Chapter Eleven

Dreams of the West...

"So you're back again?" Kara heard a familiar voice ask. The young girl opened her eyes and smiled as she saw Wally sitting a few feet away from her.

"Hi Wally," she said sitting up, "How've you been?"

"Not bad, a little bored though," the speedster said with a shrug, "Did you relay my messages?"

She nodded saying, "Yup, and I even found something out."

"Well that makes two of us then," he said solemnly.

"What did you find out?" she asked watching him.

"For some odd reason every time you access the Speed Force, it allows me to be able to communicate with you," he said sounding a little puzzled, "I can't do this with Uncle Barry or Bart though."

"Maybe it's because we're related," she suggested.

"We are?" he asked.

"Y-Yeah," the young girl said a little nervously, "I-I'm your daughter."

Wally was silent for a few seconds as what he was told sunk in before saying, "Oh man. Now I have to find a way back."

"I know mom misses you," she said looking at the ground.

"I miss her too," he said before moving so he was sitting next to her. He gently pulled the young girl into his arms and softly said, "I promise kiddo; I will find a way so the three of us can be together."

"I trust you, dad," she said returning the hug, "And it's Kara."

"Beautiful name for a beautiful little girl," he said gently stroking her hair, "I'll be home soon, just have to figure out how."

Kara leaned back and looked up at her father asking, "Couldn't the League set the Zeta tubes to the Speed Force?"

"Unfortunately that's not possible," he said looking at her, "The Speed Force is basically pure energy. It's not something a league member can normally enter like a house or the Watchtower."

"Oh," she said softly.

"Hey," he said smiling a little, "We don't have a lot of time left. So I need you to listen. I am going to find a way back to you and Artemis. Nothing is going to stop me."

"I believe you, daddy," Kara said as she started to cry.

"It's ok, Kara," he said pulling her back into a hug, "We'll be a family soon enough. Just remember; if you want to see me, all you have to do is run and you'll see me in your dreams."

"I can't run for a while," she sobbed against his chest, "I got hurt trying to protect mom."

His arms tightened briefly around her before saying, "Tell me everything that happened."

She wiped her eyes before she started talking. She told him everything from the first time she met her mother clear up until what had transpired the day before. Once she was finished, he started laughing and said, "You are so my kid and I want to see that video."

"Barbara loved it when we showed her," she giggled. "And he asked for every bit of that," he said with a sad smile, "Unfortunately it's time."

"Do you have to go?" she asked looking at him.

"If I don't go back now, then we will never be able to talk like this again," he said before kissing her forehead, "But I will see you again."

"Ok, bye dad," she said sadly.

"Bye Kara," he said before he got up and walked away, "Tell you mom I love her and will see her again."

"I will," she said before he disappeared in a white light.

As the light slowly faded, she found herself in a room with gray walls. She looked to her right to find her mother looking at her.

"You ok?" Artemis asked sounding a little worried.

"I had a dream," Kara said quietly.

"What about?" her mother asked. A tear slowly slid down the young girl's face as she said, "Dad. He asked me to tell you something."

"What did Wally say?" Artemis asked.

"He loved you and is going to find a way to come home," Kara said before they heard a knock on the door.

"He'll find a way back." Artemis said before going to answer the door. She opened the door to find a man a few years older than her. "Hey Ollie, what do you need?" Artemis asked.

"I came to see if you were ready to go," the league member said with a slight chuckle, "And Barbara showed me what you two did to Nightwing."

"He asked for it," she said with a smirk.

"Oh I agree," he said handing her an envelope.

"What's this?" she asked opening it.

"The private bet going on between the League and team as to who could get him." he said with a smile, "I thought you could use it more."

"Ollie, there's got to be at least two grand in here," she said shocked.

"It's actually twelve grand," he said leaning against the doorframe, "After hearing about what Nightwing was doing to Barbara and the bet, Batman put a ten grand bounty on his former protégé's head."

"I'll have to thank him when I see him," Artemis said putting the money in her pocket, "We'll be ready to go in a few. Kara just woke up."

"I'll let him know," he said before walking away.

After helping her daughter get cleaned up and changed, the two made their way to the Zeta tubes to find Barry standing there waiting for them with a wheelchair.

"Hi Barry," Kara said with a slight wave from where she floated in midair, "What's with the chair?"

"The chair is for you," he said smiling, "You're not going to be able to use your powers where you're going."

"And where is that?" Artemis asked as her daughter sat in the chair. "With me," Batman said walking up.

"We are not staying in the Batcave," she said crossing her arms.

"You already made that clear last night," the dark knight said looking at her, "And you won't be."

"Then where are we going?" she asked.

"Keystone," he said before stepping into the Zeta Tube.

"What's in Keystone?" Kara asked looking at her mother.

"Someone you need to meet," Artemis muttered as before the two of them followed the dark knight.

"Recognized: Batman: Zero One. Tigress: B-Zero Seven. Kara: A-Two Nine,"

"There is a car waiting for you with your clothes in the trunk." he said motioning towards a nearby door, "Barry has already let them know you're coming and what is going on."

"Who knows we're coming?" Kara asked unsure of what was going on.

"You'll see," Artemis said, placing a hand on her daughters shoulder.

Batman turned to leave as he said, "I saw the video of what you two did to Nightwing." He looked back over his shoulder and smiled a little before saying, "You should've hit him harder."

"That was unexpected," Artemis said before watching the dark knight leave.

"He's creepy when he smiles," Kara said with a slight shudder.

"I agree," Artemis said before they walked to the door. As they stepped outside, Artemis smiled as she saw a well-dressed man standing next to a black sedan.

"Hello, Mistress Artemis. It is good to see you again," he said with a slight bow, "And I take it this would be Mistress Kara."

"Hello Alfred," she said pushing her daughter's wheelchair over, "And yes, she is."

"You know him?" Kara asked looking at her mother.

"His name is Alfred," Artemis said brushing a loose strand of hair back behind her daughter's ear, "He's an old friend."

The young girl looked at him for a few seconds before asking, "Is Batman always that creepy when he smiles?"

"Only when his mask is one," Alfred said before opening the back passenger door. After everyone was settled and the wheelchair was placed in the back part of the vehicle, Alfred drove them into the city.

"Excuse me, Mr. Alfred, where are we going?" Kara asked.

"We are currently heading to the residence of Mr. and Mrs. West," he replied looking at her via the rearview mirror briefly, "Is there something wrong?"

"I'm kind of hungry," she said before her stomach growled slightly. "I'll fix you something to eat once we get there, sweetie," Artemis said almost sounding a little nervous.

"You ok, mom?" Kara asked looking towards her mother.

"I'm ok, Kara," her mother said as they pulled up in front of a house.

"Do you need assistance getting your things?" Alfred asked parking the sedan.

"I don't think that will be necessary, Alfred. Thank you," Artemis said as she saw a man and woman walking towards the vehicle. She got out and smiled saying, "Hi Mary, Rudy."

"Hello Artemis," Mary said giving the blonde a hug. "Barry told us the gist of what is going on. Are you alright?"

"We're ok, don't worry." Artemis said smiling.

"I'll get your stuff." Rudy said before heading to the back of the vehicle.

"Before you do, there is someone I want you to meet." Artemis said before moving so the couple could see her daughter, "Mary, Rudy, I'd like you to meet Kara. You're granddaughter."