BIRDS OF PRAYER
Chapter 2.
His reappearance is both expected and vital. Nonetheless, the Huntress finds herself a bit uneasy. She composes herself in an effort to disguise her trepidation from both the Black Canary and the male hero rematerializing a mere ten feet in front of them. The Huntress almost chuckles at the irony. Here she is a hard-nosed, costumed vigilante driven to fight the forces of evil after having been raised as a child of the Mafia. She has seen terrible acts or cruelty and violence since the eighth year of her life. Hitmen, thugs, rapists, murderers, super villains; they disgust her, but they do not scare her. Somehow HE does. She's fought crime in Gotham City the past two years, even teaming with him on occasion, yet the Huntress still finds herself intimidated by the Dark Night Detective known only as the Batman.
The Batman regains his senses almost immediately upon his arrival. He notes the all female contingent of Black Canary and Huntress. Seeing both of them nursing injuries yet remaining on duty, he realizes the situation is grim. He recalls an overpowering feeling of nausea followed by the unearthly sensation of being trapped alone in an inter-dimensional void where their normal physical laws don't apply. To him, this seemed to last but a moment; clearly he recognizes that is by no means the case.
Black Canary fills the Caped Crusader in. By this time, Superman and Green Lantern have also been returned to Earth. The two heroes have joined Supergirl and Wonder Girl to form a Doomsday task force to aid Wonder Woman in her brutal struggle with the monster. Hawkgirl has been reunited with her husband. Hawkman is particularly sharp when it comes to alien technology. Having assisted Superman in uncovering many of the intricacies of Kryptonian science, Katar puts his aptitude to work. He and Shayera attempt to use their familiar Thanagarian equipment as an interface into the Barrattan technology.
The Batman maintains his stoically cool exterior during the crisis. He is satisfied with the measures being taken by the others. He reasons that Black Canary and Huntress are properly assigned on the satellite. Dinah is well-versed in JLA protocol and can, with Huntress' help, utilize the satellite's computer facilities to coordinate league activities. Meanwhile, he opts to return to Gotham City to make use of his own impressive devices found in his secret Batcave.
*****
It is a legendary place, perhaps even mythical to many, yet virtually unseen by human eyes. The Batcave serves as both a sanctuary and base of operations for multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne as he battles crime as the Batman. His ward and longtime protégé Dick Grayson, once known as Robin and now calling himself Nightwing, has shared this sage haven. Trusted Wayne butler Alfred Pennyworth has managed the upkeep of the bizarre fortress over the years. Outside of these two, it is a very rare person who has ever seen the Batcave or learned of its location. With the men gone from Earth, one would presume the Batman would be shocked to find a visitor when he reaches the Batcave. Quite the contrary; he rather expected this and seems quite pleased.
Her fabulous, flowing red hair hangs freely down her back. Thought to be a wig by a media which loves to speculate upon super heroic secret identities, her hair is the genuine article. That same hair, coupled with her lovely face, is featured more and more on television every passing day. It has been awhile since the Batman has seen this woman as she appears now. Bruce Wayne expected to see Babs Gordon here in the Batcave where she could work most effectively and undisturbed as her mysterious alter ego, Oracle. He did not anticipate her back in the costume of Batgirl, however.
There is an unmistakable attraction between Bruce and Barbara. Even is a dire situation such as this, they still feel it. For a brief time, marriage seemed a real possibility. Nothing is said in this regard for they each realize it wasn't meant to be. They are too different and driven for a lasting relationship to work, but they share a mutual respect for one another which has virtually no bounds.
Barbara gave up her Batgirl career, because she could do more good in Washington. Still she finds the time to aid her heroic friends under the pseudo-name Oracle. Her dedication to society impresses Batman greatly. She remains a key member of the super heroic community. Upon further reflection, he wonders why he is surprised to see Barbara Gordon in costume. She is still a heroine in every real sense of the word. Faced with the ultimate crisis, Batgirl was again needed and, as she had so many times before, Barbara Gordon answered the call.
As usual, Batman gets right down to business. Batgirl has begun programming the Batcomputer with all of the information downloaded thus far by Hawkgirl and Black Canary. She has already adjusted for the shifting of the Earth's position. Her calculations have essentially accounted for the safe return of all the men who were located on ground level and not in motion. There are additional concerns in these cases which she expects will be resolved in short order by Hawkman and Hawkgirl. With Batman's added brilliance, he and Batgirl coordinate the retrieval strategy. The Batman reasons that they should engineer the returns in stages. The safest ones can be done first. The trickier efforts involving displaced men in airplanes and other moving vehicles must be carefully considered.
While an expeditious recovery is ideal, good judgment must prevail over haste. It may take quite some time to develop an acceptable means to return all of the men. In the interim, Earth is wrought with panic and chaos. Order and calm must be restored. To do so, a worldwide emergency broadcast must be initiated to offer guidance and reassurance to the populace. With Earth's communication satellites all disabled, the best hope for a timely goodwill message is to adapt the Justice League satellite accordingly.
Barbara Gordon realizes that this is a mission she must undertake. The technical expertise of Oracle is required to alter the JLA satellite's communication array to essentially serve as a substitute for the chain of disabled satellites orbiting the Earth. The Batman also has the skills to pull this off, but she is the better choice. The Batcave's facilities will also be needed in this endeavor and Batman is most familiar with them.
They know each other so well that she doesn't even need to voice her concern. Batman can seemingly read her mind. Only he and Nightwing know that Batgirl and Oracle are one and the same. That is about to change, for both Black Canary and Huntress are on monitor duty. Considering the circumstances, she is willing to divulge her dual secrets to them, but Batman appreciates her desire for privacy. The fewer who know Barbara's secrets the better. He therefore requests that the Huntress assist him in the Batcave while Oracle joins Black Canary on the satellite.
*****
The stalagmites and stalactites begin to come into focus as her body regains its solid form. Her eyes pan her surroundings. In some ways the Batcave is everything she expected. The technology. The Batmobile. The darkness. The bats. In other ways, it's very different. The momentos from many successful cases form a trophy room which would be the envy of many museums. She is quite awed by what she sees and could easily lose herself in the moment. Suddenly he appears before her and all that which surrounds them seems to fade away.
The Batman extends no formal welcome to the Huntress. There will be no tours of his grand facility nor will he engage in small talk. The Batman is as somber and serious as ever as he quickly instructs her on the tasks she can help him with. These jobs are rather mundane, although clearly time consuming and necessary. Whether he has given them all to her because he doesn't trust her with the tough stuff, she can not say.
If the Batman does feel compassion for her, he doesn't show it. If he recognizes the discomfort that she endures, he refuses to acknowledge it. The Batman concentrates solely on their work and is his typical brusque self. The Huntress admires what Batman has accomplished and stands for, but she loathes his demeanor. She can't help but feel very uneasy working along side him in his very own domain. It's as if he is deliberately tormenting her, putting her through a challenging battle of wits in an attempt to crack her will.
The Huntress won't allow him that satisfaction. She goes about her responsibilities without complaint, voicing nothing other than the minimum thoughts required to complete the job. She fights her nerves, doing her best to show no weakness. He may not like her, but she'll provide the Batman with no legitimate reason to either question her performance or think he's rattled her confidence.
*****
The Justice League transporter begins to glow once again. Black Canary has just sent the Huntress on her way to the Batcave and she awaits the arrival of Oracle. Dinah feels a bit embarrassed. For the past hour she was convinced that the Huntress was Oracle. She did all she could in the way of probing questions to prove her hypothesis only to learn that her conclusion was dead wrong. Instead, Oracle is about to come aboard the satellite and Dinah will finally discover who her mystery friend actually is.
Dinah Lance tries to hide her anticipation. Despite the discomfort from her terrible knee injury, Black Canary is excited about finally meeting Oracle face to face. Is she a fellow costumed heroine? Have they ever met previously? These questions are about to be answered. Dinah recognizes however that Oracle is reluctantly revealing her identity because the situation necessitates it. She will therefore avoid discussing personal issues until after the crisis has passed.
Her form materializes within the JLA transporter tube. Barbara has visited this impressive headquarters, but it has been over four years since she has last seen it. She dreads the inevitable confrontation that her Batgirl persona is sure to elicit. Dinah has acknowledged to Oracle her dislike for Batgirl. Barbara knows Dinah will feel angered and betrayed by her deception. Unfortunately, it can't be helped. Oracle can't appear on the JLA satellite as Barbara Gordon, so her Batgirl guise is her alternative.
Black Canary is shocked when the glow of the transporter subsides enough to reveal the visitor's appearance. Of all people, she never dreamed Oracle was Batgirl, even though logically it makes as much sense as her Huntress theory. Batgirl has ties to Batman and Gotham City. Her activities as a crime fighter also diminished considerably around the same general time frame that Oracle emerged on the scene. In retrospect, Batgirl is indeed the perfect fit for Oracle.
Dinah is not at all pleased by this revelation. Her dander is already up due to her having recounted their past history to the Huntress. Now, she is seething. Black Canary wants desperately to tear into her, but professionalism precludes that action. She will do all she can to assist, but Dinah issues a stern warning. When this emergency has passed, they will have it out. Batgirl had better have a damn good explanation for her past deceptions.
Oracle begins modifying the JLA communication grid. It is a daunting task. She must reconfigure numerous pathways to establish the overall comlink to Earth that they desire. Most of the work must be done underneath the very console in front of which Black Canary is seated. Possessor of a genius IQ, Batgirl performs a series of alterations to the control panels which would take trained engineers hours to complete. She is done in a mere fifty eight minutes, yet to her it seems like an eternity. Black Canary hovers above her the entire time, eyeing her every move with suspicion and contempt. As the leaguer in charge of the satellite, it is her responsibility to ensure its safety. Such technical work is beyond Dinah's expertise, so she would be of little help even if she were healthy. She is forced to place her trust in Batgirl, a woman she thought she knew so well as Oracle. It is now a strained trust at best, for even Batgirl's extraordinary proficiency fails to earn Black Canary's confidence. The tension can seemingly be cut with a knife.
Batgirl gains a temporary reprieve as she descends to the engineering level of the satellite. She must divert power from the thrusters to the communication grid so that their signal is powerful enough to span the globe. Black Canary stubbornly insists upon joining her, because as a non-leaguer Batgirl's activities must be tracked. The caped heroine points out that Dinah needs to stay up top to monitor any incoming communications or attempted transports aboard the station. She insists she will maintain an open audio channel throughout the procedure which should only take a few minutes. To her extreme relief, Dinah relents and remains at her post.
Batgirl enters the engine room and sets about her task. All the while, she mulls the question of how to deal with Dinah. How can she explain her dual heroic identities while simultaneously withholding the precious truth concerning her civilian identity? Every possibility seems unsatisfactory and more white lies an inevitable part of any such attempt. Black Canary wants answers and will never trust Oracle again if she doesn't get them.
As she works, it occurs to Batgirl that she has an even more pressing quandary than explaining her Batgirl and Oracle personas. The overall plan is for Congresswoman Gordon to address the nations of the world. Babs speaks five different languages fluently. Their urgent message will have the best chance of reaching the masses if it is spoken by a trustworthy source in as many native tongues as possible. Barbara Gordon, with the Justice League headquarters as a backdrop, is an ideal messenger.
Batgirl had intended to transport back to the Batcave upon completion of her work on the satellite. This would free her to return as Barbara Gordon. She had not figured upon the heightened level of anger and distrust her presence would evoke from Dinah. Her every movement is being watched like a hawk. Oracle must still alter the JLA transporter such that it will not record the patterns of anyone coming or going. This is necessary to ensure that Batgirl and Barbara Gordon will not be identified by the computer or Black Canary as being the same person. Given her current disposition, Dinah will never buy an explanation that the transporter needs tweaking. The transporter console must be accessed from a remote location; thus complicating the job.
The rerouting of the needed power is well underway when a potential solution occurs to Batgirl. She is working in the JLA engine room which recently has undergone considerable renovations. The ventilation had been very poor inside the closely confined area; the result of which was stuffiness and excessive heat. The problem has been fixed, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that it is recurring due to damage suffered from the initial alien attack.
Batgirl realizes that her activities are being monitored on surveillance cameras by the suspicious Black Canary. She decides to take advantage of this by feigning the effects of overheating. Using items from her utility belt, the caped heroine covertly applies moisture to her face in stages. She enhances the visual images by commenting and ultimately complaining about the heat. By the time she is done with her task, Batgirl's ingenious anti-makeup job makes it appear that her face and upper body are drenched with perspiration.
As expected, Black Canary is indeed observing the scene in the engine room and she inquires about Batgirl's status. She informs Dinah that the heat has really taken a toll on her. Batgirl further explains that she has been fighting a severe headache ever since taking a hit from Doomsday a couple hours ago. The combination of the migraine and the heat has just leveled her; therefore she plans to lie down in the infirmary for a few minutes to recuperate. To ensure that Black Canary does not interrupt, Batgirl insists that she can make it there herself and that Dinah should remain upstairs and await the arrival of Ms. Gordon.
Oracle is privy to the layout of the JLA satellite. She knows the locations of the two strategically hidden security cameras in the infirmary. Barbara must surreptitiously elude them both so she can work unobserved. She cleverly fakes discomfort from heat exhaustion and begins shedding her tight form-fitting costume. Her cape is first and she innocently tosses it on top of the x-ray panel, thus eliminating the scope of one camera. She kicks off her boots and lies down on a nearby bed. The remaining camera spans the majority of the room, although the far corner is beyond its scope. Batgirl stirs to get a much needed drink of water. She proceeds to lie down on a different bed nearest the cooler, which so happens to be within the camera's blind spot.
For the first time since her arrival, Oracle is no longer trapped under the watchful eyes of Black Canary. She swiftly contacts Batman via a private comlink to the Batcave. Batgirl briefly explains that Dinah is on to her. She asks Batman to rig the Justice League transporter from his location so that it will not record her transport. Racing against time, Batgirl decides to switch to her civilian identity in the JLA infirmary and simply transport herself directly from there to the command level.
Batgirl stands before a mirror in costume, minus her cape, gloves and boots. Her cowl hangs behind her head as she reapplies conventional makeup. She is about to begin her change into Barbara Gordon's suit when Black Canary barges into the room. The Justice Leaguer is unable to see Batgirl's face due to her vantage point. Nonetheless, she sees that the supposedly ill super heroine is conducting secret communications behind her back while simultaneously fixing her hair and doing her makeup. This is more than Dinah Lance can take.
With cat-like quickness, Batgirl dives behind a bed to hide her face from a livid Black Canary. Dinah knows the cameras were blocked intentionally. Although she is hobbled by a painful and useless left leg, Black Canary is coming after Batgirl. Dinah throws Batgirl's cape down to the floor and steps on it with her healthy leg in disgust. The security camera is rolling again.
Barbara does not want to be captured on film as Batgirl. She has lowered her mask back in place, but now has the unenviable task of facing Black Canary's wrath. Batgirl tries to stall for time, but Dinah won't listen to her pleas. Black Canary has concluded that Batgirl intends to sabotage Barbara Gordon's arrival and she attacks with fury. The healthy Batgirl easily avoids her blow, but she is very concerned about her friend's injured knee. She therefore allows the Canary to tackle her so that she can twist their bodies to allow herself to absorb the brunt of the fall.
Unfortunately, Black Canary is too angry to notice that her opponent is not fighting back. Dinah takes out her frustration on her nemesis. Unable to use her legs on offense, Dinah resorts to her fists. Despite her health advantage, Batgirl is caught out of position. Black Canary has leverage and uses it to her advantage. She lands a series of punches, two to the mid-section and a half dozen to the face which apparently Batgirl had so vainly prioritized over the success of Ms. Gordon's worldwide announcement.
Blood flows freely from both the nose and lips of Batgirl. Barbara is tempted to strike back, but she recognizes that this has gone on far too long. They are dear friends, both on the same side trying to save their world. Their personal conflict must end. It's time the whole truth to be revealed. The fighting between heroines ceases as Batgirl surrenders.
Both women are hurting. Black Canary's adrenaline rush enabled her to overcome the intense pain from her knee. With calm restored, Dinah literally screams in agony. A bloodied Batgirl helps her friend up onto a bed. She administers a pain killer and immobilizes the problem knee. Dinah appreciates her concern, but she won't let her off the hook. She mandates that Batgirl help her up to the main level. Black Canary reasons that Ms. Gordon has likely been waiting and she must be transported on board. After Gordon departs, all remaining secrets will be revealed and a decision will be made regarding possible criminal charges against Batgirl.
Black Canary has had quite a day, one filled with pain, horror, and shocking surprises. Never does she anticipate that the biggest surprise is about to be sprung. Batgirl slips her fingers underneath her mask. Blood trickles from her nose onto her ungloved hands. Dinah is about to tell her that revealing her identity can wait, but she is unable to voice the words. Her eyes widen and her mouth is agape when the face of Barbara Gordon emerges from beneath the removed mask of Batgirl.
Barbara apologizes to Dinah for having deceived her over the years in all three of her identities. She promises to make amends by explaining everything later. Right now, Gordon's concern is her worldwide address which must take place. The typically attractive face of Barbara Gordon is a mess. She has a nasty shiner underneath her right eye. Black Canary feels terrible, but the politician absolves her of any blame. Babs notes that she probably would have done the same thing in her shoes and offers some consolation by observing that thankfully her nose is not broken.
Like a cornerman in a boxing match, Dinah immediately attends to Barbara's facial cuts. With makeup appropriately applied, Gordon's face is now passable for television. They also devise the cover story that should anyone notice her blemishes, they can be easily explained away by a minor traffic accident resulting from the disappearances of the men.
Barbara Gordon changes from her Batgirl costume into a light blue suit with an off-white blouse. Despite her assorted bumps and bruises, she still projects her usual combination of presence, intellect and suave beauty. As they make preparations for Gordon's speech, neither discusses the recent turn of events. It is a given that Black Canary will erase the video recordings of Oracle revealing her secret identities. There will be no evidence that Batgirl was on board the JLA satellite nor will her true identity as Congresswoman Barbara Gordon be on record. Black Canary alone will learn these cherished secrets on this day.
*****
Barbara takes a moment to collect her thoughts before addressing the world. Her brilliant mind focuses on the next few minutes. Her words must be well measured and conveyed in the appropriate manner. She has to exude a confidence which will reassure her panicked planet.
The tension can be detected on her face, although to most she would seem remarkably calm. Dinah Lance knows Barbara Gordon well. She has seen the Congresswoman in pressure situations, working long exhausting hours. Gordon's energy and mental discipline typically allow her to remain at peak efficiency well beyond the limits of her most driven Washington colleagues and rivals. Even she must eventually succumb to human frailties, however. Although time is crucial, Barbara must break for a few minutes to clear her head and she heads off to pace the corridors of the satellite.
While Babs Gordon is away, Black Canary is joined by Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The Thanagarian couple has been working with Batman over the past hour. Through Katar's ingenuity, they have managed to enhance the process by which the men will be returned to Earth. The Hawkship has sophisticated sensory equipment, the likes of which had been used earlier to pinpoint Supergirl's location on the planet's surface. Katar and Shayera have tailored their technology so that it will scan the area of space prior to rematerialization. If any solid object has seen been moved into the space last occupied by a man, he will not be returned to that spot and must be relocated to a safe site. This is an improvement upon the initial plan they had devised with Batman and Oracle. There is far less risk involved in the recovery effort.
Hawkman suggests that he and Hawkgirl flank Congresswoman Gordon when she makes her announcement. Their presence will reinforce Gordon's assertion that the Justice League is handling the situation. Secondly, the appearance of Hawkman will provide visual proof that a man has been retrieved from the limbo dimension. It is also best if Black Canary not go before the camera, for there is no need to broadcast to the world the fact that she is injured.
The conversation between the three Justice Leaguers is interrupted by an intra-satellite audio transmission from Barbara Gordon. She is merely checking in with Black Canary since she has been gone for a several minutes. Barbara is unaware that Hawkman and Hawkgirl are on board. She addresses Black Canary as "Dinah" which raises an eyebrow from both Katar and Shayera. Canary notices her colleagues' reactions, but she doesn't acknowledge as such.
Barbara is very impressed by the technological contributions of the Thanagarians. Alas she can't let on as such for fear of compromising her triple identity. Babs dutifully expresses her gratitude for their efforts and readily approves of their proposal to join her during her address.
*****
With Hawkman to her right and Hawkgirl at her left, Barbara Gordon addresses the nations of Earth. She begins in English and follows with French, Spanish, German, and Chinese. She urges the United Nations to relay her message throughout the planet and translate it into the many other languages which she does not know. In Congresswoman Gordon's words ...
Hello. This is Representative Barbara J. Gordon from the United States of America. I have been asked to address people throughout the Earth during this time of crisis. I speak to you from the Justice League satellite high above the planet. Joining me are two familiar faces, League members Hawkman and Hawkgirl, both of whom have performed heroic feats on our behalf which far exceed even their lofty norms. Through such efforts our world will indeed survive this frightening ordeal.
I understand that you are worried and scared. Husbands, fathers, sons and friends have disappeared. Believe me when I say that they are all alive and well. The Justice League is in the process of effecting their safe return. The very presence of Hawkman demonstrates that the League has the means to return everyone. Superman, Green Lantern and Batman are also back and they are doing all they can to help. Unfortunately, even with all of these great heroes and heroines on the job, it will take upwards of 24 hours to retrieve everyone.
We must insist that people remain calm. Panic is our worst enemy. Local and national authorities are all depleted. Roadways are severely congested. Please remain where you are unless you truly are facing a life threatening situation. Emergency vehicles are scarce and must be allocated wisely. Television and radio media are regrouping and you should be able to tune in to your local channels for further instructions as the day progresses.
We must draw strength from one another. By exercising patience and working together, mankind will prevail even in this darkest day. God bless us all!
*****
Barbara Gordon's address goes very well. The vast majority of women throughout the world hear her words or a fair translation. Of course her appeal is not a universal success in that many still resort to panic in time of crisis. Nevertheless, a greater percentage of the public is both informed and relieved. With the better part of the populace remaining orderly, the JLA's daunting task of restoring the male population Earthside becomes more manageable.
Barbara realizes that she can now do far more good as Oracle than she can as a Congresswoman. She suggests that it's time she return to "business down below". Black Canary immediately picks up on Gordon's intentions. She wishes to be teleported directly to the Batcave. Dinah casually calls Batman seeking the Huntress' presence on the satellite. This request seems reasonable in lieu of the fact that Hawkman and Hawkgirl are also leaving to assist with efforts on the planet. The Huntress materializes on the satellite a few moments later. Ms. Gordon dutifully thanks the Huntress, the Hawks and Black Canary for their extraordinary efforts and sacrifices during the emergency.
As Ms. Gordon steps onto the transporter, the satellite receives an urgent message from the Doomsday task force. Fearing the worst, they listen intently to the report. To their collective relief, Green Lantern bears great news. Using technology seized from the Barratta, they have succeeded in subduing the monster. He can now be removed from Earth without resistance. Green Lantern notes that he will be taking Doomsday to planet OA where the Guardians of the Universe will ensure he remains neutralized. Superman and Supergirl will be accompanying Green Lantern as an added precaution.
The Emerald Gladiator also reports that Wonder Woman has survived her viscous battle. She has suffered serious injuries which will keep her out of action for a while, but the Amazon will make a full recovery. He marvels that Wonder Woman kept casualties to an astonishing minimum by occupying Doomsday's attention and engaging him the whole time.
Energized by the positive news from the Doomsday front, the Justice Leaguers tackle their mission. The Thanagarians work in conjunction with Batman and Oracle while Black Canary and Huntress man the control center on the satellite. Heroines throughout the globe chip in. The effort is further buoyed as more and more heroes return to the fold. It is a long and grueling process, but 30 hours later the entire male population of Earth is recovered without incident. The terrible ordeal is over.
Chapter 2.
His reappearance is both expected and vital. Nonetheless, the Huntress finds herself a bit uneasy. She composes herself in an effort to disguise her trepidation from both the Black Canary and the male hero rematerializing a mere ten feet in front of them. The Huntress almost chuckles at the irony. Here she is a hard-nosed, costumed vigilante driven to fight the forces of evil after having been raised as a child of the Mafia. She has seen terrible acts or cruelty and violence since the eighth year of her life. Hitmen, thugs, rapists, murderers, super villains; they disgust her, but they do not scare her. Somehow HE does. She's fought crime in Gotham City the past two years, even teaming with him on occasion, yet the Huntress still finds herself intimidated by the Dark Night Detective known only as the Batman.
The Batman regains his senses almost immediately upon his arrival. He notes the all female contingent of Black Canary and Huntress. Seeing both of them nursing injuries yet remaining on duty, he realizes the situation is grim. He recalls an overpowering feeling of nausea followed by the unearthly sensation of being trapped alone in an inter-dimensional void where their normal physical laws don't apply. To him, this seemed to last but a moment; clearly he recognizes that is by no means the case.
Black Canary fills the Caped Crusader in. By this time, Superman and Green Lantern have also been returned to Earth. The two heroes have joined Supergirl and Wonder Girl to form a Doomsday task force to aid Wonder Woman in her brutal struggle with the monster. Hawkgirl has been reunited with her husband. Hawkman is particularly sharp when it comes to alien technology. Having assisted Superman in uncovering many of the intricacies of Kryptonian science, Katar puts his aptitude to work. He and Shayera attempt to use their familiar Thanagarian equipment as an interface into the Barrattan technology.
The Batman maintains his stoically cool exterior during the crisis. He is satisfied with the measures being taken by the others. He reasons that Black Canary and Huntress are properly assigned on the satellite. Dinah is well-versed in JLA protocol and can, with Huntress' help, utilize the satellite's computer facilities to coordinate league activities. Meanwhile, he opts to return to Gotham City to make use of his own impressive devices found in his secret Batcave.
*****
It is a legendary place, perhaps even mythical to many, yet virtually unseen by human eyes. The Batcave serves as both a sanctuary and base of operations for multi-millionaire Bruce Wayne as he battles crime as the Batman. His ward and longtime protégé Dick Grayson, once known as Robin and now calling himself Nightwing, has shared this sage haven. Trusted Wayne butler Alfred Pennyworth has managed the upkeep of the bizarre fortress over the years. Outside of these two, it is a very rare person who has ever seen the Batcave or learned of its location. With the men gone from Earth, one would presume the Batman would be shocked to find a visitor when he reaches the Batcave. Quite the contrary; he rather expected this and seems quite pleased.
Her fabulous, flowing red hair hangs freely down her back. Thought to be a wig by a media which loves to speculate upon super heroic secret identities, her hair is the genuine article. That same hair, coupled with her lovely face, is featured more and more on television every passing day. It has been awhile since the Batman has seen this woman as she appears now. Bruce Wayne expected to see Babs Gordon here in the Batcave where she could work most effectively and undisturbed as her mysterious alter ego, Oracle. He did not anticipate her back in the costume of Batgirl, however.
There is an unmistakable attraction between Bruce and Barbara. Even is a dire situation such as this, they still feel it. For a brief time, marriage seemed a real possibility. Nothing is said in this regard for they each realize it wasn't meant to be. They are too different and driven for a lasting relationship to work, but they share a mutual respect for one another which has virtually no bounds.
Barbara gave up her Batgirl career, because she could do more good in Washington. Still she finds the time to aid her heroic friends under the pseudo-name Oracle. Her dedication to society impresses Batman greatly. She remains a key member of the super heroic community. Upon further reflection, he wonders why he is surprised to see Barbara Gordon in costume. She is still a heroine in every real sense of the word. Faced with the ultimate crisis, Batgirl was again needed and, as she had so many times before, Barbara Gordon answered the call.
As usual, Batman gets right down to business. Batgirl has begun programming the Batcomputer with all of the information downloaded thus far by Hawkgirl and Black Canary. She has already adjusted for the shifting of the Earth's position. Her calculations have essentially accounted for the safe return of all the men who were located on ground level and not in motion. There are additional concerns in these cases which she expects will be resolved in short order by Hawkman and Hawkgirl. With Batman's added brilliance, he and Batgirl coordinate the retrieval strategy. The Batman reasons that they should engineer the returns in stages. The safest ones can be done first. The trickier efforts involving displaced men in airplanes and other moving vehicles must be carefully considered.
While an expeditious recovery is ideal, good judgment must prevail over haste. It may take quite some time to develop an acceptable means to return all of the men. In the interim, Earth is wrought with panic and chaos. Order and calm must be restored. To do so, a worldwide emergency broadcast must be initiated to offer guidance and reassurance to the populace. With Earth's communication satellites all disabled, the best hope for a timely goodwill message is to adapt the Justice League satellite accordingly.
Barbara Gordon realizes that this is a mission she must undertake. The technical expertise of Oracle is required to alter the JLA satellite's communication array to essentially serve as a substitute for the chain of disabled satellites orbiting the Earth. The Batman also has the skills to pull this off, but she is the better choice. The Batcave's facilities will also be needed in this endeavor and Batman is most familiar with them.
They know each other so well that she doesn't even need to voice her concern. Batman can seemingly read her mind. Only he and Nightwing know that Batgirl and Oracle are one and the same. That is about to change, for both Black Canary and Huntress are on monitor duty. Considering the circumstances, she is willing to divulge her dual secrets to them, but Batman appreciates her desire for privacy. The fewer who know Barbara's secrets the better. He therefore requests that the Huntress assist him in the Batcave while Oracle joins Black Canary on the satellite.
*****
The stalagmites and stalactites begin to come into focus as her body regains its solid form. Her eyes pan her surroundings. In some ways the Batcave is everything she expected. The technology. The Batmobile. The darkness. The bats. In other ways, it's very different. The momentos from many successful cases form a trophy room which would be the envy of many museums. She is quite awed by what she sees and could easily lose herself in the moment. Suddenly he appears before her and all that which surrounds them seems to fade away.
The Batman extends no formal welcome to the Huntress. There will be no tours of his grand facility nor will he engage in small talk. The Batman is as somber and serious as ever as he quickly instructs her on the tasks she can help him with. These jobs are rather mundane, although clearly time consuming and necessary. Whether he has given them all to her because he doesn't trust her with the tough stuff, she can not say.
If the Batman does feel compassion for her, he doesn't show it. If he recognizes the discomfort that she endures, he refuses to acknowledge it. The Batman concentrates solely on their work and is his typical brusque self. The Huntress admires what Batman has accomplished and stands for, but she loathes his demeanor. She can't help but feel very uneasy working along side him in his very own domain. It's as if he is deliberately tormenting her, putting her through a challenging battle of wits in an attempt to crack her will.
The Huntress won't allow him that satisfaction. She goes about her responsibilities without complaint, voicing nothing other than the minimum thoughts required to complete the job. She fights her nerves, doing her best to show no weakness. He may not like her, but she'll provide the Batman with no legitimate reason to either question her performance or think he's rattled her confidence.
*****
The Justice League transporter begins to glow once again. Black Canary has just sent the Huntress on her way to the Batcave and she awaits the arrival of Oracle. Dinah feels a bit embarrassed. For the past hour she was convinced that the Huntress was Oracle. She did all she could in the way of probing questions to prove her hypothesis only to learn that her conclusion was dead wrong. Instead, Oracle is about to come aboard the satellite and Dinah will finally discover who her mystery friend actually is.
Dinah Lance tries to hide her anticipation. Despite the discomfort from her terrible knee injury, Black Canary is excited about finally meeting Oracle face to face. Is she a fellow costumed heroine? Have they ever met previously? These questions are about to be answered. Dinah recognizes however that Oracle is reluctantly revealing her identity because the situation necessitates it. She will therefore avoid discussing personal issues until after the crisis has passed.
Her form materializes within the JLA transporter tube. Barbara has visited this impressive headquarters, but it has been over four years since she has last seen it. She dreads the inevitable confrontation that her Batgirl persona is sure to elicit. Dinah has acknowledged to Oracle her dislike for Batgirl. Barbara knows Dinah will feel angered and betrayed by her deception. Unfortunately, it can't be helped. Oracle can't appear on the JLA satellite as Barbara Gordon, so her Batgirl guise is her alternative.
Black Canary is shocked when the glow of the transporter subsides enough to reveal the visitor's appearance. Of all people, she never dreamed Oracle was Batgirl, even though logically it makes as much sense as her Huntress theory. Batgirl has ties to Batman and Gotham City. Her activities as a crime fighter also diminished considerably around the same general time frame that Oracle emerged on the scene. In retrospect, Batgirl is indeed the perfect fit for Oracle.
Dinah is not at all pleased by this revelation. Her dander is already up due to her having recounted their past history to the Huntress. Now, she is seething. Black Canary wants desperately to tear into her, but professionalism precludes that action. She will do all she can to assist, but Dinah issues a stern warning. When this emergency has passed, they will have it out. Batgirl had better have a damn good explanation for her past deceptions.
Oracle begins modifying the JLA communication grid. It is a daunting task. She must reconfigure numerous pathways to establish the overall comlink to Earth that they desire. Most of the work must be done underneath the very console in front of which Black Canary is seated. Possessor of a genius IQ, Batgirl performs a series of alterations to the control panels which would take trained engineers hours to complete. She is done in a mere fifty eight minutes, yet to her it seems like an eternity. Black Canary hovers above her the entire time, eyeing her every move with suspicion and contempt. As the leaguer in charge of the satellite, it is her responsibility to ensure its safety. Such technical work is beyond Dinah's expertise, so she would be of little help even if she were healthy. She is forced to place her trust in Batgirl, a woman she thought she knew so well as Oracle. It is now a strained trust at best, for even Batgirl's extraordinary proficiency fails to earn Black Canary's confidence. The tension can seemingly be cut with a knife.
Batgirl gains a temporary reprieve as she descends to the engineering level of the satellite. She must divert power from the thrusters to the communication grid so that their signal is powerful enough to span the globe. Black Canary stubbornly insists upon joining her, because as a non-leaguer Batgirl's activities must be tracked. The caped heroine points out that Dinah needs to stay up top to monitor any incoming communications or attempted transports aboard the station. She insists she will maintain an open audio channel throughout the procedure which should only take a few minutes. To her extreme relief, Dinah relents and remains at her post.
Batgirl enters the engine room and sets about her task. All the while, she mulls the question of how to deal with Dinah. How can she explain her dual heroic identities while simultaneously withholding the precious truth concerning her civilian identity? Every possibility seems unsatisfactory and more white lies an inevitable part of any such attempt. Black Canary wants answers and will never trust Oracle again if she doesn't get them.
As she works, it occurs to Batgirl that she has an even more pressing quandary than explaining her Batgirl and Oracle personas. The overall plan is for Congresswoman Gordon to address the nations of the world. Babs speaks five different languages fluently. Their urgent message will have the best chance of reaching the masses if it is spoken by a trustworthy source in as many native tongues as possible. Barbara Gordon, with the Justice League headquarters as a backdrop, is an ideal messenger.
Batgirl had intended to transport back to the Batcave upon completion of her work on the satellite. This would free her to return as Barbara Gordon. She had not figured upon the heightened level of anger and distrust her presence would evoke from Dinah. Her every movement is being watched like a hawk. Oracle must still alter the JLA transporter such that it will not record the patterns of anyone coming or going. This is necessary to ensure that Batgirl and Barbara Gordon will not be identified by the computer or Black Canary as being the same person. Given her current disposition, Dinah will never buy an explanation that the transporter needs tweaking. The transporter console must be accessed from a remote location; thus complicating the job.
The rerouting of the needed power is well underway when a potential solution occurs to Batgirl. She is working in the JLA engine room which recently has undergone considerable renovations. The ventilation had been very poor inside the closely confined area; the result of which was stuffiness and excessive heat. The problem has been fixed, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that it is recurring due to damage suffered from the initial alien attack.
Batgirl realizes that her activities are being monitored on surveillance cameras by the suspicious Black Canary. She decides to take advantage of this by feigning the effects of overheating. Using items from her utility belt, the caped heroine covertly applies moisture to her face in stages. She enhances the visual images by commenting and ultimately complaining about the heat. By the time she is done with her task, Batgirl's ingenious anti-makeup job makes it appear that her face and upper body are drenched with perspiration.
As expected, Black Canary is indeed observing the scene in the engine room and she inquires about Batgirl's status. She informs Dinah that the heat has really taken a toll on her. Batgirl further explains that she has been fighting a severe headache ever since taking a hit from Doomsday a couple hours ago. The combination of the migraine and the heat has just leveled her; therefore she plans to lie down in the infirmary for a few minutes to recuperate. To ensure that Black Canary does not interrupt, Batgirl insists that she can make it there herself and that Dinah should remain upstairs and await the arrival of Ms. Gordon.
Oracle is privy to the layout of the JLA satellite. She knows the locations of the two strategically hidden security cameras in the infirmary. Barbara must surreptitiously elude them both so she can work unobserved. She cleverly fakes discomfort from heat exhaustion and begins shedding her tight form-fitting costume. Her cape is first and she innocently tosses it on top of the x-ray panel, thus eliminating the scope of one camera. She kicks off her boots and lies down on a nearby bed. The remaining camera spans the majority of the room, although the far corner is beyond its scope. Batgirl stirs to get a much needed drink of water. She proceeds to lie down on a different bed nearest the cooler, which so happens to be within the camera's blind spot.
For the first time since her arrival, Oracle is no longer trapped under the watchful eyes of Black Canary. She swiftly contacts Batman via a private comlink to the Batcave. Batgirl briefly explains that Dinah is on to her. She asks Batman to rig the Justice League transporter from his location so that it will not record her transport. Racing against time, Batgirl decides to switch to her civilian identity in the JLA infirmary and simply transport herself directly from there to the command level.
Batgirl stands before a mirror in costume, minus her cape, gloves and boots. Her cowl hangs behind her head as she reapplies conventional makeup. She is about to begin her change into Barbara Gordon's suit when Black Canary barges into the room. The Justice Leaguer is unable to see Batgirl's face due to her vantage point. Nonetheless, she sees that the supposedly ill super heroine is conducting secret communications behind her back while simultaneously fixing her hair and doing her makeup. This is more than Dinah Lance can take.
With cat-like quickness, Batgirl dives behind a bed to hide her face from a livid Black Canary. Dinah knows the cameras were blocked intentionally. Although she is hobbled by a painful and useless left leg, Black Canary is coming after Batgirl. Dinah throws Batgirl's cape down to the floor and steps on it with her healthy leg in disgust. The security camera is rolling again.
Barbara does not want to be captured on film as Batgirl. She has lowered her mask back in place, but now has the unenviable task of facing Black Canary's wrath. Batgirl tries to stall for time, but Dinah won't listen to her pleas. Black Canary has concluded that Batgirl intends to sabotage Barbara Gordon's arrival and she attacks with fury. The healthy Batgirl easily avoids her blow, but she is very concerned about her friend's injured knee. She therefore allows the Canary to tackle her so that she can twist their bodies to allow herself to absorb the brunt of the fall.
Unfortunately, Black Canary is too angry to notice that her opponent is not fighting back. Dinah takes out her frustration on her nemesis. Unable to use her legs on offense, Dinah resorts to her fists. Despite her health advantage, Batgirl is caught out of position. Black Canary has leverage and uses it to her advantage. She lands a series of punches, two to the mid-section and a half dozen to the face which apparently Batgirl had so vainly prioritized over the success of Ms. Gordon's worldwide announcement.
Blood flows freely from both the nose and lips of Batgirl. Barbara is tempted to strike back, but she recognizes that this has gone on far too long. They are dear friends, both on the same side trying to save their world. Their personal conflict must end. It's time the whole truth to be revealed. The fighting between heroines ceases as Batgirl surrenders.
Both women are hurting. Black Canary's adrenaline rush enabled her to overcome the intense pain from her knee. With calm restored, Dinah literally screams in agony. A bloodied Batgirl helps her friend up onto a bed. She administers a pain killer and immobilizes the problem knee. Dinah appreciates her concern, but she won't let her off the hook. She mandates that Batgirl help her up to the main level. Black Canary reasons that Ms. Gordon has likely been waiting and she must be transported on board. After Gordon departs, all remaining secrets will be revealed and a decision will be made regarding possible criminal charges against Batgirl.
Black Canary has had quite a day, one filled with pain, horror, and shocking surprises. Never does she anticipate that the biggest surprise is about to be sprung. Batgirl slips her fingers underneath her mask. Blood trickles from her nose onto her ungloved hands. Dinah is about to tell her that revealing her identity can wait, but she is unable to voice the words. Her eyes widen and her mouth is agape when the face of Barbara Gordon emerges from beneath the removed mask of Batgirl.
Barbara apologizes to Dinah for having deceived her over the years in all three of her identities. She promises to make amends by explaining everything later. Right now, Gordon's concern is her worldwide address which must take place. The typically attractive face of Barbara Gordon is a mess. She has a nasty shiner underneath her right eye. Black Canary feels terrible, but the politician absolves her of any blame. Babs notes that she probably would have done the same thing in her shoes and offers some consolation by observing that thankfully her nose is not broken.
Like a cornerman in a boxing match, Dinah immediately attends to Barbara's facial cuts. With makeup appropriately applied, Gordon's face is now passable for television. They also devise the cover story that should anyone notice her blemishes, they can be easily explained away by a minor traffic accident resulting from the disappearances of the men.
Barbara Gordon changes from her Batgirl costume into a light blue suit with an off-white blouse. Despite her assorted bumps and bruises, she still projects her usual combination of presence, intellect and suave beauty. As they make preparations for Gordon's speech, neither discusses the recent turn of events. It is a given that Black Canary will erase the video recordings of Oracle revealing her secret identities. There will be no evidence that Batgirl was on board the JLA satellite nor will her true identity as Congresswoman Barbara Gordon be on record. Black Canary alone will learn these cherished secrets on this day.
*****
Barbara takes a moment to collect her thoughts before addressing the world. Her brilliant mind focuses on the next few minutes. Her words must be well measured and conveyed in the appropriate manner. She has to exude a confidence which will reassure her panicked planet.
The tension can be detected on her face, although to most she would seem remarkably calm. Dinah Lance knows Barbara Gordon well. She has seen the Congresswoman in pressure situations, working long exhausting hours. Gordon's energy and mental discipline typically allow her to remain at peak efficiency well beyond the limits of her most driven Washington colleagues and rivals. Even she must eventually succumb to human frailties, however. Although time is crucial, Barbara must break for a few minutes to clear her head and she heads off to pace the corridors of the satellite.
While Babs Gordon is away, Black Canary is joined by Hawkman and Hawkgirl. The Thanagarian couple has been working with Batman over the past hour. Through Katar's ingenuity, they have managed to enhance the process by which the men will be returned to Earth. The Hawkship has sophisticated sensory equipment, the likes of which had been used earlier to pinpoint Supergirl's location on the planet's surface. Katar and Shayera have tailored their technology so that it will scan the area of space prior to rematerialization. If any solid object has seen been moved into the space last occupied by a man, he will not be returned to that spot and must be relocated to a safe site. This is an improvement upon the initial plan they had devised with Batman and Oracle. There is far less risk involved in the recovery effort.
Hawkman suggests that he and Hawkgirl flank Congresswoman Gordon when she makes her announcement. Their presence will reinforce Gordon's assertion that the Justice League is handling the situation. Secondly, the appearance of Hawkman will provide visual proof that a man has been retrieved from the limbo dimension. It is also best if Black Canary not go before the camera, for there is no need to broadcast to the world the fact that she is injured.
The conversation between the three Justice Leaguers is interrupted by an intra-satellite audio transmission from Barbara Gordon. She is merely checking in with Black Canary since she has been gone for a several minutes. Barbara is unaware that Hawkman and Hawkgirl are on board. She addresses Black Canary as "Dinah" which raises an eyebrow from both Katar and Shayera. Canary notices her colleagues' reactions, but she doesn't acknowledge as such.
Barbara is very impressed by the technological contributions of the Thanagarians. Alas she can't let on as such for fear of compromising her triple identity. Babs dutifully expresses her gratitude for their efforts and readily approves of their proposal to join her during her address.
*****
With Hawkman to her right and Hawkgirl at her left, Barbara Gordon addresses the nations of Earth. She begins in English and follows with French, Spanish, German, and Chinese. She urges the United Nations to relay her message throughout the planet and translate it into the many other languages which she does not know. In Congresswoman Gordon's words ...
Hello. This is Representative Barbara J. Gordon from the United States of America. I have been asked to address people throughout the Earth during this time of crisis. I speak to you from the Justice League satellite high above the planet. Joining me are two familiar faces, League members Hawkman and Hawkgirl, both of whom have performed heroic feats on our behalf which far exceed even their lofty norms. Through such efforts our world will indeed survive this frightening ordeal.
I understand that you are worried and scared. Husbands, fathers, sons and friends have disappeared. Believe me when I say that they are all alive and well. The Justice League is in the process of effecting their safe return. The very presence of Hawkman demonstrates that the League has the means to return everyone. Superman, Green Lantern and Batman are also back and they are doing all they can to help. Unfortunately, even with all of these great heroes and heroines on the job, it will take upwards of 24 hours to retrieve everyone.
We must insist that people remain calm. Panic is our worst enemy. Local and national authorities are all depleted. Roadways are severely congested. Please remain where you are unless you truly are facing a life threatening situation. Emergency vehicles are scarce and must be allocated wisely. Television and radio media are regrouping and you should be able to tune in to your local channels for further instructions as the day progresses.
We must draw strength from one another. By exercising patience and working together, mankind will prevail even in this darkest day. God bless us all!
*****
Barbara Gordon's address goes very well. The vast majority of women throughout the world hear her words or a fair translation. Of course her appeal is not a universal success in that many still resort to panic in time of crisis. Nevertheless, a greater percentage of the public is both informed and relieved. With the better part of the populace remaining orderly, the JLA's daunting task of restoring the male population Earthside becomes more manageable.
Barbara realizes that she can now do far more good as Oracle than she can as a Congresswoman. She suggests that it's time she return to "business down below". Black Canary immediately picks up on Gordon's intentions. She wishes to be teleported directly to the Batcave. Dinah casually calls Batman seeking the Huntress' presence on the satellite. This request seems reasonable in lieu of the fact that Hawkman and Hawkgirl are also leaving to assist with efforts on the planet. The Huntress materializes on the satellite a few moments later. Ms. Gordon dutifully thanks the Huntress, the Hawks and Black Canary for their extraordinary efforts and sacrifices during the emergency.
As Ms. Gordon steps onto the transporter, the satellite receives an urgent message from the Doomsday task force. Fearing the worst, they listen intently to the report. To their collective relief, Green Lantern bears great news. Using technology seized from the Barratta, they have succeeded in subduing the monster. He can now be removed from Earth without resistance. Green Lantern notes that he will be taking Doomsday to planet OA where the Guardians of the Universe will ensure he remains neutralized. Superman and Supergirl will be accompanying Green Lantern as an added precaution.
The Emerald Gladiator also reports that Wonder Woman has survived her viscous battle. She has suffered serious injuries which will keep her out of action for a while, but the Amazon will make a full recovery. He marvels that Wonder Woman kept casualties to an astonishing minimum by occupying Doomsday's attention and engaging him the whole time.
Energized by the positive news from the Doomsday front, the Justice Leaguers tackle their mission. The Thanagarians work in conjunction with Batman and Oracle while Black Canary and Huntress man the control center on the satellite. Heroines throughout the globe chip in. The effort is further buoyed as more and more heroes return to the fold. It is a long and grueling process, but 30 hours later the entire male population of Earth is recovered without incident. The terrible ordeal is over.
