ATONEMENT by Iczerman

1

"Hmm..this is strange." Thought Lita as she stretched her aching muscles. " Usually Amy is the one that gets me out of bed for our morning runs, but she's not around."

Walking toward Amy's room Lita was hoping that she would show something that could be construed as being 'normal' like the rest of the human race. Sleeping in late or snacking on some chocolate before breakfast would be a welcome change.

Lita knocked on the door and waited...too long. She knocked again.

" Come.....in." Said a small voice.

"Hey Amy! Wake up will ya! Get your butt out of bed......ohhh noooo." Lita's voice trailed off into a dreading whisper.

Amy was sitting on the edge of her bed, when she looked up at Lita she tried to smile. But what Lita saw were two red, tear-filled eyes.

" Wha...What happened?" Lita went to sit by her friend, putting her arm around her.

" I ....I don't know." Said Amy, her voice breaking. "I was fine last night and when I woke up, my....." Amy couldn't finish and started to cry softly.

Lita's hand felt Amy's slender shoulder. She started to massage Amy's neck to help her relax.

"Please..not so hard. I'm not what I used to be."

Amy got up and looked at her slim body in the mirror, as if she were trying to convince herself that this was a dream.

But it was no dream.

Amy's body looked like that of a slender woman of 20 years old. Like a 'normal' 20 year old. Her skin was soft and her arms slender. Her breasts were now a pert b-cup and her waist was thicker.

" Not a bad figure." Thought Lita. " For a 'normal' person."

" Lita, call my friends." Asked Amy. " I....I want my friends around me."

2

Serena was the first to arrive and the first one to cry. She went to Amy and held her in her arms, Amy's face buried in her chest.

Mina, Lita and Raye were silent, trying to hold back the tears. Luna was pacing back and fourth nervously.

" There must be some explanation for this." Said Luna, breaking the heavy silence after what seemed like hours.

" We gotta do something!" Sobbed Serena. " Someone or some thing stole our Amy's powers!"

" My compact computer." Said Amy, finally composing herself. " I could see if there are any magical trails or anything out of the ordinary left behind." Going over to the desk, Amy brought out the up-graded microcomputer and started to take some readings.

" Are you up to this Amy? I mean....."

"Sush Raye." Said Luna. " This sort of thing is what Amy does best, let her try to get back what part of her life she still has left."

After examining the entire house, Amy sat down on the couch discouraged.

Nothing.

" What am I going to do now? How can I face my sensei Julia like this? How can I face anyone like this?" Amy started to cry again.

" We will be here for you Amy." Said Serena as she put her arm around Amy's shoulder.

" Thanks...But ....But I think I need to be alone for a while." Amy, head hanging, slowly went upstairs and into her room.

" Thanks for coming over on such short notice guys." Said Lita as she walked everyone to the front door. " I'll let you know if anything happens."

" Is there something I can get for you?" Asked Mina. " I could do your shopping."

" That would be a great help. Let me get the list......"

2.1

For the next seven days Lita brought food to Amy's door, only to find it untouched the next day. The only thing that was consumed was the fresh vegetable juice.

"If she doesn't eat soon, I'm going in there and make sure she does." Said Lita to herself sternly.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she found an empty tray outside Amy's door the next morning.

Waking up bright and early the next day Lita went past Amy's room to check up on her. The tray full of food was again untouched, but her door was open. Knocking softly she called to Amy.

No answer.

She went in to look around and found Amy's bed made and the room in order, but Amy was not there.

Going down to the first level she saw Amy with a wooden staff doing some excersises. Lita could tell that the weight of the staff was slowing her down, but her moves were still fluid and were performed with snap and authority.

" I guess not all was stolen from me." Said Amy.

Again Lita was relieved when she saw Amy smile for the first time in days.

"Let's spar a little." Said Lita, wanting to keep Amy busy and physically active.

Amy was not as fast and as strong obviously, but each move and countermove was still done with perfection. Lita had to be careful not to use too much strength for fear of hurting her.

After their session, Lita had a nice big breakfast while Amy just had a large glass of her special supplement.

" Didn't you say that the magic inside your body was released, and that's how you got so strong?" Asked Lita between mouthfuls of blueberry pancakes.

" Yes, the same as it was for you. Humm...that makes me wonder...."

" Yes I remember....HEY!!!" Shouted Lita. " Where'd ya go!? A M Y??!!"

One moment Amy was standing in front of her, the next second all Lita could see was empty air.

" I'm up here!" Called Amy as she slid down the fire pole that joined all three levels in their house. " It seems not all is lost. I can still cast spells and my fighting skills are still intact. Only the magic that involved my strength is gone. But I'll have to adjust my fighting style because I'm not as strong as I was before." Amy voice faded.

" We could fix that!" Said Lita. " With that super supplement shake you make you can regain a respectable amount of strength, enough to defend yourself. But you won't be tossing 300-foot dragons a mile for a long time. Do you think your strength was only temporary?" Lita wondered if the same thing would happen to her.

" I don't know." Said Amy. " But I can't dwell on what I lost forever. I wonder if Dr. Diggers would take me on as a student? He said I had great potential as an Aura-Mage."

" You would have to tell them eventually. But not until your ready, physically and emotionally." Said Lita reassuringly. "But if Julia is all you say she is, she will understand."

" I....know." Amy whispered.

3

Time seemed to last forever at first. Each day seeming to last twice as long. But as the days turned into weeks, things started to change around Amy's house. With Lita becoming Amy's personal trainer, along with her supplement, Amy made steady progress gaining muscle strength and size. After 6 weeks she looked like a full-muscled fitness model with two years hard training. Her breasts also growing to a large "c" cup. Lita was almost jealous of Amy's new figure, one that most 'normal' men would go for. But she would not give up her massive muscles and huge breasts for anything. But she saw the sadness in Amy's eyes as she activated the magical workout area so she could do her own workout using Amy's Graviton Bar. (patents withdrawn) She could tell that Amy really missed being so strong and capable.

One day Amy did something that made Lita happy, she decided to go out shopping.

" How will you explain yourself to everyone who knows you? They would be curious and pester you with questions." Lita asked.

" I don't know if I'm ready for that yet, but I can't stay cooped up here forever. I know..wait here!" said Amy as she went up the stairs.

A few minutes later Amy showed Lita her 'disguise'. She wore a tight fitting sweat suit and had her hair tied behind her head in a bun. Big sunglasses completed the deception.

" Where did you dig up those ugly sunglasses? UGH!" Teased Lita.

" From your drawer." Said Amy as she left the house, neatly evading Lita's swat at her behind.

It was nice to be out in the fresh air, but soon Amy felt something she hadn't felt for a long time, the weight of her body. She used to move effortlessly, her body almost wanting to take flight. She could fly she thought, knowing she still could cast that Raywing spell Lina taught her, but she had to face the reality that she couldn't fly anywhere she wanted, at least while she was on earth realm. She had to get used to her new body, to develop what she had to the best of her ability. That's what she should be doing instead of moping around. It was true that she missed being so strong and powerful, but she had her strength for a good while and did many good things. It was one of the best times of her life!

She remembered how strong Lita got from just working out and eating right. But she was the Princess of Jupiter and for the longest time the strongest of the group. Maybe she had the gift of strength, that's why she progressed so far so quickly. But Amy was determined to regain as much of her strength as possible on her own. Maybe after a while she could get just as strong as Superman! At least as close as possible.

Nobody paid attention to Amy when she was going about her shopping, at least not at first. As she walked up and down the isles she, out of the corner of her eye, saw a few of the male patrons look at her up and down from head to toe. Some even tried to flirt with her, asking her questions about how to cook vegetables and fish. This type of attention made Amy smile.

"Maybe this change was not so bad after all." Thought Amy as she walked back home, the two heavy bags of grocery's providing little effort to carry. "Perhaps it was Lita's fate to be the strongest and the protector of them all, and all I did was show her the way."

That thought abruptly vanished when she saw the front door of her house kicked in.

" Lita!" Called Amy as she stepped over broken pieces of furniture.. " What happened?...What....." Her voice stopped when she saw the figure lying on the couch.

Superman.

4

Amy stepped over the rubble and knelt down beside the fallen hero. His face was bruised and his nose was broken. He looked over at Amy and at first looked relieved, then his expression changed into one of apology.

" I'm sorry Miss. I thought I came to the right house."

" What happened...Clark?" Asked Amy, her voice low.

" You're Amy? You look like her but..." He looked at her firm arm and above average figure.

" Finally got rid of those creeps, I'll teach'em not to mess around with us!" Lita said as she walked up the steps from the ground level. Her cheek was bruised but she had a smug grin on her face.

"What's going on? Superman, who did this to you?" Amy was concerned that there was an enemy powerful enough who could do this to the Man of Steel.

" Two of Darkseid's minions. I came here tell you about an unusual transmission Star Labs received. Lita let me in the door and was showing me around when two of Darkseid's soldiers kicked the door in and attacked us. I fought his people before, but these two were much stronger. My heat vision couldn't penetrate their armor. But you..." Superman sat up and looked Lita up and down. "You were more than a match for those two."

" I've been training with a student of the best!" said Lita. "And I've also been work'in out!" Lita started to pump her bicep, the huge muscle growing higher with each flex. She also took in larger breaths than was necessary, making the cotton top strain against her big, firm breasts.

" Show-off." Thought Amy.

" I thought I came to the wrong house. I again wasn't sure when I saw you. Amy, what happened to you?" Amy could sense the concern in Superman's voice.

" I still don't know." Said Amy sadly. " I just woke up one morning and all my strength was gone. I've started to train again, but I don't think I could......" Amy's voice trailed off.

" I'm sorry Amy." Said Superman. "But I still need your help. Star Labs had just brought online the new, long range, trans-dimensional sensor array that you designed on line and the first thing they found was an unusual power surge."

" Could that be the black hole created from my Graviton Bar?"

" No, Amy. It came from a different dimension and direction from where we went. We analyzed the signal and extrapolated its source. It was from Apokolips. If Darkseid found a way to strengthen his forces to that level, no telling how powerful he himself has become. He could threaten New Genesis plus Earth."

" Hmmmm..... I know the limitations of that array. If Apokolips were as far away as you have said, the signal would have taken at least a week to get here. And from the reports of Darkseid's attacks on Earth, why did he send just two soldiers to attack you? Why not a full scale assault on Earth and take over quickly?" Asked Amy.

" Maybe it was a scouting mission, or to test the strength of their super soldiers. For all we know, these two could be the only one's supercharged and sent to rub-out Darkseid's only threat, Superman." Surmised Lita.

" I have never fought opponents that much stronger than myself. This could upset the balance of power in the galaxy. I would say this 'test' was a success and Darkseid could start supercharging thousands of his army. Lita defeated only two of them, what could she do against 100?"

" Is there a way we could get to Apokolips undetected? We need to find out how Darkseid is doing this and destroy the method of transformation. A small force could get farther than a large one. With you and Lita protecting me, we might be able to accomplish this." Lita could tell from Amy's voice that she wished she could be of more use.

" I have a way. And we must leave now. For all we know we have NO time left." Said Superman.

Amy and Lita went upstairs, Lita to change into her spandex bodysuit and Amy packing her micro-super computer and her sensory visor (the one she modeled after the one from her sailor scout tiara).

" You had to show off...didn't you.....admit it!!" Teased Amy. " And why wear that body hugging outfit?"

" Hey..quit it! I need to be able to move around quickly ya know." Answered Lita. " And besides, he's cute.... he reminds me of my old boy friend."

5

The hot, arid air of Apokolips blasted Amy's cheek. The dark red sky, if you could call it a sky, made visibility next to impossible.

The three infiltrators materialized about 1/2 a mile from Darkseid's main stronghold, Superman remembering where some rock formations were that could provide cover. Leaving Amy and Lita behind, he went on ahead to get their bearings and look out for any sentries on patrol.

" That's odd." He thought to himself as he looked up into the scarlet atmosphere. " No patrols on the ground or in the air."

Finding a path that enabled them to remain as hidden as possible, the three wound their way toward the fortress. Great pits were everywhere, causing them to slow their progress. As they drew closer, they noticed great holes in the walls and the front gate ripped from its hinges and cast carelessly away.

Lita insisted on going in first, with Amy and Superman following. The absence of anything living started to worry him. Soon they came to the throne room where He and Kara had their last fight with Darksied. The throne was uprooted from its foundation and flug far against the wall.

" Could there have been a revolt?" Asked Amy. " If any of Darksied's soldiers are now that powerful, maybe they felt a change was in order and wanted to take his place, so they destroyed this fortress and moved elsewhere."

" Highly unlikely." Said Superman. "Last time I fought Darkseid I had him beat and thew his body at the feet of his slaves. They weren't interested in freedom, they considered it an honor to carry him and help him. To them.....he was God." He didn't like to be reminded of that fact.

" Where to now? This place is deserted." Asked Lita.

" Let me see if I could scan the area." Amy brought out her small compact computer. " Superman, you can use your special vision and hearing and try to detect something."

The silence that ensued caused Lita to fidget nervously.

"I think I have something. I detect life forms deep underground, powerful ones. And quite a few, I would say close to 50." Said Amy.

" They must be confident about their strength, not to post any lookouts or anything." Observed Lita. " We should be able to sneak in and look around, find out what's happened."

" I'll lead since I have night vision. Amy, which way?"

Amy walked over to one of the passageways that lead down to what turned out to be the Dungeon of Apokolips. The universe had no shortage of stories and rumors about that place, only a shortage of survivors. All who entered, never left.

Superman had never been this deep inside Apokolips before. The heat grew in intensity the deeper they went. Soon the three of them were drenched in sweat.

The tunnel that led to the dungeon was a vast maze, one of the reasons why there were no escapees. But they were soon through it, due to Amy's skills and her compact computer. At last they came to an immense cavern. The flames of Apokolips providing what little light existed. Bodies of Darkseid's soldiers were strewn about the floor. Against the far wall, surrounded by many humanoid figures, was Darkseid himself. Only his bruised head was visible above the solid block of Neutronium encasing his body. Near him, encased in similar tombs, were his son, Granny Goodness, and the three Female Furies.

" This will not hold me forever." Said Darkseid. " And when I'm free...."

" We will come back and defeat you again....for as many times as you like. Your soldiers and the slaves who worship you will come back and eventually release you. But it will be only for a short while. It took us 1/2 hour to conquer you and your forces, they will not be able to stand against us." The speaker of these words was a tall humanoid man dressed in a uniform of intricate design. Beside him was standing a woman dressed in civilian clothes with a tall staff, a great gem adorning its apex.

"Do you know them?" Whispered Lita to Superman.

"No, don't. They are not from Krypton or Argos, that's certain. But a race that can conquer Darkseid this quickly and with such apparent ease...."

" Is it all that bad? Why don't we talk to them? If they are on our side then they would be our friends."

"They would be great allies, but we have to be cautious." Said Amy.

At the same instant Amy spoke, the gem on the woman's staff flashed brightly. The woman gestured to the soldier and they both walked to one side and started to confer.

Amy then doubled over as if hit hard in the stomach.

" We have to get out of here! They know we're here!" Amy started to run back from whence they came..

" Lita! Go after her! I'll see if I could talk to them." Said Superman.

As soon as the words were out of his mouth, they saw six soldiers dressed in the same uniforms as those in the middle of the cavern. One of them had Amy, who was unconscious, four others leveled rifles of some kind at Lita and Superman.

" HOLD! Don't move or we'll be forced to fire!"

" What have you done to Amy!" Shouted Lita. She leaped toward the soldiers who fired their weapons all at once. Lita was suspended in mid air as the rays from the rifles sapped her strength. When the beams stopped, she fell to the ground.

" She'll be all right." Said the Leader as he walked up to Superman. " We were prepared for this, good intelligence is always an advantage."

" Who are you?" Asked Superman.

" My name is General Pliniax of the planet Romux." The leader said in introduction.

" Kal-El of Krypton."

" Ah...Krypton, my condolences for your planet. I know that at times you wish there was something you could have done to prevent your planets destruction, its that wish that I am pursuing now by luring the Nexus here." He gestured toward Amy.

"The Nexus?"

"Yes, the source of our life force." Said the woman with the staff as she joined them. "Our race was stricken with a plague many centuries ago, and unlike other worlds where magic is abandoned in favor of technology, ours kept on using magic and exploring its potential along with technology. It was a synthesis of the two disciplines that created " The Melding Altar". By scanning the universe for a suitable source of life force, we were able to preserve our planets population."

" It was eight of your weeks ago that the Son of Darkseid, on a mission to prove his worthiness as a military leader, came to our province to conquer it. He leveled our main city and killed many of our people. We appealed to New Genisis for help, but we were a small planet in a unremarkable part of space and were ignored. It was then that we found our savior. That girl over there. She had the life force not only to supply our population with enough energy to last us for 50 of your years, but also the power to take our revenge not only against Apokolips, but also New Genisis. It is our intention to take their place. And why should we not? All our people have just a small part of her strength, but that was enough to destroy Apokolips and imprison Darkseid himself. We will be able to respond to those that New Genisis neglects."

" I'm sorry about your planet also, General." Said Superman. " But to take what is not yours, that is wrong."

" I'm sorry that you feel that way. But it is a waste of resources to have such power gathered in just one person where a whole population of a planet could use that power to benefit the entire universe." Said Mali, the bearer of the staff.

" A society that believes in revenge and theft when it suits them cannot be trusted with the guardianship of the universe."

" You simply have no choice in the matter, Kal-El. Two of our troops were disguised, as Darkseid's minion's to access your strength and lure you all into coming here. You were unable to stand against one of us, but the other..." General Pliniax pointed towards a groggy Lita. " We know would pose a problem for us, but you solved it by bringing her along, the only one left on Earth, and for that matter the universe, that could stand in our way."

" I will do everything in my power to stop you." Said Superman thru grit teeth.

" Feel free to try." Said the General mockingly.

Moving faster than a speeding bullet, Superman lunged toward the General, only it was a feint. He instead went to Mali and twisted one of her arms around behind her.

" Don't move, I don't wish to hurt you."

" Humph..." Mali laughed. " You can't." She then, easily, straightened her arm and with a deft flick of her wrist, took hold of Superman's wrist and spun him around. The sound her swatting him reverberated throughout the cavern. Her blow sent him spinning into the arms of one of the soldiers standing nearby. Superman was now firmly held in a painful armlock.

" Don't move, I don't wish to hurt you." Said the Soldier.

Walking up close to the man of steel, Mali lifted superman's chin with her hand.

" You're a handsome one, I'll pretend you didn't try to assault me just now. But enough of introductions and history lessons. We must be on our way to Romux to complete the transfer."

" What do you mean?" Said a groggy Lita.

"The Nexus must be joined to the Melding Altar, making the transfer permanent. The effect of the transfer without the joining would last for only one cycle, but with the joining, it would last for 25. I'm telling you this out of respect for the Nexus...for she is cherished and in a sense a hero to us. General, give the order to withdraw." Mali walked out of the cavern followed by the battalion with their prisoners.

After one day, two beams of energy blasted the immovable tomb. A small chink of metal fell to the ground.

" This is going to take a while." Said Granny.

" OH SHUT UP!" Mumbled Darkseid.

6

Mali was not exaggerating when she said that Amy would be cherished. Many people lined the streets of the capital for the welcome parade, many cheering and chanting Amy's name.

But Amy sat silent, not acknowledging the adoring crowd.

" As least you could wave to them." Mumbled Mali.

They were shown to quarters fit for a king, a sumptuous meal prepared and brought before them. Amy refused to eat, Superman and Lita joining her in her protest.

" You will be joined with the "Melding Altar" day after tomorrow. It would be wise to cherish these last moments." Mali stalked out of the room after a futile attempt to become better aquatinted with the Nexus.

" Now what are we going to do?" Said Lita.

" I could try to fly us out of here." Said Superman as he looked out the window. But his face fell when he saw many people streaking through the sky. But then he chuckled a little when he saw more than one mid-air collision.

" Seems these powers are new to these people." He said. " I think they have yet to learn how to control it."

" If only there was some way we could turn that to our advantage." Said Amy, her first words in the last 24 hours.

The door abruptly opened and in marched another officer of the military. Barking out orders that they were not to be disturbed he slammed the door behind him.

" Okay you....what do you want now." Said Lita as she stood in front of Amy.

The officer reached into his pocket (which caused Lita to snap into her fighting stance)...and pulled out a strange looking device. Motioning for them to be silent while he turned it on, he placed it on the table. He then motioned for the three of them to sit at the table.

" The cloaking field has only a limited range, as long as we stay within 6 cubits, we cannot be heard. I'm Thinnux, Captain of the palace guard. I am also a member of what you would call a religious sect, an Integerate. Our numbers are small and our existence only legend, but we are real. We do not have much time so let me do most of the talking."

" Go ahead, we're listening." Whispered Amy, Lita and Superman nodding in agreement.

" It is an honor to meet you. You are the Nexus, the savior of our planet. But I could tell from your face during the parade that you did not consent to be the Nexus. That is the first of Mali's crimes. There are other members of my sect that are in the Romux Institute of Technology...the cover name for our intelligence organization. They have told me that there have been some unusual troop movements among our borders in the last several weeks. After analyzing them some of us have concluded that we will come under attack by our neighbors in a matter of time. When Mali found you she was only a simple priestess of the Order. She used the "Melding Altar" without permission or the right to steal your strength. When the High Priests discovered the extent of our new powers, they made Mali High Priestess. Chief members of the military, bent on revenge, made plans to avenge Romux, but they overlooked that fact that the whole planet's population has been strengthened and that our old adversaries might get the idea to attack us, despite signed treaties. That is the way of things when power is concerned."

"I guess you have a problem then."

" Lita!" Said Amy sharply. " We have to find a way to help them."

" Why should we? They stole your powers and want to take over the universe. I may have seen too many James Bond movies but that would make these people the bad guys in my book. It's only fitting that they reap the results of their decisions." Lita could be convincing if she wanted to.

" Your friend is correct." Said Thinnux. " There is really no reason why you should help us. It was our negligence that made us a target for Darkseid's son in the first place. But we of my order believe that we must solve our planets problems on our own."

Thinnux reached into his tunic and brought out a small book with a small computer. Amy noticed that he handled the book very gently..almost with reverence.

" Here is an of the original copy's of our 'Code of Integerate'. This one is one of the few that haven't been edited or abridged since it was written. It is in this book that you will find the way to help yourself and us." He gave the book and the computer to Amy.

" Why don't you just tell us straight up, why should Amy do all the research for you?" asked Superman.

" The decision to help us is the Nexus's alone. She has to read and agree to the solution herself." Said Thinnux as he walked to the door.

" I would at least drink some water. I've heard that fasting for a while sharpens the mind."

7

The Monastery that housed the Melding Alter was deep inside a high, craggy mountain. The passages that led down to the Altar Chamber and the chamber itself was hewn from the mountain itself. It was said that magical conduits went all the way to the planets core.

The Altar itself was on a stone stage whose steps leading from it fanned out to form a half circle 100 feet in diameter. Lighting was provided by glowing orbs, which floated above their lamp stands.

The early morning processional consisting, high-ranking members of the military, government and religious sects made their way through the rainforest that lead to the mountainside. Amy, Lita and Superman walked in front, led only by High-Priestess Mali and General Plinniax.

They weaved their way through the passages until they got to the Melding Chamber. Mali banged her staff on the stone ground for attention.

" Today is the greatest day in our planets history. It is from this place that our destiny and the destiny of the universe will be sealed. We have received great power from the Nexus and it is with her willing consent that The Joining will be accomplished."

" Amy! What were you thinking!" Said Lita. " You consent to give these people your powers?! How could you?!"

" You have to trust me Lita. I know what I'm doing." Said Amy softly.

Lita went to slap Amy but was restrained by 10 soldiers.

Amy slowly walked up the steps and laid herself down on the Altar. A knife that looked like it was made of emerald was brought to Mali by a hooded monk, who, along with several more of his order, stood by and around the High

Priestess.

" This is also a great day in the history of diplomacy. I have consulted with the leaders of all the provinces of Romux and with our combined knowledge have found a way to make the power we gain from the Nexus last forever, not only for 25 cycles. May I present the leaders of Pullonix, Chrisnnux, Aborunnx, Grull, Meniux and Korbanoll."

The five hooded monks removed their hoods and robes.

The murmurs and gasps of the crowd echoed throughout the Chamber.

Lita and Superman looked toward Thinnux, who turned pale.

"After the Joining, we will have a united Romux for the first time since our planets recorded history. We will then commence with the destruction of New Genisis and take our rightful place in the universe as its guardians." Mali was radiant.

" You mean the masters of the universe and the rest of us slaves." Said Superman " You all will become worse than Darkseid himself."

" And what do you mean rightful?!" Cried Lita. " You're getting your powers by stealing them from Amy! I don't know what was in that book to make Amy consent to this...."

" Book? What book?" Commanded Mali.

" The book he over there gave us." Said Lita, nodding her head toward Thinnux.

" Integerate! Heretic! Seize him!" Yelled Plinniax.

Before anyone could do anything, Thinnux turned into a blur of motion and was soon running for his life back the way they came.

" Don't worry about him. He cannot stop us now and he would be a wanted man for the rest of his life. His blood will be added to the Altar when we catch him. But the time of the joining is now here."

Mali raised the emerald dagger and held it over her head. In a clear, loud voice she chanted words that were unrecognizable to Lita and Superman. Then with a sudden and swift motion the dagger sped downward through the air.

A deep rumble started to emanate from the very bowels of the planet. Deep, luminescent cracks started to form on the empty Altar as it started to crumble.

" What happened! Where's the Nexus?! Find her..and...AAAAAAGGGGHHHHH!!!' Mali grabbed her head as she wailed in pain. Soon the whole cavern was shaking and the sound of destruction and wails of agony filled the chamber.

The ten soldiers who restrained Lita were flung aside and both she and Superman, along with many others, bolted through the passageways to the entrance of the mountain. The ground started to tremble violently causing many to loose their footing. Soon great slabs of stone started to erupt from the ground.

Superman took flight and scooped Lita up in his arms. Superman (only for a second) underestimated Lita's weight but successfully hid the fact.

Lita's heart was fluttering faster than they were flying.

When they reached a safe height they looked back at the Mountain of the Altar. It started to break apart and collapse inward upon itself. Bright beams of green light cut through the stone and shot upwards toward the sky. The shockwave of the explosion almost caused Superman to loose Lita, but her strong arms (wrapped around his neck) kept them from being separated.

When the cataclysm finally stopped, they found a place to land near what used to be the entrance to the Monastery. There were many people who made it safely, but most were entombed beneath the mountain.

Mali, Plinniax and the six leaders of the other provinces where nowhere to be seen.

Lita administered first aid to those who needed it the worst, using cloth from the soldier's uniforms to make bandages. Superman flew to the capital city and returned with medical relief and personnel transports.

When the last ship finally left, Lita and Superman were alone.

" What do we do now?" Asked Lita.

" According to the plan, Thinnux should be meeting us here shortly."

As if in response to Superman's answer, Thinnux emerged from some bushes. His tunic was stained and he was winded from his journey.

" It was good fortune that Mali's incantation took a long time to recite." Said a tired Thinnux. " General Plinniax always had too much faith in his secret police. I've been an operative for 5 years and he hadn't discovered me. He was lax in not having me followed."

"Did we give you enough time to get away?" Asked Lita.

" When I reached the entrance I tried to fly like I've seen some of the others try to do. But I almost fell from the sky when the power left me, good thing I wasn't flying too high."

" That was wise." Commented Superman.

" Did Amy tell you where she was going to teleport to?"

8

The sky of Romux was not that bad, Amy thought as she lay on her back. The stars were about to peek out from behind the deep blue and orange curtain of dusk.

Amy had passed by not too far from this place on her way to the Melding Altar. She decided that she would teleport somewhere near this place, but at a safe distance from the Mountain.

The book that Thinnux gave her was difficult to translate. The years of study needed to fully understand the writings were not an understatement. But she poured through the book like she was studying for one of the Metropolis University's Doctoral exams.

There was one term she was not sure of the translation. Taken in one context it meant "original" and in another it could mean "restoration". But one thing was for sure, The Melding Altar must be destroyed. That would end the priest's ability to rob other beings of their life force. Amy was not sure of what would happen to her. Would she regain her strength? Or would she return to the state she was before her changes?

She then heard her heart.

Slowly and steadily her heart started to beat stronger and louder. The blood flowing through her veins became rushing streams of power. With each heartbeat she felt herself become stronger.

Just lie still, she thought. But it was difficult to keep herself from crying.

She felt her muscles eagerly accept the powerful fluids, swelling larger to accept more.

Her breasts started to grow larger. Higher they climbed, jutting straight up into the sky. She didn't think that her breasts could become stronger like her muscles, but they felt like they did.

Her heart started to pound harder, but not faster. Her nipples and clitoris started to throb, the blood forcing them fully erect.

She stood up and flexed her muscles. Her biceps swelling larger and larger each time she pumped them. She expanded her lungs with a breath of the clean air, causing her breasts to rise high enough to almost block her vision. She ran her fingers over her stomach and felt the solid midsection. She felt her nipples pulse upward violently with each beat of her powerful heart. When she touched them she doubled over at the waist as if hit in the gut by a sledgehammer, but it was not from pain.

She had never felt pleasure this intense!

After what seemed like hours it finally stopped. Amy walked over to a hill overlooking a beautiful valley and saw the sun rise over the horizon.

She just stood and watched.

The beginning of a new day.

9

"Oh Lita, stop teasing me!" Said Amy as she munched one of Lita's chocolate chip cookies. "You don't know what it felt like to get the strength that took two years acquire all come back to you in a matter of hours."

"You should've heard her. She was behind these bushes going ..psst....psst trying to get my attention not knowing that Superman could hear her all the time." Lita said as she crouched down as if hiding.

" Hey! I was....er.....I didn't have any clothes on at the time! I guess I " grew out" of them. They were all over the ground when I finally started to notice." Said Amy shyly.

" I don't know what was funnier, the thought of Amy traipsing through the forest with no clothes on or the look on Thinnux's face when he finally saw your "old" self. I thought a bird was going to fly in and make a nest in it." Lita started to laugh.

" At least Superman was a gentleman and didn't...'expose'...you." Chuckled Raye.

"You know...I've been thinking...(inward moan from the others)...I gave a very convincing performance out there when the puuurrresssure was really intense." Lita was clenching her fist while talking. " I think I should take acting lessons and get into the movies! I could be the next Rambo or something...NOT to mention the sexiest!!!" Lita pushed out her ample chest, causing her shirt to snap away from her belted waist.

"Go get'um Lita!" Said Serena. " I'll be the first in line to get tickets!

" You better think twice about that." Said Mina. " I thought the modeling business was just a lot of fun...but it's turning out to be just plain hard work. And the people you work with...(Mina rolled her eyes upward) They can be such a pain."

" Hey! I just thought of something!" Piped in Raye. " We've been talking about all that's happened and all the people involved and not once did Lita say this Thinnux guy reminds her of her old boyfriend.... what's up with that!?"

"Naw.....Thinnux was cute but he doesn't look like my old boyfriend...SUUUUPERMAN does!!"

author's note: visual cue

Lita's eyes and pupils become twice as big

" What happened after that Altar thingy was destroyed and Amy got her strength back?" Asked Darien.

"A lot of the instigators either got killed under that mountain or arrested. Since all of the people of that planet were no longer stronger than Superman, all plans for alliances and conquest were dropped. De'tante if you will. Thinnux's order will try to find another way to sustain the planet other than taking the life force from other beings." Answered Amy.

" WOW!!! I knew our Amy was AWESOME..but I couldn't fathom the idea. A WHOLE planet's population stronger than Superman all because of our AMY!" Serena said proudly. " That would have been really something!"

" Yes....I....I...know." Said Amy quietly.

" I couldn't help but think about what Mali said about all that power gathered up in one person. I remember times when I thought we could've used more help in our battles when we were Sailor Senchi. To think that there would be many people like Superman to watch over the Universe. What could be wrong about that?" Asked Raye, her voice trailing off.

All eyes looked toward Amy.

" I couldn't do it. I couldn't consent to empowering a whole planet with so many people. I did think it was selfish of me to keep my power all to myself. But they stole my strength. That was the key. With people with ethics like that running things, the odds of that much power being abused were too high. And in a way I would be responsible for everything they do after they were enhanced. A whole race of super dictators....how could I live knowing that I helped create a people like that. How could I make atonement for such a thing?"

THE END