Disclaimer: I own nothing of the DC universe
There are places in the universe where no individual unless they were insane or twisted enough would visit of their own free will.
One such place is Apokolips.
A world of endless suffering and manufacturing of war machines to be sent to another world to crush and bend to the will of their Apokolips's ruler, Darksied. To outsiders it is a notoriously dismal place, where the low-class citizens labor endlessly to feed the Energy Pits that supply and power to the rest of the enormous world.
To the son of Darkseid Voron it was a world of truth and power. It was on Apokolips where life is demonstrated in its finest form, a place where the strong rule and the weak suffer as it should be throughout all existence.
Voron was currently waiting outside the throne room alongside his brother Kalibak. The brothers had initially never got along, Kalibak seeing Voron as a hindrance to his father's affection and Voron unwilling to tolerate Kalibak's incompetence. The two nearly killed each other several times until the pair were forced to work together to survive against a Green Lantern. They kept each other alive and from there they continued to work together. They went from hated rivals to acceptance to a closeness where they could depend on each other for anything by the standards of Apokolips. The pair continued to assist one another allowing each to rise in their father's favor.
It was that partnership that allowed Kalibak to possess the Red Central Power Battery and the corresponding power ring and Voron the Yellow Central Power Battery of the emotional spectrum.
The doors suddenly slightly opened, and Granny Goodness came through shutting the doors behind her.
The Brothers smiled at the sight of her, and each embraced her warmly.
"It seems only yesterday I was beating you both with my rod." the seemingly elderly woman stated fondly pointing a finger at both men.
"Now look, both of you are strong and have served lord Darkseid well."
"It was all thanks to your teachings Granny" Voron informed her. He was being completely honest with his teacher. Her lessons on the importance of mastering your own emotions and staying focused on the greater goal was advise that saved his life on several occasions.
Kalibak did not say anything, merely nodding his head in agreement with Voron.
Granny smiled again and placed her hands over her heart.
"Your words warm my heart, so few of my old students show their gratitude for Granny."
Before either could respond she turned around and thrust the doors open wide.
Voron immediately straightened himself and walked forward inside the throne room. He kept his eyes focused on his father sitting on his throne straight ahead of him, ignoring his surroundings. The hall was mostly empty expect for Parademons going about their individual tasks.
When they reached the end Voron and Kalibak both took a knee and bowed before their father sitting on his throne looking down on them. Neither of them said a word waiting as always for Darkseid to begin the conversation.
No matter what Voron had achieved in service to Apokolips he could not help but marvel at the sight of his father on his throne. Voron had travel across every corner of the universe and fought beings that could purge entire planets at their whim, yet none compared to the sheer might of his father.
"My sons"
Voron internal admiration of his father ended, and his mind immediately became laser focused on his father's words. No doubt there was a mission for both men.
"Kalibak, you were once weak, easily outsmarted and defeated by any number of opponents."
From the corner of his eye Voron could see Kaliak looked like he had been punched in the face.
"And yet through your brother's teachings you have emerged stronger and smarter than before. You have defeated Green Lanterns, retrieved a power battery, and have succeeded in every task I have given you. I am proud of you, my son."
Voron always appreciated how his father never beat around the bush. Darksied was always straight to the point.
The look on Kalibak was of the very definition of pure joy. It was understandable as Kalibak had for a long time had earned their father's contempt for his incompetence yet due to Voron the once unfavored son had earned his father's respect.
"Now Kalibak you and Devilance will head to the planet Korugar. There you will eliminate the Lantern Sinestro. He had been a thorn in my side for far too long. You are dismissed, go."
Kalibak immediately stood up and left the throne room.
Darkseid turned his attention to Voron and looked at him without a word. Voron resisted the urge to squirm as a bug underneath his father's gaze.
Even after everything he had accomplished in his father's name Voron knew what would happen if he failed, he had not forgotten the first time.
Finally his father got up from his throne and started walking further into the palace.
"Follow" he ordered Voron who obeyed immediately.
The two continued walking without a word until they reached the Garden of Hope, the only place on Apokolips that has plants on it.
There was no one else in the area.
Voron stood still and silent, private audiences with his father were rare, limited to giving him secret missions that could not be failed or the rare praise for excellent service. The last time they had meet this way Voron had been ordered to obtain the Warworld. Voron turned his attention to gazing down upon the planet, not daring to speak as patience was a lesson that had been brutally taught to him in childhood.
Voron could not help the feeling of pride in his heart at the sight, the firepits, endless legions of improved parademons, screams of the weak and sounds of endless war machines marching off to conquer new worlds. Apokolips was truly a planet where the strong ruled over the weak.
Voron would not have it any other way.
After some silence Darkseid spoke
"The Court of Destiny has informed me of a class one threat."
Voron turned his head sharply toward his father in alarm. The Court had been one of Voron's ideas to his father to further assert the superiority of Apokolips to determine who or what would be a future threat to Apokolips using a form of time travel to peer into the future. Darkseid had initially said no but Voron persisted until he was given permission for a trial run. It had been a testament to his place in his father's eyes that he had been allowed to argue for it. It was not as exact as Voron would have preferred but it soon proved its usefulness and was made a permanent aspect of Apokolips.
A class one threat was a potential threat to Darkseid and Apokolips itself. A threat so dangerous everything was to be diverted to destroying it.
"I will depart at once to destroy this threat right now father." Voron swore immediately.
"No"
Voron was confused and waited for an explanation.
"The Court has stated that the threat is not clear in its appearance, only that the threat would appear on the planet in question. It is likely if the planet is destroyed the threat could appear somewhere else. To be sure, you will go there, watch, and guard the planet until the threat is apparent to you. Once you have identified the threat you will destroy it. You may take any equipment you need for your assignment. Lashina will accompany you to the planet."
"What is the planet called father?"
"Earth." Darkseid replied.
His orders clear, Voron nodded and turned to leave the room.
"By your will father. I will leave immediately by boom tube." Voron turned around and headed to the door.
"Do not fail me my son"
Voron stopped in his tracks.
"I will not fail you father."
Voron walked through the doors and immediately starting flying home.
o-o-o-o-o
Damien smiled as he looked upon Lashina, his wife of nearly six thousand years, sitting on the top balcony of their home. He ignored the grounds where the slaves were attending to their duties and landed right next to her side. He ignored the slaves attending to their duties in the grounds and sweep her in his arms. She did not say a word, simply placing her head on his chest.
"Father has an assignment for me."
She put her head back to look up at Damien waiting for him to continue.
"The Court of Destiny has detected a class one threat on the planet Earth. The same planet as-"
"Black Adam" Lashina finished for him.
There was tough of anger in her voice as she said his name. It was something he loved about her, that his rare defeats were a source of anger for him.
"Yes, you are to come with me to eliminate a future threat."
The Fury nodded and smiled
"Maybe we'll pick up a new plaything while we are there."
Voron could not help but smile in return.
"We are to leave right away. This is a potentially long-term assignment so we will need to pack accordingly."
What if a Si landed on Apokolips then proceeded to use his knowledge to further Darkseid's agenda?
That story would be straight horror from beginning to end.