17

"Is it ready?" Darkseid's voice boomed.

Desaad nodded.

"Good,"

Desaad flinched as the portal opened. Expanding outward, the portal revealed the atrium of the Cat's Den. From his side of the portal, Darkseid investigated the darkly lit establishment.

"Someplace,"

Darkseid heard his son Orion's voice behind him. It was laced with a hint of sarcasm. The young new god was ambitious but lacked the wisdom not to speak out of turn. Now was not the time for his foolishness. Lord Apollo's task took priority over his son's lackluster tone.

"Watch your tone, boy,"

"Father," Orion replied. "Why would I miss the chance to meet our lord's new prize…"

"Seeing her isn't something you need to worry yourself with, boy,"

Orion walked to Darkseid. Dwarfed by his father in stature, Orion looked more human. Pale-skinned with ginger hair, he took after his mother. His only saving grace.

"Why not?" he asked coldly. "Lord Apollo has made you his errand boy for this woman. I wish to see what the fuss is about..."

Darkseid watched his son with great annoyance for he knew he was up to something. He didn't wish for his son's death, but at least he'd have a valid reason to unleash hell on the Kyptonian's turf if he did.

"Don't get any funny ideas boy…"

The word 'boy' came from the back of Darkseid's throat. Deep and raspy, the gray-fleshed man's tone was a warning.

"The Amazon is Lord Apollo's," he growled.

Orion took a step back away from his father and threw up his hands.

"Father, what type of man do you think I am?" he asked. "I live to serve our Lord..."

Darkseid didn't reply. He didn't need to. His son was a fool and a liar. He would serve a greater purpose in death than he ever did in life.

"Come if you wish boy," Darkseid added. "Just don't touch the Amazon…"

As Darkseid spoke he walked through the open boomtube. Orion rolled his eyes.

"Heed your father's words, Orion," Desaad said once Darkseid had walked through the portal. "He already thinks you are a failure…"

Orion laughed.

"Me a failure?" he boasted. "I'll show him the meaning of failure when I take Apollo's woman from him and claim his golden head in my father's name."

Orion cursed as he finally followed suit through the boomtube. As the portal closed Desaad shook his head.

"May your death bring honor to Lord Apollo," he said somberly.

Inside the Cat's Den in Metropolis

As Darkseid stepped through the boomtube, time and space folded around him. Cracking and splitting over itself, matter pulled him into the atrium of the Cat's Den. Adjusting his suit, Darkseid waited for his son to come through the portal. Looking around the room, there was a particular scent in the air of drink, women, and sex.

Darkseid closed his eyes as he drank the essence of the Cat's Den. His senses were ablaze with the mix of the pleasures of the flesh. The Kryptonian had good taste or at least the Owl did.

"Ahh, there she is," Darkseid sighed.

There was a pure scent hidden amongst the sea of sex in this place. No wonder Apollo wanted her. A devious thought popped into Darkseid's head. Maybe his son was right about one thing. He could take the Amazon for his own pleasure. Lord Apollo had enough playthings. Maybe he wouldn't miss her...

"You're not supposed to be here,"

A man's voice pulled Darkseid back from his dark thoughts. There was a man on his knees, naked as the day he was born, wearing a green collar. Darkseid took a step toward the man and knelt to him.

"Your mistress is expecting me," he hissed as he lifted the man's chin.

"I highly doubt that," the man said. "Darkseid..."

The kneeling man spat in Darkseid's face. The spital slowly slid down his right cheek.

"She would never allow you in here," the man continued

Darkseid snatched the kneeling man by his jaw.

"Father don't make a mess," Orion said from behind his father. "I'm sure this underling knows nothing about your little visit here... isn't that right little doggie?"

Orion walked around his father and looked into the man's eyes. The man in the collar struggled to move as Darkseid held him in the air.

"I am no dog," the man replied through his teeth. "This is Ultraman's turf..."

"That it is," Orion said with a smile. "Can I call you friend? I am Orion. We have an appointment with Mistress Selina Kyle for entertainment and nothing more..."

"Don't you have enough whore houses in your own territory?"

Orion's calm demeanor shifted as he laughed. His pale skin turned a light gray color as his eyes flared a hint of red.

"But I wanted to try yours," he continued. "Be a dear and inform your mistress of our arrival,"

Orion's calm passive-aggressive tone and darkened appearance sent shivers down the man's spine. Through Darkseid's vice grip, the man nodded.

"Now that wasn't hard, was it?" Orion said as he patted his father's hand.

Darkseid grunted as he released the collard man. He tumbled onto the floor before scurrying backward.

"Go on now," Orion said as he shooed the man forward. "Get..."

The collard man ran off into the Cat's Den without another word. Orion sighed.

"You could have opened this outside of the building you know," Orion said. "You know humans aren't used to this level of technology."

Darkseid didn't reply to his son, he started to walk in the direction of the collard man. Orion barely noticed his father's forward motion.

"Father?" Darkseid heard his son call out but ignored him.

Following behind the collard man, Darkseid basked in crimson up-lit corridors and the sound of music. He followed the music until he reached a pair of double doors. Pushing them open, he saw her. A dark-skinned, raven-haired beauty dancing.

"... Wait up…" Orion said as he ran up beside his father.

Darkseid's gaze was glued to the stage.

"What are you staring at?" Orion added.

Orion stopped speaking in mid-sentence as he stopped beside his father. As he looked down at the stage, he saw what had his father transfixed. She was full-breasted and curvy beyond measure. No wonder the Kryptonian didn't kill her.

"Gods have mercy," Orion muttered.

Out of the corner of his eye, Darkseid watched his son lick his lips.

"She is Apollo's," Darkseid hissed.

Orion waved off his father's words and continued to stare at the dancing Amazon. Suddenly the music stopped and so did the Amazon. She looked afraid as she looked out into the seats.

"And she's shy too…" Selina shouted. "Oh, he'll eat this shit up."

"That he will…" a blond woman on the stage added.

The blond woman stepped out from behind the Amazon looking her up and down.

"Please tell me they're going to…." Orion muttered under his breath.

Darkseid grunted.

"You're no fun father," he added. "What do these Americans say, double your pleasure?"

Darkseid didn't reply and kept his focus on the collard man now standing beside Selina. He'd been there for long enough to get her attention, but he was too distracted by the Amazon's curves to do so.

"I'll get her an outfit," the blond woman added as she wrapped a coat around the Amazon.

"Good, good," Selina replied.

"Mistress Kyle," the collard man finally said as he tapped her on her shoulder.

"Ollie you better have a good reason to be in here before Dinah throws you out," Selina hissed.

"Darkseid is here," he added.

Selina sucked in a big gulp of air.

"How long?" she asked coldly.

"About…." Ollie started to reply but Selina looked over her shoulder.

Darkseid, the gray-fleshed man of otherworldly fame was here. His eyes burned as red as Ultraman's but were more tamed. He towered over most, barely contained by the black suit he wore. An unbuttoned shirt revealed deep carved muscles. If it weren't for the stone-like nature of his skin and bald head, he might be considered an attractive man.

"Shit," she hissed. "Take them to my office, Ollie…"

"But…."

"Do as I say!" she hissed as she looked at Ollie's already bruised face. "We don't want to keep the most powerful man in the world waiting, do we?"

He nodded before he turned to leave. As he turned around, he saw Darkseid's gaze staring at him. He cautiously walked over to them with his head down.

"Selina would like to welcome you both to the Cat's Den," Ollie said. "Would you both please follow me to her office?"

"Why thank you, what was it? Ollie?" Orion said with a smirk.

"Yes," Ollie replied as he pointed back to the atrium.

Ollie led them to Selina's office in silence. Once inside he told them that she'd be in a few minutes.

"Forgive me Darkseid," Selina's voice said from behind them. "If I'd known you were coming so early, I would have had something prepared for you."

Selina entered her office with a grin from ear to ear.

"No worries, we were able to see some of your entertainment…" Orion laughed. "It was quite…"

"Silence!" Darkseid growled as he glared at his son. "Leave us!"

"But father?" Orion asked with a puzzled look on his face.

"I need to speak with Selina alone," Darkseid replied coldly.

Selina reached for the phone that was resting on her desk.

"I've called down to the bar," she said as she placed the phone back on the desk. "They're preparing some refreshments for you."

Orion rolled his eyes and left Selina's office. Once the door closed, Selina finally took a seat in front of Darkseid. She clasped her hands together and stared right into his burning red eyes.

"Now that he's been handled, what brings the most powerful man in the world to my club?" she asked.

"Straight to the point," Darkseid laughed. "I like a woman who gets down to business. I could use a woman like you working for me…"

"You aren't here from me Darkseid," Selina replied. "You're here for her."

Darkseid tossed up his hands and smiled.

"It seems that we have an understanding, Selina," he nodded. "Your boss has taken something that is mine."

"I don't sell flesh here Darkseid," Selina replied.

"And I'm not asking for you to do so," he replied. "I'm merely asking for a chance to speak with your boss about the matter."

Selina raised her eyebrow.

"And what's in it for me?"

Darkseid leaned forward, placing his powerful hands on her desk.

"What do you want Selina?" he asked.

Selina paused for a moment.

"I want Ultraman gone,"