(This story takes place during the 8 years unmentioned in "You can't live in Fear".)
The War of the Gods
Chapter 1 Smells like Teen Spirit
(Two weeks after Diana's trip to Themyscira)
Bruce walked up the steps of Wayne Enterprises. He knew that something had happened on Themyscira, but he didn't bother to ask Diana. Sighing he climbed last few steps to the thirteenth floor. Once at that floor he turned to what looked like a broom closet and slid a special card key that only he and Lucius Fox carried. Once inside the door he placed his palm against the scanner.
"Palm print recognized. Welcome Bruce Wayne." The computer voice said as the second door opened into a large room that was deemed as Wayne Enterprises' Advanced Science Division Archives.
He walked over to the table and slid his thumb across a small pad. The middle of the table opened and he walked over to the newest Batsuit Lucius designed.
"It is quite a technological marvel that one." Lucius said as he stepped into the light.
"Did we work out the problems with hydraulic relays?" Bruce asked.
"It took some time, but the relays are exactly what you asked for. Although I have to warn you this thing isn't for running. The rubber padded soles will help keep the vibrations down to a minimum when walking or sprinting, but a full out run can cause damage to the wearer. Also the suit will allow you to pick up and carry two tons, but again it should only be used in short distances. Remember this suit is only as stable and useful as the wearer." Lucius said as he disengaged the locks.
Bruce looked at the suit again. Unlike the normal batsuits this one looked more metallic and cold. To be honest it looked like a suit of armor, but inside motion relays controlled the suit so that it could bend and be like an extension of his body. Of course the suit hadn't been used for a real trial run yet. He looked at Lucius who typed in the command and Bruce entered the front of the suit. The suit closed around him and locked down perfectly. He wouldn't have even thought of a suit like this if it hadn't been for Steel. Naturally he had modified and improved on John Henry Irons' design, but for the most part it was still much the same suit.
"I would warn that the suit still has terabytes of information to be processed, but being that I know you I won't even mention it. I will however keep the suits monitoring system up and observe you while you put it through the paces." Lucius said as Bruce flew out of the building through a new sky light opening Lucius had put in the day before.
"Lucius the controls seems a little sluggish at 3,200 feet." Bruce said as he climbed higher.
"Mr. Wayne I might mention that the suit is not meant to travel out of the atmosphere. If you are planning on using it to travel to other worlds we will have to do some more redesigning to the armor plating and oxygen containment units." Lucius said as he kept track of Bruce's heart rhythm and blood pressure.
(Gotham City Cemetery)
Normally no one came to this section of the cemetery. It wasn't that the cemetery was frightening, but it was because everyone in this section had been dead so long that no relatives where still living or at least living in Gotham. The fact that it was secluded made the young witch smile brightly. She walked over to the oldest grave and began to dig. As she dug she finally hit the lid to the rotting casket and broke it open. Smiling she grabbed the bone belonging to one of the first murders in Gotham. She climbed out and dropped the bone into a sack she was carrying and walked over to a large vase. She poured the contents into the vase and began to chant slowly. The vase began to boil over and then it cracked as a bright purple flash lit up the sky.
She looked at the demon standing before her and knelt before him.
"Master I have kept my word. I found the murder and used his evil to bring you back, but are you truly going to help Lord Loki? It was he that banished you after all." The young witch said to the demon.
"Korina you surprise me by asking such a foolish question. Yes, I intend to help Loki and then I will banish him from all of Asgard not just Valhalla. The evil from the murder is feeding me for now, but I will need more. Lead me to darkest place in this city and let me feast on the evil there. Once I am strong enough I will destroy once again. The world will remember the name of Azazel, and it will start with this city!" He shouted to the surrounding area.
(Gotham Warehouse district)
Bruce looked at the ground below him as the suit continued to calibrate the relays to fit Bruce's exact movements. He nearly flew past a large warehouse when the scanners in the suit picked up a distress call from inside. He landed and ran a check on weapons. The suit had functional batarangs, bolos, knockout gas pellets, grappling hooks, and the newest feature was taser fitted into the palms of the suit.
"It's time to see if this works." He thought as he stepped into the warehouse. As he walked in the lights went out.
He smirked as the night vision in the suit activated and he continued to look around. He turned the corner to see a beaten Cheetah laying in a fetal position. He knelt down and studied the ground. Whoever it was had gotten the jump on Cheetah. They took the time to beat her and then leave her here. He looked toward the rear of the room and could see several men seated holding cards in their hands. Slowly he moved back toward them waiting to see if they would attack, but his caution was pointless toward these men. When he got there he noticed that each of them had been murdered. He studied them for a moment. Their throats had been cut and then their hearts had been removed. He looked at the playing cards in their hands and saw Aces and Eights. Each man was holding the 'dead man's hand'.
He studied them again and realized that they were the same ones that had attacked Cheetah, but someone or something had killed them and did it pretty quickly. His suit enhanced the hearing and he could hear something breathing and laughing. The first thought that came to his mind was Joker, but the Clown Prince of Crime would have killed Cheetah and not just left her there. This was someone new.
Azazel laughed again as the detective finished looking over the bodies. This one would be able to withstand his influence. Of course since he had those under his influence attack the strange cat-woman creature he could control her now. She had fine lines and would be a wonderful addition to Loki's collection. If he presented her as a gift he could take control of her later and use her to kill him.
Batman followed the footsteps and breathing, but finally he ran into a solid wall. Using the sonar scanner in his visors he looked for a secret exit, but it was no use. The wall was solid and that meant whoever had caused this was involved with some kind of magic. He grumbled slightly and walked back to Cheetah. Picking her up he began carrying her out of the warehouse.
Cheetah awoke to the feeling of being carried out of the warehouse. She looked up to see Batman in a redesigned suit. For once she felt happy to see the dark knight. She hugged up to him and felt him stop mid stride.
"Please don't stop. Those 'men' put something into me. I don't know what it was, but I've never been more frightened in my life. I wish that you where there earlier. If you had of been they wouldn't have done this. No one hurts anyone when Batman is there." She said as though she was child talking.
"You realize that I have to take you to police custody." He said
"It doesn't matter. I didn't do anything. Well I intended to steal some equipment that was supposed to go to Gotham University, but those men jumped me before I had a chance. I was actually a victim." She said holding on to him.
He sighed and set her down. He looked at her and remembered a talk with Selenia Kyle not too long ago in a similar situation.
"I can't let you go because I know what you will do. I can't send you to Arkham because I know what will happen to you. The only other option is to turn you over to the police." He said as though he was trying to convince himself.
"Don't want to because I actually was innocent in this right?" She said
"That does fit the situation." He said.
"How does this sound? I will leave right now. I will get out of Gotham and stay out. You won't see me again here. I give my word." She said.
"Fare enough." He said.
She turned and began to walk until her legs gave out. He walked over to her and noticed that she passed out.
"Then again a trip to the hospital would be best." He said as he scooped her up and flew toward Gotham General.
(Wayne Manor)
Diana walked through the room that was once Bruce's nursery. The room had been locked for some time, but Alfred had unlocked it for her and let her look it over. She began cataloging everything that they would need for the children. It was obvious that a new crib, wall paper, games, toys, basically everything would be needed. She walked over to a small teddy bear and picked it up. Even with it being so old she could still smell Bruce on it. The thought of him being a child and clutching the bear brought a smile to her face. She put it back down and walked out of the room.
"Alfred we will need everything redone within the room." She said.
"Miss it would seem early to do this unless…" he said looking at her.
"I am Alfred. I consulted one those tests and it confirmed it for me. You don't think that Bruce will be upset do you?" She asked.
"Master Bruce will be quite pleased. Although it will take some time to get the proper response from him." He replied as he wrote the list that Diana mentioned and then walked out of the room toward the main hall.
"Madam might I be allowed to ask when you and Master Bruce are going to make it official and wed here?" he asked.
"I'm not sure Alfred, but I want to talk to him about that too." She said as she walked toward the kitchen.
(Central City 1800th gated Community)
Hera grabbed another bowl of ice cream and ate it along with various things that didn't go with it. She had heard of mortals having strange cravings when pregnant, but she had never been forced to enjoy it. Now she could feel the life growing inside of her. She smiled and rubbed her stomach. Thor informed her daily that unlike mortals it only took Gods and Goddesses three months to have children. If she were mortal it would look as if she was seven months along. She walked outside and saw the servants cutting the grass and waving at her as they continued on their business.
"Yes, things are much more pleasant here than on Olympus. I should have left Zeus ages ago." She said to herself as she turned back into the house.
She was about to go and see what Thor was doing when she felt strange sickening feeling come over her. She turned and saw someone who was dressed in the same fashion as Thor, but he seemed weaker and flighty.
"You must be Thor's new wench. I suppose that he hath enjoyed all of thine fruits. Of course my brother wilts follow you and his unborn child." The other Norse God said as he grabbed Hera. She pulled back and slapped him across the face.
"You have a little fight in you. I like that." Loki said as he moved toward her again.
