Week Eleven

Gotham....

The HIVE agent listened to his earpiece and nodded. "As you command." He cut the link. "Glad to be out of this rat trap of a city...."

BONK.

He fell, quite unconscious. Catwoman hadn't wanted to use the Child of Bast in such a way, but had she used her cat o' nine tails, he might have stayed conscious long enough to alert his superiors in some fashion, and she didn't want them after her, thank you so very much.

After her most recent run in with Batman, she had made a point to keep some rope on her person; she used it now to tie the HIVE agent up for the cops to find. She had wanted to leave a note for Batman, hadn't she? What better note than an actual perp?

"And now," she sighed, picking up the briefcase, "It's time for this kitty to take the money and run."

So she did, lightning crashing overhead. No longer holding the black diamond, she was free from it's influence, but she could still feel it's hateful echoes in her head and heart. They disquieted her more than somewhat.

Catwoman had had enough fun for one night.

Somewhere in the United Kingdom....

"Mother," Klarion said irritably.

"Yes, my child," she said, golden mask turning towards him.

"What are we waiting for?"

It was impossible to tell her expression behind that mask, but a smile was in her voice. "For the opportune moment. The Great Darkness on the Moon hopes to rule all. While it weaves it's webs, we shall wait for the greatest moment of distraction and chaos....and then, strike."

"Seizing its power for ourselves!" Klarion exclaimed.

"Not its power, child," Morgaine Le Fay corrected him primly. "Its power would seek to control us. But its position, its plan, oh yes. Those we may suborn for ourselves."

Klarion smiled with far too many teeth.

"Now come," she directed, and led him on into the darkness.

"Yes, mother."

Gotham city limits....

Merlyn had trailed the thug back to his boss. It had taken great restraint not to strike, but if he did he would not get the information he needed.

The information that would lead to his vengeance.

His patience had been rewarded. Three of the League of Assassins had come to the boss's office, here on the city limits of Gotham. Merlyn's new abilities enabled him to hear what was going on in the room with perfect clarity. Above him and around him, the storm continued, save for a single break in the clouds that let the full moon shine through. He knew that it was enhancing his abilities, but he no longer really cared. Already his mind was merging with the darkness within him.

"You are fools to bring us here," the leader, a woman with blood-red hair, said. "Our Master has no time for such foolishness."

"My guy says this freak is lookin for you," the boss countered, a minor mobster of no real importance. He knew it, and more importantly, the League members knew it. "Some crazy archer. Said he wanted revenge, or something."

"An archer?" the redhead's manner shifted abruptly. "Merlyn?"

The mob boss opened his mouth to answer, but a bolt of purple energy smashed through the window and exploded in a burst of violet light that knocked everyone off their feet.

Within seconds, Merlyn had leapt through the broken window, into the room.

"Yes," he said. "Me."

Abruptly, Power Girl stopped trying to breathe. She simply drew one hand back, and concentrated on her power, her strength, her anger.

And delivered an open handed slap to his face.

WHAKK.

It should have broken his jaw. But it didn't. It did a fine job, however, of freeing her throat from his grasp and sending him flying once more, into a low lunar mountain.

It also knocked more of the dark sludge off his face, revealing light beneath.

Power Girl didn't give him a second. She leapt on him and delivered more devastating blows. Four, five, six....

For the first time, the Shadowstorm felt...not fear....but certainly concern. It was just possible that she would do enough damage to him to free his host. That would not do. That would not do at all. Already he could feel Ronnie Raymond's consciousness struggling against him. He might even be able to contact the professor soon.

But he had managed to hold on to the black diamond she had brought. That was good. She was using her anger to fight him, and that was even better.

He blasted her with both his own power and that of the diamond, and she staggered back. Not enough to knock her out, but enough to make her dazed and confused.

Long enough for him to leap over to her, and drop the diamond down into the...opening...in her costume.

She screamed in rage and knocked him back, so angry that she didn't bother to pull the diamond out. As he had anticipated. She was too angry to think, now...seduced by her own rage.

Even if she did now beat him, by the time she did, she herself would turn. And then he would use that body to regain control of this one.

But why even lose control of one body? He wanted them both; he wanted them all. He wanted the Universe.

He blasted her again, and slipped back, feigning fear. She charged on, screaming.

So close now, so close.....soon she would tip over into darkness.

Then the Great Eclipse would be unstoppable.