Drunk on Tang: Thanks for believing in me...oh wait...isn't that something I'm supposed to say at the end of a story?..oh well...thanks anyway. ^_^ And here's chapter 10!

MatureImmaturity: I'm glad you find it interesting. I'm even happier you'll be following the story. Hope you enjoy.

AntimatterManticore: Thanks! And I did email you, but, to say it again, I don't see a problem with it. I mean, as long as you don't copy my story line. And you know, not have her come in the same way unless you have a reason for it. (mine has a reason that will eventually be explained)

Disclaimer: Now, onto the story that contains things that I do not own. Try picking them out.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------
She ran through the halls as fast as she could. Faster, she had to run faster. A quick glance behind her confirmed its quiet presence. She had to run faster.

Reaching her bedroom, she rushed in and slammed the door shut. Backing away from the door, she could still see the shadows creeping in underneath it. There was no escape now.

"AMBROSE!!"

No sooner had the scream escaped her lips then the darkness flooded the room.

It swallowed her. It engulfed her. It tore her apart and yet, it completed her. The darkness was suddenly blown away by a bright, red light. She was standing in a space ship, looking out at the huge explosion. A single tear rolled down her cheek.

Soft steps came up from behind her. She could feel his arms wrap around her, protecting her. Looking up she could see his solemn face. Letting the tears come, she buried her face in his chest.

"Oh, Ambrose, what have we done?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~

Nichole woke up drenched in sweat. The dream had come back. The dream had always been there, for as long as she could remember. Even as a little child, the same dream had haunted her at night. It had scared her more as a child, so much that not even her mother could comfort her when the dream came. She thought it had gone away. She hadn't had it for at least a year. Why had it come back?

Before she could contemplate the dream's return any longer, the doors whooshed open and Batman walked in.

"Get up. You're getting out of here."

Nichole quickly sat up. "What do you mean? I thought it was dangerous out there. Wait, you're not making me leave the Watch tower completely are you?"

A little smirk slowly appeared on Batman's face. "I'm not stupid you know."

"What do you mean?"

"You didn't honestly think that you could gain access to all the cameras in the Watchtower without me knowing?"

"Well, I was hoping." Nichole looked up at him and smiled slightly. "You wouldn't believe how boring it is here all by yourself."

Batman just met her comments with his impenetrable glare.

"Okay, then." She said, crossing her legs up on the couch. "I guess we should talk about the meeting." He was still glaring. "Maybe?"

"What do you want to know?" He finally asked.

"If I ask, will you tell me the correct answer?"

"Depends on what you ask."

"Okay. First question. Who is Carmichael?" She looked up at him like a knowledge hungry student ready to learn all that is possible from her teacher.

At first Batman just stared at the ground, as if hesitant to reveal any information to the girl. But deciding that she deserved that much, he spoke. "Carmichael's real name is Hezekiah James. He used to work at an office building as a janitor somewhere in Metropolis. That was before I met him."

"How many times did you meet him? I mean, didn't you say it was more then once?"

"I've met him twice. Once on the night you came and.....another time. When he was arrested."

"Why was he arrested?"

"He was holding a family hostage."

"Then why do you feel you can trust him? I mean, maybe he was just some crazy guy....maybe it was just a coincidence that aliens were actually coming."

"No. He saw something. That was what drove him crazy. He was trying to stop them but didn't know where to go."

"But holding a family hostage?"

"He was looking for someone....someone special." Batman said, with a weird glance at Nichole.

Nichole looked back at him, puzzled. "What? Do you think it was me?"

"No," Batman shook his head. "I think he thought it was you. Unless there's something about yourself you're not telling me."

"No. Nothing."

Batman nodded. He turned around and opened the door. "You should go now. You're going to be held under a temporary 24/7 watch so once you go out the back way find someone and stay with them."

"Wait. There's a back way?"

"Just follow the halls. You should either end up in the landing area or your bedroom. Go out in the landing area and make sure no one sees you."

"Alright." Nichole got up and went through the door. A second later she poked her head back out. "You can get to my bedroom from here?"

"Just go." He responded moodily.

Batman didn't have to say it again. Nichole quickly rushed out the door on her way to her 'freedom.'

"This just isn't making any sense." Batman said to himself. The information just wasn't fitting together. There had to be a piece missing. He had to find more information on Hezekiah. It was the only key he had.

With those thoughts in mind, Batman left his secret room, in search of the deeper truth.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Flash, could I talk to you for a second?"

Wally West turned around to see Dr. Strange standing in the kitchen doorway. "Uh, sure, but I thought you left with the others?"

"I am not the leader of any particular group. I had no reason to go."

"Oh, okay. Why don't we talk in the kitchen here?"

Flash and Dr. Strange both went into the kitchen and sat down at the odd-looking table. "What did you want to talk to me about?"

"I'd like to know more about the invisible superheroes from the girl's world."

"The girl? Oh, right. You mean Nichole. What would you like to know about them?"

Dr. Strange paused for a moment as if trying to control his emotions. "When was the last time you saw them?"

"It's been a while. There's a time difference between our two worlds so I'm not sure how long it would be their time."

"Did they tell you how they got there? Were they happy there?"

"Well, to answer your first question, I visited with them for years but that seemed to be a sensitive subject. I never really asked. But they did seem happy there, for the most part anyway. They were constantly defending people who didn't even know they existed. It's sad really. Some people called them angels."

"How many of them were there?"

"Um....let's see." Flash mumbled to himself various names while counting on his fingers. "Seven that I met anyway. I'm sure there are more of them on that planet."

"Seven? But that doesn't make any sense....I only sent five..." Dr. Strange muttered to himself.

"What do you mean? Are you saying you're the one who sent them there?"

Dr. Strange glanced behind Flash at the doorway. "Come in."

Wally turned around to see Nichole standing there. "Nicky!" He rushed over and swept her up in his arms. "I was so worried about you. Batman said he had put you somewhere."

Nichole laughed. "I'm fine. Please, put me down." Flash promptly put her down in front of him. "And before you ask, no, I can't tell you where I was."

Dr. Strange cleared his throat. "Oh, right. Nichole, this is Dr. Strange. Dr. Strange this is Nichole, the girl that held a good part of our meeting's conversation." Flash said rather awkwardly.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Nichole." Dr. Strange shook her hand. "I've heard so much about you."

"It's nice to meet you too, Dr. Strange. I assume you're a part of the backup that was called for."

"That I am."

There was a short awkward silence. "Um, I'm sorry for interrupting." Nichole stammered, looking from Dr. Strange to Flash. "You were talking, right?"

"Yes and it was just starting to get interesting. Dr. Strange, you don't mind if Nichole joins us do you?" Flash asked.

"Actually, I'm feeling rather worn-out at the moment. Perhaps another time. If you ever go back there again, Flash, tell them I said thank you."

Flash nodded. "Sure thing. If you want to rest the hang out room is right down the hall. Ask J'onn if you can't find it."

"Thank you." Dr. Strange said as he exited the room.

"Well, that was weird." Wally said, rubbing his head.

"Yeah. He knew the invisible people you met in my world?"

"You were spying?"

Nichole blushed. "Only a little. Batman told me to go find someone to watch me so I came here. I didn't want to interrupt such a good conversation."

"You never do." Wally smiled. "So, you're sure you can't tell me where you've been?"

"Sorry, but Batman would kill me. And before you say anything, yes, he would find out. He has ways of finding out. Trust me."

"Learned a little more about ol' Batty, have we?"

"You could say that." Nichole smiled slightly, almost secretively. She sucked at keeping secrets but this one she had to. Who knew if Batman was listening in on their conversation?

She let out a yawn. "You look tired. Why don't I find Wonder woman and she can watch you while you sleep?"

"Just like the good old days?"

"That was only a couple of months ago, but I guess I know what you mean. It does feel like longer. Things have gotten more complicated since then."

"Or fuzzier." Nichole whispered under her breath.

"What was that?"

"Oh, um, I think that'd be great. I am a little tired." She needed a moment to think. And even if sleep did come, maybe it would come with answers. She had to remember soon. The world depended upon it.

"Alright then," Flash responded. "I think she's in the main control room with J'onn."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Soon Nichole found herself in the old bedroom, wrapped underneath the old covers. It was nice to be back even if she had only been gone for a short while. She closed her eyes, pretending she was asleep. Inside, she was thinking....and wondering. There was so much to wonder about.

A knock at the door interrupted her thoughts. Wonder woman got up to answer it. "They're here." The voice beyond the door said. It sounded like Green Lantern.

"So soon?" Wonder woman responded.

Nichole suddenly felt so very sleepy. She tried to fight the sleep that suddenly overwhelmed her. Thinking obviously had been hard work, although she hadn't gotten much out of it. Nichole quickly drifted to sleep.

"Professor Xavier wants to see the girl. Is she asleep?" Green Lantern asked.

Wonder woman looked behind her. "Yes."

"Good. He says it would be better for him to enter her mind while she's asleep. It's easier to access her subconscious that way."

"Alright," Wonder woman opened the door wider. "Let him in."

Professor Xavier rolled in quietly up to the bed.

"Should I go?" Wonder woman asked.

"Oh, no, of course not, as long as there's quiet so I can concentrate." Professor X placed himself next to the bed and closed his eyes. "Now, let's see if we can find out the truth."

---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------

That's it for now. Once again, I'm sorry it took so long... I've got a feeling that the next chapter will come sooner. I can't wait to get started at it. It's gonna be...interesting.

Anyways, as you all know, reviews are extremely appreciated. Not to mention they do help me write faster...at least...that's what I think. ^_^