Chapter Twenty Seven

Kara felt satisfaction watching the decisive win against Darkseid's forces. The invading army of Apokolips was now in a full retreat heading towards the ancient tomb in a mad dash attempt to salvage their rapidly depleting numbers by regrouping at the base. Kara knew the battle was far from over but she still had to smile at such a sight.

Then something that turned the tides of the war happened instantaneously... a small green stone was sent through the still gaping boom-tube portal, and directly into the hands of one of the Furies, Mad Harriet. The witch laughed triumphantly as she held up the crystalline stone that emitted pulsing green radiation. This was the material that could weaken any Kryptonian and with long term and high-levels of exposure to green rock can even result in fatality.

Even from the distance that Kara stood, she could feel the stone sapping away at her energy. She had read about the way 'Kryptonite' seemed to rob her cousin's energy away from him, on her web searches of his escapades since the time she had landed on earth. But still, she never truly understood what kind of horrible sickness such a small insignificant rock could make her feel?

Kara had spent most of her life in a world where she lived much like a human. So, the effects of physical exertion, though rare to her people, was something she had experienced a time or two. Due to the advanced technology and medical science physical exertion was a rarity, but still, Kara had played games with other Kryptonians' and the 'physical demand' was a requirement in such games.

When the green rock came into her range, she felt that same demand almost like she had been working all day, and she felt an overwhelming need to vomit out her dinner. And yet, Kara was fifty meters away from the stone! Kara couldn't believe Kryptonite was so readily available, even after Clark was gone from this world for such a long time.

Within moments of its appearance, Clark was on the ground gasping for breath. He was closer to the rock than she was, and Kara could guess how much the sickness would multiply at his proximity. The green stone's pulsing light was a beacon to everyone around. Suddenly the battle around Clark seemed to stop and a path was opened up between Mad Harriet and Superman which was already on his knee's gasping for breath.

With a smirk on her nasty face, she sent a quick kick onto Clark's chest sending the older man tumbling backward and then finally laying on his back in a defeated heap. Slowly Mad Harriet approached the indomitable juggernaut and laid the pulsing rock on his chest and the green-clad woman stomped her small foot down on Clark's grimacing face. The most powerful fighter had been taken completely out of the battle… And there was nothing she or Diana could do to stop it. She couldn't even get close!

With Clark out of the picture, Diana was soon pinned down by the Parademon army that had just been running for their lives in an unsightly panic. Then the two remaining Furies, Stompa and Lashina began to turn their eyes on the lone blonde in white.

As the green rock glowed in the darkened sky, all hell began to fall down on the three most powerful heroes on this lone island.

---

Angela had lost her attackers, but unfortunately, she had gotten turned around and couldn't seem to right herself. It didn't help much that the lighting was pitch. Every step she made she felt she might trigger another trap or alert another patrol. She started moving slower willing her vision to adjust and for her feet to be light, but what she feared still happened. She was surrounded.

Four androids seemed to materialize from nowhere and if that wasn't bad enough the creatures that she had lost earlier decided this was the perfect time to make themselves known. On the bright side... If there was one, the lights came on. Now at the least, she could see her surroundings... and the things that were lining up to kill her.

Two of the androids were fire types while the other two were wind types. Thankfully the room was large enough to get some distance between her and the mechanical death dealers. Shooting off a grapple she zipped into the rafters of the tall ceiling and attempted to fall into the shadows, where her abilities were most useful.

She hadn't thought the creatures could fly, however, and she found herself outmatched by their raw power and maneuverability. The dark-clad girl tried to block the strikes but the blade-like claws kept finding their way past her guard. Only her little bit of power she was granted from her mother kept her from getting fatal injuries but didn't save her from the pain.

The wind and fire seemed to collide and morph into a tornado causing the air in the room to turn into a furnace. Though, she didn't have the time to notice with the momentary blindness caused by the sudden flash. Simultaneously, a clawed hand cut straight like her defense as though it wasn't even there. The strike went through her ribs and ripping out the other side of her back, severing her spine in a shower of blood.

Like a rag-doll, she tumbled out of the rafters hitting a large column on the way down below only to crack her skull against the unyielding stone floor. the very edge of the extended wind blade cuts through her side, cutting open a wound that's at least three inches deep and bleeding profusely.

---

After Dick asked the question, he suddenly got a message on his commlink from a very frustrated Kara. The beast's outside the fortress had somehow gotten their hands-on Kryptonite, she couldn't get close and Diana was pinned down.

To top it all off their aircraft were rendered useless by a tirade of creatures, two were still semi-functional and were in a stand-by mode beneath the surface of the sea but their weapon systems were down. Their only uses at the moment were, escape and… distraction.

He was too close to Bruce to turn back now, and he doubted he would be much use even if he did. His thought process was interrupted by Jon seemingly overhearing the battlefield report.

"You said my Dad is out there?"

"Jon, don't get distracted. He is a version of your father, yes. But…" Barry started to attempt to talk him out of it, placing a hand on Jon's shoulder.

The younger man stepped back from the older man with a scowl on his face, "Uncle Barry, I know. But if we don't do anything! …" The fight he was having internally was apparent on his face and Barry seemed to decide to give in.

"Ok son, I understand." Turning to Dick he nodded. "We will back up the front line and you find your father. I hope this goes without saying but… We will do what we can, but if it's a losing battle we won't put our lives on the line."

Feeling the need to rub his eyes, Dick nodded. In a whirlwind of speed and a flash of light, both Jon and Barry were gone and Dick was left alone once again.

---

Managing to knock Ducan's blade out of his reach the two men stood only a few meters apart. Their forms were near perfect, within moments each would be a force to be reckoned with but they stood perfectly still without moving a muscle. Both eyeing the other for weakness. Terry had already broken the older man's wrist and shattered a few of his ribs, but Ducan had been wounded worse before and had still come out the victor… he wasn't planning on giving up now either.

The feel of battle was brewing, mounting on their scent's and suddenly Ducan edges his foot inward and sprung towards Terry in a swift punch. To anyone else that would have been watching, Ducan's punch would have looked like an instantaneous flash but to Terry's eyes, it was slow. Guessing it to be a feint, Terry quickly dodged out of the way.

He was right. Ducan wasn't planning on fighting fair, without his sword and a crippled arm he was outclassed. With a click of a mechanism in his shoe, a blade protruded out the topmost sole of his boots. He slashed towards. Luckily for the young Batman, he anticipated the deception. Terry felt as if Ducan was holding back, attempting to make him fall into a false sense of security and then striking. Flipping out of the range of White Ghost's insidious attacks, Terry steadied himself and glowered at the underhanded man in front of him.

Smirking at Terry, Ducan retrieved his sword from where Terry had kicked it earlier. Terry had to end this soon, if he didn't, he knew he might be on the losing end next time.

In a rare coincidence, the pair moved at the same time, deciding that their next moves were going to be their final. The space between them was quickly consumed as they darted towards each other in a surge.

---

Completely bound by the numerous Parademons, Diana watched as Clark and Kara were subdued by their most powerful weakness... Kryptonite. She knew as it stood, they would fail to rescue Bruce and likely lose their lives if the current situation continued. She had been hesitating for a while in doing the only action that she knew would save everyone here, just because she wanted Bruce's permission. But if they all died now that would be for nothing.

She knew she was in love with Bruce Wayne and was certain he also had strong feelings for her as well, but Diana never wanted to take someone else's choice away. Spending the last several months with Bruce and Terry has taught her something though. Bruce has many ways of displaying his feelings towards someone other than words. Truth be told, he hardly ever uses words to convey his emotions, just his actions or inactions.

Although, as a woman, she wanted to hear him say how he felt, she could also read between the lines and she doubted that Bruce would be opposed. If for some reason, he did... there were ways to negate her next words. Hoping he didn't misunderstand her intentions, Diana hesitating a moment more, before calling out the name that would bind them... "HERA!"

In an instant, a beautiful woman appeared in front of her. She wore a long white Greek peplos (long tunic) with part of the tunic folded down over the belt to make it appear as if it was two pieces of clothing. Hera was majestic, solemn, crowned with golden polo (a high cylindrical golden crown) on her blonde head, signifying her place among the gods as Queen.

Hera's appearance seemed to confuse many of the Parademons, but many didn't mind her appearance in the slightest on the battlefield, some saw just the goddess as another enemy and attacked. The few that did seemed to freeze in place, then disintegrated. At least this seemed to make the other creatures hesitate. Although they didn't advance further, they also didn't retreat.

"See, Diana. If you had accepted my husband's offer, you too wouldn't be overwhelmed by the folly either." Her prideful tone made Diana want to gnash her teeth,

Outwardly, Diana didn't show her irritation of the woman in front of her. In spite of how she felt about the goddess, she needed her to complete the ceremony.

"Alas, I do not wish to escape this mortal coil, just yet. I still feel the need to protect this world and if I accepted godhood, then my hands would be bound… and I cannot let all good in this world end." Diana knew needed to speak carefully. This woman was dangerous, in more than one way. She was already a blot to her husband's indiscretion. There was no need to add another enemy to her already growing list.

Turning her golden eyes on the dark-haired princess, the goddess asked, "Then, what pray-tell have you called me here this day? I am not a war goddess, and will not grant you victory. You should call Artemis, she seems to have already taken a liking to your son… Oops, I wasn't supposed to say anything about that…"

When she mentioned the words 'your son' it was possibly the hardest thing she had ever done not to lunge at the woman in aggravation. She should have guessed that the gods had known about Terry for a long time, but if she lost focus now… Bruce would be the loss. Stamping down the thoughts of dragging out the information she wanted from the goddess she decided to let the petty woman know what she needed.

"I want you to bind me… To another."

"…" Whatever the goddess thought she had been asked to come here for… that apparently hadn't been it.

After a few moments the goddess blinked and then spoke tentatively, "You… asked me here… to Wed you?!" The Queen of the gods almost screamed in incredulity.