Chapter 28

"Ignorance Is Bliss"

The Javelin

A smile of contentment was prominently displayed on the sleeping face of Wally West. Ice packs covered him, easing and numbing his overtaxed and abused body. As he slept, he was in his happy place, running. The dream world seemed to stretch out endlessly in every direction. There were no obstacles, human or otherwise to slow him down. He was free to run as fast and as far as his heart's desire. Images and faces appeared, but slipped by like clouds on a summer day. An unqualified joy filled him, as he became a blur on the landscape. Nothing, no one could touch him here. Even if it was only a dream, he'd escaped and was totally free.


Themysciran Embassy

Diana calmly looked up from the sizable pot to Wildcat's hand and then to the man.

"Three Jacks, very good, but I believe three Queens beats it," she said to him.

"Son of a …, that's five hands in a row," he muttered.

"Six." Artemis corrected him. The two women were having a wonderful time and it showed on their faces. Three hours into the game and they were up substantially, much to the chagrin of Vigilante and Wildcat. At first Diana had been a gracious winner, but the combination of Artemis' urging and responses from the two men tempted her. The chance to give back the teasing these two had been giving her for the last week and a half was too enjoyable to resist.

"Perhaps this just isn't your game, Wildcat," Artemis taunted. "Some men just don't have the head for this figurin'. Did I use that word correctly, Vigilante? I was going for that simplistic old west frontier dialect that you sport?"

"Excuse me, darling? Is that a shot at the way I talk," Vigilante asked.

"No, of course not," Artemis replied. The wicked smile on her face said the opposite.

"Let me guess, you run a charm school back on the island," Wildcat sarcastically said.

"Now, now, Wildcat, you don't want to be a poor loser, do you," Diana offered.

"The game's not over, Princess."

"No, that's true, but I have realized you might have been right, I do prefer to be a winner,' Diana replied. As she started to stack the chips in front of her, she gave them both her sweetest smile. Vigilante reflexively reached for his guns, but Artemis quickly brought her hunting knife down on the table in front of him.

"Hands on the table where we can all see them," she said. "That's a rule."

"And that's a really big knife," Vigilante responded.

"Not really, I have bigger ones."

"We're still talking about the knife, right," Vigilante replied.

"You figure it out." Artemis smiled.

"I think that calls for a drink," Wildcat suggested. The two men slowly got up from the poker table and moved over to the bar. Artemis and Diana happily sorted their winnings. They were both having a wonderful time.

Once they were out of earshot, Vigilante poured them both a stiff drink.

"Thanks, I need this," Wildcat said. He downed it in one gulp and poured another.

"Booze ain't going to help with those two, pardner," Vigilante replied. "We're getting our asses handed to us."

"Thanks, I hadn't noticed."

"It ain't the losin' I mind so much, well, that's not true, I hate losin'," Vigilante admitted. "It's the smug way that they're rubbin' it in, don't sit right with me."

"She's getting back at us for needling her about being a poor loser," Wildcat said.

"Doing a damn good job of it too," Vigilante replied. "Must be in them Amazons blood to be so competitive if these two are any indication. I knew they were warriors and all, but I never figured that meant in everything."

"Yeah, that they are and it starts right from the top with the Queen," Wildcat said.

"How the hell would you know that?"

Wildcat turned and looked at Vigilante and then at Diana and Artemis. A smile spread across his face. An idea was forming in his mind that just might turn this night around. It was risky, very risky, but they didn't call it gambling for nothing.

"I think it's time you and I work together, son," Wildcat said. "Our two Amazon friends have been doing it all night, now it's our turn."

"What have you got in mind?"

"Just follow my lead and be ready for anything." Wildcat told him.

"I don't like the sound of that," Vigilante replied. His eyes immediately went to Artemis' huge knife. She glanced up from her winning at them.

"Are you two quitting," Artemis asked. "You still have some more money to lose."

"I like the sound of that even less. Okay, pardner, I'm in," Vigilante whispered.

"When I give you the signal start asking questions about Paradise Island, got it?"

"Got it," Vigilante said. "I just hope you know what you're doing."

"Trust me," Wildcat replied.

"Famous last words."

The two men headed back to the poker table.


The Watchtower

Shayera was sitting in the lounge with Dinah and Mari. Huntress and Question were there as well, but they were sitting at another table just listening to the conversation.

"So you have another date with him," Dinah asked. "How did that happen?"

"I'm not really sure," Shayera admitted.

"How could you not be sure,' Mari chimed in. "You don't just start dating Batman by accident."

"I'm not dating him," Shayera quickly replied. "We're just sort of going out."

"On a second date," Mari added.

"It's not a date!"

"What would you call it," Mari asked.

"Well, its just two friends sort of going out to dinner and well, then a party," Shayera replied. She looked at Dinah and then Mari. "Oh, God, it is a date!"

"A second date." Mari added again.

"So are you going," Dinah asked.

"I kind of have to now, don't I," Shayera replied. "I did have a good time tonight."

"With Batman," Mari asked. The look she gave Shayera made it perfectly clear she found it very hard to believe.

"Bruce can be quite charming when he wants to be," Dinah offered. The other two women looked at her now with interested.

"What?"

"You said that like you had personal knowledge," Mari replied.

"Well, I haven't always gone out with Ollie, Mari," Dinah informed her. "But we're not talking about me, we're talking about Shayera. So how did this all happen, anyway? I mean you were just suppose to be going out to dinner?"

"You and Bruce? Really," Mari asked. "Does Diana know?"

"Could we stay on one subject, please," Dinah replied. "How'd it happen Shayera?"

"Well, we were having dinner when Selina walked in," Shayera began. Dinah interrupted her at this point.

"Selina? Selina Kyle was there? Catwoman?"

"Yes, although I didn't put it together at the time," Shayera admitted. "She seems really nice for an ex-super villain. Anyway, the two of them saw each other. There was some verbal sparring and then the next thing I know we're at a party. I think there must be some history between those two."

"You think,' Dinah exclaimed. "Are you serious?"

"Wow, you're in between Batman and Catwoman, you are so screwed," Mari added.

"What? What don't I know," Shayera asked nervously.

"They've only been dancing around each other for years, Shayera!"

"You know they both said they had some history," Shayera replied," But they didn't want to talk about it."

"So what happened at the party," Dinah asked.

"It was actually a lot of fun," Shayera informed her. "There was dancing and champagne. They had scallops wrapped in bacon, have you tried those? They are absolutely delicious. I think I ate a whole tray of them. We should really see if we could get those on the station."

"Oh, I love those," Mari said. "I'm not usually that into seafood, but those are amazing."

"I wasn't asking about the menu!" Dinah interrupted. "What happened with Bruce and Selina?"

"Well they danced together for a little while and then not much. He danced with me the rest of the night," Shayera replied. "She did say something odd at the restaurant, though."

"What?"

"Something like be careful, Bruce will fool you. You think you're getting close and he won't let that happen. Something like that," Shayera said. Mari and Dinah shared a look.

"That's not good," Dinah said.

"Not at all," Mari agreed.

"Okay, now you two are starting to freak me out, " Shayera said to them.


At the next table, Question leaned over to Huntress and whispered in her ear.

"I thought you said she was interested in Wally?"

"That what I was told," Huntress replied.

'So why is she going out on a second date with Batman?"

"Haven't a clue."

'And they call me crazy," he mused.

"Tell me about it."


The Palace

The Baron sat back with a satisfied smile on his face as he finished laying out his plans for taking absolute power on Illyria. Tsaritsa, the Queen of Fables sat opposite him with her mouth open in shock.

"That's your plan?"

"Yes, sometimes the simplest plans are the most elegant," the Baron said.

"And sometimes they are just stupid," Tsaritsa replied. "Congratulation, Baron, I believe of all the plans I've ever heard, yours ranks as the stupidest. If there was room on the front of your fancy uniform, I'd give you a medal."

"Perhaps you didn't understand the plan fully," the Baron objected. "It's fool proof!"

"More like foolish," she said with a shake of her head. "You actually believe it will be as simple as storming the palace with your few soldiers and just taking over?"

"I have over two hundred of the best trained warriors on the planet completely dedicated to me," the Baron said. "They have the latest weapons and training. I would stack them up against any similar force."

"Two hundred, really? Have you forgotten about Prince Charming and his friends?"

"Who?"

"I meant to say Superman," Tsaritsa corrected herself. "Even if you discount them, two hundred against the whole world? You really think you can pull that off?"

"Once the royals are taken care of, the rest will fall into line," the Baron replied.

"The whole world?"

"Yes, once they realize there is a new order and leadership," he explained.

"And since most of the people on this planet can use magic that won't be an issue?"

"Most are novices, the real adepts work here in the palace,' he said.

"So you make yourself a dictator and tyrant and everyone just goes along with it? That's your plan,' she asked.

"Yes!"

"You're an imbecile."

"I will not be talk to like that by anyone, especially not a woman," the Baron roared. He stood indignantly and glared at her. With a wave of her hand, Tsaritsa lifted him off the ground and throw him across the room. She pinned him to the wall and slowly walked over to him.

"You sad little man," she mused. "You should be thanking me for stopping you. The likely outcome of your dreams of grandeur would be one of your own troopers shooting you. I should have brought Snowball at least he understands agitprop. You are remarkably inept. "

"It will work, I tell you," the Baron struggled to say.

"No, Baron it wouldn't,' she replied. "You'd huff and puff and die trying to blow the palace down."

She squeezed her fingers together and the Baron's face started to turn red as his wind was suddenly cut off. He tried thrashing about, but couldn't break her hold. Tsaritsa flicked her hand open again and it ended as quickly as it started. The Baron slumped down against the wall. The Queen of Fables walked over and leaned down to him, a cold wicked smile on her face.

"You asked for my help and now you will get it, Baron,' she whispered to him. "Now I'm in charge and you will do what I tell you. Is that clear?"

"Yes."

"Good boy." She patted him on the head and went back to her seat. He slowly got up and didn't know whether to fight or flee. He chose neither and sat down across from her.

"So what will you do,' he asked.

"I will show you how a kingdom is taken, Baron,' she replied.

"What of the Earth heroes? They will try and stop you."

"Don't concern yourself with them," she replied. "Just leave them to me. Charming's jester is already too busy being humped to death by the royal women to worry about. As for the woman, well, let's just say that things will progress badly for her."

"And Superman?"

"Every Queen needs a King, Baron."


Gotham

Bruce walked into the kitchen and poured himself a cup of coffee.

"Good morning, Master Bruce."

"Good morning Alfred."

"So how was your night out," Alfred asked. "Did you enjoy yourself for once?"

'Actually, I did," Bruce replied.

"So Miss Hol was an interesting companion?"

"Yes."

"And Miss Kyle?"

"Excuse me,' Bruce said. He turned to look at the older man.

"Miss Kyle was there as well, was she not?'

"What were you following me, Alfred,' Bruce asked.

"No, just reading the morning paper,' he replied. "You made the gossip columns with both ladies. Pictures included, quite a successful night for reminding Gotham what a playboy Bruce Wayne is.'

Bruce went over and looked at the paper. There were two pictures, one of him dancing with Selina and another of him dancing with Shayera. He gave the article a quick scan and then tossed it back on the counter.

"It wasn't like that,' he said with disgust. "We were having dinner and Selina happen to walk in, that's all."

"And the party?"

"That sort of just happened,' Bruce reluctantly admitted.

"And how did Miss Hol take seeing an ex-flame of yours," Alfred asked.

"She seemed to enjoy it, actually," Bruce replied. "A little too much to be truthful."

"And Miss Kyle?"

"Your guess is as good as mine."

"Well, either way, it worked perfectly,' Alfred said. "You managed to get your name back in the papers so I assume Bruce Wayne will now disappear again from the public eye.'

"Well, not quite yet, Alfred, I have another date with Shayera Saturday," Bruce said.

"And Miss Kyle?"

"She'll be there too."

"I must admit, Master Bruce, when I ask you to appear as yourself again, I didn't expect you to dive in so deep," Alfred said. "Well done, sir, this should be most interesting."

Bruce watched Alfred leave the kitchen wondering what he meant by that.


Themysciran Embassy

The game had proceeded and the stakes continued to rise. Vigilant and Wildcat won a few pots, but most went to Diana and Artemis. The verbal jabs between the four grew sharper with each hand. Artemis deal out two cards to each and then the three flop cards. Wildcat silently looked over at Vigilante and gave him the nod. As the betting started, Vigilant spoke up.

"So how long are you staying, Artemis? You must be eager to get back to Paradise Island."

"Themyscira, no one calls it Paradise Island," Artemis replied. "I am here for a while longer. I might extend me stay to give me time to spend all of your money."

"You're such a charmer."

Another round of betting and the stakes were rather large.

"When are you heading back, Princess," Wildcat asked.

"I had no plans to return home in the near future."

"You must miss all the other Amazons though, don't you," Vigilante asked as he raised the pot again.

"Yes," Diana replied. She followed Artemis' raise with one of her own. She looked at Wildcat as she pushed more chips into the pot and smiled. "Perhaps I will make a special trip back home. I will get some gifts for everyone with my winning."

"I would recommend White Linen for Polly," Wildcat said. "I'll raise."

"Excuse me, who is Polly," Diana asked.

"Hippolyta, she's still Queen there isn't she?'

"Too rich for my blood, I'm out," Vigilante said.

"I am as well," Artemis added. The two of them were watching Wildcat and Diana with more than a little interested.

"It's to you, Princess,' Wildcat said with a smile.

"I'll see and raise," she replied. "You do realize the Queen is my mother, don't you, Wildcat? I do not take kindly to her being disrespected."

"What daughter would," Wildcat said. "I'll raise back at you."

"I raise again. I would appreciate if you didn't refer to my mother, the Queen by anything other than her name, Hippolyta."

"Oh, sorry, Polly's just a nickname. I guess she didn't mention it to you," Wildcat said. "I'll raise. Trust my on this, White Linen, she loves it."

"I raise," Diana said. She was staring at Wildcat, her temper starting to rise. "Are you implying you know my mother, Wildcat?"

"I'm not implying it, I'm saying it. Raise," he responded.

"Raise. I would advice you to chose your next words very carefully, Wildcat. How do you know my mother?"

"I'm all in,' Wildcat said with a smile. He pushed his remaining chips into the center of the table. Diana was glaring at him as she matched his bet, pushing all her chips in.

"Three Aces,' she said, turning over her cards. "I asked you a question, Wildcat. How do you know my mother?"

"Let's just say she doesn't hate all men," Wildcat replied as he turned over his cards. "Full house beats three of a kind, Princess. Aces and eights.'

As he reached out to gather in his winnings, Diana pulled Artemis' knife from her and jammed it through Wildcat's cards and deep into the table.

"Dead man's hand!"


The Javelin

Wally slowly stretched and yawned. His body still ached but it wasn't as bad as the night before. As gently as he could, he sat up. He was still half asleep, but he was dying of thirst. Gingerly, he got up and walked out of his room towards the kitchen.

"Morning, Wally," Clark and Zatanna said to him. They were sitting together, sharing breakfast and kisses. Wally waved as he went into the kitchen and got a huge jug of OJ. As he made his way slowly back to his room, he stopped and looked at them.

"So did I miss anything?"