Jack Kadere had never cared what anyone thought of him. Call him a madman and he'd agree if the mood struck, or tell you to fuck off if it didn't. He did what he wanted. But eating people? That was definitively not on the list—same as how he'd never let a woman he'd discarded be used by someone else afterward.
Why else would someone as reckless as him bother creating Birds of Prey? Why warn Laurie to leave?
Though the process had been entertaining in its own right.
"Forget the cannibalism question—remember what you promised me." Jack reached down and helped Diana to her feet, glancing at the still-twitching Firstborn. "Bastard's durable. Double my strength and he's still breathing."
Diana didn't look at Firstborn. Her eyes went to Lennox—what remained of him—and she called his name softly, voice heavy with grief.
"Don't be too sad." Jack's tone gentled. He slid an arm around her shoulder and pulled her against his chest.
Diana didn't resist. Too much had happened since they'd parted ways. Even someone as strong as her was reaching the breaking point.
"Life's like that," Jack said, patting her back. "Joy and tears, all mixed together. Some people are responsible for the joy." A pause. "Others are responsible for the tears."
"You bastard—"
Diana shoved him away the moment the words registered.
Jack shrugged and pointed at Firstborn. "So what do we do with him? Kill him?"
Diana hesitated.
Logically, killing Firstborn would resolve the threat to Olympus permanently. But still—
"Hand him to me."
The voice came from nearby. A man in a tailored suit walked toward them, smiling pleasantly. His skin was the deep purple of an eggplant.
"That's Apollo," Diana murmured, her anger at Jack momentarily forgotten. "The sun god. He's the new King of the Gods. Handing Firstborn over to him... might actually work."
"You sure you want him?" Jack asked Apollo, eyes narrowing.
"I am now lord of Olympus. I believe I have the right to dispose of him." Apollo's smile didn't waver. "Of course, I'd rather not make an enemy of you. Perhaps you have conditions?"
"He's yours." Jack waved dismissively. "But remember—you asked for this."
"Of course."
Apollo's purple face brightened further. He inclined his head in acknowledgment toward Jack and Diana, turned, lifted Firstborn's unconscious body, and vanished.
"When someone digs their own grave that enthusiastically, nobody can stop them." Jack chuckled and looked up as Firestorm descended from the distance.
The flaming figure touched down and immediately split apart—Lilah and Valentina separating back into two distinct women.
They exchanged a look and huffed in mutual irritation.
"Couldn't agree on a plan, so you let the target escape?" Jack asked, amused.
"Yes," Lilah muttered.
"Fine. Let's get out of here." Jack leaped back onto Aerie. Lilah and Valentina merged again with obvious reluctance and flew after him.
Diana turned, handed Lennox's head to Hera, then gathered both Hera and the woman in the oversized shirt into her arms.
"Wait—we're going with him? Is that... safe?" The woman clutched her infant, eyes wide.
"If he's willing to have you," Diana said, "there's probably no safer place."
She jumped across to the ship before the woman could argue further.
---
Inside Aerie.
The woman in the shirt surveyed the spacecraft's interior with open curiosity, her baby held close. Hera remained composed—she'd been Queen of the Gods once; unfamiliar surroundings didn't rattle her easily. Lilah and Diana fell into conversation, catching up on everything that had happened since they'd parted. Valentina and Laurie stood apart—one seething with frustrated anger, the other still visibly stunned by everything she'd witnessed.
Jack was at the controls, running diagnostics.
This was where his education paid off. Electronic engineering had broad applications; even if he couldn't fix every system, he understood the operating principles well enough. After a thorough inspection, he powered up the ship.
Aerie backed out slowly, engaged stealth mode, and lifted into the air.
"Lucky break. Minor damage to the defensive barrier and hull plating, but nothing critical." Jack glanced over his shoulder. "Any of you have somewhere to stay?"
"Yes!" The woman in the shirt blurted out an address.
Minutes later, Aerie descended near a suburban farm.
"This is my home," she explained as they disembarked. "I lived here before... before everything happened. I don't think anyone will find us here for a while."
The farm was modest—quiet and secluded, surrounded by empty fields.
Jack took a brief walk around, lost interest, and retreated to Aerie's dining compartment.
He opened a bottle of wine and drank, thoughts drifting.
The attack on Aerie had almost certainly come from the Time Masters' council. He'd altered history by rescuing the Legends, and the Time Masters were allied with Vandal Savage—after Jack had humiliated them, retaliation was inevitable. Pity they'd targeted the ship instead of him personally. He couldn't copy abilities from weapons fire.
Next target: The Flash.
Time travel was available. No point sitting around waiting for trouble. He'd jump straight to the era when Barry Allen gained his powers and copy the Speed Force directly. That way, even if Aerie took damage and lost its temporal capabilities, he wouldn't be stranded.
"So you can copy other people's abilities?" Diana's voice came from the doorway. "Including divine power?"
Jack looked up and smiled. "What brings you over?"
"I wanted to discuss what happens next." Diana crossed toward him, intending to sit, but Jack caught her wrist and pulled her into his lap instead.
She struggled briefly. Didn't break free. Gave up.
"What was the condition you mentioned earlier?" she asked.
"Photographs."
"Photographs?" Diana frowned. "Of what?"
"You." Jack's smile widened. "Clothed... and otherwise."
"You—" Diana knew what cameras were, what photographs meant. Her instinct was to refuse outright. But she'd already agreed, and the words wouldn't come.
"Come with me." Jack stood, pulling her toward his collection room.