Author’s Note:  OH MY GOD!!!!!  MUCHO THANKS TO MY FRIEND ZELDAAAAAA!!!  You could almost call her a co-creator to this!  I had the basic idea for this, but I needed help with it!  And through a HUGE RPG that she and I did after matching them to gods of mythology, we designed exactly how they operate and everything.  THANK YOU again, Zelda!!!

            Oh yeah!  If I mention just a character name, that means their suit is identical to the one that they currently have in the DCU (as of early 2001 months, ‘round Feb. and March).  I will list differences, promise!

 

Legalities:  Original concepts of characters belong to their creators, what’s been done to them is the fault of myself and Zelda.

 

Rating:  R for language and goriness.  (Goriness was decided by Zel and I, but I like cussing sometimes, so nyah!)  Also sexual situations!

 

Continuum:  Elseworld!!

 

===========================================================

 

The Key

 

 

Chapter One

 

PURGATORY

 

By:  Carmen Wayne

 

            Screaming of pain and agony filled the blackened air.  Dead trees covered the barren landscape, forming a theme that frightened many.  One, solitary path of light gray weaved through this forest.  One walking along it would remain untouched by the creatures that roamed, but would often find one of their victims pinned to walls, trees or fences.  Anyone within could not die, not easily, for they were not just common mortals.

            A man casually paced down the gray path, emotionless in face.  He wore a suit of metallic, dark blue material and a dark red ‘S’ on his chest.  A long, dark red cape trailed behind him.  The man strutted off the path and walked to part of a brick wall that was standing, the rest of it rubble.  Pinned to it as a younger man clad in black with robin’s egg blue designs streaking across his chest.  His black hair, streaked with dark blue, was matted down by sweat, and blood.  His hands were pinned apart by barbed wire and his suit was torn and slashed, blood freshly trailing down.

            “My, my,” the first man said mockingly.  “How the mighty have fallen.”

            “Fuck off, Superman,” the young man sneered, unable to lift his head.

            Superman chuckled at the attitude.  He lifted the man’s head and looked at his cut up face.

            “Such language, Nightwing.  Especially from you!  I thought Bruce raised you better.”

            He placed a hand on a large gash on Nightwing’s head and his hand lit in blue.  Nightwing gritted his teeth, feeling the wound begin to heal.

            “Why are you here?” he asked.

            “Well, see, I have this little dilemma.  Diana is just so upset because she can’t find Donna!  And we know that you, being her best friend and leader of the team she’s part of, should have some clue, hmm?”

            “Yeah,” Nightwing said, snickering.  “Like I’ll tell you.”

            Superman placed his hand on another gash, the one from before now glowing robin egg blue as he had triggered Nightwing’s body to start healing him.

            “I don’t get you, Dick.  You have abilities beyond the common man, and yet you feel you should be on their level.  Why?”

            “Two eyes, two ears, hands, arms, chests…  We all look the same.”

            “This doesn’t answer my question, Dick.”  Superman let out an exasperated sigh.  ”Where is Donna?”

            Nightwing sneered at him and spit in his face.

            “I’m not telling you, so go jerk off on Diana or Barbara!”

            Superman kept his composure as he wiped the spit off his face.

            “Why when I have Cassandra?”

            “YOU SICK—“

            “Heheh.”

            Nightwing started struggling with the barbed wire binds and leaned forward to get into Superman’s face.

            “Why don’t you untie me and say that AGAIN?!” he hollered.

            “Why don’t you make me?” Superman replied blandly.

            “Son of a—“

            “When you’re ready to cooperate, and tell us what we want to know, we’ll let you go,” Superman said.  “Until then…”

            There was a loud roar in the distance, fast approaching.  Nightwing’s eyes widened, knowing what that meant.  Superman waved tauntingly.  In a bolt of blue lightning, he vanished from sight to leave Nightwing to his torture.

 

****

 

            In the dreary streets of London, clubbers and shoppers walked in their every day rush.  A young man stood at the edge of an alley way, watching as they walked past him.  His black hair and tan skin caused his bright brown eyes to stand out more than anything.  He wore a dark green shirt and knuckle guards, black cargo pants and boots complimenting them.  He was obviously waiting for the arrival of a certain someone.

            ‘Thirty minutes late…’ he thought, staring up at Big Ben.  ‘Hope everything’s okay, but I can only wait ten minutes longer…’

            Across the cobblestone street, near a restaurant, a robed figure peered out.  The all-concealing robe was black, but shimmered with silver.  The person scanned the streets, until the man across from the person came into view.  The person folded their hands together under the bell sleeves as they carefully sprinted across the street, around people and cars.

            The man saw the person and stood straight, beginning to breathe harder in anticipation.

            “I didn’t think you’d make it…” he said.

            “I’m so sorry, Kyle…” the feminine voice said.

            The robe seemed to melt away to drape over the woman’s shoulders, and clasp down below her upper chest with a single silver object.  Now, it revealed her skirt and lace-up top that matched the robe in color.  Her silver highlighted, black hair was pulled back in a pony tail.  Kyle Rayner touched her shoulder, trying to breathe normal as he stared at that hand.

            “Donna… Donna, I’ve—“

            Donna Troy placed a finger to his lips.  He looked up at her, hurt in his eyes.  Donna wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him into a kiss.  Kyle returned it full force, bringing her as close to his body as possible.  Donna let out a slight cry into his mouth as tears fell from her shut eyes.  Kyle pulled away a few inches and looked at her, concerned.  He gently wiped the tears from her eyes.

            “Donna… you’re shaking… why don’t you give yourself to Kal?” he asked, almost pleading.

            “And suffer the fate of my teammates?” she whispered.  “No.”  She pulled away from him, shaking her head.  “I love them dearly, Dick, Roy, Garth…  But Kyle, you know I have to do what I must.  What you help them do… You used to be one of us!”

            “I merely saw we were better than them,” Kyle said, waving a hand out to the passers-by.

            “We are not!” Donna cried out.  “Just because we’re so much more stronger does not give us the right…. We should be protecting them, not doing what you and your stupid LEAGUE does!”

            “Donna…  I love YOU, and only you—“

            “And I love you, but my emotions can’t get in the way of this.  You hear me?!  These people NEED me!” she screamed, gesturing around.  She shoved him into the brick wall behind him, her blue eyes blazing into an angry red aura.  “And no matter how much I want to have you near me, have you TOUCH me, I have a duty to stand up to you and your bastard LEAGUE!”

            Kyle lit up in bright green.  When it faded, he was the Green Lantern.  His mask covered his face, but also went back to form ram-like horns.  His teeth had turned to fangs and his fingers were claws.

            People saw the display and immediately cleared the streets, knowing what it meant.  The Lantern circled Donna AKA Troia, ready for any more attacks, but not ready to deliver his own.

            “I won’t fight you!”

            “You won’t have a choice!  Tell me, Kyle, what’s the REAL reason you haven’t turn me in to the JLG?  Hmm?”

            “I don’t know, maybe because I LOVE you?!”

            “You know, you KNOW!  This hurts me!  The sacrifices, the rituals… when you were with us, you were a heavenly, romantic man…  Caring and compassionate.  But the MOMENT Diana and Kal-El offered you a spot on the panel, you changed into a ruthless son of a bitch!”

            “Mortals don’t matter in any way except entertainment.  And if they worship us, we protect them!”

            Troia spun away, rubbing her head.

            “I’m not HEARING this!” she exclaimed.

            The Lantern gripped her arm from behind.

            “Dammit, Donna…”

            Troia spun around, eyes flaring even more.  Her fist lit up in bright silver a second before she socked him across the jaw.

            “DON’T TOUCH ME!!!” she screamed.  She elbowed him in the head with all her strength, knocking him into the wall again.  “Kyle Rayner… Green Lantern… Hiruko… What EVER.  I love you, but until you stop this ego-trip, it’s over.”

            She turned away and in a swirl of silver glitter, she was gone.  The Lantern sneered a little, hurt and angered.

            ‘Then it’s over,’ he thought, thoroughly ready to kill someone.  ‘The JLG is too important to spare for you, princess.’

 

****

 

            The cathedral of Notre Dame stood tall and gothic over all who passed by it.  Lights and torches lit it up, giving it an even more intimidating look.  Down below it, a teenage boy sprinted down the street, holding the hand of a young girl child.  Both had black hair and blue eyes (except his hair had green streaks in it).  The teenage boy wore brown utility pants and a white T-shirt.  The girl wore her hair in a French twist, and had on green overalls and T-shirt.

            The boy stopped when they were in front of the main cathedral doors and dropped down in front of the 4 year old.

            “Lian… when you go in there, you CAN’T show them, or tell them what you are, got it?” he asked.

            “Mmmhmm,” Lian Harper said, nodding.  She teared up a little.  “Timmy, how long am I gonna be there?”

            She gestured at Notre Dame.  Timothy Drake sighed and hugged her.

            “You stay there until either I, Cassandra, or your father come for you, okay?”

            “B-But… you guys can’t enter!”

            “We’ll find a way, princess.  We always do.”  He pulled from her and stood, leading her to the doors.  “You go in there and plead Sanctuary from JLG and they’ll give it to you.”

            “’kay…”

            Tim touched the door and it opened up just enough for Lian to enter.

            “I’ll see you later, Lian.”

            “Be careful, please?”

            Without waiting, she entered the cathedral.  Tim watched as she went to find a priest.  He let out a sorrowful sigh and shut the door by simply moving his hand outwards.  He turned to leave, but gasped.

            Standing before him was the Batman.  His glowing white eyes stood out bright since the rest of his entire face was covered in black material.  The suit he wore was ribbed and caged that gave him a multi-shaded black look.  His cape seemed to disappear into the pavement’s shadows.

            “Hello, Timothy.  Smart to bring the daughter of a Titan to a cathedral of the One-God,” he said in a dark voice.

            “Anubis…” Tim whispered.

            “Oh, please, you can call me Bruce.”

            “No, that’s okay!”

            In a split second, he slammed into Batman hard, knocking him backwards.  He shoved his way through him and sprinted away.  Batman faded into the shadows…

            Tim continued running down the dark streets, panicked.  As he crossed under a street light, he was almost convinced that Batman wasn’t going to give chase, until the man dropped from the shadows above the street light and landed in front of him.  Tim skidded to a stop and crashed to the ground.  Before he could have Batman act upon the situation, he vanished in a display of a red and gold explosion.  Batman’s eyes slanted as he grinned under the face mask.

            “Bad, bad boy.”

            With a swirl of black clouds and a flash of silver lightning, he too vanished from the street.

 

****

 

            A teenage girl paced back and forth in a large area, nervous.  It was a gray and black temple, with a risen pathway that led from a huge doorway far back, clear to a sort of altar that spanned the entire front of the temple.  That is where she paced.  Her blonde hair was left to hang at her shoulders.  She wore a black midriff with a ‘W’ symbol on it with a ‘G’ to the side.  She had a blue mini skirt and thigh-high boots that had stars running down the sides of them.

            ‘Oh God… Oh God… if they find Donna, it’s over…’ she thought, panicked.

            There was a soft flutter and a flash of blue behind her.  She turned to see a teenage boy standing there.

            “Superboy!” she exclaimed.  “What did you find out?!”

            “Wonder Girl…  Cass…  I can’t even access the Black Realm beyond Purgatory,” he sighed.  “J’onn, Arthur, Bart and Anita are *stuck* there.  Whatever spell Donna used on the gate, it’s stronger than even Kal, Diana or Bruce.”

            Cassie Sandsmark’s eyes closed and she let out a ragged sigh.

            “Poor Bart… poor Anita…  But I know Donna had no choice.”

            Kon-El touched her cheek.  She opened her eyes and locked them with his.

            “Cassandra, I have something I need to tell you…”

            “Yes?”

            “It’s about you and m—“

            There was a flash of red and gold.  Cassie gasped and Kon held her protectively as they turned.  From the light fell Tim, who was bleeding from gashes on his arms.  Cassie cried out and ran to him.  She lifted him into her arms and kissed his cheek lightly.

            “Timothy…  Timothy, what happened?” she asked, eyes welling with tears.

            “I-I… I wasn’t fast enough… Wally… he caught me… Bruce… he… he…”

            “Shh…”

            Cassie gently brushed his lips with hers as she took each of his hands in hers.  She closed her eyes and immediately the gashes lit in bright gold from her magic.  Kon, standing off in the same place as before, sneered a little.

            “Look, Kyle and I are due to play some golf.”

            He rolled his eyes, noticing they weren’t paying attention.  A gentle spiral of blue streamers formed around him, and then he was gone.

            Tim’s head dropped back as Cassie’s powers continued to run through him.  He let out a faint moan and clasped her hands tighter.

            “Cass…” he said weakly.  “Don’t… don’t stop…”

            “It’ll be okay, love…” she whispered.  “You’ll be better soon…”

            He arched back and moaned again.  Cassie’s eyes rolled into the back of her head as she began to concentrate the powers more on alleviating the pain, and also bringing pleasure into his every vein.  Finally, after a long moment passed, she released his hands and the gold replaced with the reddish gold magic of his own, running along the gashes as they healed.  He leaned into her and held onto her.

            “I don’t deserve a girl like you,” he said.  “Always doing things for me…”

            “You do it for me, when I need it…”

            “Kon would never do that.”

            “Yes he would…”  She stroked his cheek gently and held him.  Her eyes wandered around the large temple.  “If only he could see why we’re in league with the Titans and not the JLG…”  She pulled him up so she could look him in the eyes.  “The ceremony is in an hour, their worshippers will be here soon.  And as I recall… you owe me a little gift?” she asked.

            Tim grinned a little, but then winced.

            “Can we wait until my arms can wander a little more?” he asked.

            Cassie chuckled and nodded.

            “Anything for you, wuss.”

            “I am so not a wuss.  I just got whupped by Batman.”

            “You stub your toe and you whine.”

            “I don’t need this abuse.”

 

****

 

            “FOUR!”

            A golf ball launched into the air.  Just as it was about to hit the green, it itself lit in a flaming green light and slammed into the hole, smoldering.  Superboy hauled off and decked the Green Lantern in the arm.

            “No powers, you asshole!” he yelled.

            “Ow!  Hey!  Look, gimme a break, okay?” the Lantern asked.

            “HELL no.  Mannn, what’s wrong with you, Hiruko?”

            The Lantern twirled his club and shrugged his shoulders.

            “Anticipation of the ceremony in five, I guess.  And thinking about J’onn and Arthur.  Poor guys, all stuck in the Black Realm.”

            Superboy shrugged.

            “No offense, dude, but I’m far more concerned over Anita and Bart.”

            “Pshah, WHY?”

            “Why?!  Man, I grew UP with them!”

            “That’s no excuse.  They were acting like those STUPID Titans!”

            “You used to be one!”

            The Green Lantern patted his head and smiled darkly.

            “Then I got smart.”

            Superboy rolled his eyes and smacked the Lantern’s hand away.

            “And what about Donna?”

            Instantly angered, the Green Lantern’s eyes blasted up in bright green, and then a even brighter red.  He grabbed Superboy by the collar.

            “Don’t you say her NAME!”

            “Okay!  Okay, sorry!”

            The Lantern let him go and stretched out his neck and shoulders.

            “I should pay you back for that one,” he said lowly.

            “You’ve got nothin’,” Superboy replied.

            “Oh yeah?  Tell me, Kon-El, how’s Cassandra?  Oh, that’s right, you wouldn’t know seeing as to how she won’t give YOU the time of day, especially when she’s around her cute boyfriend.”

            Superboy blinked and crossed his arms.

            “Well, Hell, I guess you do.”  Then he twitched as the realization of exactly what the man said kicked in.  “HEY!  You JERKIFIED fuck!”

            “Tsk, tsk!  Bad language.”

            “I didn’t even deliver anything HALF as rude as that!”

            “It still was a stupid question.”

            Superboy growled at him and vanished in his blue lights.  The Green Lantern grinned and vanished in a flare of green sparks, headed for the temple of the High Cult.

 

********************

 

Chapter 2

 

PORTAL

 

By:  Carmen Wayne

 

            “NOOOOOO!!!  PLEASE!  Let me GO!  Don’t DO this!!!”

            A woman in white rags struggled fiercely as four men in black robes dragged her down the pathway of the High Cult gothic temple.  On each side of the pathway, many people sat on their knees in brown robes that had hoods, concealing their faces in shadows.  As they passed the tenth row, one robed figure there looked at another.

            “I thought they were willing,” a woman whispered.

            “Sometimes.  But sometimes the blood of others are needed,” a man replied.

            “Oh… sorry.  I’m new, just converted.”

            “Don’t you worry.  They welcome newcomers, as long as you try to learn what to do.  You stick with me, I’ll show you what to do.”

            “Thanks…“

            “I’m Jason,” he said, offering his hand.

            The robed woman took his hand and nodded.

            “Dinah—“

            “AAAAAAHHHHH!!!”

            The woman was shoved to her knees, onto a black slab.  Ten feet in front of her were seven low platforms, in a V shape backwards.  She tried to get up to run, but couldn’t.  One of the men raised his hands into the air and closed his eyes.

            “Please accept this sacrifice in the name of the High Religion!” he called out.

            The woman covered her face and began to rock back and forth.  Tears fell rapidly, across her shaking skin, for she knew what was going to happen.  A swirl of green streams formed around her, into the form of a woman with green tinged skin and bright red hair.  She wore a long, white dress that glowed a faint green as well.  Within her hands she clutched a sword, that hung above the woman’s head.

            “The gods shall accept your gift,” the green woman said, without moving her mouth.

            The woman let out a horrid scream unlike any before, but it ended quickly when the green woman dropped the sword down with all her strength.  The robed woman down below, Dinah, cringed at the sight as blood spurted from the new wound through the “sacrifice’s” neck.

            “My God…” she whispered.

            “Good show, eh?” Jason whispered.

            “Horrible…”

            “You’ll get used to it.”

            Up, on the “stage”, there were several forms of flashes of light.  From these appear the JLG – the Justice League of Gods.  Even though they were missing two members, the Martian Manhunter/J’onn/Heart of Sky and Aquaman/Orin/Posideon, they still looked ever intimidating.

            Superman/Kal-El/Atlas stood at the head of the V-positioned platforms, on a knee, head bowed.  To his right stood Wonder Woman/Diana/Hera, fingers locked together and jutted towards the floor where her eyes were fixed.  To Superman’s left stood Batman/Bruce/Anubis, death god extraordinaire.  His hands were crossed over his chest and his white eyes shut.  To Wonder Woman’s right was the Green Lantern/Kyle/Hiruko, god of light with a hand raised up and his head turned upwards as well.  Standing on Batman’s left, the Flash/Wallace/Hermes.  His dark red suit reflected out his wide, fanged smile.  What separated him from a human appearance were the wings on his feet and the claws instead of fingers.  His eyes just wandered around the crowd, quite happy at the turnout.

            “Yo, Batman, check it OUT,” he said, with a smirk.

            “Get real,” Batman sighed.

            He opened his eyes and looked over to the woman in green.  She took up the sword and swiped a tongue across it’s cold, bloody metal.  With a green grin, tinged in red, she looked at Batman and raised the sword to wave at him.

            “They chose a REALLY nice one this time, Anubis!”

            “Good,” Batman said.  “Better than the last?”

            “Tastes like a virgin…”

            “Then prepare our drinks, Oracle.”

            The Oracle bowed and went to do so.  Superman walked over to the men that still stood on the stage.

            “Why do I see you here still?” he asked, unamused.

            The speaker of the group went to his knees immediately out of fear and respect.  He kept his eyes on the ground as he spoke.

            “My lord, sorry to bother you… but we needed your attention…  The Titan, Troia, is speaking against all of you!  Downtown Metropolis…”

            Superman looked over his shoulder to Wonder Woman.

            “Your little sister is being a BOTHER again.”

            The black clad, dark eyed woman looked up at him and rolled her eyes.

            “Whatever.  Throw her into Purgatory for all I care!”

            The Green Lantern stepped forward, shoving the Flash away.

            “Kal…  I’ll go deal with her, if you don’t mind.”  Superman looked at him, hesitant.  The Lantern sighed softly.  “Please…  I know where my loyalties stand, and that’s with you.  But if anyone is to carry out the plan we all discussed earlier, it SHOULD be ME.”

            Superman sighed and nodded, waving him to leave.  The Lantern almost thanked him, but then just faded away after the flash of green sparks appeared.  As the sparks fell to fade towards the ground, Wonder Woman walked through them in her black boots, right to Superman.  She touched his cheek and pressed close to him, regardless to the humans watching.

            “Kal, Kyle’s a good young man.  You needn’t fear his leaving us.  We have reigned supreme for hundreds of years, and he has finally made us complete.  Oracle said it herself, the man is with us now!”

            Superman lifted a hand, running it through Wonder Woman’s black hair.

            “I suppose you’re right,” he said, winding his fingers in her hair.  “He’s old enough to know where he belongs.  I just hope she doesn’t hurt him…”

 

****

 

            The woman from the ceremony audience, Dinah, made her way down the dark, gothic streets of Gotham City, still wearing the robe from before, letting it trail behind her in the chilling wind.  A certain feeling of being followed came over her suddenly, causing her to walk faster in her high heeled boots.  She turned a corner into a tunnel street and tried to clear through it.  But there was a swoop behind her and she spun to see who was there.  Crouched down, cape trailing at her feet, was the entirely black clothed Batgirl.  Standing behind her was another girl in a mask, known as the Spoiler.  Dinah let out a sigh of relief.

            “My God…  You scared me!”

            “Sorry,” Spoiler said.  “I tried to go for the front, but Batgirl wouldn’t listen to me.  Everything go okay?”

            Dinah pulled the robe hood down to expose her blonde hair.  She shook it out, then shook her head.

            “It was horrifying, Stephanie.  They perform the same sacrifices they HAVE been for the last millennia!” she announced.  “Nothing has changed, except the number of members and their appearances on the outside.  But they’re monsters, just as our ancestors have said.  They make it sound all good and such, and it is… for the ones who follow them.  But there’s still many people that DON’T follow them…”

            Dinah started walking along, Spoiler and Batgirl walking behind her quickly, but at a respectful distance.

            “What do we do?”

            “YOU are going to study the ancient catalogues more.  Batgirl will continue her rounds.  I will be attending another ceremony tomorrow, but I want to see if I can’t get the council of one of those gods…”

            “Let me come with you!” Spoiler exclaimed.

            Dinah turned to her and shook her head.

            “No, Stephanie.  There’s only one medallion that masks the Oracle’s sight, and I can’t risk you getting caught.”

            “Funny.”

            “I’m not laughing.”

            Spoiler pouted and crossed her arms, walking off one direction.  Batgirl fired a line upwards and pulled herself up to do as told.  Dinah sighed and pulled the hood over her head again and continued along.  As she walked, she flashed back to what she had seen on the stage just an hour before.  And she felt no other response possible then to let a few stray tears fall from her eyes…

 

****

 

            Troia was one of few welcome sights around in public.  If anyone ever saw a JLGer, people would run for their lives.  Though, if they were the planned victim, running was useless.  However, since Troia began to show the public where she stood—AGAINST the JLG with all her physical, emotional and mental being—she was more than welcome to walk the streets without anyone running.  In fact, as she learned this day, it would be the exact opposite.

            In the streets of Metropolis, it looked like an odd, dark, medieval circus due to the Mardi Gras celebration.  Troia walked along, her robe hood up on her so all that could be seen was a soft, glowing white of eyes.  She noticed an old woman trying to sew up a mask for a demanding man.

            “Hurry up, old hag!”

            “I am trying!” she said in a thick accent, traceable to Romany.

            He struck the woman on the back, making Troia cringe.  She raised a hand to them, and instantly she realized that that man was the woman’s son.  He was abusive to all women, and the woman could do nothing for she was weakened from cancer.

            “Monster…” Troia murmured.  She walked over and pulled down her hood.  “Excuse me?” she asked.

            The man spun to her.

            “What do YOU wa—“ he stopped, looking over her clothes.  “Hello, there,” he said, with a sly grin.

            “Was I talking to you?” Troia snapped.

            She tried to take the Mardi Gras mask from the woman, but the man pushed her back.  The idiot obviously never watched the news, which didn’t surprise Troia in the least.

            “I think you BETTER start talking to me,” the man sneered.

            “You’re a pathetic, lonesome man,” Troia stated.  “Foolish, and one day a woman will kill you for trying to hit her.”  She shoved him out of the way and took the mask gently.  She knelt down by the old woman.  “Lets help you, hmm?” she asked, smiling.  She touched the mask and smiled, feeling the image of the mask’s true owner come into her mind.  “For your granddaughter?  She’s pretty…”

            “How…?” the woman started.

            Troia touched the mask’s center and it lit in a soft silver light.  The two froze as they watched the mask grow in size, elaborate designs and colors coming into view.  The repairs to the mask was made and the light faded.  A weathered, yet gentle hand touched her cheek and she looked at the old woman.

            “Yes…?”

            “You are Troia, are you not?” she asked.

            “I…  I am…”

            “Thank you,” she said, smiling.

            Troia smiled back to her, and rose to her feet.  She turned and handed the mask to the man, glaring now.

            “I’ll be watching you.”

            That was that, and she started away.  The music began to play for the first night, and all at once the circus like atmosphere sprung into a happy life.  Troia smiled as people seemed to laugh and enjoy themselves.  She loved the human race.  Even though death was for sure, and life so short compared to her kind, and the horrors that their lives experienced, they still knew how to smile.  And yet, she found it hard when she thought of her own species.  Only among the humans did she ever smile.

            A pair of hands came from behind her, covering her eyes.  Then a soft, mischevious voice spoke:

            “Guess who?”

            “Mmmmm…  Kon-El?”

            “Damn!”

            Kon-El AKA Superboy backed away as she turned to him.  She giggled a little and ran a hand through his hair.

            “What are you doing here?”

            Kon shrugged and walked beside her, turning her with and wrapped his arms around one of hers.

            “I needed to talk to you about something, Donna.”

            “For the JLG?”

            “About them.”

            “Ah…  Well then, lets hear it.”

            Troia began to walk slowly, Kon walking with her.  He rested his head on her arm and yawned before speaking.

            “They’re talking crazy, you know…”

            “I know.”

            “They heard about you taking domain here…  Watch out for Kyle.”

            “Thank you, Kon…”

            “Something else…”

            “Yes?”

            “I was in the Palace of the League.  Walking down a corridor, overheard Kal and Diana talking about a… a portal?”

            “A portal?”

            “Well, they kept calling it a lock and key, but the way they described it, it was a PORTAL.”

            Troia stopped at the edge of a sidewalk and turned to him.  Her eyes were flashed with concern.

            “What was their conversation?  Exactly?” she asked, urgent.

            “Well…”

~~~~~~~~~~

            I was walking down the white corridor, y’know, the one with all those torches, and the black paneled windows to one side?  Well, as I was walking, minding my own business when behind the door to the library, I hear:

            “Two of three of our pillars are wavering,” Diana said.

            Believe me, when I looked in, it was interesting to see her sitting on Kal’s lap, naked.  I mean, dream come true SEEING her naked.  Kal was naked too--(Not a bad sight either, heheh)--hey, I’m talking, okay?  But the conversation was sooo serious…  I mean, how the two of them could DO that--(Blame it on the fact that they’re five million years old)--okay.  Anyway, Kal responds:

            “They’ll be crumbling soon enough.”

            “And what happens when the Pillar of Lock and Key falls?”

            “Lets hope we can stop that.  When the Pillar of Heart fell, we couldn’t stop it.”

            “Lock and Key is more dangerous to fall.  Pillar of Power and Pillar of Beauty are only strong to a point.  If Beauty dies, our youth will fade.  Strength dies, our strength fades, but not our immortality or magic, and we can still revive it.  Lock and Key dies, we become DREADED mortals!  No magic…  Able to die… age… get hurt…”

            “True…  But imagine…”  Kal then adjusted her over him, just prepping for a good, old fashion library fu--(I DON’T need to hear details.)--but she--(Describe Kal and I might let you)--porn lover--(pig)--heh.  “Just imagine--” Kal continued, head back--(Good boy)--in pleasure--(Whoo!).  “--the food.”

            “The Pillar… of Lock and Key…” Diana was saying, lighting in soft gold-slash-red as she moved--(Kon!)--heh.  “Has a mortal double… in each world… each dimension…  We get… a double… sacrifice him from Oracle…  oh, god… and-and then… his spirit will reach… the Black zone… and triple… quadruple… our powers that we have now…”

            She then put her hands on his chest, moving more… intensively.  (What?!)  She was doing a deep-cavern fuck.  (Ahhhh…)  And lemme tell you, those boobs-- (STOP!)

            “Then… then that’s what we’ll do,” Kal replied, lit in dark blue.  (Ahem.)  Ugh, and he was, uh, thrusting up into her?  (Was he?)  Yes…  (Oooh boy.  Heheheh…)  “Tomorrow,” he, uh, panted out.  “Or after Huriko finishes… with Troia…”

~~~~~~~~~~

            Troia couldn’t help but giggle.  When Kon looked at her, she applauded.

            “GREAT sex reenactment!”

            “Heh, you think?”

            “Not really, but better than I could do.”

            “So… the Pillars of Heart, Beauty, Strength, and Lock and Key…  What does that mean?” Kon asked.

            Troia sighed a little.  She looked around the Mardi Gras, and then took Kon’s hand.  She shook her head.

            “Not here.  Come.”

            “Hey, baby, I gotta have a little stimuli around my--“

            “We’re LEAVING type of “Come”!!”

            “Oh, heheh.”

 

****

 

            “Dinah!”

            Dinah turned from the entrance of the smaller cathedral from the Southside of Gotham and spotted the anxiously waving Jason.  He rushed over and smiled to her, his appearance now visible since his hood to his robe was down.  His hair was a dark blonde and his eyes a bright green.

            “Hey, Jason.  What’s up?” she asked, smiling.

            “Nothing much.  Hey, I’m surprised to see you here.  I thought after the Master Ceremony, you’d run off.”

            “How could I?”

            “You seemed rather disgusted over the sacrifice.”  Dinah shrugged uncomfortably and rubbed her arm.  “Hey…” Jason said gently, leading her along.  “It’s okay, Dinah…  Just remember, it’s to keep them happy!”

            “Oh…  I see…  Hey, who’ll be leading this gathering, Jason?”

            “The Oracle, actually.  Isn’t that awesome?”

            Dinah looked a little faint.

            “No sacrifices?” she asked quietly.

            “No sacrifices… promise!”

            “Okay…”

            She fanned herself as Jason helped her to a seat.

            “Are you okay?”

            “Yes…  Jason?”  She looked at him slowly.  “May I… speak to the Oracle?”

            “…Why?!” Jason exclaimed.

            “To… To get to know her?”

            Jason’s eyes softened and a realization came into them that scared Dinah.  He reached to her and touched her stomach, his fingers landing on a grooved plate.  Dinah’s eyes widened, but a smile coming to his face told her it was okay.

            “She’ll find you interesting,” he said, keeping his fingers on the plate.  “Since she cannot read you.”

            “Good.”

            There was a swirl of green streamers, and Oracle appeared on a slate that hovered between two torches.  Her sacrificial sword was by her side, which she was clutching like a designer cane, her other hand on her waist.

            “Good evening, my faithful acolytes and worshippers,” she said, grinning.

            All the people within the small temple immediately got on their hands and knees to bow to her.  She smiled, looking along them… and then her eyes laid upon Dinah.  Her eyes flashed red and then she pointed at her.

            “You.  The new blonde.”  When she saw Dinah’s eyes, she turned her pointing hand and fingered for her.  “Follow me.”

            Oracle turned and glided off the hovering platform.  She headed through a door.  Dinah inhaled deeply and felt Jason’s hand on hers, squeezing it.  Dinah smiled a little, and rose to her feet.  With another deep breath, she headed the way Oracle went.

 

****

 

            “This is nice!”

            Kon-El walked around the main room of a large apartment.  It was made of white and off-white marble floors, white walls and gold lights and fixtures.  Donna/Troia smiled and gave her thanks as she headed to the kitchen.

            “I love mortal living… it’s so… independent and insecure, you never know WHAT could happen!”

            “So… you gonna tell me about these pillars?” he asked, following.

            They entered the kitchen and Donna waved a hand and silver light shot from her fingers.  It shot around the kitchen and before they knew it, they were holding cups of coffee and coffee was brewing in a maker.

            “I usually try not to use my magic, but I know you’re anxious.”

            She pulled herself onto the counter and sipped the hot coffee casually.  Kon drifted into the air, sitting Indian style.

            “Damn straight I am.”

            Donna sighed.

            “Two thousand years ago, a child was born of a virgin mother.  This child was of a birth unlike any before that, for he was a god… but preferred to live on the standards of humans.  He was the King of Kings, yet lived like a carpenter--“

            “Jesus Christ?” Kon asked.

            “Yes.  This birth startled the JLG--well, they weren’t the JLG then, they were the Assembly.  They could FEEL the power of this child, and no matter what, they could not touch the baby or his mother.  Thus they decided to make sure he couldn’t touch them.  So they created three pillars--“

            “--but Kal-El and Diana were talking of four--“

            “--because there was one two million years ago.  The one-god’s eternal enemy, Lucifer, destroyed the pillar.  You do know the JLG--the Assembly, they weren’t always evil.”

            “No?”

            “No.  Do you recall a man named Hal Jordan?”

            “Yeah, Kal and Kyle mentioned him once or twice.”

            “HE was the Pillar of Heart.  His very existence as a mortal man with the Green Lantern’s power kept the Assembly in check.  They were kind, gentle souls then, soldiers of the one-god, not acting as gods.  Lucifer would not have that, so he had Hal Jordan slaughtered.  With Hal’s last breath, he made sure his spirit’s love would transfer within five different children, in the vicinity of physical and mental age of five, of the Assembly…”

            “Who’s that?”

            “Today’s Nightwing, Tempest, Arsenal, Green Lantern and myself.”

            “Not Flash?”

            “No… Wallace was insane even then.  Kyle got the short end of heart, but enough that for years he was against the increasingly evil ways of the Assembly, until they awarded him the right as the first god-like Green Lantern, increasing his power ten fold.  He became greedy, and completed the Assembly.”

            “What about the Pillars of Beauty, Strength and Lock and Key?”

            Donna sighed and sipped her coffee once more.

            “I’m not supposed to say a thing… then again, I don’t follow Atlas any more.  Atlas, Hera and Anubis…  Kal-El, Diana, and Bruce…  Superman, Wonder Woman and Batman… they’re a superstitious sort of people…  They decided to copy what Hal Jordan was, but into three separate beings that carried the most important ideals.  Beauty is our immortal youth and physical flawlessness.  Strength is our super strength and ability to fight.  Lock and Key, if… unlocked AKA killed, will cause every shred of our god-like existences to fade and we would become mere mortals--“

            “--not a hard task for you…”

            “Not at all.  But the difference here was that they wanted them not to be as… easily killed as Hal Jordan, so they made them as gods.  And then Atlas created the rule that “No god shall kill another”.  And you know what, Kon-El?”

            “Yes, Donna?”

            Donna leaned closer to him and touched his chest lightly.

            “You are the Pillar of Strength.”

 

********************

 

Next Chapters Coming…