Chapter 7: Saturday

It would be better to be cool/It's not time to be open just yet/A lesson once learned is so hard to forget: Sting

The call on the communicator was from an unlikely person.

"Bats?" the voice said, almost timid.

"Yes, Flash?" He hated that nickname but decided to let it slide.

"Remember how you told me to call you if anything weird happened?"

"Yes."

"Okay, well, I'm calling."

Batman knew that he worked hard to try to intimidate people and, yes, sometimes he did enjoy giving the young speedster something to worry about, but there were times when he wished that Flash would get over his nerves and get to the point.

"Yes."

There was a pause and Batman hung his head.

"What is the weird thing you are calling me about?" he asked.

"Well, Sally Post, a thief in Central City, just flew away from her last crime. She doesn't fly. I mean, before today. And, well, if the security tapes are right, she's gotten really strong, really fast."

"Meta strong?"

"'Friad so. Weird, huh?"

"Yes. I'm on my way," Batman said and disconnected.

It was several hours before his usual Gotham patrol started but Batman had been in the Batcave since that was the place he did his best thinking. The chip on Diana's tiara was still nagging at him. Diana was right – it was a 'plan B' tactic that clearly hadn't been needed.

So what the hell was Plan A?

And that is where he got stuck. There was something obvious he was missing. Although Diana clearly had thought he was wrong, he was convinced that it had something to do with the party crasher. It seemed like a diversion tactic but to divert who from what?

It would have to wait, he thought as he headed for the Batplane. Now he had to deal with a meta-power developing criminal.

Oh no. That can't be…oh crap. It is.

He turned back on his communicator as he added some additional equipment to his utility belt.

"Flash!"

"Yeah?"

"Did Post leave any DNA at the scene?"

"Ah, dunno. I've been cleaning up the surrounding mess – lots of glass. I'll find out."

"Get me some if she did and be careful with it."

"Sure. Okay."

"I'm getting in the Batplane now," Batman said and signed off. As soon as he reached his desired cruising altitude, he called into the Watchtower. J'onn answered.

"Who's available" Batman asked curtly.

"For Flash's flying thief? Is it more than he can handle?" J'onn asked smoothly.

"We need a flyer," Batman answered quickly. He hated to admit needing help, but then again, if someone had suddenly developed the ability to fly that was going to become the preferred mode of travel.

"I'll have Wonder Woman meet you in Central City," J'onn replied and disconnected.

Batman smiled. With any other member, J'onn would have spoken more, but the Martian and the Dark Knight understood each other. They could, and did, respect and admire each other without bothering with social niceties, which neither of them excelled at.

Wonder Woman, he thought with a broader smile. She had been called away for a mission the previous afternoon after spending several perfect hours together. Granted during most of those hours they had both been asleep but he had enjoyed waking up and finding her curled up against him. It actually was probably for the best that duty called her away, Batman realized. A lot of things were left unsaid that, well, might be better left that way.

He used Flash's communicator to determine where in Central City they were assembling. He found Flash and Wonder Woman talking to several police officers in the street, so he landed the Batplane on the roof of the building and swung down on a batarang. It was a little dramatic but he respected that this was Flash's city and wanted to be visible, at least initially.

The other two members nodded their acknowledgement of his arrival but continued to listen to the police officer. Only Batman saw and understood Diana's blush when she saw him.

"There is no evidence of any devices to help her at all. And the tape confirms that. She broke through the window, ripped the safe door off, took the jewels and flew away. Normally with her, we would be sending in the paramedics after she went through the window. The rest of it, well, I would have said it was impossible. I'll let you know when else we turn up. "

"That was my take as well. Thanks, Lieutenant for everything," Flash said. "And oh, thanks for the sample." He handed a small plastic vial with a small piece of bloody glass to Batman. "She skinned her knee on some glass. But only the smallest amount. I can't explain this one at all."

Batman leaned against the building wall and began to run a few tests on the sample. He wanted to be wrong but he really didn't think he was.

"Sometimes a freak accident leads to powers. It could be as simple as that," Diana said. "You may never know exactly what caused them."

"You did," Batman said.

"What?" Diana and Flash said almost in unison.

"Princess, someone has been using your DNA as a power boost." He paused but didn't refrain from the dig. "You should be careful who handles your blood."

Diana glared at him but Flash beat her to a response.

"Okay, that doesn't even begin to make sense. How did Wondy's DNA get into Sally's system?"

Batman glared at Flash. He didn't have time to review the finer points of DNA mutation with the speedster. Or, at least Sally didn't.

"Later. We need to find Sally. Now."

"That can't be hard," Diana said and began to levitate towards the rooflines. "Flash, Sally can suddenly steal anything she wants – no matter what the security. Where would she go?"

Flash paused to consider. "Burger Mania."

"Where is it?" Diana asked, ready to engage the battle.

Flash smiled at her. He was sure he was right, but he had been sure that both Batman and Wonder Woman would think he was thinking with his stomach again. Instead, both of them were acknowledging that Central City was his turf. It was nice.

They may not always treat me like an adult, he thought, but they don't always treat me like a kid either.

"Follow me," he grinned. "I'll go slowly." And disappeared in a red streak. Diana gave an inquiring look back at Batman.

"Go!" he said pulling out a batarang.

Burger Mania headquarters was the top six floors of a silver skyscraper in the center of downtown. At the top of the tower, unlit during the day, was a neon logo of the huge burger franchise.

The three regrouped at the base of the building.

"The first time Sally got caught," Flash explained, "was when she was 17 years old and tried to break into a Burger Mania near her house. Since then, of course, she has moved on to bigger stuff, but I think, given a chance to really trash the headquarters, she would take it."

"Princess, check the roof while Flash and I confer with security," Batman barked.

Diana took to the sky. When she reached the top, she saw a young woman wearing a pair of spandex grey pants, a black tank top and a hooded sweat shirt that matched the pants. Her dark hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She looked perfectly ordinary; expect that she was hovering about six inches above the rooftop. Diana landed about 10 feet from her. She made sure her communicator was activated before she spoke.

"Sally?" Diana asked.

The woman turned to face her. Her green eyes were shining with joy but she was very pale. The effort was clearly draining her.

"You can't stop me," Sally said darkly. "I am as strong as you are. I can do what you can do."

"Trust me. I can stop you," Diana said evenly. She found herself hoping that Sally wasn't just cocky, that she really was that strong. A really good, strenuous fight sounded like fun.

"Princess," Batman's voice came through the communicator. "Do not fight her. She needs help. Her system can't be stable."

Diana didn't have time to respond. Sally flew at her and punched her in the stomach. Diana fell backwards but, sprung back upright in a huge arc, kicking Sally in the chest as she returned to a standing position.

And with that, the battle began.

Batman was standing next to Flash in the CEO of Burger Mania's office. Flash was trying to explain the importance of evacuating the building to a man who was clearly more concerned about what a thief might make off with if given the chance than personal safety.

"I have stock certificates and trade secrets in locations around this building! I am not leaving them unprotected!" the CEO said firmly, leaning over his desk at the two Justice League members.

Batman swore quietly under his breath and left Flash to protest that three Justice League members were on hand to personally protect the people and materials of Burger Mania. He stepped outside the CEO suite to where the executive assistant was sitting. He looked at Batman with recognition and awe.

"Everyone needs to leave this building now," Batman snarled. "Tell them to go."

"I need to hear that from Mr. Allen," came the reply. The words were strong, but the voice was a little more than a squeak.

Batman channeled all his intimidation training into one look. "Tell them to go. Now."

The assistant's face paled and his eyes widen.

"Yes. Yes. Of course. The building will be empty in 15 minutes," he said as he picked up the phone.

Batman turned his back to the assistant and smiled so that no one could see. Sometimes it was good to know who was in charge.

Just then there was a loud thud above them and the building shook slightly from the aftermath. A woman screamed in anger.

Damn, he swore and returned to the CEO suite. Mr. Allen suddenly seemed willing to leave – especially since a ceiling tile had fallen out of the ceiling and landed about five feet from where he was standing.

"Flash," he said and motioned above.

"Sure! Right! The roof access is by the elevator shaft," he said and the two of them headed back to the lobby and up to the roof.

They arrived just in time to watch Diana flip Sally on her back and put the ball of her foot lightly on Sally's chest.

"This time, stay down," Diana said firmly.

Sally was panting too hard to do anything other then agree. Diana realized that it had been a real fight, but Sally was breathing too hard.

Something is not right, she thought and stepped off of Sally. The other woman just continued to lie there, gasping as if drowning.

Batman raced over to them and knelt beside Sally.

"I said, don't fight her," he growled without looking at Diana.

"I didn't. I just kept her from fighting me," she snarled back. She had done just that and it was a major disappointment. Sally clearly had no formal training in fighting, at least with the strength she now possessed, but her instincts had been good. It would have been a great fight if Diana had decided to ignore the Dark Knight.

He ignored her and directed Flash to get the paramedics and the police. They responded quickly and before long, the three were watching silently as the paramedics carted off a still-panting Sally, who was handcuffed to the gurney. Flash had finished talking with the Central City police regarding the recovery of the jewels taken from the earlier crime.

Finally, after the ambulance doors closed and vehicle rolled away, Flash turned to the other two members.

"So, Wondy's blood is the new street drug, huh?" he asked.

Diana glared at him. Batman turned to him.

"I think someone is trying to figure out a way to pick and choose meta powers with DNA mutation. So, be careful where you bleed, Flash," he said and then, with the help of a batarang, flew back to the Batplane and returned to Gotham.

Several hours later, Flash sent a general announcement to the Justice League members. Sally had managed to escape from the hospital. No one knew how, especially because she had only recently been stabilized. In fact, although the video surveillance cameras showed nothing – not even her leaving – it was agreed that there was no way she could have left under her own power.

At hearing the news, Batman opened up his communicator. "She was a failed experiment," he said darkly. "We won't hear from her again."