[Location: Apokolips, outskirts of the Ignis sector: Sphere of No-Form.]

[Time: 3,000 years before Steppenwolf’s first invasion of Earth.]

Begin simulation.

Electricity crepitated through the air as supercharged whips narrowly missed their victim. The whips slapped the ground and then settled there. Two Female Furies were squared off against each other. The one with the whips looked to the left and then the right without moving her head. She could see opponents in her peripheral vision. However, they were far enough away that she could just deal with the one in front of her. The second Fury took a step forward, her mouth contorting into a menacing smile.

“Lashina! I’m not going to let you defeat me again!” She proclaimed haughtily.

Lashina relaxed her pose somewhat, a frown erupting on her face.

“You say that every time, Gilotina. But don’t I always win?”

Gilotina’s grin stiffened. Her eyes floated to Lashina’s signature weapons.

“That’s only because of your-“

Lashina had made two crucial mistakes. Firstly, she let her guard down. Secondly, she didn’t watch her back. Now she was stabbed in the back. Literally. An axe cleaved through her digitized avatar, showering a disappointed Gilotina in glowing embers of code. The owner of the axe came into view as the remnants of Lashina dissipated into nothingness. Gilotina pointed an accusatory finger.

“Steppenwolf! You! I wanted to slice Lashina in half! Now all I have to fight is you…”

Steppenwolf stared Gilotina down. Gilotina’s outstretched finger faltered.

“Watch your tongue, child. I just eradicated your companion. Do you think it will be easy to match my strength?”

Steppenwolf’s acrid words electrified Gilotina and she lept into a fighting stance. She straightened her fingers, pressing them together. She was ready to use her near perfected technique of slicing and dicing through foes with an exceptional strength. Gilotina threw her body to the left. She then vaulted into the air, poising her right hand for a direct attack to Steppenwolf’s neck. Gilotina was a skilled trainee but her concentration would wash away when she let her excitability grip her. Her attack was too simple. And that’s why Steppenwolf was able to swing his axe in a wide arc, cutting Gilotina’s avatar cleanly in half.

50% of opponents annihilated.                       

Steppenwolf shook his head in disappointment as the last of Gilotina’s avatar scattered around him, twinkling pathetically. These simulated battles were taking place inside the Sphere of No-Form. Located on the edge of the Ignis sector, this prestigious arena was used to train all Apokoliptians ordained to further the planet’s will. This meant that combatants had to showcase exceptional skill, readying them for fights on alien soil. Steppenwolf was brutal during these simulations, determined to be the best at wreaking havoc on foreign planets for Apokolips. The end goal was to amass a cluster of worlds. Collecting other civilizations had myriad uses after all. For example, foreigners could be converted into drones or fuel for the fire pits. And celestial bodies could be transformed into scorched satellites of Apokolips, ripe for industrialization.

Steppenwolf scanned his surroundings, disconcerted that his adversaries weren’t focusing like he was.

“If not trained properly, how do they expect to fare against the enemies of Apokolips?”

Lashina and Gilotina were defeated too easily. Stompa put up more of a fight. Godfrey wasn’t even trying. While Steppenwolf wanted to pose the biggest threat to outsiders, he didn’t want his allies to be weaker than him. If the Apokoliptians showed anything less than absolute triumph, they would be disgracing their rulers. And if they humiliated their rulers with defeat, they would face dire consequences. Steppenwolf’s grip tightened on his weapon. He knew this. He knew that his cohorts knew this. So, why did they seem to be loafing around lately?

Silhouettes of those left in the Sphere of No-Form dueled in the distance. Steppenwolf started towards them, now in an irritable mood. He didn’t want his rulers displeased or his planet disgraced. He drew closer to the opposing figures, raising his axe to finish off today’s training.

100% of opponents annihilated.

End simulation.

Mechanical whirrs resounded throughout the Sphere of No-Form. The chambers that housed trainees as they fought in digital space clicked open. The leader of the Female Furies, Granny Goodness, stood to the side with an unimpressed look on her face. She opened her mouth to bellow.

“I want the following nuisances to come see Granny when we get back to the Happiness Home-“

Steppenwolf didn’t report to Granny Goodness, so he slipped out of his chamber and down the curving hall. Granny Goodness kept the Female Furies at her base in Ignis where she trained them further and harder. Steppenwolf knew what kind of cruelty lurked beneath the soft face of the matron. If one Fury made a bumbling mistake, they all would pay for it. Steppenwolf hoped they would learn their lesson.

Steppenwolf roamed his thoughts, gazing at the floor while he walked until a familiar pair of boots halted him. He slowly looked up, meeting the stare of a woman about half his height. A horned crown arched around her face with a pulsing air of royalty. The woman’s left hand rested delicately atop a luminous scepter. Female Furies flanked her, two on each side. Steppenwolf tried to suffocate the inner smile that threatened to appear on his face.

“Sister…”

The woman tilted her head to the side and then back slightly. Unblinking, she began to speak.

“Dearest Steppenwolf, you constantly forget my title. No longer am I the sweet, little pixie you called sister Heggra. I am your Queen and you will address me as such. Do you understand me?”

Steppenwolf sighed internally. His elder sister had become Queen of Apokolips only five-hundred years ago, so he wasn’t quite used to using language that didn’t indicate she was related to him. Heggra had never been an overly delightful person, but she used to be gentler. Shards of that gentleness surfaced occasionally when Heggra referred to Steppenwolf as her brother. As Queen, she could get away with being informal while Steppenwolf could not.

The memories of Heggra before her crowning had been forever crystallized in Steppenwolf’s mind. He couldn’t bring himself let them go, even though he was reluctant to admit it. But Steppenwolf did have to act accordingly in front of the Queen, because she was the one he reported to for updates on his training. Heggra had pushed her younger brother towards the direction of being an elite warrior when she consolidated her power as queen. She didn’t think he needed a cushy life, envisioning him as a collector of worlds. Steppenwolf had no choice in his future, but he was satisfied to benefit his sister. Steppenwolf may have acted in a more belligerent manner if it had been anyone else.

Even so, Steppenwolf knew he couldn’t afford to make any mistakes. This was especially apparent when remembering who his sister’s husband was.

“I apologize, my Queen.”

Heggra looked appeased.

“Good. Now, I came down here from the palace to check on the progress of my most promising warrior. You really are quite remarkable.”

“I appreciate your words, my Quee-“

Heggra lifted a hand and moved closer.

“But you are not invincible. I suspect that you believe this is so. If you become too proud, you will fall.”

Steppenwolf was subjugated into silence, allowing Heggra to continue.

“You’ve always been loud and arrogant, my brother. You must learn to curb your emotions for the sake of your duty.”

“I understand, my Queen.” Steppenwolf responded appropriately.

Heggra nodded. She kept her hand held out towards Steppenwolf, signaling that he was not to leave yet. Heggra surveyed the hall, taking note of a few trainees who had gathered safely at a distance for glimpses of the inferno queen.

“DISPERSE! Wunda, make sure they disperse and come back to me when they have.”

The Fury who received the order cracked her knuckles, marching towards the trainees. Steppenwolf’s composed expression flickered momentarily. He didn’t understand why Heggra was having everyone else sent away.

“Siste- My Queen. What is this about?”

Heggra waited until her Fury came back to confirm the Sphere of No-Form was void of any troublemakers. Heggra lowered her hand.

“This is about your little nephew, Uxas. My son never ceases to astound me… He is surely destined for greatness. But I fear he’s gone slightly soft because of his infatuation for this woman – Suli – from the Abyssus sector.”

“I… See.”

“I don’t want my son corrupted by the candied words of some lowly woman. You’re around Uxas enough. Keep a stern eye on him and where he goes. Report everything he says, especially if it concerns that woman.”

“Understood, my Queen.”

“You are dismissed.”

Heggra watched her brother recede into the distance with a level expression. When he was out of sight, her face fractured into a paroxysm of rage. She stepped forth and turned to face her Furies.

“I want Suli Lux brought to the Sphere of No-Form. Without the simulator, I want the actual arena we use for graduation events.”

∞

Steppenwolf wanted nothing more than the abbreviated rest he was allowed before returning to his training. He meandered towards the part of Ignis where his abode was located. Although he was related to the Queen, he had chosen not to reside in the royal palace. Steppenwolf wanted to be close to the Sphere of No-Form and by extension, all the other Apokoliptian warriors. He did report to the palace quite a bit, but he saw no reason to be one of its tenants.

The events of the day shifted like tectonic plates in Steppenwolf’s brain. He was still miffed with the incompetence of some of his fellow trainees, but it was Heggra who bore into his mind. Was she really that worried about Uxas? Steppenwolf didn’t know Suli, but he did know Uxas. He was certain the vigorous young man surely wouldn’t let something cottony like love cloud his judgement. That just didn’t seem like something he would do. Thoughts of Uxas vanished and Heggra’s image engulfed Steppenwolf’s mind once more. She always acted in an imperious manner, but something seemed different that day. Steppenwolf hoped this Suli woman wasn’t making his sister flaky.

“Sister… You too are not invincible.”