32 Reunion

[3rd person POV]

"Just wait a bit, I'll get you guys out in a jiffy, eh?" says Mister Miracle, in an amused tone.

He then walks towards the computer and uses it, before walking towards the heroes.

"Now then, let's get you out" he says as his hands hold on to the metal cuff around Superman.

With a snap, Superman's arm comes out of the contraption, and soon Superman is easily freed from his restraints.

"Now then, let's get the rest of you out" he says, but before he can do anything else, the door to the room swings open.

"It's Barda!" Green Lantern says, and Superman gets ready to face this new opponent.

He rushes towards her, aiming to knock her down with a single punch. Barda sees him coming, and also takes her spear out, aiming to thrust it through the kryptonian if necessary.

But before they can begin to fight, Mister Miracle steps in between, yelling out "STOP!"

This causes both parties to cease aggression, instead focusing on what the man has to say.

He tries to calm both sides down, saying "Both of you, calm down. Let's take this like civilised people, yeah?"

Barda explains her stance saying " Dear, this man is an intruder. He was the one who instigated hostilities. If anything you should work together with me to defeat him, not aid his escape!"

Superman answers back "Let's be very clear here, you instigated hostilities by invading OUR planet. We are just trying to stop our people from being massacred."

At this statement, Barda once again raises her spear, ready to strike, while Superman's eyes glow red.

Mister Miracle once again steps in, saying "Both of you. No fucking fighting! Big Blue, just go help your friends, I'll try to talk to her for you, alright. Barda, we need to talk about something important."

As Superman goes to help his friends, Barda heads to a corner in order to talk to Mister Miracle.

"What is it, beloved?" she asks her love.

He then reveals his decision "Barda, I'm thinking of leaving Apokolips. I can't stay and look on while my father commits atrocities."

On hearing this, Barda is shocked "No my love, you cannot possibly leave our home! If Lord Darkseid gets word of you even saying something so outrageous, there will be hell to pay."

"Am I not in hell already ? I'm constantly escaping and getting recaptured, being brought to that nightmarish building to be tortured over and over again, and all due to the will of my father. I can't continue to live like this. Death would be preferable-"

Barda suddenly cuts him off "Do not say that! If you were to die, then what would become of me? Didn't we swear to be together till the end? What will become of that promise if you leave?"

He answers Barda, in an earnest voice "That's why I'm telling you this. Come with me! Let's leave Darkseid and Apokolips behind. We'll start a new life for ourselves."

Hearing this once again leaves Barda speechless. She tries to talk, but words fail to come out of her mouth. To her, Apokolips had been her home for centuries, and her life had always been dedicated solely to Darkseid and his cause. And that fact would not have changed if not for Mister Miracle, a man who she fell in love with a few years ago. He became another reason for her to live.

And now, she had to choose between her two lives. Her love and her duty. And this decision was ripping her mind apart. This conundrum lasted for a long while, until she took a look at the love of her life, and finally made her decision.

She cried out "I'll go with you! Just promise me that we won't regret this! "

"I'll make sure of that love." replied Mister Miracle, before the both of them walked towards the heroes.

By this time, all the heroes have been freed with the help of Superman, and are ready to fight. Shazam has also transformed back into his adult form.

"So guys, what is your plan to stop this invasion?" asks Mister Miracle.

"Let's get out of here first. We'll tell you on the way." says Superman, as all of them exit the room.

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"And so, we were supposed to free the prisoners while our other team used the Father box to stop the portals." Green Lantern explained, while they ran through the halls.

" Yeah, that was a bit unnecessary if I'm being honest." said Mister Miracle.

"What do you mean?" asked the Flash

Barda answered the question "You could simply use the Boom tubes, the portals as you call them, to send everyone back."

"Exactly, and with us on your team, it'll be even easier to use the portals to get what you need." Mister Miracle continued.

"Now brace yourselves, heroes. We are about to approach the portal room." said Barta.

But just before they entered the portal room, they found a few familiar faces.

"What are you guys doing here? Have you freed the prisoners?" questioned Cyborg.

"Well, let's just say we ran into a minor setback." answered the flash.

"Who are they?" questioned Batman, staring a hole into Barda and Mister Miracle.

Superman explained the presence of the two newcomers "They're allies. They freed us when we got captured and also told us of a way to directly free the prisoners from inside the portal room. Which is also why we're here."

"Wait, where is Nostradamus?" questioned Shazam.

"We were separated. He… decided to stay behind in order to hold back an enemy so that we could proceed." answered Wonder Woman.

"Who was he facing?" asked Barda, curious about the situation.

"He called himself Steppenwolf" Cyborg answered.

On hearing this Barda's face turned grave, as she apologised "I'm sorry, your friend has most likely fallen in battle. But we can make sure his sacrifice is not in vain by saving your world."

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