Chapter 11: The Beginning of the End
In Real Life
Bruce changed into a pair of jeans and a gray turtleneck and headed downstairs where he found the others waiting in the dining room.
"You're up late," Clark observed.
In his Mind
"Blame the princess," Bruce said. "She didn't set my alarm clock when she knocked me out."
"Though if she didn't we would have been in the cave," Joy admitted.
"So?" Bruce asked.
"It kinda gloomy and depressing," Joy said. "Not mention it's so dull. I much rather sleep then stay down there for a few hours. Besides we need sleep."
In Real Life
"So what was that big machine at Ra's place?" Wally asked.
"It's a generator that's being fueled by your powers," Bruce informed him. He pulled something out of his pocket and placed it on the table. It then turned on and revealed the generator's schematics.
"How'd you get this?" John asked.
"It's from the camera in my cowl," Bruce explained. "I transferred it to this device on my way home."
"What is it suppose to do?" Clark asked. "Is it some kind of doomsday machine?"
"Actually it looks like some sort of weather machine," John admitted. "But why would he need that much power for a weather machine?"
"Maybe he's trying to throw the world into chaos with hurricanes," Wally suggested.
"Where'd you get that idea?" Shayera asked. Wally pointed to the TV.
"This is Viki Vale reporting from Gotham's Weather Center where reports are coming that massive storms are mysteriously appearing in Gotham. Sir, do you have a comment on this?" There was a scientist right beside her.
"It doesn't make sense!" he told her. "We weren't scheduled for storms today or anytime this week and it's looking to be a level 5 and will most likely get worse as the hours progress."
"We're getting reports that similar storms are appearing around the world," Viky said to the camera. "In London, Washington DC, Beijing, San Francesco, Paris and many more cities around the world."
"Well, that explains what the generator is suppose to do," Shayera said aloud.
"But how are these storms going to accomplish anything?" Diana asked. "They seem pretty mild."
"Yeah, but that's what hurricanes start out as but then they go crazy and do massive damage and can create chaos," Clark began. "With all of the power he has from us he'll be able to signal out several large hurricanes."
"And it'll give Ra's the opportunity he needs to wipe out a lot of population," John finished.
"So how are we supposed to stop it?" Wally asked.
"We send teams to the generators around the world," Bruce began. "All of those storms can't be coming from that one in Amazon."
"I'll call Kara. She could take one of the generators," Clark added.
"But where are they located?" Diana asked. "We need to know that first."
"And how many?" Wally added. "They could have divided the power of our powers up to power more those things."
"Where ever they are there will be a large energy signature surrounding them," Jonn' said. "I'll go down to the Batcave computer and see where they are. That will give us location and tell us how many there are."
"You should call anyone you can to take those generators out," Bruce told them. "Each generator will be guarded and I doubt we have much time before Ra's kicks them into full power."
"What about me?" a boy asked. Bruce saw coming down the stair was Timothy or Tim Drake. "I'm not just staying here and watching."
"You're coming with me," Bruce told him.
Bruce, Tim and Jonn' went down into the cave as the others made calls. Bruce logged onto the computer and gave Jonn' the controls.
"There are the large energy signatures," Jonn' said. They were looking at a world map with several red dots.
"It looks like the largest one is the Amazon," Bruce pointed out. "I'll take Tim and a few others and head there."
"Bruce." Diana was coming down the Batcave stairs. "What are we suppose to do while you and everyone are out."
"You and everyone else will just have to wait until we destroy the canisters. Then you all will have your powers back and you can help with crowd control," Bruce said as he headed for his costume vault.
"And what are we suppose to do in the mean time?" Diana asked. Bruce turned around to see him face to face with her.
In his Head
"Nothing, you're going to do nothing," Bruce said.
"Yeah, because…" Fear began.
"Because they can't fight without their powers," Bruce interjected.
"But they're not just gonna stay there and do nothing," Anger said. "It's not in their nature. Even if we told them no they'd STILL go."
"But they can't fight without their powers," Fear reminded him. "They'd only be in the way."
"Wait, does Green Lantern's ring have charger?" Joy asked.
"Yes it does and your point is?" Degust answered with a bit of snob.
"John can take a few of them to go with him to charge his ring," Bruce realized. "It'll keep them busy and it'll provide us with back-up if need be. It'll kill two birds with one stone."
"Great! See, I come up with good ideas too, Bruce!" Joy exclaimed.
"Don't push it Joy," Bruce said.
In Real Life
"A few of you can go with John to charge his ring," Bruce told her. "He might need some back-up. And Clark might be able to recharge some of his power while he's out in the sun."
"I'll let the others know," Jonn' told him. Jonn' then headed upstairs and exited the cave.
"I wasn't just referring to them," Diana informed him. "I'm going with you."
In his Head
"WHAT?!" Fear exclaimed. "This has bad idea written ALL over it!"
"But she gonna go with or without our permission," Bruce said. "It's just in her nature."
"For once I have to agree with Fear," Anger interjected. "She can't fight without her powers. And she'll only get in the way."
"She might. But she's still a very capable warrior," Joy informed them. "I don't like this either but it's not like we're gonna have a say in this."
In Real Life
"I'm gonna go and get my uniform on," Tim said. He then took his uniform and headed to a more private area to change. A few seconds of silence passed.
"I'm asking for permission," Diana stated.
"Figures," Bruce muttered under his breath. "You sure about this?"
"Positive," Diana said.
"Then grab an old suit and let's go," Bruce responded. He took his suit out of the vault and he put it on in private. He headed toward the Batjet and waited for Diana and Tim.
In his Head
"Maybe she forgot to come," Fear said.
"Unlikely," Bruce told him.
"Again, why are we doing this?" Fear asked.
"Because she going to come with or without my permission and it's better if she goes with me incase of a predicament," Bruce informed him.
"But why don't we just leave her behind?" Degust asked.
"You want to deal with an angry Amazon when we get back?" Bruce asked.
"Um, no," Degust admitted.
"Then we're not doing that," Bruce told him.
In Real Life
Batman saw Diana after a few minutes of waiting. She was wearing one of Barbara's old Batgirl outfits. It still had all the same features as the one she was using but this one was too big for her so it fit Diana perfectly. She was talking with Robin about something and they both were smiling and giggling. Batman cracked a semi-smile.
"Ready?" Batman asked them.
"Defiantly," Diana assured him.
They jumped into the plane and Batman quickly got the plane off the ground. He then hit the comm. button on his dashboard.
"Barbara, do you read me?" Batman asked.
"I read you," Barbara responded. "Bruce what's going on?"
"I'll explain later right now you need to get your uniform on," Batman told her. "Then meet me at the top of the GCPD building."
"Okay I'll see you in a few," Barbara responded. "Batgirl out."
