Detective John Blake glanced in his rear-view mirror as he turned in to the gateway to Wayne Manor. It had been more than a week since the siege had ended and most of the culprits had been rounded up. Everyone was back at work, helping to clean up the city. Still, he couldn't help the need to be cautious.

He continued up the driveway, stopping the car outside the main door, and got out, looking around. The manor seemed quiet, but if he knew Batman as he thought he did, it wouldn't be that way for very long.

"Detective Blake." The gravelly voice of the butler greeted him from the open door. Clearly Alfred had seen him coming.

"Alfred. How is the invalid?" he asked.

"Perhaps you should see for yourself," Alfred replied wryly.

Frowning, Blake followed the butler down the long hallway and down a small flight of stairs, through an open doorway. There were grunts and groans from inside. Blake realised the source of the groans when he saw Bruce with some kind of pulley and rope contraption. The rope was looped around his waist and pulled taut, then attached to the pulley. He appeared to be trying to walk with only the rope holding him up.

Selina Kyle was watching with a resigned expression. She turned her head to stare at him, then sighed and shrugged.

"I've already tried," she said. "Dr Hamilton tried. Mr Fox has tried, even Alfred. He won't listen."

Blake shook his head, offering a wry grin to the woman.

"Stubborn ass," Selina muttered.

Bruce wiped sweat from his brow and glared at them.

"What are you two standing around for?" he growled.

"Watching an idiot try to injure himself even more," Selina shot back. "You should be resting."

"There is no time to rest. With the Illuminati …"

"You can't help the Justice League if you injure your back again," Blake replied.

"I'll be my own counsel on what I can handle."

Selina huffed and turned away, walking toward Blake.

"I came here to check on Cassie. Wonder Woman thought it best she stay here until her mother could be found in Egypt."

"How's she doing?" Blake asked.

"She's okay. Still a little spooked but I think she's going to be okay. Wonder Woman has been stopping by to check up on her."

"What about you?"

Selina shrugged. "I'm pretty much used to all this crap." She glanced back into the room where Bruce was still trying to work. "He's doing too much. I mean, I know he wants to help find the kid and beat these guys and everything but he's just going to hurt himself."

Blake bit his lip, studying her. She clearly cared about Bruce even though her other identity made her a natural enemy of Batman's. Still, it was fairly obvious that the pair went back some years and had a good deal in common.

It still rankled that she had betrayed Batman to Bane. The Gotham police detective knew why she had, but she had to have known that she would have never got what she wanted. Bane was supposed to have some kind of genius intellect. He knew exactly how to manipulate people to get what he wanted.

It was a damn good thing Bane was now locked up.

"How is Commissioner Gordon?" Alfred enquired, stepping out of the room.

"Recovering," Blake assured him. "Slowly." After the siege, Blake had been tasked with making sure the Commissioner didn't try to do too much. It was easier said than done. The commissioner took much pride in his work and didn't like delegating. He'd been that way since he'd come to live in the city, as a young detective, trying to clean up the streets of Gotham as well as a corrupt police force. At least he was winning one battle. Batman was helping with another.

"Has anyone heard what's been happening in Metropolis?" Selina asked. "News reports said there's been no sign of Superman for days."

"Superman has much more on his mind than the petty troubles of the citizens of Metropolis," Bruce replied, limping unsteadily out of the workout room, blotting his face with a soft towel. "He is out looking for the Kents' child."

Blake frowned at him. "Why would Superman concern himself with …"

"It doesn't matter why, but for your information, Clark Kent and Lois Lane were the reporters who revealed Superman to the world and since then he's had a rather unique relationship with them. Or have you forgotten the stories Lois Lane wrote about Superman when he was known as just the Blur?"

Blake shook his head. It made sense, he thought. Although what this had to do with the Illuminati, he had no idea. He had the strong impression there was something Bruce wasn't telling them.

Bruce continued past them, ignoring Alfred's frown of disapproval. He turned and looked at Blake.

"Don't you have a job to do, detective?" he practically snarled.

"Right now I'm more concerned about you. It's still pretty hairy out there. The local gangs are taking advantage of Batman's absence."

Bruce cocked an eyebrow at his butler.

"See?" he said.

"All I see, Master Bruce, is a man who has been gravely injured. You should not be going out there."

"I'm perfectly capable …"

"Dr Hamilton expressly forbid it," Alfred replied with a tone that suggested a relationship that was less butler and employer and more father and son. Alfred had explained what had happened after Bruce's parents were murdered. Thomas Wayne had stipulated in his will that Alfred should be Bruce's guardian and it seemed that the two were very close despite the fact that Alfred was the family butler. Blake could tell the old man was worried about his ward. Bruce continued to glare at his surrogate father. "And don't give me that look, Master Bruce," Alfred scolded. "Dr Hamilton does not believe you are sufficiently recovered to take on anything physical and frankly I agree with him."

"We could always ask the Justice League to help," Blake replied. "I believe Mr Garrick and some of his students are still in the city."

"An excellent solution, Master Blake," Alfred beamed.

"I can call on some of my friends on the streets," Selina offered quietly. Blake found himself approving of the young cat burglar. She might not be the most honest of people, but when it came to defending her city, she was fully on board.

"I suppose you expect me to just sit around and do nothing?" Bruce growled.

"Well, that would be a start, Master Bruce. However, since you stubbornly refuse to do so, I suggest perhaps that you lend your talents to other pursuits."

"Like what?" Bruce grinned at his guardian, although the grin still had a steel edge to it. "Polish the silver?" He eyed Selina with a knowing look. "That is, anything that Selina hasn't already hocked off."

She glared at him, clearly outraged. Blake suppressed a chuckle. At least Bruce did seem to have a sense of humour.

Alfred chuckled. "Quite, Master Bruce. I am sure, however, that your time would be better spent learning all you can about this man who you believe may have taken the infant?"

Bruce grumbled, but it seemed to be out of stubbornness. Alfred turned away, having heard the doorbell, and went downstairs to answer it. Blake couldn't help but notice the looks between Selina and Bruce and wondered what the history was between them. He'd tried looking up information but the systems were still down and the I.T. department was still trying to recover the files on the servers.

Alfred returned, talking to an older woman who looked a little like the young girl upstairs. She had blonde hair flecked with silver. Clearly she spent a lot of time in the sun as her skin was tanned, although it hadn't taken on the leathery look of someone who refused to use some kind of sun block. It looked as if she had come straight from the airport as Blake could see dark circles under her eyes.

"Master Bruce, this is Doctor Helena Sandsmark. Cassandra's mother."

She looked apologetic as she turned to Bruce, her expression showing surprise and more than a little worry. Blake could see her gaze taking in the slight hunch in Bruce's form, although he tried to straighten his back so as not to appear vulnerable in front of a stranger.

"Mr Wayne, I must apologise for the upheaval …"

Bruce waved his hand. "No problem, Doctor Sandsmark. I'm glad we were able to provide some assistance."

The archaeologist turned to Alfred.

"If you don't mind, Mr Pennyworth, I'd like to take my daughter home."

"Of course, madam. Please call me Alfred."

Blake raised an eyebrow at Selina, but she didn't comment. They all stood, although it was clear Bruce was tiring as he had turned pale. Blake was about to suggest the playboy turned superhero go sit down when the older woman returned with young girl. She still looked pale but otherwise much better than when Blake had first seen her.

Bruce seemed to stand up even straighter, smiling gently at the teenager.

"Cassie," he said softly. "How are you feeling?"

She bit her lip but nodded. "I'm okay," she said.

"If you ever need anything, you're welcome here any time," he told her.

Blake refrained from commenting. While he understood the trauma Cassie had gone through, Bruce's manner surprised him. It wasn't like the normally taciturn man to be so gentle with anyone.

"Thank you Mr Wayne," she said quietly. "Thank you for everything."

Helena hugged her daughter. "Let's get you home, honey."

Blake stepped forward. "Ma'am, I'm a detective with Gotham P.D. I will do everything in my power to ensure the men who attacked Cassie will pay for what they've done."

"I appreciate that. Thank you."

Selina put a hand on Cassie's shoulder. "I'll stop by, okay?"

Cassie smiled gratefully at Selina. Blake had no doubt that the other woman would be taking the girl under her wing. If there was one thing he did know about Selina Kyle, it was that she had little tolerance for men who attacked defenceless girls.

XXXXX

The Senate was out of session by the time Steve and Diana made it through security. He'd insisted she at least wear civilian clothes so security wouldn't question her odd appearance. He didn't mention it, but Diana had the feeling that he understood more than she realised. It spoke a lot of the man he was that he had said nothing to her, apart from perhaps the odd hint.

She spotted the blonde head of Miranda Clifford walking out of the elevator. The woman was walking with a distinguished older gentleman who she recognised as Senator Daniel Abrams. From what she had learned from Martha Kent, Abrams was at least on their side.

Steve doubled his pace, hurrying to catch up with the female senator. Diana had to increase her own pace to keep up, forced to keep her abilities under wraps for now.

"Senator …" Steve called out, but the woman didn't pause. He spoke louder.

"Senator Clifford."

She turned, a smile on her face which Diana saw was completely false. She clearly didn't like her conversation with the other senator being interrupted, although she was trying to be pleasant.

"Yes?"

Steve pulled out his Secret Service badge.

"Major Trevor, ma'am. With the Secret Service. This is my associate, Diana. We were hoping we could speak with you privately."

She glanced at Senator Abrams, who just shrugged and smiled at them. Diana nodded politely, shooting him a look. He nodded in reply, shooting a glance at Senator Clifford, who appeared not to notice the exchange.

"I have little time," she said.

"It's in regards to an investigation," Steve told her. "Into Senator Kent."

Abrams had told them of Miranda Clifford's own efforts to have Martha Kent investigated, particularly in connection with her ties to Superman. When they'd first discussed their strategy, they'd realised the only way to get the senator's attention was to pretend they were investigating Superman. It was not exactly a lie, but Clifford didn't have to know that.

Her demeanour changed immediately. She seemed only too eager to assist them, clearly thinking that at last she was going to get Senator Kent expelled.

Steve led the way out of the Capitol Building and out to his car. The plan was to take the senator to an office building used by the Secret Service on occasion.

The senator was ushered into the backseat. Diana sat beside her, remaining quiet.

"I don't believe I've seen you before," the senator said, gazing curiously at her. "Are you with the Secret Service too?"

"Yes ma'am," Diana replied, deciding it was better to agree for now, although technically since she was Steve's assistant in her civilian guise it was correct.

The office building was five minutes' drive away from the Capitol Building and they arrived within a very short time. Steve again led the way inside, unlocking the door to a small conference room. The senator still didn't seem to notice anything wrong.

Diana glanced at Steve and he nodded. She went out while the senator made herself comfortable and quickly removed the civilian clothing, revealing her costume. She made sure the lariat was securely attached before returning to the room.

Miranda Clifford stared at her.

"What is this?" she asked slowly.

"I did say it was in regards to an investigation into Senator Kent. I didn't say exactly what that would entail," Steve told her coolly.

The senator started to rise but Diana put a hand on her shoulder. The senator's eyes widened as she realised just how much strength Diana had.

"Who … who are you?" she asked, clearly trying to recover her composure.

"They call me Wonder Woman," Diana said.

The other woman scoffed. "You're one of them, aren't you?"

"By them, are you referring to Superman or the Justice League?" Diana returned, keeping her voice even. "I'm well aware of your xenophobic beliefs, Senator. That is why we are here."

"You have no right to bring me here under false pretenses," the woman protested.

"On the contrary, Senator, we do," Steve replied. "By way of the Patriot Act."

She stared at him. "I am a patriot, you cannot …"

"Tell us about the Illuminati," Diana said quietly.

The woman turned her gaze back to Diana. "What?" She had an odd way of pronouncing her 'wh', almost blowing out the sound.

"Don't pretend you know nothing about them, Senator," Steve snapped. "We know you know about them. Just as we have ways of getting the truth out of you. Now, tell us how to contact them."

"This is ridiculous. I will have your job for this! How dare you accuse a United States senator of terrorist acts …"

"Bluster all you like, ma'am," Steve replied, drawing out the 'ma'am' to sound derisive. "We want the truth."

Diana took that as her cue. She removed the lariat from her belt and looped it around the senator, who stared, uncomprehending.

"What …?"

"This compels you to tell the truth," Diana said simply. "Tell us about the Illuminati."

From the expression on her face, they could both see that she was struggling not to tell them anything, but the lariat worked its magic, forcing the woman to speak.

"The Illuminati are a secret organisation determined to take over the world. They believe at the end of days only a select few will be chosen to survive the apocalypse."

"And they're stacking the deck?" Steve asked.

"Only the strong survive."

"And who do they say are the weak?"

The woman went on to say that it the Illuminati had manipulated every event in history which had resulted in millions of deaths, from the wars to the plagues. Diseases like ebola and AIDs had been created in order to eradicate those who didn't conform to Illuminati standards. It was fairly clear that they were completely bigoted, hating anyone who wasn't white, or heterosexual.

Diana could only listen with a growing horror to the woman's vitriol. She clearly believed everything she was saying and revelled in it.

By the time the senator was done, Diana could only look at the man she loved with a sense of unease. Steve shook his head.

"What do they plan to do with the child of Superman?" he asked.

"Use her in their quest to gain power. The Illuminati have waited hundreds of years for this and they can wait a little longer, until the child is old enough to lead them against those who oppose them."

"Meaning Superman and the Justice League."

They had enough to take to the authorities, or at least the head of the Senate. Miranda Clifford would be expelled from the Senate and in all likelihood, face charges of conspiracy against the United States. There was just one more thing they needed.

"Where is the child?"

"I do not know," the woman replied. "I did my part by placing doubt over Martha Kent's loyalty in the minds of others in the Senate." She then explained her reasoning that Martha's possible connection to Superman could bring into question her loyalty to her country, despite the fact that Superman had stated his own loyalty to his adopted nation.

Diana had a feeling they would be facing the same idiocy from the Vice President. At least the President was on their side.

XXXXX

Moana sighed for about the twentieth time, frustrated with Luthor's inability to get them any closer to answers. They still had no idea where Mark Anders was being held, since Isabelle wasn't likely to keep him in any of the local jails.

Luthor returned, having gone downstairs to a meeting with the solicitors. He frowned at her.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing. I guess I shouldn't have expected anything else."

"Well, oh ye of little faith, I do have some news. I know where they're keeping him." He looked smug.

"Don't hold back," she replied.

"Grace Caron knows someone on the inside. He told her Anders is in custody in one of their safehouses."

"Well, then let's go," she said.

Luthor shook his head. "Not so fast. Don't forget, Canadian Intelligence is determined to detain you as well."

Moana huffed. Surely the solicitors would have got in touch with the New Zealand Embassy or something? Luthor didn't seem optimistic when she asked that question.

"The Commonwealth Government could still have you deported," he told her.

She rolled her eyes at him.

"It's been over two weeks, Luthor. Do you really expect me to believe you brought me here for this? To just keep me locked up in a goddamned hotel room?"

"Of course not," he said, "but …"

"Let me guess. Your money isn't as good here as it once was."

He huffed back at her in annoyance. His company was close to collapsing, thanks to Webscoe Industries and with the loss of his wealth, so went the power of his name.

"I'm going," she said stubbornly. "Those bastards can try to stop me."

Luthor shook his head. "You're insane!"

"Look who's talking!" she muttered.

Sure enough, as soon as she stepped into the hotel lobby, she spotted two men trying to look inconspicuous, but it was only too obvious, at least to her, that they had been watching for her. She ignored them, walking at a casual pace as if she was going out shopping, aware of them following behind her. Luthor also followed, clearly wondering what she was doing.

One of the men grabbed her arm as soon as they got outside, trying to propel her toward a car parked on the other side of the street.

"Don't try anything, Ms Rangihau," he said. "We prefer not to make a scene."

She turned and glared at him.

"Get your hand off me!" she growled. "Before I do something you'll have cause to regret."

"We just want to talk," the other man replied.

"Right, and I'm the Queen of England!" she spat. "I said, get your damned hand off me!" She shook the man off and shoved him backwards hard enough to send him flying. A third man was getting out of the car.

Luthor grabbed her hand. "Run!" he hissed.

She ran with him along the street, the three men in pursuit. A vehicle pulled up alongside the kerb and the back door was flung open.

"Get in!" a woman yelled.

Moana didn't hesitate, diving into the car along with Luthor. With a squeal of rubber, the car pulled away and the woman drove at almost breakneck speed, barely avoiding two cars coming through an intersection.

Moana looked at Luthor. "Must have graduated from the same racing school you did," she commented, bursting into laughter. He shot her an odd look.

The woman continued to drive, turning around corners until it seemed fairly clear she was trying to confuse their pursuers. It wouldn't stop them for long, she realised, knowing that as soon as they reached the safe house the guards would alert their superiors. Still, she hoped it would give them enough time to talk to Anders.

"I think we lost them for now," the woman said. Moana frowned at her. She had reddish, brown curly hair and a British accent that sounded a little upper class, although not quite aristocratic. Like she had been brought up in a wealthy household and attended the likes of Eton or some other school usually frequented by the rich and famous of Britain. The woman turned and smiled at Luthor. "Never thought I'd be seeing you like this, Lex," she said.

Luthor smiled back at her.

"Well, Victoria, you know what they say about business making strange bedfellows."

"I thought that was politics," she replied. "Then again, when it comes to you and I, it's pretty much the same thing."

"How is Sir Harry?" he asked.

Moana stared at them both. "You two know each other?"

"We go way back," Victoria replied. "Victoria Hardwick."

Moana frowned. She had heard of Sir Harry Hardwick. He'd been forced to declare himself bankrupt some years earlier, but surely that had nothing to do with … She narrowed her eyes at Luthor.

"Let me guess. You're the one behind what happened to Hardwick Enterprises. You sure do get around, Luthor."

"Ooh, she's clearly no fan of yours," Victoria remarked.

"Don't get me started!" Moana said dryly.

The other woman explained that she now worked for Grace and Raymond Caron, mostly as an assistant, but because she had a background in business, thanks to working for her father, she sometimes helped them in another capacity.

"I never thought I'd be helping you evade Canadian Intelligence," she said with a smirk.

A few minutes later she pulled up at what appeared to be an ordinary looking apartment building in the city centre. She held up two handguns. Moana refused hers.

"Don't be stupid," Victoria warned. "These people are well-trained and they're dangerous."

"So am I," Moana returned. Victoria sighed and shook her head. Luthor took the handguns from her and put one in his pocket.

"Thanks," he said.

She smiled. "Listen, if you survive this, do you want to … old times' sake?"

"Maybe," Luthor smiled, causing Moana to roll her eyes.

"All right. Let's just get this over with," she told him, practically shoving him out the door.

The apartment where they were keeping Anders was on the seventh floor. Moana couldn't sense anything, but she didn't want to take any chances. She followed Luthor up the stairs, frowning at the lack of guards in the stairwell. Either the agents were cocky or there was something else going on.

"You know this has to be a trap of some kind," she hissed at the bald man.

"Yet you came along anyway," he reminded her.

He stopped on the final stair and took out a mirror, holding it up so he could look around the corner at the apartment. There were not that many apartments on each floor and the layout was basically the same through the whole building.

"Watch a lot of James Bond, did we?" she asked, amused.

Luthor rolled his eyes. "No!" he said shortly. "It just occurred to me that this would be the safest thing to do."

"One of these days, Luthor, you'll learn to develop a sense of humour!"

"Touche," he replied. "There are two men on the door."

Moana thought for a moment.

"Okay, you wait here."

"What are you going to do?" he asked, but she was already moving. She ran toward the two guards, then past them through another doorway. She waited a few seconds, then turned her head to look back. One of the guards had followed, clearly curious.

He was at least a foot taller than her, but she still managed to reach up and cut off his air by putting a hand over his mouth and nose, long enough to make him pass out. The second guard, wondering what was up, followed suit. She dealt with him the same way.

Luthor frowned at her as she jogged back to his side.

"Piece of cake."

"How long will they be out?"

"A few minutes, I guess." She was no medical doctor, but she imagined they would come to within a minute or two, but it would take a moment for their heads to clear. It would give them time enough to break in.

Luthor knocked on the door and tried to disguise his voice.

"Hey, looks like we have a situation out here."

Moana bit her lip. Crap. As far as she knew, they didn't pronounce 'out' the same way as Americans.

The door opened as another guard came to investigate. Luthor answered her by punching the man in the face, then pointing his gun.

"Where's Anders?" he growled.

"You broke my nose!" the man whimpered.

"He'll break more than that if you don't answer!" Moana snarled.

The man nodded his head in the direction of another room. She strode off in that direction and flung open the door. Anders stared at her from the bed. His wrist was cuffed to the bedpost and his face looked bruised. She glanced at Luthor, then went to the bed, grabbing the cuff and pulling it free with all of her strength.

"Wait … you're not just thinking of breaking him out of here, are you?" Luthor asked.

"What did you expect I'd do?" she returned. "Wait for those idiots to show up so they can throw us all in jail?"

"I repeat what I said. You're crazy!"

"If we can get him out of the country, we're home and hosed."

"I don't even know what that means," Luthor told her. "All right, fine! Damn woman!"

Anders looked at Luthor as if he agreed with him. There was a noise out in the hall. She guessed the other two guards had woken up. Moana nodded her head at Luthor. "Help him! I'll take care of the men out in the hall."

Lex shook his head as she ran out. This was just getting better and better, he thought. He helped the older man get to his feet, hearing bangs and crashes in the hallway. With Anders' arm around his shoulders and one arm around the other man's waist, he stumbled out. The third guard was too preoccupied with his bleeding nose to pay them any attention.

The other two guards were unconscious on the floor, with obvious bruises. Moana turned and looked at them.

"Let's go," she said. "Your little girlfriend better be waiting for us downstairs."

"She's not my girlfriend!" Lex shot back, then gazed at her. "Jealous?"

"Of her?" she snorted. "For one thing, Luthor, I wouldn't touch you with a ten-foot pole. Not even if I was desperate. Second, I'm far too smart for you. Judging from her, you like them pretty but dumb. Which counts me out completely."

"Don't kid yourself. You're an attractive woman," Lex told her. That wasn't a lie.

"I wasn't exactly fishing for compliments, Luthor!" she snapped.

Between them, they managed to get Anders downstairs. Victoria had clearly been circling the block as she drove up as they came out.

"Oh bloody hell!" Victoria exclaimed.

"Not a word," he told his ex-girlfriend. "Just get us somewhere we can hide him."

She smirked. "I know just the place."

After what seemed like hours of driving in circles, presumably to put the intelligence agents, and wasn't that a bit of an oxymoron, off the scent, she pulled up at a house which looked to be at least a couple of hundred years old.

Anders was barely conscious, which made Lex think he had been tortured somehow. They pulled him out of the car and into the house.

"Won't people see?" Lex asked, glancing uneasily at the other houses in the street. He was sure he saw a curtain flickering.

"No," Victoria assured him. "People keep to themselves here. You'll be safe enough."

Moana was silent as the other woman showed them into what appeared to be a living room.

"I'll get something for those cuts," Victoria said, indicating the cuts on the man's wrists and face.

As she went out, Lex considered how much the woman had changed from the girl he'd known.

"Moana …" Anders said weakly.

She leaned over and smiled at him. Lex hadn't thought she could smile.

"I'm here," she said. "Don't try to talk."

"You have to get out of here."

"We can't leave you like this."

"No … listen. The Illuminati … they have the child. Superman …"

"We know."

"You must … stop them. The baron … he has a home in France."

"Where?" Lex asked.

"Dordogne. You must go … to Dordogne."

Lex looked at Moana and she nodded.

"Rest," she told the ex-journalist. "Just rest for a bit. Then we can talk about how to stop these people."

Anders nodded and closed his eyes, leaning back against the couch. He was asleep within seconds.

Lex glanced once more at Moana.

"I'm going to Dordogne."

"I'm going with you."

Yeah, how did he know she would say that?