A few weeks later, making plans.

It was a Sunday morning. Max was drinking orange juice and cultivating on the veranda. Maria was enjoying her new hobby of dealing with flowers. She was still worried about the future but was ok with things so far. Her mental health had improved greatly with the new environment.

Vega the spiritual clone was cultivating furthur out. Basking in the sunlight to sense all aspects of the Cultivation Max developed. His process was much slower.

Claire was learning to control her fire. Selina was instructing her as best she could from what Max told her about fire and the way it moves. Claire just couldn't do it when Max explained it.

They had a few guests join them this morning. Pamela Isley & Harleen Quinnzel had been invited by Selina. Max assured her they would not see any of what was going on. Everything was hidden from sight to them magically. As long as Claire didn't shoot giant fireball's that is.

Morgen Le Fey was preparing things in another room. On the opposite of the building. She kept quiet and only spoke to them as needed. Apparently John creeped her out a bit. Something about his magic gave bad vibes.

John had stayed the weekend instead of heading to Zatara for training. Zatara had flipped out when he heard who the boy's mother was taken by. He contacted members of the Order and told them everything that John told him.

"Alright, this is getting harder to do mate." John said to Max. He was not good with the mediation part still. To easily distracted by the females nearby and the danger his mother was in. "I give up!" He spread out leaning back in the lounger. "Max how do you do it so easy?"

*Woom Woom!* Max pulled in the spiritual energy he was refining and let if flow around inside him naturally.

Diligence & Chastity flowing into him with ease. Best thing about puberty from the body. It provides natural stimulation to resist. The two worked in concert with Max's current needs. But it was time to kick it up a notch for Chasity. The last few days, Max's thoughts kept drifting to a woman he had been helping.

"You are in a rush. That is what is making it harder. Go and talk to our new resident to get some help."

"You mean the girl you picked up off the streets/ her name was Mercy right?" John asked to make sure. Max gave a nod that he was right. "I will, but if she shoots me again, little girl or not, I will through her through a wormhole!"

Max watched as he walked off. A quick look around showed everything was fine. Checking over with his phone, he muttered a spell to show him his people all across Earth. Everyone was going fine or well enough he didn't have to interfere. Black Adam was steadily making strides in Khandaq. No political unrest. But a few naysayers from outside influence.

Max sent him a message notifying him to deal with the trouble before it turned big. Black adam took under advisement and had people on it in a moment's notice. He suprised Max with his diplomatic skills. The biggest problem was the Immortal caveman Vandal Savage. For some reason, he was passing through the small country. Why, max did not know. But he had a few demon's keep track on the immortal.

-A bigger cat-

"I have watched you. You are not a simple human." A playful voice came from the shadows. "You have found me several times and left medicine for me. You are odd."

"I know of you Circe. And of you predicament. What I do not know, is why you have fused with Cheetah. Or the Goddess of the Hunt really." Max said to the shadows. Circe was a sorceress of both evil and good at times. What his eyes told him, this was the Silver Age Circe for the most part. She had the raven black hair instead of her predecessor's blonde and later violet hair and red eyes. "I can return you to what you were originally. But it will take time. Just 4 years or so."

*Tink* Several taps went against the railings. Regular human ears could not hear them. To silent, to stealthy. But cultivator ears could. Max followed the trail with his eyes. Moving slowly towards the darkness.

Cheetah part was to much of a headache. A spoiled woman most times and an Amazon in others. But the animated series & movies made her more deadly of a character. Someone who was able to fight Diana (Wonderwoman) toe to toe. The energy he spent, the more information he received.

Two characters fused into one and with a new Origin story. Another like the others. But it took place before Max arrived in this World. So no blowback to himself so far. Max stopped to absorb all the new information. The biggest was that her transformation was based on a tale from his Original life.

'Based on the tale of Psyche. The mortal woman who was more beautiful than the Goddes Aphrodite herself. Well, the men worshipped her that way anyway. Haa, I may have to talk with the Greek Gods earlier than I wanted to. Still need to chat with Hades.' Max scratched his head in thought. The fact that Circe/Cheetah was effected so much like this as well as him needing to speak with Hades on gaining help with Tartarus, was problematic. 'Good thing I have a way to make Hades happy. Just need to find more part of that woman's soul. He better not be the asshole version here. I rather the chill one that ran into on my travels.'

"Why do you want to help me?" Cheetah said from the darkness. Her voice sounded odd to Max now. She was closer to him. Slightly distorted. Before he knew it, the trace he had on her was lost. He turned just in time to see her appear after a shifting moment. "You are trained, even your ears are good. But Amazons have training for that to."

In front of him, was a woman that was more animal than anything. But the breasts and the speech gave it away. The thick greek accent was difficult to hide. She was tall and lean. Claws at the edge where fingernails should be. Piercing golden eyes that bore into Max.

"One of the reasons I would like to get your assistance." Max smiled at her unafraid. "I have some people I need trained. As a woman, you can train them way better than I, a man could. In certain areas anyway. That and your very nice on the eyes." He gave her a smirk.

"Humph what is in it for me? You said you can not cure me as I am now. What is to stop you from going back on your word in the future?" Cheetah pulled back a little. To slip back into the shadows, was easy for her. She did not like the way Max looked at her. The lack of fear and disgust was not present. She had grown accustomed to that over the long years. "I am also no pet to be kept."

"A safe place to stay, for a piece of mind. A few of them may look at you oddly in the beginning. But it is up to you to show them you are not the monster "whispers" make you out to be. No more stealing and risking your life to survive." Max eyes followed her movements on the side of the building.

*Thrum!* Max felt a pulse of curse magic leave the body.

'Such a powerful curse on her. Infused with such raw magic that is preventing her from turning herself back to normal. Or from casting any spells for that matter. I know of a few other ways to get her back to normal after seeing this. So many different versions of her, but this one is the more easier one I think. Cursed by a jealous Aphrodite is better than the chemical exposure from the newer comics. Or the blasted curse from her not being a virgin picking up a blasted statue.'

"Fine. I will check this out in the beginning." Cheetah had grabbed a bag from the fire escape and came down. She stared at him expectantly. The bag was one Max had left for over the years. In fact it was the first actual one he had given her. A protection formation on it to help protect from the elements. As well as find any criminal element he was looking for. "Are you gonna magic us back to wherever it is?"

"We can walk." Max reached his hand out. Cheetah grabbed it with a squeeze. Testing his strength on instinct. "This will last for an hour." With a turn of his wrist, she turned into her original appearance of a woman.

She was still tall but had golden-brown hair. Slowly that changed to dark black hair. It took a few minutes before she was used to it again. The legs were the most problematic of everything. Standing on her feet regularly was the biggest problem it seemed. "Or we can take a car back."

"I want to take a car back." Cheetah said hugging herself. Max walked to the car and got in. Cheetah sat in the back fumbling over herself. A bright smile on her face as she did so. "It has been so long since I saw my skin and my face."

'Her voice has changed. Should I call her Circe now... I will have to have a talk with her later.'

(Relationship Scenario started.) The A.I. intoned. (Connected to Amazon Scenario. Warning, Max your personal feelings have been accessed by Cheetah/Circe's magic.)

"Wait what?" Max asked out loud. He was happy the fake driver from his spell was unbothered by anything. Sitting in the passenger seat he looked back. 'That blasted magic is doing this. What is all mixed in the curse?' His eyes flared as he peered into the magic. "Fuck!"

(Max, anyone that pursues her will have a difficult time of things. I suggest you tread carefully Max.)

The rest o the drive was quiet on his end. What he didn't know was that Cheetah/Circe was aware of him checking on her. She did not mind in the least. In fact, she was intrgue he didn't break the connection.

-Home-

In the end she told him straight up to call her Cheetah. she would take her real name once she was cured.

"Max, who is that?" Selina asked looking at the tall gorgeous woman. She has seen stunning woman before but this was different. A sense of kinship as well as a sort of primal understanding taking place in her body. She started to get goosebumps. "She is really pretty."

"She is going to be your martial instructor on a few things." Max said taking a seat in a chair. He was trying to control the curse as best he could. Mostly to see if he could make it stay away longer or not. He could but it would come at a cost. "Hmm have the "others" left yet?"

"Yeah. About an hour ago." Claire said. She gave Cheetah a look over before eyeing Max. "You ok?"

"Yes. But do not freak out with what happens next." Max then turned into a large male cheetah. His claws were the hardest thing to retract. But applying his body technique it receded. The curse was strong but his cultivation was vastly better. "Ummm that is a good stretch. Been a while since I turned into part animal."

"Woah!" Selina cried cheerfully. She stared Max up and down and started grabbing his fur. "So soft. Come pet him Claire." Claire moved over very slowly and gave his arm a squeeze.

"You have changed." Cheetah said. She was somewhat heartbroken thinking Max had taken the curse for her altogether. "I didnt think that would happen."

"Huh?! Oh no, you misunderstand." Max said quickly. He rather the woman not think wrongly. "This is temporary. I mean I can stay this way if I want, but no. I have done the animal life once before, it has its drawbacks..." Max swished his tail to mentally discard the memory. "Anyway this should allow you another 3 hours normal. More than enough time to teach them and relax."

"I see. Thank you." Cheetah gave a bow. Max was suprised by how much the woman's personality changed back to what it originally was before the curse was applied. "Then I better not waste time. Are these the two you wish for me to train?"

"Them and two others for now." Max sent a mental message to Mercy and Maria to come in. Two things happen that Max did not pay attention to.

Mercy drew her pistol and shot him. Maria fainted on site.

*Pow!* Mercy shot him directly between the eyes. She was already grabbing a knife to stab him.

"Selina Claire run now!" Mercy yelled. She did her partner as a bodyguard way quicker than Max thought she would.

"Umm hold on!" Selina tried to say. She was flustered as she checked on her mom. Claire just looked at the bullet hole in Max in awe. "Mercy that is Max!"

*Woosh!* Cheetah had grabbed Mercy by her arms and lifted her up.

"Let go of me!" Mercy struggled but could not get free. Her cultivation was improving quickly. But not that fast. "No way that beast is Max!"

"It is him. Calm yourself child." Cheetah said soothingly. A little pain flashed in her eyes when she heard Mercy call Max a monster. "It is him, just wait a few moments."

'Mercy calm down.' Max thought to her. The girl immediately looked towards him. Eyes searching his own and upset that she shot him after realizing the aura the beast had, matched Max. "It is ok. Do not worry about the bullet hole."

*Tink!* The slug fell to the floor. The hole in Max's head closing immediately after.

"I am so sorry Max. I did not mean.." Mercy started to say. She stopped when she noticed the smile on his face. "Why are you smiling?"

"Because you responded pretty damn good." Max said cheerfully. Cheetah let Mercy go seeing as she settled down and all. "You could check a little more but you are learning. You immediately told Selina and Claire to run for it. Which was pretty damn nice of you."

"That is my job after all." Mercy said a little embarrassed. She did not look away as Max approached her and crouched. "That is what you asked me to do."

"It is." Max placed his pawed hand on her shoulder. "But next time checked with your aura first. It will help you identify friendlies and enemies better. I will show you a better method later."

*Thunk* The door had opened. In walked a man with a partially melted face. Cheetah looked at Max's relaxed posture so she did not attack. The girls had gotten togethor and checked over Maria.

"I swear you get weirder and weirder everytime I see you." Jonah Hex said. "But you still have not shone me what you really look like. Is this permanent?"

"No Jonah." Max shook. "Your muddy shoes need to go by the door. I swear I think you do it just for the kicks." Jonah blushed a little. On his face, it looked very weird. He moved to the door and took his shoes off and tried to smile. "Oh boy." Max waved his hands cleaning the mud up.

"Any way, what is for supper? I am starving." Jonah sat at the table not bothered by Max's form in the least. "I have finished my work. And ready to settle in town. What do you have for me?"

"You can join police work.. but you kind have to capture suspects more than kill them. Trust me, I know it is a pain in the ass." Max had grabbed some things to start cooking. Maria had come to and passed back out seeing a giant cat cooking food. "What do you want to do Jonah?"

"Hmm, first my face." Jonah pointed. A contract appeared in front of the man. He signed it quickly. "Oh, that itches."

*Strech!* Slowly his skin pulled and inflated underneath. Muscle tissue filled it place causing Jonah to start playing with his new formed up cheek. Max felt the increase in his spiritual energy and would cultivate it later.

"Man, you are an old thing aren't you." Jonah said offhandley. The contract had shown him what Max had done and his plans for Earth. To defend it from future threats while in the present making things better. "I think I will do security around here for a bit. Basically freeload for a year. I will teach the youngins how to shoot proper."

"Sounds good." Max nodded. He figured the old cowboy would need a break for the time being. "Just make sure you learn some customs for the present time. And if you get shot through space in time again.."

"Yeah yeah I know. Click my heels and call your name. What am I Dorothy from Wizard of Oz?" Jonah asked a little amused. Max smiled and focused on cooking. "I better not have any hair in my food. I do not want to try my new cheek by coughing up hairballs."

"Heh!" Cheetah snorted. She went over and picked Maria up with ease. "Where is her room?"

"Umm follow me." Selina answered. When they returned, Selina had to ask. "Max, you are so strange. How many wives do you usually have?"

"One. Always one." Max tail swished oddly before he looked at her. "Why?"

"Hmm scratching myself off the list. That way I do not lose anything. Ooh, lose anything." Selina gave him a smile. "I think I understand why your Cultivation Manual has certain rules. Multiple partners send one to the sinful side more. The path of Sin becomes more dominant!"

"Correct. I rather keep myself as is. But.. if you go that route. Good luck." Max said unbothered.

"So an ability to train a certain lifestyle. How interesting." Cheetah just stared at Max amused. "I have come across all kinds of men before. Most failed back then. and several seem to fail now. But these were men in power. You look like the type."

"Heh. Havent did so after countless Millenia. will not start now. Came close to having a surrogate but that is all. In fact... Most of the people close to me were the same."

*Flutter!* Black shifting paper gathered. Morgen le Fey teleported in.

"Yet you have a bunch of evil people with you now." Max just grinned. "I do not get why you do not go find more virtuous people?" Her eyes drifted to Cheetah before looking away. 'She seems familiar. But where from? No matter.'

"Evil is subjective to me. I deem you innocent therefore you are." Max said sparing her a glance. "What you do now is for the good of humanity. Helping to train future heroes and disable threats. Your past while be atoned for. By your hands. Or by me if you sign with me."

"If i do not? What happens then?" Morgen sat down a good bit away from the others.

"You go on your way. You will not remember the encounter with me or my people. Do not worry, I will allow you to keep what I have changed of you so far. Payment for what you have done already. as well as what i have gained from speaking with you." Max took the eggs out of the pan. He did a quick clean and started cooking bacon next. "If you do things to endanger my people or the general populace of Earth, I will come for you."

"Oh, and what will you do?" Cheetah asked amused.

"Kill. That simple. Chance were already given." Max flipped the bacon over and turned to her. "The same way I do to people I spare once. If I helped you turn over a leaf and you later use what i gave you to become a serial killer, it is my duty to deal with you."

"The same thing you did with those people in the alley." Mercy said. "You are a very brutal man at times. Nothing like what I have learned from Selina and Claire."

"They have seen one side of me is all." Max stretched his hand out to Mercy. He waas sharing his sight with her. "View a few things I have done in National City. If you need to see my kind side more."

"Mmhmm, I need to see more." Mercy smiled. She didn't care either way. But seeing Max do a few kind acts did make her feel better. As well as make it better for her cultivation he gave her. 'This Hopeful Angel is so difficult. Why is so far in the virtuous when he has me as a bodyguard? Ahhh, cannot wait to grow up.'

"Max, how many orphans have you picked up?" Jonah asked. "I mean that girl Selina's mother is here. Claire's parents are a weird situation. But Mercy here.. she and John are strange cases." Jonah knew all the information since he took the role of security for the place. He was privy to the information of who was allowed in the building and who was not. "You also started an orphanage in Coast City, National City, Bludhaven, Metropolis, Smallville, Star City, and that big place in Moscow. Why so many?"

"Because a lot of the future problems arise from those areas. These are the immediate ones anyway. I need to increase my funds for another few places. But I have seen to that already. Just waiting for now."

"A saint and sinner. But for various reasons." Cheetah said. "But Earth is your primary concern. Outside threats.. they come second I assume?"

Max finished cooking the food. Placing it on a few plates he spread it out before sitting down himself. He was thinking of the right way to say some things.

"I would burn everything outside the Milky Way to protect Earth. That is my ultimate stance." Max said seriously. Cheetah and Morgen froze in shock. The others didn't quite understand really. "i would shut off outside dimensions as well. Leaving Earth protected at any cost."

"That.. is.." Cheetah leaned back in her chair.

"You are a monster." Morgen said it with no problem. "Your an Earthist."

"Earthist?" Claire asked.

"It means Earth comes first. I am an extremist if you look furthur into the different levels of it." Max smiled not caring if they disapproved. "Upset?"

"Nope." Selina answered after thinking about it. She spoke first since she new Max the longest out of everyone present. "Earth is at the mercy of outside forces. We need protection. Our tech level is low compared to others immediately outside our galaxy."

"Even within. The Martians both green and white beat us tech-wise. Their Empire has fallen but still." Claire added in. She spent a lot of time reading over the enemies Earth face that Max kept in his library. "We won't take a giant leap until after the first invasion. And that is by.. Darkseid."

"It has changed. It may be by the Amazons if things are not done correctly." Max said. He fixed his food into a sandwich and was about to take a bite when Jonah gave him a strange look. "What is it?"

"You have been advancing the tech of Earth slowly. But more time spent on cutting down crime and fixing areas. Why is that?"

"To many people that can fix the problems we face are killed or broken into something terrible."

"Like me." Claire said. She knew a few bits and pieces from what Max had told her. But the fact she was trained into a government assassin made her choices justified. She did not plan on going that route. "Selina is not from what i can tell. But... Pamela and Harleen are." She gave a shrug. It was just a guess on her part.

"Correct. So far, Pamela is on a good path to following her dreams. just will take a good bit to keep her on that route. But I believe you and Selina are doing a great job on her and Harleen." Max finally bit into his food.

-A few hours later-

Max was in his study cultivating the curse. Stripping of everything it was gave him new insights on it. He could feel Aphrodite glance at him. Due to the protections in place she couldn't look through. Max created a mirror and peered back into it.

"Hello, little Dite. Still causing problems?" Max said. his voice was only slightly disguised to one the goddess would recognize. It was mostly his adult voice anyway. "Are the others "asleep" right now?"

"You can not be here? How are you here? and why can I not see your face?" Aphrodite asked intrigued.

"I live here now. It has been a very long time. I will not say how I got here. Just know we are on good terms for now. Tell your father to visit when he wakes up. I want to talk with him." Max couldn't get over how she had not age aa single bit. Then again, her powers would keep her looking like the best version of herself. To the observer of course. "A young woman suits you just perfect. So much promise as well as traces of innocence."

"Humph! we both that is not true at all." With a wave of her hands, she removed the magic around herself. Covering herself in a veil to keep Max from seeing what she looked like. "Since will not show yourself, I will not either." Max could here the pout in her voice. He left it alone to not cause problems."

"So... I need something from you." Max said seriously. Aphrodite's eyes lit up with mischief. 'I might regret this...'