Chapter Seven
Diana stopped by her flat in South London. It was across from the London Gallery. Landing on her balcony, she quickly moved inside and headed towards her bedroom. She could hear the beeping from her answering machine stating that she had messages. As she began to change she said "retrieve messages" and her answering machine began playing her messages. The first message was from Victoria Castle, one of the administrators from Queens Land University where Diana worked as an Ancient History teacher. Queens Land was a small all-girl school in South London that allowed Diana the chance for a life outside being a super hero and Amazonian Ambassador. Bruce Wayne had set up the position himself and took pleasure in the small details.
The message went something like "Miss Prince, we here at Queens Land are grateful to have someone with your credentials has part of our staff, your unexpected leave of absence took us by surprise. This is highly irregular but the Board of Supervisors has approved and your classes were taken over by Dr. Matthews, but now her work load is falling behind. We really need you back Miss Prince, the students have asked about you and your presence at Queens Land is greatly missed. Take care Miss Prince and we wish your son a speedy recovery."
Upon here the last words Diana stopped in her tracks. "Now how could she have known…" shaking her head she continued gathering her things. She still had two dozen papers to grade and a mid-term to plan. Taking all the papers she needed Diana placed them in a satchel; she then watered her plants. Needing to make one more stop, Diana headed for the Fortress.
"You fool!" Shouted the bald man in the Caraceni Suit to the shorter man. Throwing a fist-full papers at him, "70 million dollars" he said. "70 million dollars for this (gesturing toward the something in the adjacent room)! I give you one simple task and you deliver me... this" (again gesturing to the subject in the other room).
"I assure you Mr. …."
"Not another word!" The bald man said. "When I want you to speak I will tell you!" The bald man was pacing back and forth. "70 million dollars! What the hell made you think…"
"Take two steps and bow before your master" said the small man. The hulking figure took two thundering steps then kneeled before the bald suited man. "After the genetic manipulation and psychic conditioning the subject is completely controllably, and unstoppable." Said the small man. "True, I wasn't able to replicate the Veidt data due to some unforeseen elements but the results from our second experiment are quite promising. He said. "Project Kr was an anomaly sir… but I assure you that with this (gesturing to the hulking figure) the Kryptonian will perish."
Bruce Wayne sat in front of his super computer in the Batcave. He was exhausted, mentally and physically and his costume was in ruins. He had just spent the last three days at Blackgate Prison trying to restore order after the Joker had taken over and released the inmates.
Bruce was still recuperating from all of his exposure to the Scarecrow's fear toxin and Young's Titan formula. The anti-toxin developed for him by Lucious Fox worked, but it took time. Bruce felt bruised from his head to his toes but he had to finish his report and close the case. As his fingers typed his mind filled with regret at the loss of Penelope Young, a brilliant but misguided scientist. As tired as he was, he felt a strange sense of exhilaration coursing through him. He chalked it up to coming down from the adrenalin rush that solving cases brought him. He thought through it again and the last time he'd felt this sensation was when he was abducted into the Sinestro Corps. Bruce's great will power allowed him to resist the call of the powerful alien device but it was a feeling he wouldn't soon forget. Before his hyper-analytical mind could make any more deductions, two black latex covered arms snaked around his neck. Velvet soft lips kissed his cheek and slid back his cowl and revealed his handsome but bruised face.
"Selina"… he said
"Bruce" she responded removing his hand from the keyboard and straddling him in his chair.
Slightly annoyed as she prevented him from seeing the screen, Bruce attempted to move her.
"NOT THIS TIME" she said, as grabbed the headrest of his chair and spun them around so he could see the screen.
"No more, cat and mouse... tonight we settle this once and for all. Take me to bed you big stud or lose me forever." She said.
Her green eyes danced before him playfully but he knew she was serious. Bruce rested his hands on her slender waist. Selina was strong-willed when she wanted something, he just couldn't figure out why she chose now to be frisky. Damn her and her feline nature. Realizing that she was not giving in he stood up flinging her over his shoulder, he smacked her bottom and said …
"Bad kitty". Selina purred was he carried her up to stately Wayne Manor… to his bedroom. Hours later as the two lay embraced Bruce Wayne's body began to glow.
Diana arrived at the Fortress, with her satchel and two large sausage and cheese pizzas from Brandis' in Naples Italy. Brandi's had become their favorite place after Clark had accepted Conner as his son. He, Diana and Conner spent a lot of time traveling the world to help Conner adjust. Diana being there also eased tensions between Clark and Conner as Diana was a natural diplomat and being the second strongest person on the planet also helped if either got too bull-headed and needed some sense knocked into them.
"Conner, come join me" she called out. She was in the Fortresses dining area, setting out the food and drink.
"Finally, your back" Conner said.
"These freakin machines have been keeping me hostage"… struggling to get past KANDCS's automatons.
"Thank you KANDCS" I'll take it from here.. Diana whispered.
"As you wish Princess" the alien computer responded. The Automatons then proceeded to conduct other duties around the fortress.
Conner saw the boxes and said "Brandi's, Oh I love you! I'm starving… Sausage and Cheese? He asked. Then opening the boxes he said "Yes.. you are a goddess…. I can see why Dad loves you". There was a slightly awkward moment of silence …as they realized that Clark was gone.
Diana gathered herself and said "Eat up".
Conner didn't have to be told twice as he grabbed a slice in each hand and went to town.
As they ate Diana said. "I'm glad you're feeling better. Your friends have been calling and asking about you. M'gann, Tim and someone named Stephanie." She watched him closely for a reaction as she said this. He blushed a little as she mentioned Stephanie and M'gann.
"Don't worry about work either.. I took care of that I had Bruce call your boss". She said.
"Aww you didn't" he said with a mouth overstuffed with pizza.
"Now everyone's gonna thing I'm some spoiled rich brat" he said. "I worked hard to fit in now I'm gonna havta start all over."
"Conner the value of a man is not in what he has, or who he knows but in what he says and does. True friends will see and know this." She said.
"Next week the team will be training with Shazam, as I am conducting your training personally you will not be participating in their exercises is that clear? Besides I want you to have a thorough examination before you are cleared for any field work. Your power spike concerns me and I want to make sure you are at 100 percent." She said.
" Fine with me…Shazam's a jerk anyway" he said.
"Conner" Diana gave him a disapproving look.
"I've been feeling a lot stronger recently and I think next time I'll be able to take you…" he said with a coy smile.
"Well if that's the case then I guess I have to use my sword next time…you know the magic one that is sharp enough to cut the electrons of an atom". Diana said nonchalantly.
Conner swallowed hard upon hearing that. Then Diana reached into her satchel. Conner jumped completely startled…
"I was only kidding, you know that right?" He said nervously.
Diana laughed to herself as she took out her pen and papers she needed to grade.
"Some man of steel you are… Diana laughed out loud and gave Conner a one-armed hug… "Eat your pizza silly! The pen is mightier than the sword" she laughed again.
They enjoyed the next few hours talking and laughing until Diana flew him back to the Bunker in her stealth plane so that she would have some time to grade her papers.
