Chapter 10
A/N: First off thank for all the feedback. Sorry it took so long to get this chapter done. Life,(my brother's wedding) got in the way. Here is a brand new chapter that I have been dying to post. Keep reading and letting my know what you guys think I love all kinds of feedback. We are heading into the final turn for home on this one.
Lois exited her taxi and paid the driver in front of the S.T.A.R Labs building. She then walked inside and stopped at the check in desk the man asked her who she was and for identification which she provided. She then told him that she was there to see Jenet Klyborn. The man smiled and told her to go not to a lab but to an office.
She took the elevator to the floor which her lab was on. The doors opened and she exited. On the wall in front of her read "Extra-Terrestrial Metals" under this sign in smaller block letter was "Dr. Jenet Klyborn,Head of research". Lois smiled. When they first met Jenet had told Lois that she enjoyed lab work and would never accept a position that would take her from the lab. It had seemed that all that had change. One of the consequences of be the scientist responsible for not only proving that Lex Luthor was responsible for frame Superman in Africa and the bombing of the Capital. This new title and job, did come at a price. She was forced into protective custody until the trial,but once it was determined that Lex was insane she was allowed to go back to work with a promotion.
Lois entered the lab and looked for a familiar face. She was half way through scanning the room when she saw Jenet at a station talking to another tech. Jenet looked up and saw Lois she gestured to her office. Lois read the gesture and head toward the office. She entered the office to find it clutter with various reports and papers. Lois sat down in a chair across from the desk and waited.
ATHENS
Diana arrived at the airport and was taken directly to the Wayne Enterprise private hanger. She was told that Mr. Wayne insisted that the jet was ready to go at the moments notice and may have an extra passengers. As before the crew took her bags and load them on to the plane. She was still early and walked to the small bar that was in the corner of the hanger. She ordered a glass of wine and sat to wait for Curry to arrive. An hour had passed and she was beginning to wonder if Curry had changed his mind and be a no show. It was then that a tall man entered the hanger, Diana noticed that the man was one the escorts that was with Curry two days ago. She left the bar and walked over to him.
"Where is Arthur Curry?" She demanded.
"Your Highness, he regrets to inform you that he will not be able to join you in the flight but will if you where to tell me the location he will arrive there in due time by sea." The man said. Diana could not help but smile, so Arthur was going but he was going to do it his own way by water.
"Please give this to Your highness and tell him that he can contact me at this number when he arrives. I'm sure he knows how to work a cellular phone." Diana said as she handed the man her phone number.
"Yes, your highness and safe travels." The soldier said then turned on his heel and left. When he was gone Diana boarded the plane and instructed the pilot to contact Bruce. Once the plane was in the air the call was place and a familiar voice answered the phone.
"So I take things didn't work out?" Bruce asked.
"On the contrary, he agreed to come,but rather that fly with me he's going by sea."
Diana explained.
"I'm across the bay right now Lois Lane is helping me track down Silas Stone. I'll have the pilot re-route and bring you to Metropolis this one could be tricky." Bruce told her. They ended the conversation and pilot made the course corrections to Metropolis.
S.T.A.R. LABS
Jenet entered the office and closed the door. She took off her glasses and rubbed the bridge of her nose then sat down.
"Is too late to decline the promotion." She said aloud. Lois said nothing.
"So Lois, what can I do for you?" Jenet asked.
"I need to speak with Silas Stone about his son, Victor." Lois said. Jenet lowered her head and said nothing as if she was trying to keep a secret.
"No can do I promised Dr. Stone I would keep his location under wraps to the press." Jenet said.
"It's not for the press its for a friend of mine." Lois said.
"I can do it Lois, I promised." Jenet repeated.
"Jenet, the story that Dr. Stone gave about his son was false. My friend believes and has proof that Silas Stone used alien tech to save his son's life and is now hiding him." Lois said.
"I have no clue what you are talking about." Jenet said.
"You're my friend Jenet, So I'll tell you this my friend has reports that state you were the only lab tech allowed to help Dr. Stone with his treatment of his son."Lois said.
"How did your friend get this if it were true?" Janet asked.
"From secret files that Lex Luthor was complying on Meta-Humans and Victor was in those files." Lois explained.
"What does your friend plan to do with those files Lois?"Jenet asked.
"He only wants to talk to Victor and trust me this guy can keep a secret." Lois reassured her.
"I had only know Victor a few weeks, He would often come by the lab to fight with his dad about him not going to the football games to see him play. Him and me hit it off though and well we started talking when he would visit, that turned into coffee, going the movies then one day he asks me out on a date. I say yes and it never happens. He's injured in the battle of Metropolis. Dr. Stone knew how much Victor meant to me and he allowed me to help. Nothing worked then he got desperate and used the alien tech. He knew it would work. One day the doc got burned by some gnarly acid almost ate clean to the bone this box powers up and tell me exactly how to treat the burn. Today it looks like it never happened. Needless to say it works and then the Doc says he needs to get Victor out the city, you know the story from there." Jenet said as he wiped the tears from her eyes. Lois did the same,her own fresh heartbreak coming though. Jenet took a card and wrote down the address and handed to Lois.
"722 Sigel Lane." Lois said reading the card. She then put it in her pocket. "Thank you, Jenet." She said then went around the desk and hugged her friend. They made a lunch date and left. When she was outside the building she hailed a cab. Before entering the cab she took the card from her pocket and tore into pieces dropped into a near by trash can.
Diana walked into the hotel and went to the desk. She asked for Bruce's room and was shown directly to the room. Bruce opened the door for her, for a moment looked at each other the electric feeling between them again boiling to the surface as they did at the airport days earlier.
"Come in." Bruce said.
"Thank you."She said. Then entered the room.
"Some wine?" Bruce asked as he walked toward the bar.
"I'd love some."Diana said. She watched as Bruce poured her a glass and then for himself some mineral water.
"You're not drinking?" Diana asked.
"No, it was only recently that I started. It doesn't work very well when your out most of the night." Bruce said.
"Was Lois able to help?" Diana asked.
"Yes, very helpful she should be here soon." Bruce said. Like magic there was a knock at the door. Bruce opened the door and Lois walked in
"Hello, Lois, my I get you some wine?" Diana asked.
"After today I need some and hello, Diana good to see you again." Lois said as she flopped on the large sofa. Diana poured her the wine and handed her a glass. Bruce gave her a few moments to collect her thoughts.
"Did she know anything?" Bruce asked
"I'm sorry but she doesn't know anything." Lois said disappointedly.
"Are you sure." Bruce asked.
"Yea, she doesn't know where Silas or Vic Stone are."
"Lois, I know she gave you something now please tell me." Bruce said.
"She knew nothing, Bruce, now I'm tried I'd like to go home." Lois said.
"Fine, you leave me no choice." Bruce said he then walked over to Lois and reached behind her neck to the collar of her shirt and removed the small micro bug that he had planted on her at the Planet earlier in the day.
"You bugged me?!" Lois said.
"722 Sigel lane."Bruce said.
"You have some nerve." Lois said.
"I needed to get the job done and this was how." Bruce said.
"So you heard everything?" Lois said.
"Yes, You empathize with her because you both know what its like to lose the man you love." Bruce said.
"How dare you."Lois said. Then she stood and walked over to him. She glared at him hate seething in her eye along with tear. Then she slapped him as hard as she could and walked to the door.
"You're a cold hearted bastard Wayne." Lois spat then left the room slamming the door behind her. The room was silent for a moment then Diana spoke.
"She's right about one thing." Diana said.
"What 's that?" Bruce asked.
"You are a cold hearted bastard." She said then too left the room. Bruce watched Diana leave. Bruce stood in the middle of the room alone. He then flung the glass of water in his had against the wall. The glass exploded on impact. Bruce then walked in his bed room.
The next morning Diana meet Bruce in lobby of the hotel. She knew that with the location of Silas Stone and his son, Bruce would want to contact Victor and offer him a chance to them. He exited the elevator. Diana walked toward him and extend her hand which was holding large cup of coffee. Bruce gave her a half smile and took the cup and took a long sip.
"Thank you and Good Morning." Bruce said.
"Good Morning and your welcome." Diana said. Bruce could see a concerned looked on her face and took another drink.
"Okay get it off your chest." Bruce said.
"Lois is your friend and you betrayed her trust by planting that bug on her. You threw Clark's death in her face, you know more that anyone what the death of a loved one can do to someone." She scolded.
"I called her this morning and left her a message and I'm having flowers sent the Planet." Bruce said.
"Do you really think a message and flowers in going to fix this?" She asked.
"No, it's a start and we have work to do." Bruce said as he took another drink of coffee. An hour later the car came to a stop in from of the brown farm house located at 722 Sigel Lane. Bruce and Diana exited the car as they did an older African-American man exited the house he was dressed in a funnel shirt and blue jeans, glasses on his face and a three day old stubble on his Diana and Bruce recognized Doctor Silas Stone.
"Can I help you people?" he asked.
"Yes, you can Doctor. I'm Bruce Wayne and this is my friend Diana Prince and we would like to talk to you about your son." Bruce explained.
"Mr. Wayne, my son dying and really would like to spend time with him before he passes." Silas said.
"That's not what we were told by Dr. Klyburn." Bruce said.
"Jenet is in denial about my son, she is in love with him if you must know." Silas said.
"Dr. Stone, Lex Luthor had information about you and your son and how you used alien technology to try and save his life." Diana said.
"I don't know what the hell you are talking about." Silas said.
"I have all the information that Lex took of your son and I will be more that happy to share it will you if you let me talk to your son." Bruce said.
"Dr. you did not approve of your son playing football did you? You wanted him to use his mind did you not?" Diana said.
"Yes, that's true now please leave." Silas said.
"We can offer your son they chance do something greater than play football, he can help me and my friends protect the world." Diana told him.
"We just want to talk. If he or you don't like what we have to say we'll leave and not a soul will know about your son." Bruce reassured him.
"Give me a moment." Silas said then entered the house. He returned his face a mask of worry.
"Come in,but be warned he looks different."Silas warned.
Bruce and Diana entered the house and followed Silas into kitchen. He offered him seats at the table and coffee, which both accepted. They heard loud heavy footsteps coming down the stairs. Victor entered the kitchen. Both Bruce and Diana stared at him in amazement.
In his file Victor Stone was six feet four now he must have stood at least seven feet tall. Nearly his entire body was now made of a metal. Certain points of his body glowed either blue or red. Half of Victor's face was normal, his left eye glowed red and on his forehead was a blue light alternated from dim to bright.
"Victor is Mr. Bruce Wayne and Miss Diana Prince." His father said introducing Bruce and Diana. Victor extended his hand, both Bruce and Diana shook his hand. They returned to seats.
"Victor, I want to assure you and your father that no one knows that we are here and no one will know about any of this." Bruce said.
"Victor, we here because we believe that there an entity of unknown power may threaten the planet. We are recruiting Meta-Humans to join us. There is no pressure for you to join us merely come to this location and hear us out along with the other Meta-Humans." Diana said.
"I hear what you're saying but how did you find about all this." Victor asked.
"Lex Luthor was building a database of Meta-Humans, you, Miss. Prince and two others were the only entries. I can also promise you that Luthor not longer has these files and they are very well protected." Bruce said.
"Victor, the file says that you were injured during the Kryptonian invasion, do you blame Superman in any way?" Diana asked.
"No, ma'am, you see Superman and Zod they were the last of their kind. Zod, wanted to re-make the Earth and Superman stopped him. Superman could have joined his people we wouldn't be here. He's a hero and if you're doing this because he's gone, then I owe it to him to go and hear you out." Victor said.
GOTHAM CITY
Five hours later Bruce and Diana were back at Wayne Manor. Bruce went to the cave to check on any reports of activity concerning the three missing Arkham inmates. There was nothing new to report,but he knew that soon it would happen, Quinn would show and Joker would be there too. Bruce exited the cave and found Diana on the deck watching the sun set. He watched her taking in her beauty. He walked over to her and they watched the sunset together, in silence. When the last beams of sunlight slipped below the horizon they found that they were holding hands and a feeling of melancholy came over them, They would meet Barry Allen day after tomorrow and then their formal pitch. Once that was done, Diana would leave returning to her life and doing whatever it was she did. The moment was ended when Bruce felt his phone vibrate against his leg. He reached in his pocket and read the message.
"LUTHOR ARKHAM TRANSFER IS A GO. NEED TO SEE YOU FOR MORE DETAILS-O." The message read.
"I have to go a friend has info on the Luthor transfer to Arkham." Bruce said.
"I'm going with you." Diana said. Bruce said nothing he would not argue with her at least not with this Luthor invaded her privacy she deserved to see the look on his face when he entered the hell hole that was Arkham Asylum.
They drove to Clock Tower Apartments, one of the most expense place to live in Gotham. Bruce pulled the car into the parking garage and they took the elevator to the penthouse. They walked down the hall to the door. Before Bruce could push the doorbell a voice cam over a hidden speaker.
"You didn't tell me you were bringing a date." Came a female voice over the intercom.
"Its not like that." Bruce said. The door unlocked and was pulled open by a young woman about twenty-five. She was beautiful with wavy red hair and green eye behind her purple framed glasses. She was dress in navy blue pants and a white shirt. A round her neck was gold pendant subtlety in the shape of a bat. The most striking feature of the young man was that she was in a motorized wheelchair.
"Barbara Gordon, this is Diana Prince." Bruce said introducing the tow women to each other. Barbra extended her hand, Diana took it and shook her hand.
"Come on in." Barbra said. Bruce and Diana followed Barbara into the penthouse. Then she made all three of them coffee. Barbara made her way to her computer station and pressed a hidden button. Pictures hanging over the computer desk reveled their true nature as computer monitors. Each screen held different video feeds or information feeds. There was also social media feeds and newsfeed. All this was information that she could use to help Batman in his crusade.
"When Batman arranged the transfer my dad demanded the Metropolis have their best and brightest bring Luthor over. The chief selected Inspector Maggie Sawyer, she's the head of the special crimes unit and her right hand man Lieutenant Dan Turpin. I ran background on them both clean as a whistle and muptlqe awards."Barbra said. The displays showed the file photos of Sawyer and Turpin.
"As for my dad his bring his best. Renee Montoya and her partner Harvey Bullock, but i'm sure you knew that." Barbara said.
"What about Asylum staff?" Bruce asked.
"Head of Psychiatry Penny Young and warden of the place Quincy Sharp." Barbara said.
"Sharp has no love for Batman so no doubt he's not too happy that Batman made the transfer happen." Barbara said.
"Like most city officials he feels that its wrong that police commissioner allows a vigilante to run free and help the police." Barbra said.
"What else do you have?" Bruce asked ignoring the conversion.
"The doctor placed in charge of Luthor's treatment is kind of odd duck. I'm still gathering intel on him,but his name is Professor Hugo Strange." Barbara said.
"Hugo Strange, I'll do some work on my end and let can meet later." Bruce said.
"Okay sounds like a plan." Barbara said
"When will the transfer take place?" Diana asked.
"Tomorrow night at 11:30, it will make sure that not even the press will know about it." Barbara said.
"How are they moving him?" Bruce asked.
"By boat Police boats from both GCPD and MPD will escort, there will also be air cover with choppers." Barbara said.
"We can follow in the Bat-Plane using stealth mode." Bruce said.
"I can monitor all news and police feeds to make sure this thing stays a secret." Barbara said then shutdown her computer and screens. Bruce and Diana walked toward the door Barbara followed. Bruce then stopped and turned to face Barbara. He then knelt down in front of her and reached into his overcoat and removed a book sized wrapped gift.
"I know its late, but I've been busy, but Happy Birthday Barbara." Bruce said gently placing the gift in on her lap.
"Bruce, my birthday is in September, but thank you." Barbara said as she began to unwrap the gift. He stood and watched as she unwrapped the gift.
"Happy Birthday." Diana said.
"Thank you." Barbara said. Barbara hands went to her mouth as she saw the book.
"Bruce this a first edition of "The Hound of the Baskervilles". Barbara said in amazement.
"Open it." Bruce said Barbara did and discover that the book was signed with a message.
"To Barbara. Arthur Conan Doyle." Barbara read.
"Enjoy it." Bruce said with a smile. Barbara extended her arms again Bruce knelt down and hugged her.
"Thank you Bruce." Barbara said.
"Your Welcome." Bruce said as he opened the door and held it open until Diana was out the door. Bruce turned and gave he wink and closed the door behind him. Barbara locked the doors and activated the security system then checked the small hidden compartments on her chair to ensure that here batarangs were handy if the she were to need them after all the Joker was on the loose and she always needed to be ready incase there was an unexpected knock at the door.
End of Chapter 10