Chapter 10

Professional Help...

Upon their return to the cave, the Team immediately began making their way to Polybius's room. Everyone except for Kid Flash, who had to go to the medial bay first to get his broken arm tended to first. They were all eager and excited to see Polybius again.

As they approached the young man's room, they could hear a lot of laughter coming from it. They recognized Polybius's, but not the other person's.

"Who else was left with Polybius?" Artemis asked.

"Wonder Girl." Robin answered.

"Oh yeah." Artemis said, "I wonder if she's as pretty as everyone claims she is?"

As they got closer to the door, they heard Polybius speaking.

"He looks like a petrified pig wearing a business suit!" Polybius laughed.

"That's so horrible…" Wonder Girl laughed.

"Then, why are you laughing!?" Polybius laughed.

Wonder Girl didn't answer as the two kept laughing. However, when the Team knocked on the door, they both settled down and caught their breaths.

"It's either Mom or the Team." Polybius said, "Yeah, uh, come in!"

The door opened to reveal Polybius laying in bed and Wonder Girl sitting at the foot facing them.

"It's the Team!" Polybius said, "Welcome, to a broken Polybius!"

Polybius then displayed his wrapped up leg for them to see, clearly still in a playful mood.

"Well he certainly sounds better." Artemis was the first to speak up as the Team walked in.

"I've been through worse." Polybius asserted.

"But are you okay?" Superboy asked.

"Yeah!" Polybius said, "I won't be walking until Christmas, but whatever."

"It sounds like you got lucky." Aqualad commented.

"Meh." Polybius replied before changing the subject, "So! Have you met my best friend, Donna?"

The group's attention shifted towards Wonder Girl, who was slightly taken off guard by Polybius's sudden shift. However, she was quick to get her composure together and introduce herself.

"Hello." Donna greeted, "I'm Wonder Girl, but you may call me Donna."

"Hi!" Miss Martian greeted for the Team, "I'm M'gann, but you can call me Megan. This is Robin, Superboy, Artemis, and Aqualad."

"Please, call me Kaldur." Aqualad insisted.

"Well then, it's a pleasure to meet you all!" Donna replied.

"Hold up!" Polybius said, "Where's Kid Flirt?"

"He got his arm broken during the fight." Artemis explained.

"Oh." Polybius replied, "Bet ya, he's gonna milk that for all he can get out of it."

"You know it!" Artemis agreed.

"Go, figures." Polybius muttered.

As the Team carried on their conversation with Polybius and Donna, meanwhile, Claudia was struggling to stay awake in her chair. She didn't get much sleep the previous night due to her thinking she may have had a new lead on the entity. However, by the time the sun was coming up, she figured out it was bogus and only got two hours of sleep in.

Claudia knew she was here to witness a new weapon demonstration that was supposed to 'change the game.' She had glossed over the report as she knew this test, like all that had come before it, was a waste of her time. These weapons never changed the game and always had some major inherent flaw that could be exploited easily. Because of this, she had lost all faith in the security department to keep her safe.

"Claudia!" A woman shouted as she snapped her fingers in front of her.

"I'm up!" Claudia shouted.

"Geez." The woman said, "You are just as out of it now as you were back then."

"Irene!" Claudia stood up and greeted.

"Good to see you!" Irene returned.

"My gosh, what are you doing here!?" Claudia asked, "I thought you got transferred to site 9 Alpha?"

"Well, those orders fell through." Irene replied, "That, and I decided to take my career in a different direction."

"Did you?" Claudia asked.

"I did." Irene replied, "You see, I've always hated our security. So I decided to begin dabbling in weapons design."

"That's exciting!" Claudia replied, "And is it your weapon that will be in the presentation today?"

"No." Irene said, "Mine is… still in the prototype phase."

"What's wrong with it?" Claudia asked.

"Well… It's supposed to be an AI weapon." Irene explained, "However, the brain I and my counterpart, Chief Z, built is just not smart enough for what we need."

"Not smart enough?" Claudia asked.

"It's predictable." Irene answered, "And that's the inherent problem I have with AI and machines. No matter how smart you make it, all machines run on an algorithm. An always predictable one too. And the sad part is, if you study the machine enough, you will learn and memorize its algorithm, and then it will be defeated, which destroys so many advantages that it would have over an organic host."

"Then, why not get an organic host?" Claudia asked.

"That would require a serious redesign." Irene replied, "Plus, then we have to throw loyalty into the question, and can we even control it?"

"Yeah, that is a problem." Claudia agreed, "We can't have another incident like the last one."

"Still can't believe that happened." Irene said.

"I can." Claudia admitted, "If the security department had done their freaking job, it wouldn't have happened!"

"No, it wouldn't have." Irene agreed, "But, I hear that the head of that department is getting ready to retire in a few weeks."

"Is he?" Claudia asked.

"That's what the word is on the street is." Irene said, "And if he does, then Chief Z is certainly in the running to take it over."

"Are you certain Chief Z would even take that?" Claudia asked.

"I don't think so." Irene answered, "In all honesty, I wouldn't either. This project we're working on is actually going to change the game."

"Is that your guys's motto?" Claudia asked, "Because every time someone outside your department hears that, we hear that, we know it's bogus."

"This one actually is." Irene said, "We got our hands on a metal that's like nothing we've ever seen before. I'm not going to go into the detail because that could get both of us executed, but, I promise you, this one is actually going to be a game-changer."

"I'll believe it when I see it." Claudia replied.

"Oh you will." Irene confirmed, "Now what about you? What have you been up to?"

"Well, I recently took over as head of Entity 82." Claudia answered.

"82!?" Irene asked, "But that one hasn't been seen in years! It's still being tracked?"

"It is. I stayed up late last night on a-" Claudia yawned, "-a possible lead that was total BS."

"Of course, it was." Irene said, "If it's 82 you're after, then good luck."

"Thank you." Claudia answered, "Who knows, maybe your robot could handle it."

"If we can get the brain right, it might." Irene replied.

A few hours later, at Mount Justice, Kid Flash had finally been released and was on the hunt. He had seen Wonder Girl on TV and was very eager to see if she looked just as good in real life.

However, his hunt would take him longer than expected as both Artemis and Polybius knew this was going to happen. They both knew that he was coming straight for Polybius's room, so Artemis decided to take Donna to her room while Polybius awaited Kid Flash to set things straight.

As Polybius waited, Donna and Artemis made sure to close the door behind them. However, the first person to knock on his door wasn't Kid Flash like he had expected. Instead, it was his adoptive mother.

"Polybius!" Dinah greeted as she walked in and closed the door behind her.

"Mom!" Polybius returned.

The two shared a warm yet quick embrace before they resumed their conversation.

"Where's Donna?" Dinah asked.

"I sent her with Artemis so I could talk to Wally first." Polybius said, "Don't want bad things to happen."

"I don't blame you." Dinah agreed.

"Say, but I do want your advice on something." Polybius said, "About her."

"Relationship advice?" Dinah teased.

"No, no, no, no." Polybius said, "This is actually serious."

"Oh." Dinah said, correcting her tone, "What is it?"

"Well…" Polybius started, "She, like her older sister and every other Amazon I imagine, is… Oh… too proud to admit when she needs help."

"From what I've seen with those two, that seems like a fair statement." Dinah agreed, "Why? What's wrong with her?"

"Well." Polybius started, "She's been having recurring nightmares, the first time in a little over a year."

"How bad?" Dinah asked.

"From what she's shared with me, it sounds like they went from one a night to now it being all she has when she sleeps."

"Okay." Dinah replied.

"And I'm obviously no professional." Polybius stated, "However, you are. And I also know that you have access to many more resources than I do. And… while she's gonna hate me for not running it by her first, she needs professional help, and while I love her to death… In my current state, I don't think I can provide for her what I could the last time this happened. Nor do I think I can provide her with what she needs."

"No, I completely understand!" Dinah said, "And you are doing the right thing, Polybius. I can offer her a lot of resources you can't."

"Still." Polybius said, "I don't want to hurt what I have with her. I'm afraid that if you go to her without me there, then it's gonna be a disaster, which is why I'm hesitant to bring you into this."

"Polybius, I'm a professional." Dinah reaffirmed, "Do you think it would be better if you sat in on it?"

"Definitely." Polybius agreed, "If it's just you, she's going to feel cornered and betrayed. But, if I'm there, I think the two of us can tag-team it and reel her in."

"If you think that would be best." Dinah said.

"I do." Polybius said, "And I think it would be best if we were direct and not try to dance around it."

"Agreed." Dinah said, "And of course, nothing leaves the three of us."

"Of course!" Polybius said, "I've been holding back on a lot for years. Trust me, I can keep a secret."

"I know you can." Dinah agreed, "Well, then I'm off to find her, and I'll bring her here."

"Thanks Mom." Polybius said as his mother turned to leave, "I just hope she'll forgive me."

"I'm sure she will." Dinah assured him, "She may need a little time, but she will."

As the two wrapped up their conversation meanwhile, Donna and Artemis finally reached Artemis's room after nearly running into Kid Flash twice. However, they were able to dodge him and make it there, thanks to Miss Martian, who just happened to be in the right place at the right time.

"I hate leaving Polybius like that." Donna said as the door shut.

"Well, I trust Polybius's judgment." Artemis said, "And I'm sure he'll be fine without you for a little bit."

"Still…" Donna said, "I kinda feel like I'm abandoning him."

"No you're not!" Artemis said, "What makes you think that!?"

"It's a long story." Donna said as she and Artemis took a seat on the foot of the bed.

"Well, we've got plenty of time." Artemis said, "So tell me! How did you and Polybius get together?"

"Oh! We're not a couple!" Donna quickly defended.

"Yeah, right!" Artemis countered, "You guys have everything there for one!"

"It's actually more complicated than that." Donna corrected, "Way more."

"I'm sure it is." Artemis brushed off, not believing her.

Before Donna could respond, a knock on the door stopped her from doing so. When Artemis answered it, she was surprised to see Black Canary standing there.

"There you are!" Canary said, looking at Donna, "I was looking for you!"

"You are?" Wonder Girl asked.

"I am." Canary confirmed, "Do you mind if we can get a word in private?"

"Go ahead!" Artemis said, "Just so long as we hide her from Wally. That's what Polybius wanted to do."

"I know." Canary questioned, "However, I was hoping that you, myself and Polybius could have a little group chat first." Canary said.

"Then let's go!" Donna said.

It didn't take long for the two to reach Polybius's room. Once there, they found that they had beaten Kid Flash to Polybius and made sure to close the door behind them and lock it.

"Alright." Donna started, "What do you want to talk about?"

"I was actually hoping this could be a little update session." Dinah said, "Just get an idea of how you two are doing. Making sure you guys are in better places than you were."

"Oh, you want to relive those times?" Polybius asked.

"We don't have to talk about that." Dinah corrected, "But, I would like to see how you two are doing. I know it's been a long time since all of that went down, but it can come back."

"And it sorta has lately." Donna started as she took a seat on the foot of Polybius's bed, "At least, for me."

"What's going on?" Dinah asked, taking up a much softer tone than before.

"Well…" Donna started, "It started right around the time Polybius got his new job. I had a nightmare about what happened, and they've started getting worse."

"And more frequent!" Polybius added.

"That too." Donna said, "And I don't know why this is happening. It's honestly scaring me."

"Can you think of anything that might have set that off?" Dinah asked.

"No." Donna replied, "It just happened. I went to sleep for the night, and it happened."

"Probably something happened subconsciously." Polybius piped in, "I mean, it happens to me every now and then."

"And how long do they usually last for you?" Dinah asked.

"A month at the longest." Polybius said, "However, she says hers are getting worse, which is what I really wanted to bring you in here about."

"You told her?" Donna asked, looking over at Polybius.

"That right, there is professional help." Polybius said, pointing at his adoptive mother, "Better than what I could give you."

"Polybius!" Donna said, a hint of anger in her voice.

"Donna, please." Dinah said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "Polybius is very worried about you. He wants you to get better and what is best for you. I can help you in ways he can't."

"I know!" Donna said, "But I wish you would have run that by me first!"

"You would have said 'no.'" Polybius countered, "And don't tell me you wouldn't because I know you well enough to know that you would have!"

Donna felt her anger grow.

"Donna, please!" Dinah said, trying to calm her, "You don't have to tell me the whole story, or any of it for that matter. But I can at least give you advice on how to properly deal with those dreams, as well as provide you resources he can't. He just wants what is best for you."

"I know!" Donna said, failing to hide her anger, "Just wish you would have at least told me so I at least wouldn't have gotten blindsided by this."

"Look, I knew that if I told you, you would have argued with me." Polybius explained, "And I'm not going to argue with you on what's best for you. I know from personal experience that sometimes, you need someone else to say something for you. And I was afraid that if you only confided in me that you were having nightmares about that stuff, that I wouldn't be able to properly help you. So I decided to get some advice, and we agreed that this was the best thing for you."

Donna let out a frustrated sigh.

"Look, I know I sorta betrayed your trust, I get that." Polybius went on, "But please, Donna, I'm really worried about you. And I don't want to see you end up broken or worse."

Donna looked over at him. She stared at him for a brief moment before responding.

"Or worse?" Donna asked.

"We are not going back there." Polybius said, "I don't care how mad you get at me! We fought too hard and too long to pull you out of that freaking hole! However, because of my current physical condition, and the fact that I can't just get up and go, is what makes me nervous."

"I'm not there!" Donna countered.

"Not yet." Polybius corrected.

"Ugh!" Donna let out angrily, "Who are you gonna tell next!? Huh!?"

"No one." Polybius stated, "I told her because she is a trained professional. She went to school for dealing with this. Hell, she has a degree!"

"But you told someone!" Donna said.

"I'm not going to apologize for doing what I believe is right." Polybius affirmed, "You need help, Donna. And I just can't provide what you need in my current condition."

Donna then turned away from Polybius, prompting Dinah to move in.

"I know you're upset, Donna." Dinah started, "But, there is a level of confidentiality that I am legally obligated to uphold. Everything that you tell me, aside from thoughts of hurting yourself or others, doesn't leave us. We don't even have to include Polybius in these conversations if you don't want him there. It's all up to you."

"Is that true?" Donna asked, "The confidentiality part?"

"One hundred percent." Dinah said.

"So Diana won't find out?" Donna followed up.

"Not unless you tell her." Dinah assured her.

Donna looked away from everybody and at the wall of the room. She thought about what Polybius and Dinah were saying and felt mixed emotions about it all.

"Donna." Polybius spoke up, "Don't feel like I'm pushing you off to someone else, that's not what I'm doing here. But I honestly feel like what I'm doing is ineffective."

When Polybius said that, this prompted Donna to turn and look at him. She had a slightly confused look on her face as part of her anger vanished with it.

"What?" Donna questioned, not sure if she heard it right.

"I mean, hear me out." Polybius said, "I feel… I feel like we go through this enough for it to be a serious recurring issue. And if this incident with my near-death injury has taught me anything, it's that I'm gonna die at some point while you live. What I don't want to happen is to let this build-up, and then for me to finally bite the dust and leave you all alone. When I finally die, whenever that may be, I want to make sure that this isn't an issue and that you are fully healed from it, so you don't become overwhelmed with emotions and hurt yourself."

Donna let out a long sigh and looked down.

"You know I'm right." Polybius stated, "Donna, please, hate me for the rest of time, I don't care! But I care about you too much to sit by and let you wallow in misery. You need professional help, so, please! I don't care if you don't want me to be a part of these conversations, but at least talk."

Donna then let a long and dreadful moment of silence fill the room as both Polybius and Dinah waited to see what she would say and do.

"Fine." Donna said, "I'll… talk."

"Yes!" Polybius cheered.

"But Diana can't find out about this!" Donna piped up.

"She won't." Dinah assured her.

"Good." Donna said, "Can we, uh, go somewhere else, please?"

"Sure!" Dinah said, "We'll clear out a room and get more comfortable."

"Thank you." Donna said as she stood up.

With that, the two females exited the room, leaving Polybius alone. However, this didn't last long as Kid Flash finally decided to turn up at Polybius's door.

"Hey, hey, hey…" Kid Flash started, clearly expecting to see a female in the room, and disappointing to only find Polybius.

"What up?" Polybius replied.

"Nothing much." Kid Flash tried to play off, "Just stopping by, seeing how you were doing."

"Oh really?" Polybius asked.

"Yeah." Kid Flash replied.

"You sure you're not out prowling for women?" Polybius asked.

"What!?" Kid Flash asked, "No! I mean, usually yes, but I just wanted to make sure that you're okay after your injury."

"Man, cut the crap." Polybius said, "I don't have the patience for it."

"Aw, what!?" Kid Flash asked, "I can't stand to see you hurt, man!"

"Can you?" Polybius asked, "Afterall, it is you who is spearheading the charge to get rid of me!"

Kid Flash went silent when those words hit him as he realized just how much trouble he was in. He gulped nervously and a nervous laugh before he kept talking.

"Get rid of you!?" Kid Flash asked, "Never!"

"I've already been told." Polybius corrected, "Don't lie to my face because I'm not stupid, Kid Flirt."

Kid Flash's mind began racing for a way to wiggle himself out of his situation. However, Polybius's mind moved faster and kept him in check.

"So!" Polybius started, "I already know you came here looking for Wonder Girl. Wondering if she's as good looking in person as she is on TV, right?"

"N- No!" Kid Flash nervously denied, betraying his attempt to lie.

"Didn't I just ask you not to lie to me?" Polybius question, his tone now very stern.

Kid Flash again gulped nervously but failed to respond verbally to Polybius.

"Well, Kid Flirt, let me start by asking you to do one thing for me." Polybius started.

"What is it?" Kid Flash asked.

"Don't flirt with Wonder Girl." Polybius ordered, "It was bad enough when you tried to get my mother to commit statutory rape, but don't you even think about it with Wonder Girl!"

"W- Why?" Kid Flash asked nervously.

"Because she's… She's had extremely bad experiences with guys." Polybius half lied.

"Bad experiences?" Kid Flash asked.

"Yeah!" Polybius affirmed, "Don't get me wrong, I love her to death, but holy fuck does she somehow managed to get catfished in the worst way."

"Catfished in the worst way?" Kid Flash asked.

"Her first and second boyfriends turned out to be people hired to try and kill her." Polybius lied, "This has led her to not being able to deal with flirting all that well because she subconsciously thinks that the person flirting with her is gonna try and hurt her. And this results in her going into a rather dark place. So I'm gonna ask you to keep it all on the down-low for me."

"Of course!" Kid Flash said, "As much as I love the babes, I don't wanna hurt them! But that's alright! My natural charm will reel her in."

"Charm?" Polybius questioned.

"Yes sir!" Kid Flash said, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go find Megalicious and see if she's making any more cookies!"

Before Polybius could say anything, Kid Flash ran off as fast as he could away from Polybius. This prompted the injured man to just roll his eyes and groan.

"Freaking idiot." Polybius muttered.

However, Polybius couldn't catch a break as it wasn't long after Kid Flash left, Aqualad knocked on his door.

"Come in!" Polybius shouted right before he began drinking a bottle of water.

"Greetings." Aqualad said, "I hear you offer good advice."

"Then clearly I've got a good rep on the streets." Polybius stated, "What is it I can help you with?"

"Well, to be honest, I was hoping for leadership advice." Aqualad admitted.

"Well you certainly came to the right person then!" Polybius said, "I used to be in charge of a very small group of people, so I can certainly help!"

"Thank you." Aqualad said.

"No problem!" Polybius said.

As the two began talking about leadership; meanwhile, Irene scrolled through the news on her computer. However, she wasn't reading anything but was thinking about what her old friend Claudia had advised her to do.

"Where would I even find someone stupid enough to volunteer for that?" Irene questioned.

And there you have it! Chapter 10! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, don't be afraid to let me know what you think, and as always, have a good one!