22

"He says, 'Till we meet beloved'…"

He knew his menacing words from Apollo lingered in the Cat's Den long after he was gone. There was a slight smirk on his face. He knew his lord would be pleased to learn about the true power she possessed- if he got around to informing him. Darkseid had something to use against Apollo, this Amazonian's strength. What his lord didn't know wouldn't hurt him, if he played his cards right.

"Such power," he thought.

Apokolips Inkorporeyted Headquarters

Desaad stood waiting outside of Darkseid's office. His hooded pale face was illuminated by the light of the opening boomtube portal. As he watched Darkseid's frame come through, his white hair blew in the whirlwind of the boomtube. Darkseid's massive frame stepped through the portal as he heard Desaad's feet scurrying.

"...where is Orion?"

A soft chuckle left Darkseid's lips.

"Master..."

Desaad continued to speak but Darkseid merely walked past him without a word. The old man's eyes lingered on the portal for a few seconds, but it closed without the young master coming through. As the last embers of the boomtube faded before him, Desaad gulped hard.

"My 'son'," Darkseid grumbled. "Has met his unworthy fate…"

Desaad's jaw dropped.

"You didn't…"

Darkseid peered over his shoulder with his crimson eyes fully aflame and a devilish grin on his stone-cold face.

"Like I'd soil my hands with the blood of that fool,"

There was a soullessness in Darkseid's eyes as he spoke. So much so that even Desaad was concerned for his old friend. What had he done?

"Master, Orion is your only son..."

"I have others," Darkseid replied. "Elevate Miracle..."

Desaad panicked as he darted in front of Darkseid.

"Miracle doesn't have the same disposition to violence as Orion does..." Desaad blurted out. "Plus, Miracle is your nephew... not your son..."

"And Orion is no more..." Darkseid replied. "Miracle will just have to learn how to be more like me..."

All the color drained from Desaad's face as he watched his master slowly saunter into his office. There was something in Darkseid's walk that made Desaad wonder what went wrong in Metropolis. Orion was a fool, but he wasn't foolish enough to pick a fight with his father. The old man quickly shuffled behind Darkseid.

"Shall I inform his mother, sir?"

Darkseid didn't reply. He probably didn't even remember her. She was an object to be used. Although the resulting child wasn't as strong as Darkseid wanted, he kept it. Maybe he was slightly sentimental. A fact Desaad dismissed. He wasn't a sentimental type of master.

Sadly, Orion's mother wouldn't remember him either, if he informed her. Granny has the means to remove memories through hours of torture. She failed our master and was punished for it. Apokolips was a kill-or-be-killed organization. Under Apollo's thumb, it had become even more so. There was no place for weakness.

Following behind Darkseid, Desaad noticed the disheveled state of his master. His suit smelt of smoke and was melted to his stone-like skin. A trickle of blood dripped down the side of Darkseid's head. There was a look of fear on Desaad's face. What matter of creature had done this to his master, was it the Kryptonian or his son?

"Master there's…"

Darkseid ignored Desaad as he continued further into his office. Gradually a dribble of blood slipped into his right eye. His massive stone-like hands wiped the red ooze from his eyes.

"It's been a long time since anyone has made me bleed," Darkseid laughed. "You shall give me a powerful son, Amazon."

Darkseid licked his bloodied hand as Desaad caught up to him with a look of horror on his face.

"A son?" Desaad asked breathlessly. "The Amazon belongs to Lord Apollo..."

Darkseid noticed Desaad standing beside him.

"She belongs to the Kryptonian at the moment,"

Desaad looked up at his long-time friend and said.

"You must give the Amazon to Lord Apollo, master... Doing so will grant to favor with..."

Darkseid cleared his throat.

"I need no favor from Apollo," Darkseid grumbled. "She made me bleed Desaad..."

Darkseid used his bloodied hand to grab Desaad's face.

"If she has enough power to make me bleed," Darkseid continued as he lifted Desaad to eye level. "Imagine what she can do to Apollo..."

"She… The Amazon?!"

Darkseid let out a sigh.

"I've never seen such pure raw power in one person. She will help free us from Apollo's grasp, amongst other things..."

Desaad shook his head in disbelief.

"There are plenty of women here," Desaad pleaded. "I'm sure someone like Barda could… We don't have to turn our back against the one who freed us from our gods..."

Darkseid blasted two beams of red on either side of Desaad's head. Melting the glass behind him.

"I want the blood of Zeus to give me a son," Darkseid roared. "Through her, I can secure the power of Olympus for myself and usurp Apollo..."

Desaad trembled as Darkseid released him.

"This isn't a wise course of action …" Desaad said stumbling over his words.

The old man knew better than to say things out of turn. Apollo had eyes everywhere. His master's words were blasphemous. Desaad struggled to breathe as he felt Darkseid lean in close to him.

"She will give me enough power to conquer the gods," he added. "And you will make sure that everything she needs will be in order here. Have I made myself clear?"

As fear gripped him, Desaad nodded.

"Yes, master,"

Darkseid stood.

"Good," Darkseid replied. "Be sure to toss Orion's mother out on the street as well. She's no longer needed."

Desaad held on to his throat in pure terror. His master had doomed them all. Maybe if he worked quickly enough, he could smooth things over so only his foolish master met his end. Shaking the thought from his mind, Desaad turned to placating his master's ego.

"What are we going to do about the Kryptonian?" Desaad gasped. "You know he won't let her go without a fight…"

"Oh, I've everything under control," Darkseid answered.

"Why drag this battle out," Desaad asked. "You could have brought the Amazon here just now. Why wait…"

Darkseid shrugged.

"I will bring all to heel on my terms."

"But sir…"

Darkseid growled at Desaad's constant questioning. But the old man was looking out for his own hide. The longer Darkseid waited, the more time Desaad had to get word to Apollo of his master's treachery.

"Never question my motives again Desaad," Darkseid ordered.

"Of course, master,"

Darkseid's words echoed out into the hallway. As the doors closed, Desaad pulled out a phone with his withered hand. Scrolling through his contacts, he stopped at one labeled 'Moon Huntress."