End: Black Adam Wins The Auction

"One million and one!" Joker said.

Black Adam turned and looked at the Crown Prince of Crime. Their eyes met. The gaze of Black Adam was something ageless, filled with infinite patience and immortal malice. The red lips on the pale face turned into a grimace.

"I retract my bid."

No one else dared raise a hand. Lex Luthor brought a small gavel down. "Sold!"

Black Adam floated to the stage to inspect his prize. Clad in his tight black costume, with ornaments of gold, like a demigod descending on some chosen mortal. A few of the assembled villains began to lay bets, wondering if Black Adam would take her right then and there.

Lifted her chin, delicately, and stared into her eyes. Great violet eyes that were utterly blank. Her pupils dilated at his touch, nostrils flaring as she took in Black Adam's scent, nipples hardening, pussy starting to moisten.

"What you have done to her," Black Adam said to Luthor. "Can they be undone?"

"Irreversible," Luthos assured him.

The air in the room took on a greasy feel, like the moments before a thunderstorm. Wiser villains near the back of the room quietly slipped out. Black Adam turned from Lois to look at Luthor.

"You are absolutely certain?" the god-powered villain said carefully.

A bead of sweat ran down Luthor's head. Black Adam was a foe on the level of Superman—without a Kryptonite. Luthor had resources for dealing with such a foe—none of which he had on him at the moment. The evil genius chose his next words very carefully.

"Given...time...perhaps..."

There was a burst of moment, and Black Adam's fist occupied the space where Lex Luthor's head used to be. The vaunted brain was now a swiftly-expanding cloud of pink mist, which blew over Mercy Graves. She blinked.

Black Adam spoke a word. A burst of lightning struck, bursting down through the ceiling, to the spot where Black Adam had been. Lex Luthor's corpse was incinerated immediately, and then Mercy Graves tasted ash in her mouth...the taste of her dead boss.

A wave of shock went through the room...and then there was a general scramble for the exits.

"You. Lackey." Black Adam said as Lex Luthor's body, suddenly getting the message, collapsed, blood and spinal fluid spurting from the neck-hole. He flicked blood off of his hand. "Same question."

Mercy Graves swallowed. "It...it was supposed to be temporary. Something went wrong. The brain damage looked permanent. He...he wanted to get rid of her before Superman found out."

Black Adam's brow furrowed. He took a step toward her.

"Ivy! Poison Ivy! She was working with him! Downstairs...I have all the data..."

"Gather them both." Black Adam turned back to Lois Lane. "I will inform the Man of Steel."

"I detest slavery," Black Adam was all the explanation he offered for his actions. No one mentioned the pile of ash that was Lex Luthor; Mercy Graves was busy on her knees, vacuuming it up.

Superman was busy staring into Lois Lane's skull with his x-ray vision, holding her hand in his own. A vacant smile appeared on her face. She was enjoying the attention. Experimentally, the Man of Steel brought his thumb up to her lips...and Lois Lane's mouth immediately opened and latched onto it, sucking greedily.

"They weren't lying. Whole sections of her brain are...dead. Rewired. Autonomic functions are there. Weird activity in the pleasure centers. She's...gone."

"She recognizes you. Perhaps, despite the damage they have done, she is still in there. Do not give up hope." The villain said. "Where modern science fails, ancient magic may yet succeed."

"You still want to take her to Khandaq?" Superman said.

"And the women, Poison Ivy and mercy Graves. They will assist in Lois Lane's care and recovery as part of their...repayment of their debts to society." Black Adam nodded at where Ivy had been tied up in the golden chains that had decorated Lois Lane on the auction block. "I feel some responsibility in this matter. My wife, Isis, believes she can do something. If not...there are other options. Perhaps a Lazarus Pit..." He shrugged. "She will want for nothing in terms of care. You are, of course, welcome to visit her."

"I will." Superman took his finger from her mouth. The mouth stopped while open. Droolfell down one side of the reporter's lips. With great care, he closed her mouth and wiped the drool away. He kissed her forehead.

"I'm sorry, Lois. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you tonight."

Lois Lane stared forward. If she heard Superman, she gave no outward sign.