A New Order

CHAPTER FIVE: FALSE DAWN BATMAN'S brow furrowed as he took in the sight of Superman's pummelled body slumped on the floor. He couldn't believe Supergirl had reduced the most powerful man on earth to such a pitiful wretch - obediently obeying her every command. What kind of mind control could she have used to achieve such a feat? Superman stirred slightly and felt his aching sides groaning as he did so. "Kal-El," said the Dark Knight in a low voice. "Are you OK?" Superman looked at his partner and shook his head disconsolately. "How?" continued Batman. "Why? What's happened?" Superman groaned again and pushed himself off the ground but then slumped against the wall with the effort. "Too strong Batman," he moaned. "She's too strong. I can't fight her. Have to do what she says otherwise..." The words trailed off and Superman's face creased into a mask of utter self-pity. Batman's heart sank but he summoned up all his will-power and began formulating a plan. He had to snap Superman out of his present state if the pair were to escape their predicament. "Get up Kal-El," he said firmly. "Untie me. We have to work together." Superman looked at the Dark Knight vacantly and a thin dismissive smile seemed to crease his lips. "No point," he said. "We're too weak." The words sent an horrendous shudder through Batman's brain. "NO!" he yelled his deep voice echoing around the room. "WE MUST FIGHT BACK. LISTEN TO ME!" The noise seemed to jolt Superman into some sort of consciousness. He stared at the Dark Knight with a semblance of hope flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps," he said. "Please..." "Yes," replied Batman with determination. "Untie me." Superman slowly, painfully, rose from the ground and stood hesitatntly on his feet. "The straps Kal-El," said Batman urgently. "Release the straps." Superman staggered over to his tethered partner and began fumbling at the buckles holding the leather belts around Batman. His hands shook but slowly he managed to release the Caped Crusader's powerful body from its confinement. Finally he undid the last strap and a sense of power flowed through the Dark Knight as he pushed himself from his seat and rose up to his full height. Superman too seemed to draw power from the sight of his fellow Superhero's renewed strength - his legs flexing and his chest expanding as he drew in a relieved lungful of breath. But as they savoured their brief moment of triumph three pairs of eyes were watching with relish from above. Suprema, Electra and Supergirl sipped contentedly on their glasses of wine as Batman and Superman's efforts were projected on the plasma screen in front of them. "They just don't learn do they?" sighed Suprema. She flashed her eyes at her two friends and said: "Girls - would you?" Supergirl and Electra knocked back their drinks nonchalantly. "Our pleasure," grinned Kara as she rose from her seat smirking with anticipation.