BATCAVE
"Ahhhh!" Superman groaned when Batman pulled out the kryptonite bullet from his chest carefully. Batman double checked his wound to make sure that there were no pieces of kryptonite left inside the bullet wound on his chest before he tended to the wound. Superman relaxed when the kryptonite bullet was placed inside a lead container preventing its radiation from harming his physiology.
He slowly got up and put on his uniform. He spotted Bruce in front of his computer, checking on something. Careful not to startle him Superman walked towards him slowly.
"You shouldn't be up, Clark." Batman said without looking at Superman's direction.
Damn! How did he knew? I didn't even made a sound. Superman thought.
"Hey, I am okay." Superman assured Batman. "What have you got here?"
"See for yourself." Bruce replied.
On the screen the news of Luthor ordering Superman's arrest was running. Clark gritted his teeth in anger.
"Bruce you know that I didn't kill Metallo." Clark said.
"I know. But I need to check his body for clues." Bruce replied.
"I…." Clark's stopped as a figure flew inside the Batcave. "J'onn? What are you doing here?"
"Superman. Batman." J'onn greeted them. "I am afraid I have some bad news."
"What's going on?" Superman asked immediately, concern lacing his voice. Batman didn't say anything. He just stared at J'onn with a blank expression on his face.
"After ordering your arrest, Luthor took control of the Watchtower and arrested out friends." J'onn revealed.
"What?!" Superman yelled. Now he is angry. This time Luthor has gone too far.
"I prevented them from taking over the Watchtower but I couldn't stop them from arresting Wally, John, Shayera and Diana. Not without harming them." J'onn explained sadly.
Batman's jaw hardened immediately. He clenched his fists in anger. Luthor has got her.
If that bastard lay one finger on her I will personally make sure that he won't be able to use his hands anymore.
"You did the right thing, J'onn. Attacking the Government employees would have given Luthor an upper hand over the League than he has already. He can use politics and bend the people to hate the League. The situation would have been far worse than it already is." Bruce said.
J'onn looked at Superman. "What happened there?"
"Luthor wanted to destroy me with the help of Metallo. Metallo shot me with a kryptonite bullet but Batman managed to save me and brought me here." Superman said with his arms folded over his chest.
"So what should we do now?" J'onn asked.
"I will get inside the Star Labs to gather some evidence that Superman didn't kill Metallo. J'onn you get the rest of them out from Luthor's captivity." Batman paused. "You know what to do."
"What about me?" Superman frowned.
"You will stay here or disguise yourself as Clark Kent out there." Bruce ordered.
"No." Superman disagreed. "I won't let you go there alone."
Batman greeted his teeth in irritation. Sometimes the Boy Scout really get on his nerves. "I can take care of myself, Kent."
"I never said you can't but I want to be there too." Superman said stubbornly.
Batman realized he cannot persuade his friend otherwise so he gave in. "Very well. And here are the extra communicators."
J'onn and Superman placed the communicators over their ears and nodded. "Wait for my signal, J'onn. Things are going to turn ugly out there." Batman suggested.
"Whatever you say my friend." J'onn said while phasing through the cave roof.
HIGH SECURITY PRISON
"I can't believe we surrendered to Luthor." Shayera muttered from her cell.
"Start believing it." John said.
"Shut up, John." Shayera yelled.
"Stop it, you two! You two are worse than a pair of teenagers." Diana scolded from her cell.
"Hey Diana! Keep out of this! I don't interrupt when you argue with Batman." Shayera retorted. She had no intention of hurting Diana, she was only teasing the Princess because she knew the mention of Batman's name will make her blush. Even though she can't see the Princess' face from her cell she knew that her friend was blushing. John couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hey Wondy! Do you think Bats will come for us?" Flash asked.
Diana's eyebrows raised at his question. "Why are you asking me? How am I supposed to know that?"
"Well, you are closest to him." Flash said truthfully.
"What made you say that?" Diana asked confused.
"Well, you two almost stick together in missions always, eat together and well….. we know that you have the hot for Bats." Flash trailed off.
Diana opened and closed her mouth several times to argue but she knew what Flash said was true.
Had she really been that obvious? Memories flooded her mind and she thought about the first time when she saw him and her friends. John thought she was a rookie, Sheyera was well…. Shayera, Wally immediately started flirting with her, Kal was friendly as always, J'onn was polite and then there was him. Dark, dressed like a Bat, lurking in the shadows.
At first sight he picked her interest. He was the only one among them who had no special powers and yet he fought with them against the aliens shoulder to shoulder, never backing off. When they thought he died, she felt something inside her got broken. She didn't knew what it was. But now she knew. There is a special connection between them which she cannot deny. Whenever she was in trouble and needed help he was there for her. In battle they worked in perfect synchronization, watching each other backs. She have hope that he will come for her and her friends like he did during the alien attack.
She wondered when she fell for him. Perhaps it was during the events in Paris. But she is an Amazon who was taught to despite men, still he somehow captured her heart without even trying. She fell in love with an ordinary man. No, not an ordinary man but the Dark Knight of Gotham, a hero.
When her mother banished her from her island for bringing men, she accepted it but she was heartbroken. She knew that as a Queen her mother was right to banish her because what she did was against the law of the Amazons. When she was in pain thinking about her mother and sisters, he came to her, offering comfort, not pity. He told her he knew how it feels to lose their parents while holding her tightly. She cried against his chest while holding on to him as if he was the only thing that was keeping her alive. From that time she started to feel something for him but she didn't know what it was.
Then there was Steve Trevor. She kissed him. Why? It was mostly out of instinct. She didn't knew at that time but she realized it later. She wanted Bruce to be in place of Steve Trevor. She wanted him and still do but he always rejected her advances. When she met Alfred, the British Butler told her about the tragedy in Bruce's life, what made him Batman, why he always stay away from people. She learnt about his past relationships and Alfred explained that whoever he loved had always left him in the end breaking his heart. So keeping distance from people is his self-defence for protecting his heart. But Diana wanted to show him that she is not like other women. Once she gives her heart, it is permanent. She wanted to be there for him, make him smile, make him happy, give him a life which he deserves. Diana knew she must have patience because breaking through his walls will take some time. So still now she is maintaining her patience waiting for him to realize that she will never hurt him or leave him. She only wants him to let her in his life.
"Daydreaming Princess?" A voice pulled her away from her thoughts.
A man dressed in expensive suit stood in front of her cell with an evil smirk on his face. "Still wondering whether your boyfriend will come to your rescue?" Luthor mocked Diana.
"I don't know what you are talking about, Mr. President." Diana said firmly.
"If you say so, Princess." Then he leaned forward towards her cell, with his eyes boring straight into hers. "I will let him come and once he comes he won't get out again. I will make sure he comes in contact with this." He gestured towards his tux pocket.
Diana could see a green light that was coming out of his pocket and she immediately realized what he have inside his pocket – a kryptonite. But why on Earth everybody thinks that Superman is her boyfriend? First of all he is not and secondly she doesn't have any boyfriend.
"You won't get Superman, Luthor." Diana said firmly.
"Ah! I see so much belief in your boyfriend. We will see Princess." He said while walking away from her.
[/\]
A shadowy figure crept towards the remains of the villain Metallo with a device in his hand. Seconds later another figure entered the room and came to stand beside the previous figure.
"What do you think?" Superman asked.
"You couldn't have done it. Extreme radiation killed him and I know that your heat vision isn't radioactive." Batman said.
"Then who could have….." Superman couldn't finish his sentence because in the next moment the door of the room burst open and a huge figure stepped inside.
"Mongul!" Superman said narrowing his eyes.
But Mongul wasn't alone. More figures appeared behind him. Grundy, Shiva, Bane, StarFire, KillerFrost, Mr. Freeze, Gorilla Grodd, Giganta and several others were there.
Mongul charged at Superman without wasting any time. A solid right hook send Superman crashing against the wall and make a large whole. Mongul jumped after him through the wall and crashed on Superman making a large crater on the ground. He pulled the dazed hero above the ground and punched him several times before crashing him down on the ground again.
Meanwhile Batman was trying to fend off Shiva and Bane at the same time.
"The Bat is mine." Bane swung a massive fist towards Batman's head which he avoided narrowly and kicked his opponent behind his knees bringing the big guy down on his knees. But he stumbled forward when someone kicked him in his back. It was Shiva. Batman had no time to waste. He jumped away from where he was. He was lucky because in the next moment that place got frozen. Mr. Freeze has joined the party.
Superman blocked Mongul's punch and countered with one of his own. The villains head snapped back against the powerful blow he received. Superman gave him no chance to recover. Right hook, left hook and then an uppercut send the villain flying into the sky. Using his super speed Superman flew to the sky where Mongul was heading and with a powerful haymaker he sent the villain crashing to the ground.
Superman had no time to let out a breath because the other villains assaulted him immediately after Mongul fell. Batman had somehow managed to dodge the attack of three villains and found some room to contact J'onn.
"Batman to J'onn. It's time. We could use some help." Batman said.
"Very well, my friend." Came the Martian's reply before the line got disconnected.
[/\]
The four heroes were trapped inside their cells without any means of escaping.
"We have to get out from here." Shayera said.
"How? In case you didn't notice we don't have any way to free ourselves." John asked irritated.
"We…" Shayera suddenly stopped as the power of the whole building went out. Diana tried to find out what was happening from inside her cell, same as the others. At that moment a guard appeared out of nowhere and begin to unlock her cell.
Diana was surprised. Why is this man opening her cell?
The guard not only unlocked her cell door but freed her from her restraints too. Diana opened her mouth to question him but he beat her to it.
"Diana, free Flash." The guard said.
Diana was more than surprised but she can know later why this man was helping them but now she need to help her friends. When Diana freed Flash from his restraints she saw the guard put John's ring in his hand. At once John powered up and freed himself and Shayera.
"Where's my mace?" Shayera asked.
The guard put his hand inside his uniform and pulled out Shayera's mace, handing it to her.
"We must go, now." The guard said.
"Wait. Who are you? And why are you helping us?" Diana stopped the man.
He turned to face her and let out a small smile. Then his shape begin to change, he grew taller, more muscular and in the next moment J'onn was standing in front of Diana. Seeing her friend Diana smiled brightly and hugged the big Martian.
"Thank you, John." Diana said.
"How did you took out their power?" John asked.
"With Batman's help. He provided me with an EMP device which took down the power temporarily." J'onn answered.
"But….." Wally was about to ask more questions but J'onn stopped him.
"We don't have time. Superman and Batman is in danger. They need our help. We must go now." J'onn said.
Diana immediately became concerned for her friends. "What's going on J'onn?"
"I believe they were ambushed by our enemies and badly outnumbered. We must hurry." J'onn insisted.
It was Diana who flew away first, with the others following.
She must save him. He has always been there for her and now it's her turn to show him that she will always be there for him, no matter what. She can't let anything happen to him because a life without him will have no meaning for her. She loved him far too much to live a life without him.
When Diana and the others came to Batman and Superman's aid, they found both the heroes struggling to keep up against so many foes at once. Superman was fighting Grundy, Gorilla Grodd, KillerFrost and StarFire. The Man of Steel was trying his best to keep up against his enemies but he was badly outnumbered. Batman was trying to dodge Bane, Shiva and Mr Freeze's attacks. He was lucky not to get hit till now. Diana saw Batman tried to dodge Mr Freeze's freeze gun but he couldn't. The villain froze his leg and he fell to the ground helplessly.
Batman looked up from his position on the ground to see Bane looming over him.
"Now I will break you." Bane said while reaching for him.
But a hand grabbed hold of Bane's arms.
"Diana." Batman said almost in relief. He was happy to see her again and realize that she is safe.
Diana didn't reply. She was looking at Bane with fury. This was the villain that hurt the man she loved more than anything else. He deserves some punishment. Before Bane could figure out what to do, Diana's punch landed on his jaw throwing him twenty feet away on the ground.
Mr. Freeze turned his freeze gun towards Diana but a quick batarang from Batman disarmed him. Shiva tried to hurt Diana but she was no match for the Amazon. Shiva aimed a kick towards Diana's waist but she quickly grabbed it and threw Shiva away. Freeze tried to escape but Batman threw a bola at his legs causing him to fall on the ground.
Taking care of Shiva Diana immediately went to Bruce. With a light punch she broke the ice that froze his legs.
"Batman, are you okay?" Diana asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I am fine." Came the curt reply. Bruce thought that she will be angry at him for such rude reply but she flashed a smile towards him. He was taken aback by her reaction.
Superman was fighting with Grundy, Green Lantern with StarFire, Hawkgirl with KillerFrost, J'onn with Gorilla Grodd and Flash was punching anyone he can find. Superman sent Grundy flying away with a right hook but in the next second Giganta appeared out of nowhere and begin to pummel Superman mercilessly to the ground.
Diana rocketed towards the giant woman and punched the back of her legs. She screamed out in pain and backed away from Superman. Diana delivered a massive uppercut to the woman's chin, knocking her out. While she fell down her huge body crushed StarFire and Gorilla Grodd against the ground. The villains started to retreat seeing that they are badly losing the fight. Except one.
"The Bat is mine." Bane snarled at Batman. Batman prepared himself for Bane, trying to anticipate his moves. Bane charged at him with full speed just as Batman thought the villain would do. Batman dodged the charge and used the momentum to throw the villain towards Wonder Woman who knocked the villain out with a powerful punch to the face.
Batman sighed in relief and let out a small breath of relief. He and Superman were badly outnumbered, if not for J'onn and the others they may have been killed. Talking about others there she was coming towards him with concern in her beautiful blue eyes.
"Bruce, are you okay?" Diana asked, her voice laced with concern.
"I am fine." Bruce tried to stay away from her because she was doing something to him which no one could do. Without even trying she got past his walls which he built for so many years to protect his heart from breaking again. But he knew that she is not like others, she is the epitome of perfection, an immortal goddess and he is a broken man who has nothing to offer. There is no one good enough for her least of all him. For the last two years he tried to suppress his growing feelings towards the Amazon Princess but it was becoming nearly unbearable. He knew he can crack any moment, all it will take for her is to give him a dazzling smile and his walls will crumble down like glass. But he can't allow that to happen, no matter how much it breaks his heart.
"Bruce are you sure? You are not looking well." Diana pressed on because she could see that he was favouring his right side while walking.
"I have been through worse, Princess." He replied harshly while stepping past her.
Diana stared daggers at his back. She couldn't figure this strange man. Sometimes he shows that he doesn't care about her more than a teammate and sometimes…. Hera! This man infuriates her so much that she sometimes wants to punch him through walls. As much his uncaring attitude irked her, but this feeling doesn't come anywhere near her love for him.
"We must…." Batman couldn't finish his sentence as more heroes arrived with Captain Atom leading them.
Clark walked past him towards Captain. "You have arrived at the right time. You need to hear us out, Captain."
"I don't intend to hear anything from you or the others Superman. By the President's order you all are under arrest. I would request all of you to come with me quietly." Captain Atom declared.
"You know I cannot do that." Superman replied firmly.
"Then you left me no choice." Captain Atom said and punched Superman across the face. Before Superman could recover the Captain sent him flying with his cosmic beam.
John attacked the Captain and soon the founders and Captain's team was fighting. Batman jumped away and hid himself in the shadows temporarily as his ear piece came alive.
"Bruce, where are you?" Barbara spoke.
"Can't this wait? I am busy at the moment." Bruce replied.
"No this is important. One scientist at Tokyo claims that he can destroy the meteorite. You must go there at once. We don't have much time left." Barbara explained.
"Send me the co-ordinates." Batman replied.
"Already sent. Oracle out." Barbara cut the line off.
Next Bruce contacted Tim. "Tim you got what I told you to get?"
"Yes, Boss." Tim replied.
"Good. Contact Superman tomorrow and hand him the evidence. Batman out."
"Bruce. Wait. Bruce….." But Bruce had already ended the connection.
Bruce contacted Clark when he saw that he sent Captain Atom a flying away with a massive punch. "Will you six manage okay without me?"
"Without you? Where are you going?" Clark asked immediately.
"I have a plan to stop the meteorite. This can't wait." Batman rasped.
"As you wish Bruce."
"Don't let anyone follow me." Batman said. Batman ended the connection. Before he go he wanted to make sure that Diana is okay. He peeked from darkness and saw her holding her grounds perfectly well. Then he thought that of course she would, she is Wonder Woman. Shaking his head he attached his grappling hook with the Batwing which was hovering in the dark sky.
FEW HOURS LATER, TOKYO
Batman sneaked into the lab that Barbara told him about. He only has two hours left until the meteorite reaches the Earth's atmosphere. He had to act fast. Entering the lab he found no resistance there. Running through the corridors he finally reached the lab where the scientist was.
"Batman!"
Bruce looked at the so called scientist. He was no older than thirteen.
"I am Alex. I am a big fan of you Batman. I just can't believe that I am meeting you finally. Wow!" Alex muttered to no one in particular.
"Can we do this later?" Bruce replied a bit embarrassed because no one ever considered Batman as a hero. He himself never considered it.
"Yeah… Of course." Alex stuttered, still in awe.
"What is your plan?" Bruce asked.
"I will show you. Come on, this way." The boy led towards a steel door at the other end of the lab. When Bruce get past the door he reached a massive factory area where a huge robot stood. It was at least one fifty feet tall and it resembled him and…. Diana? One side of the robot looked like him and the other side was made to look like Diana.
Bruce looked at Alex questioningly.
"Oh yeah, that. Well….." Alex stuttered as a blush formed on his cheeks. "You know I am a big fan of Wonder Woman too. She is so beautiful and I saw how you two fight together." He then imitated Bruce and Diana as they fought. Bruce's lips curled a little at the corners but he quickly hid it. "You two seem perfect and no one stands a chance against you two. Ho-hah!" Alex threw a kick and a punch in the air directing towards his imaginary enemy.
"So….?" Bruce asked.
Alex composed himself. "Um, well I can send this machine in the space and crash it against the meteor. As soon it crashes a nuke inside the robot will go off. This machine is built specially, no amount of radiation and heat can effect it."
"Why didn't you used it till now?" Batman asked.
"It needs to be controlled by two people. I needed a volunteer and since you are here, you can help me." Alex said hopefully.
"Tell me what to do." Bruce said.
The boy showed Bruce what to do and how to do. Alex immediately started the process and activated the robot. "Batman press that green switch to your right."
Bruce nodded but before he could hit the switch a green beam hit the console and it got blasted apart completely. Bruce was thrown away by the blast but he was managed to cover Alex with his cape. Bruce looked to see who intervened.
A man stood a few feet away from them in a large armour.
"Luthor." Bruce grounded his teeth in anger.
"It's good to see you again, Batman." Luthor greeted with an evil smile.
"What do you want Luthor?" Bruce asked pushing the boy behind him.
"I can't let you destroy the meteor. It's the biggest source of kryptonite I can get." Luthor said and fired a beam towards Batman which he avoided easily.
"You have gone crazy Luthor. If that thing enters the atmosphere think how many people will die from the radiation." Batman rasped.
"I am willing to take the risk, Batman." Luthor yelled.
"Well, I am not." Batman threw smoke bombs at Luthor's feet and jumped towards him. But somehow Luthor could see him through smoke. He sent Batman few feet away with a powerful back hand across the hero's face. After Bruce crashed on the ground a few feet away he could feel that his lips were split, at least his two ribs were fractured and for some reason his left leg was feeling numb.
"Give up, Batman. You stand no chance." Luthor said arrogantly.
"Maybe." This time Bruce smirked when his eyes fell on something behind Luthor. Within the next second a red and blue streak hit Luthor in his back sending him crashing against the wall.
"You okay?" Superman asked.
"Just in time." Bruce said while getting up.
"Superman. Wow!" Alex said in awe. "I am Alex. Pleased to meet you Superman." He extended his little hand. Before Superman could take his hand a green beam hit Superman right on his chest.
"Arghh!" He let out a scream and fell on the ground. Luthor came flying and punched Batman away. Then he kicked Superman in his stomach sending him against the far wall.
"How does it feel, Superman? It's pure kryptonite. Just for you." Luthor said.
Bruce unsteadily got to his feet and limped towards Alex who was standing in front of the consoles with his hands on his head.
"We've got a big problem, Batman. That man destroyed the console and now there is no way we can control the robot from here."
"Is there any other way?"
"Yes, there is another way but….."
"What is it?"
"Someone have to guide it manually and crash it against the meteorite."
"I'll do it." Batman replied immediately.
"But….."
"No buts. Prepare it for launch." Batman ordered and went to help Superman who was taking a good beating from Luthor. Batman distracted Luthor by putting some plastic charges on his back, but they didn't even scratch his armour. Next Bruce knew that Luthor fist connecting to his jaw and he saw stars.
"Now where were we? Ah… Yes…" Luthor said turning towards Superman again who was on the ground panting. He raised his feet to stomp on the hero but before that a golden rope got tied around his waist and he was pulled away from Superman.
Bruce shook the dizziness away and slowly limped towards Alex, holding his side. "Is it ready?"
"Yes." Alex said.
"Good." Batman said while helping Superman up on his feet.
"Batman what are you trying to do?" Superman said tiredly.
"I will have to manually guide it towards the meteor."
Superman's eyes widened immediately. "No! I can't let you do that. I will….." Superman tried to protest more but Batman stopped him in mid-sentence.
"Don't be a fool Superman. This is the only way." Batman said. Then he turned towards Alex. "Do it."
He nodded and went towards another small console. Bruce turned away from Clark to leave but he turned around again because he had to make a request.
"I need you to do something for me, Clark." Bruce whispered.
"Bruce you don't have to do this." Clark pleaded.
"There is no other way." Bruce stopped. "I need you to stop Diana from coming after me in any way you can. You have to promise me."
"I…. I promise." Superman said. His eyes were brimming with tears but he refused to let them fall.
Bruce said no more. He attached his grappling hook at the door of the robot and climbed up there. Before he closed the door he glanced a last look at Diana who was fighting with Luthor and had no idea what he is about to do. Batman quickly entered the cockpit and took the controls.
Diana punched Luthor in his chest crumbling his armour partially. She sent the President flying towards the far wall of the area. Luthor made an imprint of himself on the wall before crashing down on the ground. Diana turned around to see the huge robot was taking off and Superman was watching it with tears in his eyes. She immediately came to him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"What's wrong Kal?" She asked.
"Batman. He…. He…..." Superman couldn't say.
"Where is he, Kal?" Diana asked looking around. There was no sign of Bruce.
"He is inside the robot, Diana. He will guide it manually." Clark explained.
"What!?"
No! No! He can't do that. She won't let him die.
Diana tried to take off but Superman stopped her. "What are you doing Kal? Let me go!" She demanded.
"This is all that bad man's fault. He destroyed my controls. That's why Batman had to sacrifice himself." Alex said to Diana.
"Luthor…." Diana hissed. Then she was rocketing towards the villain. Without an effort she picked him up from the ground with her fist raised, ready to pound him. Tears were running down her eyes blurring her vision, but she didn't care. All she felt was a deep hole inside her heart and immense rage towards this man in her hand.
"You can't kill me. I am the President." Luthor said, his voice was full of dread.
"I don't care." Diana hissed, ready to smash him in his face.
Luthor closed his eyes when he saw Diana's fist coming towards his face.
