"How is he Batgirl?" The super heroine considers the question momentarily as she quietly closes the bedroom door behind her. "You've known Alfred about as long as I have. He may appear aging and frail, but there's an inner toughness to the man which is quite something. He's sore and fatigued, but he'll be fine with some rest. Of course I had a hell of time convincing him to let us handle things. Alfred is very proud and provincial when it comes to this place, and naturally he's worried about Bruce."

"Speaking of which ..." Superman interjects. "We came the moment we received your message, but this looks as if it happened hours ago. Can you fill us in?" The concerned JLA trio of Hawkman, Martian Manhunter and Superman gather around the caped, titian-haired crime fighter. Several candles burn within the halls and study of Wayne Manor, supplying light in absence of power. Barbara has only crossed paths with Katar once before and she knows of J'onn only by reputation. She has worked with the man of steel a few times, however. During those occasions, she has developed the utmost admiration for him. Given his great powers, extraordinary even in a meta-human context, it would be so easy for him to shun lesser heroes and heroines. Instead, his ego is no barrier. Superman truly values the contributions and opinions of others such as she, a quality which is strikingly refreshing.

"It's been longer than a just few hours, Superman." Batgirl reports. "Alfred was kayoed right after returning home from his weekly shopping trip. That was yesterday, around noon ... about 36 hours ago." The expressions of the Justice League heroes grow grimmer upon this startling news. Babs senses their frustration; they can't imagine how this incident could have gone a day and half before being discovered. "Batman asked me to assume his nightly patrol while he recovers from his malady." Gordon explains. "He asked not to be disturbed last evening, but I was a little surprised not to hear from him at any point today. I didn't think too much of it though, because I figured his silence was just typical Batman. It wasn't until I got a break in my rounds that I realized something was amiss. When I couldn't reach anyone via radio or telephone, I came right over and found things as you now see them."

"Has there been any word from Batman? Any indications of activity from down below?" Hawkman inquires. Barbara shakes her head no. "I tried reaching the Batcave from both the stairs and the underground tunnel, but both are sealed with mountains of debris."

"Is it my imagination or am I right in thinking that you guys aren't exactly surprised by this?" Batgirl's eyes pan from hero to hero, seeking affirmation of her suspicion. "The location of the Batcave is a closely guarded secret which someone has managed to breach." she continues as her dander intensifies. "Look, I realize that Bruce is in the JLA. You may consider this solely a League matter, but I have personal interests at stake here, as does Nightwing. Now what is going on?!"

J'onn J'onnz quickly briefs Barbara with the limited facts that the JLA has compiled. He recounts the debilitating malady which the Earth-born leaguers still struggle to recover from. The Martian cites the apparent connection between Circe and Wonder Woman. J'onn asserts his strong belief that this nefarious attack on Batman's home base is directly related to the Amazon's nefarious rampage.

"So what are you telling me?" Barbara Gordon replies. "You're saying that Wonder Woman, under Circe's influence, barricaded herself and the Batman inside the cave?" Hawkman and J'onn nod affirmatively. "The Joker may very well be down there too." Katar notes.

Sensing Batgirl's confusion, the Martian Manhunter expounds upon his theory. "Although the Batman is a valuable ally, he harbors a certain level of distrust towards most everyone including, unfortunately, us." J'onn glances momentarily at Superman and Hawkman before continuing. "Meta-human powers cause him deep trepidation, for even the best of people could fall victim to their darker sides. As such, Bruce has gone to great lengths to fortify the Batcave against detection. The walls, ceiling and floor contain an assortment of special alloys which successfully inhibit even the sophisticated equipment aboard the Hawkship and JLA satellite."

"The Batcave is the perfect locale for Circe to hole up in." Superman opines. "Especially now. Even with some apparent structural collapse, my x-ray vision can only penetrate through narrow gaps in the lead lining. It's not enough for me to see anything useful. Bruce's sound-proofing of the cave precludes me from hearing any activity, including heartbeats. I can't even tell if there's anyone alive down there. Furthermore, the Batcave also shields against J'onn's telepathy, and teleportation is impossible. Even radio communication is out."

"Circe planned this very well." Hawkman groans. "She shares Wonder Woman's personal knowledge. That's how she was able to find the Batcave and use it to her advantage." Katar is still very upset about his wife Shayera's condition and it is exceedingly difficult for him to contain his frustration. "Sure we could smash our way in there, but we don't know what danger that would pose to Batman."

"It is well-planned Hawkman. Almost too well." Superman observes with considerable curiosity. "Ordinarily, our best reconnaissance option would be the Atom. He could shrink down to a size small enough to slip through the compromised structure. Coincidentally, he's still hospitalized and his doctors have specifically advised against using his size shifting abilities for at least another week. Ditto for Firestorm and his molecular altering powers."

"But Superman," Batgirl interjects, "the electricity is out throughout Wayne Manor and this would appear to include down below. Wouldn't that limit the Batcave's usefulness, even to a witch the likes of Circe?" Superman and Batgirl stare directly at one another. They both smile as the same thought comes to each simultaneously. Perhaps it wasn't Circe who initiated the collapse. "Maybe it was the Batman who trapped Circe?" Kal and Babs exclaim concurrently.

*****

"Well don't you think somebody should have come for us by now?" the Joker asks in a raspy tone. The Batcave is eerily dark with an emergency road flare providing the only illumination. The Batman and his hated arch nemesis sit on the cave floor a mere ten feet apart. Both men are hurting. Bruce bravely masks the pain of a wrenched back incurred from falling debris. The hero still fights the lingering symptoms of his illness. He is exhausted, yet he pushes himself to remain awake. Even in their mutually dire situation, the Batman does not trust his sworn enemy.

"Surely, we should be missed." the villain rambles. "Like me or not, I am the life of the party! As for you Batty, the Riddler's been out of the pen goin' on two weeks. Although he pales in comparison to yours truly, Eddie is a funny guy. Can you imagine Commissioner Gordon and the G.C.P.D. trying to track him down without you? Why the Bat-Signal must be lightin' up the sky night and day!"

The content of the Joker's chatter is largely ignored by the Batman. Bruce studies his longtime foe. He senses fear and anguish in the criminal's voice. There are several minor cuts and bruises on his face and arms, all of which occurred within the past couple days. The clown favors his broken leg to an even greater extent than when he first arrived at the cave. The temporary cast crafted by Wonder Woman is partially torn, indicating that the injury was exacerbated during the cave-in.

"You sure are a talkative chap, aren't ya?" the Joker complains. "I'm practically dying and you just sit there giving me the patented Bat stare. That damned thing is colder than Mr. Freeze, but there's a time and place for it and this ain't it!"

"You'll live." the Batman coolly comments. This response is not warmly received. "You'll live?" the Joker snarls. "Oh my, how original! Do you know how many times Wonder Babe said the very same thing? She drags me here ... 'you'll live'. She leaves me behind ... 'you'll live'. Of course I don't have the kind of history with the girl scout that I do with you. We go back a long ways, Bats. I've left you many a trail of corpses through which to hone your detective skills. I expect a little appreciation for all the fun times we've shared over the years! Instead, all I rate is 'you'll live'! What an ingrate!"

Batman feels no sympathy for the Joker's discomfort, but he recognizes his enemy's need for medical attention. Unfortunately, Bruce finds his options very limited. Most of his equipment is inaccessible. His own injuries are such that he is physically unable to effect an escape from the underground cavern. Fortunately, an emergency supply of drinking water is within reach. Help should soon arrive. Given that the air supply will last for several days if need be, the Batman privately reasons that the best short term strategy is to wait it out.

*****

Operating under the premise that Wonder Woman, Batman and Joker are all confined inside the Batcave, the Justice League acts cautiously. Top priority is to ensure containment, thus limiting the threat which Circe poses. As such, the JLA seeks a means of reaching the underground cavern without compromising its perimeter. Short of this, they wish to establish a line of communication with those below.

The foursome opts to split up to make the best use of their time and talents. Superman and the Martian Manhunter temporarily depart stately Wayne Manor. Each plans to pursue his own theory on how to safely penetrate the Batcave and overcome the sorcery of Circe. Meanwhile, Hawkman and Batgirl perform the work of skilled electrical contractors in an effort to restore power to the mansion.

From the moment that Wonder Woman's treachery was first exposed, Hawkman feared for his wife's safety. Although his worst premonitions of her fate proved untrue, the eventual return of the missing Shayera Hol did not bring the anguish to an end. Stricken with the same dreadful form of insanity as the Flash, Hawkgirl remains on Themyscira. The Thanagarian is under sedation and heavy restraint as Amazon doctors attempt to treat her. Alas, the latest prognosis is not promising, for her condition is the result of evil mysticism rather than nature.

Katar keeps busy as an outlet for his pent up ire. A passionate man of action, he feels virtually helpless as Shayera suffers. Hawkman desperately wants to lash out at the source of this misery. Logic tells him that individual is Circe, yet it is Wonder Woman who is the instrument of his wife's pain. However unfair, the hero blames the Amazon princess, at least in part, and he impatiently awaits the opportunity to strike back.

As Hawkman and Batgirl work together throughout the vast manor, Katar channels his frustration, using it as a driving force. This proves more difficult than expected and for a completely unanticipated reason. Until now, he had never recognized how many similarities Batgirl shares with Hawkgirl. Both women have long, striking red hair and they are roughly the same height and build. Beyond these superficial characteristics, Barbara Gordon is highly intelligent and technically oriented. Her proficiency in electronics surprises and impresses Hawkman. Ordinarily, Katar would sincerely complement his new ally; in this case however, Batgirl's presence is a constant reminder of Shayera's plight.

*****

Hours pass relatively quickly, both at Wayne Manor and in points afar. With the JLA ranks depleted, Superman and J'onn J'onnz encounter assorted delays in the form of super-villain activity, natural disasters and accident victims requiring immediate assistance. As such, Hawkman and Batgirl complete their efforts before the others can return with any alternative plans.

Within the illuminated Wayne study, Katar Hol eyes the stairway entrance to the Batcave. The top eight steps are visible after which the pathway is impassable due to an extensive barrier of fallen stone. "We may be able to restore the power below if we can clear away enough of this debris to reach the junction box." Hawkman suggests. Batgirl suppresses a temptation to groan. "That's going to be a bit tricky." Babs warns. "There's a good twenty feet worth of rock to bore through before we get to the auxiliary platform adjacent the stairwell." She pauses momentarily. "I'll give you a hand in a couple minutes." the heroine notes. "There are a few things left to check up here and I should quickly look in on Alfred."


*****

The sounds are muffled. All is dark. As consciousness slowly returns, Diana begins to feel aches throughout her body. It is hard to concentrate and she struggles to move. She feels abnormally weak. The rumbling noise seems distant and disjointed. Perhaps there are even voices, although nothing she can discern. "Where am I?" the Amazon princess thinks to herself. As her foggy mind continues to clear, her worry mounts. Wonder Woman reasons that a search party is scouring the complex for her. She senses that someone in particular is getting dangerously close. "Merciful Minerva!" Diana frets. "They're about to touch off disaster!"