Darkseid had no choice but to act. An instant before her toes touched him, he reached out and seized Harley Quinn by the throat.
He lifted the woman in the magnificent wedding dress into the air.
Harley Quinn's feet dangled above the ground. She dug both hands into Darkseid's thick fingers, trying to pry them apart, but it was hopeless.
As the pressure on her throat grew, her face turned red, then bluish purple.
Even so, there was no trace of pleading in her eyes. She opened her mouth and spat in Darkseid's impassive face.
The spit struck his chin and slowly slid down.
"Let her go!!"
Bruce Wayne leaped from a high-rise, his glider wings spreading in midair. He hurled six explosive Batarangs straight at Darkseid's face.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fire flared across Darkseid's face, but he did not even blink.
"Darkseid! We're your opponents! Let that woman go!" Bruce shouted.
Darkseid turned toward Batman.
"I remember that outfit."
"When the Kryptonian submitted, you were the insect hiding in a corner, clinging to life."
He raised Harley Quinn a little higher so Bruce could see her clearly.
"You protect her like a mother beast guarding her young. This female in white fabric seems important to you."
"Let me guess..."
A faint, cold smile touched Darkseid's lips.
"Is she connected to the one who killed Superman?"
Bruce's grip tightened around his gun. Darkseid's instincts were too sharp.
"Answer me." Darkseid fixed Batman with a stare. "Where is he?"
"He went somewhere you'd never think to look." Bruce fought to keep his voice steady. "Let her go, or—"
"Or what?" Darkseid cut him off, his voice dripping with contempt. "Prove your anger to me with that pitiful power of yours?"
Darkseid looked back at Harley Quinn.
She was close to losing