Chapter 80 - Betrayal's Wrath, Choices of Fate, and the Void's Ambush - Part 1

(Note: Touches on trauma. Though kept it light. Please be advised.)

As the new week began, Orach sent Rachel to Jump City while Diana prepared to visit the museum for work. The previous day had been filled with anecdotes about Rachel's upbringing under Orach's care. She shared stories of her learnings and occasional complaints about Orach's strictness, causing Diana to give Orach playful stink eyes. Rachel smirked, enjoying the light-hearted trouble she was stirring up for her father. The day was filled with family fun, games, and movies, creating a sense of warmth and bonding. After Rachel tired herself out and was put to bed by Orach in the second room, he and Diana shared another night of passion and cultivation under a sound isolation barrier in Diana's room.

After sending off Diana, Orach opened a ripple in space and returned to Gotham, where his team was gearing up for human trials. He relied on Wayne Tech's reputation and Bruce Wayne's influence to expedite the approval process. In the meantime, he assisted his team members and brainstormed ways to improve their equipment. Bruce and Lucius came through, and by the next day, they received the green light to proceed with the trials. Notices were sent out to veterans and police officers who had lost limbs in the line of duty. Despite initial skepticism, many applied, trusting Wayne Tech's reputation and Bruce Wayne's integrity.

Orach decided to conduct a thought experiment with his team. He distributed the applications to his team members and asked them to select candidates for the trials, wanting to see the criteria they would use and how their choices would differ from his. By midweek, the results were in, and Orach was pleasantly surprised. His team had chosen candidates who genuinely needed the treatment, from those with changed personalities due to trauma to those struggling to make ends meet.

With the candidate list prepared and invitations sent out, the internal screening process began. Orach wanted a thorough screening covering a broad spectrum of factors for each candidate. By the end of the week, the team had reviewed the received reports from the internal screening process and compared them to the medical history records submitted by the selected candidates. Once the final checks were taken care of, the finalists were asked to come in the following week to begin the trials.

While Orach was busy with the trials, Bruce focused on the activities of the CADMUS group. Orach's warning seemed effective. He had noticed changes among key personnel he had identified. These people seemed to have been transferred, and researchers among them were reassigned to different facilities. Bruce suspected something was amiss since he knew Waller wasn't a person who would give in this easily, but he had no leads.

Returning to Gotham, Bruce busied himself with his patrols. The city's dynamic had shifted noticeably. News of Orach making Gotham his home had spread, aiding in reducing crime rates as the GCPD cracked down on criminals and Batman patrolled the city with an upgraded suit. Wayne Tech employees felt safer, and crime around the area significantly decreased due to Orach's presence.

The city's wealthy elite, especially members of the ancient society known as the Court of Owls, were deeply frustrated by these changes. Despite their attempts to sabotage the Wayne Tech project, Orach's formidable security measures thwarted them at every turn.

Meanwhile, Barbara contacted Veronica Cale to finalize arrangements for her expedition to Africa. Although Veronica was initially pleased to hear from Barbara, she became livid upon learning that Wayne Tech was co-sponsoring the expedition. Determined to control the remaining aspects, Veronica arranged for a local guide to obey her. Barbara, excited about the smooth progress, started reviewing her list of contacts to select candidates for her expedition team. The expedition aimed to explore ruins that mentioned the lost city of the Urzkartagan tribe, an elusive group that had long intrigued researchers.

Elsewhere, the Flash, Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco spent this weekend constructing a device to access Cisco's fragmented memories from the original timeline. By the end of the weekend, they had identified the fake Dr. Wells as Eobard Thawne, who had killed Barry's mother. The revelation was a heavy blow to Barry, who blamed himself for being Thawne's true target and getting his mother caught in the crossfire. The team planned to recreate the original timeline's situation to capture Thawne's confession and free Barry's father from prison. By midweek, they were ready, but their plans were seen through by Thawne, who defeated the team and kidnapped Eddie Thawne.

Arthur Curry, also known as Aquaman, had been tracking ruthless pirates attempting to hijack a submarine. His sense of justice drove him to protect the seas from such threats. However, during the fight, he accidentally caused the death of the now pirate leader's father, igniting a fire of vengeance in the heart of the son who took over the pirates.

For the other members of the Justice League, the week was relatively quiet, with minor crimes easily taken care of, allowing them to focus on their individual pursuits and responsibilities.

The Titans conducted intense sparring and training sessions to gauge each other's powers and fighting abilities. While it was expected that Robin and Batgirl would excel in combat techniques, the team was surprised by the prowess displayed by Rachel and Starfire. Rachel faced off against Batgirl and occasionally Blue Beetle, while Starfire and Robin found themselves increasingly in sync as sparring partners. The scarab on Blue Beetle would sometimes act up when Jaime was losing against Rachel, but Rachel had a secret weapon. Mother Empress had installed a control switch command in the scarab, allowing Rachel to shut it down or control it if necessary. This contingency was due to what Mother Empress found in its coding during her initial contact with the scarab when it went out of control for the first time against Rachel. Rachel passed it off as a spell initiated by a snap of her fingers that would shut down the scarab on occasions when it went out of control. During the week, the Titans strategized and came up with group formations that aimed at finishing battles as swiftly as possible with minimal collateral damage. They saw action when the HIVE Five tried robbing a bank in Jump City. Initially on par with the Titans, Rachel and Starfire's presence gave the Titans the advantage. While they had to let the criminals get away to save civilians, they prevented any loss of life and property, earning accolades from the public.

As the next week arrived, Barbara began conducting interviews for her expedition team. By the end of Thursday, she had finalized the list and sent out the trip details and roster. Diana, aware of the dangers inherent in such expeditions, gave Barbara a beacon to signal if she was in trouble. Barbara appreciated the gesture and the promise of rescue from her friend.

For Team Flash, especially Joe West, this week was harrowing. Not only were they on a mission to find their kidnapped friend from the hands of the Reverse Flash, but they also faced a telepathic and intelligent gorilla named Grodd. By the end of their adventure, they realized Grodd was a distraction, and the Reverse Flash had initiated a deadly plan. After recovering their kidnapped friend, they noticed the accelerator was charging up, making it unsafe to keep the meta-human criminals locked up in their pipeline. They began contacting their friends and allies to find a secure facility for transferring the prisoners. Barry had wanted to discuss the meta-humans' fate with the Justice League but hadn't had the chance. The weekend was consumed by these efforts, ending with the capture of the Reverse Flash after a grueling battle.

The following week, Barbara set off with her team towards Africa, eager for the adventure ahead. The expedition promised to uncover significant historical artifacts and possibly rewrite parts of history. The team, consisting of seasoned archaeologists, eager graduate students, and specialists in ancient languages and cultures, assembled at Gotham International Airport. They boarded a private jet arranged by Wayne Tech, ensuring a comfortable and efficient journey. As they took off, Barbara shared her excitement, knowing the expedition had the potential to make groundbreaking discoveries.

Upon landing, the team was met by the local guide arranged by Veronica Cale. His name was Jomo, a seasoned explorer with extensive knowledge of the region. Despite Veronica's ulterior motives, Jomo seemed genuinely committed to the expedition. He greeted the team warmly and led them to a convoy of off-road vehicles that would take them deep into the African wilderness.

The journey to the ruins was arduous, navigating through dense jungles, rocky terrains, and treacherous river crossings. Along the way, the team encountered various wildlife, from curious monkeys to majestic elephants. The beauty of the landscape was awe-inspiring, but the team remained focused on their mission.

After several days of travel, they arrived at the site of the ancient ruins. The sight of the crumbling stone structures, partially hidden by overgrown vegetation, filled them with a sense of wonder. Barbara and her team wasted no time setting up their base camp and beginning their exploration.

As they carefully excavated the site, they uncovered intricately carved stone tablets, pottery fragments, and remains of ancient dwellings. Each discovery provided valuable clues about the Urzkartagan tribe's way of life, their beliefs, and their mysterious disappearance. The excitement among the team was palpable as they pieced together the puzzle of this lost civilization.

One evening, as the team gathered around a campfire to discuss their findings, Barbara noticed Jomo acting strangely. He seemed anxious, constantly glancing over his shoulder as if expecting something—or someone. Barbara's instincts told her something was amiss. She discreetly activated the beacon Diana had given her, just in case.

Barbara's suspicions were confirmed when, in the dead of night, a group of masked men ambushed the camp. It became clear that they were surrounded. These men were ruthless, and a chaotic battle ensued. Being outnumbered and outgunned, the team fought bravely but were ultimately captured, suffering losses.

Barbara, realizing the gravity of their predicament, continued to signal for Diana's help using the beacon. As the leader, she reassured the survivors that help would come, urging them to stay low. Despite her hope for rescue, Barbara knew the expedition had taken a darker turn. Captured and rounded up by their captors, they were taken to the tribe's base, where Barbara witnessed a horrifying ritual. The tribe worshipped an evil god, and she saw the head priest order the sacrifice of one of her team members. The gruesome act left the captured group terrified, some crying and begging for release. Barbara, holding onto the beacon, desperately clung to the hope that Diana would come to their rescue.

Barbara's turn came next. Stripped of her clothes and beacon, she was bathed and presented to a statue of the tribe's deity in tribal attire. As the ritual began, it marked the start of her true suffering. In a trance-like state, Barbara experienced a violation of both mind and body. The hideous plant figure of the deity touched her, ripping apart her attire and forcing itself upon her. Barbara endured this humiliation, shedding tears and remembering her life, her moments with Bruce, and her hopes for the future. She began to blame Diana, feeling betrayed by her friend's failure to protect her.

Barbara's desperate wish to be saved grew with each passing moment, but her rescue never came. When the creature was done, it threw her body aside. The tribe rejoiced, believing they had a new Cheetah avatar to protect them. But what followed was a massacre. Barbara, transformed and revealing the animalistic features of a Cheetah, fueled by hatred, unleashed her wrath on the tribe. Her hope, dreams, and innocence shattered, leaving only a burning desire for revenge.

Around the time Barbara and her team were ambushed, the beacon Diana had given her was deactivated by Veronica Cale's partner, Adrianna. Once the beacon went offline, Mother Empress, who was monitoring it on behalf of Orach, immediately notified Diana. Shocked, Diana rushed out of her office and flew to her apartment, where she changed into her armor. Not wanting to be late to save her friend, she tapped into her God Ki, transformed into her Pseudo Super Saiyan Rosé form, and flew towards Barbara's beacon last known location, as shown on her terminal.

After seven hours of continuous flight, Diana landed at the destroyed campsite. Dropping her transformation, she took a deep breath to calm her nerves. The scene was a nightmare: blood and dead bodies scattered, camping equipment destroyed and burnt. Her expression grew more serious as she examined the scene and began finding clues about where her friend might be.

By the time Diana traced the trail of the victims, she was drawn by the strong smell of blood and the growling noises. She arrived just in time to witness the aftermath of Barbara's rampage. In Barbara's current state, she couldn't recognize that her friend had turned into a feral being. Shocked by the carnage and the sight of a humanoid animal chomping on a human heart, Diana's expression turned cold thinking of the worst possibility that this creature had preyed on her friend. She drew her sword and, with a dash, attacked the creature.

Barbara, now transformed into Cheetah, growled and met Diana's sword attack with her claws. The clash between the two began with a resounding impact that echoed through the jungle, sending birds scattering into the sky.

"Diana, it's me, Barbara!" Cheetah growled, her eyes filled with a mix of rage and sorrow.

"Barbara?" Diana was taken aback, shocked by what she was hearing. She shook her head in disbelief. "Impossible! You lie! How can you be Barbara?"

GROWL

"I didn't choose this!" Cheetah shouted after a loud growl, her eyes turning blood-red with rage. She leaped to attack Diana.

Diana used her shield to defend against Cheetah's attack. "Barbara, is it really you? What have you become?" Diana's voice trembled with emotion. "This isn't you!"

"You don't understand the pain I've been through!" Cheetah roared, pushing Diana back with a powerful swipe. "They betrayed me, and this is what I've become to survive!"

Tears filled Diana's eyes as she parried another attack. "I promised to protect you, to be there for you! How could this happen?"

"That's right! Diana, you promised to be there for me!" Barbara roared, her eyes filled with rage and betrayal. "Where were you when I needed you the most?" She attacked again.

"Where were you when they sacrificed my colleagues?" Barbara landed another attack. "Where were you when they offered me to that hideous god as his bride? Where were you when that thing violated me and threw me aside like a useless plaything when he bored and done?" She shouted through her rage, pain, and tears as she continued to launch attacks at Diana.

Diana while defending and parrying Barbara's attacks, couldn't believe what she was hearing. Every word stung.

"I needed you, Diana! Where were you?" Cheetah's voice broke, filled with anguish.

"I came as soon as I learned of the beacon going offline! Please, Barb, believe me!" Diana cried out, her sword clashing against Cheetah's claws. "I would never stop looking for you if you ever got into trouble!"

Cheetah's eyes softened for a moment, but the feral rage quickly returned. "It's too late for me. This is who I am now!"

"No, Barbara! This isn't you!" Diana shouted, blocking another attack. "Barbara, I know you're still in there. Fight it! Remember who you are!"

For a moment, Cheetah hesitated, her claws trembling. "Diana... I..."

"I'm here now, Barbara," Diana replied, parrying a savage swipe. "Please, let's end this. We can find another way."

"Another way? After everything I've been through?" Barbara's voice cracked, and for a moment, the rage in her eyes was replaced by despair. "They took everything from me!"

Diana's heart ached at the sight of her friend's suffering. "Barbara, I know you're hurting. But this isn't you. The Barbara I know wouldn't let herself be consumed by hatred."

"You don't understand, Diana! You can never understand!" Barbara screamed, tears mixing with the blood on her face. "You have no idea what it's like to be betrayed and used!"

The intensity of their battle grew, with neither side gaining a clear advantage. Amidst the chaos, Diana tried to reach through to the Barbara she once knew. "Barbara, please! Don't let them turn you into a monster. Fight it!"

As the battle raged on, Diana saw a glimmer of recognition in Cheetah's eyes. She took a deep breath and lowered her sword slightly.

But the moment of clarity was short-lived. The feral rage returned, and Cheetah lunged at Diana with a snarl. "I can't! It's too strong!"

With a heavy heart, Diana knew she had to end this. She steeled herself and once more called up her God Ki, tears streaming down her face. "I'm sorry, Barbara."

As the battle reached its peak, both lunged at each other at the same time, sword swing versus claws. Just as the attacks were about to clash, an unexpected figure appeared between them, catching Diana's sword with one hand and Cheetah's claws with the other. A powerful shockwave knocked both combatants off their feet. In the middle stood Orach in his Super Saiyan form, his presence radiating his power. "Enough!" he commanded, his voice echoing through the forest.

Diana and Barbara, both exhausted and battered, looked at Orach. His expression was stern but compassionate. "You both are best friends! No, better to say close to being sisters! Barbara, I realize what happened to you was wrong. But, now with your rage calming down, think back to all the time you have spent with Diana. Do you, after all that history between you both, think for a second that Diana would allow anything bad to happen to you? What happened here with you and your group needs further clarification. There is more going on here than meets the eye. This path will only lead to more pain. Let us help you."

Barbara, still in her Cheetah form, hesitated, her eyes flickering between rage and sorrow. "Orach... I... I killed people... I ate people... Just... Just end me. I... I don't know if I can be saved."

"You can," Orach said firmly, stepping forward and revealing a small green seed radiating a gentle aura held in his tail. "But you have to want it. Taking a life is a heavy burden, one that leaves an indelible mark on the soul. Believe me, I understand it well. I don't enjoy ending lives, but I do it to protect the innocent and to prevent the cycle of hatred from ever starting. I carry the weight of every life I've taken, and it's that weight that is one of the main factors that drives me to ensure my actions bring about more good, to protect lives filled with possibilities of good. It's my belief that those of us who bear this sin should aspire to bring peace. Ending your own life would be cowardly and an insult to those who have lost theirs. So, live, and use your life to tip the scales towards good."

Orach paused, allowing his words to sink in before continuing, "You have two options." He pointed to the seed in his tail's grasp. "First, destroy this seed and turn back into a human, moving on with your life as such." Diana and Barbara's eyes widened with disbelief and hope, but Orach raised his hand to stop them from speaking and continued, "Second, allow me to plant this seed in your soul space. You will gain full control over your transformation, never feeling the effects of any urges. You will be able to switch between human and this... animal form at will and use these powers for good. This will give you the strength to protect yourself, ensuring you never have to depend on others. If you ever find yourself in trouble and can't reach Diana, you'll have the power to defend yourself and teach your attackers a lesson they won't forget. More importantly, you'll have the means to ensure that what happened to you never happens to anyone else. Now, choose."

The decision was not just about power or transformation; it was about responsibility, redemption, and the potential for a new beginning. 

Diana immediately wanted to suggest Barbara to choose the first option, but upon seeing Orach looking at her and shaking his head, she understood it wasn't her place to decide for her friend after all she went through and so, she waited for Barbara to make the choice.

Barbara was conflicted. While she wanted to be human again, she never wanted to feel helpless or powerless ever again. Plus, she resonated with Orach's words. So, after a moment of contemplation, she chose the second option.

Orach nodded and, using his God Ki, inserted the seed into her soul, making it the foundation for her inner realm, allowing her to cultivate the divinity of this lower realm.

Orach then announced, "From now on, you are both Barbara Minerva the archaeologist and Cheetah, a demigod being, the protector of nature and women in this world."

As his words fell, Barbara felt a harmony spread throughout her body. The rage, hunger, and animalistic urges all receded, and her suppressed humanity was finally released. However, instead of reverting to full human, her body found an equilibrium—a half-human, half-cheetah form that was a light blend of human and animal, unlike her full feral cheetah form.

Orach, seeing this, was reminded of another race in the higher realms, the demi-humans. Now with Barbara regaining her full sanity and humanity, she couldn't help but shed tears for her actions and simply knelt crying. Diana, seeing this, dropped her weapon and shield and rushed to embrace her.

"Wwuu… Diana… I… I am so sorry! I… was so scared!" said Barbara through her tears.

Diana, while embracing her friend, couldn't help but tighten her hug and shed tears herself. She said, "It's fine… I forgive you. Could you please forgive me for failing you? I am sorry, Barb. I am so sorry this happened to you!"

Orach, seeing the two once-best friends begin their journey to recover their friendship, knew it would be a gradual and slow process. But with their shared history of supporting one another, he was sure that in the near future, they would once again laugh and share anecdotes of their lives with each other.

Rewinding Time

As soon as Mother Empress informed Diana about losing Barbara's beacon signal, she also alerted Orach. Learning that Diana was rushing to rescue her friend, Orach decided to use space law to appear in the sky above the last known location of the beacon, planning to synchronize his arrival with Diana's landing.

While Diana on arrival began tracing her friend's location on the ground, Orach in the sky sensed a familiar yet different, murky God Ki or divinity emanating from a nearby area. Confident that Diana could handle herself, he went on to investigate. He even encountered the feral Cheetah on the ground, and sensed a lighter version of the murky divinity aura from her. Assuming she was just a blessed native creature, he let her be and continued his search from the skies.

His investigation led him to a temple overgrown with plants. Inside, he discovered more carnage and, upon closer inspection, the bloodied clothes and belongings of Barbara's team. This grim discovery made him suspect that Barbara had met a terrible fate. Soon, he found Barbara's belongings along with the deactivated beacon. Picking up the beacon, he asked Mother Empress to reactivate it but to camouflage the signal while scanning it to figure out what deactivated it. Mother Empress identified the source of the code that deactivated the beacon, Empire Enterprises. Orach made a mental note to pay a visit to Miss Cale later and to open another bank.

Suddenly, the plants came alive, their vines lashing out to ensnare him. Seeing an opportunity to gather information, he allowed himself to be captured, letting the vines coil around his limbs.

"Who are you?" a deep, husky voice demanded as the plant covered statue in the temple opened its eyes and began to move. Orach watched calmly as it stepped out from a groove in the wall and stood tall before him.

"I asked you, who are you? You smell like a god but also a mortal. Answer me, who are you? Did Ares's children send you?" the tall creature demanded, staring down at the captured Orach.

Orach, unperturbed, replied, "It's rather rude of you not to introduce yourself first. Who are you?"

The creature's face twisted in displeasure. "How dare you act rudely before me? I am the plant god, Urzkartagan, and this is my domain. Know your place, ant!"

Just as Urzkartagan finished speaking, the entire space inside the temple began to ripple and change. Soon, they were in Azarath. Confused, Urzkartagan looked around in alarm. "What is the meaning of this? What did you do? Where are we?"

In response, Orach transformed into his Super Saiyan 2 form, obliterating the vines that bound him and bringing Urzkartagan to its knees with the sheer pressure of his aura.

Struggling to comprehend the rapidly changing events, Urzkartagan found himself unable to move under the immense pressure of Orach's aura.

Orach walked step by step, each step charring the ground of Azarath from the ethereal lightning snakes writhing around his body due to his Super Saiyan 2 transformation. As he approached Urzkartagan, he lifted his leg and stomped the plant god's head into the ground, sneering, "God? You dare call yourself a god? Puny god, perhaps."

He then removed his foot, grabbed Urzkartagan by the horns, and effortlessly hoisted the plant god into the air. Taking flight, Orach dragged Urzkartagan high into the sky above Azarath, offering a panoramic view of the realm. As they ascended, the skies darkened, and bolts of lightning began to dance angrily through the clouds. Upon reaching the perfect altitude, Orach halted their ascent, used his Ki to hold the plant god in place, and spoke with a voice that echoed like thunder, "Also, you want to play the domain card with me? That decrepit temple can't even be called a domain. Look around you. You asked where you were, right? Here's the answer."

Orach spread his arms wide, his voice booming across the expanse of Azarath. "This is MY DOMAIN!"

BOOM BOOM BOOM

As if answering their master's call, the skies of Azarath erupted, unleashing lightning strikes and deafening thunder. The sheer majesty and overwhelming power of Orach's domain left Urzkartagan paralyzed with terror. He could feel the raw energy coursing through the realm, the palpable joy it derived from Orach's presence, and its absolute submission to him.

"Well, can't say it was a pleasure meeting you. But since you're about to die today, I wanted to show you what a true domain looks like. You should also know the name of the one who will end you: I am Orach, from Sadala." With that, he raised his hand and unleashed a blast that obliterated Urzkartagan's body, leaving behind only a murky-colored seed.

The murky power around the seed tried to retaliate, but the laws of the domain suppressed it. Orach then transformed into his Super Saiyan God form. Channeling his God Ki into the seed, he purified the murky divinity into pure Ki, erasing any trace of Urzkartagan's personality and granting him a true death. Only fragments of memories remained, which Orach reviewed, learning a few interesting details but grimacing at Barbara's fate.

Leaving Azarath, Orach remotely connected to Diana's terminal, overhearing their fight and conversation. With a serious expression, he used space law to arrive beside them, preventing the two best friends from making a decision that would haunt them for life.