GOG

Part 1

CHAPTER 16

Metropolis

2036

A giant of a man with a golden staff and horned helmet held the Man of Steel by the throat and pummeled him until his eyes were snapping shut and his face was a mashed pulp. The population of Metropolis watched in horror from the vantage points of their homes. The battle was taking place in the middle of the city and the media cameras were beaming images onto the networks as fast as they came in.

Superman was flung to the ground. He laid unconscious. His black and silver uniform was tattered and torn in places. His black cape burnt. The villain grasped the black hair,now tinged with silver at the temples,and laughed,"Well,Superman,this is what I have been waiting for over centuries to do...wipe you out finally!"

He produced a long green blade to the hero's throat. Before he could do anything,a powerful beam of red hot fire burned him from behind. The villain roared and dropped Superman and the dagger.

He turned and glared. Hovering behind him was a tall,lithe young woman with long hair the colour of mahogany. She wore something akin to the famous red,blue and gold uniform with the crimson cape. The crest was more modern and stylized and smaller on her chest. She wore a short skirt and knee-high boots.

She shouted,"Gog!Stay away from my father!"

She swooped in. Her hands took up the kryptonite and crushed it without as much as a wince. She then powered into the man called Gog. She punched him and he went flying into a large building. The glass and metal shattered,sending splinters and shrapnel everywhere.

Gog stood up,dazed. He sneered,"Well,well,where did you come from?Can't you be the spawn of Satan here?Where have you been hiding?"

She watched him warily,as he twirled his staff to point it at her. He fired."You think you can defy the blessing of the Quintessence?This staff is more powerful than the Kryptonian himself."

She ducked and weaved in the air,coming around a large domed shaped building,and suddenly began to spin like a devil's whirlwind. Larger and faster,the winds battered Gog and she suddenly dived and her sheer speed,which was blowing out windows and bending metal,sent the villain tumbling into the stratosphere.

She gritted,"I'm not merely Kryptonian,you lunatic,and you'd be surprise who blessed me!"

He was burning up on re-entry. He tried to shield himself but this young creature was not like her sire. She seemed even more powerful and had none of the limitations he had. She was punching him and he was flying backwards,still smouldering, and thundering into the moon .His very landing carved out a huge crater. He rose to see her coming again. He held his staff and roared blasting her with it.

"My staff has the power of a thousand suns!" It would decimate her in micro seconds.

Out of the fires and gases,she emerged, unscathed. She smiled."I AM the sun,itself!Every single living, breathing cell of mine is made only more powerful by what you think may destroy me."

He knew it at once. There would be no easy victory here for him with this female on the loose. He had to re-think his position. He would fight another day. There was eternity to do it in after all.

He vanished before she could get to him.

PRESENT DAY

JLA Satellite

Batman and the Flash was in the JLA satellite. Batman was doing Monitor Duty and Flash was the last of the staff on roster waiting to be sent out on a mission.

"This is cool,"said Wally,"it's eight pm and still no need for me to jogging around the world."

Batman looked over at him as he sat with his feet up on a console, guzzling a milkshake and burger."You could do something useful instead of stuffing your face."

"Like what?You're efficient enough for both of us. Besides,I'll just get in your way,and I would be more useful to you here."

"Oh? How do you figure that?"

"Well,I can talk to you,stop you from falling asleep,keep you sharp and focused..."

"Coffee can do that."

"Coffee can't give you an opinion or sympathy. I mean,can it tell you that the Catwoman is hot?"

"Wally,"he began warningly.

"Seriously,Bruce,how long you going to dance around all these women and not commit?I mean,don't you get lonely?Look at me,one would never think I would tie the knot,but guess what?I'm a happily married man!Word is that Talia was very upset when she realized why you were dating her. Can't blame her even if she is Ras' daughter!But I have a soft spot for the kitty. I'm sure she'd go out with you if you asked nicely."

Batman said acidly,"I'll thank you to keep your opinions to yourself. I don't need to date criminals."

"Meow. That's a bit harsh,"said Wally totally unabashed by Batman's warning tone."But let me tell you a thing or two about the ladies,Bats,there's nothing more..."

Before Wally could finish his sentence,the space before them began to warp and a flash of light blinded them. The fabric of reality seemed to tear open and from a tunnel appeared a tall,man with ash blond hair,wearing what appeared to be a camera-lens over one eye. He carried something in his arms. It was covered under what appeared to be a red cape.

Flash had jumped to his feet to pounce on the intruder. Batman's hand stilled on his utility belt. He knew the man."Rip Hunter!"

Hunter stepped forward."I have need of you."

Flash looked at him suspiciously,"Jay spoke about you. You are a Linear Man. You oversee the Time Stream..."

Hunter looked at them urgently,"The Time Stream as we speak is in peril. I need you to take care of this for me until the League can take care of Gog."He was gesturing to his bundle.

"The league?Gog?What's he talking about,Bats?We haven't been called..."

Batman,who had time traveled in the past,sensed that Hunter was not referring to any situation they were cognizant of in the present. He asked,"I take it this Gog is someone from the future?"

"He is currently seven years into the future rampaging the Eastern seaboard ."

"And you want us to help?"

"No. I have help. But this needs protecting from him. He cannot be allowed to destroy it."

Flash sniffed,"What is it?Some sort of chronal weapon?"

To both their surprise,Hunter plunked the bundle into the arms of the Flash. He said,"It's more valuable than you know. Pray all goes well."

He pressed a button on his wrist and vanished. Flash moved the red cape and let out a gasp."Holy Cow!"

Sleeping ,with a thumb in its rosy mouth,was a female child about nine months old.

Flash looked at Batman."What the hell?"

Batman took a strategic step backwards."You take care of her. I've got Monitor Duty."

"Hey,he gave her to both of us!"

"You're the father-to-be. You've been poring over parenting books for months."

"Just because I read a few pages of that book,doesn't make me a nanny. Take her,man."

"No."

"She's some sort of messiah from the way he spoke. I'll drop her on her head for sure. You took care of kids before..."

Batman grimaced."They were all over ten."

Flash looked at the child in awe. She was in a white dress,little sandals and her reddish-brown hair in loose curls."What do we do with her?"

"Put her down somewhere to sleep."

"Where?"

Batman looked around in vain."I guess you could put her in the conference room. Make up a bed on the table. She won't fall off that,and we...you...can keep an eye on her from here..."

"Well,you hold her,while I get blankets and a pillows..."

Batman protested. But Flash rebutted."Can you run to the sleeping quarters and back in seconds?"

"Well,no..."

"Right then. Take her."

Batman took the child in his outstretched gloves and awkwardly held her away from him. He gritted."Hurry up."

The child was laid down upon the middle of the table,now lined with blankets and barred around by pillows. Flash whispered, "There. Now if we are lucky,she'll sleep through, um, whatever, Hunter says is going on..."

Batman frowned."Let's hope he comes back for her."

Flash looked worried."You think it's possible he won't?"

"Yeah,and since you have a wife,you'll have to take her home."

"Aw crap!"

They tiptoed out of the room. Batman went to flick off the lights,when a cough and gurgle sounded. Then it was followed by a whimper. Batman turned on the lights.

Sitting up was the child,and she looked around her and began to wail.

Flash looked at him."Oh great."

Batman ordered,"Go pick her up. She's probably hungry ."

"Yeah and what do you want me to do?Breast feed her?Or maybe I can make her a burger.''

"Shut up and go."Batman kept near the door.

Grumbling,Flash went to the table."Hey,there,little baby...You allright?What's up?"

The child was crying .She was looked at Flash and continued to cry. He began to make faces."There there now...there's no need to cry...Flash is here...Look,what I can do. You like that?"

This did not help. She only bawled harder. Flash looked helplessly at Batman."Aw, come on!She doesn't even go for my goldfish impression!You try!"

He picked her up and brought her to Batman. Batman began to shake his head."No..."

Flash pushed her into his arms. To their utter astonishment,she looked at Batman and all her tears stopped. She made a strange sound,reached for his hood,pulling at the bat's ears with gurgles of happiness.

One hour later,Flash and Batman stood in the Monitor room,looking at the child sitting on the floor,with bits of items of interest Flash thought would keep her occupied.

She had an old helmet of Dr Fate's that she was banging on with a batarang Wally had managed to wrestle off Bruce. Littered around her was an old deactivated laser;a replica of Starro,that was more like a squeezy toy;several of Ray Palmer's subscribed medical journals which she had shred to pieces;bits of Oreo which she had sucked on and mashed into the basketball Flash and Kyle Rainer used to shoot hoops on the corridors;and an empty box,which she had seemed to have the most fun out of but which was now woefully misshapen.

Flash winced as she banged the helmet with vigor and looked at Batman."A whole hour has passed. That's not good. Isn't it normal to go for like a hundred years and find only five minutes have gone?"

"What'd more alarming is having to deal with a wet nappy."

"Look,I'll do your Monitor Duty for a month if you do toilet duty,"he began desperately.

Before Batman could reply,an incoming message from Green Lantern and Vixen alerted him. He went to the screen to hear their progress report. Flash inquired behind him after they had signed out.

"You think John planning on proposing to her?"

"I don't know."

"I know you don't approve of members dating but I think they're good together."

He shrugged."I don't know. Maybe."

"Bruce,I know I wise-crack all the time,but it's a good life when you find the one for you."

Batman suddenly turned and looked behind them."Where is she?"

Flash looked around and gasped."Oh no!Hey,baby!Where are you?"

He lifted the box. He bent under the computer consoles. He scoured the room. She was nowhere in the room.

"Look,it's no use ripping into me. She must be here somewhere. The Flash can track her down,"said Flash confidently.

Batman said darkly,"The Satellite is not exactly a three bedroom apartment. You ought to have watched her."

"I just turned my back for a second. Look,if you scan the corridors using the cameras and sensors of the security system you're bound to find her."

"She doesn't exactly fit the criteria for super-villainy,in addition to being small enough to fit into small spaces."

"She's a baby. What can she do?"

The sound of the satellite rumbling made them gasp. Batman heard the alarms going.

"Warning. Warning. Security breach!"

Flash looked at Batman."That doesn't sound good."

Batman flicked a camera onto the main screen .A tall,broad shouldered man with a helmet like a golden ram and a tall staff weapon ,was standing on one of the corridors. He was looking around ."Now you little hell spawn,where are you?"

The monitors showed that the child was creeping down that same corridor,and only a curving corner barred her from the intruder's view.

Flash gasped,"Who?''

"My guess?Gog. Go and get her ,Wally!Quickly."

The Flash dashed out and reached the child in micro-seconds before Gog could reach her. He grabbed her."Come here you!"

Gog saw them and fired his weapon. The blast barely missed them. Flash stuck his tongue at him"Can't catch the fastest man alive!"

Gog aimed for the outer walls. It shattered and Flash yelled as he and the child were being sucked out of the Satellite. He grasped the walls,feeling his nails drag painfully along the metal.

Batman had initiated security protocol and before Gog could follow up his blast,robot sentinels came from behind and engaged him in a fierce battle. Flash yelled via his comlink.

"Bruce,I could use some help here!"

Before he was sucked out into space,he could see something burning into the black void,it was like a scorching star. Before he knew it,Superman had him by the scruff of the neck and the child against his chest.

Flash let out a gasp of relief as Superman flew them into the Monitor Room. Heavy reinforced electro-magnetic gates and snares were activated behind them.

They met Batman at the door."You all okay?"

Flash looked mollified."NO!"

Superman,who was holding the child,looked at her to them."You two owe me an explanation."

Batman said,"Well,the man that tried to kill Flash is after that child."

"And who exactly is this child?"

"We don't know."

"I beg your pardon?You,Batman, don't know?That's a good one. Wait,this isn't a lovechild of yours is it,Bruce?" Superman asked suspiciously.

"All we know is that they are both from the future. He is some kind of villain called Gog and he's after her. She's special...," interjected Flash seeing Batman was too speechless and annoyed to reply.

Superman regarded her. She was pulling at his S shield."Oh how so?"

Flash winced. Gog had just blown up three giant sentinels."Don't take too long debating the issue guys cause that goat headed fella is wiping out our defenses."

Superman moved to hand the child over to Batman."Here,take her I"ll see to..."

To their great astonishment,she began to wail and wouldn't go. She clung to Superman. Flash shook his head at her."You're one fickle chick. Half an hour ago you loved Bruce."

Superman patted her back and asked ruefully,"She got a name?"

"Yeah. Baby."

They felt the satellite shiver. Batman began,"I don't know how we are going to fight him. That staff seems to be very powerful."

"Call in back-up,"urged Flash.

"We cannot engage him here unless we want the nuclear reactor core to explode. Clark,you need to draw him away. Fight somewhere where there are not many civilians.

Superman handed the child over to Batman. She began to wail."Sorry,"he said to her,"his bark is worse than his bite."

Batman took her."Yeah,thanks a lot"

Superman flew out as soon as Batman unlocked the doors. He saw Gog and went straight for him. They crashed into a wall and the entire satellite seemed to creak and shivered as they burst into the vacuum of space.

Flash held his head as he saw through a portal Gog fired at Superman and the Man of Steel plunge,blazing, into the atmosphere."I hope you have something in mind,because this doesn't look good."

Superman burned up like a falling meteorite and fell into the ocean with a force equivalent to dozens of missiles going off. Water mushroomed into the air and the blast send waves rippling out in concentric circles. He plummeted deep down into the depths of the Indian Ocean and a tsunami was triggered off. He fought his way back up and chased after the wall of water heading for the coast.

He gasped into his comlink,"Bruce,call Arthur quickly!See if he can save the coast off Africa and Madagascar,whilst I try to stop the wave from taking Western Australia!"

"On it,Clark!"

Superman dived in and began to spin in a clockwise direction. A giant whirlwind of water rose with him and the speed was so blindingly fast that the liquid seemed to vanish into the air like vapour.

He barely got a chance to catch his breath,when Gog appeared and Superman dived in order to avoid the blast of the staff. He headed for the Great Victoria Desert,taking the fight where there were few civilians.

Gog hit him with a blast from behind that sent him tumbling into the barren landscape. He created a long trench in the ground. As he got up,he let his icy breath blow at Gog,who seemed only to laugh and melted the ice with his staff's fire power.

"You cannot hurt me,Superman. I was granted the power to change the world and so I will!I will rid it of you and then take that little cub for my own."

Clark blew up a sandstorm at him."I don't understand why you are doing this?What have I ever done to you?"

"Have you forgotten?I worshipped you and you failed me. You betrayed me!You caused all that I knew and loved to die!And I will have my vengeance!"

His staff blew the sand away and he came after Superman. He knocked him into Ayers Rock. Superman grunted as he landed dazed."Jeeze,the lunatic can hit!"

He got up and before he could react,Gog teleported in front of him and grasped him by the throat."You cannot hurt me,Kryptonian.I am a God!And you are the Devil himself."

Superman grasped his hand and choked."I don't know what you are talking about!I don't even know you!"

"I wish I could say that you will...but this chance given to me now,prompts me to say...that you did and it will mean nothing to your future self when I kill you now!"

Superman looked perplexed but he let his heat vision burn Gog's face. Gog roared and his fingers loosened,giving the Man of Steel the chance to direct a clear punch at his jaw. Gog went flying into the cracked earth and created a deep chasm.

Superman winced,holding his throat."Future or no...you won't be killing me today if I can help it.!"He coughed and watched for Gog to emerge. His mind was ticking over fast. As a teenager he himself had time- traveled and he knew that the time-stream continum was complex as it was mind boggling. All that he did with the Legion in the future was real to him but he knew it was a paradox that he could influence both past and present; and that time itself could be interfered with and even be changed. The future was undetermined. This Gog must have met his future self. But why was he peeved with him?And what did he want with the child?

He had no time to reply. Gog appeared and was coming at him again. He pressed his comlink."Bruce?What are you all doing up there?I could appreciate some help."

Flash looked at Batman."What are we going to do?"

"To the vault. There is a weapon we can use."

"What?"

"You'll see."

"What do we do with her?"He indicated to the child."We can't take her..."

Batman eyed his whimpering burden. He pulled out a thin, pliant cable from his utility belt,clipped it about her waist and put her down to amuse her self once more. He attached the end to a console. She had a meter of cable which to move about. He also planted a device on her that allowed him to know if she moved beyond the room. "Let's go."

Flash rolled his eyes."Leave it to you to put her on a leash."

They reached the vault and used their voice signatures with a secret code on the first door. A retinal and fingerprint scan opened the second one. Finally a probe stuck them with a needle and their blood was analyzed and DNA coding matched and verified by the computer.

They ran into the huge room. Since the Task Force had broken in and Superman been mind-controlled security had been beefed up.

"It's in the far recess."Batman indicated.

"What will be using?A time-device?The Phantom Zone Ray?"

Batman's voice replied."No. Him."

Flash stopped before the Annihilator and groaned."Aw man!"

They went to the control panel. There were two keys also under a security code. Batman punched it in. He indicated."Two people have to turn at once."

They turned in unison and the locks on the machine's legs snapped open. Batman went before it and said,"Hephaestus mighty vessel,chosen weapon of Ares,Arise and Destroy at my command."

Flash frowned."Isn't he triggered by rage?"

"Yes."

"So,how can we even respond?"

Batman produced a hand held holographic computer that was connected to the satellite's main network and it was playing real-time images of Superman being pounded by Gog. Flash winced a he saw his friend being punched into the stomach and over the head. Instantly the machine came to life.

"Whoa!" gasped Wally.

Superman was bleeding through his nose and ears. He gasped,"Bruce,what's taking you so long?"

"Flash is on his way,Clark. Hold on."

Clark screamed in pain as he was hit by the fire of the staff and fell at Gog's feet smouldering. Gog pointed the staff at him."I have you now. You will die today."

"Not if we can help it!"The Flash teleported in and with him was the Annihilator.

Gog turned and looked up."Ah,the speedster. Not even you can stop me!"

Flash folded his arms."I wasn't planning to."He gestured to the Annihilator."Go get him!"

Gog sneered."You think a mere machine can stop me?I have the power of the Quintessence!"

"No,but we were hoping it'd match your rage."

The Annihilator went at him;Gog met him mid-air and the air itself scorched and warped with the force of their fists meeting. Flash dashed to Superman,who was lying half-dazed,his cape burnt and uniform tattered;he put an arm under his shoulders."Come on,Blue,let's get you out of here!Bruce,port us in!"

As they vanished,Gog and the machine continued to battle over the Australian desert. Gog gritted,"You do not fall!Why is that?"

The machine grabbed him and lifted him into the air and slammed him into the earth.

Superman and Flash reappeared on the satellite and went to the control room. Batman was watching the battle as it unfolded on screen. Superman was helped to a chair. He looked up weakly at Batman."Bruce,what are you hoping to do?"

"Buy time. What this Gog does not realize is that this machine feeds off rage.."

"Oh,he's full of rage alright."

Flash, meanwhile, looked around."Where is the kid?"

Batman gestured to a part of the room,where she was sitting,sucking her thumb and watching the images on screen in innocent fascination."Over there."

Superman watched the figures battle."This is getting nowhere. They are in a deadlock. They'll destroy everything!How long can this continue?We need to call in back-up...the Marvel

family and Lantern Corps!"

Batman looked up."Wait!Look!"

The Annihilator grabbed the staff and snapped it like a twig. It let out a blast equivalent to an atomic bomb. The Annihilator was blown to dust. The desert and sky crackled and an earthquake shook the continent.

Gog screamed."My staff!"He pressed something on his wrist,and vanished.

Flash whooped."Yeah!He's gone!Pity about the robot though. At least there's no pieces to reforge now."

Superman grasped Batman's arm."Call the reserves and send them to Australia. That earthquake was 6.5 on the Richter scale. They'll need help."

Batman nodded. Wonder Woman,Martian Manhunter,Fire,Ice,Green Lantern,Red Tornado and Steel were called and dispatched urgently.

Flash asked,"You think that psycho is gone?"

"I hope so...he..."Batman was interrupted by Gog phasing in behind them.

Gog grabbed him first and sent him smashing into a panel. He fell unconscious. Flash speed about him in circles,punching him"Don't have your staff,eh big man!""

Gog vanished and reappeared."No but I still have power over the time stream. I can do this!"He grabbed Flash and also sent him crashing into the very screen they had been viewing. Flash passed out also."And I will go back and seek my staff. But first I take care of Superman."

Superman looked at Gog weakly. He had not begun to heal yet. He tried to rise and take a swing at Gog.

Gog laughed and he punched him over and over. He fell to the floor. Gog ripped a horn off his helmet. The golden tip gleamed dangerously. He hauled Superman up and put the horn to his heart.

"I will cut out your heart,Satan."

The sound of a gurgle made his hand still. He turned and saw the child and his eyes lit up."Well,well,little hellspawn.!"

He gestured to Superman."Look. What better vengeance than this. I had hoped to take her but she is too unpredictable. She is her father's daughter after all. I will let you see her die,then I will kill you."

Superman was tossed to the floor. He entreated."She's an innocent child,for god's sake!Why would you even kill her?"

Gog looked amused."Ah yes,you don't know who she is yet, do you?Well,Superman,I will tell you before I kill you both."

Gog went to the child,tore the cable off her and picked her up by a leg so she hung upside down. He used the tip of the horn to cut a deep gash into her leg. She screamed. Superman groaned."Have mercy,Gog!"

Gog laughed like a maniac."Who would have guessed I would have you both at my mercy. You ought to have hidden her better. Your desire for a normal life put her in danger."

Superman looked confused."What...what are you ?"

He dangled her before Superman."Look at her a final time,Kryptonian."

Superman tried to grab him. Gog slashed his throat with the horn. He gasped and held it. Gog looked at the child and sneered,"Now you little pest..."

The child's eyes glowed red and beams issued forth and burned Gog in the eyes. He screamed and flung her. Superman, spluttering,put his hand out in horror."No!"

She was going to smash into the wall. To his amazement she tumbled and stopped a second before contact. She hovered in the air. The gash on her leg was beginning to heal itself.

Superman's eyes widened in disbelief.

Blinded in one eye ,Gog looked at her."Clever girl!"

Before he could move the fabric of reality was torn open and Rip Hunter and two figures,one in a Batman type metal armour with wings,the other in a green armour with a lantern on its

chest,appeared.

Hunter looked at Gog."The League is right behind me,Gog."

Gog looked around;Superman's throat was beginning to heal,Batman and Flash were waking and the two new comers looked poised to attack."You!And the blind followers of the devil too. Today is not the day it seems."He pressed his wrist."I will return and finish this."

He vanished. The person in the Bat armour queried urgently,"Hunter,can we follow?"

"No. It is enough that he is disrupting the time continum. We must try to keep our input minimal."

The man in the Bat armour went to the hovering child and held his arms out."Come here,imp."

She obediently went to him with a gurgle of happy recognition.

Wally scratched his head."What is going on here?"

Batman narrowed his eyes."I'm not quite sure."

Superman winced and stepped forward. He looked at Hunter."Is he gone for good?"

"He will try again,Superman. Be on your guard."

"Why is he so full of hate?"

"I wish I could tell you,but I cannot. All I can say is thank you for keeping the little one safe."

Superman looked at the child."Who is she?You owe us an explanation."

The man in the green armour smiled."Flight. Heat vision. Self healing. Take a guess."

"What!You don't mean..!"Superman looked at her in utter bewilderment."I'm not the only one with...with...There is Supergirl...Powergirl. It can't be possible..."

Hunter looked at him with a kind of patient tolerance."I know this is confusing. But it was a close call. In this reality the future is not decided. So it can be that she may or may not ever exist."

Batman glared at the man holding the child."And who are you?'

He grinned."Me?I'm the godfather."

For once Batman was speechless. Flash held his head."Is it me or does anyone else brain hurt?"

Hunter and his two allies grouped together with the child. He said,"We need to get back to where we belong. This gal's parents must be pulling their hair out."

They vanished.

The three heroes looked at each other in silence.

Flash spoke up first."Do we file this report?Cause I'm kinda thinking it'd sound as if we'd been smoking pot. "

Batman said matter-of-fact."I propose that we leave out the ,er, details about the child's lineage. We don't know if it will ever happen but if it is true,that fact is too important, in the light that we've had security breaches before. Clark?"

"Agreed."

Batman looked at Flash."Wally,go down and see how the rest of the League are doing. Clark and I will see to the satellite."

"On it."

Once he had gone,Batman looked at Superman."Are you okay,Clark?."

He held his throat. It had knitted completely. He turned and walked to the door."Bruce,I time traveled before as well as you. The future is not set in stone. That child may be Kryptonian but it does not in any way indicate that she could be ..."

Batman said wryly,"Let's hope so,cause I can't believe I would volunteer for godfather duty."

Superman's lips twitched."That alone makes it ridiculous. No,it is not only speculative,it is foolhardy. She was made vulnerable just by being who she is, and was nearly killed for it. It further drives home the point that we cannot take the risk to even contemplate having a normal life."