A/N Thank you so much to all those that reviewed, favourite and followed. I'm sorry I haven't been working on this story lately. I've been rewriting the first few chapters, which are not that far off being finished. They do feature Claire's first flight, for those that wanted to read it. Plus, I've been outlining a Superwoman/Flash/Arrow story, that might still be some ways off, but is just to tantalising for me not to do it. I've also started a new Arrow AU story featuring a more comic book Laurel/Black Canary. But this story remains my main focus.

So to say sorry for making you wait so long, I thought I'd post a new chapter sooner. A lot sooner…

Chapter Thirty-Five

Atlantis and Mera.

At Mera's words a look of concern came over Superwoman's face. In the limited time after Darkseid attack, she and the others had gotten to know Aquaman and of Atlantis. To find out something had happened to Arthur and his home, was both concerning and surprising. Aquaman had made Atlantis sound as if it was safe and hidden, not a place that could be under threat.

"What happened?" Superwoman asked, before a shuffling sound caught both her and Mera's attention. Together they turned as one, to see the man from before standing there. He was in the process of backing up but froze under both women's gaze.

"Go away," Mera said flatly, and the man turned and hightailed it. Running past the groaning men on the ground, both of them in the process of waking up. They took one look at their fleeing friend and back at the two woman, before staggering to their feet to run after him.

Superwoman gazed after them, wondering briefly if she should go after them. Maybe give them the talk about respecting woman. But given the state they were in when she got here, she figured maybe they had gotten that lesson. She just hoped it stuck. She'd have to keep an eye on them.

But for now something might have happened to her friend.

"What happened to Arthur?" Superwoman repeated, frowning at the other woman. Concern for her friend making her somewhat impatient.

"Our Queen Atlanna had two sons," Mera explained finally, and Superwoman arched an eyebrow at the apparent start of a story. "Her first son Arthur was hidden for his safety. But later Atlanna was forced to marry and she had a second son, Orm. Orm grew up believing he would be king, but after Queen Atlanna death… Arthur returned…"

"What happened?" Superwoman questioned, drawn to the story already.

"Nothing then but threats. Orm withdraw claiming the throne would be his, he took with him a few loyal guards. And he disappeared." Mera turned her head, looking out at the sea. "But then three nights ago, Atlantis was attacked by surface weapons."

"What?" Superwoman exclaimed.

"Orm arrived to help save the people. But it was told that Arthur died in the attack." Mera continued. She watched Superwoman jaw drop, before she shook her head. "A lie. Orm's imprisoned him, and is now seeking to rally the troops to attack. The surface world."

"The surface world?!" Superwoman exclaimed looking across the harbour at the city. "Why?!"

"I do not know," Mera admitted, "Orm has never shown any regard, for or against the surface. Something must have happened during his self-exile."

"How do we know if Arthur is still alive." It hurt Superwoman to say it, but there was always a chance.

"Orm wouldn't have killed him" Mera stated, completely sure. "He would want Arthur to see his plan succeed before he killed him."

Superwoman took a deep breath, wondering how her friend had managed to live a life that read like it was a Shakespearian story.

"He told me about teaming up with you and the others during the Darksied attack. He trusted you, so I came to you for help. To save him." She gave Superwoman a look of complete belief in Arthur's word.

"But even if we can free Arthur," Mera continued, "Atlantis will set want revenge on the surface world for the attack. But that coincided with Orm's return, is too much of a coincidence."

"You think it was staged?" Superwoman asked frowning. "Whatever it was. We need answers. Luckily I know a group that can help get them."

#SC#

Gathering the group together was easy now that they had Cyborg's com units. The night briefly lit up red, as multiple Boomtubes opened. Bring the team together from their own cities. They gathered by the water's edge, on the grassy field of a dark secluded part.

"We need to have a cooler meeting spot," Green Lantern complained crossing his arms.

"Not the time," Green Arrow replied flicking his bow around, before adding. "But I do agree."

The group gathered around each other, some stopping to talk to the person next to them.

Batman stepped up next to Superwoman.

"I'm sorry if what Robin said at dinner embarrassed you." He said simply, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. She swallowed a sigh. Great, she thought. So he had seen her blush. "I keep up appearances dating attractive woman, Robin thought maybe you…."

He trailed off.

"Oh it's hard to be you," Flash complained playfully appearing besides them suddenly, his arm draping over Batman's shoulders.

"Wait a minute! What dinner?" Flash questioned realising what else was said, his eyes wide. "What are you two going on dates now?"

Batman turned a glare on him that could have stripped paint, as Flash turned away with hands up in surrender.

"Sor-ryyyy…." He huffed with a shudder.

"Enough," Batman growled and all talking stopped. He turned toward the red haired Atlantian. "Explain."

Mera gave him a look at being ordered around, but complied anyway. Retelling the story that she had told Superwoman earlier.

"I have heard nothing of any attacks on an underwater City," Wonder Woman said afterward. "I can ask a ...friend. If he has heard of anything."

"Agreed," Batman replied simply.

"Superwoman, Green Lantern, Cyborg." Batman instructed, "You three are able to operate underwater, go with Mera. Find out the situation in Atlantis."

"Here," Cyborg said handing Superwoman a face shield. "So you can talk underwater."

She hooked it over her ears, adjusting it too sit and seal over her nose and mouth.

A simpler one clicked into place over Cyborg's month and nose.

"Jonn. You, Green Arrow, Black Canary and Flash. Keep an eye out for any Atlantian attacks." He turned to Mera, "Where will they likely surface?"

"Most likely here," Mera said pointing to the city, "It will be the best spot for deploying troops on ground."

"Why is it always Metropolis?" Superwoman sighed sadly.

"Don't worry," Black Canary said reassuringly, "We'll look after the city while you're gone."

"Wonder Woman, you and I will found out what we can about this so called attack." Batman said finally.

"Understood," The Amazon nodded.

"Good," Batman said looking around, "Let's get to work."

#SC#

Mera's drive into the water was a breathtaking display of agility, leaping to flip through the air to land perfectly metre's out into the water.

Superwoman, Green Lantern and Cyborg all followed after her.

Superwoman ability of flying seemed to work slightly different underwater, but still it propelled her along at great speed.

Which was good considering the speed Mera was moving at underwater.

It was the first time she'd ever really gone this deep into the sea. Saving people from boats and the occasional water crashed plane, was as close to the ocean as she usually got.

Green Lantern followed behind her, his ring working just as well underwater as it did anywhere else. The green glow around him lit up the darkening waters around, protecting him just as it would have in space.

Cyborg jetpack had turned into some kind of propulsion device. Speeding him forward through the sea, with a wake of bubbling waters behind him.

#SC#

Martian Manhunter and his team lined themselves along the coastline of Metropolis, acting as guards to the human city.

"What if Mera was wrong," Green Arrow questioned over his com, "What if they attack somewhere else?"

He was standing atop a building overlooking the water. Trying to get the best view of anything in the water.

"On it!" Flash voice called back, "I'll run patrol. Call you if I see anything!"

With that he disappeared in a streak of red. Only the streak back the other way, as he performed his return run.

A red blur appearing along the beach line.

"Now we wait right?" Black Canary questioned, her position further down the city coast line. No doubt standing like he was overlooking the ocean.

Her voice sounded confident enough, but he'd known her for a while now.

In Star City the two of them had taken on drug lords and crime bosses. Meta's and occasional would be supervillain.

Alien invasions. Otherworldly attacks. Was not something they were used to.

But they were in Metropolis: The City of Tomorrow. The home of Superwoman, this kind of thing was probably becoming normal here.

He really hoped not.

"Let's hope the others get to Atlantis soon," Green Arrow said over the com, to his group. "And stop this thing before there is even an attack."

"In the meantime," He muttered to himself, "Why do I feel like 'we're gonna need a bigger boat'."

#SC#

Batman ran for his batwing as Wonder Woman took to flight besides him. Together the two of them flew back to Washington.

The batwing could fly faster then most planes, baring a few military ones. And Wonder Woman had no problem keeping up. But they were no Flash or Superwoman in speed.

He couldn't help but feel they were on a time limit, and they weren't going fast enough.

Together the two of them rocketed across the sky.

#SC#

Steve Trevor was expecting a quiet night. Diana had taken off through some swirling red portal when her super friends had called. She'd given him a quick call of later, when he'd shouted after her.

"Wait! I was going to cook dinner."

At the time he'd given a heaving sigh, and had gone back to work. Now a while later, with still no show of Diana he was starting to get hungry.

"Maybe I should order some Chinese?" He asked himself, only then to hear the door open in a rush.

"Steve?" Diana's voice called, and Steve stood with a smile.

"Hey, just in time." He called walking from his office. "I was just about to order…."

He frozen in the doorway at the sight of Diana standing before him dressed in her armour. But what really caused him a moments pause, was the tall shadowy figure behind her. Dark cape hanging around him, and the pointed ears. It was easy enough for Steve to recognise him.

"Still on the clock?" He asked her after a moment.

"Yes," It was Batman who answered, his voice as dark and deep as the shadows around him.

"We need your help with something," Diana asked her expression hopefully.

"My help?" Steve echoed.

"Yes," Diana replied stepping forward to look in right in the eye. "Did the military attack Atlantis?"

Steve Trevor's eyes widened.

Atlantis?!