Batman beamed down to Apokolips, accompanied by Capt. Marvel (nee Genis-Vell) and the Black Widow. Billy stayed aboard the SENSIA III, along with Moondragon, Warbird, Scarlet Witch, and the Phantom Stranger. The Spectre had gone invisible soon after materialization above the planet.
"Welcome to Apokolips, Batman. Not since the Kryptonian, has anyone from Earth visited my homeworld," remarked Darkseid. Batman nodded; "I'll get right to the point, Darkseid. I have reason to believe that Apokoliptan technology has been used in the building of a reality-altering computer called the Master PC. If so, I would like to know the power source, so it can be disabled. The Earthwoman currently operating it has no idea of its true potential. And, sooner or later, she might inadvertently threaten Apokolips' own existence." Darkseid replied that Batman had a point.
"That's why I 'wish' you to divulge this Earthwoman's identity, so I might 'confiscate' it from her." Batman thanked him for the offer, but said he and his friends would prefer to do that themselves. Darkseid said; "I'm afraid I must insist. Allow me to introduce General Virman Vundabarr and his daughter, Malice." The former clicked his heels together, emphasizing his appearance as a 19th-Century Prussian general. The latter curtsied,...then introduced her "pet," Chessure.
Aboard her ship, Moondragon suddenly went wide-eyed with fright, muttering; "Kronos preserve us!" She immediately telepathed her half-Kree friend; "Genis! It's a trap! That semi-corporeal creature is the Dragon of Titan!!"
Indeed, Chessure was the demonic entity from whom the Earth-born priestess of Titan had taken her pseudonym (not knowing the "inspiration" had come from it, as a first step toward psionically corrupting her). It had been driven from the Marvel Universe, reappearing on Apokolips, where it found a more willing pawn in Female Fury Cadet Vundabarr. But, just as she ordered it to attack the trio of heroic delegates, the Spectre reappeared and started grappling with it! And, in the course of their initial struggles, they both mystically enlarged themselves, literally bringing down the house (or, rather, part thereof).
"Genis, have Moondragon beam us up, for Pete's Sake!" telepathed Rick Jones from the Negative Zone. But, Capt. Marvel knew that was out of the question. Moondragon had already informed him that a boom tube had opened aboard SENSIA III, and Darkseid's son, Kalibak, had poured forth from it, along with a detachment of Para-demon troopers. The same type of troopers Batman, BW, and Capt. Marvel were now having to fight to escape!
Fri Nov 17 11:30:53 2000