Chapter Eight
Princess Donna sat and watched the news on television with disbelieving eyes. She was in a hotel in New York. Hippolyta had come to address the U.N. Assembly and the princess had accompanied her mother. The Queen had not yet returned and Donna was doing her newest favorite pastime. Lounging on a couch, watching television and eating ice cream.
She was frowning and winching when she saw the footage of the League going up against the alien invaders in Metropolis. But it was when she saw the winged creatures; she let sat up with a gasp.
"Oh Gods! Phillipus!
Phillipus, who had stayed behind to keep her company, heard her and came into the room. "Yes, Princess?'
"Those things…Phillipus…Look!"
Phillipus looked at the TV. "What is it?"
"They look familiar…like the demons from my dreams…"
Phillipus stared at the screen. She looked at Donna with concern. Over the years Donna had had the odd nightmare about winged demons. After her elder sister had vanished, it had taken all of Hippolyta's efforts to make the traumatized six-year old to feel safe again. It had even taken prayers from the priestess, Penelope, and potions from Epione, the healer, to get Donna to sleep. In time, Donna's memory and mind dealt with it by forgetting as only a child could. By pushing the memory back into the deeper recesses of her mind. She rarely spoke of that day and it could not be ascertained if she ever fully remembered all that happened. But she still had the odd bad dream.
"I am…I…uhhh!" She suddenly grew pale and dropped the ice cream bowl. She clutched her stomach.
Phillipus' eyes widened. "Princess! What is it?"
Donna looked up at her and gasped. "I don't know. I.. my …it hurts!…Oh Hera!"
The General put her hand to Donna's forehead. It seemed clammy. She was really worried now. Donna rarely got sick and there was no sign of injury. Could some magic be at play here?
She laid her down and twitched her blouse up a bit. Her stomach seemed perfectly normal. But Donna was in pain. She looked on helplessly as the princess moaned.
"I…can't see what is wrong, Princess…I will contact your mother." Phillipus went to the phone. "We must get Epione here to see you…we…"
Donna put her hand out. "Wait…"
"What?"
She sat up. She was taking in deep breaths. Her face seemed to slowly get its color back. "I…it's gone."
Phillipus put the receiver down and came to her. "Are you sure?"
"I am. How strange. It felt like agony and now, nothing." She looked at her in bewilderment. "I …don't understand."
Phillipus said grimly. "I still will call the Queen. This is not something to just ignore. You best go lie down, your Highness."
Donna rose shakily but nodded. "I …yes. Maybe I should."
The Queen looked at her slumbering daughter with worried eyes. Donna now slept peacefully. There was no sign that she had been in pain or was in any discomfort.
Phillipus had told her what Donna had said about the creatures. Parademons, the Martian Manhunter had called them in the press conference that followed their retreat. Soldiers of a world called Apokolips ruled by a Godly dictator called Darkseid. Typical off world aggressors who had come to capture human slaves, who the Justice League had managed to deal with before they could inflict too much damage on Metropolis.
The Queen sighed. "I think the sight of these creatures must have triggered off a bad memory. She looks fine now. She sleeps easily."
Phillipus said, "Perhaps you are right. But maybe we should have Epione check her over?"
"Certainly. I will have Julia contact Themyscira." Hippolyta closed the door gently. She walked into the sitting room and sank tiredly upon the couch. "In a few months Diana will have turned twenty three. How long ago it seems when she was given to me. There are days when I don't even grieve for her…and then there are days like today. Grim reminders of the way she was snatched from us. The silence of the Gods."
Phillipus sat across from her. "But we persevered despite it all."
Hippolyta affirmed with a determined nod, "We persevered and I think better for it. Our nation is now one of the United Nations and we are ally to many. If this Apokolips attacks on a full scale, the Amazons have committed to joining in the shielding and protection of the Earth. We will not sit in isolation and allow outsiders to take what is not theirs."
The League members on duty gathered in the conference room to discuss the fate of the woman lying in their infirmary.
Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Flash, Wonder Woman, Black Canary along with Big Barda and Scott Free sat around the table. They all looked somber.
The first question had gone to Barda and Scott from Superman. "Why did you keep this from me?"
Scott replied, "Kal-El, we regret to have not been fully honest with you. But what could we do? Darkseid does not take kindly to anyone interfering in his affairs and he singled her out from the time she set foot on Apokolips. I don't know, maybe fate had something in store for her from then. She was different from all the recruits. She showed a spirit and will that intrigued him and he saw her potential."
Barda explained the brainwashing techniques and torture they used on the recruits and the life of a recruit. . Everyone looked sickened. She added sadly, "I played a part in her corruption too and I will always regret that. I tried as best as I could to shield her but for that very favor she was hated by the others like Lashina. I wanted to take her but I knew I could not just convince her that she needed to leave Apokolips or take her against her will without consequences. How different would that have been to what they did to her when she was first taken from her home? When I turned from Darkseid, no one forced me. I began to realize it because of Himon, and Scott and my own conscience."
Flash began worriedly, "And who is to say there wouldn't be consequences now? That he wouldn't come and wipe us out."
"Not for one Fury, he wouldn't. Before it was a matter of crossing his will. Now she is someone who failed to do his will. If he ever comes it will be for something more than her," returned Scott.
"Well, she may not exactly care to be here either," he replied.
"She lost a battle. She is a prisoner of war. She has no luxury of choice. Every warrior knows that. She was betrayed though," said Wonder Woman. "By one of her own. Set up to fail."
Barda looked at Scott. "Lashina maybe? She always wanted the position of Head Fury. She even challenged me once. But she must have had help. Diana is shrewd and would not have been defeated alone."
Batman remarked, "So there is no guarantee whether Apokolips will come or not?"
"No. But then that is Apokolips. But whether we send her back in a boomtube as Flash suggested is no guarantee they will never come. Darkseid's whims and fancies are not predictable," said Scott.
Barda said, "She will either be killed for her failure or sent to a Brothel. And believe me, Granny would fight to keep her alive just to send her there. Death would be better for her. Granny hated her from the moment she arrived. It would give her no greater pleasure than to have them degrade her mind and body."
Dinah shuddered, "No one deserves that. Apokolips sounds a horrible place."
Scott averred, "It is."
J'onn said, "Then there is no doubt that she must remain here. We cannot send her to her death or to be abused."
Green Lantern looked dubious. "But can she be trusted?"
Batman said, "That is hardly the point. The question remains, who do we send her to? The State for judgment or to her people? Is she even mentally fit to go back to the Amazons? Who and what does she think she is? Who would be best to deal with her? A doting mother who could not be objective or the courts?"
Wonder Woman said, "If I know the Queen she would want to know and would demand the right to her child."
Green Lantern said, "For what she has done the State would demand her stand trial for her crimes which includes aggression towards the U.S., damage to property, man slaughter, murder, kidnap…I would say she would get back to back life sentences."
Superman interrupted, "Yes and those charges have been leveled at Lex Luthor many times and so many times he still finds a lop hole and walks free. The State fortunately does not know who she is. To them she is just another of many crazed psychopaths in a mask."
They all looked at Superman's statement with some surprise. He looked around the table. "The fact that this woman is the daughter and heir to one of our allies puts a hugely different slant on matters. She was abducted as a child and brain washed. She was sent here by a higher authority. She was doing a tyrant's will because she was conditioned to be loyal to him. She was betrayed and left for dead. We owe Hippolyta the truth. We owe that innocent child the chance to go to her people. If anyone can help her it would be her own mother. If they cannot then they will be honest enough to say so and then she will be turned over to the State."
Batman watched him carefully and said dryly, "We all start off innocently, Superman. I'm betting even Luthor. It does not guarantee that a person will change if a position is softened towards him or her. Letting her get away with her crimes is not our mandate."
"Bruce, I have been mind controlled and done things where I ought to have paid. But you all understood that it was not me. Mentally stripping anyone, much less a child, of their will and identity is a crime. A violation. Yes, she may be beyond Hippolya's reach but that is not to say that a mother should not get a chance to try."
Barda looked at him with real gratitude. "Thank you, Superman."
Wally looked a little uncertain. "I don't know. Those Furies all seem pretty ruthless to me."
He said gravely, "She could have killed Lois. She didn't. She could have taken me down with the Elite guard on Apokolips, she didn't. She is ruthless but it is more efficiency than rabid blood letting. There is a method behind the way she operates. It might be Barda's influence. Some of her own innate birthright and upbringing that they could not wash away entirely." He looked at Scott and Barda. "We have two examples of people who rose above the evil and darkness of Apokolips. Part of me wants nothing more than to put her into Government hands. It would be so easy. Let them deal with her. If it were not for Hippolyta, I probably would. But we have another option. This is subject to a vote and no matter the outcome, we will respect each others decisions. A show of hands for those who prefer she is handed over to the Amazons."
J'onn, Wonder Woman, Dinah, Scott, Barda and Superman raised theirs. It was just a matter of formality to ask for those against. Flash, Green Lantern and Batman raised theirs.
"Six to three. She goes to the Amazons," said Superman formally.
Flash said wryly, "I knew we would lose anyway. I was just keeping Bats and G.L. company."
"It's okay, Wally. You have a right to be wary of her," said Superman. "I don't trust her. But she must be allowed the chance to go back to her people."
"When do we tell Hippolyta?" asked Artemis. "Do we wait until we know she is recovered?"
Barda said, "I think it would be best to let her mother see her. She could die before that."
"Who will tell the Queen?" asked Canary.
All eyes turned to Superman.
Superman arrived at the Embassy with Artemis. He was greeted respectfully by the guards-women. He was well known and respected. He smiled as he saw Julia Kapatelis as she led them into the ante room of the main sitting room.
"The Queen is with Martin. They are just going over her schedule for the next few days. This is her last week here, you know."
"Yes, I had heard. I am grateful she made time to receive me. I know she is very busy."
Julia gestured for them to wait. "Let me see if she is ready."
She knocked on the door and entered. Artemis looked at Superman. "You really did not need me here, you know. The Queen trusts your word."
"I know, but you are here as much to support my word as be here for them. This will be a shock to them."
"The Senate and my tribe will have much to say. No doubt there will be furious discussions about accepting a possible enemy onto our shores. She could turn out to be more a danger to us."
He looked outside the window, his expression pensive. "Yes, I know."
The door opened and out stepped a slim man in his forties. He smiled in acknowledgment. "Madame Ambassador. Superman."
"How are you, Mr. Garibaldi?" greeted Superman.
"I am fine, Superman. The Queen is ready to receive you."
Superman and Artemis entered and saw Julia giving Hippolyta some messages and lounging on a divan was a female figure with a fashion magazine before her face. Superman's entrance and greeting to Hippolyta made the female move the magazine down to her chest.
The Man of Steel's eyes seemed to look at the young woman with some surprise. The resemblance to Diana was obvious. He swiftly scanned her DNA and confirmed the genetic link.
Donna herself straightened up with interest. She had heard about this Superman and always wanted to see him for herself. When he had come to Themyscira she had been younger and not allowed in the Senate. So all she had seen was glimpses of a red cape. Donna had been out in the world long enough to grasp that this male was handsome and as he smiled and bowed at Hippolyta, she was equally amused to see her mother look at him with a respect tempered by admiration as well. Hippolyta rarely smiled. But she did for him.
Once Julia had left them, she greeted him. "It is good to see you again, Superman."
"As it is to see you, your Majesty. I hope you and your nation are well."
"We are. I see you had your hands full in Metropolis two days ago."
"Yes, we did. But all is settled for now."
"Please, do come in and sit."
Donna cleared her throat loudly. Hippolyta gave her a wry look. "Oh, Superman, have you met my daughter?"
"No, I have not."
Donna jumped up and stuck her hand out. "Donna."
He smiled graciously. She was shorter than her sister by some inches and while she was lovely, he could not miss that the Fury was the more startlingly beautiful one. "Pleased to meet you, your Highness. I hear you have officially decided to make your home here while you study."
"Yes. I signed up to a University and start in September. I decided on Art and Design, and will focus on photography, and before you ask why, it's because languages, history, classical literature was taught to me already on Themyscira."
"I see, so you really did not need to go to get higher education then?" he mused.
She smiled. "No. But I am fascinated by your technology and I also need to integrate myself into society. What better way to do that than by going to school?"
"That is one of the best ways, next to working alongside people."
"Yes, that is why mother sent Artemis and we opened up the Embassy. One day I hope to join your League. I can fight really well. I would be an asset. How does one go about applying? Maybe I can get my application in early?"
Hippolyta interrupted, "Daughter, do allow Superman to sit down and mind your manners." She looked at Superman apologetically. "Donna is very enthusiastic about everything."
He smiled and took a chair. "I can tell."
Donna sat down and studied him openly. She looked at Artemis, who was also now taking a seat and asked her, "How come you always rant about Batman and never mentioned how impressive this one is?"
Artemis glared at her. "Your Highness!"
"Well, you do. You complain that Batman did this, and Batman refused to do that. I would team up with him, instead of that rude Batman. Superman seems very charming."
Superman tried not to laugh. He was accustomed to women looking at him with admiration. Initially it used to make him very uncomfortable but now it just amused him and he usually ignored open flirtation and innuendo. But Donna was simply just very open and her youthful curiosity and native frankness made her remarks more amusing than embarrassing. Not to mention her comment about Batman. Artemis was clearly not appreciative of it.
Hipplyta looked at them mollified. "Be quiet, both of you. I apologize, Superman."
Superman said politely, "No need to apologize, your Majesty."
Hippolyta continued, "Now, Superman, why are you here? This cannot be a social call as I see Artemis is with you. Is there something that the Amazons need to help the Justice League with?"
Superman's expression grew somber and Hippolyta noted the look he shared with Artemis. She frowned. "What is it?"
Superman began, "Queen Hippolyta, you lost a daughter over twelve years ago. She was taken by some outside force and vanished off the face of the earth."
Hippolyta stiffened. She looked a little pale but her voice cool. She gave Artemis a disapproving look. "I do not know how you have come to know this but it is a tragedy we Amazons prefer not to be reminded of. It is in the past and I would prefer not to discuss it."
"I am not here to deliberately bring you any pain, your Majesty but something has happened. It's to do with your daughter. Diana."
She looked at him warily. Donna looked perplexed. "To do with Diana? How do you know she was called Diana? Artemis, you had no right…"
Artemis replied defensively, "I did not do anything to…"
Superman gently interrupted, "Artemis did not tell me anything. Please, hear me out."
Hippolyta relented warily. "Proceed."
"Not too long ago I accompanied two allies on a rescue mission. They were ex servants of Darkseid, who had defected and fled that world some years before. We were to go to Apokolips, to rescue the son of Highfather, ruler of New Genesis. This son was called Orion and he had been captured by Apokolpitian forces. It was on this mission I came up against Darkseid's Elite forces. Of these forces is a band of female warriors called the Furies. They were strong females who had been abducted from various parts of the universe. All trained and brainwashed to do Darkseid's will."
Hippolyta's color fluctuated. Donna's eyes were widening in shock.
"There was one whom I fought. She was powerful. She had flight, speed and great strength. She was called Opaque and she was the leader of these Furies. She headed this raiding force that came to Metropolis two days ago. It was in retaliation to us taking Orion and defeating them. She was betrayed by her own forces. Stabbed in the stomach and left to die."
Donna gasped and her hand went to touch her stomach in shock. "Hera…"
Hippolyta stared at her in disbelief and then at Superman. She could hear what he was saying but could not seem to begin to process it.
Donna nearly screamed, "You found my sister?"
Hippolyta hissed. "Donna, sit down." She turned disbelieving eyes to the Man of Steel. "Superman, are you saying you found my daughter?"
He nodded. "Yes. She lies in the Watchtower as we speak. Badly injured."
The Queen's voice tensed. "If this is some jest…"
"No, my Queen," said Artemis. "It is the truth. Your daughter Diana is alive and she is in the custody of the Justice League."
"This must be some coincidence. A trick. How can this be she? She would never become some mindless slave of a tyrant…She is called Opaque, you say…She grew up there…" Hippolyta shook her head. It could not be. Not now. Not this way.
Superman said earnestly, "Your Majesty, I have two credible witnesses, good allies, who can testify this is your lost daughter. Those same two ex servants of Darkseid who I went to New Genesis with. They knew her. They were there when she was brought in as a child. Her name was Diana and she was an immortal Amazon and princess."
"They only tell you this now? No one thought to come to me before?" She rose angrily and began to pace.
"They could do nothing while she was under Darkseid's power. He threatened to destroy Themyscira. And Diana herself had been bent to his will…What could they tell you? They had no proof other than a story. Why should you or I believe them?"
The Queen clenched her fists. "This could be an imposter. It could be a trick of the cruel Gods…"
He stood up. "I checked her DNA. It is human. It matched Princess Donna's. Physically they have a strong resemblance. You would have to be blind to miss it."
Donna went to her mother and clung to her. "Mother, I felt when she was stabbed. Right in my gut. When we were little, do you remember how we could feel each other sometimes? If Diana was in pain, I knew. I have not felt anything of Diana for years. But yesterday I did. Those winged demons are the same ones that attacked us on the beach that day. It must be her…We must go to her."
Hippolyta's voice shook. She felt weak and held on to Donna for strength. "Diana is alive...I had lost all hope…"
Artemis came up to them and put her hand on both their shoulders and she squeezed. "She is. I saw her myself. It is not a lie or trick."
Hippolyta looked at Superman. "Then take us to her at once."
The Leaguers on duty watched gravely as the Queen of the Amazons, Princess Donna, Wonder Woman and Superman beamed into the Satellite. Hippolyta acknowledged them with a nod and greeted those she knew like J'onn Jonzz. Everyone was very serious as the group was led by Superman and the Manhunter down to the infirmary.
Hippolyta noted that there were several automated Sentinels stationed at intervals along the corridor. They were met by Dr. Hoshi who was able to tell them that the patient had stabilized.
"I am beginning to see signs of her tissue knitting together already."
The Queen said, "Diana and Donna always healed faster than what was normal."
They were led into a room and saw a bed with an unconscious figure, surrounded by lines and machines that were monitoring her vital signs and output. There was an energy shield around her too.
"For reasons of security," said the Martian Manhunter apologetically when Hippolyta tried to go closer but found she had to stay a few feet away.
Diana's face was partially covered by a respirator. A sheet covered her from the chest downwards. But one could see her softly curling raven hair, the exquisite brow line, arching brows, long lashes, slender but strong arms and hands, the smooth olive of her skin.
Hippolyta said nothing. Her eyes seemed to glisten as she watched the figure. Donna held her mother's arm and like a little girl whispered, "Mother, she looks a little like me…"
"Yes…"
They stood for a long time. Just staring. Saying very little.
Dr. Light, Artemis, Superman and J'onn watched them.
"This must be very hard for them," said Kimiyo.
J'onn said softly, "It is."
The Queen and Donna came out eventually. They looked confused and overwhelmed. Hippolyta's voice sounded a little shaky. She mastered herself enough to ask, "What happens now?"
Superman said gravely, "Your Majesty, I must warn you. This is your daughter in body. In mind she is a different person. She has committed crimes and she is hostile and remains a threat."
Hippolyta paled. "I understand. You will put her on trial and sentence her?"
Donna cried, "No. They cannot do that! We just found her…we…have to help her!"
Hippolyta took Donna's arm. "Hush, daughter. We have to abide by the law of their land. If we had a prisoner on Themyscira who had committed crimes against us I would not expect them to come and dictate to us what we should do." She looked at them. "Do not let them execute her…please…"
Superman said gently, "Queen Hippolyta, the League debated long and hard about what should be done with her. Normally we would hand her over to the police and let the law take its course. But we cannot ignore the circumstances are highly unusual. She is your daughter and she was kidnapped and brainwashed as a child. Betrayed by the very forces she fought for."
Hippolyta looked pained. "If I could give my life to spare her what she must have gone through…"
"Your Majesty, do you believe you can do anything for her?" asked J'onn.
Donna pushed forward. "Yes…we can! We are her family. We should be allowed to take her home!"
Artemis said, "She will not be easy to contend with. She sees us as the enemy."
"You do not know the girl I knew! She was the kindest, bravest sister. She saved me by putting herself in danger. It was because of me she got caught! They came for both of us. If it were not for her, I would have been kidnapped too," she replied huskily. "I cannot believe all of the Diana I knew would be lost."
Superman said, "The League voted after a lengthy debate. If the Amazons think they can deal with her, then we are willing to allow you to take her."
Hippolyta looked at him in shock. "You are?"
"Yes. And we will be counting on you to deal with her objectively as much as compassionately. If the threat she poses cannot be neutralized, then we will bring her back to face the law and courts here. So, will you accept the responsibility?"
Hippolyta felt her throat tighten. "I am her mother. What would you expect me to say?" Hippolyta turned to look at Diana once more. "What do you really think, Superman?"
He followed her eyes. "I think everyone deserves a second chance."
She touched his arm. "You are a good man. Your consideration for her and the Amazon people is gratifying." She looked at the others. "I thank you all. And yes, of course we will take her home."
Donna uttered, "Can we take her now?"
Kimiyo shook her head. "No. She is not in any state to be moved at the moment."
Hippolyta said, "In any case, we need to inform the Senate before we could take her." She looked at Donna and Artemis. "Let us go home at once."
Diana opened her eyes. She stared around her disorientated and confused. She was lying on a bed, with lines and leads attached to her, monitors beeped around her. She was nude beneath the sheets. She sat up and clutched the sheet to her. She winced. Her hand went to bandages at her stomach and she remembered.
Graven.
She had been betrayed.
She tore off the leads from her arms, chest and temples and pulled off the respirator. She looked around wildly. Where was she?
She moved to rise when she felt her hand hit against something. It was like a shield over her.
She pounded on it. It shivered and sparked but did not give way. She gasped and winced as she felt a pain lance at her side. She pounded again. And again. A memory of being shut in a hole assailed her. She began to hyperventilate.
The monitors began to beep loudly.
In came Dr. Hoshi.
Diana screamed at her. "Who are you? Let me out of here! Now!"
"You're awake. Please. Try to calm down. You will reopen your wound!"
She pounded on the shield. Punching and kicking it. The sheet fell. Kimiyo could see red staining her bandage. She could see the shield's energy field beginning to weaken.
She pressed her comlink and cried, "J'onn, she is awake!"
It took seconds for the Martian Manhunter to phase into the room. He saw her and was assailed by her state of panic and anger
Diana snapped as she saw him, "You! Get out of my mind!
"Hronmeer, she will hurt herself. You need to sedate her."
Kimiyo rushed to one of the panels of the machine that generated the shield and tapped in a command.
Diana began to see puffs of air coming onto her. She screeched. "Do not drug me! Do not!"
She gasped and felt herself grow dazed and she fought the feeling. In the end the sedating gas won out and she fell back on the bed.
Dr. Hoshi sighed. "That was close."
J'onn said grimly, "I will contact Kal-El."
Superman had flown in and was given the report. Diana was sedated. She had reopened her wound, which had been sutured and re-bandaged.
J'onn said gravely, "She was very hostile and aggressive."
Superman turned to stare at Diana as she lay sedated in the room from behind the glass window.
"I did not expect any less."
"But I saw hysteria and fear too," said J'onn.
He looked at him a little bemused. The woman he had battled seemed in control.
"I saw an image of a little girl buried in some kind of hole. Trying to claw her way out."
Superman's hand touched the glass of the observation window as if touching her cheek. "God knows what she has been through or if the Amazons can help her. But for her sake and theirs, I hope they can."
The Martian Manhunter looked at him perceptively. "If they cannot we need to prepare ourselves."
Superman dropped his hand and nodded. "Yes. I've got to go. I'm on Monitor Duty later. See you then."
Diana lay asleep for the next few hours. Dr. Hoshi changed shifts with the quiet and shy Ray Palmer. He came in to check on the patient and was satisfied she was stable.
Up in the Monitor Womb sat Superman. He had volunteered to relieve Flash early. Wally did not need any convincing to get off Monitor duty two hours before time. It was a quiet night in terms of the emergency services not needing the League, and Superman had only to call out Green Arrow and Red Tornado so far. J'onn had just come back in from helping with a rescue mission in Japan.
Superman looked at him with a smile as he sat to write his report. "Can I get you some milk and Oreos?"
J'onn smiled. "That would be kind of you, my friend."
Superman rose and floated out and made his way down some levels towards the galley.
Professor Palmer sat at his desk and was going over research when he heard the sound of a machine beeping. It was the electrical sequence that announced a flatline of heart activity.
Ray scrambled towards Diana's room and sure enough, on the monitor, her heart had stopped.
He punched the button to take down the shield and grab at the emergency trolley. He was picking up the defibrillator and as he turned to see her rising.
"How…?"
A foot came out at him and cracked him in the jaw and then she punched him against the machines. He crashed to the floor, dazed.
She gave him a scathing look. "It's like holding your breath."
She dragged the sheet off the bed and tearing at two ends, tied it around her neck and then wound the rest of the material about her. She yanked out one of the leads of the machines and tied it around her waist to keep the make-shift garment from falling.
She looked around and saw the exit and headed for it.
Ray shook his head and aching jaw several minutes later. He stumbled to his feet and slammed the alarm button as he reached for the intercom.
"J'onn! She's managed to get out of the shield!"
Superman was putting J'onn's milk and cookies on a tray, along with a sandwich and milkshake he had made himself when he heard an alarm going.
He pressed his comlink.
"J'onn, what is happening?"
"She is on the loose in the Satellite!"
"What? Where?"
"I am tracking her heat signature now! She is heading downwards..."
"The Hanger!" Superman hissed. "I'm on it!"
The tray fell as he blurred out of the galley.
Author's Note: Thank you again for all reviews.
