Shayera flexed her shoulders but didn't remove her arms from her makeshift nest. She glanced up groggily into her arms, her wings moving out of the way to reveal five eggs settled together. Shayera moved her body a little so she can get more comfortable again. She has been protecting her eggs for a few weeks now, her body still weak after birthing five eggs. The most a Thanagarian woman can lay is just three eggs. She put her body through hell to make sure all five survived the birthing process.
Weakly getting up to reposition her eggs, Shayera folded her wings back over them to provide extra warmth. Had she been on Thanagar, Incubators would have been provided for her eggs to provide a safe, stable, and cozy environment. Instead she is on Earth: a planet she had adopted as her home and betrayed in one go. Shayera sighed in shame, worried what the future holds for her children.
After fighting the security and the staff, Shayera is trapped in her cell with her clutch after threatening to break her eggs open and slicing her throat open. The head scientist, Dr. Munroe, ordered to leave her, intending to starve her out. That was five days ago.
Shayera shook her head, fighting the fatigue. It has been five days since she had a decent shower, a meal, and sleep. Dr. Monroe wants her children for more experimentation, having forced Shayera through several medical procedures to ensure that her body could birth more than she could handle. With five eggs, each one inseminated with sperm from different men, Shayera nearly died when the birthing process began. It was only by Dr. Munroe's need to have her alive that saved her in the end. He wanted to create a superior race of humans, using her biology to further advance his work.
Exiled by the very planet she betrayed yet saved in the end, Shayera has little to no hope of ever getting rescued. Tears ran down her face as she ignored her growling stomach. She won't die of starvation but dehydration is a serious possibility. Shayera shuddered as she tried to swallow but couldn't. Coughing, she turned her head away from her eggs to prevent any possible harmful bacteria from seeping through the eggshells. Her body screamed at her for rest but going to sleep meant that Dr. Monroe will easily take her children away.
Shayera wanted to scream in frustration but immediately stiffened after hearing the doors open. Looking past her cell bars, she watched as a lone guard walked up to her, semi-automic in hand. His black and dark orange mask reflected against the dim light as he walked closer to her. Shayera glanced at the security camera to see that the red light is off, so she finally relaxed and withdrew her wings. He walked over to her nest and lightly caressed one of the eggs, a light brown colored one. Shayera curled up and rested her arms and wings, knowing her guardian is there to give her rest.
She had heard of him before, during her days in the Justice League. Slade Wilson is a dangerous mercenary to the world but here, in her prison, he is her angel. Shayera watched as he opened her cell door and take her into his arms. She snuggled into his armor, ignoring the little jabs they made into her skin. He stroked her feathers on her wings, right where the wings met with her shoulder blades. Shayera purred and momentarily almost slept when he said, "Today is the day you'll be free."
"How?" asked Shayera, throat sore and scratchy.
"I have it planned. When the time comes, all you have to do is sit back and watch." said Slade as he brushed her hair to the side. Shayera shuddered at the contact, needing more to feel safe and wanted. He stroked her hair, each one enjoying the silence of each other's presence as they waited out their hour together. Shayera glanced at her eggs and sighed into Slade's chest, almost clinging on to him as he stood up to leave and return to his services. Shayera understood that whatever Slade wanted, it involved her but starved for comforting contact Shayera didn't care. She resumed her vigilant watch over her children, watching as he left the room and the camera turned back on with his departure.
Shayera felt her body scream again but she ignored it, diligent to protect her eggs. Shayera moved her eggs a bit to make them more central when the alarms rang out. For the first time since leaving the League, Shayera felt hope. Screams of rage and threats were heard outside her room, Shayera quickly scrambled on top her eggs, using her body as a shield and spreading her wings out to act as a secondary shield. Covering her eggs with her thin blanket, Shayera waited as the noises got louder and closer to her room.
Silence.
Shayera trembled in fear at what might have happened. Did Slade get overwhelmed? Was this all for naught? Shayera would have lamented further when a green light surrounded the door and crushed it open. Eyes wide open, Shayera didn't believe it and her exhaustion mixed in with her fear almost made her fall on top of her eggs. Trembling, Shayera watched as John Stewart flew in, surrounded by the green aura of the Green Lantern power. Following him came Diana, Superman, and Batman. Shivering, Shayera did her best to hold still as they have yet to notice her cell in the dark room.
"Look for any records that can implicate Munroe's experiments. We need to have evidence or else the trial will be placed in the back burner for who knows how long." ordered Batman. As John illuminated the entire room with his ring, all eyes were now focused on Shayera's trembling form.
Shayera watched as shock, surprise, and horror invaded their eyes at the sight of her. No doubt that they thought her gone or dead and out of their lives. Shayera trembled harder, doing her best to remain upright and conscious. Is this what Slade talked about?
"Shay?" whispered John. Shayera curled even tighter around her eggs, praying to all deities that they don't notice them. Her former friends walked towards her cell, slowly and cautiously. Shayera tried to swallow but with hardly any moisture in her throat, she made a small whimper. They stopped in their step and Batman glanced around the room to see a large tv screen across from them. Walking towards it, he turned it on to see Metropolis News playing in the middle of a segment. Shayera turned her head to it, wondering what they said about her today. The others crowded around the television, never seeing this report before.
"Snapper Carr reporting to you live today April 28. I have here Superman representing the Justice League today, keeping us informed with the hunt for Hawkgirl."
Superman balked while the others stood dumbfounded. The Superman in the tv is an exact carbon copy of the one watching the tv. As the interview continued, they watched as the fake Superman fed the fake reporter lies. Superman had just talked with Carr after rescuing him from another of Livewire's attacks. This isn't the Carr he had seen.
"Superman? Any reports on the hunt for Hawkgirl."
"Not today Snap," said the fake Superman, "I promise you though that the League is well on top of the search. Once we have Hawkgirl apprehended she will be turned over to the United States government in order to be interrogated of possible future Thanagarian attacks."
"Superman? What if she were to resist?"
"You don't have to worry, Snap. One way or another, she will be cooperative."
The news ended there as the tv automatically shut off. Turning towards Shayera in her cell, Superman wanted to quickly approach her and tell her that it wasn't him but seeing the frightful gleam in her eyes told him that she wouldn't believe him.
"Hera," breathed out Diana quietly, "They were experimenting on her."
"No doubt taking advantage of her exile and current situation." noted Batman. Of all things to run across, his former teammate looking near death was not one of them. It angered him to see her be taken advantage off like this, but he is pretty sure that John's anger is more likely near apocalyptic.
Slowly approaching her, John reached into the cell and rubbed the back of her head. Shayera flinched and gave another whimper, making him pull back. Looking her over to see if he had hurt her in some way, he realized that he had only frightened her. John wanted to take her in and hush her to comfort and sleep. Her entire body screamed abuse to him and he wanted to go back into the lab and pulverize Dr. Munroe for doing this to Shayera.
Sitting down across from Shayera. John noticed the awkward way she was hunched over. Tilting his head to the side, he could see something under her. Her tired and deep sunken eyes kept him from advancing towards her but he needed to know what she is protecting to understand how to help her.
Using his ring, he constructed a mattress under Shayera, causing her to cry out.
"No! NO! NOOOO!" yelled Shayera as she began to scramble back to her children. Where is Slade? He promised she will be free with her children. He promised! The League was going to ensure no other traitor could be born in this planet!
Diana looked on in shock as John revealed five eggs resting in a makeshift nest. She looked at the desperation and fear in Shayera's face as her skinny and frail body tried to resist John's power. As much as Diana wanted to carry her resentment towards Shayera, she couldn't help but pity her.
Batman followed the wire connecting to the tv to find a hidden wall. After prying it open, computers were aligned in the room with a single Monitor to show video files being played automatically.
Severing the wire connecting to the television, Batman played video file after file. Each file was a different recording of various League members vowing to punish Hawkgirl. For the more extreme videos, whoever the clones are even promised to exterminate any Thanagarian-related invader, regardless of age or innocence. On the broader scale, Shayera would have been able to see through the ruse but she has been missing for over two years.
Two years under the experimentation of Dr. Munroe would definitely warp her logic and reasoning. Looking at John as he placed Shayera back down gently, he watched as Shayera desperately reorganized her eggs in her small nest of blankets before wrapping her arms around them and extending her wings over them to protect them. Batman looked over the files again and took a deep breath. This is going to be a long night. Noticing other files, Batman opened them up and watched as medical files opened up. The further he read through them, the more guilt and anger began to pile up. Knowing that the others need to know about this, Batman made the order to move out.
Slade watched from across the building to see them load the eggs and Shayera into the Javelin. From the looks of it, she appeared to have been sedated, no doubt panicking about the League's appearance. The Lantern had constructed a comfortable makeshift bed for her and the eggs. He narrowed his eyes at the League. They had ruined his plans to get the eggs and Shayera to his safehouse.
They are his. The League has no business taking what belongs to him. He walked away, intending to plan for a break in and rescue. The League has no idea what they are heading into, mark his words.
Hey readers! Hopefully you liked this story. Tell me honestly :) it's the only way I know how you guys feel about it and where I can improve. Shout out to LadyShayera for the story idea :) also for more reading I'd recommend The Tinkling Piano by Myno. It's a new story and it has an interesting storyline :)