All in Goodness and Mercy

[goodness]

[atrb=cellSpacing,0,true][atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 300px] [style=height: 30px; width: 300px; font-family: impact; font-size: 30px; color: D0D0D0; text-transform: uppercase]Mercy Orphanage [/style][style=width: 300px; background-image: url(http://i.imgur.com/iL3kn.jpg); background-repeat: repeat][style=float: left; height: 3px; width: 290px; background-color: ff6600; margin-top: 30px][/style][style=height: 100px; width: 100px; float: right; margin-right: 10px; border: 2px solid 0095A5; margin-top: -20px][/style][style=width: 170px; height: 50px; font-family: verdana; color: 000000; font-size: 10px; padding: 10px][/style][style=font-family: verdana; font-size: 10px; color: 141414; text-align: justify; padding: 60 10 20 10]Dear Antonia Louise Monetti, It has come to my attention that many of my darlings here at Mercy Orphange have been experiencing rather low periods of self-esteem and a lack of confidence. It hurts me deeply to see my little girls at such lows despite my best efforts to cheer them up. I attribute their depression to the recent decline or disinterest in adoption for the girls, which is very unfortunate because they are such good girls with charming dispositions and bright personalities. I think a lot of my little girls feel as if they are too ugly to be adopted. Despite my reassurances that they are beautiful girls inside and out, they still feel that nobody will adopt them because they are ugly orphans. It breaks my heart to hear these innocent, lovely girls to say such things and I’d like to help make a change in the way they think. I am reaching out to you because you stand apart from the typical image of beauty and yet you are revered around the world. I’d greatly appreciate it if you took some time to visit the Orphanage and share this with my little girls. It would be really great to see the darlings’ spirits lifted and I think you can do that for them. If you can accept this invitation, please inform me as soon as possible so we can make the appropriate arrangements at the Orphanage. I look very much forward to your visit. Mercy Bell [/style][/style] [style=height: 30; font-family: impact; font-size: 30px; color: D0D0D0; text-transform: uppercase; margin-top: -7px] [/style]

It had been a few months now since Goodness had experienced her excruciating reincarnation experience. After the battle with the Amazonians and her apparent death she had come back to life, a whole lot different than she would have expected. When she awoke, she was naked, somewhere in the Middle East and in possession of a younger body; HER younger body. It was a bit shocking at first, but priorities came into place and Goodness found herself trekking across the globe to obtain various Apokoliptan weaponry and technology that was scattered on the Earth by the new gods for those “just in case” scenarios. She was completely alone and without the rest of Darkseid’s Elite because last they heard she was dead, and without a mother box or a boom tube she could not get back to Apokolips as quickly as she would have liked.

She was stranded on Earth, much to her disdain. But she made due, she had enough work trying to find the right technology required to get her back to Apokolips. When she finally did get a mother box she learned of Darkseid’s sudden disappearance and that there was a current power struggle between the brother’s to determine who would take the throne in their father’s absence. Insolent children - is what Goodness considered them. They were nothing like their father, not suitable enough to take reign over the empire he created. She would have gladly taken the thrown herself, but she had no following. Her furies were on Apokolips and she could not get to them – nonetheless communicate with them. Goodness knew that if Darkseid’s sons knew of her revival they would consider her an enemy since she was one of Darkseid’s Elite.

So Goodness had to make due with her inhabitance of Earth, and make due she did. Setting up shop in Los Angeles, she established an orphanage. Mercy Orphanage became an all-girls orphanage that was very much unlike your typical adoption institution. No, it was one of Goodness’ orphanages, one where she was preparing a new team of Female Furies that she could bring back to Apokolips and seize the throne from the warring brothers. There was strength in numbers and Goodness was very capable of creating an elite team to do her bidding.

Earth children were very different from Apokoliptan children and Goodness was not entirely satisfied with what she had to work with. Mentally, they were already so weak and unstable that it was very easy to break them down. But in terms of working on the field, they were feeble, fragile and easily susceptible to death. There were many times when the girls almost killed each other much to Goodness’ disappointment. If they couldn’t even hold their own against each other, then what were they going to do against New Gods.

She’d have to reach out in terms of resources and fortunately Earth had a lot of resources to pick from. Most specifically were the superheroes that Earth had to offer. Goodness had her history of plucking the right hero and forcing them to do her bidding so it wasn’t like this would be anything new. It just required mild persuasion and manipulation. Nothing that Goodness could not handle. It was also extremely helpful that Goodness possessed a different appearance because it made her line of work that much easier.

Goodness searched the local vicinity for heroes to choose from. There were a few, but the Argent was one of the local heroes that caught her attention. Argent was a former Teen Titan member and her current superhero activity was kept at a minimum as she focused on her regular lifestyle. Surely she wouldn’t be that missed amongst the super hero community. So, Goodness set the bait in the form of an endearing letter that highlighted an act of community service for her poor girls and waited for a response.

Argent had pulled on her line and was willing to come in to do her part to help the community. Oh these superheroes were so predictable. Preparation for Argent’s arrival was a big deal. The girls were given new dresses to replace their rags. They were washed, scrubbed and powdered down to look as flawless as they good. Their hairs were all braided or put in pigtails or straightened down to give them the image of flawless little angels. Best of all was the cute and innocent demeanors they portrayed and were to use in receiving Argent. Goodness had prepared the orphanage to look like a shining beacon of hope for the little girls, all to cover up the ugly reality that hid behind the walls and in the chambers below the Orphanage. The blood and sweat were covered with paint and sweet floral aroma to cover up the imperfects that Goodness had conceived over months of hard work.

The day had come and the girls - about twenty of them ranging from the ages of 6 to mid-teens – lined up at the entrance with a prepared warm welcome for Antonia Monetti. Goodness stood in the foreground in her disguise as Mercy Bell the charming caretaker at Mercy Orphanage. She wore a blonde bobbed wig to cover her baldness and had horned rimmed glasses placed over her eyes. As the hour came upon them patted down her rather plain peach colored dress and reminded the girls that their mission was about to begin.

Big smiles and sparkling eyes erupted on the young girls’ faces and they waited patiently for the woman of the hour to arrive.

[toni]

There were at least a dozen reasons why this felt weird to the black haired former Titan. A dozen reasons if not more why she had talked herself out of making this trip. A dozen reasons at least why she had crumpled the letter she'd received into the size of a paper wad and placed it in the circular file only to grumble each time as she retrieved it, smoothed it out and re-read the blasted thing.

Not the least reason she was set against this whole appearance was she had once been played for a royal fool by a child with the power to shapeshift. Said prepubescent had taken on the form of a young man in their late teens, played with her heart, trampled her emotions all the while while playing Romeo until Toni found out the truth. She was royally pissed then and still has never completely gotten over it.

Things change. Times change. People change and so did Toni. As the old relic of a song goes. "No time for a special friend. No time for the love you send. Seasons change and so did I. You need not wonder why. No time left for you. She was tired, burned out and had lost her desire to use the powers grafted into her through her half alien DNA of he H'San Natall. After Donna had died Argent briefly returned to the life of a Titan but it just wasn't the same. The drive was gone and though she even went so far as to try and go it solo, her heart just wasn't in it, which inevitably led to a lifestyle altering decision some 6 months ago, maybe a little more.

Toni Monetti packed up all the belongings in her New York City penthouse apartment, headed west and relocated in the attempt to pour her heart and soul back into modeling and smiling for cameras as often as possible. Argent the former Teen Titan died that day, the same day her black costume went up in smoke. She was just Toni Monetti from now on. Celebrity and aspiring starlet with wads of cash to her name.

How on Earth this orphange got her address and such was a mystery at first and why her name would be at the top of their list for public appearances. She still wasn't kid-friendly and had serious reservations. However she wasn't heartless and something about the plea coming from Mercy Bell concerning her charges tugged at her strings until she finally caved in and confirmed her arrival.

The drive from her recently acquired luxury flat in Beverly Hills to the L.A. orphanage wasn't that long, and while thoughts of why she was doing this and hoping that the kids didn't get too clingy while she was there consumed her thoughts. Perhaps a few photos, handshakes and such. If she could make them smile before she left then it would be worth the time. All she wanted was not to be hugged or have her ankles grabbed to death.

Her finely tuned, cherry red corvette was purring like a blender and humming like a dream as she stepped out clad in a shoulderless dark blue sun dress and white sun hat,. Sunglasses as well whi9ch she removed and hung on her rearview mirror before pacing her way to the front door, running her fingers through her locks and tapped her knuckles on the door, opened it and strode in.

"Errr, hi?"

Her jaw hung slightly ajar, blindside by the broad grins of the young girls lined up to meet her as though their last names should all be Von Trapp. Seriously, if the first words out of their mouths sounded anything like "Doe, a deer, a female deer? That's it she was out of here.

"I'm looking for Mercy Bell?"

[goodness]

Sometimes Goodness forgot how stupid these Earth heroes were. Actually heroes in general. As a New God she was evolutionarily perfect, humans, they were a far cry from that. Even with all their power they were still dealing with the menial nuances of their everyday lives, upholding secret identities, fighting the good fight. If it were run like Apokolips, anyone who was not gifted would be culled and only the fittest would survive. But Earthlings they had this thing called compassion and it was probably the greatest factor that hindered their evolutionary progression. Compassion is also what brought Antonia Monetti right on Goodness' doorstep, over her threshold and soon right into her arms.

It was too soon to claim her victory as the silver skinned young woman walked into the door, apprehensive expression and wild eyed. Goodness opted instead to alternatively rub her hands together to a very subtle approach to expressing her glee.

She was summoned and quickly, she stepped forward. A bright smile on her face and cheery blue eyes met Antonia's. The children slowly parted, allowing Goodness to walk through. As she approached Antonia she slowly patted each girl on the head, attempting to show a display of affection for Anotnia.

"Miss Monetti, I - we are so thankful and overjoyed that you are able to come today. We did try to reach out to other individuals like yourself... but nobody seemed to have the time."

As she spoke the young girls nodded and smiled, hopeful looks on their faces.

"I am Mercy Bell, the owner and caretaker at this Orphanage and on behalf of my lovely little girls we welcome you."

Goodness' deep voice continued and she smiled thinly. As a follow up to her little welcome speech the young girls all clapped while saying in rather sing song voices, "Welcome, welcome". To any outsider they were probably frightfully adorable.

"Now, now girls, let's settle down. Let's direct Miss Monetti to the game room and you can all ask her questions over tea and pastries."

Goodness said rather gayly as she motioned to the girls to quiet down and huddled them together. The girls eagerly agreed and two six year old girls grabbed onto either one of Antonia's hands and pulled her to the game room. The rest of the girls followed suit and there was a noisy chatter as they rambled with questions.

"Why is your skin silver?"

"Do you have super powers?"

"Are you an alien?"

"Are you an adopted alien?"

"Ms. Bell says you are a model is that true?"

"She always says you are an actress, is that true too?"

"Do you have children?"

The questions came left and right, sometimes sounding as if they were coming up and down. Girls of variable ages, variable skin colors, variable races all beamed at her (seemingly) genuinely as they walked down a long corridor and finally entered a rather - larger than expect (maybe larger than normal) - game room. There were no seats, but little mats on the floor where each girl after smoothing out their dresses kneeled onto and eagerly looked at Antonia to follow suit.

There was a clatter and Goodness and a few other girls came in rolling carts of tea pots and pastries.

"Oh my I hope they didn't already exhaust you!"

Goodness chortled as she and the other girls began to hand out cups of tea. When they were finally done Goodness took her seat into a rather larger arm chair and pushed up her black horned rimmed glasses.

"The girls prepared a little performance for you Miss Monetti, I'm hoping you perhaps have enough time to enjoy it?"

Goodness inquired rather coolly as she sat back into her seat a Cheshire cat-like smile cut across her face.

[toni]

Too distracted by the sea of young girls, all of whom seemed younger than her, to notice the look of glee and the sight of Mercy rubbing her hands together, Toni's emotions were in overdrive and the cheery dispositions on everyone that closed in around her did little to nothing to put the half alien, former heroine at ease. As down in the dumps as Mercy Bell had described all the orphans in her letter, they seemed almost too chipper or perky now. It somehow seemed a bit forced. Either that or maybe she was more renown and popular than she even knew. She might have been born in the dark but it wasn't last night. She was hot and damn good at what she did, this she knew, but something was up. Things seemed too perfect and she couldn't be that paranoid.

"Miss Monetti, I - we are so thankful and overjoyed that you are able to come today. We did try to reach out to other individuals like yourself... but nobody seemed to have the time. I am Mercy Bell, the owner and caretaker at this Orphanage and on behalf of my lovely little girls we welcome you."

"It's quite alright Mrs. Bell. I wouldn't have missed this for anything." She forced herself to smile while her eyes took in the sight of many of the children and teens as she could. Before she could extend a handshake to the caretaker, she found not only both her hands being grabbed and tugged toward their game room but she felt four hands behind her, on the middle and small of her back, nudging her toward the destination. Her eyes narrowed and her head turned instinctively. She nearly snapped with a loud voice before only at the last second forcing yet another nervous smile on her lips; even going so far to pat them both on the head and surrendering to their march toward the game room.

They're only kids. They're only kids. They're only kids, not Doctor light. She had to keep reminding herself as she walked. Uh-huh and so was that creepy little twat a few years ago when I was with the Titans." She silently fumed.

Within the space of 5 minutes everyone was huddled together in mats upon the floor in the game room. Mercy was in a chair and Toni Monetti was leaning with a hand against a wall; slightly slumped and trying to catch her breath while being bombarded with questions so fast that Bart Allen would be jealous.

Toni was a celebrity though. A performer. A model. An actress and so she rose to the challenge and did what she did best. Put on a fake face and acted the part. The part of a crowd favorite entertaining her little groupies. some of which couldn't reach her shoulders on their own. She answered each and every question anyway, regardless of the fact she was sweating bullets on the inside that may or may not be showing up on her forehead by now.

"Why is your skin silver?"

"That is actually a long story I'm afraid I don't have time to get into unfolding for you on this visit. The short of it is that I am half alien."

"Do you have super powers?"

"Now that you mention it, I..." She started then coyfully pretended to be distracted. "My that's a pretty outfit you have on, young lady. Very cool." She leaned in and offered the child a high-five while steering away from any questions regarding her former alter ego.

"Yes I am a model, and I do some acting as well whenever time permits. I try to stay as busy as possible but it's alot of fun. If you study hard and get your educations, you could all perhaps become successful in those careers or whatever you put your mind to."

She was trying, trying hard to calm herself down but made little headway. Something about this whole picture seemed out of focus, albeit slightly, somehow, somewhere, some way. Some of the other questions she answered, others she skillfully danced around in ways that would be too subtle for the youngsters to know she was avoiding but she made up for it by patting some on the heads, offering others high fives and shaking the hands of some others, all the while as a knot formed in her stomach and grew to the point she could sense a familiar sensation starting in her gut and rising toward her throat. The end result would not be pretty if it progressed in this direction.


"Oh my I hope they didn't already exhaust you!"

"No, no I'm fi-fi-fine" She started to gasp, sucking air like it was an endangered species until she could hold it in no longer and lost her last meal through her nose and mouth as she doubled over. Her arms clutched her chest then moved to rub her temples. A frown crossed her mouth as she gazed at the eyesore and apologized profusely.

"I'm really, really sorry, Mercy. If you will show me where to find a mop bucket I will clean it but then I really have to go. I have another appointment i must attend to soon. I..." She started to explain. She would have said anything right now to distance herself from this place. It was then she noticed not only her arms had goosebumps on them but also that the hem of her dress was being tugged.

"Is it overly cold in here or is it just me?

Her train of thought was cut off by the sound of soft sobbing coming from the source that tugged at her dress.

"Please don't go, Miss Toni. We worked really hard on this show all for you. I wanted you to have this too."

The young girl offered, holding up a ragged, stuffed doll that looked like it had seen better days, proving that even someone as uncomfortable as Toni around children could still have their heart molded like clay by the hands of a child. Perhaps she had finally come to the point of forgiveness after the incident of years ago after all.

"Okay, I think I can afford a few more minutes but then I must leave after it's over, Alright?" She beamed and eased herself down upon an empty mat after smoothing her dress and awaited the performance, expecting a puppet show or something similar.

[goodness]

Her little darlings were a lot more convincing than Goodness originally expected them be. In fact, she considered that later they might get a reward, perhaps less time in the torture chambers. Yes that seemed suffice. At times thought they were a little over the top, but what can she say, she really ingrained that in their heads you know.

Antonia’s discomfort was clear and Goodness was not sure if that was because was not a children person or if she was onto something. That was alright, because as long as she was not on the tip of her toes then it wasn’t too much of a concern. If anything, Goodness could use this discomfort to mentally break down the young woman, and then finally claiming her as a soldier under Goodness’ care.

There was a moment where Goodness almost lost Antonia. In fact after the young woman vomited she was about ready to smack her and send her out of her with her tail between her legs. But the brilliance one of her little girls made Antonia rethink her leave and the young woman smiled and sat down with the rest of the children. Now things would start turning and get real interesting Goodness thought as she scratched the top of her head. The infernal wig was starting to bother her and she had to do everything in her willpower to not tear it off.

“Are you familiar with the Amazonians?”

Goodness said to Antonia who the girls had strategically seated beside Goodness’ high chair. The young woman looked at her a little confused.

“Oh you know like Wonder Woman, the girls love the Amazonians. Love the warrior spirit. You know, nothing is deadlier than the combination of beauty, brains and brawn.”

Goodness said rather slyly as she created a steeple with her fingers. The girls on the other hand were setting up for their performance. They had all arranged themselves so that there was a large circle in the middle of the room and everyone sat on its outer edges. Some girls were placing down weapons, which on first glance looked like they were toys, plastic maybe, but if one were to touch them they would know otherwise. Other girls were dressing each other, putting on armor and different pieces of clothing that were a stark contrast to the all American girl type dresses they were originally wearing.

If one looked closely, they could see on the girls’ newly exposed skin cut marks or burn marks. In fact some of the girls who were not used to having powder on their faces had begun to rub the make-up off, exposing the battle scars that marred their appearances.

“I think it’s good to have such strong role models, gives these girls a fighting chance in this world, don’t you agree dear?”

Goodness inquired, sneering down at the moderately confused Antonia.

“Oh, oh they are starting.”

Goodness said, piping down the rest of the chattering girls as the performers set the stage. One girl stepped forward looking to give some kind of prologue.

“To appease the Gods, young warriors set out to seek a mythical creature that they must capture and overcome to do the Gods’ bidding. This is the story of those warriors.”

And so the performance began, seemingly innocent enough and progressed slowly to the ultimate climax.

[toni]

Once she was seated, Toni still had her doubts about whether or not the happy, touchy-feely attitudes were over the top or not but she didn't question anything about this performance about to unfold. Her first thought had been puppet show, or perhaps Mercy had even been teaching her charges dancing, singing or even drama. Maybe there were going to put on a play of some sort.

Mercy's first question to her once the dark haired model was seated blew that theory right out of the water. Dead bang.

“Are you familiar with the Amazonians?”

Toni's head turned sharply and her eyes widened while she looked at Mercy the caretaker as if she had a horn on her head now. The look in Toni's eyes feigned ignorance however.

“Oh you know like Wonder Woman, the girls love the Amazonians. Love the warrior spirit. You know, nothing is deadlier than the combination of beauty, brains and brawn.”

She was at a loss for words now. Nothing really she could say in response to that even if she wanted to. She'd somehow been played again, but not by the kids. Whatever was going on, The other woman had something up her sleeve besides her pudgy arm.

Armor, weapons that might look like toys to the untrained eye and that would fool the casual observer but not someone who has seen what Toni has seen in her lifetime and hiked around the combat block as many times as she had when she was known as Argent. That was then, this was now but she was still sharp enough to smell something rotten in the orphanage.

Even if she wasn't keen to the fact the weapons were more than the toys they appeared to be, the scars and wounds Toni now saw on the exposed flesh extending from the outfits they now wore laid it all out for even a blind man to see.

As if she had been pulled into a dumbfounded trance, Toni sat there mystified as she watched the show begin when she was certain she had wanted to surround the kids with a forcefield and get them out of Mercys's reach before she showed the caretaker a closer view of the weapons, taking a more hands on approach. Instead she just stared blankly, numb and in disbelief at the hell she was becoming aware of these poor kids must endure day in and day out.

"Alright that's enough!"

Toni finally made it to her feet, a burning look of anger that had not been seen in them, for quite sometime as well as something else. The look of both fists closed and clenched, crackling with energy as she stood with back to the performers, Facing Mercy and prepared to keep both sides away from each other.

"You kids should go back to your rooms now. I believe Mercy and I need to have ourselves a little talk. A grown-up talk!"

She laced the mild threat with clenched teeth, curled fists and narrowed eyes as she waited.

[goodness]

Goodness was actually enjoying the performance much to her surprise. They hadn’t really prepared one, well not under Goodness’ supervision at least. She merely told them, think of something to distract her with and this is what they produced. Damn, these little girls were really good. Goodness had to give herself a pat on the back later because she even after death and reincarnation she still had it.

The play started innoncently, the young girls walking around searching for items to capture the beast with. There were whips and chains that were picked up. Swords that were found hidden in what were supposed to be bushes, shields and staffs. All oddly human like weapons but if one looked closely they were actually Apokoliptan weapons.

"Alright that's enough!"

Goodness jumped a little, she had actually become engrossed by the play and found Antonia’s outburst a little rude. That was another thing about these humans she hated they were extremely stupid and equally just as rude.

"You kids should go back to your rooms now. I believe Mercy and I need to have ourselves a little talk. A grown-up talk!"

Everyone in the room had fallen silent and had become still. The girls clearly having dropped the act by now merely looked on at Mercy Bell or Goodness as they seemed to wait for a command. Grips on weapons were tightened and the girls seemed to take a defensive stance, ready to protect Goodness.

“Now… that was very rude.”

Goodness began, rubbing her temples as if too look extremely exasperated.

“My girls worked really hard on this display and you interrupt them. You didn’t even let it get to the good part.”

Goodness pouted slightly and removed her horned rimmed glasses. She looked at Argent who looked like a shining visage of her former super hero self. All defensive and ready to attack, this was going to get interesting.

“Okay girls… you heard Miss Monetti. Go back to your rooms.”

Goodness began, as she began to rise from her chair.

“And take her with you.”

And that was all the girls needed. There was a crack in the air and whips extended out from the girls she had turned her back on and ensnared themselves around Antonia’s wrists. The little girls pulled with surprising strength to send Antonia down, but when she struggled against them another girl came running up from behind and whacked Antonia just behind the knees, surely causing her to crumple.

There were wild shrieks as the girls unsheathed their weapons and with surprising skill and strength worked together to take down Antonia . These were not your normal little girls.

While Antonia was being attacked Goodness finally rose from her chair and threw the dreaded wig off her head. Completely ignoring the struggle she made her way out of the game room and to the lower chambers of the orphanage to prepare the torture chambers for Anotina. She knew her girls were more than capable of taking down Antonia… after all she had trained them.

[toni]

“My girls worked really hard on this display and you interrupt them. You didn’t even let it get to the good part.”

"Oh you mean the part where I beat your sadistic ass senseless before making double sure you end up locked in a cage somewhere with the key tossed away. Believe me, that's coming up."

Argent snarled, fists still clenched as she stared Mercy down. The woman was taking advantage of these kids through the ruse of an orphanage. However she did it, she turned or was turning these minors into violent soldiers trained to no doubt kill and plunder at her command, Surely this place would be shut down and Mercy the monster would be dealt with deservingly. Or so she thought.

“Okay girls… you heard Miss Monetti. Go back to your rooms. And take her with you.”

"Please."

Toni grumbled, trying to do the last thing she wanted to be doing or expected to be doing this afternoon. Re-adapting herself to a life she thought she'd put behind her forever. Desperate times called for desperate measures and she couldn't leave these teens, kids, whatever to suffer any more abuse at this woman's hands if she could help it. The scars, the wounds, even blood stains she saw on some of them were clear indications this whole place stunk.

""I'm not going anywhere with..."

The half alien boasted prematurely, preparing to unleash a blast of pure plasma energy at the caretaker before she felt the weight of a house fall on her shoulders. As if someone had suddenly flipped a light switch suddenly it all came together. Months of inactivity and a self imposed retirement of her former heroic lifestyle had dulled her instincts. Thrown her way off her game. It was too late now when she finally caught on. What the slave warrior teens said earlier played over again inside her mind.

“To appease the Gods, young warriors set out to seek a mythical creature that they must capture and overcome to do the Gods’ bidding. This is the story of those warriors.”

She was the target all along. This had been a set-up from the moment she received the letter and the sweet, innocent expressions of earlier were all a ploy to get Toni Monetti, who absolutely hated being called Antonia, to lower her guard. The model walked right into it and didn't realize where she landed until now. The trap was loaded and sprung, but she wouldn't go down without a fight.

The attack she planned to zap Mercy with never landed. In fact Toni had heard the name Darkseid before only in passing. She knew very little about him and absolutely nothing about the one called Granny Goodness. if she knew the woman she would figure out by know exactly what this all meant. Under the circumstances however she was caught with her figurative pants down as the expression goes. All Toni knew was she had to get out while she could and snap the kids out of whatever hold Mercy had on them. Whether they came with her or not she was determined to leave.

Before she could unleash her strike or turn her head to see what was happening from behind, her wrists were pulled behind her back after having whips wrapped around them. She was a sitting duck whose last, best chance for survival was arguing her way out.

"Wait , you don't understand! I can help you break free from her, you don't have to live like this!"

Her voice had a hint of desperation to it as she allowed plasma energy to do it's thing. Right hand heating up the left wrist and vice versa in the attempt to burn through the whips. The innocent looks that lit up their eyes earlier were long gone. In them Toni could only see savageness, fury and cold loyalty to this Mercy.

"You think you're so much better than us because of your looks and money?"

Some of them mocked her as she pulled, tugged and tried to free herself. Starting to kick and defend herself however necessary, even while forming a battleax and a mace, weapons of her own through her own unique powers to use if or when she could free her arms. Obviously these kids were all sharp, trained soldiers under the leadership of a psychotic madwoman and Toni had now had enough.

"You don't understand, I just want to help..."

"We don't need your help!"

"We're happy where we are!"

"Goodness knows best. Goodness loves us. We love Goodness and soon so will you!"

They seemed to circle her now, each one swinging a different weapon and knocking the air from her body until Argent finally managed to free her arms and start fighting back. Blinded by anger, the gloves were off now. Goodness little army were about to find out she could still give as good as she got. She was tired and her reaction time was slower than it should be but she still had the heart and the will that once made her a hero.

That lasted all of about 15 seconds.

The months of inactivity and her slowed reflexes were no match for Goodness trained fighters as dysfunctional as they were. Especially the one that got in a lucky shot from her blindside. Clipped her leg from behind and with a loud pop, managed to bl;ow out Argent's left knee. She crumpled to the floor trying to regain her footing but the others were on her like bees to flower petals, Pounding and striking with precision, pinpoint accuracy before her body grew unresponsive, beaten into unconsciousness.

"You've taken your last standing ovation and bow, Barbie doll! Think you're so much better than us?"

They continued their mocking to Toni's temporarily deaf ears as the pulled out razors, having at her ebony locks while others savagely tore at the expensive, top of the line dress she wore, turning it into rags before the worked in unison to pick her up and carry Goodness newest, helpless prisoner toward the torture cells. A prisoner who, with no current team affiliations or communicator to speak of, would have to wait who knows how long before anyone started to look for her.

[goodness]

“Yes! Tear her apart! Rip her to shreds!”

Goodness cackled over the shrieks and roars of the now bestial girls. Any innocence or sweet demeanor these girls would normally have seemed to not be possibly, not with the way that they currently conducted themselves. Using almost primitive methods, some girls - the younger ones - bit and gnawed at Antonia’s extended limbs. Others merely jumped onto her back pounding her head with their little hands, and others - the older ones took more tactile approaches, expertly swinging their weapons and landing blows with precision.

It did not take long to bring the former super hero down. In fact, Goodness was so upset that her girls had it so easy she almost considered dumping Antonia’s body. If she was this weak and pathetic without Goodness’ training what the hell could she make out of her otherwise. But, she remembered of Antonia’s unique abilities and reconsidered the thought. It would be otherwise such a waste if she didn’t take advantage of what she had now. Goodness could make Antonia a fury, she made any one who stepped into her domain a fury, a soldier, a servant to the almighty Darkseid.

“Settle down girls, SETTLE DOWN!”

Another problem with Earth children: they got too excited. Joyous over their victory the girls were running circles around Antonia, prodding at her body and chopping off her hair here and there. They treated the young woman as if she were some prize from their hunt. Goodness had to push the girls aside and even smacked one, HARD, across the face as she finally ordered them to regain their composures and prepare the torture devices. There were many, many different objects in the room to break one’s spirit and soul. Goodness would hurt them so bad, until they wanted to kill themselves but then she would offer the light and extend her hand to them. Tell them that there is more to their insignificant existence, that they have a calling and from there they would obey her. She could train them as brutally as she wanted and she could command them to do her every bidding. It was just the type of power that raw and uncensored manipulation.

There were many methods Goodness utilized, hanging victims off meat hooks and whipping them with serrated whips. Placing them in tight boxes with spikes on its inner sides to prevent movement. Drowning and resuciation was another one. Beating them with heavy bludgeons. Making them carry a spiked stone across a room of ravenous and hungry animals. And then finally there were the simple things like not feeding them, talking down to them, not allowing them the very privilege of even the most basic living needs.

It was not only Goodness to executed these torture methods; it was also her young furies who in Goodness' absence would taunt, bully or physically abuse Antonia to the point where Antonia would be screaming Goodness' name for salvation.

These were all methods to break Antonia down, to rid her of hope and love or faith. Those abominations for thoughts were the most powerful things against manipulating anybody. So when Antonia mumbled about having hope and faith on her side, Goodness beat her. When Antonia tried to escape, Goodness temporarily crippled her. When Goodness found writings on Antonia’s wall or on pieces of paper that she rustled up, Goodness burned them along with Antonia.

It took about two weeks to break Antonia down. Since she was an adult and had lived a much better life that these children she had a lot to live for. In fact, because of her age, it was a little more difficult because she had cultivated her own will power. It was no matter; Goodness was persistent in breaking her down and allowing her to see the horrors in life. Six days and Antonia became a babbling, incoherent nobody who cowered in the presence of Goodness.

Once that was settled, Antonia’s training began and it was not any easier than the breaking down process. Antonia learned from Goodness everything she needed to know about operating as a military force. She learned battle tactics, strategic planning, team leadership skills, espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance. She learned specific hand-to-hand combatant skills, mastered least three different weapons. Antonia however was trained in mastering her own ability and that was her natural plasma wielding powers. Before, when she was a hero she had to learn restraint with it, but under Goodness she learned how to utilize her power in very deadly ways.

Today was just another day of training; Goodness sat in her large arm chair in the game room and looked at the group of girls before her. On one side were Goodness’ current top five furies, on the other was Antonia or rather Crucifire. She had adopted the name from the silly little piercing on Antonia’s belly button. In mocking it, Goodness had torn it off and burned onto her abdomen an actual cross. The point of today’s training was to see how far Antonia had come in her training, and if Goodness had done her job right then Antonia would potentially be the new leader of her furies.

“Alright girls.”

Goodness began, smoothing her hand over her bald head.

“Let’s appease dear Goodness.”

A crooked smile cut across her face as she waved her hand to signal the battle to commence.

[toni]

A pair of piercing, blue, cold, hard, eyes hardened like steel stared down the line of Goodness warriors that opposed her. The five best furies that Goodness had to offer. After Crucifire. The last 2 weeks plus had been sheer hell unlike any this silver skinned half alien had ever known. She was Goodness best and today she would prove it and earn her place as the new leader of Goodness furies.

In a few seconds that both sides of the battle line stood sizing each other up, seconds that felt like a lifetime, she stood thinking over the last 14+days of her life. Toni Monetti was no more. Argent was dead. She was reborn and now there was only Crucifire.

Her blood burned, her muscles tightened and her ailing knee still throbbed to a small degree as she remembered how this whole resurrection, for lack of a better term had been wrought.

The day she awoke after being beaten down, having her knee blown out and finding herself chained spread eagle to a wall; arm, leg and neck restraints firmly in place as well as a power nullifier. To her horror, at the time her head had been robbed of each and every one of her precious black strands of a curly perm. Argent the Superhero was long dead, and Toni Monetti the celebrity died that very day, however this hellacious nightmare had only just begun.

After the first week she had been so broken, battered, bloodied and bruised there wasn't enough left over to comprise a shell of her former self. Her will had been broken entirely and her mind, everything she knew, ever knew was shattered. Life was hopeless. Futile. Any form of happiness she'd ever know again would only come from absolute obedience and submission her great caretaker Goodness.

And that is when the healing began. Her plasma energy had always been powerful but after another week of rigorous training hour upon hour, pushing her body past it's limits and tapping into energy reserves she never knew existed thanks to her half alien DNA, she was more dangerous in other ways as well, not just with her powers, . Her mind was sharpened, refocused and bent on rage, bloodshed and death. Compassion, love, and mercy for anyone or anything save for Goodness and the others under her care were nonexistent.

Her instincts, reflexes and other things that had been dulled or lost altogether were improved and deadly. Battlelust was in Crucifire's eyes now and though she and the furies she stared down were now family, everyone knew there was to be no holding back, as long as she left them alive. She would hardly be a decent leader if there was noone left to lead.

With every swing came haunting memories of every punch, every sting of weapons, every last ounce of torture and every bit of effort she had to endure for the last 2 weeks. She had alot to learn in a very short time and learn it she did. Pain that still stung, especially from where she had her naval ornament, the only remaining bridge to her former self, ripped away and replaced with the burning sensation of having an actual cross branded on her flesh, it drove her on as she unleashed an assault on her attackers now with absolute accuracy. She did not use her powers, she didn't need them in this instance, opting instead to dish out what she'd taken the last several days.

Screams and battle cries could be heard coming from the other furies but not from Crucifire. It was tempting but she had something to prove. Not only to her now beloved mistress Goodness but also to herself.

The battle lasted several minutes only because Crucifire had allowed it to, purposely toying with them all. Each of her punches and kicks could easily have been deadly if she ha chosen but again it all comes back to the thing of every leader needing someone to lead. Preferably alive. In a few hours however their aching bones would let them know loud and clear they had just met defeat at the best assassin Goodness currently had to offer.

Her still weakened knee had buckled for a moment during the battle, actually allowing one or perhaps two of the others attacks to land. Crucifire rebounded quickly however, using the knowledge implanted into her of how to protect such a vulnerable limb. When she finished, each of Crucifire's foes in this battle were fallen but would rise again..if she, or Goodness allowed such an act.

When Crucifire's last strike landed, she turned halfway, keeping the others in the corner of her eye while bowing before Goodness.

"As you have commanded." She knelt in front of her caretaker. "Does this appease you?"