Hopeless, Part 5

Please Read and Review.I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it.

Notes,the parenthesis indicates languages other than Japanese, in this case, English and Interlac

Day Three After Return

Almeracian Empire Territory
Deep Space
The Past
(Memory Subplane)

"How could Superman alone change the whole of the Almeracian Empire?" Shinji wondered aloud.

The Phantom Stranger swept the image with a gesture of his right hand. "It was thanks to multiple factors, Sazu, Maxima's companion, was a devoted slave. A combination of nanny, confident, and in certain situations, even her proxy. When it was decreed that Maxima was to find a mate, Sazu was sent to Earth to evaluate Superman's potential value as a mate, accompanying a remotely controlled copy of Maxima. However, though Sazu deemed Superman a strong candidate, in the merely physical aspect, his character was not a good fit for Almerac, as he didn't resort to kill enemies as a first, or even last, option. Sazu destroyed Maxima's simulacrum, because her mistress insisted on keep testing Superman to the breaking point (1). Sazu spent some time prisoner on Earth, but eventually returned to Almerac and, after being punished, resumed her duties to Máxima."

"Their relationship was very strained at the time Maxima joined the JLA, but they are genuinely fond to each other, and when they found Superman, they were almost completely reconciled."

There was a flash of regrets on Maxima's face as she worked quickly with a laser scalpel. "(Ah, well.)" Sazu said, annoyed at her mistress' stubbornness. "(At least he is better than that cyborg.)"

Maxima stood up, her beautiful face twisted in disgust. "(He is, but unless I have a mate soon, they will force me to wed him, to seal the alliance between our peoples.)" She sighed as she kept on working, "(But he has already told me he doesn't want to father despots. And I read in his mind, so vividly, his desperate love for the Earth woman who was too weak to bear his son.)"

As she in turn put the techno shrapnel fragments into a reinforced container, Sazu shook her head in disapproval. "(It is an irony. The fool seeks to protect those weaker than himself, instead of exploiting them. No doubt that was enabled by that woman's weakness.)"

"(What do you mean 'her weakness', Sazu?)" Maxima raised a perfect eyebrow.

"(He is still not even remotely worthy of you, but if you want to win him over, I'll tell you how.)" Sazu grinned for a moment, and continued, "(Be what he needs. Cloak your pride, become more tractable, use whatever you learned when you slummed with his weakling subordinates. After all, you can see the mirror of your actions right into his mind.)"

"(Pretend weakness? You overstep your bounds, Sazu.)" But instead of lashing out at her handmaiden, a calculating look appeared on her eyes. She pulled another fragment of writing shrapnel from Superman's body, and straightened up. "(This is the last, see that all the fragments are deactivated. I'll bind his wounds and leave him to rest. I'll be at the bridge.)"

"Wait!" Asuka looked murderous. "She deceived him? Did that witch manage to actually trap Superman?"

"The charade worked." The Phantom Stranger nodded, "But in a way neither Sazu nor Maxima herself could have thought possible."

The scene changed with a wave of the Stranger's hand. "Maxima revealed her upbringing to Superman; showing how she had been molded into the volatile princess she was, how she was raised in a merciless regime of training, violence, and even killing. She showed him how she had grown strong and fierce." In the image, Superman, now dressed in Almeracian lounge clothes, with a small copy of his emblem carefully added over his heart, watched old holos of Maxima in battle, not even a teenager, she fought and defeated opponents much larger and better armed and armored than her.

"As many heirs of space rulers, Maxima had been sent to learn the arts of war from the Warlords of Okaara, in the Vega System (2). There she learned many styles of combat, unarmed, armed, and using her mental powers. She became a master of war, a perfect warrior."

"In stark contrast, Superman recounted his own childhood, in a loving family that encouraged him to use his gifts to protect the helpless. A contrast that confused both princess and slave."

Suddenly, the ship shook violently. "Maxima deliberately had set course to cross the expected route of a hostile ship, a Chennop ship, from one of the rebel factions in the Almeracian Empire. Her plan was to have Superman fight at her side in a battle without real risk, pretend to be in danger, and allow him to protect her."

An array of light beams struck the viewing ports, and to Maxima's alarm, the ship she thought harmless was much better armed than expected. The weakened windows dissolved and broke under the ships's atmospheric pressure, dragging the trio into the cold void of space. Without time to put her space capsule suit, Maxima was as vulnerable to the void as any human. Reacting quickly, Superman inhaled quickly, and pulled both Sazu and Maxima into an escape pod.

Once they were safe, he dove into the fight, destroying the weapons, first the ones in hands of space equipped troops, then the ship's weapons, and finally, immobilizing the ship by the simple method of destroying its engines.

Superman emerged from the exploding ship, like a burning comet, surrounded by a swarm of escape pods.

The Stranger changed the scene. "Soon, all the Chennops crew members had been captured and bound into Maxima's ship."

"She looks like she wants to kill Sazu…" Hikari commented. But the four-armed slave grinned smugly.

"It looks like they are… talking…" Shinji noted, "Look at their faces."

"Of course they are." Asuka crossed her arms, "She's a telepath, isn't she?"

"A very accomplished one, yes." The Stranger nodded. "The gist of their conversation is easy to deduce, I'm sure."

Shinji nodded and turned his attention to the scene, "She's angry because they were in real danger, and she doesn't like it."

Asuka looked at Sazu, studying her. "Hrumph." She grunted, "And Sazu looks like the cat who got the cream. She had told Maxima to win Superman by pretending weakness, didn't she? Well, she got her wish, Superman protected her, and now she must be telling her how to capitalize on the situation."

Hikari rolled her eyes as Maxima awkwardly thanked Superman. "Admitting that she needed to be rescued must have been like eating her pride."

"Indeed. In normal circumstances, Maxima would have thrown a destructive attack on the Chennops, but now she has a bigger goal in mind."

"(We are so small against the whole universe.)" She said, her usual bluster subdued. "(It's so much better to have allies than enemies.)" She shook her head. "(I was just a spoiled child when I first met you. And I was infatuated, like a child who wants a new weapon. I tried to force you to love me. That was a mistake. But I'm older now, and I have fought at your side and along your allies. You are more than a bauble, I realice that now.)" She paused for a few seconds. "(We may never be lovers, but perhaps, we could be… friends?)" She almost bit her lip. "(Come with me to Almerac, Kal-El. You once served Earth, but all the people on the universe need your help. Come with me, and see for yourself we are not the despots our early encounters led you to believe. You could be of great help to bring peace to the Galaxy.)"

Superman thought for a moment, remembering his life on Earth, and the pain of the loss that still haunted him. "(Why not?)" He answered, to Maxima's delight, "(I have nowhere else to go.)"

"Hey, look at Sazu!" Hikari pointed. "She looks worried."

"She is." The Stranger waved the scene away, and once more, the group stood on a white void. "She is not sure if Maxima is playing her role in the farce she herself proposed, or if she is being completely sincere."

The Stranger walked away at a slow pace, and the three teenagers followed him, the white nothingness was soon replaced by an impressive hall, with powerful columns supporting a ceiling so tall the sound was lost in the distance.

Maxima and Superman entered through a high window, discussing current events.

"(De'Cine wants to marry into the Almeracian bloodline,)" Maxima said as the pair descended to the ground, "(his Mother, the Krenon Queen, is willing to pay a high price for the privilege. She claims she will stop providing the rebels with Krenon weapons, like the ones the Chennops used to attack my ship, but she will break any treaty as soon as it is convenient, of course. Krenons are brutish and opportunistic.)"

"(Can they force you to marry?)" Superman asked, incredulous.

"(It's complicated.)" Maxima admitted, "(I admit I've been lax on procuring a mate, and the time for me to produce a heir grows short. It is within their right to chose a mate for me. De'Cine is a monster, and I despise him. We are not even genetically compatible. I loathe him, but I must consider my duty to the Empire.)"

Just as they landed, a monstruous figure entered the throne room. It was a disgusting mix of man, robot, and some kind of cybernetic scorpion or spider, its… his skin was blotched and multiple cybernetic implants poked through the skin of his naked torso and his four arms. He moved with a heavy skittering noise; his face was the face of a savage brute, with a flat, squashed nose, red eyes, and a severe underbite that did nothing to hide long and sharp fangs. Instead of hair, his head showed a net of cables, wires, and other implants that completely covered his back, some of them connecting with the reddish black carapace of his lower body.

All three pilots recoiled in disgust at the sight. And they were not the only ones, many courtiers stepped back, and judging from their faces, they were actually nauseated at De'Cine's presence. But wouldn't dare to react openly.

The creature stopped next to Maxima, shot a disdainful look at Superman, and dismissed him immediately. "(At last you deign to return to meet your betrothed! To my chambers, woman! We have much to discuss!)" He roared.

Maxima rolled her eyes, not impressed at all. "(You forget your place, De'Cine. I am not yet yours to command. Any discussions shall be with the ministers of state. Go to them.)" Her voice was coldly impatient.

De'Cine snorted. "(You deny me the same you freely give to this…)" he sneered at Superman. "(Scion of a forgotten world?)" He made to grab Maxima's shoulder, but Superman caught the much larger hand before it reached her.

"(Keep your hands to yourself.)" He said, his voice deceptively calm. "(And your filthy thoughts too.)"

"(Who are you to intervene, Kryptonian?)" De'Cine growled. "(If your intentions towards her are so honorable, then you'll fight me for the right to marry her. Here and now!)" He snatched his hand back.

Superman hesitated, "(No… I…)"

Subdued whispering filled the chamber, commenting on Maxima being rejected once again, doubting of her sense of judgement and her decorum. Asuka looked around, her eyes betraying her anger. "Cowards!" She spat the word. "Say that to her face and see how you fare!"

De'Cine left the throne room, stomping his sharp insectoid legs on the polished ground.

The Phantom Stranger spoke then. "In the Almeracian Empire, a loss of face can be dangerous, even deadly, and must be remedied immediately."

"But what…" Shinji interrupted himself, as Máxima ordered the guards to bring the captured prisoners.

Asuka's lips curled in impotent disgust. "She wants to make an example out of them. To impress her court."

To everybody's surprise, especially the Almeracian Princess, the Chennops prisoners ignored her, postrating themselves before Superman! Begging for his mercy.

This set Maxima off. She lit up an energy whip, and attacked them furiously. Or at least, she tried, Superman interposed himself between Maxima and the prisoners. "(Maxima, no! I didn't capture them for them to be killed or tortured!)"

"(This is MY WORLD! You are a stranger here, Kal-El! Don't presume to order ME around!)" She turned her whip around, screaming furiously, "Out of the room, you skraggoths!" Courtiers and prisoners scrambled to flee, leaving only the two powerhouses, alone in the throne chamber.

"Maxima!" Superman tried to placate her, "(Don't do anything you'll regret later!)"

Her fury turned to him in an instant. "(I only regret I saved your worthless life! You ingrate!)" She swung the whip again, "(Now beg for the same mercy you show to my enemies!)" The whip ripped Superman's shirt, burning the cloth on impact.

Superman's patience was at its end. "(Sheathe that whip or lose it!)" He ordered. His eyes shone red for a fleeting moment, and two crimson beams of light struck the whip handle.

"(What are you doing, you fool! The chamber contains enormous energies! If you breach it…!)"

The weapon exploded, throwing both into the air. "(Maxima! Are you okay?)" Superman asked as he stopped in mid air.

The smoke from the explosion dissipated, showing Maxima kneeling next to her heavy, ornate throne, completely unharmed. "(Don't insult me, Kryptonian!)" She ripped the throne from the floor with her bare hands, "(I'm nearly as indestructible as you are!)" Maxima threw at least a ton of stone towards Superman. "(You think your gentle ways are superior? This is what I think of you and your mercies!)"

"What a witch." Asuka commented, as Superman evaded the attack with ease. However, the broken throne hit the column right behind the hero.

Alarm crossed Maxima's face as she realized what she had just done. "(The main support column! No! Kal, run! The ceiling..!)"

Startled, the teenagers watched helplessly as the whole chamber collapsed over the two.

Hikari covered her mouth with both hands, her eyes wide in horror as the rubble settled with ominous noises.

Long, silent seconds passed, as the rubble settles and the dust cloud dissipated. The Phantom Stranger looked impassive at the scene of destruction.

Shinji gulped, "He… he can't be dead, right? You told us he…" The pilot interrupted himself, as a heavy slab of stone began to move. Barely noticeably at first, but with deliberate purpose. Shinji couldn't be certain, but he could almost swear he saw a flicker of amusement in the serious face of the Phantom Stranger.

The stone flipped over itself, falling heavily again, and revealing a disheveled Superman, his clothes ripped and dirty with pulverized stone. He stood shakily, and looked around, his eyes fixed on the floor. "Maxima!" He jumped to where the throne dais had stood minutes before. "(There she is!)" He said, relieved. Carefully, he moved the stones until he reached the Almeracian Princess. "(Are you hurt?)"

She sat slowly, holding her head. "(I'm unharmed.)" She said meekly, her anger spent. "(I was so angry… I wanted to kill you.)" She sounded… ashamed… he extended a hand to her, and after a brief hesitation, she accepted. "(Why… why do you care? You could have left me buried here.)"

"(You were mad, that's true.)" He hugged her carefully, "(But when the ceiling came down, your first instinct was to warn me. If you really had wanted to kill me, you wouldn't have warned me.)"

She rubbed her forehead. "(You're right. It was not you I wanted to kill, it was De'Cine. And the courtiers. I was wrong to take out on you.)" It was almost an apology.

Superman chuckled softly. "(And the palace. This place is a disaster!)"

She smiled ruefully. "(These things happen. We are bred and raised to have short fuses and mighty tempers.)" A sad sigh escaped from her lips. "(It's a pity you won't marry me. For all my faults, the court allows me too much lassitude. They won't ever admit it, but they are afraid of me, of my power and my temper. Far better to deal with equals. To not have to hold back in battle.)" Then, she whispered softly, "(Or in love…)"

He looked down, lost in thought for a moment. "(Back on Earth, I feel like I live in a world made of cardboard. Always taking constant care not to break something. To break someone. Never allowing myself to lose control, even for a moment, or someone could die.)" he whispered (3)

Maxima nodded with a jerk of her head, her expression cold and angry. She left Superman alone with his thoughts. "(Take the prisoners. They are yours to do with them as you please. I want nothing to do with them.)" She said coldly.

"Um…" Hikari looked at her companions. "What happened here? They were… I don't know… almost progressing?"

Shinji answered. "She must have read his mind. And I don't think she liked what she saw."

The Stranger nodded. "She was not the only one to not like what has been seen today." He pointed at a column. Behind it, they saw De'Cine watching, a calculating look on his beady eyes.

Author Notes:

1. Action Comics issue 645 (Sept, 1989).

2. Not canon, but it would be not much of a stretch. The best known of the students of the Warlords of Okaara are Koryand'r (Starfire) and her sister Kommand'r (Blackfire), from Tamaran. However, the later was expelled from Okaara after she tried to kill her sister in combat practice.

3. This is Superman's famous boast, right before going all-out against Darkseid, in the Justice League Unlimited episode "Destroyer" (Season 3, episode 13), but with a very different context.