American Comics: The Strongest Villain

Not many people knew Bruce Wayne was Batman, but the three in the hospital ward did. As Bruce walked in with a somber expression, Su Sheng chuckled lightly.

"You came just in time. Saves me the trouble of going to the Batcave to find you. Where's Harley?"

Bruce's voice was low and tense. "You want me to let her go?"

When he heard Su Sheng had come to visit Barbara, Bruce rushed over. He wasn't sure what Su Sheng was planning, but he had to be here.

"Is there another option?" Su Sheng grinned. "Are you really not going to let her go?"

Bruce's tone grew colder. "You're threatening me?"

Su Sheng laughed. "I've threatened you plenty before. No need to act all serious. Just let her go, and I'll get Barbara back on her feet."

Both Bruce and Barbara spoke at the same time, incredulous. "You can get her walking again?"

"Her injuries are severe, beyond what modern medicine can handle," Bruce said, scrutinizing Su Sheng's face. "If you can do it, name your price."

"Tsk, tsk." Su Sheng waved his hand dismissively. "I don't need your money. I'm not short on cash. But let's be honest. You don't have her in your custody, do you?"

Bruce remained stone-faced. "She's too dangerous. I handed her over to..."

"Amanda Waller," Su Sheng finished the sentence.

Bruce nodded. He was used to Su Sheng's uncanny ability to know things.

"So, this is part of the Suicide Squad's plan, isn't it? Not just Harley—there must be others, like Deadshot or someone similar." Su Sheng chuckled. "Fine. Just bring her back."

"This isn't possible," Bruce replied firmly. Even if he wanted to, Amanda Waller now had Harley, and extracting her from Waller's custody wouldn't be easy.

Su Sheng sighed dramatically. "Must I always threaten you for things to go my way? It gets old, you know. Fine, I'll handle it. Just make sure to let me know when she's back."

With that, Su Sheng opened his palm, and a shockwave wormhole appeared in an instant.

He glanced at Catwoman, smirked, and stepped through, disappearing from the room along with her and Barbara Gordon.

Catwoman blinked in surprise when they emerged. She had expected to return to the Birds of Prey base but found herself surrounded by endless yellow sand.

"A desert?" she muttered.

Su Sheng led them toward a ship that was parked nearby—the Disciple, a sleek time-traveling vessel. The hatch opened, and Su Sheng carried Barbara onboard with Catwoman trailing behind, still perplexed.

"Gideon, scan her and see if her injuries can be repaired," Su Sheng ordered as they entered the medical bay.

"Of course, Mr. Su Sheng," replied the AI, Gideon, as it began the scan.

"This is your spaceship? The one you use to travel through time?" Catwoman asked curiously. "Where did you go last time?"

Su Sheng chuckled, turning to look at her. "I went to another world."

Catwoman's instincts kicked in, and she took a step back, sensing something off in Su Sheng's demeanor.

"What are you looking at?" she asked defensively.

Su Sheng's smile widened. "You were pretty bold, slapping me earlier. Enjoyed it, did you?"

"Who wouldn't, with the way you act!" Catwoman shot back.

"Oh, I see. I've been too lenient, huh?" Su Sheng mused. "Forgotten what it's like to face the Big Bad, have you?"

Before Catwoman could react, Su Sheng was already in front of her. In one swift move, he grabbed her and pressed her against the wall.

Thwack!

The sound of a sharp slap echoed through the ship, followed by Catwoman's groan of pain.

"You—!" she started to protest, but another slap cut her off.

"This is for hitting me."

Another slap.

"And for shooting me."

Her face flushed, burning with humiliation. She struggled, but it was no use.

"Do you still dare?" Su Sheng's voice was mocking as he landed another slap.

After dozens of strikes, Catwoman finally gave in, breathless and blushing. "I-I won't... dare anymore..."

Satisfied, Su Sheng released her. Catwoman slid to the floor, glaring at him with a mixture of anger and confusion. Nearby, Barbara watched in shock, memories of her own past encounters with Su Sheng flashing through her mind. When his eyes flicked toward her, she tensed, fear clear on her face.

"Gideon, what's the result?" Su Sheng asked, ignoring the tension in the room.

"Miss Barbara Gordon's injuries are severe and difficult to heal, even with future medical technology," Gideon reported.

Barbara's face fell as her last hope seemed to disappear.

"Is there really no way?" Catwoman, despite her own recent ordeal, couldn't help but ask. Harley Quinn's actions had destroyed Barbara's life, and even she hoped for a way to undo the damage.

Su Sheng smiled. "Gideon's talking about conventional medical treatment. But there are other methods."

Barbara's eyes lit up. "What do you mean? Can you help me walk again?"

"I have an idea," Su Sheng replied. "There's no guarantee it will work, but I'll find a way to help you stand up and walk again."

His confidence was clear. With advanced Kryptonian technology and other resources from the future, Su Sheng knew it wasn't impossible to give Barbara her mobility back. Even if the road was long, he had a plan.