3 Justice League Twice Shy
Blackhawk landed the Javelin shuttle and then taxied it into the waiting hangar. Jake and Smiley were in the hangar as was Lady Blackhawk. Batman, the Question and the others disembarked while Blackhawk shut the shuttle's systems down. Lady Blackhawk sat down in the seat next to his.
"Rough trip?" she asked.
He shrugged, "It had its bumps. Let's just say I'm persona non grata in the States for a while."
She offered him an encouraging smile, "You've been that before. They'll get over it."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Blackhawk grimly replied, "Technically we work for the UN not the League. We're considered renegades as long as we help them."
"So you're suggesting we abandon them?" Lady Blackhawk skeptically asked.
"Of course not." Blackhawk rubbed his forehead while he composed his next thought, "The ISA, and subsequently the UN, are wrong. The League is innocent. We have to help them. Whatever the cost to us."
Lady Blackhawk grinned, "Glad to hear it. You had me worried there for a minute."
He wore a wry expression, "I'm happy to disappoint your worst expectations."
"I've got something that will cheer you up." She announced.
Blackhawk waited for 30 seconds and finally asked, "Well?"
"You've got a message from a certain someone that couldn't be here in person to tell you herself." Lady Blackhawk revealed.
"Do you know what the message was?" he excitedly asked.
"Yes." Was all she said.
"Well?" he demanded.
"You poor dear." Lady Blackhawk relished the opportunity to torture her teammate, "You're starting to repeat yourself."
"Curse you Danelle." Blackhawk snapped, "Tell me the blasted message!"
Lady Blackhawk held up her hands, "I don't know. Honest Boss. Mary Marvel told me about it so I could pass the word along. You have to talk to her."
"Riiiggghhht." Blackhawk calmed down, "Sorry for snapping at you."
"You'd better be." She huffed, "And watch that 'Danelle' crap. Nobody is supposed to know who I am. Remember?"
Blackhawk rose out of his seat, bent over, and kissed her on the forehead; "Thanks. I'll keep it in mind."
He scurried out of the shuttle and headed for the command bunker via the underground tunnels. He passed by a dozen heroes milling about. As he came out of the tunnel, he spotted Mary Marvel. He maneuvered through clusters of people and made it to her side.
"`Lo Mary." He said breathlessly, "I heard you have a message for me?"
She smirked, "You must have run all the way here."
"Jogged is more like it." He grinned.
"Sure, sure." Mary placated him, "I'm supposed to tell you that Galatea sends her love."
"That's great!" he said enthusiastically. Then he his enthusiasm waned somewhat, "That's it?"
"She said you'd understand." Mary explained, "She was rather hopeful about it. It was like she expected you to contact her."
"But how can I…" Realization dawned within him. He grabbed Mary and fiercely hugged her, "Thank you so much!"
He scampered off again and Mary stood there dazed and confused, "What'd I do?"
Blackhawk reached Nightwing. Ulla was answering questions from Superman, Wonder Woman, the Question, Batman, Waller, and Sue. Nightwing stood where she could see him and lent her moral support. Nightwing was surprised by Blackhawk's urgent manner.
"What's up?" he asked.
Blackhawk handed him a Codex phone, "I need you to call your voicemail. I should have a message waiting there."
"A message?" Nightwing was rather dense for a second and then it dawned on him, "Oh…yeah! A message!"
He dialed his number, inputted the codes to access his messages and then grinned as he handed the phone back to Blackhawk. He recited a number and grinned, "Call that number. She's waiting to hear from you."
"Thank you." Blackhawk gushed relief. He exited the command bunker by way of the tunnels but this time he veered off and went to the personnel quarters. Entering his apartment, he typed in Galatea's number and saved it. Next he hit 'Send'.
After two rings the phone was answered and a familiar voice said, "Hello?"
"Tea!" Blackhawk exulted, "I got through!"
She giggled, "Yes, you did. Now what am I going to call you? 'Blackhawk' is waaaay too formal."
"Call me Will." He suggested.
"Is that your name?" she idly wondered.
"It's as good a name as any." Blackhawk said as he wandered into the kitchen and got himself a Diet Coke out of the fridge. He preferred Pepsi but this is what Jake could get on sale during the last supply run. Their budget for food and other personal items was virtually nonexistent.
He took a couple of swallows and Galatea laughed, "What're you drinking?"
"Gods woman! Is your hearing really that good?" he yelped.
"No." she chuckled, "But you're gulping. That I can hear."
"I'm swilling a Coke." Blackhawk confessed, "It's the first thing I've had to drink in six hours."
"You sound tired." She mournfully observed.
"Yeah, well, thank your boss for that." Blackhawk said dryly, "Thanks to him I'm a fugitive again. I've been down this road before and so have you. You know it's no fun."
"But you're safe?" she asked.
"Yeah, but…" he paused.
"Don't tell me." She advised, "If I know they might actually devise a way of torturing it out of me."
"They'd regret it." Blackhawk's voice was thick with menace.
"Somehow I think they would." Galatea confessed, "Thank you. It's a sweet gesture."
"So why weren't you involved in the great switcharoo?" Blackhawk asked.
"I refused." Galatea revealed, "Luthor was furious so he found other back to back missions for me as punishment. I think he's starting to realize what little regard I have for him and the Legion."
"Then why stay?" he wondered.
"I'm needed here…by the Justice League and not the Legion of Doom." She tried to explain, "Black Adam and I disagree with Luthor's plans. We're committed to stopping the Crimson Queen from launching her missiles."
"What missiles?" he asked out of confusion.
"Are you sitting down?" she asked. When he applied in the affirmative she described Luthor's plans and how far he'd gotten already. When she finished, he was in shock.
"That's why the League had to be discredited. If the world governments were distracted by hunting you all down, they'd miss the Legion's subtle movements." Galatea said forlornly, "Now it's too late."
"It's never too late." Blackhawk vowed, "I'm telling the League right now."
"They already know." Galatea informed him, "Luthor's making a statement while we're having this conversation. He's making his and the Queen's demands. It isn't going to be pretty."
"C'mon Tea," Blackhawk urged, "help me out. What's Luthor's weakness?"
"The silo and sub based nukes aren't neutralized. The arming and launch codes have just been altered. Jamal Sabwa can unlock those codes and reestablish the nuclear deterrent." Galatea explained, "Got that?"
"Who's Jamal Sabwa?" Blackhawk asked.
"Mary and Supergirl brought him along." Galatea said, "Just tell the others. They'll know what to do."
"Thank you." He said solemnly, "I have to go now but I'll catch up with you later. We can have a proper reunion when this is done."
"I'm holding you to that mister." Galatea promised, "I'll be waiting."
Blackhawk disconnected and stared off into space, "So will I."
Gathering his wits, he dashed out of his quarters and headed for the command bunker. There was about to be a bright spot in an otherwise cloudy day.