Weeks passed. Each day Nichole would remember more and more of her
past and Flash would help her, however, none of it was helpful to solving
the mystery. Soon it had been a whole month since Nichole had arrived at
Justice League Headquarters. It began to seem like she had blocked what
the man had said from her memory forever. Superman had called a JL meeting
to see if there were any ideas as to what they should do.
Nichole hadn't been told of the meeting. She had been sitting in her room contently sitting in her room, the just-in-case room she had found herself in when she first arrived, reading the latest book Dianna had picked up for her. Suddenly, deciding she needed a snack, Nichole got up and went to the kitchen. She looked in the fridge for her candy bar she had been eating yesterday. She couldn't find it.
"Wally must have finished it." Nichole mumbled to herself. Just then, she heard raised voices. They were coming from the meeting room. "A meeting?" Nichole said to herself. "You think they'd tell me when a meeting's going on..." Nichole muttered to herself as she took a banana off of the top of the fridge. The raised voices became louder. She couldn't contain herself; she had to find out what the meeting was about.
Nichole knew her way around the look out very well by now so it didn't take her very long to make to the doorway. It was, of course, closed. When she leaned her ear to the door she could hear the voices perfectly clear and could even tell whom they belonged to.
"What are we going to do, send her back down to earth?" She could hear Flash yell, obviously angry.
"What else can we do? She's never going to remember!" This came from a somewhat annoyed Green Lantern.
"No." Batman's voice clearly stated.
"No? What do you mean, 'no.'"
"No. Earth is too dangerous right now. You know that."
"Kinda funny, isn't it?" Wonder Woman commented.
"What do you mean?" Superman asked.
"Well, ever since Batman's brought Nichole up to Headquarters, crime has increased drastically. Do you think there's a connection?"
Batman responded. "It's very possible. If only we knew what that man told her."
"Which brings us back to our subject, what do we do if she doesn't remember? She can't stay here forever." Superman stated in his leader- like way.
"She'll remember." Flash insisted. Batman looked at him, a smile hiding in his eyes.
"What makes you so sure?"
"I know her better then anyone else here. I just know she will."
"Ok. Say she does remember. How long is it going to take? I don't think any of us can handle the crime this high for too long."
"Yes, and it seems that it only gets higher by the moment." J'onn commented.
"Maybe I could help." They all turned to see Nichole enter the room. Hawk Girl was the first to respond.
"Help? What do you mean?"
"I could help you guys, you know, fight crime."
"No! No way. You'd be creamed out there; it's way too dangerous." Superman immediately said.
"Maybe she could help in another way?" J'onn suggested.
"Yeah. There isn't much I can do. But I can cook, and I can clean, and I can learn. Maybe I could help J'onn in the main control room? That is, if he's willing to help me learn."
"I'd be glad to."
"Well, I guess this the end of the meeting." Superman turned to Nichole. "Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to, you know."
"It's my pleasure." Nichole smiled.
So, it was settled. Nichole would help out in the control room and maybe even bake up snacks for the Justice League. Later that day, Nichole was in the store room, right next to the kitchen, looking through the food supplies. She wanted to bake some of her favorite cookies to snack on.
"You didn't have to do that, you know." Nichole didn't even have to turn around.
"Yes, Wally, I did."
"I was handling it."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. You're a guest here. You shouldn't have to work."
"What makes you think I just wanna sit around all day and do nothing?"
"Well, I..."
"Wally, I'm sick of doing nothing. I wanna do something that requires thinking."
"Play Zelda then."
"Very funny. I want to do something that helps people." Nichole sighed. "The way I figure it, the more normal I make my life now, like get into a regular routine, the higher the chances are that I'll remember. I need to remember....before it's too late."
"Too late? What do you mean?"
"I don't know... I've just got this feeling...that if I don't remember soon, something will happen. Something bad." Wally put his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it. You'll remember." Nichole smiled at him.
"Thanks."
"So, what are you going to make?"
"I'm gonna make my mom's infamous rice crispy cookies. I'm sure you'll like them."
"Oh, yeah. Those are good."
Nichole raised her eyebrow. "You've tried them?"
"Yeah. I used to take food from your fridge."
"A superhero, stealing?" Nichole was quite amused.
"Well, a boy had to live, right?" Wally smiled guiltily. Nichole crossed her arms and smiled.
"What else have you stolen?"
"A chip here, a cookie there... I wasn't the only one stealing, you know."
"Oh, really?"
"You stole my heart." He looked down into her eyes. She gazed back, letting the look in his eyes make her stomach flip.
"Ahem." The noise broke their trance. The both looked over to see Batman standing in the doorway of the room.
"I'm gonna go make the cookies now." Nichole mumbled as she gathered the supplies needed together and brushed past Batman.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Batman asked once he was sure Nichole was out of hearing range.
"I was just talking to Nichole." Flash responded nervously. Batman took one step closer and looked Flash straight in the eyes.
"Do you love her?"
"Well, I, I don't know." Flash said, the question obviously flustering him.
"Then lay off. She needs a committed friend right now, not a short romance. She has enough on her mind right now, don't you think?"
"Well, it wasn't my intention to..."
"I'll be watching you." Flash turned his head for a second, and then turned back and Batman was gone.
"Man, I hate when he does that." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey John, have you seen Batman?" Nichole asked later the evening.
"Yeah. He was getting ready to leave. If you hurry you might catch him." Green Lantern responded.
"Thanks."
Nichole hurried to the kitchen. She wanted to give some of the cookies she had baked to him before he left. She wasn't sure if Batman would eat them, but she was sure Robin would enjoy them. That is, if he was the like the Robin she had saw on TV. Since she had been here she had noticed something. The characters weren't exactly like they were on the show. Nichole hadn't really thought about it before, but now the characters seemed to be more human. Sure, they had some traits from the show but she thought it was interesting that they weren't exactly like she would have expected them to be.
Nichole entered the kitchen and found Batman there. The cookies she had laid out earlier were on the table.
"Hi Batman." Nichole said timidly as she took the paper bag of cookies off the table. He turned and looked at her but remained quiet. "I thought maybe you and Robin would like some snacks for tonight. Wally's constantly telling me how fighting crime builds up an appetite." Batman smiled.
"He would." Batman sat down on one of the stools. Nichole sat down as well. She handed him the bag. He took the bag and before putting down on the table took a little peak inside. "Robin'll enjoy these."
"I was wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Well, why'd you bring me here, to the lookout? I've had some time to think about it and it doesn't make sense. Why didn't you take me to a hospital or even to the Bat cave?" Batman got up and took the cookies.
"I have to go now. If you really want to know, ask Superman. He should be stopping by tonight." And with that, Batman was gone.
Nichole stayed up later then usual that night. She was dying to find out why. Maybe the story would help her remember something. She was in the control room talking with J'onn when Superman finally showed up.
"Hey Superman! Can we talk?" Nichole asked as soon as Superman entered the room.
"Yeah, I'm doing fine and you?"
"Very funny. Can we please talk?"
"Sure." Superman said with a smile. "Why don't we talk in the kitchen?"
"Okay. I made some cookies."
"Mmmm. What kind?" Superman asked as they made their way to the kitchen.
"Rice Crispy."
"Rice Crispy? I'll have to try them." Superman said as he let Nichole into the room before him. Superman sat down and Nichole went to the fridge to take out what was left of the cookies. She set them on the table before sitting down. "So, what is it do you want to ask me that's so important?"
"Well, I first asked Batman but he told me he didn't have time and that you would be able to answer me."
"What is it?"
"How did I end up here? I mean, why didn't Batman take me to a hospital or even to the Bat cave? And...why can't I go down to earth?" Superman stared at the floor and sighed.
"You really want to know?" Nichole nodded. "The first part of the story I can only tell you second hand...hopefully that'll be enough."
"I'm sure it will be, Superman."
"You've been here long enough to call me Clark."
"Ok, Clark."
"Where to start..." Superman murmured, taking a cookie from the table.
"How about the part after I got knocked out?" He smiled.
"Yes. I guess that would be the best place." Superman finished his cookie. "Mmmm. Good cookie." He paused before beginning his story.
"Right after that thing, whatever it was, dropped you, it retreated. Batman took you and put you in the Bat car with Robin. He said he didn't take you to a hospital because he thought you were connected to some weird things that were happening in Gothom, which he still hasn't clarified, and you were obviously in some sort of danger that normal police wouldn't be able to handle. He took you to the Bat cave. You were there for barely a day when they were attacked. It was that creature again except there were more of them and they were bigger and stronger. They were too much for Batman and Robin to handle by themselves, so I was called in along with Wonder Woman. I wasn't of much use. Once we arrived all my power left me. Wonder Woman shoved me off in a corner during the beginning of the fight so I got a good look at them. They were like a dark vapor; their eyes were an evil red. They didn't speak much, but when they did, their voices were smooth and creepy. Mainly they said they wanted to take you away but they didn't say where or for what reason. When they stepped into the light, they were like a shadow on a hot summer's day. The only part that still stood out was their eyes. They looked so evil... Eventually, we did beat them, well, actually, they retreated again. The four of us decided it wasn't safe for you on earth. Those things want you badly and it seems they'd be willing to search the world just to find you. The look out seemed to be the safest place for you."
"Do you have any idea what they would want with me?"
"Well, they didn't want to invite you to a tea party, that's for sure."
"Do you think they're still searching? Do you think they'll think to search up here?"
Superman took a deep breath before answering her question. "I don't know."
Nichole hadn't been told of the meeting. She had been sitting in her room contently sitting in her room, the just-in-case room she had found herself in when she first arrived, reading the latest book Dianna had picked up for her. Suddenly, deciding she needed a snack, Nichole got up and went to the kitchen. She looked in the fridge for her candy bar she had been eating yesterday. She couldn't find it.
"Wally must have finished it." Nichole mumbled to herself. Just then, she heard raised voices. They were coming from the meeting room. "A meeting?" Nichole said to herself. "You think they'd tell me when a meeting's going on..." Nichole muttered to herself as she took a banana off of the top of the fridge. The raised voices became louder. She couldn't contain herself; she had to find out what the meeting was about.
Nichole knew her way around the look out very well by now so it didn't take her very long to make to the doorway. It was, of course, closed. When she leaned her ear to the door she could hear the voices perfectly clear and could even tell whom they belonged to.
"What are we going to do, send her back down to earth?" She could hear Flash yell, obviously angry.
"What else can we do? She's never going to remember!" This came from a somewhat annoyed Green Lantern.
"No." Batman's voice clearly stated.
"No? What do you mean, 'no.'"
"No. Earth is too dangerous right now. You know that."
"Kinda funny, isn't it?" Wonder Woman commented.
"What do you mean?" Superman asked.
"Well, ever since Batman's brought Nichole up to Headquarters, crime has increased drastically. Do you think there's a connection?"
Batman responded. "It's very possible. If only we knew what that man told her."
"Which brings us back to our subject, what do we do if she doesn't remember? She can't stay here forever." Superman stated in his leader- like way.
"She'll remember." Flash insisted. Batman looked at him, a smile hiding in his eyes.
"What makes you so sure?"
"I know her better then anyone else here. I just know she will."
"Ok. Say she does remember. How long is it going to take? I don't think any of us can handle the crime this high for too long."
"Yes, and it seems that it only gets higher by the moment." J'onn commented.
"Maybe I could help." They all turned to see Nichole enter the room. Hawk Girl was the first to respond.
"Help? What do you mean?"
"I could help you guys, you know, fight crime."
"No! No way. You'd be creamed out there; it's way too dangerous." Superman immediately said.
"Maybe she could help in another way?" J'onn suggested.
"Yeah. There isn't much I can do. But I can cook, and I can clean, and I can learn. Maybe I could help J'onn in the main control room? That is, if he's willing to help me learn."
"I'd be glad to."
"Well, I guess this the end of the meeting." Superman turned to Nichole. "Are you sure you want to do this? You don't have to, you know."
"It's my pleasure." Nichole smiled.
So, it was settled. Nichole would help out in the control room and maybe even bake up snacks for the Justice League. Later that day, Nichole was in the store room, right next to the kitchen, looking through the food supplies. She wanted to bake some of her favorite cookies to snack on.
"You didn't have to do that, you know." Nichole didn't even have to turn around.
"Yes, Wally, I did."
"I was handling it."
"Oh really?"
"Yeah. You're a guest here. You shouldn't have to work."
"What makes you think I just wanna sit around all day and do nothing?"
"Well, I..."
"Wally, I'm sick of doing nothing. I wanna do something that requires thinking."
"Play Zelda then."
"Very funny. I want to do something that helps people." Nichole sighed. "The way I figure it, the more normal I make my life now, like get into a regular routine, the higher the chances are that I'll remember. I need to remember....before it's too late."
"Too late? What do you mean?"
"I don't know... I've just got this feeling...that if I don't remember soon, something will happen. Something bad." Wally put his hand on her shoulder.
"Don't worry about it. You'll remember." Nichole smiled at him.
"Thanks."
"So, what are you going to make?"
"I'm gonna make my mom's infamous rice crispy cookies. I'm sure you'll like them."
"Oh, yeah. Those are good."
Nichole raised her eyebrow. "You've tried them?"
"Yeah. I used to take food from your fridge."
"A superhero, stealing?" Nichole was quite amused.
"Well, a boy had to live, right?" Wally smiled guiltily. Nichole crossed her arms and smiled.
"What else have you stolen?"
"A chip here, a cookie there... I wasn't the only one stealing, you know."
"Oh, really?"
"You stole my heart." He looked down into her eyes. She gazed back, letting the look in his eyes make her stomach flip.
"Ahem." The noise broke their trance. The both looked over to see Batman standing in the doorway of the room.
"I'm gonna go make the cookies now." Nichole mumbled as she gathered the supplies needed together and brushed past Batman.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Batman asked once he was sure Nichole was out of hearing range.
"I was just talking to Nichole." Flash responded nervously. Batman took one step closer and looked Flash straight in the eyes.
"Do you love her?"
"Well, I, I don't know." Flash said, the question obviously flustering him.
"Then lay off. She needs a committed friend right now, not a short romance. She has enough on her mind right now, don't you think?"
"Well, it wasn't my intention to..."
"I'll be watching you." Flash turned his head for a second, and then turned back and Batman was gone.
"Man, I hate when he does that." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Hey John, have you seen Batman?" Nichole asked later the evening.
"Yeah. He was getting ready to leave. If you hurry you might catch him." Green Lantern responded.
"Thanks."
Nichole hurried to the kitchen. She wanted to give some of the cookies she had baked to him before he left. She wasn't sure if Batman would eat them, but she was sure Robin would enjoy them. That is, if he was the like the Robin she had saw on TV. Since she had been here she had noticed something. The characters weren't exactly like they were on the show. Nichole hadn't really thought about it before, but now the characters seemed to be more human. Sure, they had some traits from the show but she thought it was interesting that they weren't exactly like she would have expected them to be.
Nichole entered the kitchen and found Batman there. The cookies she had laid out earlier were on the table.
"Hi Batman." Nichole said timidly as she took the paper bag of cookies off the table. He turned and looked at her but remained quiet. "I thought maybe you and Robin would like some snacks for tonight. Wally's constantly telling me how fighting crime builds up an appetite." Batman smiled.
"He would." Batman sat down on one of the stools. Nichole sat down as well. She handed him the bag. He took the bag and before putting down on the table took a little peak inside. "Robin'll enjoy these."
"I was wondering..."
"Yes?"
"Well, why'd you bring me here, to the lookout? I've had some time to think about it and it doesn't make sense. Why didn't you take me to a hospital or even to the Bat cave?" Batman got up and took the cookies.
"I have to go now. If you really want to know, ask Superman. He should be stopping by tonight." And with that, Batman was gone.
Nichole stayed up later then usual that night. She was dying to find out why. Maybe the story would help her remember something. She was in the control room talking with J'onn when Superman finally showed up.
"Hey Superman! Can we talk?" Nichole asked as soon as Superman entered the room.
"Yeah, I'm doing fine and you?"
"Very funny. Can we please talk?"
"Sure." Superman said with a smile. "Why don't we talk in the kitchen?"
"Okay. I made some cookies."
"Mmmm. What kind?" Superman asked as they made their way to the kitchen.
"Rice Crispy."
"Rice Crispy? I'll have to try them." Superman said as he let Nichole into the room before him. Superman sat down and Nichole went to the fridge to take out what was left of the cookies. She set them on the table before sitting down. "So, what is it do you want to ask me that's so important?"
"Well, I first asked Batman but he told me he didn't have time and that you would be able to answer me."
"What is it?"
"How did I end up here? I mean, why didn't Batman take me to a hospital or even to the Bat cave? And...why can't I go down to earth?" Superman stared at the floor and sighed.
"You really want to know?" Nichole nodded. "The first part of the story I can only tell you second hand...hopefully that'll be enough."
"I'm sure it will be, Superman."
"You've been here long enough to call me Clark."
"Ok, Clark."
"Where to start..." Superman murmured, taking a cookie from the table.
"How about the part after I got knocked out?" He smiled.
"Yes. I guess that would be the best place." Superman finished his cookie. "Mmmm. Good cookie." He paused before beginning his story.
"Right after that thing, whatever it was, dropped you, it retreated. Batman took you and put you in the Bat car with Robin. He said he didn't take you to a hospital because he thought you were connected to some weird things that were happening in Gothom, which he still hasn't clarified, and you were obviously in some sort of danger that normal police wouldn't be able to handle. He took you to the Bat cave. You were there for barely a day when they were attacked. It was that creature again except there were more of them and they were bigger and stronger. They were too much for Batman and Robin to handle by themselves, so I was called in along with Wonder Woman. I wasn't of much use. Once we arrived all my power left me. Wonder Woman shoved me off in a corner during the beginning of the fight so I got a good look at them. They were like a dark vapor; their eyes were an evil red. They didn't speak much, but when they did, their voices were smooth and creepy. Mainly they said they wanted to take you away but they didn't say where or for what reason. When they stepped into the light, they were like a shadow on a hot summer's day. The only part that still stood out was their eyes. They looked so evil... Eventually, we did beat them, well, actually, they retreated again. The four of us decided it wasn't safe for you on earth. Those things want you badly and it seems they'd be willing to search the world just to find you. The look out seemed to be the safest place for you."
"Do you have any idea what they would want with me?"
"Well, they didn't want to invite you to a tea party, that's for sure."
"Do you think they're still searching? Do you think they'll think to search up here?"
Superman took a deep breath before answering her question. "I don't know."