"Relax Shayera. I promise you it isn't painful." Princess Diana's words are both compassionate and reassuring. The magic lasso evokes a curious tingling sensation as Wonder Woman gently wraps the noose snugly about Hawkgirl's upper torso. Anxious husband Katar paces about the conference room of the JLA satellite while Batman, Flash, Green Lantern and Zatanna remain calm, albeit noticeably concerned.
"Through the enchanted power of the golden lasso," Diana continues, "I command you to recall any and all facts pertinent to the disappearance of your ship." Hawkgirl briefly recounts the recent visit to the Far East. As did Hawkman mere moments ago, Shayera specifically remembers returning to Midway City in the Hawkship. The craft was left on autopilot in the stratosphere high above conventional air traffic routes. That was the last they had seen it and she has no recollection of any trouble.
"We've always 'parked' our ship this way, Wonder Woman." the Thanagarian heroine explains. "It's never been a problem. Katar and I have plenty of security measures in place to prevent tampering or theft. I doubt even Superman could penetrate them without our knowing about it!"
"That's why I've called in some reinforcements, Hawkgirl." the Batman declares solemnly. "Whomever we're dealing with is shrewd and dangerous. He or she has managed to beat your formidable Thanagarian defenses. This person how has access to your ship's weaponry and technology. Given the ingenuity required to pull off this theft and hide all traces of the ship from our scans, we must presume this villain will be able to decode your incription algorithm and access the computer."
"Batman, we don't have personal information stored in the memory banks." Hawkman contributes. "There's no risk of secret identities being breached. Unfortunately, we do have files on each JLA member, as well as the Teen Titans and several other independents like Supergirl and Black Lightning. The files contain specifics on powers and abilities, and in the case of the JLA, up-to-date medical histories. We keep this data in case of emergency, but an enemy could use it instead to discern our vulnerabilities."
"We have to locate the Hawkship before it can be used against us!" the Batman rules while glancing in Zatanna's direction. "I'm sorry Bruce." Zee responds. "My magic reveals no sign of the ship. It's nowhere on Earth or in the atmosphere so far as I can tell."
"Well it hasn't left Earth either." Green Lantern interjects. "The Justice League satellite tracks space vessels, both coming and going. The Hawkship could not have left Earth without being detected." Barry Allen concurs. "Hal's right. That ship must still be down on Earth somewhere, but whoever stole it has the means to cloak it from us. We've tried sensors and magic. Superman and his cousin are off world until tomorrow so we won't have super vision until then. Anything else we can try?"
Typically, Wonder Woman would keenly focus upon such a league matter and she would be apt to offer sound suggestions. Today she is quite reserved. The Amazon is ashamed for having taken the Hawkship by force. Although she can rationalize her actions, Diana can't help but doubt herself in lieu of the events transpiring before her. The JLA considers the missing ship a top priority. Resources will be pulled away from important duties to address an enemy that in reality doesn't exist. She too will be expected to devote her efforts towards the recovery of the Thanagarian space craft.
Diana had hoped that she would have more time before Katar and Shayera discovered that their ship is missing. Her plan was to anonymously return it after making full use of its alien technology. Alas, there is much left to do. Surrendering the vessel now is a very undesirable option. Wonder Woman gnashes her teeth as she intensely contemplates how to handle her dilemma. As such, she doesn't notice that all eyes are now trained upon her.
"Diana?" Hal Jordan asks for the third time as he lightly nudges her right elbow. "Earth to Diana!" Zatanna chimes in as the startled Amazon regroups. Wonder Woman's heart races, for she realizes that in a careless moment lost in thought, she has allowed Green Lantern to make physical contact. Fortunately, the odds work in her favor as Jordan proves not to be the colleague whose touch means death.
"I apologize my friends." the princess ad-libs. "Mother and I had another of our 'You spend too much time as Wonder Woman' spats. She asked me to relinquish the role. I declined and things got ugly." Diana shakes her head in disgust to further sell her story. "Enough about this. I should never let personal troubles interfere with my duties to the JLA. Now what is it you asked me?"
"Well Diana," Shayera begins with a modicum of hesitation, "we thought Queen Hippolyta's magic sphere might be able pinpoint the whereabouts of our ship. But if you've just ..." Wonder Woman stops Hawkgirl before she can complete her thought. "JLA matters take precedence over bruised egos, including mine and mother's." Diana insists. "I'll return home to use the sphere while you all start the search."
*****
"As a police scientist, I like to think of myself as being on the cutting edge when it comes to crime scene investigation," Flash remarks, "but compared to you three and this place, I'm way out of my league!" The mood within the Batcave is intense and somber. The speedster stands next to Hawkgirl as the two huddle around the seated forms of the Batman and Hawkman. For what seems like an eternity, Barry Allen's idle comment falls upon deaf ears as the others focus their concentration upon the Batcomputer console.
Shayera finally breaks the eerie silence. "Don't sell yourself short Barry." she whispers as she momentarily turns away from the screen. "Your expertise is more valuable than you may think." Barry smirks. "I don't really see how Hawkgirl. Bruce and Katar are discussing the laws of physics and energy and trying to rework Einstein's theories. That's not the kind of stuff I deal with down at my lab!"
Hawkgirl smiles. "Look, Wonder Woman struck out with the magic sphere and Zee ..." Shayera's thought is interrupted as Katar motions them to return to the workstation. For the first time since he discovered the theft of his ship, Hawkman appears optimistic. "We've uncovered a new method to track the Hawkship." he declares. "As you know, the vessel is fueled by Staltzam, a rare element found only on Thanagar. It is an ideal power supply, because of its efficiency and relative safety. Most energy sources are potentially dangerous; they're combustible, explosive, radio-active, etc.. Staltzam presents none of these risks; alas this makes it ultra-challenging to trace. There is no conventional radiation or exhaust trail to detect."
"So I take it you've found an alternative?" Flash inquires. "Yes." the Batman replies. "Using our best detection techniques, we have found nothing because essentially we are looking in the wrong place. In our normal environment, a Staltzam crystal appears unremarkable. This fails to account, however, for the fact that Staltzam channels the energies of light and time. As velocity increases towards the speed of light, the dynamics are different. Time travels more slowly and ..."
"Let me guess!" Hawkgirl blurts out. "The Staltzam's energy becomes visible?" Katar grins at his wife and nods approvingly. "Very close, my dear." he lauds. "The emanations aren't within the visible spectrum, but they should be detectable through the use of a specially enhanced spectrograph. I figure that if Flash races at top speed starting at Midway City, the afterimages of the Hawkship's last flight should be like bread crumbs leading us straight to our unsuspecting quarry!"
*****
"Merciful Minerva!" Wonder Woman thinks to herself as she hastily departs Themyscira in her invisible jet. "I should never underestimate the ingenuity of my JLA colleagues. By now, Flash has surely picked up the trail of the ship. My how surprised he'd be to find it leads right to Paradise Island! I shudder to think of the consequences should that happen. I've got to intercept Barry and throw him off the scent somehow!"
Wonder Woman reaches the Flash as he arrives at the eastern coastline of America, just south of Jacksonville, Florida. "Care to join me princess?" Barry asks while maintaining his breakneck pace. "Normally I would slow down, but the trail is growing faint and I don't want to lose it."
The miles of ocean fly by as the Scarlet Speedster sprints atop the waves. Diana moans to herself. While her plane has the velocity to keep up with her colleague, the Amazon knows that in her diminished capacity she herself has no chance of doing so. She must therefore rely upon the element of surprise to stop her unsuspecting ally.
"Barry, please hold up for a moment." Diana urges. "I have ample reason to believe that grave danger lies ahead of us!" Reluctantly, Flash slows his speed and jumps aboard the right wing of the invisible plane which hovers a foot above the water. "Diana, these energy traces are more difficult to hone in on than Hawkman and Batman anticipated." Barry retorts. "We can't afford much of a delay. Now what is it that has you concerned?"
Wonder Woman leaves the cockpit and joins Flash on the wing. "My mother's magic sphere could not locate the Hawkship, but it did indicate an oceanic danger." she explains. The Amazon princess subtly removes her magic lasso from its belt loop while expounding upon her fictitious story of an ominous omen. Suddenly she springs the golden lariat upon her friend. To her chagrin, however, Flash detects her intentions and utilizes the millisecond of leeway to elude the heroine's clutches.
At first, Barry simply reacts to this unexpected attack. Instinctively he maintains his footing along the wing and gains a strategically advantageous vantage point atop the body of the aircraft. Wonder Woman whirls around to face the speedster. A confrontation above the sea seems inevitable. "Diana, what the hell are you doing?!" Flash asks incredulously. The Amazon is tight-lipped as she glares pensively at her colleague. Various thoughts filter into Barry's mind. "Is she out of her mind?" "Does Circe have something to do with this?" "How am I going to stop her?"
While the Flash is the ultimate master of super speed, he can not match the Amazon princess in cumulative might. Rationalizing his predicament, the hero reaches for his Justice League communicator. Before he can call for reinforcements, Barry suddenly collapses to his knees. He cradles both hands over his head and shrieks in pain. "Great Hera! No!" Wonder Woman exclaims as she races to his side. "He's recognized the truth!" Diana thinks to herself as she secures her magic lasso about his upper body.
There is a maniacal rage in Barry Allen's eyes. He is no longer the man and hero that Diana has always known. Stricken with pure insanity, the Flash lashes out at his friend. His super speed blow lands solidly against the Amazon's chin, opening up a severe gash on her lower lip.
The crazed Flash sprints along the ocean in the direction of the Florida coast. The golden lasso remains firmly tied about his upper torso, pinning his left arm to his side. Dazed from Barry's punch, Wonder Woman barely maintains grasp of the lariat. The princess is dragged across miles and miles of the Atlantic. She hangs on gallantly as her body repeatedly endures punishing jolts against the choppy sea. Diana desperately commands the Flash to stop, but unfortunately his mind is too far gone to remain susceptible to the compelling qualities of the magic lasso.
The Flash is clearly a danger to himself and anyone in his path. His super speed dash is building up a wake of potentially tsunami force. Wonder Woman knows she must subdue her JLA comrade at any cost. As such, the Amazon telepathically orders her invisible plane to overtake them. The craft blocks the way and the unsuspecting speedster collides with the unseen barrier. Barry's super speed aura prevents him from being killed by the impact, but he is rendered unconscious.
The invisible plane proceeds to intercept the emerging tidal wave while Diana tends to the disabled Flash. By now, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl arrive on the scene. They had suspected trouble when they lost contact with Barry and are understandably distressed by his prone form.
"Is he ..." a concerned Green Lantern begins. "He's alive, Hal." Wonder Woman reassures him. The Amazon pauses momentarily to weigh her words. Her colleagues gather around anxiously. "Barry seems to be OK physically," Diana rules, "but I'm afraid we have another problem!"
"Through the enchanted power of the golden lasso," Diana continues, "I command you to recall any and all facts pertinent to the disappearance of your ship." Hawkgirl briefly recounts the recent visit to the Far East. As did Hawkman mere moments ago, Shayera specifically remembers returning to Midway City in the Hawkship. The craft was left on autopilot in the stratosphere high above conventional air traffic routes. That was the last they had seen it and she has no recollection of any trouble.
"We've always 'parked' our ship this way, Wonder Woman." the Thanagarian heroine explains. "It's never been a problem. Katar and I have plenty of security measures in place to prevent tampering or theft. I doubt even Superman could penetrate them without our knowing about it!"
"That's why I've called in some reinforcements, Hawkgirl." the Batman declares solemnly. "Whomever we're dealing with is shrewd and dangerous. He or she has managed to beat your formidable Thanagarian defenses. This person how has access to your ship's weaponry and technology. Given the ingenuity required to pull off this theft and hide all traces of the ship from our scans, we must presume this villain will be able to decode your incription algorithm and access the computer."
"Batman, we don't have personal information stored in the memory banks." Hawkman contributes. "There's no risk of secret identities being breached. Unfortunately, we do have files on each JLA member, as well as the Teen Titans and several other independents like Supergirl and Black Lightning. The files contain specifics on powers and abilities, and in the case of the JLA, up-to-date medical histories. We keep this data in case of emergency, but an enemy could use it instead to discern our vulnerabilities."
"We have to locate the Hawkship before it can be used against us!" the Batman rules while glancing in Zatanna's direction. "I'm sorry Bruce." Zee responds. "My magic reveals no sign of the ship. It's nowhere on Earth or in the atmosphere so far as I can tell."
"Well it hasn't left Earth either." Green Lantern interjects. "The Justice League satellite tracks space vessels, both coming and going. The Hawkship could not have left Earth without being detected." Barry Allen concurs. "Hal's right. That ship must still be down on Earth somewhere, but whoever stole it has the means to cloak it from us. We've tried sensors and magic. Superman and his cousin are off world until tomorrow so we won't have super vision until then. Anything else we can try?"
Typically, Wonder Woman would keenly focus upon such a league matter and she would be apt to offer sound suggestions. Today she is quite reserved. The Amazon is ashamed for having taken the Hawkship by force. Although she can rationalize her actions, Diana can't help but doubt herself in lieu of the events transpiring before her. The JLA considers the missing ship a top priority. Resources will be pulled away from important duties to address an enemy that in reality doesn't exist. She too will be expected to devote her efforts towards the recovery of the Thanagarian space craft.
Diana had hoped that she would have more time before Katar and Shayera discovered that their ship is missing. Her plan was to anonymously return it after making full use of its alien technology. Alas, there is much left to do. Surrendering the vessel now is a very undesirable option. Wonder Woman gnashes her teeth as she intensely contemplates how to handle her dilemma. As such, she doesn't notice that all eyes are now trained upon her.
"Diana?" Hal Jordan asks for the third time as he lightly nudges her right elbow. "Earth to Diana!" Zatanna chimes in as the startled Amazon regroups. Wonder Woman's heart races, for she realizes that in a careless moment lost in thought, she has allowed Green Lantern to make physical contact. Fortunately, the odds work in her favor as Jordan proves not to be the colleague whose touch means death.
"I apologize my friends." the princess ad-libs. "Mother and I had another of our 'You spend too much time as Wonder Woman' spats. She asked me to relinquish the role. I declined and things got ugly." Diana shakes her head in disgust to further sell her story. "Enough about this. I should never let personal troubles interfere with my duties to the JLA. Now what is it you asked me?"
"Well Diana," Shayera begins with a modicum of hesitation, "we thought Queen Hippolyta's magic sphere might be able pinpoint the whereabouts of our ship. But if you've just ..." Wonder Woman stops Hawkgirl before she can complete her thought. "JLA matters take precedence over bruised egos, including mine and mother's." Diana insists. "I'll return home to use the sphere while you all start the search."
*****
"As a police scientist, I like to think of myself as being on the cutting edge when it comes to crime scene investigation," Flash remarks, "but compared to you three and this place, I'm way out of my league!" The mood within the Batcave is intense and somber. The speedster stands next to Hawkgirl as the two huddle around the seated forms of the Batman and Hawkman. For what seems like an eternity, Barry Allen's idle comment falls upon deaf ears as the others focus their concentration upon the Batcomputer console.
Shayera finally breaks the eerie silence. "Don't sell yourself short Barry." she whispers as she momentarily turns away from the screen. "Your expertise is more valuable than you may think." Barry smirks. "I don't really see how Hawkgirl. Bruce and Katar are discussing the laws of physics and energy and trying to rework Einstein's theories. That's not the kind of stuff I deal with down at my lab!"
Hawkgirl smiles. "Look, Wonder Woman struck out with the magic sphere and Zee ..." Shayera's thought is interrupted as Katar motions them to return to the workstation. For the first time since he discovered the theft of his ship, Hawkman appears optimistic. "We've uncovered a new method to track the Hawkship." he declares. "As you know, the vessel is fueled by Staltzam, a rare element found only on Thanagar. It is an ideal power supply, because of its efficiency and relative safety. Most energy sources are potentially dangerous; they're combustible, explosive, radio-active, etc.. Staltzam presents none of these risks; alas this makes it ultra-challenging to trace. There is no conventional radiation or exhaust trail to detect."
"So I take it you've found an alternative?" Flash inquires. "Yes." the Batman replies. "Using our best detection techniques, we have found nothing because essentially we are looking in the wrong place. In our normal environment, a Staltzam crystal appears unremarkable. This fails to account, however, for the fact that Staltzam channels the energies of light and time. As velocity increases towards the speed of light, the dynamics are different. Time travels more slowly and ..."
"Let me guess!" Hawkgirl blurts out. "The Staltzam's energy becomes visible?" Katar grins at his wife and nods approvingly. "Very close, my dear." he lauds. "The emanations aren't within the visible spectrum, but they should be detectable through the use of a specially enhanced spectrograph. I figure that if Flash races at top speed starting at Midway City, the afterimages of the Hawkship's last flight should be like bread crumbs leading us straight to our unsuspecting quarry!"
*****
"Merciful Minerva!" Wonder Woman thinks to herself as she hastily departs Themyscira in her invisible jet. "I should never underestimate the ingenuity of my JLA colleagues. By now, Flash has surely picked up the trail of the ship. My how surprised he'd be to find it leads right to Paradise Island! I shudder to think of the consequences should that happen. I've got to intercept Barry and throw him off the scent somehow!"
Wonder Woman reaches the Flash as he arrives at the eastern coastline of America, just south of Jacksonville, Florida. "Care to join me princess?" Barry asks while maintaining his breakneck pace. "Normally I would slow down, but the trail is growing faint and I don't want to lose it."
The miles of ocean fly by as the Scarlet Speedster sprints atop the waves. Diana moans to herself. While her plane has the velocity to keep up with her colleague, the Amazon knows that in her diminished capacity she herself has no chance of doing so. She must therefore rely upon the element of surprise to stop her unsuspecting ally.
"Barry, please hold up for a moment." Diana urges. "I have ample reason to believe that grave danger lies ahead of us!" Reluctantly, Flash slows his speed and jumps aboard the right wing of the invisible plane which hovers a foot above the water. "Diana, these energy traces are more difficult to hone in on than Hawkman and Batman anticipated." Barry retorts. "We can't afford much of a delay. Now what is it that has you concerned?"
Wonder Woman leaves the cockpit and joins Flash on the wing. "My mother's magic sphere could not locate the Hawkship, but it did indicate an oceanic danger." she explains. The Amazon princess subtly removes her magic lasso from its belt loop while expounding upon her fictitious story of an ominous omen. Suddenly she springs the golden lariat upon her friend. To her chagrin, however, Flash detects her intentions and utilizes the millisecond of leeway to elude the heroine's clutches.
At first, Barry simply reacts to this unexpected attack. Instinctively he maintains his footing along the wing and gains a strategically advantageous vantage point atop the body of the aircraft. Wonder Woman whirls around to face the speedster. A confrontation above the sea seems inevitable. "Diana, what the hell are you doing?!" Flash asks incredulously. The Amazon is tight-lipped as she glares pensively at her colleague. Various thoughts filter into Barry's mind. "Is she out of her mind?" "Does Circe have something to do with this?" "How am I going to stop her?"
While the Flash is the ultimate master of super speed, he can not match the Amazon princess in cumulative might. Rationalizing his predicament, the hero reaches for his Justice League communicator. Before he can call for reinforcements, Barry suddenly collapses to his knees. He cradles both hands over his head and shrieks in pain. "Great Hera! No!" Wonder Woman exclaims as she races to his side. "He's recognized the truth!" Diana thinks to herself as she secures her magic lasso about his upper body.
There is a maniacal rage in Barry Allen's eyes. He is no longer the man and hero that Diana has always known. Stricken with pure insanity, the Flash lashes out at his friend. His super speed blow lands solidly against the Amazon's chin, opening up a severe gash on her lower lip.
The crazed Flash sprints along the ocean in the direction of the Florida coast. The golden lasso remains firmly tied about his upper torso, pinning his left arm to his side. Dazed from Barry's punch, Wonder Woman barely maintains grasp of the lariat. The princess is dragged across miles and miles of the Atlantic. She hangs on gallantly as her body repeatedly endures punishing jolts against the choppy sea. Diana desperately commands the Flash to stop, but unfortunately his mind is too far gone to remain susceptible to the compelling qualities of the magic lasso.
The Flash is clearly a danger to himself and anyone in his path. His super speed dash is building up a wake of potentially tsunami force. Wonder Woman knows she must subdue her JLA comrade at any cost. As such, the Amazon telepathically orders her invisible plane to overtake them. The craft blocks the way and the unsuspecting speedster collides with the unseen barrier. Barry's super speed aura prevents him from being killed by the impact, but he is rendered unconscious.
The invisible plane proceeds to intercept the emerging tidal wave while Diana tends to the disabled Flash. By now, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and Hawkgirl arrive on the scene. They had suspected trouble when they lost contact with Barry and are understandably distressed by his prone form.
"Is he ..." a concerned Green Lantern begins. "He's alive, Hal." Wonder Woman reassures him. The Amazon pauses momentarily to weigh her words. Her colleagues gather around anxiously. "Barry seems to be OK physically," Diana rules, "but I'm afraid we have another problem!"
