She arrived on Earth in a mysterious Symbio-Ship with false
memories and awesome powers and abilities beyond that of mortal men and women....

Issue #20

The Battle for Bialya Part 1: The Road To Bialya Is Paved With Good Intentions

Written By Paul Daimler

Morgan Tracy looked at his watch—Timex, vintage, worth a fortune--feeling a tug of impatience with his hostess. She had left him and his team alone in their train car several minutes ago—telling them they could not disembark without her. The lovely extremely fit Asian woman was definitely not Bialyan, but for whatever reason she was his host for this visit. As the leader of the five person United Nations Crisis Bureau Team they were here after several reports of genocide and human trafficking had reached U.N. representatives. Based on Morgan and his team’s reports and observations, the U.N. would decide whether to enact sanctions or if peace-keeping forces would be needed.

“Something is not right here.” Stacy Macklin said, leaning in as the light-rail train from the President’s Palace pulled to a quiet stop in front of the Communications Building.

All communication in and out of Bialya—including internet, television, and radio--filtered through this building. The fact that Bialya had a long history of being a hot-bed of terrorist activity—all the way back to the days after the Vietnam War when its benevolent but simple King Naffe Keit was murdered by the captain of his royal guard Colonel Jurmaan Harjavti. Generations later, shortly after the formation of the Justice League International, Harjavti’s son Rumaan was assassinated by Bianca Ratjan a.k.a. Queen Bee who took control of Bialya. By brainwashing the Global Guardians she had been able to convince the world that she was a kind benevolent ruler and that Bialya flourished under her rule. When the JLI had discovered otherwise, she had managed to wage of vendetta against them that had gone under the radar—making them look hostile to the U.N. and world at large—calling the JLI’s integrity into question. When all of the Queen Bee’s manipulations came to light and she was assassinated by Sumaan Harjavit. Who was later assassinated by Bianca’s sister Beatriz Hajeen had claimed the name Queen Bee and took over Bialya again. But she too had been assassinated. And, in the confusion after Beatriz’s assassination President Stanlos Hashim had come to power. And, so far, the travesties that they were hearing about (so far no proof had been uncovered) indicated that Hashim was worse than the Harjavtis and Queen Bees put together.

“I agree.” Morgan said to Stacy. The pretty blonde had come to the U.N. after a tour of duty in the U.S. space program. Morgan had always found the woman sexy, and something about the fact that she had been an astronaut only added to the effect. He often wished that she wasn’t on his team—or else he’d pursue her. Along with all the other women in the world that he desired.

Morgan Tracy smiled. He loved the playboy lifestyle, and dug it even more because as the field leader and director of the U.N. Crisis Bureau he lived a life that James Bond would envy.

“I just wish I knew where the rot was.” Stacy said quietly. “Everything looks to be on the up-n-up, but there is something we’re missin’ Boss.”

“What is your take?” Morgan asked Tod Dunham, a brown-haired kid of barely twenty-five from England who had managed to make it on this team due to his time in the British army—and leading his platoon to victory without meta-human help against Eclipso.

“The Asian girl who is our tour guide doesn’t actually exist.” Tod said quietly, his clipped British accent making this grim news sound almost cheerful.

“How is that?” Morgan Tracy asked, keeping his tone light. “She certainly looks like flesh and blood to me.”

“Of course she does.” Lauren Haley cracked from beside Tod. Lauren was another pretty blonde American girl, this one having made her way to the United Nations Crisis Bureau after a stint in the Air Force. She had helped lead an attack on the alien armadas during the Alien Invasion a few years back and had managed to take out several Khund and Thanagian Warships all on her own. During Mogul’s “Cold Armageddon she had led the Air Force’s victorious defense of Midway City—preventing any casualties among the city’s civilian residents, and only lost one man to the alien warships. She’d been one of the first people Morgan Tracy had hand-selected for his original five-person Crisis Bureau Field Team back when he’d been helping put the Crisis Bureau together ten years ago.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Morgan asked, grinning widely.

“She’s female. You’ve been checking her out the whole time she’s been our hostess.” Lauren smiled slyly.

“Well, the lady you’ve been checking out Morgan doesn’t exist.” Tod shrugged, “According to my computer there has never a Liang Chen employed by the Bialyan government, nor is there any known citizen by that name. And, through my U.N. database, I find plenty of Liang Chens in the world. But, none that could be on this train showing us around the capitol.”

“That makes me even more suspicious than I already am.” Stacy Macklin said thoughtfully. “I think we should get back to our hotel rooms.”

“Don’t you think you’re being too suspicious?” Jean-Claude Devereaux asked, his French accent barely detected.

“I don’t think so.” Stacy said, “Something is completely off about this entire trip. President Hashim has been bending over backwards to accommodate us. His chosen hostess for us doesn’t exist in any database that Tod can access…and Tod can access them all. I say we get back to the hotel and figure out what’s going on.”

“I think Stacy may be on to something.” Morgan said, his grin fading.

“Oh please, don’t tell me that.” Jean-Claude said, rolling his eyes. “She is being ridiculous.”

“The team of super-villains that just got onto this train say otherwise.” Morgan said, keeping his tone very neutral.

His eyes instantly went to the woman dressed in pale green silk and martial-arts boots. The green silk mask did cover her face, but Morgan recognized her figure as their hostess Liang Chen.

“Greetings and welcome to Bialya.” The woman said, her supple lips curling into a smile beneath her cat-shaped mask.

“The Jade Tiger…” Tod said, taking a deep gulp.

“You recognize me?” Her tone sounded delighted.

“Yeah. You’re wanted by just about every government in the world. And, the ones who don’t want you in jail want to hire you.” Tod said.

Her smile grew wider, “Then I’m assuming you are aware of how deadly I am and of all the things I can do to you five.”

Morgan Tracy said, “We have no interest in fighting. What do you want?”

“Oh, it’s simple Mr. Tracy.” The Jade Tiger cooed, “My team and I, whom you may know as members of the Hate League, are here to take you into custody. President Hashim is less than thrilled with your arrival here.”

“We’ll come with you.” Morgan said, standing. He turned toward his staff. “Everyone remain calm.”

“I am unaware of who this Jade Tiger is,” Jean-Claude said, panic evident on the man’s face. “But, I do recognize Leatherette there.”

The Frenchman pointed at the tall thin woman wearing black leather pants, boots, and jacket. They were all riddled with spikes and studs and her hair had been shaved save for the preposterously tall hot pink Mohawk. Her full lips twisted into a smile beneath her round mirrored teashade glasses revealing a gold tooth.

“Do you now mate?” She asked in a thick British accent.

“Yes. You were responsible for the death and murder of twenty-nine tourists at the Eiffel Tower last year.”

“I didn’t even get paid for that one.” Leatherette laughed.

“If she’s here, they aren’t here to take us into custody.” Jean-Claude said, his voice filling with panic.

“Just stay calm Jean-Claude.” Morgan Tracy said, feeling the tension in the train car building and knowing that it could burst. And that would be bad. That was how things escalated into dangerous territories. “We’ll go with the Jade Tiger and her friends. She has said that they are just taking us into custody.”

“That’s right Mr. Tracy.” Jade Tiger smiled. “We are going to escort you to a secure location until President Hashim decides if you’ve seen anything that might be tricky to explain. He’ll obviously release you once he’s determined a few things. It wouldn’t do well for him to have the United Nations illustrious Crisis Bureau Field Team to just disappear while investigating his country. It would look exceedingly bad.”

“Let’s go folks.” Morgan Tracy said. “Jade Tiger is being perfectly reasonable and honest.”

Morgan watched his team stand, and instantly could tell that Jean-Claude was about to lose it.

Before he could attempt to calm Jean-Claude, the man began to scream and tried to run past the Jade Tiger and the Hate League.

Leatherette removed a leather strap from her belt and swung it, knocking Jean-Claude off his feet.

A line of torn fabric showed a strip of angry red flesh on his back and blood came blooming to the surface instantly.

Jean-Claude wailed in pain.

Leatherette struck him again, laughing wildly.

Jade Tiger and the other members of the Hate League stared at Morgan Tracy and the rest of his team.

“Any of the rest of you want to freak out?” Jade Tiger asked.

“I think we’re good.” Morgan Tracy said.

“Then let’s go people.” Jade Tiger said, ushering the other four members of the Field Team off of the train.

As they were crammed into a van, Morgan Tracy frowned. Perhaps they should have tried to run for it.

Before the van door slammed, Morgan heard one of the costumed super-villains start laughing even as Lauren Haley knocked past her and took off running.

Leatherette wiped blood from the leather strap as she climbed into the van.

“One down.” Leatherette grinned widely.

“And another one escaped.” Jade Tiger smiled, then turned to Morgan Tracy. “Everything is going according to plan. The rest of your team should be home and safe within a few weeks.”

“I feel as though I’m missing something.” Tracy said, keeping his tone pleasant.

“Oh you are.” Jade Tiger replied, “But it doesn’t really matter. You and your team have served your purpose.” She then turned toward Morbid Doll who sat behind the wheel of the van. “Get us back to the fortress so we can get these prisoners secured for President Hashim.”

Morbid Doll cackled, “Whatever the President wants.”

The van disappeared into the hot steamy day, even as the flies began to swarm Jean-Claude’s body.

One week later Karen Starr was in her bedroom packing a couple suitcases. While the official cover story was that she was going to Europe to a couple trade shows, she wasn’t even sure that a cover story was necessary anymore. It had come to her attention in the past few weeks, thanks to her boyfriend Ian McLean that everyone close to her actually had figured out she was Power Girl a long time ago. Well, everyone except the newbie at Starrware Minerva Bates, but eventually she would figure it as well, based on Karen’s horrible ability at keeping her secret identity secret.

In the transmitter in her earring, Oracle was laying out what information she had.

“So, it looks like the Hate League is working for the President of Bialya.” Karen said, summarizing everything the United Nations had laid out for the Justice League Europe when they’d asked for their assistance in the “Bialya Incident” as it was currently being referred to within the halls of the U.N.

“That doesn’t make much sense based what you and I both know about the Hate League.” Oracle said, “They are a mercenary villain-team, but they do tend to assassinate people that are on Bialya’s side.”

“I know. But, they did try to kill Anath… who killed Ambassador Kirkarius.” Karen said, “Perhaps they have some weird allegiance to Bialya.”

“I don’t know.” Oracle said, “Speaking of your friend Anath the Assassin, I’ve been in contact with her. She’s actually working with the Bialyan Rebels in liberating Bialya from President Hashim’s regime.”

“So, maybe the Hate League is on Hashim’s payroll.” Karen said thoughtfully, her cat Creaky wandered into the room, demanding attention. Karen picked the cat up, giving it a scratch just under the chin. He meowed his pleasure and began purring loudly, instantly turning into dead weight in her arms.

“Maybe.” Oracle said, “I don’t know. Something just feels wrong. The body of Jean-Claude Devereaux was just left in the street. He bled to death there while an ambulance came. And, Lauren Haley, the U.N. Crisis Bureau member who escaped said they didn’t even try to catch her.”

“It’s almost like they want it known that President Hashim is behind all of this.” Karen said thoughtfully, “But that would be disastrous. Bialya’s membership in the U.N. is tenuous as it is, and if they had sanctions against them it could devastate them. Their food supplies are dependent on imports from U.N. countries that would have to cut off shipments if sanctions were placed.”

“Yeah, it’s all a little too pat.” Oracle agreed. “You’re walking into something that is probably going to turn into a big mess.”

“At least I’m not alone this time.” Karen smiled, setting the cat down. He gave her a dirty look with his one good eye, beginning to swat his tail back and forth angrily as Karen finished packing. “For this mission I’m just another member of the J.L.E.”

“That’s an advantage.” Oracle replied.

“I even convinced the Silver Sorceress to join us on this one.” Karen said, “I’m sure her powers will be handy in the heat of battle. Plus, Laura hasn’t seen Blue Jay since she came back from the dead.”

“That sentence is seriously messed up.” Oracle chuckled, “And what’s more messed up is how often we say one of our friends has come back from the dead.”

Karen chuckled too, “Yeah, it is weird. Dead doesn’t necessarily mean dead for us super-folk. Which could be good since according to those prophecies and Blue Topaz I’m going to die at the hands of Adramelek the Terrible. At least I’ll come back from the dead if it happens.”

“God. Let’s hope those prophecies aren’t true.” Oracle said, “That would be horrible. Especially since you have to consider that at some point, someone isn’t going to come back. I mean Barry Allen never has.”

“Neither has the original Mr. Terrific.” Karen said. His murder had been one of the first cases she had worked on with the Justice League of America—shortly after she’d joined the Justice Society. It seemed like a million years ago, but it was the first time she’d realized that sometimes even if the good guys won, that not everyone came home.

They were both quiet for a few minutes.

“That got awkward.” Oracle said finally.

“Yeah. It did.” Karen replied.

“How is Power Boy adjusting to life here on our world?” Oracle quickly changed the subject.

“He seems to be doing OK. He and Atlee are in Strata for a few days, so it’s a good time for this J.L.E. mission to pop up.” Karen said, closing her suitcase and buckling it. “He grew up on his Universe’s Apokolips, under the thumb of Granny Goodness. He says that he was a baby when his rocket ship landed on Apokolips and when he was fifteen he escaped to follow the Supergirl of his world to Earth because he’d developed a crush on her. He says he likes our world better. He and Atlee have become fast friends… I suspect she has a crush on him, but is too unsure of things up here on the surface to know how to act.”

“And it’s not like you’re much help in romantic situations.” Oracle cracked.

“Well, that is true. I’m not so great at the dating. Although Ian and are doing great. Better now that the fact he knows I’m Power Girl is out in the open.” Karen sighed, “I’m terrible at this secret identity thing. Luckily only my closest friends have put two and two together.”

“So far.” Oracle said, “Some day the wrong person could figure it out. You have to do something about that glasses and slicked back hair look…”

“It works for Kal.” Karen said defensively.

“I don’t know how. I’ve never understood how that works for him.” Oracle said.

“Well, it does. I just have to figure out why it works for him and then go with that.” Karen sighed, “I guess I’ll let you go. I’m meeting Laura in twenty minutes so we can fly to the London Embassy together.”

“OK. Keep in touch. And if anything comes up where you need my services… I’ll also keep you in the loop with any information that Anath passes along to me.” Oracle said.

“I don’t like that you’re working with her. She’s a fugitive and a murderer.”

“I know. I know. But, she is doing a lot of good there and is helping the rebellion make great strides. Part of the reason the U.N. Crisis Bureau went in is because of information Anath got to me that I leaked to the appropriate people at the U.N.”

“I still don’t like it.” Karen said.

“I know. Your displeasure is duly noted. Have a safe trip.”

The line in the earring transmitter dropped off.

Karen found herself gazing out the window at the city beyond. She suddenly wished that Power Boy and Atlee were here… that Beth Chapel hadn’t already moved into her new apartment several blocks away. Blue Topaz’s parting words about her unavoidable demise had been weighing on her more and more lately. And even a few moments here and there without another human being left Karen feeling antsy.

“You’re being ridiculous.” She told herself, getting back to the business at hand.

“So we’re going to a peace conference?” The Silver Sorceress asked from beside Power Girl. The Atlantic Ocean was a sparkling pane of deep blue beneath them. “I thought the U.N.’s delegates were missing. And one had died.”

They were flying a bit slower than Power Girl was used to for cross-Atlantic trips, but the Silver Sorceress couldn’t fly as fast as Power Girl, and it was harder to talk if they went too fast. Besides, they would still make it to London in just under an hour. The dark shape of the British Isles already lurked against the horizon in the distance.

“Yeah, but the U.N. feels if we have a Peace Conference and focus on the growing rebellion within Bialya’s borders, it will play better to the public. They’re keeping their field team’s being kidnapped and one of them murdered on the down low until the situation can be resolved. The thinking is that it will put less pressure on President Hashim and hopefully the missing field team will turn up alive and well.” Power Girl said. At first she had not cared much for them going about it this way—it felt passive aggressive and like some sort of subterfuge that could blow up in the U.N. and the J.L.E.’s faces later. But, it was possible going in like this—with the official story being that they were going to offer assistance to both the rebels and President Hashim to resolve the conflict peaceably--would result in fewer deaths.

“So where is this shin-dig going to be?” The Silver Sorceress asked, the sunlight causing her rich tan armor and helmet to shine brightly in the sunlight. Power Girl still thought she had one of the lamest costumes ever, but she would never tell her to her face. For whatever reason the Silver Sorceress loved her costume that made her look more like a big brown bunny than a silver sorceress. Perhaps it was related to her being color blind… maybe she thought her costume was silver?

“Lady Star-Fyre has provided her floating arena.” Power Girl said, thinking it was a weird twist that cosmetic magnet and billionaire Lady Star-Fyre had offered to let the U.N. use one of her playthings. There were only three floating arenas in existence, and one of them had been acquired by the Ultramarines for their mobile base. The other one belonged to an eccentric gazillionaire who lived off the coast of Brazil in it.

“Her floating arena? What the hell is the Avon lady doing with one of those?” The Silver Sorceress asked.

“Actually Lady Star-Fyre’s cosmetics business is only the most public of her businesses. Her conglomeration is called Lady Star-Fyre Industries. They make all manner of weapons and machinery and vehicles. The floating arenas are actually made by one of her subsidiary companies Star-Fyre Engines. They make all sorts of flying skiffs and other stuff that look like they come out of Star Wars or Krypton.”

“Why would she lend one though for the U.N. ‘peace conference’?”

“Apparently she’s a Bialyan native and she has her corporate offices in Bialya… some sort of tax shelter thing I’m sure. If the country goes to Hell it’s possible it could hurt her profits.” Power Girl tried to keep the bitter sound from her voice, but couldn’t quite manage. As the C.E.O. of Starrware she could very easily behave much the same way that Lady Star-Fyre was, but she saw it as her duty to make sure the world was safer and people were provided for. The fancy new machines and gadgets they were developing under the tutelage of Minerva Bates—things like exo-skeletons, anti-gravity belts, and force-field generators were going to be reworked to do good for people and make sure people were safe and had better lives. People who ran massive corporations and created technology owed it to the general populace to make their lives better—just as people who had super-powers owed it to those without to protect them from super-villains, alien invasions, and natural disasters.

“Can’t wait to see the floating arena.” The Silver Sorceress said, “We didn’t have anything like that back on Angor. We were a low-tech world in a lot of ways. Then again, who knows what would have happened if not for the Nuclear War there that wiped out most of my people… and left the few survivors mad or mutated. It’s a marvel that me, Blue Jay, and Wandjina escaped.”

“Your sister and those other witches escaped. That’s how you are back with us. Ghost Girl summoned your spirit and you ended up taking up residency in your dead sister’s body.”* Power Girl said, “So, there are more than just you and Jay.”

*recap of The Silver Sorceress’s resurrection from Supergirl Halloween Special #1.

“Yeah, Ghost Girl’s recovery goes well.” The Silver Sorceress said, “She is still living in my castle in the wilds of upstate New York. I’m training her to use her powers responsibly, and helping her recover from the mental abuse Satanika inflicted upon her all those years.”

“Looks like London is just ahead!” Power Girl said, as the city sprung Athena-like from the horizon. “Next stop the J.L.E. embassy!”

The city of London flashed by below them until they came to the Revson building that housed the J.L.E.’s headquarters here in London. They did not quite have U.N. funding these days, with the Crimson Fox and Revson providing their funding… this mission for the U.N. could change all of that. If they could get their funding back there would be less murmuring in the press that they were paid security for Revson. Of course, it was ridiculous that any one would suggest that.

As they made their way into Revson’s headquarters, they went directly to the floor that housed the J.L.E.’s operations.

Tora Olafsdotta, better known as the Nordic Princess/Super-Hero and former fashion model Ice, was sitting in front of the monitor.

Since she’d been rescued by Power Girl from the alternate time line the Time Trapper had shunted her into along with Vivian D’Armaris, one of the sisters who had masqueraded as the original Crimson Fox, Tora had stuck mostly to monitor duty. She had yet to go back to the hidden kingdom she’d grown up in and visit her family—so far as Power Girl knew, her isolated family and people had no idea their princess was back among the living.

“Tora!” Power Girl gave the woman a hug. “What are you doing here? I thought you would be in Bialya with the others.”

“No.” Ice shook her head, her white hair bouncing with the motion. “Someone has to stay here and monitor in case we need to call in the reserves for some European disaster or calamity.”

“We have reserves?” Power Girl asked with a lifted eye-brow.

“Oh yeah,” Ice nodded, missing the sarcasm. “There are many former Global Guardians spread throughout Europe who we can call in if needed.”

“So, you’re just going to stay here rather than go to the peace conference?” Silver Sorceress asked, frowning.

“Yes. Somebody has to.” Ice said, looking back and forth between Power Girl and the Silver Sorceress.

“You are always that somebody Tora.” Power Girl said as gently as she could. “You don’t leave the monitor except to sleep and eat. Have you even been out of Revson since you’ve been back?”

Ice looked away, “I went out to get some bangers and mash yesterday on my day off.”

“And how long were you outside of the building?” Power Girl asked pointedly.

“Long enough.” Ice said, an edge entering her voice. “Let’s not talk about that. You two need to get over to the teleporters so I can send you to the floating arena.”

“OK.” Power Girl said, “But when this peace conference is over, you and I need to have a long talk.”

Ice did not respond, merely watched as Power Girl and the Silver Sorceress made their way into the teleporter area. Power Girl stepped in first, and disappeared, followed by the Silver Sorceress.

Power Girl always closed her eyes when going through the teleporter. She had only had them open once, the very first time she was ever teleported back when during one of those Justice League/Justice Society team-ups and she’d been dizzy for days and had actually lost her lunch on Firestorm’s boots. Not the most dignified moment in her life.

Personally she would have rather just flown to the floating arena, but U.N. security had insisted that teleporters be used as the only way on or off the floating arena. The floating arena its self was floating in the middle of the vast empty desert near the Bialyan/Qurac boarder.

When she opened her eyes, she found a wide blue sky above, devoid of clouds and nearly white from the heat of the sun. The Silver Sorceress stood beside her and they were in a courtyard lined with rose bushes and cobblestone walkways. There was lush green grass beneath their feet and a bubbling fountain in the very center of the courtyard area.

“Wow, Lady Star-Fyre has this place looking like the grounds of an English manor.” The Silver Sorceress said just beneath her breath.

“Yes, she does.” Power Girl surveyed the railing that surrounded the edge of the courtyard—which was nearly seven foot tall and thick metal mesh designed to provide a view of below, but prevent falling over the side and going splat on the countryside below.

Before them were tall metal towers that looked like a futuristic city, near the entrance to those buildings were several of the costumed heroes who comprised the Justice League Europe, President Hashim and his cabinet and advisors, and several men and women in shabby but clean clothes who could only be rebel leaders. Behind them stood U.N. employees--looking tense and ready for trouble. Power Girl could pick out translators, diplomats, mediators, and all the other U.N. staff that would be needed for successful peace negotiations. Almost invisible and undetectable where people wearing blackish purple body suits with the small signet of Lady Star-Fyre over their hearts. They moved quietly, effortlessly, and gracefully in the background. Power Girl noted with a small amount of curiosity that they were all women.

Power Girl and the Silver Sorceress made their way over to them. Before they had drawn to within a dozen feet of the complex’s entrance, a man in a white and blue costume with a blue-feathered cowl caught sight of them and quickly closed the gap between himself and Silver Sorceress.

“I didn’t know you were coming!” Blue Jay called out joyously as he embraced her.

“I think Power Girl wanted to surprise you,” Silver Sorceress answered happily. “I know we have a lot of catching up to do but I’m sure we’ll have more time for that after the conference sessions?”

Blue Jay pulled away from his fellow Assembler abruptly and looked around awkwardly. Power Girl strode forward to put herself between the too-short reunion and the other delegations. Another member of the J.L.E., Dr. Light, made her way to Power Girl’s side.

“Glad you’re here,” Dr. Light said, her voice low enough to keep the exchange only between the two of them.

“Me too,” Power Girl answered, matching her volume to her teammate’s.

She looked over Dr. Light’s shoulder to nod greetings toward the other three heroes representing the J.L.E.: Tasmanian Devil, a massive tower of brown fur, his broad chest marked with a paler T and his height placing his bestial face above the tops of his companions’ heads; Seneca, bare-chested except for the chalky lines of tribal symbols painted on his bulging muscles, red feathers tied into the braids dangling from the back of his jet black Mohawk; and Frostbite, pale blue flesh taut over the elfin musculature of his wiry frame. “Where are Maya and Crimson Fox?” Power Girl asked.

Dr. Light’s voice dropped slightly lower still. “They’re back in Paris. We thought it might be better to let the male-female ratio of our roster for this mission skew a little more toward the testosterone side.”

“Why?” Power Girl challenged.

“Karen,” Dr. Light sighed softly, “Bialya’s not the most progressive place in the world when it comes to women’s rights. Equality between the sexes just isn’t in their culture, especially the old guard like Hashim, as you’ll see when you meet him. Just keep that in mind, ok?”

“Fine,” Power Girl agreed reluctantly as Dr. Light led her toward the entourage of the President of Bialya.

“President Hashim,” Dr. Light said by way of introduction, “may I present Power Girl?”

“It’s wonderful to finally meet you Power Girl.” President Hashim said, reaching over and taking Power Girl’s gloved hand in his.

“You as well Mr. President.” Power Girl smiled, even as the man’s eyes went straight to her chest. She reminded herself that later when he was on trial for war-crimes she could give him a little hot-foot with the heat vision while he was sitting hand-cuffed in a U.N. courtroom.

While they shook hands, there was an odd electronic sound coupled with a high-pitched squealing. This was followed by screams and hollers interrupted the moment. Power Girl quickly pulled her hand free of President Hashim’s sweaty palm.

Power Girl turned toward the noise, which was louder thanks to her super-hearing.

Not far from where Power Girl and Silver Sorceress had teleported in was a wavering light of cascading pink and silver and yellow spots. They looked like pixels as they rippled and wavered until finally solidifying into a solid form.

“Blackmarket teleportation…” Power Girl whispered to herself.

Rushing toward them was the assassin Anath.

TO BE CONTINUED IN JUSTICE LEAGUE EUROPE #82!