The scent of sulfur burned his nostrils. A moment ago, the hero known as Aztek the Ultimate Man stood in the Justice League Watchtower, located on Earth's moon. Now, he stood amongst a barren wasteland surrounded by flames. All around him, he saw emaciated, hairless beings with third-degree burns covering their starved bodies. They were naked, writhing in chains far too heavy for them to lift. Cackling demonic creatures whipped them relentlessly, the whips made of jagged, spiked metal. 

But although the Ultimate Man found this troubling, it failed to inspire fear in his heart. What did, however, was the presence of the creature who sat before him. A throne formed from skulls with human flesh draped across them, he sat leisurely. One of his knees was close to his chest, an arm carelessly resting on it. In his other hand was a broken wine glass with red liquid populated by human souls. He wore emerald battle armor and if not for the sinister grin upon his face, his perfect face and blond locks gave him a very angelic appearance.

"Why have you summoned me?" he asked. With each word spoken by Neron, Aztek could hear the cries of thousands suffering. 

"I need your help," said Aztek. 

"Heh... my help? Oh, what a wondrous day this must be. And why, boy, do you need my help? More than that, why would you dare to summon me? Just how far have you fallen?"

"It's not me you need to worry about, it's you," said Aztek. "Lucifer's out of the picture and that leaves you in charge--but only barely. If one of the other demon lords were able to increase their power, you could lose it all."

"Hmph, there is no threat of that," he scoffed.

"Oh really? Ever hear the name Zauriel?"

Neron paused and his fingers began to stroke his bare chin. "What of him?"

"An angel of the Pax Dei, surely that could cause trouble for you," said Aztek.

"No angel would dare enter Hell. Its very touch would contaminate him, closing the doors of paradise for all eternity."

"Who said anything about it being his choice?" asked Aztek. "Blaze and Satanus kidnapped Zauriel. And with his heart, they could have the power to usurp your rule."

"Do not make me laugh, mortal," said Neron. "Neither of those two are sufficient enough to pose a challenge to one such as I. Nor do they have the fortitude to attempt such a coup."

"Maybe not, but the person they're working for... that's another story."

Neron listened to Aztek's words carefully. He considered the implications of such a move, as well as thinking of a way to further benefit himself. If this whelp was indeed telling the truth, it would pose great difficulty for Neron. Lucifer was too concerned with himself, he had abandoned Hell, leaving a void that Neron happily filled. But if someone else were to take over...

"A bargain, then."

"No, no bargains, no deals," said Aztek. He pointed at Neron. "This is all on you. It's your throne at stake, your rule. I'm doing you a favor by telling you all of this."

Stubborn little bastard. Although Neron had to admit, the boy had a point. He had to turn things around so he would come out on top.

"You are Uno," said Neron. "Champion of Quetzalcoatl, adversary to Tezcatlipoca. Are you not?"

Aztek paused for a moment. He wondered, could Neron possibly have some connection to Tezcatlipoca? More than that, there was the problem with Zauriel. He said Aztek would play a major role in coming events. 

"I am," he finally said.

"Your time grows short," said Neron. "What will I get in return?"

"I told you, you get to keep your throne."

"If my throne were lost, I could easily reclaim it. However, you must consider yourself. You may inadvertantly trigger the rise of Tezcatlipoca by not bargaining with me. And although I have been content to let you talking monkeys live your lives with only some of my influence, my usurper may not feel the same way. You, Aztek, could bring Hell to Earth. Are you prepared to take that risk?"

Both were at a standstill now. Neron was right, it was a risk Aztek couldn't take. 

"Okay..." he said. "Let's negotiate."

	The World's Greatest Superheroes! PARADISE LOST Part IV: Fallen
JLA #45 December, Year Six	by Dino Pollard

MARTIAN MANHUNTER	SUPERMAN	BLACK LIGHTNING	AZTEK	ZAURIEL

THE FLASH	ATOM	ZATANNA	JADE

Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument in Wiltshire. Many theories have been proposed as to its existence and purpose, but at this moment, the purpose proved to be much darker than any scholar could ever have imagined. The angel Zauriel found himself chained to it as the demonic sorceress Tala straddled his lap. She leaned over him, pressing her small body against his. Standing by and watching were both Blaze and Satanus, Tala's minions in her goal. She told Zauriel she needed his blood to increase her power, to overthrow Neron's rule of Hell.

What Zauriel hadn't known was that first, Tala chose to corrupt him, body and soul.

And what was even worse than that, is Zauriel found himself aroused by her advances. She kissed his neck, biting down on it. Her scent intoxicated him, and he tried to pull free from his chains to push her off him. But he found with each touch, she sapped more of his strength. Part of him wasn't even sure he would stop her if he could. She pushed against him, her dress crumbled around her waist. Slowly, she licked his chest, and Zauriel felt waves of ecstasy rush through his body. 

"Stop... don't do this..."

"I love it when they play hard to get," she said. 

Zauriel's head fell back. Tala's moans grew louder and he found himself beginning to pant, growing excited at what she was doing to him. Looking to Blaze and Satanus, feeling their eyes upon him, their own lecherous smiles.

"You will be mine," said Tala. "Your body, your soul... they belong to me."

"Maybe it's just me..."

The arrival of a new voice drew Zauriel's attention. Already Tala had moved off his body with Blaze and Satanus getting on the defensive. Zauriel craned his neck as much as possible and saw the source of the new voice. It was Black Lightning who spoke, but by his side were the Martian Manhunter, Superman, the Flash, Zatanna, Jade, and, on Superman's shoulder, the Atom. J'onn had come through after all.

"...but this doesn't look consensual," said Black Lightning. He raised a fist as it crackled with blue sparks and extended that fist, the electricity arcing from his fingertips and striking Blaze, her body convulsing.

Satanus moved to the offense in response, charging towards the Justice League. Superman rocketed from his position as the Atom leapt from his shoulder. The Man of Steel rammed into Satanus at full-speed, grabbing hold of the demon as the two flew into the stratosphere. Superman kept a firm grip on Satanus' neck and began to pummel him with blow after blow.

On the ground, the Martian Manhunter slipped easily into the leadership role, opening up a telepathic link with the rest of the team. "Zatanna, I need you to aid Zauriel. Black Lightning and Flash, you two are on Blaze. Atom and Jade, you two are going to help me against Tala."

"Putting the smallest guy against a demonic witch, J'onn?" asked the Atom with a touch of humor. "Glad you have such faith in me."

"What about Superman?" asked Jade.

"Leave Satanus to me," said Superman. "If I need a hand, I'll call. Superman out."

The Flash charged towards Blaze, who began to grow in stature. Her massive hand grabbed Wally and hefted him up to her face. "Pathetic, why do you think you can challenge me?"

"Maybe because of this," said the Flash. He began to vibrate at superhuman speed, phasing through her grip. He pushed towards her at lightspeed, everything around him beginning to blueshift and increasing the momentum behind his strength. He delivered a massive punch with the force of a white dwarf star. Blaze flew from the brunt of the blow, streaking into the distance.

When the Flash landed on the ground, he looked back at Black Lightning. "Think you can keep up?"

Black Lightning's body began to shift to electricity as he said, "I can try."

The Flash raced into the distance with Black Lightning following behind as a streak of blue electricity.

Jade encased Tala in a green forcefield, hefting the demon above the fray. Tala grinned at this, her eyes glowing with dark energy. The columns that made up Stonehenge rose from their posts, sprouting arms and legs and advancing on the young heroine. The Martian Manhunter came to Jade's defense, crushing the stone demons with his powerful fists. Tala's eyes crackled more and flames began to surround J'onn, forcing him to his knees in pain. 

"You really think you can compete with a hell-lord?" asked Tala.

"We can try," said the Martian Manhunter. "Ray, are you in place?"

"Coasting through the air at the subatomic level, J'onn. I'm in place."

The Atom flew through the air, easily sliding between the light particles of Jade's bubble and flying towards Tala. He slipped inside her ear, moving towards her brain. Once he got to a desirable spot, the Atom altered the density of his fist, striking directly at Tala's mind. The demoness cries out and suddenly, Palmer found himself transported somewhere else, surrounded by flames and with demons all around.

"What is this?" he asked. "J'onn...? Can you read me?"

The effort was, of course, useless. The Atom now found himself in Tala's hell dimension, surrounded by her minions as they advanced upon him. "Oh, this isn't good..."

Zatanna approached the block Zauriel was chained to. He looked up at her and offered a faint smile. "If I'm dead, I must be in a part of Heaven with the most gorgeous angel ever created."

Zatanna smiled back at him. "Flattery will get you everywhere, my friend." She looked down at his manacles and her fingertips began to glow with etheral magicks. "Mih esaeler!"

The manacles began to open, but then they shut closed again.

"I don't think it worked," said Zauriel.

"Thanks, I hadn't noticed..." she muttered. She closed her eyes and tried again. "Mih esaeler dias i! Sdnob eseht morf eerf mih tes!"

Still, the manacles resisted her magicks. Zauriel looked up at her. "I don't suppose open sesame would work? Or maybe abracadabra?"

Zatanna shook her head. "It's Tala's magicks. They're too powerful for me to overcome."

Up in the air, Satanus increased his size and Superman found himself facing off against a giant version of his old foe. "Pitiful Kryptonian, you are no match for me!"

"Really?" asked Superman. "Then explain how I always win?"

The Man of Steel unleashed his freeze breath on his enemy, icicles appearing on Satanus' body. The giant fell to the ground and shattered. Hellfire sprung up around him and Satanus rose again, towering up to the spot where Superman hovered. The Last Kryptonian struck him with a thunderous blow, and Satanus countered by slamming his palm against Superman, crushing the hero to the ground in a giant crater. 

Superman lifted Satanus' palm, slowly rising up. He opened his eyes, which now were bright red and fired off his heat vision against the creature's face. Satanus pulled back, momentarily blinded and once his vision cleared, Superman struck him again.

The Flash charged towards Blaze, pummeling her with his infinite mass punch. Each blow struck with the force of a white dwarf, while Black Lightning backed up his teammate, delivering charges of electricity. Blaze countered by unleashing bursts of hellfire that the Flash dodged with ease at lightspeed.

Zatanna struggled with Zauriel's bonds to no avail. She fell to her knees in frustration and exhaustion, panting heavily.

"C-can't overcome her..." she said. "I..."

She felt a gentle hand on her shoulder and she looked up. Aztek stood there and offered his hand. Zatanna took it and he helped her to her feet.

"No luck?" he asked.

Zatanna shook her head. "Tala's magicks are too powerful."

"Maybe I can help," said Aztek.

"You know magic?" asked Zatanna.

"No, but I brought someone who can help," he said. "...I hope."

"Tala..."

Tala had just broken free of Jade's prison and now stood facing a throne of skulls with Neron sitting upon it.

"No... you have no business here!" she shouted.

"You've been a naughty little girl, Tala," said Neron. With a wave of his hand, Satanus and Blaze were held immobile, hovering on either side of him. And the Atom lay on the ground in the fetal position, slowly looking up.

"This... this doesn't look good," said the Atom. 

The Flash, Black Lightning and Superman returned to the scene and Neron snapped his fingers. Zauriel's chains were released from him, but now they materialized on Tala. Neron slowly rose from his throne and approached her.

"Attempting to usurp my rule, eh?" he asked. He wagged a finger before her face. "Tsk, tsk, my dear. That little affront will not go unpunished."

"You don't frighten me, lesser demon," she hissed. "You're no Lucifer."

"And, my dear, neither are you."

Hellfire engulfed Tala and she cried out in pain as she seemed to vaporize away, leaving no trace. Neron smiled and turned his attention to Aztek. 

"It is done."

"So I see," said Aztek.

"I have fulfilled my end of the bargain, little hero. Will you fulfill yours?"

"When the time comes, yes," said Aztek. 

Neron smiled. "Excellent. Then, I bid you farewell, Justice League. Our paths may not cross again, but I will watch with rapt attention."

"What do you mean?" asked the Martian Manhunter.

Neron simply laughed as his throne vaporized in hellfire alongwith Blaze and Satanus. His parting words rang in the air, however: "You will find out soon."

The Martian Manhunter turned to Aztek. "What have you done?"

"What was necessary," said Aztek. 

"You made a deal with the devil... literally!" said the Flash. "Are you insane?"

"Neron doesn't want to lose control and despite his posturing, he needed us more than we needed him," said Aztek.

"That's what you think," said the Flash. "That guy's bad news and you may have just doomed the world by shaking hands with him."

"That's enough," said Superman, stepping between the two. He looked at Aztek. "What did you offer Neron in return for his help?"

"I... I can't tell you," said Aztek, averting his eyes from Superman's gaze. "It's part of the deal that you don't know what's coming."

"But you do know?" asked Superman.

Aztek said nothing.

"He's right, though," said Zauriel. "Aztek did what needed to be done, what was necessary."

"Bullshit," said Black Lightning. "Dr. Fate, the Phantom Stranger... we had access to other options."

"Then you should have used them," said Aztek. "I did what I had to do and I got the job done."

"Aztek's actions didn't jeopardize the world, despite what Neron may want us to think," said Zauriel. "If anything, they only jeopardized his own future. Am I right?"

Aztek slowly nodded. 

"We'll discuss this at the Watchtower," said J'onn. 

"Not me," said Zauriel. "Not now, anyway. I have to return to Heaven."

The angel slowly rose above, his wings flapping. He smiled down at Aztek. "Thank you. So far, you've exceeded my expectations."

Zauriel traveresed the bonds of the earthly plane, phasing through dimensions to that of Heaven. But as he approached the golden gates, he found a shock. They refused to open for him.

"What...?"

"Did you think you could return?"

The booming voice caused Zauriel to turn. He saw a larger angel with armor adorned with dozens of eyes. "Asmodel."

"You are not welcome past these gates, Zauriel," said Asmodel. "You've been corrupted."

"Not by choice and not by my hand," said Zauriel.

"Was she good?" asked Asmodel. "Did you derive pleasure from the experience?"

Zauriel looked down in shame. 

"That's what I thought," said Asmodel. "You've been corrupted by the touch of a hell-lord. Now you must suffer the consequences!"

Asmodel drew his sword and plunged it into Zauriel's chest. The angel cried out as his molecules shifted and he found himself lying in the middle of a vast desert on Earth.

"N-no..."

The transporter panel on the Watchtower hummed to life as the Justice League beamed back to their headquarters. But upon arrival, something went wrong and the panel began to shortcircuit. When the team arrived, they instantly fell unconscious. A pink hand wrapped around the Martian Manhunter's neck, lifting him up.

"J'onn, my old friend, I have to hand it to you. I was worried that the Justice League had been destroyed by its own hands as opposed to my own machinations. But you, as industrious as always, refused to lie back and accept your fate. And now, you've given me the chance to enact the revenge I so rightly deserve."