Sorry, folks. I've tried something different with the writing format, something I've found more of my liking, but some found it distracting and improper, script like, so I decided to return to something more classic. Apologies.
Chapter 28 – Taking a deep breath
Day 38
Almerac – Potentoris – Royal Palace's courtyard.
Hour of Erimus
A Boom Tube opened in the main square. Orion and an entourage of 24 Elite Combatants and four of his personal assistants came through the virtual doorway.
Maxima and retinue were waiting for them.
"Greetings, Exalted One. It's been a long time." Said Orion bowing his head.
"Long time indeed, Prince of New Genesis. Aside from the unpleasant business that brought you here, is good to see you again" Responded Maxima - surrounded by her own entourage plus the Justice League representatives. She extended her hand-.
"Too bad our obligations prevent us to meet more often. So many memories…perhaps we could reminisce later…in private" Orion took her hand and moved his lips near it.
"Yes…well. We shall see." Maxima was visibly blushing and retired her hand under the cold gaze of J'onn's.
"You are the ruler of all you can see and more. You owe me nothing. You can and shall do as you please, Exalted One." Manhunter communicating with her using his telepathy.
"And you'll do well in remembering that, Martian!" Maxima responded also telepathically. After saying that she felt a hint of guilt.
"I've already commended the work of the Justice League, I want also extend my congratulations to your people for the capture of the Leader of the Furies, Exalted One." They exchanged pleasantries like these for a while, then Orion said:
"I'd like to see the prisoner now, if it is possible."
"Of course. Always the direct approach, isn't it, Orion? Warden! Take them to the penitentiary!" Ordered the Ruler.
Altor Confinement Facility
The three Leaguers, the Warden and representatives of Rann and Thanagar – as involved parties - were escorting Orion to Lashina's cell, along with 10 local guards and 12 of New Genesis' Elite Combatants.
Inside the cell, Lashina kept on trying to take down the walls and kept bouncing back to the center of the cell due to the spell casted by Zee. Her mouth was muzzled, but she could speak all the same. It was, mainly, so she couldn't bite.
When she saw Orion and the rest, she said:
"Orion, son of Darkseid! Such an honor! So many pleasant memories…!"
J'onn's head was about to explode "What is it with women and this man, for H'Ronmer's sake?"
"Maybe in another life, Lash…I'm here to take you to New Genesis. Play your cards well, like a good assassin, and you'll be on you merry way to Apokilips in no time." Were Orion's words.
"Ah! An exchange of prisoners…! I see." She smiled diabolically behind the mask.
"Not before High Father interrogates you" Orion added, returning the smile.
"That bloated ball of self righteousness! I have nothing to tell him, and will not tell him nothing…or you, or anybody!" She lashed out.
"We'll see about that. High Father has his methods. You'll break, eventually. Everybody does." Orion's smile grew bigger.
"The Guardians of the Universe and Interstellar Laws prohibit torture, Orion" Said Green Lantern.
"Luckily, New Genesis belongs to another universe, Lantern. In any case, there are worse things than torture, and my Female Fury friend here knows them very well, isn't it, Dear?" The defiance and sarcasm in Orion's voice were evident.
"Please, Green Lantern! Don't let this monster take me! I demand asylum in this planet or somewhere civilized!" Begged Lashina, pretending to be afraid.
The Martian said telepathically to John not to start an intergalactic incident. After all, they were the ones asking for New Genesis' help.
"I'm sorry: we can't do that" said GL, reluctantly, lowering his eyes.
"All set, then!" Answered the New God to that "Release the prisoner! She's under my care now!" Ordered to the Warden.
The cell's systems were shut down, along with Zatanna's spell and Lantern's reinforcement. Orion went into it, with his helmet in his hand to show self confidence. With the other hand, he loosened the muzzle "This is no longer of use" he said.
As soon as Lashina was free of it, she savagely bit his hand. Orion's beutiful features, under such great pain, turned grey and rocky and his eyes bright red. It was an instant, but the Leaguers and all the rest saw it clearly. Zee couldn't help a disgusted expression. She recalled how many times she had that face between her…Ugh!
With the hand holding the helmet, he instinctively stroke the Fury in the head with it, and Lashina fell like a puppet with its strings suddenly cut.
"As I said: this is no longer needed." Said Orion, regaining his composure and tossing the muzzle "Restrain her!" He shouted to his men "I don't want her to move a muscle, or else!"
With Lashina still unconscious, Orion's men strapped her to a stretcher with numerous restraint bands. One soldier tried a remote and her body began to violently squirm.
"Let's see how she likes electrified bands now" Said Orion with satisfaction.
"That was completely unnecessary" Blurted GL.
"Much to the contrary, Lantern: it was necessary to test the system's functionality" Explained the Prince of New Genesis."The only thing left is to put my mark on the release documents and we'll be on our way."
After doing that, one of Orion's men produced a Mother Box and opened a Boom Tube on the prison's yard.
"Tell Queen Maxima to please excuse my sudden departure. I can't take my eyes off the prisoner, for obvious reasons." Orion was eager to leave after they all saw his true face, nevertheless, was the last to enter the event horizon."I'll call her later to have a proper talk and explain myself personally."
"Well…that crazy bitch is someone else's problem now." Zatanna exhaled with relief.
"That solves one of our problems. We still have to find what happened with the Trinity team." Were the Martian's words. They went to the Royal Palace to inform the Queen.
J'onn took special pleasure in explaining Maxima the change in Orion's face when Lashina bit im.
"Son of Darkseid, huh? And he didn't correct her?" Asked the Ruler."And you witnessed the change in his face, Zatanna?"
"No, Exalted One. He did not. And yes: I saw it. Ewww! We need to investigate more on the subject, but, for now, let's focus on the fate of our comrades, the Trinity team." Pointed the magician.
The mention of the Trinity team made Maxima move uncomfortably on her throne.
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Planet Fred – Fortress of Solely Two - 10 PM
Diana and Clark sat down after doing the dishes.
"We can say this was a productive day" Began Diana "Look at all those lights! You did an excellent job, Melopita!"
"And that's not all" Clark touched the screen of his phone and music start playing on what used to be the speakers in the cockpit of the javelin.
"Barry Manilow! I love this song! So romantic!" Diana began swaying to the music.
"'Ready to take a chance again': one of my favorites of all time. May I have the honor, Miss?" Asked Clark taking her hand.
"You most definitely may, Sir" She stood up and they began a sensual dancing, with their eyes fixed on each other's, her arms around his neck and his surrounding her brief waist.
The moment was perfect and they wouldn't let it go to waste: they start kissing passionately and their hands began roaming the other's body. Diana's cinnamon skin showed goosebumps as he descended on her neck down with kisses and bites. They got rid of the other's T-shirt and shorts and their mouths explored every square inch of their partner's body. Unfortunately, due to Clark's disadvantage, they couldn't finish together, but the result was quite satisfactory anyway. They repeated it three times more for Clark and four for Diana.
After that, they cuddled under the unknown stars.
"Did I tell you how much I love you recently?" Asked Clark.
"You did, but I don't mind hearing it again." Answered Diana.
"I love you so much that my heart will jump out of my chest." He said
"And I love you so much, my heart will stop beating if I can't see you for another day." She responded.
"I wish our lives could be like this relaxed back on Earth" Clark removed a strand of hair from her forehead.
"Life's so simple here (claws everywhere and shiny wings notwithstanding). We have so much time for us." Then Diana put her hand on his cheek and added "Clark: your face!"
"What about it?" He asked.
"It's cured! It's completely cured! Look at your hands!"
He did.
"Holly crap! It's true! Your love touch has healing properties!"
They kissed for the Nth time. They slept outside that night, confident the lights would keep the beasts at bay.
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Tower of Fate – Somewhere/somewhen between realities – Time irrelevant.
"Utnapishtim warned me of a magical relic from the times the gods roamed the Earth. A relic of inestimable power. I should never allow Merek-Tu to put his hands on it. This relic could tilt the balance of power between good and evil, and I should get it first." Continued Fate." I asked for a clue of where to find it and he said it will find me if my path was the righteous one."
"That makes no sense" Shayera said "If it is so, Merek-Tu, being the asshole he is, would never attract it."
"Have you ever seen evil people posing as benefactors and champions of everything good, fooling everyone around?" asked Fate "Well, it's the same with magical objects: can be fooled by powerful, devious and resourceful evil wizards."
"That easy, huh?" Katar sounded incredulous "It doesn't seem very reliable."
"There's a caveat, though" warned Fate "For it to work, there must be no 'white wizard' around, or the relic would, indubitably, turn in his direction."
"That's why Merek-Tu needed you out of the picture" Katar concluded.
"Exactly" Doctor Fate was pleased with the Thanagarians' rapid learning skills "Farut drew the attention of the former king and his task was laid right in front of him. First order of business: staying alive."
"And what was the part our 'avatars' played in all this?" Asked Shayera.
"A big one. Because now Merek-Tu was focused on you both, it took his attention away from me, giving me more freedom to look for the relic. You were the most immediate threat to his power." Said Fate in answer to her question. "It had a negative side: he also wanted both of you dead."
"And we didn't noticed it?" Was Katar's reaction.
"Not at first. But gradually his negative 'advice' and evident contempt towards you eroded the relationship you had with him and put you on high alert" Fate pointed "He tried hiring assassins to end you, not knowing and seriously underestimating you. After the seventh failed attempt, he decided to change his approach for a more subtle one, before you turn your focus onto him. Meanwhile, you introduced some modern changes in the socio-political life of the realm, to ensure a fairest distribution of wealth and resources, a more equitable justice system, as well as economical ones, like maximizing the harvest in the delta and margins of the river Nile by taking advantage of the fertile silt left over after the rise in the levels of the waters. You've also coined the term Pharaoh to name the king…"
"It wasn't an invention of our former selves…" began Shayera.
"It's Thanagarian for 'public servant'. "finished Katar.
"Well, it's meaning has been seriously subverted since then." Said an amazed Fate "Earthlings love to inflate the ego of their leaders."
"I've witnessed some ugly results of that unhealthy tradition…" Shayera rolled her green eyes.
"And it's not exclusive of this planet. Back home we have our dose of protocol ass kissing too." Informed Katar.
"In any case, Farut considered it necessary to have you both on the loop and on his side, so he met with you to warn you about the truth regarding your 'adviser'. You concluded it was in your best interest to have him close so you could watch him.
Having spies all over the realm, word of this reunion reached Merek-Tu's ears. Now your deaths became an imperative to carry on his plans."