Clark passed through the mystical barrier that cloaks Themyscira. A sonic boom filled the sky as he flew to the Healing Isle with great haste. His thoughts were of his daughter, Cassandra.
Clark lands just a few feet from the building's entrance. As his feet touch the ground, one of Epione's assistants named Lyanna rushes out to him, "Kal-El, please follow me."
Clark follows Lyanna into the building. They both go up a flight of stairs towards the second floor. As they turn left along a marble tiled corridor, Lyanna points to a door in the middle of the corridor. "That is the room, Kal-El."
"Thank you," replied Kal-El. Lynna smiles as she bows and leaves him.
Clark whistles nervously as he knocks on the door. "Come in," said Diana.
Tentatively, Clark steps into the room. "Daddy!" Cassandra calls out to Clark as she teleports into his arms.
Clark gives Cassandra a kiss on her forehead as he embraces her. "Princess! I missed you. How are you feeling?"
"I feel better now that you're here with Mommy," replied Cassandra as she sank into Clark's embrace.
Diana comes over to Clark and Cassandra. Clark places an arm around her waist as the three of them shared the embrace.
"Are you crying, Daddy?"
"No. Daddy just has some sand in his eye," replied Clark.
"Sand never hurts your eyes Daddy. You're being silly again. Is Daddy being silly again, Mommy?"
"Yes, Cassie. Your Daddy is being silly again," replied Diana as she and Clark exchange loving looks.
Later in the day, Epione finally allowed Cassandra to leave the Healing Isle. As Clark, Diana and Cassandra together with her tutor, Rhea were about to leave the Healing Isle, Epione calls out to Diana and Clark, "Princess! Kal-El! May I have a word?"
"Daddy and I will be just a while, Cassie. Please stay with Rhea," said Diana as she nods to Rhea.
"Yes, Mommy," replied Cassandra as she held on to Rhea's hand.
"What is it, Epione?" Diana asked as she and Clark approach her.
"During my examinations of Cassandra, I have found out that while she has the same powers as yourself and Kal-El, she will have others. Those powers will exhibit themselves when Cassandra gets a bit older."
"Does she share any of my vulnerabilities?" asked Clark.
"By vulnerabilities, do you mean susceptibility to Kryptonite and magic?" Epione asked Clark.
Clark nods.
"Cassandra being a mixture of your alien physiology and the princess's divine nature, has your strengths but none of your weaknesses. Of that I am certain. The trauma of the explosion triggered those abilities."
"That's so good to hear. What should we do, Epione?" asked Diana.
"As responsible parents, you could start training Cassandra in the use of her powers."
"This is still too much to take in. Just a few days ago, Cassie was wounded and unconscious and now we find out that her powers may even exceed both of ours. I think training Cassie in the use of her powers is the way to go. Thank you, Epione," said Clark as he gently squeezed Diana's hand.
In the weeks following their declaration of a coup, the Oddfellows did not waste time in consolidating their power over the country, in his first presidential address from the White House, President Samuel Lane had declared that the nation was now under a state of martial law. Citing a conspiracy between President Noguerra's administration and rogue metahumans namely Superman and Wonder Woman as well as their supporters the Justice League and several members of senate and congress, Lane had ordered for their arrest and subsequent incarceration.
Likewise, businessmen such as Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen were branded as traitors and were ordered arrested and their assets seized by the government.
To show the new administration's steadfastness in its objectives, he had ordered the execution of General Mark "Bart" Philips for the crime of treason.
President Arthur Noguerra shakes his head as he watches the presidential address on one of the wall mounted monitors within the Batcave. "We've got to do something, Bruce. We can't just let everything we've worked for slip way. We can't let these people get away with this!"
"We won't Mr. President. I promise you that."
"Is there anything we can do about Bart? His execution's scheduled for the day after tomorrow."
Bruce uncharacteristically grins at Noguerra and says, "I already have something already planned, Mr. President."
It was a rainy Thursday evening in Terribone Parish, Louisiana as a beat-up Ford station wagon drives up to the main gate of Belle Reve State Penitentiary. The guard on duty flashes a light into the car and asks for identification. The driver hands over his license.
The guard steps into his booth and types in the name on his computer. After several minutes he comes out and says, "Father James Olsen here's your security pass. As soon as you park your vehicle a guard will escort you to Death Row."
General Mark "Bart" Philips reads a book on martyrs as he sits inside his cell when he hears the grating sound of locks disengaging. "Against the wall, inmate!" says the guard outside the cell. As Philips takes two steps back towards the wall with his hands behind his back, the guard slides the cell door open and motions for Father James Olsen to enter the cell. "You have forty-five minutes with the inmate, Father Olsen," said the guard as he walked away towards the guard's station.
"There must be a misunderstanding, Father Olsen. I'm not Catholic," said Philips.
"Not a problem, General. Neither am I," replied Jimmy Olsen as he looks through the bars of the cell towards the guards' station. He takes off his priest's cassock to reveal the Red Robin costume underneath.
"I suggest you put this on General," Jimmy added as he gave Philips a small gasmask which he concealed in the bible he carried.
"Oracle, I'm in. Waiting for Nightwing to deploy the gas," says Jimmy as taps on the communicator attached to his ear.
Back in the Batcave, Jason Todd, the Oracle sits on his wheelchair as he scrolls his monitor which flashed Belle Reve's masterplans. "As soon as Nightwing deploys the gas, I'm cutting power to the prison. Nightwing, Red Robin's ready. Deploy the gas in three, two, one."
At the end of the countdown, sleeping gas is released within the prison's air vents. The gas spreads rapidly, knocking out guards as well as prisoners. Darkness spreads as the power to the prison has been cut.
Jimmy takes one bead from the rosary in his hand, cracks it between his thumb and forefinger and places it in the lock. A popping sound could be heard as the cell door slides open.
Jimmy signals for Philips to follow him. Through the haze Jimmy sees two guards approaching. He signals for Philips to stop and crouch. Jimmy steps between the two guards and proceeds to give the first guard a two-finger strike in a pressure point just above the solar plexus that causes the guard to fall unconscious.
Dick Grayson comes up from behind the other guard and sweeps his legs making the guard fall flat on his face, he mounts the guard from behind and presses a pressure point just behind the guard's ear rendering him unconscious.
After taking care of the guards, Jimmy, Dick and Philips sprint for the lobby. In the dark, they quickly exit the building and make their way to the parking lot towards the beat-up Ford station wagon.
Philips takes off his gasmask and says, "Wait a sec! We're breaking out of Belle Reve in that?"
Dick smiles at Philips as Jimmy presses a button on the dash which shuts off the hologram projector to reveal the Batmobile.
Philips was dumbstruck. "Wow! How-How did you do that?"
"No time for that now. Get in, sir!" said Dick as he shoves Philips into the backseat as the backup generators of Belle Reve kick in.
Jimmy steps on the accelerator and drives towards the main gate just in time as several guards rush out of the main building. "Close the fucking gate! They have Philips!"
The guards shoot at the Batmobile as the guard in the booth pulls on a lever to close the gates of the prison.
"Go, Jimmy! Floor it!"
The Batmobile breaks through the gate with a loud crash and disappears into the night.
"Damnit! Lane's gonna bust a nut about this!" said the head of the guards named Fernandez as he takes out his phone and dials Trevor's number.
Trevor picks up on the other end, "Hello? Do you know what time it is, Fernandez?"
"Yes, sir. We've got trouble. Philips is gone. Nightwing and Red Robin broke him out."
"Fuck! I'll go tell Lane. No one gets in or out of Belle Reve. As of now Belle Reve is on lockdown!"
"You got it, sir."
Sam Lane wakes up to the sound of his phone. As he grabs his phone from the nightstand, Lane sees Trevor's number on the screen. Lane picks up the call and says, "Don't you know what time it is? This better be important, Trevor!"
"There was an incident at Belle Reve. Nightwing and Red Robin broke Philips out," replied Trevor.
"What the fuck? They had one job to do and they fuck it up! Who else knows about this?"
"The guards and prison staff who were on the third shift, sir."
"Make sure no else does. I don't want anyone finding out about this. You know what to do, Trevor."
"Yes sir. Consider it done. I already sent in a clean up crew to Bellereve. Its being 'sanitized' as we speak," replied Trevor as he ends the call.
Diana wakes up to find Clark hunched over the balcony. "He is probably lost in his thoughts again," she thought to herself.
Diana quietly got out of their bed, put on her gown and walked over to him. "What's on your mind, Kal?" she said as she wrapped her arms around his waist and placed her cheek on his back.
Clark takes one of Diana's hands and kisses it as he turned around to face her. "I got a call from Bruce while you were asleep. Sam Lane and his Oddfellows have taken over the government. They have been rounding up members of the previous administration and placing them in prison. We may have to fight again. That is, if you're up to it, Di."
Diana takes a glance at Cassandra sleeping peacefully in their bed. "Of course I am, Kal. The world will not be safe with men like Lane and his cohorts trying to impose their twisted beliefs. It is our sacred duty not to let men like those triumph."
Clark nods as he hails the Batcave on his League communicator.
"Batman here," Bruce says as he answers.
"Who else is there, Bruce?" asked Diana.
"President Noguerra, Wally, Oliver and Dinah. Zee is on her way. Why?"
Clark and Diana exchange smiles as they held hands. "Can you put us on speaker mode, Bruce?" said Clark.
"Give me a moment," replied Bruce as he pressed a button on his console.
"You're on the speakers now. What is it, Clark?" said Bruce on the other end.
"We're in. Superman and Wonder Woman are back," Diana chimed in.
"Dinah here. Really, Diana?"
"Yes, Dinah. We're back!" replied Diana.
Still euphoric after being welcomed back into the Justice League, Clark and Diana quietly go back to their bed taking care not to disturb the slumbering Cassandra.
Turning to face Clark as they lay on the bed with Cassandra between them, Diana mused, "Kal, I'm so happy we're back in the League! But there is still the matter of you telling Cassandra that we will be a away for some time. I trust that you will be able to explain it to her satisfactorily."
"Me? Why do I have to be the one to do the explaining?" Clark whispered.
"You're her father. You'll figure it out. You always do. I love you, Kal. Good night!" said Diana as she flashed Clark a mischievous smile before closing her eyes to sleep.
A week later, under the cover of darkness Clark and Diana disembark from an Atlantean warship unto an island two miles southeast of Nova Scotia. From there they will travel incognito to Gotham City to meet up with the Justice League.
Since the U.S. was under lockdown, Clark and Diana had to forego their usual means of travel such as flying or using the portal in the Embassy to avoid drawing the Oddfellow's attention. They had arranged for Bruce to provide them with identities and transportation to cross the border from Canada.
Clark and Diana made their way to a log cabin Bruce had provided for them. Parked beside it was a silver Chevrolet Suburban. Diana proceeded to punch a series of numbers given to them by Bruce on a keypad beside the front door. Entering the cabin, Clark and Diana found two bags, each containing clothes. On the table was a manila envelope which contained passports, identification cards, keys to the Suburban and ten thousand dollars in one hundred and twenty dollar bills.
Clark went to the fridge and he was surprised that it was well-stocked. "Bruce, you're such as a show-off," he says with a chuckle.
He proceeded to take out some ingredients he would cook for their dinner. "How about stuffed porkchops for dinner?"
"My favorite! Can I have some water, Kal?"
Clark takes out two bottles of water and gives one to Diana as she sits down at the dining table as he started to prepare their dinner.
"Looks like we'll be travelling to the U.S. as Mr. and Mrs. Charles Fournier, Canadian citizens," said Diana as she went over the passports Bruce had made for them.
Diana giggles as she puts the passports back into the manila envelope. She stands up to go over to Clark as he prepares his ingredients for their dinner. Diana puts her arms around Clark's waist as she presses herself against his back. "It was really sweet of you to taking the time out to explain to Cassie what we do."
"I wasn't surprised that she quickly understood. Cassie is a smart kid. She gets it from you, Diana."
"If she expresses a desire to be a hero like us, would you allow her, Kal?"
"Cassie is free to decide for herself. I will support her 100%," as he turned to face Diana.
"As will I. I love you, Mr. Fournier."
"I love you too, Mrs. Fournier."
"Kal, since were posing as 'French Canadians', care to practice some French?" asked Diana as she smirked.
Clark's throat seemed to run dry as he looked at Diana as she bit on her lower lip. "I-I think we should. Dinner can be postponed for an hour or two," Clark replied as he wipes his hands and carries Diana bridal style into the bedroom.
Clark and Diana set out from Nova Scotia to Gotham City early in the morning the next day. Even if they required little to no sleep, Clark and Diana had to pace their 18-hour drive so as not to raise any suspicions.
After two stop-overs, Clark and Diana finally reached Gotham City. Clark drove the Suburban through the city's abandoned industrial zone. Stopping at a dilapidated warehouse.
Clark and Diana alight from the Suburban and cautiously approach the warehouse. Clark carried their bags while Diana walked with her sword in hand. They enter the warehouse and head straight for a door situated at the back of the building. Diana places her palm on a camouflaged screen beside the door. The door swings open as they quickly step into an elevator which takes them 6-stories below the surface.
"You two really took your sweet time getting here," said Bruce in his usual Batman voice.
"Sorry about that Bruce. Diana and I had to practice our French," replied Clark as he grinned sheepishly.
"Don't mind Bruce, Clark. He's just being his usual doomy-gloomy self again. Good to see you again Diana!" chimed in a very pregnant Selina Kyle.
"Selina! Happy to see you too! Bruce never told us you were pregnant!" said Diana as she and Selina embraced.
"Looks like the Batman's been busy too!" said Clark with a chuckle.
Bruce says in exasperation, "Come on already! President Noguerra and the others are in the conference room waiting."
Three days later, as Colonel Steven Trevor sits behind his desk at Oddfellows Headquarters in the Arizona desert. He had just downed his second double shot of scotch as he studies satellite images taken four nights ago over Nova Scotia.
"Why does an Atlantean warship surface on an island just off Nova Scotia?" he asks aloud.
Trevor magnifies a portion of the image and sees two figures in the act of disembarking from the warship. He clicks on his mouse to go to the next image. He gasps when he recognizes the two figures, "Superman and Wonder Woman!"
Trevor picks up his phone and dials a number. As he waits for his call to be answered, an explosion rocks Oddfellow Headquarters.
Trevor sprints for a hidden cabinet in his office and quickly dons his metallo armor.
Trevor heads for the security room.
"Carter, what the fuck was that?" said Trevor as he entered the room.
"We're under attack sir. Its Wonder Woman!" Carter replies as he points to the main monitor.
The monitor shows Diana using her sword to slice through the main gate. The guards at the gate fire at Diana who deflects their bullets with her bracers when a blur of red throws the guards to the ground. Red Hood and Nightwing follow closely behind.
Diana looks up into a camera, points with her sword and mouths the words: I'm coming for you!
A cold sweat runs down Trevor's spine as the security room's monitors go blank.
"Everyone! Get into your armors now!" Trevor says over the P.A. system.
