GOG

Part 2

CHAPTER 17

Superman was in his Fortress of Solitude. He had taken to it shortly after fighting the villain called Gog. It was in part to reflect because he had come so close to death,and to also try to reconcile himself with the stunning revelation from Rip Hunter. For some reason he found he did not want to face anyone,not his mother,not Lois,not even Diana. He stood before the large sculptures of his biological parents and sighed. It was not that there was a child that troubled him but the extent to which that innocent life had been put into danger!No one deserved such a fate!Much less a child.

He walked onwards,trying not to give into temptation to wonder about the identity of the mother of the child. He reinforced his determination with the thought of John Stewart. If what the report said was true,John met his and Shyera's son in a possible future. Only John was not going to let that knowledge dictate his decisions and relationships. Clark would do likewise.

He went to the living area,and sank upon a chair. He flicked the television on and changed the channels slowly. He suddenly stopped as he saw Metropolis featured on the news. The camera man was focusing his lens on what appeared to be a man with a golden horned helmet and staff in City Park. The man had just blasted the large memorial statue of Superman to pieces.

The reporter was shouting over the din,"Superman's statue has been destroyed!This new menace seems to be hovering in the air as if watching,waiting for something!Who he is no one knows..."

The remote fell to the floor as he flew out of the Fortress as fast as he could.

Superman sped to Metropolis and headed for City Park. Waiting for him was Gog,hovering in the air,watching civilians as they were torn between running and stopping to watch and catch pictures of him.

"Ah,Superman. Right on schedule."He was smiling and made no move to attack. One could see that one of his eyes was dull and scarred over. It was as a result of the child blinding him.

Superman faced him,arms folded."I see you got your staff."

"The benefits of being able to travel freely in time."

"And perhaps depriving your self of it at a point as well?What did you do?Steal it from your future self?"

Gog did not look amused."You may joke for now,Satan. I have no need to remain in one place in Time."

"That has to be a plus for me. And a bummer for you. Your disruption of your place in time makes you a kind of fugitive. It perhaps explains why you haven't wiped me out of the Time Stream yet."

"A miscalculation I seek to rectify today.''

"Ah yes,I wondered when we'd get to that. Just to let you know,I won't be going down easy this time either."

Gog smoothed his staff."I wasn't planning on killing you...yet...I have found out something since my last battle with Hunter and the League of the future...something I think you will appreciate...But before we get into that,let's play a while..."

He came at him and they smashed into several buildings. They tumbled into the street. Cars and trucks screeched to a halt;some crashed off the road and into each other. People screamed and began to run. Gog grabbed his hair and smashed the back of his head into the concrete;then he began to choke him. Superman's hands grabbed at his wrist and he put the flat of his boot into Gog's gut and knocked him backwards. Gog flew into a reinforced glass building. The entire thing seemed to shiver and windows blew out on every floor;he rose,looking irritated now.

Superman gasped as the staff fired at him and sent him tumbling. He fell,carving a depression into the ground. He looked up to see Gog coming at him. His eye caught sight of a large crane directly overhead. He waited and calculated. His laser vision severed the arm of the crane and the heavy steel girders and cache of bricks suspended from it. Tons of equipment came tumbling upon Gog. He roared as he fell,buried under it. Superman rose and grimaced. Dust swirled everywhere. The sound of car alarms and sirens could be heard in the distance. His JLA comlink vibrated.

Superman heard Batman's voice."Clark!Are you okay?"

"Bruce,it's Gog!"

"I'm sending you backup..."

"No,not for me!Get them to come and help the civilians. Help the injured. Get people to safety. Keep the area clear. Downtown is a mess..."

"But..."

The staff fired at him and Superman shot up into the air. He climbed higher,weaving in and amongst the clouds,narrowly escaping the blasts from the staff."God damn that stick of his!"

He could hear Gog clearly."Is flying away your new tactic,Kryptonian?"

Superman pressed his comlink."Bruce!"

"Yes,Clark?

"I need Mr Miracle's help to get rid of something."

"Ah,I think I know...tracking your co-ordinates...and patching you through."

Superman few out of Metropolis,heading for the Mid-West, to a part of the atmosphere where he could see and hear warm air rising. He went above it and blew cold air;the cloud began to coalesce into raindrops,that began to fall heavily. He precipitated an updraft and the falling rain created a downdraft,thereby speeding up storm conditions. Internal turbulence began to occur and with it the electrical activity. Lightning forked and went through Gog's staff and down his arm. He roared and the staff fell from his grasp. Superman dived and grabbed it.

He pressed his communicator."Now,Scott!"

A sound like thunder clapped and a portal appeared in the sky. The staff vanished via a boomtube.

Gog turned;his silhouette seemed to be smoking;he glared at Superman."So you even have off-world allies?"

Superman shrugged."What can I say?I get around."

His one eye suddenly seemed to bear a vindictive gleam."Well,you won't be looking so smug for long. Not when I go for her !"

Superman's expression changed at once."Her?"

"Yes,Clark."He laughed fiendishly and pressed his wrist. He vanished.

Superman spun around and sped back to Metropolis.

Lois Lane was watching the footage of Gog and Superman with Jimmy on the tv screens in the newsroom. Perry would have none of his staff go out and put themselves at risk.

"Let Superman take care of this madman. I won't have anyone getting killed and getting in the way of the emergency services."

She muttered,"We should be out there!"

Jimmy put his arm about her shoulder and whispered,"Look,C.K. will be happier knowing you are here,safe. Besides, the League and police are down there and won't allow anyone to come out."

"Who is he,Jimmy?"

"Who knows!Some crazed villain with a grudge!And we know how much the type likes to attack Superman!"

Lois sighed wearily."That seems to be happening a lot these days. I get the impression Clark's a bit troubled. He seems almost distant. He didn't take today off because he is unwell,you know..."

Jimmy replied ,"Well,I kinda guessed that."

"He said he had things to do at the Fortress. But I know better. When he goes there...it's usually to shut himself off...I hate it when he does that..."

They had moved back to her desk. Jimmy said quietly,"He probably has a lot on his mind,and doesn't want to worry you."

"I'm his girlfriend,Jimmy. That's what girlfriends do..."

"Well,a lot of it may be confidential stuff,you know,things he's obligated to keep as a Leaguer. And although he's an alien and hero,he is firstly a guy. And we guys don't usually see the need to..."

Jimmy's sentence was interrupted by the sound of a wall being smashed by a great fist. Glass flew everywhere. The wind whipped up the papers from the desktops and whistled through the room. People screamed and dived for the floor. The man with the golden helmet flew in. Jimmy grabbed Lois."Get the hell down,Lois!"

Lois leaned against her desk. She hissed urgently,"It's HIM!We should get pictures...Where's your camera?"

Jimmy had his camera on his desk. He shrugged helplessly.

Lois rolled her eyes."I have my camera phone in my bag...It's on the desk..."She tried groping for it.

"For heaven's sakes,Lois!A super powered psycho is ten yards away and you're thinking about a story?"He pulled her arm down.

Gog scanned the room. He saw the picture board of the staff on a wall and hovered towards it. His eyes fell upon Clark Kent. He knew who he was due to the knowledge given to him by the Quintessence. His mission had not been to hurt anyone but the Man of Steel,who was, in his mind, the devil,the anti-Christ; but then, as he failed in his mission time and again, Gog justified in his own warped mind going after his seed .But that had proven to be quite difficult. Now he had decided to get back at Superman in another manner.

Gog grabbed a lanky post boy and lifted him so his nose pressed into the photo of the amiable, spectacled face."Where is the mate of this Clark Kent?"

"W-wha?"

"His woman?Where is she?"

The boy stammered."T-there!" He pointed where Lois and Jimmy were hiding. Gog tossed the boy away like a rag doll and smiled viciously. Jimmy, who was peeping around the side of the desk,saw Gog glance over at them. He hissed,"Lois!Run!"

Jimmy picked up a chair and held it out to block Gog. Gog smacked the chair away and lifted Jimmy and sent him tumbling over a desktop. Lois gasped and ran for the door to the elevators. She was barely there when she felt a strong hand grasp her by the collar of her blouse and lift her off her feet.

"You are not going anywhere,woman!"

Lois tried to punch at him,and ended up screaming in agony as her fingers were caught and crushed.

Gog looked at her and suddenly scowled."Who are you?I do not want you,you puny insect! I want the mother of Superman's child!I want the raven haired witch!The Amazon!"

Lois was dropped unceremoniously and her jaw went slack with astonishment. Before she could utter a word,a blur of motion came at Gog and was tackling him out of the newsroom. They tore through the other side of the wall and vanished amongst the other tall buildings.

Lois sat on the floor as in a trance. She felt Perry grabbing her arm."Lois, are you okay?For a minute there I thought we were goners. Thank god for Superman!"

Lois barely heard him."What?"

"I said thank god for Superman. He came just in the nick of time. What was that maniac telling you?"

Lois looked at him. Her eyes seemed confused."I...don't know."

Perry looked around"What a mess!Is everyone alright?Where's Jimmy?"

A hand raised from behind a desk. Jimmy stood up shakily."I'm here.'

"You okay,son?"

"Yes,sir."

Perry looked at Lois."Lane,maybe you ought to call Kent?"

Lois was still perplexed."What?"

"Call your boyfriend?Let him know you're okay?See if he is?"

"Oh. Yes, On it."

Superman was taking Gog out to sea. He gritted,"You animal!You call me Satan,but you're the evil one to go after an innocent woman!"

Gog reached up and tore off his gold collar,which Superman was grasping,and he somersaulted away from the enraged Man of Steel. He moved to press his wrist.

Superman shouted,"Coward!"

Gog vanished.

Superman heard Batman's voice."Clark,are you there?"

"Yes."

"He's gone,hasn't he?"

"Yes,he came after Lois,Bruce. This isn't good. He'll come again. I know he will."

"We'll have a meeting to discuss a contingency plan to deal with him when he resurfaces. We'll have the League on high alert."

Superman flew back to Metropolis to check on the Planet and his colleagues. He appeared as a flustered Clark Kent,who had just navigated through chaos downtown to check on Lois.

Perry remarked,"Good to see you unhurt. You should thank Jimbo here. He stood up to the villain and probably saved Lois' life."

Jimmy blushed."I...It wasn't me really. Superman was the one..."

Perry interjected,"Nonsense!Those split seconds made the difference. I wonder why he would want to kill you,Lois?"

She casually said,"Well,I am known to the world as Superman's P.R. He won't be the first mad person to kidnap me..."

"Humph,must be a drag though. Look,you guys, we need to get on this story fast,but this newsroom is going to have to be cordoned off until we can patch up those walls. We can hardly work inside here with the wind blowing our papers away. I'm going to talk to H.R. and accounts for some desk space..."He strolled away.

Clark looked at Jimmy meaningfully."Thanks Jim."He turned to Lois."You okay?"

"I...yes...Who was that Clark?"

"Look,Lois,Superman needs to go help the League with the city. Can we talk tonight?"

She shrugged."Sure. Go ahead."

She watched him leave and clenched her fists.

Lois waited for Clark to fly in that night. She was on the couch and watching the news listlessly. The sight of Wonder Woman on the news with the Manhunter, Superman, Hawkgirl, Vixen, Steel, Huntress and Zatanna made her impatient. She flicked the channel over to an entertainment channel. She heard him land on her balcony but didn't get up. He walked in and came over to her. He kissed her forehead.

"Hi. How are you doing?You look pale."

She shrugged."Okay. I guess it shook me up a bit."

He walked to the window and looked out."I'm sorry about that. I didn't know he'd come after you..."

"It's not as if the likes of Lex or Brainiac hasn't done it to me before...but you owe me an explanation. Who is he?"

"His name is Gog. He comes from a possible future. I don't quite know what I did,but I seemed to have ticked him off. He's come back to get his vengeance..."

"A possible future you say?You mean he time traveled?"

"Yes. He has power over the Time Stream. Don't ask me how,but as we know it is possible to navigate the time continuum. Remember what I told you of the Legion?"

"Yes."

"Well,this is the second time he's come for me. The first was when there was that quake in Australia day before yesterday."

She looked surprised."That was you?"

"Yeah,fighting for my life. The staff he carries is a powerful weapon."

"So,this future of yours,you don't know much of it?"

"No."He winced internally about the lie. But he had agreed with Bruce that the less anyone knew of a child the better. And right now, with Gog rampant and vengeful,it was best if there was never the thought of a child."The future is not set or predetermined. It can be changed if we make certain choices,"he said soberly,"and right now Gog is showing a dangerous precedent;he came for you .At first he seemed more preoccupied with me. I suspect since being unable to kill me,he wants to go after the people I care about. The League and I have discussed a contingency plan and the likes of you and Ma must have protection until he can be stopped. J'onn Jones will,if you are both willing, get you onto a telepathic link,so at least we will know where you are and what's happening to you. I've also gotten members to do checks on you. So don't get too peeved if you see Reddy, Steel, J'onn, Lantern, Flash,Booster,Plas and others dropping by."

Lois forced a smile. As long as it wasn't Wonder Woman she had no problem with that!She studied Clark's face as he spoke,and she came to the conclusion that he had no clue about Diana. She breathed easier. But there was still an uneasy expression in his eyes.

She got up."Clark,what is it?"

He said gravely,"Lois,this incident has me thinking how dangerous being with me is..."

She put a hand on her hip and playfully wagged her finger at him."After all I have been through,you're not going break up with me,Smallville,you got that!"She came around to face him."Look,I don't want you feeling guilty and going all noble on me. What has gotten me through this is knowing my boyfriend is here for me."She wound her arms about his neck,snuggled into his chest and cooed,"I feel so much better knowing Superman is here. You'll stay with me tonight,won't you?"

"Sure,if that's what you want."He held her but over her head he looked troubled.

"You know it is."

Gog was on the hunt for Wonder Woman. He had a problem though. Without his staff he could not track her down. It was like trying to find a needle in a haystack. She just was not visible to him!He had already gone into the future and taken his staff. Now he would have to go search for it on alien worlds. That could take a while with the kind of technology those aliens possessed. It was getting tiresome. He had not believed trying to defeat Superman would be so hard.

He needed his staff. He could not defeat the likes of the Kryptonian nor the Amazon alone!Much less their progeny!After his defeat with the child,he decided the best thing was to go after the female that would in the future birth the powerful hybrid. He had roamed the Time Stream looking first for child, now mother. Locating her often proved difficult,as she was protected by one of the Quintessence himself. Gog was not sure how Zeus would view his use of power to kill his champion!

Gog hovered atop Boston. She was here. He knew it but she was cloaked. Dare he even try to draw her out?

A voice spoke behind him."Your rage calls to me,Brother."

Gog turned and he beheld,Ares,God of War.

Gog faced Ares in what appeared to be a luxurious mansion house. He looked around."For a God you certainly like your comforts."

Ares gestured for him to sit."When one is with these mortals,one must try to maintain one's standards. Try to blend in."

"So,what is it you want?"

Ares smiled."I should ask what is it you want?"

"The death of Superman and Wonder Woman?"

"Whilst that confession makes me rejoice,I'm curious. Why would you want to kill them?"

Gog replied crossly,"Because he is the Antichrist. He betrayed me. And the Quintessence granted me,a normal man, power to change the world for the better."

Ares looked ironic."Zeus is more generous than I ever expected. But why Wonder Woman?"

"She is the bearer of Lucifer's offspring."

Ares sat upright. His spine appeared to stiffen."Indeed?"

"Yes,at first I was not aware of it,of this union of two powers. It was when I went after him,that the hell spawn appeared...fully grown...more powerful than her sire. Granted with gifts that even the Amazon did not possess...she seemed to be able to withstand the power of my staff which had the might of one thousand suns..Then, even as a an infant, she did this to me"He gestured to his dead eye.

Ares stroked his chin."Apollo!t would please him very much to piss me off by blessing the Princess' child. And you say she defeated you?''

"Yes."

Ares' fingers dug into the arm of the chair."This cannot be allowed to happen. Whilst I have no love for Superman,I did not begrudge his existence. It was the Princess that concerned me. Now you say there is the risk of someone coming along that would further tip the scales of power away from me. Well, now we both have something in common. But you know,the gods will not stand by and let you do this. Even if they cannot interfere directly,they will try to protect Wonder Woman. And Zeus will most likely punish us."

Gog growled."Well,get rid of the Gods."

Ares looked at him with a kind of impatient air."One can't just get rid of the Gods..."

"Well,disable them then."

"It is not as easy as you think..."

"Why not?You have access to them?''

"Yes,I can access Olympus."

"Once I reclaim find my staff,you and I can go into Olympus and do some damage. Once they are disabled we can ..."He trailed off suggestively.

Ares' eyes glowed and he added, "Get hold of the Amazon."

"And once we have her..."

"Superman should follow."

Gog smiled."We can kill two birds with one stone."

Ares repeated."Yes, kill two birds with one stone."

Gog rose."I am wasting precious time. I will return when I get my staff."

As he vanished. Ares began to laugh."Yes,and I can let loose the Dogs of War and crush men on earth."

His daughter Harmonia looked at him from a corner."This is treason,Father."

"I know it is,that's why I won't be doing it on my own. And don't you get any ideas of running to Athena or Hera!"

"No,Father."

"I have your word,a child to her sire,that you will not go to the Gods nor the Amazon,nor anyone of her allies?"

"You have my word."

"Excellent."

Gog appeared on New Genesis. He had been trailing the staff for what seemed like an eternity. But he could not find it there. He found himself then going to a world that was dark and full of fires. The world of Apokolips. He sensed the staff was near. But as he phased in and out over pits of fire,he found himself being chased by winged demons.

He snorted."Oh, very smart. Hiding it in the pits of a hell itself."He grabbed several parademons and flung them into the pits. He suddenly sensed the nearness of the staff and reached near a bunker underground where the very same demons were monitoring for signs of intrusion. The staff was there. Buried below the bunker. Gog phased into the building,and began tearing into the flooring,knocking away the parademons coming at him.

He found the staff with a triumphant smile."There you are!"

Before he could utter a word,he found himself being transported into a large citadel. A giant hand grasped his wrist and he looked up into the eyes of Darkseid himself. The Lord of Apokolips held the staff in his left hand."You have some explaining to do,Intruder."

Gog appeared before the God of War.

"Ah,you are back,"he said.

Gog bowed his head."I am."

"And with your staff."

"Yes. Are you keeping to the plan?"

Ares indicated to his armour."I am not dressed like this for my own amusement."

"Then let us begin."

Hermes,the quicksilvered messenger, was flicking through scrolls with a bored look while Aphrodite and Eros lazed on a divan.

"You know, this isn't fair,why do I have to be running messages?Why can't I just bask like you and let people pray to me for favours? Or have fun with a bow like junior there?

The Goddess of Love and Beauty stroked the golden curls of her son."That's our destiny,dear heart. If you're unhappy,talk to Zeus."

"A waste of time. He'll say no one is fast enough and I'm the only one gifted for it..."

"Well,it could be worse. You could be in the netherworld watching souls suffer or slaving over a hot forge like poor Hephaestus. At least you get to lie back in the palace."

He sniffed."I guess. Will you look at this?Athena is not too happy with Apollo;she's reprimanding him for partying too much and bringing dryads back to the bathhouse."

"You shouldn't be reading the scrolls ,you know. It's supposed to be personal."

"It's the only thing that makes this job worth existing."

Eros said dryly,"Remind me not to write anyone a message."

Hermes suddenly looked up."Did you hear that?"

Aphrodite shrugged."What?"

He rose and dropped the scrolls .He could see Ares with Phobos,Deimos,Eris,Harmonia and a man ,with a golden helmet like a ram, carrying a staff, come onto the terrace.

Aphrodite gasped."This doesn't bode well. Hermes,run to Zeus and Hera!"

The messenger tried to fly but found himself knocked down by the staff. He fell heavily and saw Eris smiling over him."You won't be running anywhere."

Phobos grabbed Aphrodite;whilst Deimos' serpent heads captured Eros. Ares gestured for Harmonia to shackle them. She did so regretfully. But she whispered to Hermes."If it is any comfort,they cannot kill you whilst I am here. They can only imprison you."

Ares gestured to Gog."Now for the others."

Diana Prince was with Adam Butler in one of Boston's most happening and prestigious nightclubs. He had begged her to go with him. It was his birthday and his firm was throwing a bash for him up in the V.I.P. Bar. She had never really gone to a nightclub and found the noise and high energy interesting at first but after two hours she was getting bored. How could anyone enjoy drinking copious amounts of alcohol and gyrating for men?But Adam's cronies were having a great time with the dancers and free bar.

Adam had to network and show his gratitude and he was obliged to leave her several times. She sighed and found herself thinking of Themyscira's own festivities,which were very joyous occasions but just not so hedonistic. She even recalled her time on Smallville,at Christmas and Ollie's and Dinah's wedding. There was an innocence and charm to those celebrations. There she felt she belonged. Here she wasn't too sure that she did.

Adam came to her to apologize."Sorry,Diana,we'll go soon,okay?"

She could barely hear him. She just gestured for him to go ahead. She stood up and decided to go to the private members powder room. She could hear voices as she walked into the anteroom.

"Adam can't be serious about her!"

"He could have anyone,you know."

"She looks like she should be in church,not a club..."

Diana walked back out. She murmured."I don't belong here."She tried to find Adam in order to tell him she was going. She pushed past several guests and headed for the stairs. She was walking down alone when she saw a man appear before her. It was the very man who had rampaged Metropolis days ago. It was the one Clark and Bruce called Gog.

He smiled and said,"There you are,Wonder Woman. Funny how when the Gods are indisposed, your magic does not work anymore. You were like a magnet to my staff."

Diana clenched her fists."I don't know what you want with me,you megalomaniac, or how you found me but stay back..."She stood with her bracelets crossed over.

He laughed."You're a feisty one. I see where the little one gets her temper."

Diana let out a cry as an armoured hand came about from behind her neck ad pulled her back. She struggled. The hand yanked off her glasses and threw it aside..The voice of Ares hissed in her ear."Got you,princess."

Her eyes widened as Gog struck her jaw with the butt of the staff and darkness claimed her.