DISCLAIMER: I DON'T OWN ANY OF THE D.C CHARACTERS IN THIS OR IN ANYOTHER FAN FICS I MAY WRITE IN THE FUTURE.

CHAPTER 4

WASHINGTON

LAB.

1:21 PM

Back at the lab Batman is busy at work, typing away in front of the computer as Etta and Wonder Woman whispers in the back corner of the room. "Girl when you told me that the Bat was coming to the Lab. I'm not going to lie, I thought it was another one of you and Steve's messed up jokes."

"You know that I never lie and I've never been good with those types of joke Etta," Wonder Woman said with a smile on her face.

"I know. I know. But damn! His really here, the actual Dark Knight is here. Why is here?" Etta asked both excited and nervous at the same time.

"I don't know he said that he needs my help with something," Wonder woman glanced at Batman still busy typing away in the computer.

"Really? Your help? With what?" Etta asked, wide eyed with sear excitement and curiosity.

"Well, were about to find out," Batman then approached the two ladies.

"Batman, this is Etta. Etta Batman," they both shuck hands. "She's mostly the one that's handling all of my training regiments and tech enhancement here," Wonder woman said with a smile.

"It's an honor to meet you Batman, Dia told me so much about you and the bat mobile is drives like a dream," Etta said gleefully.

"Hope that it's good and it does. It's a pleaser to meet you too Etta," Batman replied.

"So Batman, what bring you to our neck of the woods?" Wonder woman stepped in and asked him bluntly.

"Some of your woodland creatures came to Gotham and stole a few crates from a warehouse at the harbor,"

"Really? Who?" Etta asked.

"A local thug by the name of Tony Santiago, goes by the name "hustler"" Batman said as he heads over to the computer and pulls out Tony's profile.

"Santiago? Sounds familiar," said Wonder woman trying to recall where she saw him.

"He should. You busted his and his crew's sorry asses a few months back in that abandon building for making and selling drugs. His been given a sentence of 45 years," said Etta.

"Okay… I'm sure that you already know all this. But that still doesn't answer why you need our help," said Wonder woman.

"Cheetah was with them."

"What!? Cheetah!?" Wonder Woman exclaimed.

"Well that's… Unexpected," said Etta surprised.

"That's not usually her style to work for some low level thug. What did they steal anyway?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Crates that are carrying important archeological findings from an island of Djerba, off the coast of Tunisia. A small team of archeologist went digging a few months back, claiming that there's ancient artifacts still buried and untouched by humans for a thousand years," Batman then pulled out the files about the dig.

"Tunisia? That's.. In North Africa," said Etta.

"Indeed. In ancient times, it was called Meninx. A lot of merchant sailors, explores and adventures passes through, using it as a trading port," said Wonder woman.

"Yeah. But I'm sure that whatever was buried there has been discovered and dogged up by now," Etta replied.

"A few months' back two famed professors' of archeology, by the names of Cindy Walker and Louise Cain, went to multiple companies, museums, and organizations, insisting in funding their latest dig, since the universities they work for refused their requests," he then shows them the list of companies. On the list there where a few well known museums, historical institutions, from both private and public organizations. Batman then further explains that they were both turned down by everyone, due to the lack of evidences and searchers. It was also stated that, it was also a too big of a risk to take on the slight chance that they might be right.

"Yeah! I read about these two, they have made major contributions in their discoveries of ancient cultures and civilizations," Etta explained. "Well whatever they were looking for, must be something really important that they had to go through all these places and get rejected every time," Etta said as she looks at the listing.

"It truly had to be if they were this persistent in getting some at least one company to back them," Wonder woman declared.

"There persistence paid off. They were able to get the necessary funding for their excavation," Batman pulled up another file containing a list of everything that they could possible need and more, from man power to equipment.

"Damn it! Look at all this stuff. It would take me months just too at least get a 3rd of what's on this list," Etta exclaim as she looks through the list.

"Okay, so who's funding them?" Wonder woman asked,

"Don't know. I went through all their records, financial statements, paper and digital trail and nothing. Whoever's funding them made sure to hide their tracks," Batman said.

"But, knowing you. You never would of come here or ask for my help without a reason," Wonder Woman replied with a smile.

Batman pounders for a bit and replied in a low voice. "Vanessa Kapatelis."

Etta and Wonder Woman showed a shock expression and Diana replied in a shaken voice "What? What do you mean?"

"It would seem the Ms. Kapatelis is somehow involved with whatever professors Cain and Walker are working on and-"

Wonder Woman cuts him off "And you think she might also be involved in the rubbery at Gotham," she said in a gloomy tone.

"No, but she might know what was in those crates and maybe a clue on who's their private investor," Batman replies as he faced her.

"But she may not really know anything about it or any of this," Etta replied.

"True. But we can't know that if we don't meet with her," Batman said firmly.

"I- I don't know," Wonder Woman said in lower gloomy voice as she hugs herself. "Vanessa's finally back and on her feet and she's been doing so much better this days, I'm sorry Batman but I… I can't expose her to this. It might open up a few painful memories," she said in a dishearten tone as Wonder woman took steps away with her back turned.

Batman then approached her and spoke in a gentle tone. "Diana, I know this is asking too much of you, especially with your close relationship with Vanessa Kapatelis and her mother. But that's exactly reason why I need your help. She may be able to open up to you easily without triggering her," he said as places a hand on her shoulder.

"What makes you think she would listen to me?" Wonder Woman turned to face his as she gently brushes down his hand.

"She a sister Diana. She'll listen to you."

UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON

DEPARTMENT OF ANTHROPOLOGY

ROOM 305. ARCHAEOLOGY STUDY

"And according to some scholars, they believe that her name came from the city of Athens. Legend says that she was the leader of Athenai. This was a group of women who followed and worshiped her. There are also some debates as to whether the citizens named Athens in honor of her or if she received her name after the city already existed. But many believe that she earned her name as she lived and led in Athens. As early as 407 BC, as Plato mentioned her name and claimed that others followed her due to her wisdom and knowledge. He also further explains that her name came from the Greek work Athenoa, which can mean moon and earth or air," Vanessa spoke in a clear and melodic-like tone as she lectures her students.

A young male student in the back raised his hand and asked. "Professor! Some scholars associated her with both Hestia and Artemis. They also referred to her as Parthenos, for virgin. Because she never marry and that she never had any lovers. Why is that?"

"Well you see, back then at those times. Parthenos doesn't solely mean virgin, but more like it describe her virginity. The Ancients chose to call her this to honor the sexual modesty she had, and believed that her virginity paved the way for other women," the ringing of the bell then echoes out. With that the class has ended and Vanessa gave them their homework of reading the rest of Athena's chapter. She made her way through the campus' halls heading back to her office with her text books and papers in hand.

Vanessa finally made it back to her office and gave her things to her assistant and she hand over some memos and documents that she needs to be look at before her next class. Vanessa steps into her office and finally sat down to look over her things when a familiar sweet and gentle voice spoke to greet her.

There a slender figure standing by the large window behind her desk. "Diana!" Vanessa exclaimed as she lapped from her chair.

"I'm sorry to have frightened you. That was not my intention," Diana said in soft voice.

"No-No. It's alright… It's alright. My God! It's so good to see you Dia," Vanessa said with glee as he rushed over to Diana and hugged her tight.

"It's so good to see you too Vanessa," Diana said with a loving smile as she hugged her back tightly.

"God! I missed you Dia." Vanessa said sweetly as she releases Diana go from her hug and then held her hands.

"I miss you too Vanessa. So very much. I'm so glad to see that you have to been doing splendidly since that last time I saw you," said Diana as caresses her cheek.

"I know right!? I got my own office with a little name plate on the door and everything and it also comes with my own personal assistant. Cool right!?" Vanessa said enthusiastically with a wide smile on her face.

"I've very proud of you Vanessa and I'm sure that Julia would be proud of you too," Diana said in gentle tone with a warm smile.

"I just hope wherever mom is. That she's happy and I that she's still watching over me. But enough about me. What-What about you? And what are you doing here anyway?"

In a serious tone, Diana looked Vanessa in the eyes and squeezed Vanessa's hand slightly "Actually Vanessa. About that. You see we need your help with something."

"Wait? We?" Vanessa said with a puzzled looked on her face.

"We," Diana then stepped slightly to the side to relive a dark masculine figure entering the window.

"Oh My Go- Diana, Is that?" Vanessa tried to speak but her voice quiver a bit.

"Yes. He is. Don't worry. His gently," Diana said with a reassuring smile as the dark, tall masculine figure approaches them.

"Vanessa, I would like you to meet Batman. Batman, this is Vanessa Kapatelis."

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