Chapter 18: A Change in Plans

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Plasma cannon opened fire as the invisible plane blasted out into the open. But the gunners could not spot – let alone track – us, and the bolts of plasma went wide, lighting up the night sky like the Fourth of July.

Behind me, I heard Superboy explaining to the terrified congressmen, "I flew Damage in. These suits are like the skin of a stealth bomber; they absorb radar. They never saw us. I was supposed to keep the soldiers away from Damage, but they didn't even know we were there until he exploded, so there was nothing for me to do." He sounded disgusted.

Batman ignored him. "Oracle, report."

"They did it," she answered crisply. "Belle Reeve was taken completely by surprise. They overwhelmed the defenses and were able to liberate all the prisoners there. Then the fake JLA turned up. They must be based there, as we thought. Nightwing says he has good video of his team fighting the fake JLA. That should put a crimp in Luthor's plans. The HDC showed up just as they were loading everyone up to leave. They had to hold them off while the shuttles got away, but everyone got out."

She paused, then continued evenly, "Empress got hurt bad. It's touch and go whether she'll make it."

Batman said nothing; he just looked grim. After a moment, he asked, "What about the prisoners?"

"Arsenal and Huntress are in bad shape, but they should make it. They are on their way back to Atlantis with Empress, Traya and Arrowette's mother. Booster Gold is OK physically but they couldn't find his suit, so Nightwing sent him back with the others. He wanted to send Arrowette back, as well, but she insisted on staying. Green Arrow, Jesse Quick, Guy Gardner, Red Tornado, Captain Marvel Jr. and Argent are fine and itching for a little payback. There was no sign at Belle Reeve of Jakeem Williams, Connor Hawke, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom or Cyborg."

"We have no confirmation that Connor was captured," Batman replied. "They'll be trying to brainwash Jakeem, not knowing he can't call up the Thunderbolt. He will be wherever the Mad Hatter and Scarecrow are. The others…." He looked even grimmer. At this rate, I thought, that scowl is going to be permanently etched into his face.

"You'll be rendezvousing with the Javelin 7 in about ten minutes," Oracle told us.

"The Javelin 7?" he questioned. "The special equipment is aboard the Javelin 8."

"I believe Nightwing had that transferred to the Javelin 7 before he sent the 8 back to Atlantis with the wounded. In any case, Nightwing is aboard the 7 and will brief you on the change in plans."

Batman was scowling fiercely now, but it was evident that Oracle would say no more on the subject.

"You know," I said conversationally, "if you keep that up, your face will freeze like that."

He turned his scowl on me and I smiled.

"For a former Goddess of Truth, you don't show much respect for it."

I laughed. I think a corner of his mouth twitch slightly, but I wouldn't swear to it.

He turned to look towards the rear of the plane.

"Atom, were you able to record everything?"

The diminutive Atom patted his equally diminutive video camera. "It's all here. Both interrogations, shots of both clone rooms, as well as some footage of that Bizarro."

"Good," grunted Batman, "that should back up the congressmen's testimony."

"Yes," cried Connelly, "we have to tell the rest of Congress what we saw."

"There is someone else who needs to know even more urgently than Congress," Batman told him.

I tensed. Evidently, he was still determined to go through with it.

"I still think this is a bad idea," I whispered softly, so only he could hear me.

"Who?" demanded Zabrowski. "Who could be more important than our duty to Congress?"

"President Ross," Batman replied.

A stunned silence followed this pronouncement. Then Zabrowski said, without heat, "You are insane."

"Think about what you've seen," replied Batman. "Do you have any doubt there is a plot to overthrow the constitution, using this manufactured crisis as a pretext?"

"There's no proof Luthor is involved," put in Connelly.

"True, but there are only two alternatives: either Luthor is guilty of treason or he's dead and a clone is about to take over his position as President of the United States. A clone controlled by General Danforth or whoever he is working for. Can you think of any other explanation?"

They looked at each other. Zabrowski shrugged. "No."

"Then Ross has to know. He is the only one in a position to act in time. Congress will need to be informed – treason is an impeachable offense, if anything is – but they can't hope to act in time to derail this. Ross can."

"Even you can't get us into the White House without Luthor finding out," Zabrowski countered. "Then our lives won't be worth spit. And how are you going to get us in to see Ross? He'll be surrounded by Secret Service agents!"

I noted with suppressed amusement that Zabrowski had, consciously or unconsciously, abandoned the pretense that Luthor might not be involved.

"I can get you into the White House and I can get you in to see Ross. I will personally ensure your safety." Batman spoke with all the assurance at his command.

The two congressmen looked wordlessly at each other. Finally, Connelly said, "We've already seen him do impossible things, Piotr. Maybe he can do what he says."

"Maybe," conceded Zabrowski. "In any case, I don't think we have much choice." He looked at Batman. "I don't suppose," he asked sardonically, "that you would take us to the Congress instead, if we asked nicely?"

I answered him. "If that's what you want."

"But," Batman added, "I would do my best to talk you out of it. Luthor will have his spies planted there. What do you think he'll do when he learns you've shown up? My guess is a second 'super hero' attack will wipe out the entire congress and force Luthor, reluctantly, to assume absolute power. Luthor would prefer to have dictatorial powers granted him legally, but I'm sure he would dispense with the legalities in a pinch."

That produced a second stunned silence. "He would have to," Zabrowski whispered. "He's in so deep, he wouldn't have a choice."

"Then we don't either," said Connelly. "We'll have to do as he says and hope Ross is up to handling the situation."

"Good," grunted Batman. He turned to me. "Hold out your hands."

Mystified, I did as he asked.

"Invisible plane," Batman ordered, "check Diana's hands for radiation."

"There are trace amounts of radioactivity present," the plane intoned immediately, "similar but not identical to kryptonite radiation."

"Must be synthetic kryptonite," Batman grunted. "That's not good. Superboy will have to be careful."

"I don't understand."

"They impregnated the walls of that prison cell with minute amounts of synthetic kryptonite so they could contain the Bizarros, if necessary. You got some on your hands when you ripped the grill off. That's why you had such an easy time fighting the Bizarro – the kryptonite weakened it."

I was amused at his idea of an "easy time", but I took his point: my previous encounter with a Bizarro had been far less successful.

"Stay away from Superboy," he added.

"The amount of radiation is too small to have an effect on a being of Kryptonian heritage," the plane responded.

"Most of the kryptonite must have been rubbed off during the fight," Batman commented. "Too bad."

"So I'll have no advantage if I tangle with another Bizarro," I translated.

"Affirmative," the plane responded. Then it added, "We are coming up on the Javelin 7."

I turned and looked forward. I could see the flame from the Javelin 7's engines off to the left. The invisible plane turned towards it.

Once we were close enough, I mentally ordered the invisible jet to form a conduit joining the two planes. Superboy and Damage raced each other across, enjoying the sensation of walking on air. The two congressmen were a different matter. Intellectually, they knew there was a solid path in front of them, but their emotions were telling them they were about to step out into thin air at 30,000 feet. While Batman waited impatiently, I coaxed them into crossing. Connelly, I noticed, kept his eyes resolutely shut the whole time. I followed behind them, with Batman crowding behind me.

I stepped into the Javelin 7. It was packed: in addition to Superboy, Damage and the congressmen; the craft held Nightwing, Supergirl, Flamebird, Changeling, Steel, Mary Marvel, Jason, the Ray and Lois Lane. Supergirl was scowling, her anger barely under control. Empress was one of the 'kids' she had been in charge of and clearly she was taking it hard.

"What's this about a change in plans?" barked Batman, even before he had fully entered. I stepped out of his way and watched as he scanned the crowd. His eyes fixed on Lois Lane.

"No."

"Ah, come on, Big Guy," Nightwing wheedled, grinning. "I had to put up with her. Now it's your turn."

Lois paid no attention to this. She marched straight towards Batman, halting with her raised nose nearly touching his chin.

"I'm coming," she stated. "You need me for the same reason you need the congressmen. I can attest to what happened at Belle Reeve. I know both Ross and his wife personally; they're good friends of my husband. They'll believe me."

Batman's scowled shifted to Nightwing.

"Hey, I didn't tell her!"

"What? You thought I wouldn't figure it out?" Lois sounded insulted. "Your story about Congress wouldn't fool a cub reporter. It would take them days to make up their minds; Luthor won't give them that time. You have to go straight to Pete Ross, and I'm coming with you."

"No."

I said, "Welcome along, Lois."

Batman turned to me, looking – beneath his scowl – surprised and hurt.

"We both know who's going to win this argument," I told him. "I'm just speeding things along."

He grunted. "Let's get ready. We don't have much time."

Author's Note: Diana fought a Bizarro in the "Trinity" mini-series.