Chapter 107 Apprehended
“Home?” Kara's eyes narrowed. Her gut feeling told her that these new arrivals weren't up to anything good.
“You've made a mistake. My home's gone”.
“Hehehehe”. Gilotina chuckled.
“She's cute”. The New God was dressed in particularly revealing white armor. Somehow similar to Wonder Woman with a different design. Her long white hair draped past her shoulders, reaching her back and almost touching her waist.
“Perhaps young one. But that is not what I meant”. Aurelie uttered as she swung her spear in a demonstration.
“We are going to take you to a new home. Where you will serve under his eminence, Lord Darkseid".
“Darkseid!” Kara exclaimed. She definitely knew who Darkseid was.
Amari had explained it to her all too well.
The Cosmic Tyrant and pure personification of the word evil. Ruler of an apocalyptic hellscape.
Her eyes narrowed to a threatening degree.
“Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not going anywhere”.
“Oh? What a shame young one”. She spun her spear skillfully in a show of theatrics.
“I hope it won't disappoint you when you realize that you....... Don't have a choice in the matter”.
Walking forward, she said casually without a speck of caution.
“Bring it on”. Kara's eyes glowed with a dazzling red color.
She flew off the roof in an attempt to look imposing but fell back down the next moment. Her glowing red eyes disappeared, her body was devoid of strength and accompanied by a crippling weakness she hadn't felt for a month plus.
Struggling, the blonde managed to raise her head up with a pale face to behold the cause of her weakness.
As you would expect. A green rock was held within Gilotina's grasp. Glowing with intensify as if mocking her straight in her face.
Kryptonite.
“Cute, strong and feisty. She's a keeper”. Gilotina chuckled again with a teasing smile.
“What's the matter, dear? You didn't really think we would cause a commotion and battle you until you were defeated now, did you?”
Kara gritted her teeth in pain.
Ironically, that was exactly what she expected.
But for people with the right resources, that was nothing but a fool's errand.
“Trust me, I would love to battle you myself”. The white armored warrior bent down and held her by her chin.
“Perhaps, knock some of that grit off you”. She said with a sinister smile before dropping it.
“Unfortunately, you have an acquaintance that makes that possibility a luxury we can't afford”.
“Enough Gilotina". Aurelie, leader of the Furies, spoke out at that moment.
“It's time to leave. We have half of what we came here for”.
Aurelie looked towards the distance warily. The urgency in her tone quite apparent.
..........
“We need your help”.
“For what?”
“To save my world”.
Silence. Amari didn't utter a word, and neither did Superman and his group.
Both sides stared at each other for close to a good minute before Amari shook his head.
“Not interested”. His nonchalance cashed Flash to clench his fists.
“Why?” Bruce didn't react as much.
“Why should I?” Amari countered back.
“You've made a deal with the military before. This should be no different”.
“You're right. It shouldn't be”. Amari nodded and pointed out.
“But I'm not exactly seeing the deal part in this conversation”.
“I see”. Bruce nodded. Then, he threw his gaze back on the foreigner among them. Flash saw the look Batman gave him and knew it was time.
This was the whole point. To get Amari to render them help, they needed to make a deal with him.
Chances are, he wouldn't accept. But on the small chance he did........ He still wouldn't accept, due to the fact they didn't have anything of value. At least...... Not anything they think Amari would want.
And most importantly, the Justice League of this earth wouldn't be paying for it.
Wally took a deep breath. For his world, for his earth, and for the people he cared about. It all boiled down to this moment.
“What do you want that will convince you to help us?”
Hearing this, Amari shook his head.
“With the situation of your world, I doubt there's anything that can interest me”. Amari said his thoughts out loud. It was true. His earth was dry of anything Amari found of interest.
“What about the Helmet Of Fate”. However, Wally's next words made him have to rethink his assumptions.
Amari was surprised. Likewise, Superman and Batman had their expressions change drastically.
“Doctor Fate's helmet?” He couldn't help but ask.
“Our World's version of Doctor Fate. He died. But the helmet still exists”. Wally said solemnly.
Kent Nelson of his world was dead.
The atmosphere was dealt quiet. Bruce fell into deep thought, constantly weighing the scales, while Clark had a frown on his face.
As for Amari, he was thinking.
Many things might not interest him, but the Helmet of Fate wasn't like the others. It served as a receptacle of magical energies in its own right, carrying powers beyond gods, and is considered one of the most powerful artifacts to exist.
In simpler terms, it was a gateway to the energies of a Lord of order. In even simpler terms, it was a giant power bank with huge amounts of energy stored away for use.
There were different versions of doctor Fate across the multiverse. Similarly, there were different Helmets of Fate. Nevertheless, all drew their power from the same source.
Nabu. Or rather, all Helmets of Fate served as a channel for Nabu to take possession of the wielder who served as his agent. Nevertheless, the agent could only use a fraction of his power due to their mortal restrictions.
As a powerful, phenomenal cosmic being with nigh incalculable powers, Nabu's energy reserves were rather vast.
And in Amari's opinion, his actions were idiotic to leave a way to harness his power through the Helmets. This was why Klarion had kidnapped Kent to search for the Helmet when he had the chance.
So Amari was sure he wouldn't mind if he siphoned some of it away. Or...... All of it away.
So all in all, he was interested. However, there was just one..... Tiny flaw in all this.
“I want to know one thing. If your world has a Helmet of Fate, then why not use it yourself after Kent died?”
Hearing this, Flash was silent.
The silence remained for a few seconds when he spoke up again.
"We would have. But “he” took it away after Kent's death. To make sure there was no one capable of posing a real threat to him".
“So you mean, the Helmet is not in your team's possession but in the hands of the enemy?”
Wally revealed a wry smile.
The smile was an answer itself.
“I see........”. Amari's ears twitched. As did Superman's.
Both turned to look in the same direction. Their eyes quickly locking onto their target.
The sound of a structure crumbling to pieces fell into their ears.
The Eiffel Tower was falling apart.
Seeing this, Clark didn't hesitate. His figure flashed towards the crumbling structure in an attempt to stabilize it.
Amari however, didn't move yet. His eyes were fixed on another point. The point where he just came from.
Following which, his body disappeared at a speed surpassing the baked eye. Then, he reappeared on the top of the building he previously sat on with a Kara.
She was gone.
The person there, however, was a beautiful woman with dark red irises, long red hair and dressed in a green battle suit.
Her expression was solemn and carried a firm look of determination and readiness. Her posture was one where she was ready to spring into action the moment she was on the receiving end of an attack.
He knew her. More than that, he had seen her before. Nevertheless.....
“And who might I ask should you be?”
Before anything went down, introductions were basic etiquette.
“Aurelie. Member of my world's Elite strike force. Leader of his eminence, Darkseid's Furies and New God of Apokolips". Her face was particularly solemn.
“And Lord Darkseid requests your presence”. Aurelie uttered with a hard stare. She looked forward unblinkingly, but her inner mind wasn't as peaceful as her countenance portrayed it to be.
This wasn't a request. Rather, it was a demand.
Darkseid ordered her and her Furies to capture the New God ad return him to Apokolips. But she would be darned to actually put it like that when finding herself in her circumstances.
For all she knew, Amari could simply decide to crush her in a fit of rage.
Nevertheless, she knew what she meant and she was sure he did too. Changing the words wouldn't make it any better.
This was why she decided not to go up with a direct, forceful assault. She knew that course of action was doomed the moment she laid eyes on him.
They would achieve nothing and their deaths would be for nothing as well.
“Let me guess then”. His calm, smooth voice fell into her ears.
“Something will happen to Kara if I don't”.
“Yes. And I'm the only one who can get you there”.
This was Aurelie's plan. Call it cringe and stupid and possibly unlikely to work, but it was the only chance they had. At least, it was the only chance they had that she knew of.
So she let her team take away the Kryptonian while she remained here to deliver those few words to make their intent known. If he cared for the blonde, then he would go to Apokolips to save her. As long as he did, the situation would no longer be their problem. And if he didn't....... They could only report their failure to Darkseid and await a gruesome punishment. Or worse, death.
That aside, no matter the result, she herself would most likely die here. She was here to let him know who was responsible, where he should go and the way to get him there.
Apokolips resided outside the DC multiverse. Entry into it was only possible Via Boomtubes. Or perhaps, entities with strong dimensional travel abilities.
Amari would need her to save the Kryptonian.
Meaning, she had cut off her own chances of escape.
This was a gamble. One done with her life.
If Amari decided to kill her, then she would go down fighting. Dying a worthy death at best.
Nevertheless, Aurelie cared little. At least...... It would be better to die like this than to go back to receive the vile abuses of Willik.
Before she could respond, Amari interrupted.
“Great. Now that we've gotten that out of the way......”.
His words came to a halt and his eyes glowed.
..........
The moment the Eiffel Tower came crumbling down, Barda and Stompa immediately opened a boom tube to leave.
This operation didn't require them to battle with the Earth inhabitants.
The destruction of the Tower was to serve as a distraction for Superman, so Aurelie would have her chance to speak with Amari alone.
Following which, they would make their exit.
........
With a loud whirring sound, the boom tube opened on an abandoned planet in an unknown Star Sector.
Two figures appeared, stepping out of the Portal which closed behind them. Gilotina walked forward with elegance and Grace while holding a Kryptonite rock in her hands.
Not far from her was the fully armed Mad Harriet who had a human figure hung over her shoulder.
“Oh! Done already?” Lashina sat on a giant rock, looked up and asked with a nonchalant tone.
For the capture of the Supergirl, she wasn't the least bit surprised.
“Yep. Quite easy really. This rock is more useful than you could imagine”. Gilotina replied to which, both Lashina and Mad Harriet chuckled at.
Apparently, neither were they.
Thud!
Kara was thrown to the floor with no care whatsoever.
Lashina couldn't help but lean over.
“Well, she's a pretty one. Will make a good addition”.
“You think so too, huh?" Their words were interrupted by the opening of another boom tube. The large Stompa and Bid Barda stepped out as well.
She nodded slightly, seeing the pale looking Supergirl in their possession.
“And Aurelie?” No one replied to her.
The plan was clear to all of them. Aurelie as the leader had taken on the responsibility of being the one left behind.
“She said if she doesn't return in ten minutes, we should go on without her”. Lashina's voice was heavy.
They knew that the possibility of Aurelie making it back alive was slim. Next to nothing really.
Their minds couldn't help but wander. Recently, Aurelie was receiving special treatment from Willik. Better gear, better missions, extra special training....... At that time, they all thought that Aurelie was paving the way for herself only.
Somehow, she had managed to get into Willik's good graces yet wasn't making way for the rest of them. They didn't know how or the inside matter behind it..... Or rather, they didn't dare to imagine what was actually happening, but truthfully, they were pissed.
Now, they couldn't help but feel a touch of emotion. They were warriors, but they were also sisters.
No matter how bad things were with each other, that would be hard to change. And now, one of them.......
Their thoughts were interrupted by a giant crack opening a distance away from them.
“What the.....?”
A black Silhouette shot out of the crack faster than they could react. Gilotina and Harriet, who were too close to each other, bore the brunt of it.
The two women were knocked far away with the Gilotina losing her grip on the Kryptonite.
Crash!
Three figures plunged into the soil of a foreign desert planet.
Amari stepped through the space crack and took a good look at his surroundings.
“Seriously?” Amari was surprised.
“You didn't run to Apokolips but thought staying here would be far enough?”
The faces of the other three changed.
They couldn't believe it. He actually followed them here.