Gotham City
"Holy crap, my old man is rich." Lara said as she exited the taxi that stopped in front of Ron Stoppable's mansion overlooking the ocean. As Lara gazed at the large manor house, she heard her mother, Kim, laughing almost hysterically as she paid the cab driver. "What did I say?"
"Out of all the things your father has been called over the years, old man has never been one of them." Kim said as she grabbed the three suitcases they brought with them from the trunk. As soon as she closed the trunk on the cab, the taxi made its way back towards downtown Gotham.
"What do I call him? I mean, is it dad? Mr. Stoppable?" Lara asked.
"You can always ask him. Of course, I'd love to see his face if you call him old man." Kim said and snickered a few more times.
"How come we didn't fly here?"
"We did."
"You know what I mean."
"I know. But we've got to focus on creating a separate identity for you. That means everyone has to think you're a normal human teenager with no powers what so ever. The best place to hide sometimes is usually in plain sight." Kim said as they reached the door. "Are you nervous?" Kim asked.
"A little. Until a few days ago, I didn't even have any parents. Now I've got three." Lara said.
"Try having four." Kim said.
"Four? Oh, right. You're from another planet. I forgot. Even that sounds a little weird."
"You get used to it. Trust me." Kim said as she rung the doorbell. Within a few moments, the door opened to reveal Hanna stoppable with a smile on her face at the sight of seeing Kim again. When her eyes fell upon Lara, her mouth looked like it was ready to hit the floor.
"You're alive?!" Hanna asked.
"Do I know you?" Lara asked with a confused look on her face, making Hanna realize that the teen in front of her hadn't seen her without her mask off.
"Um, well. That's a good question." Hanna said as she scratched the back of her head. As she did, Dick walked up from behind Hanna and gave Kim a warm hug.
"Good to see you again, Kim." Dick said.
"You too, Dick." She said as she returned the hug. When Dick stepped back, Lara focused her gaze on Richard's face. There was something very familiar about him.
"Who's your friend?" Dick asked.
"I know you. I don't where, but I swear that we've met before." Lara said. That was when something in her mind clicked and her eyes widened. "Robin?!"
Now it was Richard's turn for his eyes to practically leap out of his head. He stood there completely stunned for a moment or two before he started to talk again. "How did you know?"
"Your mask only hides your cheek bones, genius. I recognized everything else about your face." Lara said.
"Told you so." Hanna said, looking up at her boyfriend and best friend.
"Wait a minute. Your voice does a ring a bell." Lara said as Hanna started to look slightly panic. "If he's Robin . . . you're batgirl?!"
"Crap." Hanna whispered.
"Robin and Batgirl are living in the same place with my dad? Why? That doesn't make any sense unless . . ." Lara said before her eyes widened again and she slowly turned to face her mother who was doing her best not to laugh anymore at the situation.
"I think we better continue this inside." Kim said as she ushered the kids back into the mansion as best as she could.
As they entered the entrance hall, Lara was amazed at the sight before her. Lavish paintings with suits of armor mounted in various places around the large room. There was a large grand staircase that lead to the upper stories of the mansion while the light from the various lamps was reflected almost perfectly off of the marble floor. And coming down the stairs, wearing a red polo shirt and a comfortable pair of tan slack was Ron Stoppable with a trade mark goofy grin that no one had seen in a long time.
"I'm glad you finally made it." Ron said as he and Kim hugged each other tightly before breaking apart and Ron looking at Lara. "It's nice to finally meet you, Lara." Ron said and offered his hand for her to shake.
Lara shook his hand slowly and found her self blurting out the first thing on her mind. "Do you run around in a rubber bat suit?"
Kim couldn't help but laugh again as Ron raised a questioning eyebrow and looked at Kim. "Don't look at me. She figured it our when she looked at Richard."
"It turns out I have to make a better mask." Dick reluctantly said.
"I told you so." Ron said before looking back at Lara. "It's not rubber. It's a highly advanced battle suit with armor underneath." Ron said.
"I don't believe it. My dad is Batman." Lara said to herself, which didn't go unnoticed by Hanna.
"Dad?" Hanna asked and looked at Ron. "I thought she was a clone of Kim."
"Hanna, you do know KP was pregnant when she fought Doomsday, right?" Ron asked her.
"Yeah." Hanna said before her brain registered what Ron was trying to hint at. "They cloned the baby?! You mean she's my sister?!"
"Sister? She's my sister?" Lara asked.
"Your half-sister, Hanna." Ron said.
"You've got to be kidding me! This little pain in the dipstick is my sister?"
"Hey! Watch who you're calling dipstick, psycho." Lara said.
"Now I know you didn't just call me that."
"You tried to blow me up the first time we met."
"Because you were show boating and giving Kim's symbol and name a bad reputation." Hanna retorted.
"You didn't have to take out a construction sight, with me in the middle, to try and tell me that!"
"HEY!" Kim's voice thundered through out the house, making the two teen girls stop arguing. "What do you meant that you took out a construction site?"
"I knew forgot to tell you something." Ron said to himself.
"It wasn't a construction sight, yet. They were tearing down an old building, and I used it to – try and reason with her." Hanna said.
"Kicking me into a building and tossing several exploding boomerang's isn't what I'd call reasoning with someone." Lara said.
"You started it!"
"How did I start it? I was just flying by and you took a shot at me like I was a clay pigeon!"
"Enough!" Kim shouted again. "Hanna, sit on the couch. Lara, love seat! I don't care who started what, but you're going to start at the beginning and let me know what the heck is going on." Kim said to the two teens.
"Looks like she's already got the mom thing down." Richard whispered to Ron.
"She used to do a lot of babysitting and deal with her brothers when we were in high school. She's had more practice than most." Ron whispered back and received a glare from Kim in return. "I think we'll wait for them in the study for now."
"I think that's a good idea." Richard said and followed Ron into the massive study while Kim talked to the two feuding teens. Once they were in the study, Ron sat on a large leather sofa and began to read the paper while Dick saw in a chair by a window reading the latest issue of Warrior Angel. "Does it feel weird that you now have two teenage daughters?" Dick asked.
"A little. In a way, I feel cheated."
"What?" Dick asked.
"Think about it, Dick. She's never had a childhood or even had the chance to grow up. Everything she knows was fed into her brain by a machine. She's never had the chance to actually learn anything with our help." Ron said.
"But you also got to miss out on dirty diapers, teething, diaper rash, colic. And a whole lot of other crap that you had to go through with Hanna. And she was a ninja baby. Lara is half Kryptonian and who knows what that would have been like." Dick said as she saw the realization of his words sink into Ron's brain. He could see the images in his father figure's mind. He heard stories of Hanna literally running up the walls and ceiling when she learned to walk. Ron was most likely picturing not only those images again, but a super baby also lifting the ceiling off of the house. As Dick chuckled at the idea of Ron going insane from a super powered baby, he almost didn't notice Kim walking in with the girls.
"Everything cool?" Dick asked her.
"For now." Hanna said as she sat beside Ron while Lara and Kim sat on another sofa not too far from the one Ron was sitting on.
"We're grounded for a month and a half, but I guess we're okay." Lara said.
"Would have only been a month if someone didn't open their trap." Hanna mumbled.
"Want to make it two months?" Kim asked.
"No, Ma'am." Hanna said.
"Then think before you speak." Kim said. "Now that we've got that out of the way, I think it's time we start trying to learn how to be a family."
"You do know we're not your average family, right? I mean, how many families have a tricked out cave slash crime lab underneath their house?" Dick asked.
"I'm well aware of that." Kim said.
"They have that here?" Lara asked.
"We'll talk about that later. For now, how about we all get something to eat?" Kim asked.
"Can we get Nacos?" Hanna asked.
"I don't see why not." Kim said.
"Great! It's been so long since I've had a naco with extra sauce." Lara said as they all began to stand.
"Mild or hot?" Hanna asked.
"Four packets of Diablo sauce." Lara said.
"I've got you beat. I can eat at least three with five packets of Diablo sauce in each." Hanna said proudly.
"Is that a challenge?"
"What do you think?" Hanna shot back as they left the study.
"If No doubt about it. They're sisters all right." Dick moaned as he followed the girls.
Kim was about to follow when she noticed that Ron was still sitting on the sofa with a strange look on his face. A little concerned, Ron knelt beside Ron and gently shook his shoulder. "Ron, are you okay?"
"Super Ninja baby. The horror." Was all he said.
STAR Labs.
Galatea still lay motionless in a large bed with several sensors placed on various places of her body as she remained unconscious. Her breathing was steady as the monitor next to her showed her heart was beating at a normal rhythm. Based on the information they had of Superwoman's anatomy, Galatea seemed to be in perfect health. Despite all the positive readings they had, ell the scientists and doctors that worked at the facility just didn't know why she wouldn't wake up. For the past several weeks, nothing changed. Not too far from her bed, a lone figure watched her in a pair of civilian clothes and a pair of horn rimmed glasses with their hair combed back. Only one person there knew who he was as they checked on the sleeping woman.
"Nice disguise, Kal." Kim said as she approached wearing her normal clothes and glasses.
"It works for you." Kal said simply.
"Except to make sure no one suspects anything, I have to do a lot of acting on both parts." Kim said as she looked at the person in the bed. "How did her boobs get bigger?"
"What?" Kal asked, not expecting that question.
"Her breasts have grown. How did that happen?" Kim asked.
"The gene re-sequencing. I tried to tell her it'd take a few days, but her DNA being altered also resulted in her body changing as well." Clark said.
"Oh." Kim said.
"Is there another reason you're here, Kara?" Kal asked her.
"I need to see how bad the fortress is."
"Kara,"
"You understand the tech far better than I do. If there's any chance we can get the fortress back on-line, I'm going to need your help." Kara said.
"What about Galatea?" Kal asked.
"I'll take a comm. unit they've made. If anything happens, I'll make sure they contact us as soon as possible." Kim said. "Please?" she asked as she started to make her lower lip quiver.
"Okay, I'll go. Just don't use that look. Mom and Aunt Lara used that all the time whenever they didn't get their way." Kal said.
"It shows they were smart women." Kim said as they turned and began to leave.
There was no one else in the room now. The staff were else where and now Kim had taken Kal with her to check out their little hideaway in the North. Galatea took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she opened her eyes and slowly sat up. She was glad she didn't have to wear that visor anymore, but she could tell her eyes needed a little longer to heal. The dim lights in here seemed just slightly too bright. She rose her legs drew her legs close to her and crossed her arms on the top of her knees and placed her chin down on them. She had been awake and conscious for almost three weeks now. But she had also noticed how Kal watched over her like a hawk. She had been in deep thought ever since she woke up and questioning her life. Mainly, what she wanted to do with it.
She couldn't go back to petty thefts anymore. If she did, they would eventually catch her and find someway to keep her in a cage. And she enjoyed her freedom way too much for that. Besides, it had lost its flare and edge some time ago. She did enjoy being on the other half of the equation though. She admitted that saving people and making a difference actually made her feel good about herself. And seeing how some of those people looked relieved or cheered her on was something she wasn't used to. She wondered if that feeling of being content at making a difference was from being created from cupcakes DNA or not. But it was still apart of her. Hell, she knew what she was going to do. She wanted to be a hero. But there was one important question. What about Kal?
Kal was sweet, kind, and at times he was also very adorable. But the way he watched over her like a hawk sometimes. She knew Kal would want to fight beside her just to make sure she wouldn't get hurt. But that wasn't her. She didn't need a brave knight protecting her. She was independent. A free spirit. And Kal? She didn't want to admit it but there was no choice now. As much as she loved him and she knew he loved her just as much, he needed someone better. Someone who fit him better than she did. She wished she didn't have to break his heart, but she had too. She wiped away the tears that were falling and tried to take a deep breath to steady herself. She needed to do this. She needed to make a fresh start if she wanted to give this hero thing a shot. Reluctantly, Galatea stood to her feet and began to make her way for the door and stopped.
A part of her was nagging to not just leave. She couldn't do this to Kal and just hurt him like that. For one thing, the cheerleader would think she had been right about her all along. She would probably still think that. Looking about her room, she found a pen a doctor or tech left behind and grabbed it while taking the clipboard that had her medical data on it.
"Kal, I"
How was she going to write this? They made it look so damn easy in those stupid soap operas. What was she going to write? Bitting her lip, she decided to take the corny route and write how she felt. After she was done, she removed the sensors from her body and dashed out of the room and the facility as fast as her legs could take. As alarms sounded and several people came in and out of her room, the note still sat where she had left and made sure it wouldn't be blown away.
"Kal, I love you. But I need to find my own place in the world and you need to find yours. If the future allows, maybe we can try again. Until then, find someone who will love you a much as I do. Thank you for saving me, Superman.
Galatea."
The Fortress of Solitude
The massive structure that was once a monument to what the planet Krypton and her people once were; an amazing structure that seemed to vibrate with its own energy and inner light was now dark and cold. The rooms that were once comfortable and inviting were now cold and empty. Several inches of snow had built up from the holes Kal and Galatea had left when they went to help Kim and the others at Engine City. Everything inside of the fortress was now barren and lifeless. It had become nothing more now than a tomb for the planet Krypton.
Kim's fingers brushed against the control panel as Kal looked at what was left of several consoles. Kal had hoped there might have been another power source for the fortress to use or to find a way to get it to come back to life. Sadly, he had been wrong. The fortress was gone. Everything that Krypton was and all the data they had accumulated and created were gone. And there was nothing he could do about it.
"I'm sorry, Kara. I've tried everything I could think of, but"
"I know, Kal." Kim said as a tear began to form. "You did the right thing in saving her. Never beat yourself up about that. But it feels like I've lost a father again." Kim said.
"Without its defenses no longer working, the fortress is vulnerable. We may have to think about destroying the fortress." Kal said.
"I wish we didn't." Kim said quietly to herself.
"Kim, we can't let anyone try and take,"
Kal was cut off as both of them heard what sounded like a shriek and nails on a chalk board at such a loud volume that if felt like their ear drums were going to explode. Both Kal and Kim collapsed to one knee before the noise finally stopped and gave them a moment to breathe. "What in Rao's name was that?" Kal asked.
"I don't know. But I think I've heard it before." Kim said.
"When?"
"It was," Kim stopped before the shrieking noise sounded again and almost seemed to echo even louder this time. "Where's your ship?!" Kim shouted as loud as she could.
"T-The maintenance bay!" Kal shouted back. As soon as the noise stopped, Kim ran to the maintenance bay of the fortress as fast as she could with Kal following close behind her. As she forced open the doors and stepped inside, she saw both the rocket that brought her to Earth and the rocket that Kal arrived in. Both designs had a few parts that were similar, but were polar opposites when it came to design. The ear piercing shriek sounded again as soon as they stepped inside the chamber and once again brought Kim to her knees. Kal covered his ears as he stumbled in and tried to stay on his feet. The sound was so painful though that it soon brought him to his knees again as well. When the pain seemed it wouldn't stop, it ceased once more. Kal carefully removed his hands as Kim braced herself against her rocket for support. "What is that?"
"Look inside your ship. Quick!" Kim said.
Kal opened the canopy and began to look inside the cockpit again when the shriek rang out once more. Kal's eyes winced as he gazed about the cockpit but didn't know what he was looking for. He was about to cover his ears again when he noticed something glowing behind the seat. He gripped the seat and pulled it forward and found that one compartment was glowing. He quickly opened it, reached in, and pulled out a glowing green crystal. As soon as he held it in his hand, the sound finally stopped for good. Kim made her way toward her cousin as he gazed at the object before him.
"Is that what I think it is?" Kim asked him.
"A genesis crystal. This was used to establish Kryptonian bases on future colony worlds. How did you know?" Kal asked.
"Something similar happened to me. But my crystal was clear and was a pentagon shape. This one is straight and green. Have you ever seen anything like this?"
"Never. It looks more like a data bank crystal, but they were never green." Kal said. "Should we?"
"It might have a message from your father." Kim said as they gazed at it.
"Father. Mother." Kal whispered.
Could there be a message from his parents in there? Even though it would be a hologram, it would be a chance to see either of them one more time. He had no pictures or recordings of them except for his memories. What he wouldn't give to see them; to hear them again. Just one more chance. Just one more time to feel like he had his family again. Kim knew that Kal had already made up his mind and returned with him to the main control room. They stepped up to the platform that was once the main control console of the mighty fortress and debated one last time if this was a good idea. They didn't always used crystals on Krpyton. The crystal technology had mainly been used to begin a colony on another world so they could begin the terra forming process, as well as to preserve precious data that they didn't want destroyed. Other than that, crystal computers hadn't been used that much unless it was for special situations. With a deep breath, Kal slipped the green into the command console and waited.
At first, there was nothing. The console didn't light up, nothing was displayed, there wasn't anything. Kal closed his eyes and did his best to fight back his tears. Kim gave him a comforting hug, knowing the feelings he was probably experiencing. Kim would give anything to see her father again too. As Kim did her best to comfort Kal, she heard something strange. The cusins separated and looked at the console as they saw that the tube containing the green crystal began to sink in the console. As soon as it disappeared, the console came to life. A soft hum could be heard as several of the pillars began to flicker to life and glow once more. Soon, two holographic images appeared before them that they both recognized. To their left was Kim's biological father, Jor-El. To their right was Kal's father Zor-El. AAs they gazed at the holograms, it was obvious that Jor-El was not pleased to see his brother again.
"How dare you, Zor. You try in integrate your matrix within my creation?"
"Please, brother. I know what I have done is unforgivable, but it was not for the reasons you think."
"YOU TRIED TO TAKE MY WIFE FROM ME! Even after you married and had a child of your own, you still wanted my wife. So much so that you destroyed our home, and killed our race!"
"NO!" Zor-El shouted, making the hologram of Jor-El pause. "The blood of our people is on my hands, brother. But not for what you think. Zod promised a better world, Jor. A better world for my son. I was in love with Lara in the past, but I grew beyond that. I would have done anything for my son, Jor. Just as you would have done anything for your daughter. But we were both deceived by Zod."
"How can I ever trust you again? After everything you've done."
"Our memories are contained within these programs, Jor-El. Access them. See for yourself that I tell the truth. Please, brother." Zor-El begged.
"Very well." Jor-El said and closed his eyes. Both holograms seemed to slightly fade for a few moments before they were restored and Jor-El's eyes opened again. "You are telling the truth. You thought you were doing the right thing for your family." Jor-El said.
"Jor, this crystal has the technology to reactivate this fortress. With it, it will have all the technology that was available to us before Argo began to freeze. Do you forgive me, brother? So we can help our world live for our children."
"I can not forgive you for what you have done to our people, brother." Jor-El said and saw the defeat in Zor-El's eyes. "But I can help you rebuild the fortress. For our children." Jor-El said as he and Zor-El shook hands and the holograms disappeared.
The fortress began to rumble and shake violently. The crystal pillars began to crack as the ceiling crumbled and began to fall all around them. Various pieces destroyed the lifeless fortress robots and crushed various consoles. Fearing what would happen next, both Kim and Kal fled from the fortress as fast as they could, dodging and barley missing various debris as it fell all around them. They didn't stop moving until they were out of the fortress and several miles away. When they turned back, they were both shocked to see the massive fortress crumble and fall. In a massive cloud of snow, the fortress fell and sank into the ground. Nothing could be seen of it anymore. It was like the Earth itself had decided to swallow it whole. That was when they saw it.
Massive green light began to erupt from where the fortress had sank. Various explosions seemed to widen the hole before the ground shook. In a massive explosion of Earth, snow, and light, something began to rise. Both cousins of the lost planet Krypton couldn't believe what was happening before their eyes. A mountain of white emerged from the ground as it shook with various light glowing from the inside of it. Higher and higher it rose, almost like it had no end. After intense minutes, that seemed to pass by like hours as both Kim and Kal watched, the massive mountain stopped growing with its peak seemed to be half as tall a Mount Everest itself. As the ground stopped shaking, the lights that were faintly seen from the inside began to fade. Now the mountain stood with what seemed to be a brilliant energy radiating from it that only they could see in place of the Fortress of Solitude.
Curious about what had just happened before them, both flew to the massive mountain. As they flew closer, they saw something engraved that was slightly past the mountain's midpoint. Taking a closer look, they found a protruding ledge and a massive door that had the crest of the House of El engraved into it. Kim landed first and tried to examine it as closely as she could.
"Can you see through it?" Kal asked as he landed beside her.
"Despite what it looks like, it's metal. I don't know what it's made of, but I can't see through it." Kim said.
"How do we get inside?" Kal asked. As he stepped closer to examine it, the crest began to glow white before turning a light blue. "Welcome Kal-El." A soft voice answered as the door opened for them. "It must be a genetic scanner." He said to himself as he and Kim entered.
What they saw in front of them was amazing. What they could see before them seemed what could be a museum of Krypton itself. Beneath them were various vehicles, massive machines, furniture, and even holographic displays that were of various locations of their home world. In the center of the oval room was a massive computer interface with four statues of what they could only describe as bronze with a hint of gold. The statues were of their parents with their arms raised high, holding a glowing, and rotating, holographic globe of Krypton. Both flew down to the room and stood amazed at what was before them. The crystal didn't just create a knew fortress, but was able to re-create many other things as well.
"Suddenly, I feel like I'm right at home again." Kal said as he marveled at the sights before him.
"You should, my son." Zor-El's voice echoed. Looking up, holograms of their parents appeared in front of them. Holograms so real, they could almost swear that their parents were really there.
"How is this even possible?" Kim asked out loud.
"The AI's you have interacted with were copies of our living minds. The AI of myself combined with the Zor-El's and were able to create this." Jor-El said.
"But – I-I thought your AI was in the crystal you sent me. IT was destroyed as soon as Zod touched it." Kim said.
"I was never truly gone. Merely hidden away until you truly needed me." Jor-El said.
"Until you needed us." Lara said as she stepped forward with a small smile. "We are so proud of you, Kara."
"Of both of you." Alura said as she and Zor-El stepped closer to their son. "We have been able to access the earth's internet and have learned of your exploits. We never dreamed we could be prouder." Alura said.
"Mother, Father." KAl said with a smile as he tried to touch the holograms, but felt his heart crack as his hand passed through them. "I wish you were truly here."
"Even though we are gone, Kal-El. We will never truly leave you. We will all be here when you need us." Zor-El said.
"This is now more than a monument of Krpyton. It is a living piece of our world. Let others know of us. Of what we once were. This is a gift we give to you, our children. A chance to let Krypton live again." Jor-El said.
"Live again? What do you – Kandor! Kandor was in here when the fortress was destroyed!" Kim said.
"Kandor is safe, as are the ships that brought you here. Beneath us in the fortress is a living recreation of our world. One that will allow Kandor to live and thrive until you can find them a new home." Lara said.
"Be happy, Kara. That is why we sent you to Earth. To live, and be happy." Jor-El said.
"Until we are re-united, my son. Take care of yourself." Zor-El said as the holograms disappeared.
"At least they're not completely gone." Kal said as he wiped a sew tears away. "Let's see what they were talking about." Kal said as he activated the computer interface and began to take a look. "I don't believe it. As we speak, the fortress is cloning some of the creatures that lived on Krypton! There's actually a zoo to care for them built within the fortress!" Kal said as he looked at the data in front of him.
"Long live Krypton." Kim said with a smile as she looked at everything around her. She was so emerged in everything about her culture, she almost didn't hear a communicator in her belt beeping. She quickly removed it from her belt and placed it in her ear. "This is Superwoman. Calm down, Wade. You're talking so fast that I can't hear you. What? She's what?!"
"Thanks for letting me change here, Sherri." Galatea said as she stepped out of the bathroom with her towel over her shoulder.
"After everything you've done for me, it's the least what I could do. WOW!" Sherri said as she got a good look at Galatea.
The woman always had an incredible body, so it wasn't surprising that she was still in such good shape. The breast were larger, a large C cups that almost border lined D cups. But that wasn't what had surprised her. When Galatea arrived, Sherri almost didn't recognize her because the hair had changed from red to brunette. But as Galatea stood before her in the nude, she never had any modesty that she noticed, the thing that stood out the most was her hair. The young woman had shortened her hair to a pixie cut which seemed to frame her face nicely and had dyed it platinum blonde.
"I didn't know you could dye your hair." Sherri said.
"You never asked." Galatea said with a smirk. "Are those the clothes?" Galatea asked as she tossed the towel back in the bathroom and headed to the folded clothes that were on the sofa.
"Gough Industries latest in experimental fabrics. They're not completely indestructible, so they will tear or burn when it comes to certain obstacles you'll face out there." Sherri said as Galatea looked at the unitard and began to put it on. In reality, it looked more like a long sleeved swimsuit with a massive oval that almost revealed all of her breasts. "You're really going to do this? Be a hero?"
"What can I say? I got a thrill out of it" Galatea said as the fabric seemed to cling to her body like a magnet.
"There's a lot more to it than that."
"I know, Sherri. You're starting to sound like the cheerleader." Galatea said as she slipped on the cobalt blue gloves and boots. "I know it's not going to be easy out there. I know there's more to it than what other realize. But, it's something I want to do."
"But why the oval in the chest?" Sherri asked.
"You know I'm an exhibitionist." She said with a smile. "Plus, it'll act as a good distraction while I'm in a fight." She said as put the red cape around her shoulders and clipped it together with a gold clip. "How do I look?" she asked.
"Like you're a Superwoman parody in a porno." Sherri said.
"Then the look's complete." Galatea said as she headed to the window. "Thanks for everything, Sherri. I mean it." She said with sincerity in her voice.
"It's no big thing. So what are you going to call yourself now?" Sherri asked.
"I thought Power Girl would do it." Galatea said as she opened one of the wide massive windows.
"You're still full of yourself, you know that?" Sherri asked.
"And that's what gets you wet between those long legs of yours." Galatea said as she floated into the air and hovered out the window. "I'll be around." She said before she took off into the sky faster than anyone could follow.
Apocalypse
A living hell. That is the only way any human being on the planet Earth could describe the horrid, cruel, and oppressive planet when they saw it. A living hell. Massive fire pits that lead down all the way to the planet's core where intense infernos burned non-stop and hideous creatures of both science and living matter flew through the skies with blood stained weapons they hardly ever cleaned. Engraved on their chest plates was the symbol for the Omega, the symbol of their lord and master. On the ground, the people toiled and worked with hardly any rest. Severely mal nourished with the rags they wore barley covering their skinny and massively scarred bodies. Those who were privileged, the select few deemed worthy by the monster that rule this world as he what he viewed as perfection, took pleasure in the constant oppression and beatings on the weak masses they saw no more than vermin to be toyed with. In the mighty citadel that looked over this cruel and horrible place was the one responsible for all of this suffering. He was seen as their God who they had pledged their lives for and would die serving.
He was a massive creature that wore metallic black and blue armor that was so dark, it was almost navy blue. He wore a thick metal helmet that only left his hardened and unfeeling face exposed. His skin was so callused that it was now gray and looked as if it was living jagged stone. His cold dead eyes were a blood red that seemed to glow with the energy that flowed through out his body. At the top of his helmet, engraved and filled with a blood red jewel, was the Omega which he had taken as his symbol. He was what the galaxy feared as well as the personification in the worst of every living creature in the universe. Cruel, cold, and malicious. If J.R.R. Tolkien were alive, he would swear he was the living representation of his creation Soran. Many races had many names for him. But the name he preferred to be called was Darkseid.
"My Lord, Darkseid." Desaad said. A skinny little man that was shrouded in a filthy dark purple hooded robe said as he knelt before the large ruler. His body was covered in various scars he had suffered from what his rulers and enslavers viewed as any form of defiance while what little teeth that remained in his mouth jutted out from his gums like a rodent. His nails were long and broken and his greasy matted hair hung in front of his beady eyes. "The device is ready, my Lord. We can proceed whenever you wish."
After looking at the harsh and unforgiving landscape of his kingdom for a moment or two more, he finally turned and briefly looked at the little man that stay knelt before him.
"The order is given." Darkseid said in a low and cold voice that sounded as if a mountain itself had decided to speak.
"At once, my liege." Desaad said as he rose and retreated back into the large chamber he came from. Within moments, his master followed.
Inside was a hideous laboratory that had many uses. Some of it looked as if it had been used in the SAW movies, but had actually been used to torture and maim instead of giving an illusion of carnage. Before them was a massive device that seemed to be a sleek tunnel to nowhere. Within the entrance of the tunnel were several dark red globes while the interior was as smooth as polished granite. Desaad and several others in darker robes operated the device as they gave their attention to various small monitors that were mounted at their stations. Within moments, the monitors began to beep loudly and flash red.
"We have found them, Desaad." One of the frail figures said.
"Retrieve them now." Desaad said.
Within moments, the red globes came to life as a massive portal was soon opened. On the other side of the portal was a desolate wasteland that showed legions of people gathered around three figures. The globes began to grow brighter as beams of energy shot through the portal and ensnared the three beings. The three struggled to break themselves free, but found it was to no avail. The beams soon pulled the three from the gathered crowd and pulled them through the open portal. Once they were through, the portal closed and the energy field that surrounded them was gone and allowed them to tumble to the cold stone floor as the machine grew dark.
"W-where are we?" the woman of the trio asked as they stood to their feet.
"You are in my realm now." Darkseid said, causing them to look up at the dark figure. "You know who I am?"
"I do. There are very few that haven't heard of the conqueror of worlds." The man said as the taller and bulkier man behind him growled.
"And I know who you are as well, General Zod. Responsible for the death of your own race." Darkseid said.
"I was trying to reshape my world and save it." Zod said.
"You will show the high lord respect!" Desaad shouted as he grasped what looked to be an electrified whip.
"Patience, Desaad. There is no need for that. At least, not yet." Darkseid said to his minion.
"Yes, Lord Darkseid."
"What is the meaning of this? Why have you freed us from the Phantom Zone?" Zod demanded.
"I have need of your skills, General." Darkseid said as he displayed an image of Earth before them. "You know this world?"
"Too well." Was all Zod said.
"This world may have what I have been seeking for many years. However, I have had to delay my plans in taking it."
"You're supposed to be the fear destroyer of entire civilizations. What would make you stop an invasion of a pitiful backwater planet like that one?" Ursa asked.
"This being." Darkseid said and displayed the latest image of Superwoman.
"Kara Jor-El? She is nothing more than a knat. It was nothing but luck that allowed her to defeat me." Zod said.
"I beg to differ." Desaad said and displayed their footage of Kim's fight with Doomsday in the streets of Metropolis.
"Is that?"
"The creature of Armageddon itself." Desaad said.
"She fought that monstrosity?" Ursa asked.
"More than that." Desaad chuckled and displayed Kim's final move that put the vicious monster out of commission.
"She killed the creature and lived." Darkseid said and made the image disappear.
"By Rao. That's impossible. Anyone who can stop that creature can,"
"Is capable of almost anything. Since your defeat, she has also united many of the Earth's self-proclaimed protectors together in their own personal army. And now, she has even saved her adopted world with hardly any powers and a small band of prepubescent humans. If I were to attempt an invasion now, there would be a slim chance that she would defeat my forces. That can not be allowed." Darkseid said.
"What does that have to do with me?" Zod demanded.
"My parademons are feared warriors. Vicious, savage, unrelenting. They follow my orders even if it leads them to their death. But they need more than that. They need to learn to act as an army and how to fight. I need you to train them." Darkseid said. When Zod began to laugh, Darkseid began to scowl at the gathered trio in front of him.
"Then you are as mad as everyone in the universe claims you are. Do you actually think I would help you in your vain search for the anti-life equation? NEVER! I refuse!" Zod stated.
"You don't understand what I'm saying, then." Darkseid said as he nodded his head.
From behind, a silver whip shot forth from the shadows and wrapped itself around Non's neck before it electrocuted him. He was then pulled backwards before a strong arm that was covered in red and gold firmly grasped him by the face and threw him into the wall, making the ancient and sturdy break crack and almost shatter before Non fell to the floor. As Non looked up, he came face to face with six armored women with athletic bodies with an ugly old crone standing in front of them with a sinister smile on black painted lips.
"Be nice children and show your master what Granny taught you." The old crone said.
"Yes, Granny Goodness." They all said in unison.
"FURIES! ATTACK!" the old woman screamed as the women went into action.
Non stood to his feet to defend himself, only to find Lashina, a woman with her black midnight hair tied in a ponytail and dressed in revealing black and white leather, to unleash her whip and wrap it around Non's arms and chest before he was violently electrocuted once more. When the electricity stopped traveling through Lashina's whip, the Fury known as Mad Harriet leapt on top of him. The young woman had long dark green hair, deathly pale skin, a massively wide teeth bearing smile that seemed un natural, and wore silver armor and razor sharp clawed gloves. The Joker's perfect wet dream come to life. She wrapped her toned legs around Non's neck slashed his face several times before bending down and biting the tip of his nose off before jumping off of his chest.
Non was screaming in pain before another jolt of electricity surged through his body again. Bernadeth ran up to Non from behind and slammed her spear into his mid-section and fracturing several of his ribs. As Non began to bend forward, Stompa, a large woman clad in crimson and gold armor, ran up from behind and kicked Non in the back with such force that he was sent flying forward towards the Fury's leader Big Barda. Dressed in dark blue armor with a gold chest plate and a black helmet, Barda readied herself as she gripped a deadly pole ax with a large and long curved blade. Non was flying fast as Barda stepped aside and sent the blade her deadly pole ax into Non's abdomen and swung him free to the side where he was impaled on Gillotina's long twin blades.
Gillotina, a blonde young women with a very toned and athletic body that would usually scream supermodel, withdrew her blades before placing them in a scissor fashion around Non's neck. In a swift motion with both arms, the blades easily detached Non's head from his body. Non's blood sprayed across her face before she sheathed both of her swords and licked the blood off of her lips. The whole incident had occurred so fast that it gave Zod and Ursa no time to act in order to stop Non's death. Filled with rage, Zod leapt toward Gillotina with the full intention of depriving her of her life before he was firmly struck in the chest two glowing crimson energy blasts. Zod collapsed to the floor, clutching his burnt chest as Mad Harriet captured Ursa in a head lock and kept her free hand above Ursa's stomach with her blades barley tickling the skin.
"Your powers are of no use in here, General. I saw to that. You will train my parademons for battle. You will make sure they know everything you know about combat. And you will obey every single order I give you. If not, then I will make you watch as Harriet removes your child from your mate's womb and kills it with her bare hands." Darkseid said.
Upon hearing those words, Zod's head shot upward and looked at a helpless Ursa. "Ch-child? Ursa, you're?" Zod asked and saw Ursa shake her head yes.
"What is your decision, General? Serve me, or do I let Harriet entertain herself with your wife's flesh?" Darkseid demanded.
With his eyes firmly closed and his face filled with disdain, Zod positioned himself off the floor and face Darkseid. Zod glared at the lord of Apocalypse before lowering himself to one knee.
"Hail Darkseid." Zod said.
"Excellent." Darkseid said with a sadistic and cold hearted smile.
THE END