33
"Courtney, do you love me?" Captain Marvel asked her as he sat down on a rock beside the one she was seated on.
Frankly, Stargirl was still queasy from the fried lizards. She was channeling stellar energy through her Cosmic Convertor Belt into her gloves and expending it as energy stars. She was doing it to superheat the rock pile Captain Marvel had assembled in the center of the ruined fort.
"You know I do, Billy," Stargirl said with utter sincerity, "But I wish you'd stop being such a turd and become mortal again."
"No, I really need to know. Do you love me?" Captain Marvel was more insistent this time.
"What is this all about?" Stargirl was getting frustrated.
Wherever Billy's insecurity delved from it was annoying. Achilles bequeathed supernatural courage and confidence to the Marvels. Even Mary. So what was the deal?
"Dude, you're as tough as Superman," Stargirl razzed him, "Why are you so jittery all of a sudden?"
Of course, Mary was literally four times stronger than Captain Marvel now. And could theoretically hand Superman his ass wiped cape. But was Billy actually knee knocking because of his own sister?
"If you love me, prove it," Captain Marvel suddenly insisted.
Courtney instantly didn't like where this seemed to be leading, "Why? Why should I do what I think you're asking me to do?"
"I don't have much time left. Just until tomorrow's nightfall," Captain Marvel said urgently, "You have to have sex with me."
"What the hell are you talking about?" Stargirl snapped.
"A chance to escape this hell forever," Captain Marvel's eyes gleamed and Courtney thought he looked demented, "Shazam told me a way to escape but it involves you and I sharing our love for each other."
Later, Courtney would realize Captain Marvel didn't summon any lightning when he spoke Shazam's name, "O-kay, what does this involve? Exactly?"
"First, you have to be in love with me," Captain Marvel shared.
"Which I am, or at least I was, until now you idiot," Stargirl was getting more irritable.
"Then you have to give your body to me," Captain Marvel revealed.
"How?" Stargirl definitely didn't like where this was leading.
"You know how," Captain Marvel's darkly intoned.
"We had this discussion. I won't have sex with you until I'm eighteen or older and sure that we're gonna last," Stargirl reminded him, "That's just one year away, ass wipe."
"I can't wait a year," Captain Marvel snapped, "My chance of escaping won't come around again for hundred more years if I miss this deadline."
"What happened to 'us' escaping, Billy?" Stargirl ripped him.
"Of course I meant 'us'," Captain Marvel breezily replied.
"I don't think you did," Stargirl angrily realized.
"Courtney, I need to make love to a woman touched by cosmic forces in order to permanently leave the Subtle Realms," Captain Marvel said in a menacing voice, "You're going to help me with that."
"Or you'll rape me?" Stargirl was angered beyond words.
"The ceremony isn't specific on that point so I'm willing to do whatever needs to be done," Captain Marvel told her.
He moved towards her and Stargirl bolted away from him and stretched out her hand. The Cosmic Rod flew into it and she blasted him as he lunged for her. Captain Marvel's veneer was stripped away to reveal Johnny Sorrow.
He began tittering madly, "Well, I suppose this means the relationship is over."
"It's been you this whole time?" Stargirl was revolted.
"And they said you were the stupid one," Sorrow mocked her, "I hope you enjoy dying by demon tooth and claw. Because I've been holding their eager little selves back until now. But if I can't get any, then there's no reason to keep you alive anymore. The ceremony was explicit that I had to sacrifice you to the elder gods once I'd cum inside of you anyway."
Sorrow vanished without a trace. Stargirl yelled after him, "Where's Billy, you asshole?"
She heard the snarls outside and looked around to see red eyes glittering in the light of her white hot rocks. Stargirl blew the roof off of the fort and flew up into the air, "I'll find you, Billy. But first, I have to reunite everyone."
And she lit the Cosmic Rod like a shining beacon over the terrain.
Aztek still had aerial pursuers but he lost the ground troops when the light faded. He spotted a beacon in the distance and he altered course towards it. And suddenly found himself caught by impossibly strong arms.
Black Mary held him in her grip, "Calm down! We're here to help."
Aztek suddenly realized Anna Fortune floated beside Mary and she'd loaded a spell casing in her arm cannon. Mary released Aztek and he witnessed Anna firing the casing into the aerial demon horde. It erupted into flames and consumed the demonic ranks and fire swept across the sky and over the horizon.
"I thought you said you only had one more casing capable of decimating demons," Aztek pointed out.
"This hardly qualifies as decimating," Anna said primly, "The rear echelons are intact but they have something new to think about."
Shrieks responded to her statement and she shrugged, "Apparently they're persistent."
Anna slipped another casing in her cannon, "We'll need some distance from this one."
She fired as the demon ranks had just began visible in the gloom. This particular one created a voluminous electrical storm that killed the remainder. Anna chuckled to herself.
"I do believe your pursuers are quite dead now," she happily proclaimed.
"How many of those do you have left?" Aztek wondered.
"Those particular spell casings? None," Anna told him, "But I have other means at my disposal."
"How did you find me?" Aztek had to ask.
"We were tracking a Marvel aether trail and it turns out your armor appears to shine when viewed through my goggles," Anna happily told, "They really are far more wondrous then I was initially led to believe."
"She might leave Al for them," Mary quipped.
"Hardly," Anna replied drolly.
"You were tracking a Marvel?" Aztek warily eyed Mary, "Which one?"
"Does it truly matter?" Anna inquired as she slipped her goggles over her eyes, "But it appears that whoever it is is on the move and heading towards us."
"Great," Mary mumbled.
Captain Marvel Jr. managed to spot the firestorm in the distance and he bolted towards it. As he flew closer the electrical storm stopped in midair. As it cleared, the fading light revealed three figures in the distance. So he moved to join them.
He spotted Anna loading her arm cannon to use against his pursuers. The spell casing flew past him and detonated in the horde's midst. The concussive wave batted him across the sky while it tore the demons in the air and on the ground apart.
Mary stabilized the tumbling Junior. His face lit up upon seeing her, "Mare, it so great to see you again."
"We'll see," she said softly.
Sentinel had destroyed the vast demon armies. So he took a few minutes to catch his breath before using his power ring to scan the horizon in every direction. As luck seemed to have it, he detected a fellow All Star within range. So Sentinel set out to find out who it was.
When he landed beside Mr. Terrific, Michael Holt was still digging to try and find water. Sentinel recognized this particularly arid piece of wasteland could kill a human being in a very short time. He touched Mr. Terrific on the shoulder.
"Let me try," he requested.
Sentinel created a bore and drilled into the soil where Mr. Terrific had started his endeavor. As Mr. Terrific had postulated, Sentinel hit water. So he created a water pump equipped with a filter and brought water to the surface. Sentinel even constructed cups for him and Mr. Terrific to use.
Despite the earthy flavor and the warmth of the liquid, it seemed to them to be the best tasting water they'd ever greedily guzzled. Mr. Terrific even pulled out two collapsible canteens and filled them for later, "Thanks, Alan."
"I'm just glad I could help, Michael. Do you have any idea of what's over the horizon?" Sentinel asked.
"No, I don't have a clue," Mr. Terrific admitted.
Sentinel scanned the distance again and detected another All Star, "Seems we're in luck."
The desert wastes emptied into a frozen equivalent. Sentinel's ring led them to a cave network. Rat-like hounds were littered across the ground. Most had died of exposure but some also had obvious acid burns.
Sentinel sent a green pulsating probe into the cave and it led Metamorpho out, "Geez, guys. I can't tell ya how happy I am ta see the both of you."
Sentinel's ring suddenly created a hand that pointed off into the distance. First they saw Anna's firestorm swiftly followed by the electrical storm. Then they heard the explosive sound of the concussion wave.
"Care to check it out?" Sentinel looked amused.
"Hey, I'm so done with this cave," Metamorpho eagerly said.
"One way or another, those discharges lead to fellow All Stars," Mr. Terrific surmised.
"There! Sentinel is on his way to us," Anna slid her goggles up out of her eyes, "When he arrives and he brings whoever is with him, we can discuss our options more thoroughly."
"I say we head for that beacon," Aztek insisted.
"We need to find Billy," Junior did his own insisting.
"And Courtney," Mary wasn't to be left out.
"And we mustn't forget my darling Albert," Anna reminded the Marvels that they weren't the only ones with loved ones at stake.
Sentinel arrived with Mr. Terrific and Metamorpho being ferried in a gondola basket. Aztek and Anna were particularly grateful for the tastes of water that they received. Anna revealed some information she'd gleaned so far.
"The beacon is Stargirl's Cosmic Rod. Captain Marvel's aether trail is some distance from her position but not incredibly so," Anna shared.
"She has to be drawing a lot unwanted attention," Sentinel guessed.
"Then we can do something about it," Mary tugged at Junior and the darted off into the distance. Junior dutifully followed trying to keep pace with her. He had no idea she was dragging her metaphorical heels to let him even stay within sight of her.
"Are you sure it's wise to let her hare off like that?" Sentinel inquired.
"Mary and I have discussed her inclusion in the ranks of the Black Marvels at length," Anna confided, "I would trust her with my very life."
"Black Mary, huh?" Sentinel grunted.
"Indeed," Anna confirmed it.
"And what happens to her if Shazam revokes the Greco-Roman gifts from her?" Mr. Terrific asked.
"Then she truly will wholly be a Black Marvel," Anna told him, "Pursuant to everything that implies."
Both the Justice League Unlimited and the Justice Society had enjoyed turbulent relationships with Black Adam. And Isis devotedly backed up her husband every inch of the way. Adding Black Mary to the mix seemed destined for trouble to arise eventually.
"Shazam may have been more inclined to revoke Mary's endowments if not for the fact that others are beseeching the gods to bestow their gifts upon mortals and for those petitioners to act as conduits for the power relayed," Anna divulged.
"Who else has the power to create a Marvel?" Aztek got worried now.
"There are many beings with the capacity to act as a transfer point between gods and mortals," Anna confessed, "The rarer question is, who would defy a Lord of Order to do so?"
"Has this been happening?" Sentinel wanted to know.
"On occasion," Anna shared, "Adrianna Tomaz's own brother was approached and given power first by the god Anubis and then by the god Horus. But the Egyptian pantheon isn't alone. Many pantheons have joined in the effort to create champions to exert their will upon the mortal plane once again."
"Who is doing this?" Mr. Terrific pinned Anna down.
"The chief conspirators Satanus and Blaze," Anna revealed.
"Sounds like a metal band," Metamorpho commented.
"They are, in fact, Shazam's half demon children," Anna informed them.
"You weren't going to share this anytime soon, were you?" Mr. Terrific asked.
"The Lords of Order, and Shazam in particular, consider the matter an…embarrassment," Anna reported, "I was asked to keep things confidential."
"You were ordered to shut up," Sentinel clarified.
"Unless the knowledge was vital to a case," Anna told them, "And vitality was left open to interpretation."
"And when they come down on you?" Sentinel asked.
"I have to answer to my own conscience first and the Lords of Order second," Anna declared, "They profess to uphold that principle but the practice is something else entirely."
"If I had a hat, I'd tip it to you," Aztek admitted.
"Shall we get underway?" Anna asked.
And the group headed straight for Stargirl.
Stargirl kept the Cosmic Rod lit up while she used her Cosmic Convertor Belt to defend herself from preying demons. Then Black Mary and Captain Marvel Jr. arrived and began tearing apart demons at super speed. Stargirl was elated.
"Wow! Talk about timing!" Courtney exclaimed.
"Junior! Follow my lead!" Mary commanded, "Shazam!"
Mary gathered the lightning as it descended and the bolt emblem on her chest began to glow. Then it expended the lightning into her hands and she redirected it at a living wall of demons. They were struck down in a wave.
Junior and Stargirl gaped. Mary grew impatient, "Well?"
Junior tried it out and he could manipulate the mystical lightning to a far lesser degree. Mary took stock of the situation, "Back to back and form a triangle!"
They did so and found themselves in a far greater defensible position. Junior had to ask, "How do you know all this stuff?"
"I get directions and wisdom from two pantheons now," Black Mary reminded him, "I have a lot more options presented to me than ever before."
"So is anyone else coming?" Stargirl wanted to know.
"Wait for it," Mary counseled her friend, "And where's Billy?"
Courtney already hated this conversation.
Jesse Quick gutted the remaining dozen rat-hounds being ridden by demons. After she eviscerated six riders, the others turned and fled back the way they'd come up the canyon. Which sent them headlong into Hourman and Judomaster.
When all of the demonic forces were dead, Jesse collapsed into Hourman's arms, "Thank God you're here, Rick."
"I believe Stargirl is summoning us to her position," Judomaster observed.
"What makes you say that?" Hourman asked before spotting the beacon of light blazing over the plains the canyon emptied into, "Oh."
"Clever girl," Jesse admired Courtney's innovation.
"You fit to travel?" Hourman asked his wife.
"I'll be taking a break from super speed for a few," Jesse admitted. Despite the vocal formula her dad had taught her, and he'd derived from a physicist, Jesse accessed the Speed Force with it but she could still feel fatigue.
"Sonia?" Hourman asked Judomaster.
"I am only waiting for the pair of you," Judomaster quipped.
"Did she just lip off at us?" Jesse asked Rick as Judomaster took the lead.
"Yeah, it seems demons bring out her sarcastic nature," Hourman shared with her.
"At least she won't just be sitting by watching everyone and whispering to Commander Steel all the time," Jesse hoped.
"We'll see," Hourman cautioned Jesse.
Jay Garrick was well rested and fed when Stargirl lit her beacon off in the vast distance. Flash propped his saucepan helmet on his head and streaked off over the horizon to meet up with any and all Stargirl gathered through her effort. What he spotted as he covered the distance between was that the demons were as riled up by the light as any All Star.
Atom Smasher strode across the plains and met up with Stargirl, Black Mary, and Junior, "Hiya, Court."
"`Lo Al, Commander Steel," Stargirl waved in reply, "Care to lend a hand?"
"I'll drop to the ground and deep the demons from swarming you," Commander Steel offered Atom Smasher. And he fell feet first from Al's shoulder to the demon infested grounds.
Commander Steel fought with his fists for a time then be began stripping weapons off of defeated enemies and began hacking away at his foes. Atom Smasher chuckled, "Hank doesn't realize Anna armored up my boots. Those demons couldn't hurt me anyway."
"But they could climb your legs and hit something that wasn't armored," Mary countered.
Atom Smasher gulped while Stargirl began to smirk, "Speaking of whom."
Atom Smasher turned his head to spot Anna's approach, "Anna!"
She flew to his enlarged masked nose and kissed it, "My darling Albert, how I've missed you!"
"Any sign of Jay?" Sentinel asked the group.
"You need but ask," Anna pointed at the near space approaching them. Flash ran straight into the demon ranks and began disemboweling them.
Sentinel lowered Mr. Terrific and Metamorpho to the ground. Aztek took up the fight beside them. Commander Steel edged near them.
"Any sign of Judomaster?" he inquired.
Sentinel flew off and returned several minutes later with Judomaster, Hourman, and Jesse Quick. Sentinel dropped them off at Commander Steel's feet. Nearly everyone was stunned into bafflement by Judomaster's enthusiastic greeting for Commander Steel.
The woman had barely held hands with him days ago and now she hungrily kissed him like they were seasoned lovers. Hourman leaned into Jesse, "I thought no one could touch her."
"Obviously no one can unless she wants them to," she replied, "And she definitely wants him to."
"It seems your friends have reunited, Sand," Johnny Sorrow mocked him while he was still trapped inside the hourglass.
"Let me out and I'll show you a good time," Sand promised.
"Oh, not so soon, Sandy Hawkins. I'm saving you for the tour de force," Sorrow chuckled, "or do you forget I was a marquee idol?"
"You were a silent film star that couldn't act well enough to do talkies. So you turned to crime. You ripped off the homes of those movie stars that adjusted and still made fortunes," Sand sneered, "No one even watches your films anymore."
"You'd best be grateful I still have a use for you," Sorrow stormed out of the chamber.
Sand sighed. It seemed he wouldn't be provoking Sorrow into freeing him just yet.
"Sorrow! I'll kill you when I get free!" Captain Marvel yelled at Johnny. A window to the outer world floated before Captain Marvel and his chains. It focused entirely on Stargirl. He'd seen every one of Sorrow's ploys that he'd used on Courtney. It was no wonder Mary hated him so much.
"I'm afraid you won't, my good Captain," Sorrow chuckled malevolently, "But hold onto your hate. It will serve you well."
Black Canary and Speedy had escorted Mercy Graves and Trajectory from LexCorp-Metropolis to the Hall of Justice. Amanda Waller wanted to include Trajectory in the Justice League of America. After the disaster in Metropolis against the Legion of Doom, LexCorp was disbanding Infinity, Inc. and reincorporating its members into specialized security officers to protect LexCorp's assets from conventional threats. Matrix still hadn't been seen or tracked down.
But ARGUS was offering to buy out Trajectory's LexCorp contract and fund further developments with the Everyman Project. ARGUS would control sole rights to any and all research into activating gen factors and first choice at hiring project results. Mercy was also present to report on Claire Connelly's progress.
Waller met with Eliza Harmon first and Trajectory was very excited to be included in the JLA's rolls. She quickly sped through the required paperwork, which was still contingent on Mercy's signing off on LexCorp's share of Eliza's contract. But Waller was certain Mercy would do just that. LexCorp's fiscal year bottom line stood much to be gained by agreeing to ARGUS' terms.
"Thank you for meeting with me personally, Ms. Graves," Waller said from across her desk.
"It's just Mercy," she replied.
"Then you may call me Amanda," Waller conceded, "I'm pleased ARGUS can go into partnership with LexCorp's Everyman Project platform and that you're willing to relinquish contractual obligations so that Trajectory can join our team."
"As long as you're fully aware of Trajectory's ongoing status," Mercy clarified.
"Yes, your primer said she's permanently hyper-accelerated," Waller reviewed the data in front of her, "She can't even slow down to eat or sleep."
"But our pharmaceutical division created a metabolic regulator that places her power back under her own willful control," Mercy explained, "She needs upkeep doses of the oral agent every twenty-four hours. Sooner if she's used her speed for several hours running. Pardon the pun."
"How would she react to being dosed by Velocity 9?" Waller asked.
Mercy went very still, "It would unquestionably accelerate her to the point it would kill her despite her connection to the Speed Force. Why?"
"One of our current allies in this crisis took over Vandal Savage's a manufacturing and distribution of Velocity 9," Waller told her, "She uses it to control a member of the Russian Blue Trinity team. So long as Nyssa al Ghul controls the supply of Velocity 9 so too will Col. Molotova serve her."
"And you're afraid Trajectory could be exposed to Velocity 9?" Mercy wondered.
"So long as a supply of Velocity 9 exists I'm afraid anyone could be exposed to it," Waller narrowed it down, "Speedsters are generally targeted because of the drugs addictive function and they're seen as being immune to the adverse health effects of the drug. Which Ivanka Christina Borodin Molotova is a shining example of both aspects."
"Eliza's contract buyout figures reimburse us for her meta-gene screenings, her gen factor activation, the metabolic stabilization and a reimbursement for the services she won't be providing any further," Mercy read off the summary of the contract proposal, "You're also contracting LexCorp to manufacture and supply you with Trajectory's stabilization medication. All in all, an equitable and comprehensive package. I'm ready to sign whenever you are."
"First, I need an update on Dr. Connelly's project," Waller deferred the topic at hand.
"We've retooled much of our development fabricators and Dr. Connelly is overseeing the construction of a weaponized temporal dislocator," Mercy explained, "After we confirm its viability, Claire will want to debug the system to ensure the sanctity of whatever life we use this weapon on."
"Weapons frequently kill, Ms. Graves. As soon as Dr. Connelly can confirm she can push the Legionnaires out of our time and into another century, I want her mobilizing the weapon so we can deploy it. Understood?" Waller asked in a sharp tone.
"Dr. Connelly will fight that mandate," Mercy predicted.
"You're her employer, Ms. Graves. Make her see reason through any means necessary. I'll provide troops with itchy trigger fingers if necessary," Waller mandated, "I don't care if those three people survive their journey. I'd prefer they didn't."
Waller slid another contract proposal across the desk at Mercy, "This is a remuneration package for 'unspecified services'. Unspecifically I don't want the Legion to survive their trip through time."
Mercy blinked at the figure on the page. It was LexCorp's entire global research and development budget. If they were to add these monies to their existing budget they could push projects that risked tiring investors before ever yielding a sizeable marketable product or innovation. And it would secure LexCorp's place as the innovative corporation for the world. She wondered is Lex Luthor had taken a similar step at the beginning of LexCorp's existence or if Luthor had just never given a damn about human wreckage.
"Ms. Graves?" Waller pushed.
"It seems I have two agreements to sign today," Mercy made her fateful decision.
"Excellent," Waller looked liked she'd swallowed the proverbial canary.
Maven found the JLA's own Black Canary conducting a tour of the Hall of Justice alongside Speedy. Trajectory ogled everything. Maven cleared her throat to interrupt.
"Congratulations, Ms. Harmon. You've just officially joined the Justice League of America," Maven announced. Trajectory beamed before Maven added, "Now I've been assigned to take you to the material fabricator and tailor."
"Excuse me?" Trajectory didn't quite understand that bit.
"She wants to make you a new costume," Speedy translated.
"I have one already," Trajectory protested.
"But LexCorp lacks imagination and it certainly doesn't know how to inspire others," Maven lectured her.
Trajectory still looked incensed. Speedy intervened, "I'll help you design one."
"I just don't see why we have to," Trajectory admitted.
"You have the powers of a Flash or a Jesse Quick," Maven pointed out, "Why not dress the part?"
"LexCorp was afraid of lawsuits," Trajectory revealed.
"ARGUS owns the courts," Maven replied, "So the JLA won't be facing copyright infringement suits."
Black Canary rolled her eyes at this point. Maven's comment about ARGUS and the courts was far more accurate than anyone wanted to admit. But at least it got Trajectory down the hall to the clothier equipment.
Speedy helped Trajectory design a very Wally West Flash-like costume. Maven favored a design she came up with which was closer to a pink and lavender Kid Flash costume. Dinah Lance suspected Maven only bothered to help push Trajectory towards the collaborative piece.
At Mia Deardon's behest, Eliza Harmon opted for leather. Flash had recently opted to go leather to cut down on the eventual wind shear breakdown of every one of his costumes. He was only getting to wear an outfit once or twice before he made the switch. Speedy's last suggestion was a red mask she handed to Trajectory.
"It's self adhesive. This container will keep it clean when you're not wearing it," Speedy explained her offer.
"Why this?" Trajectory objected.
"You probably still have surviving family and friends from before the Everyman Project," Speedy guessed, "If you go barefaced, your newfound enemies will find them and torture them to get leverage over you."
Trajectory carried her bundle to a changing room and came out…fully masked. She was elated, "This is so cool!"
"Now, we just have to find you quarters. Fortunately there's still room in the member wing because the guest quarters are pretty much filled up," Maven checked her residency log displayed on her tablet, "Of course, your quarters here could just be standby ones if you choose to live somewhere else and commute in."
"Commute?" Trajectory wondered about that.
"Via teleporter network. ARGUS can currently reach the entire continental United States. We should be out as far as Hawaii and Alaska within six months," Maven explained, "And your salary should be sufficient to live anywhere inside the US so long as you don't get too extravagant."
"Un-frickin'-believable! I really am in the Justice League!" Trajectory realized.
"Oh, you really have no idea of what you've gotten into yet," Speedy said sagely.
Trajectory didn't care. She was about to become a household name.
Batman led Lady Chronos out of the Hall of Doom's temporal ignition chamber. She was still shuddering over his description of how the Legion had held her to be used as a device. And she revealed why Luthor had resorted to such measures.
"He wanted me to join the Legion of Doom and I refused," Lady Chronos explained, "I was trying to contact the agency responsible for the Suicide Squad. I assumed they could use my talents the way they had Chronos'."
"Now you can do something about both states of being," Batman tersely informed her.
Green Lantern's power ring constructed a binding vise around John Lynch's hand so he couldn't willingly release his dead man's trigger stick. So John Stewart decided to kick Lynch's ass the old fashioned way. But he quickly learned why Lynch was a project director and not an actual scientist.
Lynch had been the first agent selected for Team 7. Although he rarely served in the field, Lynch was just as capable as every other soldier fielded by the ARGUS created team. John had to erect a barrier between himself and Lynch while he recouped.
Then Lynch simply vanished. John spun to find Batman escorting Lady Chronos into the area. John could sense a tremendous tug at his rapidly vanishing construct.
"It's all right, John," Batman assured him, "He's too far out of range to trigger anything now."
"Where is he?" John was still confused.
"Morocco," Lady Chronos smiled, "He should still be assessing his whereabouts and situation."
"This is Jai. She was the Legion's temporal asset," Batman explained.
They discovered each cell required an individual code. A single failure to input the proper access code would result in the cell being flooded with a nerve agent. Batman activated his computer accessed through his left forearm and unlocked each cell in succession.
Shayera Hol, Belphegor, and Owlwoman all exited their cells prepared to fight. John scooped up Shayera and they enjoyed a joyous moment. The sight of it only exacerbated Owlwoman's lingering pain.
Belphegor checked on Dr. Mist and used her mental abilities to probe what Saturn Queen had done to him. What she found was he'd shut his own mind down. She didn't have a clue as to how to summon him from his retreat.
Shayera edged John off to a private corner while Lady Chronos assisted Batman in disconnecting Captain Atom, "I wasn't sure you'd pull through, Lantern. I couldn't believe her mind powers worked on you in the first place."
"I was pretty shaken up by Power Ring when she first nabbed me. When I broke her hold, I was still too startled to defend myself when she simply put me in a mental prison," John shared, "But Saturn Queen can't hold me anymore. My will is restored and nothing and no one will ever do that to me again."
"What about Flash? Or J'onn? Or even Superman or Mr. Miracle?" Shayera wondered.
"Nightshade put the kid in someplace called the Night Force. Only Col. Trevor isn't talking about it. Apparently they stuffed Firestorm in there as well," John told her, "Batman knows about it but he hasn't ordered their release. So I don't know what the hell is going on."
The facility began to shake. Batman turned to John, "Encapsulate everyone in a force field!"
John did so and Lady Chronos time shifted them and they appeared twenty miles off the western coastline. They watched as the Hall of Doom lifted into the skies above. Batman could tell it was headed for an orbital insertion.
Inside the hall of Doom, Booster Gold and Goldstar had activated the emergency failsafe protocol. They'd been as surprised as anyone to learn it meant launching the site into space. They immediately set about contacting Saturn Queen, Cosmic King, and Lightning Lord.
"We need to check on the teams," Batman insisted.
Shayera and Owlwoman insisted on flying independently from John's power ring construct. Batman's suit was only capable of short distance flights so he remained encapsulated while Belphegor introduced herself to Lady Chronos. Captain Atom was still alive but fairly inert. Dr. Mist was catatonic on every perceivable level.
Col. Steve Trevor and Bat-Girl slowly thawed in the Florida winter sun. Starling was repositioning herself so she could blow Icicle's head clean off. So Icicle created an ice fort. He tried projecting ice daggers the way Killer Frost could but they always fell woefully short of his target. Today was no exception.
Starling rushed his position and spiked a charge into the ice wall. Then she retreated before Icicle could realize she'd been within his range. Hunkering down, she detonated the charge. The explosive concussion wave shattered the fort and sent Icicle sprawling. It also shattered the ice containing Bat-Girl.
Starling checked on her girlfriend before proceeding further. Bat-Girl managed to speak between chattering teeth, "I…I'm…f…fi…fine. Ju…just…g…go…g…get…him."
Starling removed her last spiked charge from her belt and came to the dazed Icicle. Flipping ice chunks off of him, she exposed his leg. Priming the charge, she drove it into his leg.
Icicle came up with a scream. Starling placed the barrel of her rifle into his mouth. Her other hand held the remote detonator, "Just shut up and listen. That charge is on a ten second delay. I can reset it to another ten second delay, like I've been doing so far, or you can freeze me and hope like hell you can distance yourself from it fast enough not to get your guts splattered all across this swamp."
As Starling pulled the barrel out of his mouth he started to reach for the explosive. Starling gently pushed him back with the rifle barrel applied to his forehead, "Ah, ah."
"What do you want?" Icicle angrily asked.
"Personally or professionally?" Starling asked in return.
"Let's start with professionally," Icicle replied.
"Your complete, total, and unconditional surrender," Starling answered.
"And personally?" Icicle wondered.
"I'd like to hang you by your ball sack from a hook," Starling grated.
"You don't get many second dates do you?" Icicle quipped. He studied the frozen Trevor and the shivering Bat-Girl, "Oh, I get it now. I take it you're the dom and she's your sub."
"Actually we're both dominant, wise ass," Starling snorted, "Keeps things spicy."
The Hall of Doom began to lift off. While Starling was distracted, Icicle froze her feet in place and froze the charge as he yanked it out of his leg. As he hobbled away and erected further ice barriers to slow Starling down from simply shooting him. He began to make his way where he could see Tigress fighting Katana.
Huntress blocked Shiv's blow by the wrist and then kicked her kneecap out of alignment. Huntress' subsequent right cross almost knocked the fight out of Shiv but Stargirl's sole arch-nemesis attacked again anyway. Huntress evaded Shiv's bladed arm strikes and instead ducked beneath them and stabbed the teenager in the leg with a dagger.
Spinning away from Shiv's counterattack, Huntress pulled her crossbow free and placed a quarrel into Shiv's side. The Dragon King's daughter was so frustrated she looked ready to cry.
Huntress' backspin kick put the teenager down for good. Then Huntress watched with amusement as the Hall of Doom lifted off the ground with a roar of firing rockets. She wondered if Q had seen that one coming.
Question couldn't hyperextend Ragdoll's joints but he could strike nerve clusters. After hitting both the deltoid clusters, Ragdoll's arms were dead at his side. Question could see he was contemplating escaping when Question hammered the nerve cluster located between Ragdoll's neck and shoulder. The triple jointed thief dropped like a dead weight.
The Hall of Doom lifted off. As the noise cleared up, Huntress approached him, "Just try and tell me you saw that coming, Q."
"Not precisely. But it did make sense that they would have an alternative means of escape should their temporal mechanism be removed or expired," Question replied.
"You think Batman would really kill the human being they used to time slide this fort around?" Huntress was beyond incredulous.
"Batman wasn't the only one in the base," Question reminded her.
Katana had disarmed Tigress on no less than three occasions. That included all six knives that Tigress carried, a whip, and a crossbow. Katana had allowed Tigress to partially rearm several times since then and Tigress knew it.
"Stop toying with me!" Tigress screamed.
Artemis Crock found herself disarmed again and with the SoulTaker drawing blood from her neck faster than Tigress had even been able to track. Katana simply asked, "Satisfied now?"
The Hall of Doom lifted and Katana didn't twitch. Tigress had to admit that alone was pretty damn impressive. The Katana spun away and Icicle froze his wife's chest.
"Oh shit! Babe, I'm sorry!" Icicle was embarrassed.
"Watch out for…!" Tigress never got to finish as Katana struck down Icicle with the pommel of her sword.
Katana placed the SoulTaker's tip in Tigress' throat, "It seems you have no escape."
Tigress could hear in offer in Katana's voice, "I'm listening."
As Tigress listened, she suddenly understood the real game she and Katana had been playing all along.
Animal Man had channeled the powers of a mole and tunneled his way through the soggy marshland. Coming out of the ground behind Geo-Mancer, he summoned the powers of a scorpion and stung Geo-Mancer with his fingers, not once but three times. The powerful venom overwhelmed Geo-Mancer. At that point, Animal Man wasn't particular regarding whether or not Geo-Mancer survived.
Plastic Man had transformed into a drilling machine and erupted out of the ground, carrying Crimson Fox behind him. Plas watched with amusement as Animal Man and Crimson Fox laid on the public displays of affection, "And a good time was had by all."
He also noted with wry detachment as they blissfully ignored the Hall of Doom's launch, "Now that's some infatuation."
Hawkman's constant spear thrusts finally bore fruit. Killer Wasp risked yanking the shaft out of Hawkman's hands. Which meant he was close enough for Carter Hall to unclip the mace from his belt and wallop Killer Wasp into the ground below. Hawkman descended and retrieved his spear after clipping the mace back on.
Killer Wasp tried to summon a bioelectric charge but Hawkman pierced his side with the spear. Then he smacked Killer Wasp across the face with it. Seeing Killer Wasp still struggling, Hawkman let the Nth metal discharge and stun Killer Wasp the way he'd wanted to disable Hawkman.
Then the Hall of Doom left the ground. Hawkman watched it rise with some interest and then decided he had better things to see. His eyes gazed out across the marsh, searching for Troia.
Troia did take some damage from Rival before she eventually roped his neck with her Lasso of Persuasion. Donna Troy breathed a sigh of relief as Rival came to a halt and started protesting, "I'll kill you for this!"
"Oh, knock yourself out," Donna flippantly replied.
Rival began beating himself at a thousand blows a minutes. Troia realized the lasso had translated her words as a command, "Stop!"
The bloodied Rival instantly obeyed. She finished him off with a single blow. Then she looked around and spotted Hawkman as he saluted her. She also spotted the bloody wound in Killer Wasp's side. She smiled as she shook her head.
The Hall of Doom was high in the sky now. Ri and Darknight were still unconscious and helpless. And Rival was still bound by her lasso. She decided to watch over the Chinese couple while she guarded Rival.
Regulus desperately covered his head with his arms as Black Adam rained down blow after blow. Regulus' vanity had dictated that his head, and the cybernetic interfaces controlling his armor, were exposed so everyone could admire him. Now he was paying for that approach.
This field test had proven the strengths and weaknesses of the design. When Black Adam was momentarily distracted by the Hall of Doom's exit, Regulus used his electromagnetic warping capability to almost immediately reposition himself on the other side e of the Earth. Black Adam was fast but he had no innate tracking ability. So Regulus used his warp capability a second time to relocate to Mexico and rally Basilisk from there.
Isis pulled Solomon Grundy out of the Hall of Doom as it prepared for launch. Then she got him to calm down after it had headed into space, "No one wants to hurt you, Grundy. Galatea is here with me. Would you like to talk to her?"
"Tea here?" Grundy sounded suspicious.
"Yes, if you wait here I can go get her," Isis offered, "But you have to wait here for me and Galatea."
"Grundy wait," he agreed, "Grundy want to talk to Tea."
"Good," Isis began searching for Power Girl.
Batwoman was staring at Shade's darkness bubble. Power Girl flew towards it, "Follow me in!"
Inside, Guy Gardner battled with animate shadows. Power Girl came beside him, "Stop fighting them."
"Are ya nuts?" Guy had to ask.
"Are they attacking me?" Power Girl pointed out, "They only have the power you give them. Shade made you believe they could harm you and that belief gives them the exact power to do that."
"It seems you learned a little too much about me in your tenure with the Legion of Doom, Galatea," Shade taunted her, "But you still can't find me."
"I don't have to," Power Girl replied.
"What? I…agh!" Shade's darkness vanished after his outcry. Batwoman stood over his unconscious body.
"Har, har, har!" Guy guffawed, "Ya set up an ambush while ya were helpin' me!"
"Probably the only reason why I'd help you, Gardner," Power Girl coldly told him.
Isis retrieved Power Girl before Guy could mouth off. Batwoman watched it all and suddenly knew there was a God. Then she groaned as Guy decided to talk to her.
"Where's yer pal with the pig stickers?" Guy asked.
"You mean Azrael?" Batwoman snidely asked for clarification.
"Yeah, the loony that thinks he's the savior of some lost tribe of monks, or somethin' like that," Guy retorted.
"I don't know. He vanished," Batwoman tersely replied, "Why don't you?"
"You'll get yers, toots," Guy promised.
"You ever wonder why you don't have any friends and why every Lantern Corps kicks you out?" Batwoman asked.
"I already know. It's `cause I'm there best there is and everyone's jealous," Guy proudly proclaimed.
"That's one way of looking at it," Batwoman agreed, "But if you ever want to hear the truth, ask me some time."
Gypsy managed to keep the Owl mercenaries at bay until the Hall of Doom launched. Then they broke ranks and retreated, summoning the transport helicopters holding off station twenty miles away. Gypsy gladly let them go.
Praxis relented as the mercs withdrew. He recomposed his physical body from the mental energy it had become. But he'd disabled a half dozen of them that could be held as prisoners.
The Little Mermaid wished the mercenaries a long and uneventful trip. But then Ulla had a sudden intuitive need to find Nightwing. She knew Dick was in trouble and cascading even deeper into it.
The few mercs still mobile after Black Bat's attack limped away to join the others in retreat. Black Bat was unfazed by the Hall's launch. Like Question remarked, it just seemed reasonable Luthor would have other means by which to escape.
Batwing was more than happy to watch the mercs run away. He was battered and bruised. But the eight bodies lying around him tallied up to quite a personal victory.
Mercenaries abandoned their weapons rather than continue fighting Godiva. Killer Frost saw none of them would be coming at Godiva's backside so she froze a few stragglers where they stood. She grinned at Godiva.
"So, arresting anyone?" she asked.
"No, this can be ARGUS' problem," Godiva sighed. Godiva was realizing how tired she really was and just how much Killer Frost had come through for her.
"Louise, what do you say we take an hour or two after we return to Brooklyn to just go get tea or coffee and just relax like average people?" Godiva asked.
"Are you asking me on a date, Dorcas?" Killer Frost's grin became incorrigible.
"At least a primer until we can do the town right," Godiva offered.
"I'm so taking you up on this," Killer Frost promised.
"Good, because the faster we mop up here the sooner we can go out," Godiva winked.
"Your blackmail technique knows no shame," Killer Frost smirked.
Goldilocks had dismantled the armored mech suits of a four man squad before the Hall of Doom lifted up. The operators retreated post haste. Goldilocks let them go. She was beginning to wonder if there was a point to her efforts after all.
Nightshade's troubles were eliminated when the four mecha squad sent after her departed to rendezvous with the helicopters that had delivered them. She slipped away into the Night Force and located the Flash and Firestorm. She decided she seriously needed to talk to Batman and Col. Trevor.
Black Orchid had submerged in the swamp water. The flamethrower units departed and Black Orchid surfaced again. The local alligators had left her alone because she wasn't a fish or mammal.
Silver Swan implemented diving attacks on the Basilisk armored troops. Her strength allowed her to destroy the white noise generators on the suits of armor. Then her swan song cut through the suits themselves. Piles of flesh and metal greeted Silver Swan when she landed.
Enchantress surveyed the line of mechas confronting her and laughed as she cast her first spell. Their impressive array of equipment transformed into gelatin. Finding themselves all wearing dessert, the Basilisk troopers fled before her. Enchantress felt a rush of pride.
Wildcat held his own against the three Owl squads but it was knuckles versus shields and armor. But they suddenly gave up and retreated. Then Wildcat heard before he spotted the Hall of Doom's departure.
Dr. Mid-Nite had never been so grateful for an opponent to get away. But he'd managed to disable half the squad so he'd collected two prisoners. Then he saw Wildcat's expression as he approached and knew Ted Grant felt the same way as he did.
Shining Knight bested his dozen foes and felt the rush of victory. But he hadn't yet encountered Tessa in any of these campaigns. His doubts as to how she'd receive him when he finally confronted her grew daily.
And then there was Goldilocks. Something deeply troubled her. And whatever gnawed at her grew in the pit of her stomach like a cancer. She was trying to hide it but he'd seen that look in the eyes of valiant knights who wondered why they should even go on any longer.
He decided to seek her out as the Hall of Doom vacated the area.
Dove mule kicked the closest gunman and then utilized an acrobatic display to disable the other three. Using a rifle like a club, she battered the four surrounding Hawk. Then the Owls retreated after the Hall of Doom left.
Dove stood vigil over the recuperating Hawk and he weakly said, "Thanks, Dove."
She thought it strange that neither Hank Hall nor Hawk would show vulnerability unless on he was the brink of death. She thought something needed to be done about that. And she was the only one he'd listen to.
Vibe blindly lashed out with his powers. And when he looked around, no one was anywhere near him. And he could see signs of dimensional shifting. He'd just pushed the Owl mercs into an alternate universe. Vibe though a long talk with Dr. Mid-Nite was in order. And maybe Col. Trevor and Sue Dibney of the JLA.
Cyclone and King Chimera were roused by the roar of the Hall of Doom's liftoff. Cyclone was confused, "What did we miss?"
"Everything," King Chimera pointed out the Owl and Basilisk forces in full retreat.
Together, Red Robin and Ravager disabled four mechs. Rose had two operators out of their suits and at sword point while Red Robin had yanked the other two out and had them on their knees. When one tried to bolt, Red Robin ruthlessly struck him down and then the other one as well.
Ravager chuckled, "You've been taking lessons from me."
"No, they're still breathing," Red Robin commented.
Ravager felt the burning sting of shame as she realized he was right. She was taking his cue and not the other way around. But she hadn't heard a rebuke in his voice. Just a hint of sadness. Which was even more condemning.
Superboy dismantled two of the mech suits with his tactile telekinesis. Then Wonder Girl tore a third apart with her hands while Superboy caught and dismantled a fleeing fourth. Together they rounded up the wearers and Wonder Girl stunned them with the Lasso of Thunder.
"Sorry `bout that. They really did knock me loopy," Superboy admitted.
"Hey, the ambush worked just as well," Wonder Girl admitted, "Kinda like John Wayne riding over the hill side."
"Who?" Superboy was confused.
"I'm sorry, Conner," Wonder Girl stated, "It's just so easy to forget you were born in a test tube."
"Yeah, they couldn't speed teach me everything," Superboy ruefully recollected, "But it makes for a lotta great 'first time evers'."
"You're right, it'll be fun introducing you to the rest of the world," Cassie Sandsmark decided.
Miss Martian displayed a lot more combat versatility and aggression than the Martian Manhunter. Basilisk was totally unprepared for M'gann M'orzz. They lost three armored suits before the fourth fled in terror. M'gann decided to let that one simply go.
Kid Flash stopped running and let the repulsor blow him several miles back. Then he sidestepped the beam and raced back before they could re-aim it at him. He disabled the repulsor and the light damper so Solstice was able to blast away at the Basilisk techs. The Kid Flash and Solstice reunited where Bart revealed to Kiran that some of the components looked like they'd come from the 31st Century. A thought that worried both of them.
Red Hood ended up expending every round of ordnance he had but he crippled the four mechas. And then he went hand to hand to disable the operators. Then he watched the show as the Hall of Doom lifted off.
Superboy disabled two of Fairchild's attackers while Wonder Girl dealt with a third. Left alone with one, Fairchild tore it to shreds in under a minute. The operator voided his bladder and bowels in the face of her wrath. Wonder Girl pulled Caitlin off of the Basilisk battle technician.
"You don't want to go there, Cat," Cassie advised her.
"Maybe I do," Caitlin argued.
"Red Robin won't look at you like he does Ravager if you do," Wonder Girl bluntly told Fairchild, "That's not why he's with her. I don't know why he bothers at all but that's not the reason why or he'd be Red Hood instead of Red Robin."
Fairchild almost shivered, "Okay. I get it."
"I hope so," Wonder Girl admitted.
Miss Martian assisted Bunker and Skitter. She ripped two of the mech operators out of their suits and Skitter stung them first and webbed them later. Bunker used the reprieve to smash the suits into debris. Skitter took care of the battered operators.
"Thanks, M'gann," Bunker told her.
"You're welcome," M'gann seemed distracted, "Somehow this seems more like a defeat."
Bunker wondered why their resident Martian would feel that way.
"Where's Nightwing?" Ulla was getting frantic now.
"I don't know, luv, but we'll find him," Godiva promised.
Killer Frost looked ready to comment but she opted not to. Praxis spoke up, "I sense Nightwing's presence on the astral plane. He is some distance from here at a point which I cannot fathom. But although he feels some internal distress, he left here willingly."
"But why?" Ulla couldn't understand that part.
"I suspect you know why I wish to speak to you," Kalea allowed.
"You wish for me to order Diana to return with you to Man's World," Hippolyta gathered.
"Close, I hope Wonder Woman will join us in our fight. That doesn't necessarily mean for Diana to rejoin us. I'd actually prefer if she didn't," Kalea shared.
"You two share little love for one another," Hippolyta observed.
"I committed heinous crimes against your daughter, Your Highness," Kalea freely admitted, "Crimes she's seen fit not to ever forgive. I can understand that. Almerac is a warrior culture. Trespasses are rarely forgiven. Yet we've learned to do so for the greater good should our nation or society requires it of us."
"I do not see the vile creature Diana described to me," Hippolyta admitted, "That is why I allowed for this audience."
"Thank you," Kalea bowed her head, "Now, if Her Majesty would consider my request?"
"I will give you my answer before you depart," Hippolyta promised.
"Which is in twenty-two Earth minutes," Kalea reminded her.
"Thank you, that will be all," Hippolyta seemed amused.
Hestia escorted Kalea back to the Invisible Jet. Lady Blackhawk was on the boarding ramp beside Nyssa al Ghul, Penny, and Deathstroke. LBH was the first to speak.
"So I take it we're leaving now," she opined.
"Not yet," Kalea cautioned her, "Hippolyta still has thirteen minutes to make her decision in."
"You don't really think Princess Diana will leave this island, do you?" Deathstroke wondered.
"No, I don't. And I haven't asked for her to," Kalea clarified.
"Great, so they might still just show up just to kill us," Deathstroke went up the ramp, "I'll let everyone know not to get too comfortable."
"I'll have Blackhawk start the preflight checklist," Lady Blackhawk offered.
"Your reputation does not disappoint," Nyssa congratulated Kalea, "You do seem fond of pushing envelopes."
"Wuh-oh!" Penny exclaimed, "That's a lotta women carryin' torches and spears."
"You may wish to assist in the checklists," Kalea suggested.
"This should prove…informative," Nyssa allowed.
Hestia led the honor guard. Hippolyta was in its center beside Diana. Diana held Alexandra close. But Diana was unarmed and no longer wore Hera's armor. Instead a striking redhead with a ponytail that dangled inches from the ground wore it and she was festooned with Greco-Roman arms devised by Hephaestus.
"May I present Themiscyra's original champion," Hippolyta announced. Kalea could see the cold satisfaction the new Wonder Woman had at Diana's scathing glare upon hearing her mother utter those words before Hippolyta continued her introduction, "Artemis of Bana-Maghdall was our original Wonder Woman before plans were…derailed. She shall represent Themiscyra to the world and protect mankind from itself."
Aresia made her way from the plane's interior to the ramp, "Oh!"
"Aresia, you defied royal edicts to return here but you did so honorably. The five goddesses have chosen to reward you. They have not shared how with me. That secret is yours to unlock," Hippolyta informed her.
Aresia looked baffled, "Um…very well then."
Kalea bowed at the waste, "Thank you, Your Majesty. Your profound wisdom will benefit the safety of an entire world."
Diana snorted but Hippolyta was quick to comment, "My wisdom was from seeking the goddesses' advice. They chose to reinstate our original champion and send her once more on her original task. It seems you are an instrument of the gods just as your stepmother is as well."
Kalea was stunned and Diana was revolted. Hippolyta chuckled, "Such is the wisdom that has been bequeathed to me."
"I won't presume to debate you," Kalea conceded but Diana looked ready to pick a fight.
Artemis broke the tension by striding to the ramp. Kalea offered her hand and forearm in greeting. Artemis was pleased. Almerac shared the greeting in common with the Greco-Roman world for similar reasons. They clasped sword hands.
"Greetings, Artemis of Bana-Maghdall. I am Kalea-El, daughter of Maxima, Empress of Almerac and its subject worlds," she said as an introduction. Kalea felt it best not to mention her father was Princess Diana's husband.
Artemis turned to Nyssa, "Are you an Amazon as well?"
"Hardly," Nyssa smiled, "But I belong to a society even older than Themiscyra's."
They boarded the plane and found Lady Blackhawk standing by to raise the ramp. Afterwards she reported to the cockpit. Penny's voice rang out over the intercom.
"Head's up ya'll. We're goin' VTOL," Penny's voice announced.
"I don't understand," Artemis admitted.
"We'll be going straight up and then adjusting to forward propulsion," Kalea described what would be occurring.
The plane lurched into the air and Nyssa counseled the Amazon, "If the ride is too rough, there are seats available."
Artemis took this as a challenge and Nyssa instantly liked the new Wonder Woman. Aresia made her way to Artemis and was amazed when the newly appointed champion spoke with her. But then again, they were both outsiders brought to Themiscyra. So they had more in common than either of them yet realized.
Kalea went to the cockpit and emerged before activating the center display table. Everyone's seats unlocked and repositioned themselves in front of the table. Half the group remained standing.
"How did you know about this?" Deathstroke asked Kalea.
"You're not the only one with secrets, Slade Wilson," Kalea replied.
Kalea called up imagery from ARGUS databanks and satellite taps, "This is the ARGUS mop up in the Everglades. The Justice Leagues targeted the Hall of Doom but they lost the prize."
Kalea called up another floating image, "The Hall is now in orbit between the Watchtower and the International Space station and directly on the other side of this world from the Chinese Orbital Habitat. Batman and Director Waller are already planning an insertion into the Hall of Doom to finish ascertaining its secrets."
"Count my people out," Deathstroke declared, "They aren't trained for microgravity environments."
"Batman said to send his regards to the Crimson Queen," Kalea smirked.
Slade didn't know who to be angrier with. Kalea for her smug attitude. Batman for his knowing far too much. Or himself for being predictable.
"My Injusticers are hardly qualified as well," Nyssa pointed out.
"Batman has requested that you report to Nanda Parbat and convince Talia of the infeasibility of her stance towards the Legion," Kalea relayed to Nyssa.
"Talia only listens to her own mind," Nyssa warned her.
"Then find a way to be in her mind," Kalea urged.
Nyssa visibly shuddered. Kalea found that interesting, "ARGUS files state you were a Raatko until recently being formally integrated into Ra's al Ghul's family by Talia. Surely the same insight that enabled the completion of that goal can sway Talia."
"I'll…try. I can't promise anymore than that," Nyssa conceded.
"Meanwhile, ARGUS is preparing to meet and brief Wonder Woman," Kalea informed Artemis.
"When do we face the enemy?" Artemis was eager for action.
"The enemy is hiding," Kalea shared, "But I may have the means to help in that situation."
Everyone waited and then realized Kalea wasn't going to share the how of it.
Ultraa met up with a very naked Lobo with the escort of a four man honor guard. Ultraa provided Lobo with clothes very similar to his usual apparel. Before Lobo dressed though, he had to brag.
"Thanks fer the pants. Most guys can't hang with the Main Man when I'm hangin' all out and they find themselves facin' a dick the size of their arm," Lobo laughed.
Ultraa sliced off the aforementioned penis with once quick stroke. Ultraa's guards held Lobo back while the bounty hunter utilized language that would've corroded the hull of a battleship, "Sorry, I thought that would make you feel better. Was I mistaken?"
"Yer gonna find yer head shoved up yer own ass, ya bastich!" Lobo snarled.
"I didn't come to fight you," Ultraa announced, "I came to hire you."
"I'm on a farckin' job, ya puss pocket," Lobo snapped.
"You found Kalea and engaged her. Your job is done," Ultraa reasoned through it, "Kalea-El defeated you in personal combat. She should have earned your respect. Let her go."
"An' who do ya want me ta frag?" Lobo wondered.
"Mongol," Ultraa announced, "He should prove to be a considerable challenge."
"Yeah, it'd be fun," Lobo conceded.
"He's in the Dreas system. He's planning on interfering with a small colony located there. I want you to take him by force and deliver him to Apokolips," Ultraa instructed.
"Ta Darkseid?" Lobo mused, "Why?"
"Because Darkseid will reward you with greater wealth and opportunities than you can imagine if you do this," Ultraa explained.
"So why Darkseid? I heard ya Almeracians turned on him," Lobo recalled.
"Kalea betrayed Darkseid by reinstating Maxima to the throne. But I am loyal to both Darkseid and Maxima. In order to insure Maxima's survival, I must collect Mongol and Despero and deliver them to Darkseid himself," Ultraa explained, "Mongol is more powerful than I. Therefore he is your target but I'll personally deal with Despero."
"Is Rock Face expectin' me?" Lobo asked, "`Cause I don't wanna have ta regenerate from scratch again. Makes me hungry and that makes me cranky."
"Darkseid has been informed you're bringing Mongol to him on my behalf." Ultraa explained, "And he has other employment opportunities in mind for you."
"Great! The Main Man workin' fer the biggest motherfarcker in the multiverse. Can't wait!" Lobo enthused, "But I need a ride."
The honor guard snapped to at Ultraa's direction and offloaded a rocket cycle. Ultraa beckoned towards it, "Your favorite model, I believe."
Lobo was impressed. All of his favorite weapons were stored in saddlebags and saddle scabbards, "It'll do."
Lobo fired up the cycle and roared off. Ultraa's men flew the shuttle back to the battleship in orbit around the Orias system. Ultraa had them adjust course and head for Delta Vega as soon as the shuttle was securely aboard. Despero had been seen preparing for his revenge there.
Despero and Mongol would account for Maxima's penance and the survival of Almerac's empire. However, Kalea was on her own with Darkseid. Ultraa almost pitied her.