Chapter 58

"The Justice League might have done good, but they broke the law and they broke their word."

"Yes, they might have broken their word, but they did it for good reason. We would all be dead or worse if the League did not intervene."

"But, the fact that they were operating with such efficiency, indicates that they were working with each other, in secrecy, when they were supposed to be disbanded. They were working far and completely above the law. They were not supposed to exist. They could have compromised the security of the world, and we should act."

The United Nations continued their argument about the Justice League. Most of them appeared miffed about this, some appeared grateful. From the shadows, Lex Luthor watched intently and decided to speak up, clearing his throat.

"The League disbanded rather than face investigation for their actions. They did so under false pretenses, and then started back up as a rogue organization. That is not transparent, my friends. I must wonder what else they are hiding and what else they are doing behind our backs. They could be causing strife in parts of the world. We know what Superman did in Gotham. Who is to say a future incident like that would not happen in your country."

Lex set up a fresh round of argument. Which was stopped by a round of guests. Princess Mareena of Atlantis, Princess Donna of Themyscira, Queen Perdita Vlatava, Nora Darhk representing Biayla, and much to the surprise of Lex and others, Queen Selene of Nova-Roma.

"What are you doing here?"

"This is an assembly of the nations of the world," Mareena said.

"And we feel underrepresented with our voices," Donna replied. "All of you are playing into the hands of some very dangerous people and you are putting your people at risk, and you don't even know it."

"Those are some big accusations, Princess," Lex replied. "Do you have proof?"

"You managed to escape just barely when the Godfreys got taken down, but the world is beginning to realize what a snake you are, Mr. Luthor," Nora said. "And they will understand all of the lies you spoke."

"Really, now, Ms. Darhk, you would go against the official state of your Aunt, the Queen of Biayla, because you have the hots for Superman?" Lex asked.

"Lex, your time is up."

From the shadows, Lena and Emma slipped into the backgate. The very familiar sounds of politicians arguing and not getting anything done, hit Emma. Oh, how she did not miss hearing those sounds. They noticed the man of the hour, in the shadows, just a few rows behind Lex. The two guards near him, Emma was able to guide away for a quick coffee break in the confusion.

"So, there's Lord, and yes, I can see the Starro Tech," Lena said.

"Yes, but it won't be a problem for long," Emma said. "Let's just make his brain overload a tiny bit and force the tech off."

A loud scream from Maxwell Lord disrupted the connection from his brain to the Starro Tech hooked to him. And it also disrupted the connection from his mind, to that of various United Nations members.

Beautiful, beautiful chaos followed as the terror of coming out of a state of mental control over the past couple of months continued. With Emma deciding to do her part in stirring up the mistrust towards Lex.

Apokolips was not a nice place and pretty much no one who had a choice, would want to live there. Various slaves moved around, bent to the will on Darkseid. Parademons and Female Furies alike, ensured that the slaves would do their work for Darkseid, because there was Darkseid and only Darkseid.

Suddenly, things stopped. A portal opened and Grail led Superman in. Beaten, battered, and in chains. Everyone gasped and Mad Harriet started to cackle.

"I caught him arranging an invasion of Apokolips," Grail said. "I gained his trust and when the time was right, I overpowered and overwhelmed him."

Granny Goodness appeared, grinning ear to ear.

"Oh, he wanted to save his dear mother and the rest of the nasty League members, didn't he?" Granny asked. "Well, we should bring him before Great Darkseid. Allow me."

"No," Grail said. "I was the one who captured him. I get the glory."

"Fine, fine, get your moment of gratification from Daddy," Granny snarled.

The Man of Steel had been led past an endless row of slaves. Not blinking, not speaking. Harry groaned and Grail dragged him down to the ground until she brought him right in front of Darkseid who peered down at him. He turned to Desaad who crouched over, in wonder and surprise.

"Sire, perhaps this is a bit too easy?"

"Desaad, scan him," Darkseid said.

Desaad walked over and performed a scan over Superman's body. It registered Kryptonian DNA. He did the same to Grail, just to be certain, because they would have pulled that trick before.

They both came up clean.

"It's him, no Martian treachery, nothing," Desaad said. "You have him to do what you please with him."

Darkseid looked down at Superman with an unsettling smile.

"Earth's last line of defense," Darkseid said. "Broken and at my mercy. And Vandal Savage broke our agreement when creating you as a weapon, to likely launch at me. He is a fool."

"We agree on that," Superman responded.

"Quite," Darkseid said. "You will be shown to the world, beaten, battered, crushed, and as the hope fades from the world, they will only know one thing. Utter despair as their one savior is stopped. Then and only then, will I put them and you out of your misery."

"He should suffer!" Grail yelled. "Personally suffer. He intended to defile me!"

"And the fact you did not get yourself defiled speaks well for you, perhaps you are not as worthless as Kalibak after all," Darkseid said.

Grail's fist tightened around the chain, almost snapping it. That was the highest of insults her father could deliver.

"You've done well to serve."

"I only serve the strongest and the most powerful," Grail said.

"Take him away!"

The Furies and Grail lead Harry away.

"Take him to join the others, perhaps they will lose hope and break faster once they see their one hope has been eliminated," Granny said.

The United Nations pretty much had a breakdown the moment Lord snapped out of his trance. While they were tripping each other with accusations and the shouting match got even louder, Lex rushed out of the United Nations headquarters.

"Mr. Luthor, you should see this."

The moment he had been led into a limo by Otis, Lex saw Apokolips broadcasted on the television screen. Before the world, he saw Superman, tied up and battered by Darkseid and then the man himself turned to the camera.

"People of Earth, for those who do not know me, allow me to introduce myself," he said. "My name is Darkseid. I am your future ruler of the planet. And I'm certain there will be those foolish enough to stand up to me. As you can see, they will be annihilated."

The battered image of Superman was shown, inside of a cell before Darkseid addressed everything.

'This is a culmination of a plan which was centuries in the making. I only waited to see whether or not humanity would rise to a point where they would be of any use. I must say, they were a disappointment to a level which I did not expect. They did not rise, but there is one thing they were useful for."

Lex was already dialing the phone and paying attention. Something about Superman being captured so easily by Darkseid felt off.

It was easy. Too easy.

"You have the Anti-Life equation. It will give me power beyond what any human mind would comprehend."

"You would be surprised what I can comprehend," Lex murmured. "Mercy, get the Thunderbolts ready, it's happening."

The only thing which changed was Lex was pretty sure Darkseid played them and would not work with the Light. Granted, that was more Savage's deal than Lex, but Lex Luthor always had a backup plan.

Still, something was not right. A whole lot was not right.

Everyone watched, including the League Six, as a battered Superman had been moved and thrown in a cell right across from Claire.

"You...you weren't supposed to get captured!" Claire yelled.

"Sticking with the plan," Harry said. "Trust me. I've got this one."

Harry's eyes glowed and his body heated up to warm the entire cold and damp prison. Then, with another eruption, Harry turned into pure energy and caused the cell doors to break. He freed Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Batman, Superwoman, Wonder Woman, and the Martian Manhunter from their cages.

Another portal opened up and Sphere rolled out. Claire just broke out into a smile as the image of Harry faded from inside of the cell.

"We hoped that would be sufficient enough to fool Darkseid's scanners," she said. "And that magic EMP has disrupted the security which would allow me to get onto Apokolips and get you out of here."

"Right," Claire said. "But there's other prisoners….."

"Don't worry, we got a plan," Genesis told them. "Now come to me if you want to live."

The League six left. The Boom Tube opened up and Supergirl, Power Girl, Captain Marvel, and the actual Superman stepped through the portal. And the League members passed through the portal, which they would be given an extensive checkup.

Grail rushed down the hallway to meet them.

"Your plan worked, but they know security is done and everything will be sent to this prison within the next few minutes," Grail said. "It's now or never. You have to go."

"Not without Sam," Harry said. "Or the Rest of the Worldkillers."

"They're in the basement levels," Grail said.

Carol, Kara, and Karen smashed through the floor to give them a very convenient way down to those lower levels. From above, Harry followed.

The sounds of the screams were agonizing, and Harry rushed, with the the trio of lovely blondes following behind him. He hoped they could save them.

"Rao!"

Supergirl's declaration spoke wonders for them. The screams were for an obvious reason. Sam and the other Worldkillers had been strapped into a machine and their powers were being drained. It was being used to power some kind of War Machine and the glowing of energy only increased. Desaad and Granny oversaw it.

Desaad's eyes snapped up.

"Not again!"

Harry backhanded Desaad down with one shot and pulled out the Starlight Crystal. He jammed it into the machine which caused a current of magical energy to overload the machine and jar the Worldkillers loose. They were all weak, but still alive, if only just.

Granny Goodness fumed. She kicked Desaad's body to the side and wrapped her hands around a large rod made of pure energy.

"You trouble making brat! I will make sure you're punished!"

"Yes, you would get along with someone I knew well in a past life," Harry said.

Supergirl flew behind Granny to dodge the attacks. Captain Marvel came down to the top of the head and dodged the attack. Power Girl came from the top and slammed her fist into Granny which sent her flying. And Harry pulled the staff out of her hand and then channeled a blast of energy which knocked her head over heals to the ground.

Slowly, Sam stirred. She crawled over to Harry, over the bodies of the other Worldkillers.

"Harry," Sam murmured. "I….what happened? Is Ruby okay?"

"She's fine," Harry said. "She'll be even better when you're safely out of here."

Harry reached over and pulled up Sam. They would get the others out of there, but Sam could stand. The strongest of them all, her knees buckled from underneath her as Harry passed her off to Carol.

"We have a situation," Genesis said. "I can't open up a boom tube to get you out of here."

Granny broke out into a loud cackling. Kara reached down and grabbed her by the throat before slamming Granny directly into the wall.

"What's so funny, you witch?" Kara demanded.

"Darkseid's elite forces are coming. None of you are leaving. You might have fooled us once, but never again."

The loud sounds of approaching troops caused Karen and Carol to eye each other.

"We're going to have to take all of them out," Karen said.

"And then there's Darkseid," Carol said.

Harry figured as much. Getting on Apokolips was the easy part. Getting off, it was another matter entirely.