Chapter 20: Batman vs. Desaad (Part One)

Batman swept through the twisting hallways of the Apokoliptan mothership with a portable cloaking device on his belt to avoid detection while Superman flew toward the upper levels to face Darkseid and stop him. Confronting Darkseid was not on Batman's agenda as he knew that the tyrant would have some more of his Parademons set on Superman before fighting him personally. If he was going to prevent any distractions on Superman's end, he would have to face Desaad.

Even with all the stealth he had learned, Batman realized that he had to put every tactic and resource into staying alive long enough to find Desaad, so he kept to the shadows and used magnets on his gloves to climb on the walls so Darkseid's Parademons and Hunger Dog guards would not find him. After navigating through the maze-like chambers of the enormous vessel, Batman took his Bat-energy tracker from his belt and scanned for any signals on the upper levels. The strongest signature was obviously Darkseid, who was on the bridge, unaware that Superman was on his way there. However, a second signal was on the 150th level, just five stories above him.

"There you are," smirked Batman.

And with that, the Dark Knight crept into one of the garbage chutes and climbed toward Level 150. Once he reached it, he stole through the hall until he spotted two Parademon guards at the entrance of the hive lab. Batman then used an image projector to fool the two monsters into abandoning their posts, and then he crept up behind them and used two Bat-grapples to smash the Parademons against the wall, putting them out of commission. Now it was time to move.

...

Desaad was in the lab on Darkseid's orders to ensure that the lab was ready for prisoners who were to be made into Parademons for his army. Whether they were superheroes, soldiers, civilians, or officials, it mattered not. Any victim was a fair selection as far as Darkseid was concerned. However, there would be plenty of humans left to provide the slave labor for Darkseid's industrial empire. He would see to that personally.

"This Earth city can provide more than enough recruits for the armies of Apokolips. Master will be most pleased," said Desaad with an icy smile as he paced up the laboratory hall. In some of the pods, prisoners from the many planets Darkseid had conquered in the territory he ruled in his galaxy were being put through the transformative process. As one poor being howled with anguish as tentacle-like needles forced a glowing solution into his veins, Desaad stopped and looked on with amusement.

"Yes, I know," he said in a tone that reeked of mock sympathy. "The metamorphosis is tremendously painful. But it will be over soon. And when it ends, you will never feel anything ever again."

His attention was diverted when the two Parademons who had been guarding the door entered the chamber. Confused, Desaad said, "What is it? I did not send for the two of you."

Suddenly, the two Parademons toppled to the floor like ragdolls, and there stood Batman. Desaad jumped back in shock before he went for his knife, but the Dark Knight had him against the wall in a flash with his hand around the villain's neck.

"Unless you want more of the same, don't try anything stupid," hissed Batman.

Desaad gripped Batman's wrist and growled, "I am impressed by your methods of attack, Earth man. But you made a foolish mistake coming here. It won't be long before hundreds of Parademons tear into this chamber to rescue me, and then you will be the first of your kind to witness your so-called civilization fall to the will of Darkseid."

"Your master's overconfidence will be his undoing," Batman answered. And without hesitation, he judo-threw Desaad across the room, and the hooded menace hit one of the containment pods and slumped to the floor.

"Darkseid's invasion is falling apart," Batman went on as Desaad rose to his feet. "And frankly, if he had known we would be planning to counter his invasion this way, he should never have come."

Desaad made a run for the exit, but was stopped when Batman stood in his way. Taking a vibro-pike from one of the downed Parademons, Desaad smirked coldly and said, "If you are so confident your world will stay free, Earth man, why did you and your heroes not attack Apokolips instead?"

"Because we're not as weak-minded as your master thinks us to be," replied Batman as he took a device from his belt that turned out to be a sword with an energy-charged blade. "Every struggle we overcome makes us more powerful than either of you."*

The two readied themselves for combat, and then Desaad lunged at Batman, intending to smite him down. Batman nimbly leapt aside and parried the next stroke Desaad made. He somersaulted over the villain's head and swung at his sides with supreme accuracy, and Desaad barely managed to block the blows.

He's stronger than I thought, Desaad mused mentally. This was not oversimplifying, for Batman's battle tactics were not merely defensive moves. He was slowly stepping back and occasionally dodging, twirling, or flipping with every swing Desaad made at him and he blocked every blow while conserving his strength.

After a good ten minutes of dueling, Batman managed to bring Desaad to the console platform of the laboratory when suddenly he hit the controls in the middle of the duel. Batman and Desaad felt the platform rise underneath them until it elevated to a few hundred feet below the ceiling. At length, Batman managed to bar Desaad's next attack and slowly push him back. He did the same tactic again and held his ground, but soon he knew that he would need a new strategy to outmatch Desaad.


This is only Part One because the battle sequences are reminiscent to those from Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith. Next up, Superman begins his battle against Darkseid to save the world! We've started up the semi-final battle and now off to the main event!