Chapter Ten

Hermes approached Hera in her sanctum and bowed.

"It is done. She is going to be reunited with her family on the morrow."

Hera put her hand on his shoulder. "You have done well, Hermes. I thank you for your care towards Diana. Let us hope it has done enough to fight the darkness of that place. Themyscira and the Amazons must do their part now."

Hermes walked to the pool where one could look upon anything going on in the world. He saw the Amazons going to Hera's temple to pray and rejoice. "Has Hippolyta said anything?"

Hera shook her head. "No. She still rejects me."

"But surely you could tell her…"

Hera waved her hand over the water and a scene with Donna and her mother appeared.

Donna was dressed in long robes and carried an offering on a tray of pomegranates, peacock feathers, garlands of red poppies and votive candles. "Mother, are you coming to join us in the ceremony of thanks?"

Hippolyta was sitting at her desk going over notes from the Senate. "No."

"No?" Donna looked perplexed.

The Queen looked up and scathingly said, "It is not the Gods we must thank. It is the efforts of men that brought my child back. They sat there upon their mount and spoke not a word to us. For years my child suffered and they did nothing. They do not deserve any thanks nor will I stoop to give it."

"Mother, please…You will bring their anger upon us!"

"Anger? Would that we even had that, Donna!" She waved her hand in a disgusted gesture. "No. Tell Penelope I regret that I cannot join her."

Donna came to look earnestly up at her. "Mother, for years you told us we must have faith. Remember when Diana and I were little? You said even when bad things happen. Even when we don't see or hear Gods. To know they are there."

Hippolyta's eyes seemed to glisten and her voice bitter, "I was wrong. Wrong in many things. About men and the outside world. If we had not come out of isolation, we would be sitting mourning Diana still. No, child. Now go. Go and give your thanks. I would not be one to dictate to my sisters on their spiritual choices but I will not give thanks where it is not warranted. If they want to punish anyone, then they can punish me."

Hermes looked at Hera painfully as the waters clouded. "I could go to her. Explain…"

"No. This is about faith. When Hippolyta stops being stubborn, and calls upon us only then will we go."

"No, Lady Hera, it is not that simple. This is about a mother's pain. She is angry. If she really knew what Diana had to endure, I think she may well curse us even more. But, I stand by your order. I will not go unless called." He bowed and withdrew.

Queen Hippolyta stood in her apartments with her younger daughter, Phillipus, Epione, the healer and Penelope the Oracle.

They all looked grave and a little anxious.

Artemis had called in to say she was flying in with Diana, Superman and the Martian Manhunter.

Penelope looked perplexed still. She had not seen this at all. It was as if some veil had been pulled down over her eyes since the Princess Diana had vanished off the face of the earth. The news that she was alive had stunned the whole Amazon nation. The Senates of Themyscira and Bana had debated long and hard until they voted overwhelmingly in favor of bringing back this lost sister and heir back to the tribe.

There had been great relief and joy as there was real fear. Fear that she could not be healed. Fear that she would bring the wrath of Apokolips upon them. Fear that they would have to give her up should they fail.

She knew as Head Priestess she had a great responsibility in now helping the Queen and others to heal the Princess. She was the bridge to the Gods. But last night despite their songs of praise and offerings, none of the Gods had appeared. Penelope knew the Gods had not abandoned them, since in the past periods of long silences were not uncommon. Also, Themyscira had prospered under the new ways. If the Gods had taken offense, they would have been cursed. But she could not help but wonder why they were silent.

Hippolyta asked Phillipus, "Is everything prepared?"

The General nodded. "We have added extra security to the Healing Isle and the rooms we have selected for her will have a magical shield upon it. She will not be able to leave it without the help of a select few who will have the key to disable it. That way we will not have to bind her."

She looked at Epione. "We will speak to Superman and the Manhunter about our program. I know J'onn will remain as long as we need him. But I am hoping Kal-El might stay for longer than one day."

Donna looked a little interested at that. "You want Superman to remain? Really?"

Hippolyta gave her a stern look. "Not for your benefit, Donna. If there is one thing I will not abide, it is you flirting with him. He is here as our ally and guest…and …"

Donna grinned and interrupted in her playful way, "Oh, mother. I am not interested in Superman that way. He's very nice to look at and a great hero one has no choice in idolizing. He is friendly and he showed interest in what I did and had to say. So unlike the experiences Artemis keeps complaining about. If I keep on his good side, I could get into the Justice League in the future."

The Queen seemed to relax. "Oh, so you are not infatuated him?"

She rolled her eyes. "Mother, I barely know him!" She then added slyly, "But if you are keeping him here, I could stay and get to know him…"

Hippolyta frowned. "Donna!"

Donna took her hand and squeezed it with a smile. "Mother, right now, I am more worried about my sister and how she will receive us. I am just trying to lighten the moment."

"Now is not the time for jests, Donna."

"I am sorry. Do we really have to wait until she goes to the Healing Isle before we see her?"

"Yes. As much as I want to see her now, I know she is unpredictable. We cannot have welcoming parties or processions. We need to keep this…according to Superman, "low-keyed". For her safety as well as ours."

Donna went to a window and stared at the sky wistfully. "Yes, I expect it will be too much to expect her to be happy to see us."

Hippolyta turned to Phillipus. "General, go and take your position and we will await your return."

Diana stared at the white buildings, green hills and valleys, the mountains, and the shimmering sea in some astonishment. She squinted at the sun and the immense blue of the sky. The rays caressed her face and she kept her head down as if unable to bear its warmth. The breeze ruffled her hair. Like a caress. She could smell the ocean, the grass, and the earth. The large eagles that had greeted them circled overhead. It was as if they knew something significant was happening. Apokolips had nothing like this.

Her feet seemed to drag on the paved path and Artemis had to on more than one occasion tug at her shoulder or arm to move forward. A group of guardswomen was waiting for them at the top of the concourse. Diana stared at them, at their helms, tall spears, warrior skirts and sandals. But her eyes were riveted on the one standing in front of the group. She was tall and dark skinned with a serious demeanor.

She bowed. "Artemis."

"General Phillipus."

Phillipus acknowledged Superman and the Martian Manhunter, and then her eyes fell on Diana. Her eyes flickered for a moment but Phillipus was too experienced to give in openly to her emotions. She bowed and calmly said, "Your Highness. Welcome."

Diana's heart began to beat unsteadily. She felt a sense of panic. The woman seemed familiar. Yet she could not place her. She looked at her escorts with a kind of derision. "Why have you brought me here?"

"Do you not recognize your home?" Artemis asked softly. "You walked these grounds for ten years of your life."

Diana gritted. "Do not mock me, Amazon. This is not my home!"

"Well, neither is Apokolips," Artemis shot back dryly. She queried, "General, what now?"

Phillipus said, "We are to take her directly to the Healing Isle. It is a short flight from here." She looked at Diana whose ankles and wrists were still manacled. "We have a chariot ready, and will take her. Artemis, you are to take Kal-El and J'onn J'onnz to the Palace."

Diana saw Phillipus and the guardswomen come towards her. "Please come with us, Your Highness…"

Diana raised her manacled hand to try to wipe the perspiration now beading her brow and lip. Her head was pounding and she was feeling a little lightheaded. She was experiencing a kind of sensory overload she never felt before. There was something about the island. Something unlike any place she had been.

She backed away.

She ended up stumbling backwards into Superman's chest.

He asked, concerned, "Are you okay?" He could hear her heart and see her color fluctuating. She looked paler than normal. His strong hands steadied her.

Diana flinched as he touched her, as if the feel of his fingers hurt. She hissed, "What do you care, Kryptonian?"

Artemis said briskly, "You will be coerced if they have to do it, Princess. Do not make this any harder for yourself than it already is."

Diana inhaled as if to regain her composure. She regarded the faces looking at her. Pity. Curiosity. Bemusment. Caution. It angered her but she mustered the last shreds of her dignity and said huskily to them, "I do not know why you brought me here. You seem to have some misplaced idea that I belong here. Or these people can do something for me. But I have been told I have no choice. No where else to go. I am your prisoner. Do what you must."

The three Leaguers sat with the Queen, Donna, Epione and Penelope in one of the ornate sitting rooms, facing the gardens and a view of the mountains.

Hippolyta sighed, after hearing how Diana had nearly escaped from the Satellite and then her reaction upon arrival, "She did not try to escape and went with Phillipus? Well, that bodes well."

"She's not happy," warned Superman. "I would keep a close eye on her and don't give her an inch. She will take it, believe me."

"Did she look as if she remembered the place?" asked Donna.

Artemis shook her head. "No. She kept saying she does not belong here and she is not an Amazon."

"Oh." Donna looked dismayed.

J'onn said, "I sensed a lot of confusion though. Her mind will put up the inevitable wall. We have to break through the years of brain washing and conditioning. What is in our favor is the fact that her colleagues betrayed her and Apokolips is not an option. In her mind, she knows she failed them and would not be welcomed there. Therefore that makes her less likely to fight us because of her loyalty to them."

"We must make her remember the truth," said Epione. She looked at Artemis. "We will need Hestia's lariat, Artemis."

Artemis undid the lasso from her waist and passed it over to Hippolyta. "Do you think it will help?"

Hippolyta studied the golden links hopefully. "It forces one to see and tell the truth."

"Truth is not her problem though," remarked Superman. "It is fear, mistrust and anger."

Hippolyta sighed, "I know. It is why I am hoping J'onn can remain with us for as long as we need him. His telepathic abilities will be vital in healing her."

J'onn confirmed, "The League has given me a leave of absence. I came with the intention of remaining, your Majesty."

The Queen smiled and thanked him and then turned to the Man of Steel. "And you, Kal-El, will you stay?"

His brows rose. "Me? Why?"

"I know you only came as an escort but Diana has proven to be …difficult…and having you here might prove as a deterrent to her trying to escape. Or if she does…you seem to know how to handle her. I do not want to have to use necessary force on her if she becomes resistive," she replied worriedly.

He observed wryly, "Having me here might rile her up even more. She doesn't exactly care for my, er, interference. Besides, J'onn is very capable and the League hasn't made provision for my absence and I have other things to see to…Since the battle in Metropolis, I haven't been to the Daily Planet or seen my parents…"

"I see…You have other priorities and your work and personal life," replied Hippolyta. "Pardon me from being so presumptuous."

Donna looked a little confused. She murmured to Artemis, "He works? He has parents? I thought he is an alien?"

Artemis whispered, "He was brought up by simple farming folks and has a life outside of Superman. The normal life of a working man he considers very important in maintaining his connection to humanity."

Donna looked a little perplexed, not exactly understanding why Superman of all people needed to act normal but she blurted out, "Couldn't you get permission and see about those things later? This is my sister we are talking about!"

The Queen gave her a warning look. "Daughter!"

Superman regarded her with a kind of mild amusement. Donna was some ten years younger than he was and having mentored many younger heroes, he was used to their over exuberance. He smiled kindly at her but he said firmly, "Your Highness, I can't. I'm sorry. I have faith that you, your mother, your sisters and J'onn can handle this. If things really get out of hand I will come and I will try to keep in contact with the island to check on Diana's progress. I need to get back."

Artemis added, "As do I. My duties at the Embassy require my attention."

Donna slumped back in her chair and tried not to look too disappointed.

Hippolyta rose and they all followed suit. She walked up to him and said, "Once again, thank you for bringing Diana back to us."

"It was the least I could do. Good luck, your Majesty." and with a bow to her and the other Amazons and a nod to J'onn, he and Artemis withdrew.

Diana stood in the room that she was now contained in on the Healing Isle. The General had flown her in on a chariot drawn by winged steeds a few hours ago and then she had been led to a small and simply furnished room with an adjoining bath chamber. They had left a clean white tunic and sandals in a neat pile on a chair and a tray with food and drink on the sideboard. The minute they had locked the doors upon her, she had tried to get out. But she found she could not force the door or windows. There was some unseen force. No amount of kicking and punching could dent or crack the windows, door or walls.

She had screamed in frustration and exhaustion, and had fallen panting to the floor. It had brought back memories of being contained on Apokoplis yet…it was not the same. There was no feeling of being buried alive or suffocation here. She could see the blue ocean, green trees and vast sky from her window. It made her head dizzy with the vibrancy of it all.

She now sank upon the edge of the bed and her hand touched the smooth coolness of the sheet. Her nose could smell a kind of floral fragrance. It teased her nostrils. She lifted the sheet to her nose tentatively and flung it back down. Since being on earth, she had come across aromas so unlike anything she was accustomed to. She felt lost, angry and confused. She did not know what to expect. A dungeon maybe. Torture. Deprivation. Anything to cause pain and agony. It is how they dealt with prisoners of war on Apokolips.

But this was Themyscira. Home of the Amazons. They told her she was one of them. But she could not remember anything! She tried to think back. There was no memory. Just words.

"No one cares you are here. No one came to look for you. No one will rescue you. They are probably glad you were abducted."

Diana held her head. It swam the harder she tried to rack her brain. She suddenly heard voices and the door to her room opened. The one called Phillipus ushered a small group in. Diana rose warily and clenched her fists.

A tall, regal looking woman stood at the forefront. She wore a lavender gown with a golden girdle. Atop her raven black hair was a crown and she carried a scepter. She was staring at her with full eyes. On her right was a shorter, slender female, with black hair and she looked nervous as she twined her fingers around the cord at her waist. There were two at the back; a slight blond, in the robes of a priestess and a taller brunette in a simple brown chiton. The green skinned Martian was with them as well.

Phillipus' voice was like a distant buzzing in her ear as they drew closer. Diana's heart began to thud.

"Your Highness, this is the Queen of Themyscira, Hippolyta. The Princess, Donna, High Priestess, Penelope and Chief Healer, Epione."

The woman with the scepter was the first to speak. "Diana…my child…" she began huskily and took a step towards her.

Diana gritted. "I am not your child! Stay away from me!" She looked at J'onn. "I do not belong here. I don't know who these people are!"

Hippolyta said tentatively, "I am your mother…"

"I have no mother," she rejoined icily, looking at Hippolyta with no sign of recognition.

Hippolyta's cheeks paled and her eyes looked pained.

The youngest of the group reached for her shoulder. "Diana, it's me. Donna. Your sister! Don't you remember me?" she pleaded.

Diana glared at her. "Get away from me!" She backed away from them. "You forcibly brought me here, but I do not have to endure your false overtures!"

J'onn put his hand out as if to telepathically reach out and calm her. He said gently, "This is your family…They only want to help you, Diana."

She laughed scornfully and glared at them. She recited what had been implanted in her brain many years ago, "The Amazons abandoned me. They left me to my fate. You are too late to help me."

Hippolyta's eyes widened. "We did not know what had become of you! Who had taken you! You just vanished. Donna was a mere child. She could barely begin to explain who took you from us…"

Donna cried, "Diana, don't you remember that day? We were playing on the beach? Ione and Liandra were with us…"

Hippolyta looked at her younger daughter sharply. Donna had not spoken of this for years. She had not thought she recalled any of it.

Donna continued fervently, "You were looking for shells and I was digging in the sand…" She reached for her arm. "Then they came…the winged monsters…"

Diana cut her short and moved away from her. Their closeness was an irritation as was the way they stared at her. "I do not know what you are talking about!"

Epione suddenly said, "We are not going to make any progress this way. It is time we subdue her and do what we came to do."

Phillipus pulled out her sword. "Gladly."

Diana's brows snapped together and got into a defensive stance.

As she faced Phillipus, she did not see J'onn suddenly vanish and phase in behind her.

Diana gasped as he placed his hands on her head and reached into her mind. She screeched and at the same time a golden loop was thrown over her and tightened about her chest. She saw the queen holding the rope.

"I have her, J'onn!"

She barely heard them as she began to be assaulted by pain and images.

Hippolyta was speaking. "You are bound within Hestia's lasso. It burns away all lies and deceptions. See the truth. You are Diana. Amazon Princess of Themyscira. You were a gift from the Gods. You had a family who loved you. We are here. We want to help you."

As J'onn held onto her, he saw a jumbled mass of what were her memories. It was like passing though layers of her mind. Peeling away the most recent memories and going back in time.

Her encounters with Superman seemed to be the forefront of her mind. He sensed these were troubling to her.

She fought Superman in the armory.

A parademon stabbed her and he removed his helmet to reveal a leering, blue, granite visage.

She cut Lois' throat.

The stranger in the blue, red and gold colors tore the mask off her face.

J'onn went deeper.

She led the Furies as they captured the warrior called Orion.

She bowed before Darkseid.

She donned a hideous mask.

She was in a brutal contest with other young women, coming out bloody and battered but victorious.

J'onn pushed again even as Diana strained to expel him from her mind. But the lasso was doing its work. It contained her and forced her to go back and allow him to see parts of her psyche she would otherwise share with no one.

She sat on a roof top and stared as firepits licked the air.

Barda bent and kissed her head.

The one with the granite face assaulted her.

A short fat woman with white hair slapped her face.

She was staring down at a group of petrified children.

A tall thin man in robes grinned down at her. "Are you ready for your re-education, Princess?"

Diana screamed and J'onn let her head go as if he had been scaled by fire.

Hippolyta saw Diana collapse on the floor. She looked at J'onn in alarm as he backed away and held his own head. "J'onn, what is it?"

Donna went to him to help support him. He winced and put his hand out to reassure them. He took several breaths. "I am fine."

"What happened?" asked Donna fearfully watching her mother bend to examine Diana with Epione's aid.

"I saw and felt the pain and fear she felt as they brainwashed her..." He looked at Diana as she now lay unconscious. "Is she alright?"

Epione looked unsure. "I do not know. She fainted. Do you think she was actually feeling physical pain?"

J'onn nodded gravely. "Yes…yes she was."

Hippolyta undid the lasso penitently and swallowed. "We should have been more careful. Gone slower. Perhaps this was too much at once…"

J'onn bent and picked Diana up and laid her upon the bed. "I think we had little choice. What they did was aggressive and terrible. They robbed her of her will and identity. They implanted memories and ideas in her mind to make her resist the truth. To fight that will and bring about real terror and agony."

Hippolyta looked at her lying so still. Her cheeks were pale and she looked so vulnerable. She touched her hair and whispered, "I do not want to bring her any more pain."

"I do not think we have a choice, Majesty," said Penelope. "Diana must face her past and the truth. It is the only way to get her to see that she never belonged to Apokolips and try to fight the taint of that place."

"Maybe it is too late?" speculated Epione. "She is nearly twenty three years of age. She spent almost thirteen years of her life in a harsh place that takes away any humanity from its subjects."

"She spent ten with us. Ten with those that loved her unconditionally. She is my daughter. Your sister. We must try to heal her. I cannot believe she is beyond our reach." Hippolyta looked at J'onn. "I believe we can do this."

J'onn said, "We need to allow her to rest. To revive. To reorganize her thoughts. To see if she can make sense of what she felt and saw. Then we must try again. And soon."

Superman had two priorities when he returned to Metropolis. The first priority was to check on Lois. The second would be to see his parents.

He had not seen either for two full days because of being caught up with the raid and then dealing with Diana. Since the Furies had attacked and nearly destroyed the main newsroom, and employees had been hurt, the daily operations had been affected. Fortunately for him, the employees had been given a week off until the building could be deemed safe for work so no one missed that Clark Kent was not around.

Now he had to see how Lois fared after nearly being killed. He learned she was still warded and he went to face her as Clark Kent.

The nurse pointed him to her room. With his super vision he could see she was in a single room, sitting up in bed, with a bandage on her throat. She was flicking impatiently through television channels. She looked annoyed. Probably because she was not getting a chance to be the one to write on the attack of Metropolis by the Furies.

The nurse said to him, "Don't stay too long. We don't like her talking too much as it puts pressure on her sutures."

Lois was notorious for her inability to sit still and remaining in hospital for observation he guessed was torture for her.

Clark asked wryly, "Yes, how are you managing with that?"

The nurse rolled her eyes. "Let us say, she makes us talk."

"Yeah, I'll bet. But she will be okay?"

"Fine as long as she goes home and rest. I think they will discharge her by tomorrow."

Clark knocked on her door a minute later and heard her voice. "Come."

When he entered, she looked up in surprise. "Superm…I mean Clark Kent."

He had a bunch of flowers in his hand. "How are you, Lois?"

She flicked off the television and dropped the remote on her table. She said in a husky whisper, "I'm surprised you remembered I was here."

He held out the flowers. "There was a lot to do, Lois. I'm sorry it took so long for me to come and see you."

She took it and rested it on the table. "Justice League business?"

"Yes."

"Can't elaborate, I suppose? Give a girl a scoop?"

"No."

She murmured dryly, "I guess I should thank you for saving my life. Again."

"Lois…" He looked somber and his expression was of that of a man ready to confront something painful.

She swallowed. "I know. We need to talk. Sit down, Smallville. You're making me nervous standing there."

He sat down on a chair at the end of her bed. "This was a long time coming. We both know it. We can't avoid it or make believe we can continue ignoring each other. I never meant to hurt you. I hope you know that."

She leaned back her head and touched her throat. "No. Your enemies seem to do it well for you. I thought I was a goner."

He admitted guiltily, "I thought so too."

"I woke up from surgery and Jimmy was here and Perry. My mom called and said Lucy is going to come and stay with me a few days. But you. You weren't even around."

"Lois, I …"

"I know. I get it. You had to save lives. Deal with alien invaders. You can't sit by my bedside like a normal boyfriend. I've thought a lot about us in the last few weeks after you told me your secret…I was even willing to try again but then the last twenty four hours made me realize how our relationship has been deteriorating. How it was dictated by emergencies. By me having to rely on you so much…be it for scoops or saving me. I don't know how much of that I can take. Three months ago, I was kidnapped by Metallo. Last month the Parasite broke into my apartment. Two days ago a crazed alien wearing an ugly mask tried to slice my neck to spite you. I might as well be wearing a bulls-eye on my back."

"I know. It's not fair to you. Don't think I don't know how much danger I have put you in? I can't live with the fact that one day you could lose your life because of me…because everyone sees you as "Superman's girlfriend". It's a sure way to get to me through the people I care about. One does not have to be a genius to work that out. And I should have known better to encourage our relationship."

She looked at him with a kind of pained resignation. "It's not going to work, is it?"

"I don't think so. Guilt and fear is not what should drive our relationship."

"Don't forget lies. You know you were a louse to me, Smallville. Lying like that. Perhaps if you had been up front we could have avoided all of this." She muttered, "I cried enough for Superman when you told me the truth…and what I was crying for…I really didn't know. I feel I don't even know who you really are."

Clark sighed. How could he begin to explain it? He could see how hurt she was. He said gently, "Lois, don't doubt if you ever need me to help you…need anything…I will always be here for you…I still care..."

"Do you love me?" she demanded. Suddenly there was a part of her that needed to know. It was the insecure, vain part of her that demanded it. The part of her that wanted him to say yes and drop to his knees and beg them to try.

He looked taken aback. He opened his lips to say "yes" but the words were stuck in his throat. He cared for Lois. But he couldn't honestly say at that moment that he was in love with her. The guilt hit him hard. Seeing her at her most vulnerable but seeing how much he was hurting her too. The last few days had been hard for him and he remembered his father's words about truth.

Theirs was a relationship that he suddenly realized was built on false hopes and a façade of what he always longed for. A chance for him not to be alone. To truly belong. In his heart he knew he was no closer to achieving that than he was to finding Krypton again.

"Well. An answer would be nice." she rasped.

"Can you say you really love me?" He turned the question back to her.

She stared at him a moment. In his oversized suit and his slicked back hair and glasses. It was so clever. One would never guess he was Superman. How had she missed it? Had she lost her objectivity with this man? She was beginning to think she had. She conceded wearily, "I guess, you're right. This is not going to work. Dating you was not even real. It was nice to be flown around and be taken to anywhere in the world and have you charge in like a white knight for me…But it's the stuff of dreams. I wished I fit into it. I'm just a normal woman, Kent. I want a man there for me always. I don't want to have to share him. I don't want to have to worry for him every single day. I don't want to have to wait for him to have time. You know how awful I felt when you were on this charity appearance or helping in relief and rescue work around the world? I resented those orphans and those poor people who mean nothing to me other than they took you away too often. I don't want to feel that way." She put her hand to her head and muttered hoarsely, "I'm tired. You should go. I'm sure you have many super things to do."

"I'm sorry, Lois. I know working with me will be awkward..."

"No more awkward than it has been the last few weeks. I'll be taking some sick time off work. I think I need some time away from Metropolis."

Clark stood up and repeated again, "If you need anything…"

He did not know what else to say and she just ended up looking impatient.

"Yeah, yeah. That's peachy. But we know how breakups go. And don't worry about your secret. I'm not the type to go blabbing." She picked up the remote and switched on back the television and put up the volume.

He took that as his cue and quietly left her.

Martha looked at her son across the dinner table. "So you broke up with her?"

Clark looked up from his plate. "I wouldn't say that. We kind of came to the same conclusion. It's not working."

Jonathan touched his arm. "I'm sorry, son. This must be hard for you. I know how much you cared for Lois."

"It's better this way, Pa. Lois' life is in constant danger and I can't be there for her…and on some level I think she'll always resent how I never told her Clark and Superman were one."

Martha sighed. "I used to think love would conquer anything…I guess there are things even it can't fix."

Clark said nothing. He put his cutlery down. "I have the next few days free, is there anything I can help you with?"

Jonathan shook his head. "No, son. Everything is in hand. We can manage. I bet you have your hands full with that invasion we saw on Metropolis and League business. Any chance of rescuing those poor people?"

He shook his head gravely. "Sadly no. It is weighing up our national and international security over full scale global war. They will not risk it for so few."

Martha looked dismayed. "Terrible. I hope one day those wicked Apokoliptians pay for their crimes. Did you manage to catch any of them?"

"I'm sorry, Ma. I can't talk about it. It's classified."

Jonathan studied his son's grave face. "Serious, huh?"

"Putting it mildly."

Martha sniffed as she rose to bring the freshly baked apple pie to the table. "Well, if you do catch any of them, I'd toss them into that Phantom Zone place you have in the Fortress."

Jonathan mused, "That's pretty draconian there, honey."

"No. It's what they deserve. I'm sure our son would agree with me after seeing how brutal they can be. Right, Clark?"

Clark cleared his throat and asked instead, "You got any ice cream to go with this, Ma?"

Batman and Superman sat in the conference room. They were waiting for the rest of the League to appear for the weekly meeting. Both were early and sat in their respective seats, and after some small talk Batman asked, "So any news on reforming the Princess?"

Superman looked grave. The Martian Manhunter had been giving him daily reports.

"Slow and challenging. Those were J'onn's words. Seems the level of torture and brainwashing she endured has affected her ability to see the truth beyond a certain point. They have been using the lasso, his telepathic abilities and the Amazons have purification rituals…all of which have managed so far to only have her recollect the day she was brought into Apokolips. Desaad has implanted strong subliminal messages. All of which have brought her immense pain and guilt. They act like a barrier. And one memory remains the strongest and seems the one thing stopping her from going back. J'onn says he keeps confronting a ten year old Diana, running in a maze of tunnels and then on the steps of a dais looking up at Darkseid. She cannot recall her life the day she was taken much less her life on Themyscira. She simply has this fixed belief that no one cared to come and find her. She resists all attempts to even discuss the Apokoliptians betraying and trying to kill her."

"I hope they have her confined?"

"Yes. I told them not to give her any leeway."

"Good. The last thing we need is a crazed Fury running around the Earth."

"She isn't crazed, Bruce. She is a product of her environment. I have no doubt if I were under Darkseid's power, I would be the same. The mere fact she has survived in such an environment is a testament to her will. Barda says, many a time she got into trouble for not doing what they demanded of her…like killing Lowly children…

He interrupted dryly, "But she killed nonetheless."

"Yes, she killed."

"It's the one thing you cannot abide. How do you reconcile yourself to knowing she does not have any problems doing that?"

He heaved a sigh. "Bruce, not everyone has the luxury of my power. I get that what I can do to disable an opponent, many heroes cannot do that. We can afford to take the high road most of the times. Though that high road has cost us people we love and civilian lives with Lex and the Joker coming back to put innocents in danger. But we have vowed not to kill. The League has a mandate to not be judge, jury or executioner. And we know the day we cross that line it gets real messy. But soldiers and cops have to do it to get their job done. Does that make them evil? No. If I looked upon the world the way I want it then I really don't get the world I want to protect. We don't kill and I hope we never are put into that position. As for the Princess, they all seem to have this belief that she still has a chance to be redeemed. If Barda and Hippolyta can, then I'm more than willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. The more I think of what J'onn told me, the more I know we made the right decision."

Batman warned, "Just take care you know why you're doing it."

Superman said a little stiffly, "I'm very well aware what you think."

Batman shrugged. "If you can maintain your objectivity, then fine."

Superman retorted, "Pot calling the kettle black, Bruce."

"Yes, well, I'm did not wrestle a half naked Selina…"

"You were dating her!"

"I didn't know she was Catwoman at the time! And she did help us in that last case and is lying low."

"Well the princess is lying low too…"

"Yes, well let's hope that's all the "lying low" she does..."

"Hey!"

"Well, you're a liar if you don't find her distractingly beautiful…Wally can't stop sneaking back to the footage to watch her. And I found Lantern and Green Arrow watching, too, yesterday. Studying your technique on how to take her down they said."

Superman flushed a little. If Bruce only knew the troubling dream he had about her.

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I've come across numerous women in the galaxy that fit that word. And you know from the women I've had in my life I don't necessarily go for looks…" He picked up his document and pretended to read.

Batman shot back, "Yes and you broke up with Lois."

Superman glanced up. "How did…?"

"Your girlfriend was in the hospital. You went to see her once since coming back from Themyscira. Since then you have not been back to see her and have been working full time with the League. I find it odd you wouldn't take some time off to be with the woman you are dating. It's not like we need you so desperately at the moment. But they do say immersing one's self in work is a good formula to deal with love trouble…"

"Very funny."

"But I'm right though."

Superman affirmed, "We ended it. She's gone to spend a month with her sister. And there is no need to say I told you so."

"No there isn't but, I told you so," he shot back. Superman frowned. After a moment Batman added, "If it's any consolation, I know how you feel."

He was sincere as Batman could ever be.

Superman asked, "Who were these ladies?"

"Vicky Vale."

"The reporter?"

"Yeah."

"There should be a hero handbook on who not to date. Reporters should be one of them. Who was the other?"

"Lorna Shore. Museum Curator. She didn't feel safe ever again after being kidnapped by the Joker. She left Gotham. I can't blame her. What sensible woman would want to stick around?"

"Yeah. Lois has started to feel like that. It's not fair on them."

"When we chose the life we did…romance is a luxury. An irresponsible one. I've learned that the hard way. Even if you tell them up front and they stay…they die."

"Who died, Bruce?"

"It doesn't matter who. It matters that you don't want to see it happen again."

Superman heard the change in the timbre of his voice. His ears were so sharp, he knew whoever had died had affected his friend. They were quiet for a minute when Superman's eyes fell on Wonder Woman's chair.

"Ever thought of dating within the superhero community?"

Batman looked at him a little defensively. "That's a stupid idea. It would never work."

"Well, seems to work for some. And I didn't say it was a good idea. I only wondered if you thought about it."

"Why would I?"

"Most of our female allies are bright, intelligent, beautiful, capable of taking care of themselves…if you were attracted to one of them…would you try?"

"Look, I'm not Wally. I don't have any reason to hit on anything with the XX chromosome that walks."

Superman chuckled. "Wally tries but it takes two to tango so to speak. Come on, Bruce, there are a few women here that I know would date you given a chance…Well, one of them might say she'd rather get her eyes gouged out than date you but I think you two are long over due to get a room…"

Batman glared at him. "Now is not the time for jokes, Kent."

"I'm serious. You know people are placing bets on you two?"

Batman looked really ruffled now. "You all have an over-active imagination."

Superman smiled incorrigibly. "Pot is up to about two grand last I checked. You really should just ask her out so they can all focus on someone else. Want me to start a new pot? I bet you can't get her to go out with you."

"Clark, you gave me kryptonite to keep in case you went rogue. I am ready and willing to use it now."

The Man of Steel laughed heartily but queried with a droll look, "Do you really walk around with kryptonite in your bat-belt, Bruce?'

Batman did not get a chance to reply as the door to the conference room slid open.

It was Artemis. Both men stopped speaking. Superman coughed and Batman glared at him.

The red haired Amazon gave them both a cynical stare as she walked around to her seat. "You are both early."

"Yes. For once no emergency to delay us. How are you, Artemis?" asked Superman.

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking." She gave Batman a cursory nod as she sat down. "Batman."

He nodded back just as abruptly. "Wonder Woman."

Artemis picked up the minutes and skimmed it. Superman suddenly pushed his chair back. "Anyone want a snack? I'm famished."

Batman looked at him as if he were stupid. "What? We have refreshments on the sideboard."

"Yes, but I want a burger. Not coffee and doughnuts. Well?"

Artemis smiled at him. "No, Superman, I ate before I came."

"Bruce?"

Batman just glared at him and said querulously, "No."

He smiled and blurred out.

Artemis looked at Batman for a moment. "Why are you so rude to him? He was just being kind asking you if you wanted something extra."

Batman retorted, "No, he wasn't. Trust me on that."

She frowned. "You are strange. But then so many things about this world, I will never understand. Least of all male bonding." She bent her head and pretended to read her document.

Batman suddenly pushed something her way. "Speaking of kindness…here."

Artemis stared at the piece of paper. It was a check. For one hundred thousand dollars.

She looked nonplussed.

"For your gala at the Embassy at the end of the week. You are collecting donations for the series of shelters you want to set up around the country for battered women and prostitutes."

"Yes, but so much? You can keep your charity. I don't need to be patronized."

"It's not what you need. It is for them and it's pocket change as far as I'm concerned. And it is charity. Let us not quibble here. For God's sakes stop pontificating and take the damn thing."

She looked at him a little taken aback at his ire. She looked at the check and pushed it back to him with a finger. "I can't take it now…"

"Artemis," he began on a low growl of exasperation.

She gave him a mocking smile. "The donor has to come to the gathering and present it him or herself."

"What?"

"Yes. I am sure Bruce Wayne can muster some time from his playboy antics around town and come to a charity dinner. I admit we could use the publicity."

He stared at her in silence then began, "If you need a date you could say so…"

She interrupted angrily, "I do not need a date! Neith, how inflated are men's egos! Bring a woman. Bring two. I do not care. But I cannot accept that check now…"

Superman came in bearing tray. "I brought extras if anyone else wants any. I know Wally can eat a horse when he comes in…What's up? Did I interrupt something?"

Batman leaned back and said sarcastically at him, "Not at all. I hope you have a tux for this Friday, Kent."

"What?"

"Yeah, you're coming to Washington to report on a charity dinner."

"Why would I want to…?"

"You're coming, Kent."

He hid his smile as he put the tray on the side board and said docilely, "Whatever you say, Bruce."

Darkseid stood in his chambers staring at the holographic screen with what looked like an unfinished equation. His face was creased as he pondered the factor he did have. Glyphs that were all powerful keys that could be fused and entered into Apkoliptian technology to create the most powerful force in the universe. The Anti-Life Equation.

He had learned of it some five hundred years before. Lying under tons of earth in the Necropolis, an ancient scroll, that had been in possession of the Old Gods, that talked of the ability to subvert free will. A counter to free will. Freewill was the greatest of all gifts given to all creation by the Source. And as there was light to dark, day to night, fire to water, earth to air, there was a counter force to freewill. The Oracle had confirmed its existence. But she could not tell him where and how to find it. He just had obscure clues left on a weathered scroll that could not even be read in some places. Making parts of it guess work.

He had stolen, conspired, bargained, undermined, and murdered for what he had managed to obtain over the centuries from various parts of the universe. And yet he still was far from getting the remaining parts of the formula. A formula if he got it right had the capacity to make slaves of all sentient beings. Nothing. None could challenge him then. He would rule the cosmos. He could challenge other Gods. He could extend his sphere of influence across time and space.

Darkseid's head suddenly turned. He sensed the presence of someone else in the room.

Darkseid turned from his contemplation of what he was trying to build as the Anti-Life Equation.

"What do you want, Interloper?"

Hermes appeared. He looked at the New God and said quietly, "She is alive, you know."

Darkseid's fingers clenched. "What?"

Hermes put his hand out as if to halt him in his tracks. "And by the rules you laid down, you cannot touch her. You said to me to let us see if she can chart her own destiny…to see who will triumph. Well, destiny has stepped in and she is no longer Apokolip's property. She is back into the fold of her people and under our patronage. You lost her to the whim of Fate and your own arrogance. Concede it."

His eyes narrowed and he said after a moment, "Crow for now then, Trickster. The game is not yet over."

Hermes smiled. "Yes, I did not think it would be. But just as you forbade divine intervention, then see if you can abide by your rules." His eyes looked upon the screen at the strange equation. "It is not as easy as you think. The Source that creates life would never make it easy to rule it with just a simple equation, that much I do know."

Hermes shimmered and vanished.

Darkseid's eyes burned. He floated over to a monitor and pressed the controls on the panel. The face of Steppenwolf appeared.

"My lord?"

"I want you to prepare yourself for combat."

"Yes, my lord. Who and what am I to face?"

"A Kryptonian."

"The Kryptonian? The one who was on Apokolips?"

"Yes."

"I can take a team now…"

"No. The time is not yet… ripe. Wait for my word. Twice my forces have struck only to fail. You must not underestimate him and his allies. I will not abide defeat again. Is that understood?"

Steppenwolf bowed. "Yes, Darkseid."

Author's Note: Sorry for the delay in update. Combo of thought block, and real life etc etc. The hardest part was trying to work out how to approach Diana and how they would go about healing her. The lasso and J'onn's telepathy were obvious and time and of course destiny maybe? ;) Thanks for the reviews.