Chapter two - Private?
A cape and cowl shielded the face and body of the young man who lay stretched out along the support beam in the huge lounge. Since it was early afternoon most leaguers were busy with their alter egos day jobs. Flash and Green Lantern Hal Jordan were the only heroes relaxing in the lounge. Neither glanced up into the ceiling and the youth moved in near complete silence as he fixed a button-sized machine to the ceiling and added a slightly larger rectangle machine with a small lens.
"Superman is nearing the lounge!" A woman hissed into his communicator. The youth lay down on the beam, wrapped the cape about him and appeared to fall asleep. He actually entered a state similar to sleep but one that slowed his heart. His eyes remained open and his eidetic memory recorded the following events.
Clark entered the room and glanced around. His senses were usually on alert while in uniform, but this was the Watchtower and he disliked spying on friends. There were no alerts and nothing indicated trouble to Clark so Superman kept his hearing to a minimum and did not hear the slow heart beat above his head.
"Hey Clark!" Wally called, waving a wild hand while controlling his kart with one hand on the Wii Controller. Jordan growled as he lost to the speedster, again. "Want to have a go?"
"Please take over for me. I'm done getting my butt handed to me." Hal stood up. "Please tell me we are going on alert and I can get out of here."
"Sorry, but everything is still under control. I think this week may end without a major crisis." Clark grinned. Then he sighed. "Batman just called up and informed us that he is calling a Beta Level meeting at 7 pm, Eastern Time of course. Green Arrow should be sending out an announcement shortly."
"And people say Batman doesn't play pranks. He waited until he knew Ollie was on Monitor Duty, didn't he?" Flash inquire, zipping to the nearby fridge. Jordan rolled his eyes. Superman gave a small smile.
"The 'dark' knight is summoning us all to a meeting and as per norm doesn't give a reason, does he?" Green Lantern said.
"Um." Superman seemed to shrink into Clark Kent as he considered defending his unique friend.
[Beta meeting at 7 pm in meeting room A. Beta meeting called at 7 pm eastern time in meeting room A. Reminder that a Beta meeting includes all league members] Green Arrows voice growled over the speakers.
"I had a date planned. Now I have to push it back to eight pm." Clark mumbled under his breath.
"Well at least we know Bats keeps it short and sweet." Flash said. Jordan grimaced and then marched out of the room with a few choice words to describe the arrogant Gothamite. Words few would dare say to Batman's face if only to avoid the infamous Bat glare.
"And Linda and the twins are visiting your in laws so you weren't doing anything tonight anyway." Superman laughed.
"Right. Say, maybe you could get bring your mom to the meeting. She could make Bats be nice." Flash suggested brightly.
"No she couldn't. Even my mom has her limits. However she can make him sit up straight and finish supper, no matter how pressing his case is." Clark replied.
"Your mom is as good as Batman when it comes to making you do something you weren't planning on doing." Wally zipped to the game. "Race?" He held up the controller.
"Alright." Clark reached down for the controller.
[Intruder Alert! Intruder Alert!] A computerized voice screeched out of the speaker above the door. Both dropped their controllers and ran to the door. [Intruder alert in mid level floor 14!]
The two heroes glanced at each other. "Our floor!" Flash crowed and dashed out of the room. Superman glanced around the room quickly, but not even his quick eyes could discern the shadow on the beam against the black ceiling. He dashed after his friend. Once they were several corridors away the spy slowly sat up and glanced down at the empty lounge, a smirk on his lips.
"Lounge A bugged, CO. Heading to meet up with C." He whispered into his wrist.
"C is entering trophy room now. Tower now at alert level 2. Stay low number 2." A woman's computerized voice returned. "Tracking B as we speak. She is doing an excellent job if I say so myself."
