Yes?"

She was met with the sound of Granny Goodness.

"Diana dear, I hope I'm not interrupting anything... intimate" the old Fury cooed.

Diana felt her brow twitch "You were not Granny, may I ask why your calling?"

"I need you to rally with the rest of the Furies currently on Apokolips, I have news" Granny said before she ended the call.

"I'll be there..." Diana said to no one with a sigh as she turned and made her way back to the closet for her armor.

Several minutes later, Diana was silently making her way through the dark empty halls of Darkseid's citadel. It always struck her as odd on how quiet the dreaded palace could be in the middle of the night, if anything she expected it to be more lively. Thankfully she ran into no one on her trek and was able to arrive at the Furies main briefing room just before anyone else could arrive, giving her some time to herself-

"Diana..."

So much for some peace and quiet before the others show up' Diana thought with an eye roll as she turned to see Barda approaching her, still fixing her hair and adjusting her armor.

If Diana didn't know any better she'd say that Big Barda was in the middle of being intimate with someone and Granny's call interrupted and ended it "Barda…"

"This better be worth it" Barda said with a growl as she finished making herself look somewhat presentable "I was having a very good evening"

"I'm sure..." Diana said with a faint grin.

Out of all of the Furies, Diana liked Barda the most. Mainly because she never harassed the Amazon like some of the others do and in the past had been an ally to the Justice League against Darkseid. She's often wondered what it was that drove Barda back to the Furies and Darkseid, to willingly align yourself with such evil, but has refrained from asking.

'Perhaps it's because Scott had returned to Apokolips' Diana thought as her mind drifted to Mister Miracle, Scott Free, the son of the Highfather of New Genesis and the greatest escape artist in the universe, surpassing the likes of Batman by leaps and bounds.

The two Amazons stood there in silence as more and more Furies began to slowly trickle in. Diana spotted Carol, sporting a rather dark and painful looking bruise on her face while Psylocke stood a few meters from her clad in a purple semi see through robe, as if getting dress was too much a bother. She still had her katana though, held tightly in her hand while her eyes scanned the group of Furies.

"Of course she doesn't bother to come dressed... typical" Barda said with a snort as she eyed Psylocke.

"She dose this often?" Diana asked as she turned towards the slightly taller woman.

"Yeah..." Barda said with a nod as she frowned at Psylocke's form "Though it used to be a way to catch one of Darkseid's sons' eyes, your husband mainly"

Diana hummed at this before she turned her gaze back to Psylocke "Was she born on Apokolips, or New Genesis?"

"New Genesis" Brada stated as she folded her arms underneath her armored bust "She used to be some kind of personal guard to a member of the Highfather's family"

"How'd she end up here?" Diana asked with surprise "Was she kidnapped?"

"No, she chose to come here" Barda said with a chuckle at the look on Diana's face "Apparently Psylocke had tried to kill the Highfather and was sentenced to execution, but Peter intervened and brought her here"

"How... noble of him" Diana said as her brow furrowed at this.

"Honestly, I think he just liked how she looked and showed a sexual interest in him" Barda said with a simple shrug.

Diana snorted at this before Granny Goodness, flanked by Faora and Grail, appeared and gestured for the Furies to follow her into the briefing room and towards a large holographic table.

"Why are we here Granny?" Barda asked with a frown while the rest of the Furies filled in around the table. The new Goddess's patience all but evaporated like water under a sun in the heart of a barren desert.

The founder and current leader of the Furies didn't respond, merely continued to stare at the various Furies before her with a thoughtful look on her face before she began "As some of you know, our Lord Darksied as decided to continue the Memberance Festival with New Genesis after almost two hundred years"

Diana quirked a brow at this while a number of other Furies looked shocked.

"What's the Memberance Festival?" Diana asked, ignoring the various looks a number of the other Furies gave her.

"It's a Festival to honor the first and only time that our lord and the foolish Highfather joined forces to defeat their Father after he slew their mother, long before New Genesis and Apokolips were established during the final days of the Old Gods" Granny Goodness revealed with a shrug "It was also a way to help maintain the peace between Apokolips and New Genesis after the pact proposed by Metron was struck and Scott and Orion were exchanged"

"Why did it end?" Diana asked.

"You can thank your husband for that" Granny said with a chuckle "Or his mother at least. The Highfather did not approve of our lord seducing what was to be the Highfather's chosen bride and in a fit of petty anger, absolved the Festival"

"The Highfather of New Genesis ended something that promoted and maintained peace with Apokolips, all because Darkseid slept with his fiancé?" Diana said with wide eyes.

"Of course he did, he's petty like that" Psylocke said with a scoff.

"Is this why we were called here at such an ungodly hour?" Grail asked with a scowl "To learn that my father is restarting some ridiculous festival with New Genesis?"

"Partly" Granny said with a nod "But the real reason I called you all here is because before the festival, our lord wants to make sure that Apokolips's power is secured and dissuade New Genesis from trying anything. And to do that, we need a game changer. Something to give us an edge should we need it"

"What is this 'game changer'?" Diana asked with a frown as dread began to build in the pit of her stomach.

Granny Goodness grinned at this "I'm glad you asked Diana..."

She typed in a few commands to the terminal before the image of what appeared to be some sort of mirror appeared with the image of a galaxies, stars, nebulas and a host of other celestial bodies floating within it. The boarder of the mirror looked to be that of some sort of ancient machine like being with the head and shoulders forming at the top and angled to look down at whoever stood in front of the mirror.

Diana's brow furrowed at the image before she heard a gasp of surprise from Barda "It's been found... after all these years, it's finally been found"

"What's been found?" Diana asked with confusion as she glanced at her fellow Fury with several others "Barda, what is it?"

"The Black Vortex" Barda answered in a tone that almost sounded like awe "Created billions of years ago, said to help one unlock their true cosmic potential. Propelling them on to a plane of power and existence that can scarcely be imagined"

Diana's eyes widened at this, never in all her years has she ever heard of something so powerful. To transform a being into a cosmic god of the highest order. But her surprise quickly gave way to fear at the idea of Darkseid gaining possession of such an artifact. With it, the dread lord would be nigh unstoppable, his power all but absolute. And if he were to empower his servants, even just a little, nothing would be able to stop his armies from conquering all of creation.

"Wait..." Warbird said, taking a step forward as she studied the image "If this really is the supposed Black Vortex, what in Hala's name is it doing on Asgard of all places?"

Goodness shrugged "Perhaps Odin, before his demise, thought he could empower himself enough to prevent Ragnarök from unfolding. Obviously it didn't but perhaps the old fool simply didn't have enough time to use it"

"Or to use it requires something specific that he couldn't provide" Grail said with a thoughtful look on her face "It must have burned him, to have something grant you so much power... and be unable to acquire it"

"Indeed" Goodness said with a nod "Which is why our lord wants it. If nothing else, to ensure no one else can obtain it and pose any sort of threat to him"

"As if anyone, even with the Black Vortex, could" Lashina said with a scoff "Darkseid is, no fancy mirror will change that"

"Do not be so sure Lashina" Goodness warned with a pointed look that caused Lashina to advert her gaze from the Fury commander.

"How are we going to reach this Asgard? Will we be taking a ship like last time, or Boom Tubing there?" Diana asked.

"Boom tube" Granny Goodness replied as she typed in a few more commands "Asgard is all but inaccessible by conventual means which means we'll need to Boom Tube you there. The draw back, we risk setting off any lingering defenses the ruins still have"

"They will be of little consequence" Grail said as she turned towards several Furies "Lashina, Guthra, Stompra and I shall have the Black Vortex within my father's armory, either to be harnessed or replicated, within a day at most-"

"You will not be leading this mission Grail" Granny Goodness interrupted the daughter of Darkseid, causing the grey skinned woman to blink in surprise at this.

"Excuse me?" she asked with a hint of anger in her voice "What do you mean I won't lead this mission?"

"Diana shall retrieve the Black Vortex" Goodness said with a smirk thrown towards the surprised Amazon "And she'll be taking Psylocke, Treasure, Gilotina and K'li with her to do it. Along with of course, a few dozen Parademons to aid you"

Diana blinked in surprise at this "M-Me? But why?"

Goodness grinned at the Amazon "To see if your ready to lead my dear. After all, I can't rely on Grail to always lead the Furies in my place and with our Lord pushing me to train new Furies, I need a Fury that's competent. You fit all the right criteria, we just need to see if your truly ready to stand with us, or even lead us if the situation calls for it"

In other words, it was a test of Diana's loyalty, if she was willing to lead Darkseid's warriors in his name, in his interests.

'I suppose it was only a matter of time' Diana thought angrily as she glanced at the image of the Black Vortex, unsure of what to do.

It this artifact was as powerful as many here were claiming it to be, and if Darkseid used it to increase his power... he'd be all but unstoppable. The dreaded God of Evil was already a powerful force of nature that could just barely be stopped by the combined power of the Justice League. But she couldn't just blazingly destroy this Black Vortex, Diana was unsure if it could be and it sounded like if it could, it'd require power greater than what Diana possesses.

'And it's not like I'll be allowed to' Diana thought as she glanced at Psylocke, Gilotina, Treasure, and the exiled Tamaranean K'li 'If hey suspect even for a second that I'd destroy this thing rather than obtain it for Darksied… they'll attack me without hesitation'

This mission was going to be very... difficult, to say the least.

...

As the Furies were briefed on the Black Vortex, Peter sat in his lab, most of his monitors shut down and the lights dimmed with Ultron operating on a few side projects on the other end of the room. Before him was a holographic screen that showed Bekka, the top of her robe long since removed as she leaned back in her chair and gave the New God a unmatched view of her breasts, a content smile on her face as Bekka stared at the other half of her heart.

"So you've given Vision to your wife to wait on her every need day in and day out?" she asked as she noticed Ultron in the background.

"Yeah" Peter said with a nod "Though she wastes his potential by having him look after a bunch of slaves that she took a liking to a few weeks ago"

"How dreadful of her" Bekka giggled "Using such an advance android to babysit"

"Exactly" Peter said with a scowl, though his annoyance was more genuine.

"It's who she is Peter" Bekka reminded the New God "Just because she's spent almost a year on Apokolips doesn't mean she's lost her soul"

"I give it another month" Peter said with a snort before he glanced back at Ultron when he heard a faint beep from the project he was working on "Ultron I swear to the Source if you make another mistake, I'm taking an arm"

"Apologies sir" Ultron replied as he had one of his fingers form into a miniature blowtorch before he began to wielding something together "I underestimated the power conduit matrix"

Peter grumbled while Bekka giggled at Peter's interaction with Ultron "So he's to assist you from now on?"

"And protect me" Peter said with a nod as he turned back to Bekka "He's more heavily armed compared to Vision. And he can take a beating"

"Is everything all right?" Bekka asked with worry.

"Just a precaution is all" Peter waved off Bekka's worries with a grin "But with Grayven now the heir apparent to our father's throne, he may decide that the rest of his siblings being alive, aside from Kunla, would be... inconvenient"

"You fear he's preparing to move against you and your brothers and sisters?" Bekka said.

"Now not, but eventually" Peter replied with a shrug "Though I'm not too worried"

"Why's that?"

Peter grinned "He'd have to content with En Sabah Nur, Kalibak and Grail before he could even begin to start on the rest of us. My money's on Kalibak"

Bekka chuckled "Of course it would be..."

"Well, he is the strongest of us..." Peter chuckled before he saw the time and sighed "Well, as much as I would love to continue this conversation, I need to go"

Bekka frowned at this "Why?"

"I'm meeting with my father" Peter said as he stood up and rubbed the back of his neck to work out the cramp it developed "I'm petitioning to be the one to go and shut down Intergang's operations on Earth. Since they are now our allies, seems kind of counter productive to undermine it's defenders. At least, that's the excuse I'm gonna give him"

"Really?" Bekka said with a look of doubt, she's known Peter too long to know that this was the only reason for him to want to travel to Earth. Something must have there must've caught his attention and Peter was simply trying to find an excuse, a rather good one, to be on Earth and not arouse too much suspicion.

'Something tells me it has to do with the stone he found' she thought as Peter continued to explain to her the reasoning of shutting down Intergang's operations on Earth 'He must've found something similar to it or perhaps something that can help him better harness it's power'

Whatever it was, Peter thought it was significant enough travel there himself rather than send his Parademons or even his own Furies to retrieve it.

"So how's your snarling dog of a husband?" Peter asked, breaking Bekka out of her thoughts on Peter's ulterior motives.

Once the words registered in her head, the New Goddess rolled her eyes "He's away on a mission for the Highfather. Apparently our spies have located some ancient super weapon of some sort and apparently they've gone to acquire it before your father or someone else learns of it and takes it"

Peter hummed at this "Interesting. Must be truly something for the Highfather to send his dog to fetch it"

"Truly" Bekka said with a giggle.

"I wonder what his reward will be, a pat on the head along with a 'good boy' and maybe a treat?" Peter said with a snort.

"Or a belly rub" Bekka said with a laugh "I swear, it's almost pathetic seeing such a obviously powerful son of Darkseid bend over backwards to please my Grandfather"

"I think that's why my father picked him to be exchanged with Scott" Peter said with a grin "He foresaw what a disgrace that boy was going to be and decided to send him off to New Genesis to be their embarrassment"

Bekka couldn't help but giggle at Peter's choice of words "At least he's house trained. It really helps fit with the 'Dog of War' title"

"I'm just curious as to how your family got him to stop peeing in the house" Peter said.

"Honestly, I don't think we ever did" Bekka replied with a grin before she heard a sound coming from her terminal and checked to see who it was.

Peter watched as a frown formed on the red head's face "What is it?"

"...The Justice League is calling" Bekka said with a blank face "Probably for an update on your beloved's well being... again"

"Idiots, all of them" Peter said with a shake of his head "They have the number of the most beautiful being in all of creation and they'd rather have you talk about someone else that's far from your level in everyway imaginable"

"Well, they are human... most of them anyway" Bekka said with amusement before she sighed "I'll have to answer"

Peter nodded "Just tell them that she's fine, she's fitting in nicely and no harm outside of training has come to her"

"Now why don't I believe that last part" Bekka said with a knowing look.

Though it's been years since she's been on Apokolips and interacted with many of Peter's siblings, she could still remember the hostile environment even more clearly then what she did earlier this morning. The nightmare that was Apokolips leaves scars, be they physical or mental, the latter more often being worse.

"What do you want me to say for you to tell them?" Peter said with a scoff "That a few of my brothers tried to get a little handsy with her?"

"I'm sure they'd love that" Bekka said with a sigh as she adjusted her robe to appear more modest when she answered the League's call "Is there anything else you would like to share for me to tell them? Perhaps your possible visit to Earth to shut down Intergang?"

Peter was silent for a few moments before he shook his head "No. There's no guarantee that my father will let me go to Earth to do it. But if he does... I wanna surprise them"

"Surprise them, or surprise your wife?" Bekka questioned with her eyes narrowing slightly in interest.

Peter coudlnt help but grin "Both"

And with that, their call ended, leaving Peter standing in his lab in total silence before he gave a few last second instructions to Ultron should his wife come by and made his way to his father's throne room.

...

Half an hour after the briefing ended, Diana arrived at her husband's lab, curious to see if the sword he was making for her had been completed yet. She was barely at the door for a second before it opened and she was greeted to Ultron, his red eyes staring down at her.

"Yes?" he asked.

"Is my husband in?" Diana asked as she tried to peer behind Ultron and scanned the lab for signs of the New God.

"He is in a meeting with Lord Darkseid" Ultron replied, his gaze never leaving Diana's.

"For what reason?" Diana questioned, her curiosity piqued.

"He did not say, other than his meeting will take up most of the day... however he did want me to give you something should you stop by" Ultron said as he turned away from Diana and made his way back into the lab and to a table that housed a free floating sword "Your sword is ready"

Diana watched as Ultron lifted the blade and walked back to Diana before handling the weapon to her, hilt first. Diana examined the ebony colored blade, noting the glowing golden symbols seemingly carved into the blade by the hilt and the lengthened handle. She carefully took the sword from Ultron's hand and tested the weight before giving the blade a few practice swings.

"It's a magnificent weapon" Diana remarked.

"Only the best for the sir's wife..." Ultron said with a nod before gesturing towards the hilt "The grip as microscopic biological interface scanners, allowing you to mentally activate the mother box within the blade. But there is a downside..."

Diana frowned at this "What is it?"

"You need to know where your going to properly utilize the mother box or you risk opening a Boom tube somewhere… unpleasant. When the master was removing some of the components to fit the mother box into the sword, he had to remove it's navigational A.I. in place for the microscopic biometric scanners" Ultron revealed.

"Ah..." Diana said with a nod as she glance down at the blade and ran a finger over the cool metal "So, unless I know where I'm going for a fact, I run the risk of ending up in a wall or a mountain on whatever planet I'm trying to go to"

Ultron nodded "Exactly, though if you've been there before and know there's no such obstruction, you should be fine... mostly"

Diana nodded as Ultron handed her the sheath for her new sword and attached it to her back where her shield was placed. She turned to leave when Ultron suddenly spoke up, his tone unreadable.

"I hope you understand how much trust the sir is placing within you ma'am"

Diana stopped and turned towards Ultron with a raised brow "...It hasn't escaped my notice"

Ultron nodded "Good, if that is all ma'am, I must return to my duties"

And with that, Ultron bowed and turned and proceeded deeper into the lab while Diana watched him go before the door to the lab sealed shut. She stood there for a mew moments in deep thought before leaving else she'd be late for her meeting with the other Furies at the Mother box pad. She was just halfway to the pads before a figure wearing a hooded cloak stepped out in front of her, forcing her to stop.

"Hello Princess..." the hooded figure said with a voice that caused Diana's skin to crawl.

"Hello... Desaad" Diana said to Darkseid's most loyal servant and top scientist, though the latter in her opinion was a bad joke.

Torturer was more fitting.

Desaad's glowing red eyes seemed to shine in amusement before he noticed the sword over Diana's back "Ahh, a replacement for the blade you lost to Armria, yes? Made by your husband?"

"What if it is?" Diana questioned with narrowed eyes.

"Nothing, it's just... rare... for Peter to make such gifts for anyone" Desaad stated before he stepped aside to allow Diana to pass "I apologize for keeping you distracted. You have a important mission yes?"

"I do" Diana said with a nod as she made to step pass Desaad when Darkseid's servant spoke in a low whisper.

"Do try and bring the Black Vortex back with you, it could be quite useful for Apokolips's future" Desaad said.

"I'll keep that in mind" Diana said with a frown as she continued on her way, leaving Desaad to watch her go.

...


And done.

Next chapter, The ruins of Asgard...