FIGHTING CONTINUED in Aceh, Indonesia as relief workers took the heavy blunt of an attack by rebel forces in Northern Indonesia. Aid Workers in the region to help Tsunami Victims were forced to evacuate their camp and return to the Indonesian Capital.
"This is Rescue One," Lieutenant Jackson Karr called over the comm. "We are five miles to drop off point"
Suddenly, the Seahawk to his starboard blew up sending debris and shrapnel to the rest of the convoy. The SeaHawk covering their aft took the blunt of it and blew up as well.
"This is Rescue One! Mayday! Mayday! Enterprise, We are under attack!" But those were the last words Lieutenant Karr would say as another shoulder mounted missile hit his Seahawk. No one in his squadron would survive the day.
"WITH THE loss of a squadron of American Seahawks carrying relief workers and supplies, shot down by the rebels in Aceh and as the fighting intensified the Indonesian Government has sought help from the United Nations.
Thousands of Tsunami Victims remain unaccounted for and it remains unclear whether goods, supplies, food, water and medicine dropped from US Navy aircraft would reach the really affected provinces in Northern Indonesia..." GNN News reported live from Asia.
One man sat brooding and contemplating these events. Only he could see the evidence and suspected the hand being played. He thought of how best to help these people. He wasn't Superman but he will need his help to pull this off.
UNITED NATIONS General Assembly were gather for an Emergency Session. The death toll in the Indian Ocean was catastrophic! Almost Half a Million people already confirmed dead and many more missing. Even with the help of the Justice League, the devastation was in calculable. Rotting corpses littered the beaches of India, Sir Lanka, Thailand and Indonesia. Emergency Services in the Region were all exhausted and strained to their limit. Food and Water for the survivors and there were many survivors was nearly gone. There was a pressing need for the Nations of the World to act.
Member Nations of the UN had taken their place in The General Assembly Chamber. The Gallery above where media and visitors were taking their places had already filled to capacity.
"We will come to ORDER!" the secretary-general called from the podium. "The Chair recognizes the distinguished gentleman from India!"
"Mr. Secretary-General, fellow delegates, the Tsunami that has hit my country and our neighbors in the region has perpetuated a humanitarian crisis of epic scale! In fact, there is scarcely any facility available to administer to the survivors, much less bury our dead."
A gentleman from the Subcontinent rose up and said, "Mr. Ambassador! There is without doubt that your people are suffering, but are you not a nation with Nuclear arms- if such country has resources to build it, why not then route it for humanitarian concerns?"
The Ambassador of India countered, "My country's national security policy is not the question, our people are dying!"
For hours the membership prattled about the issue and raising other issues and Governments bickered and questioned but all knew that they needed to help. Some pointed out that regimes in the region may funnel funds into terror organizations or into graft.
On the gallery, Clark Kent stood by while the nations of the world debated how best to provide aid to the Tsunami hit lands. As the hours go by, his frustration mounted. He wished Diana was here, she was the diplomat but her recent injuries had forced her to temporarily not attend. Finally, he could stand it no longer. In a blur, the World's Greatest Hero entered the great hall. "Mr. Secretary-General, may I speak?"
The Chamber fell into a hush. "Of course, but you will need a sponsor."
"I, Artemis, by the power as acting representative of Themyscira, sponsors, Superman!"
And a handful of hands shot up to second Artemis. As Superman stepped into the podium, he began, "You have seen the Justice League take down alien threats, combat evil dictators, prevent injustice. In recent days, the Justice League failed. The League was unable to stop this tragedy in time."
Superman briefly paused and stared them all in the eye and seemingly every man, woman and child watching the broadcast which was going live across the planet was likewise looking him in the eye.
"We all know the facts. Over half a million people dead, about the same number displaced, homeless and basic human necessities- food and water nearly extinguished. The Justice League can not rescue all these people, we can not do it alone. We need you, everyone of your governments and people. Together, we can turn this from the human catastrophe that it is fast becoming, let us turn this tragedy into a symbol of human accomplishment and zeal."
For a brief moment, as applause rang across the great hall, into the streets, into the homes and offices across North America and spilling over the rest of the world, swayed into unity by an Alien from another world the peoples of the Earth agreed to accomplish a common goal.
DOCKED IN Gotham Bay at Wayne Harbor, The Wayne Foundation Flagship Yacht, Martha was a buzz with activity. Under the stewardship of Bruce Wayne, who had insider information about the event regarding Superman's address of the United Nations was leading a Fund Raiser for the Victims of the Tsunami in Asia. The gala event was attended by the gossip columnists, the movers and shakers of Gotham's High Society.
Right now, the photographers were taking pictures non-stop of the couple dancing right now on the open deck. It was sure to make the front page of tomorrow's newspaper. Bruce Wayne was dancing cheek to cheek with Queen Diana of Themyscira.
Music quietly played in the background. ...Am I Blue...
From a distance they could hear the press asking, if they were a couple. How did they meet and even some far off question if the rumors of their engagement were true and that they were to be wed in a few months.
"Clark should be here any minute." Diana whispered.
"We've never spoken about Dr. Light," Bruce replied instead as he spied Lois arriving.
...ain't these tears in my eyes telling you...
"How can you stand by with it?"
"Stand what?" Bruce asked, looking at her intently. It was hard to guess how her eyes looked. She was blind. She was disturbed by it all, not just what happened with the League. Somehow he understood it.
"These newsies photographing you all the time, writing article after article how seemingly shallow and empty your life is. Are you not worried about your family's legacy?"
...Oh am I blue? I'll bet you would be too...
"You know me better than that Diana," Bruce whispered to her ear. "When have you known me to seek attention, or to do something without an end-goal or do everything in my power to achieve an end-goal?"
"Dr. Light." Came the bitter reply-question.
They wiped my mind, Diana! It would have been the stake that broke the camel's back- The League would have fallen apart. The Justice League... as Ollie once remarked, endures. Bruce thought.
...if each plan... done fell through...
They danced quietly for minutes. Somehow he sensed her becoming more subtle. The orchestra kept playing more slowly now.
...There was a time, I was your only one...!
"More than that, Bruce... you could accomplish more than by dropping the playboy, bored rich boy act and use the full force of your real identity. Bruce Wayne will be the most loved, and cherished name in the world and not the most laughed at."
It would be nice to look into her eyes.
...But now I'm, the sad and lonely one...
"Clark once told me something like that when he set off to find Lana Lang a few months ago. 'Bruce Wayne' is just a prop. The Batman is the real person."
...Am I Blue...?
"Thats the kind of thinking that gets you into trouble, Bruce. Or have you forgotten about the woman who were killed to frame you? And that one who took a bullet for you?" She spoke those words as if she was looking at him straight in the eye.
Vesper.
Sasha.
The music stopped. Bruce looked up to where the crowed had began to gather. There was a hushed muttering as the Man of Steel descended from the heavens.
"Oh my!" said one old horrid looking woman who wore a set of diamond earrings and necklace.
The dancing stopped and Superman walked towards his friends. They still held on to each other.
"Thank you Mr. Wayne for inviting me tonight." Superman said as he shook Bruce's hand. He then turned his attention to Diana, "Your Highness," He stiffly said. There was still some resentment between the two of them about Dr. Light and Ruin.
"Such stiffness, Kal" Diana muttered as Lois approached them.
"Diana," the other woman greeted her then followed by a kiss in the cheek by Bruce.
"Lois, so nice to have you here." The billionaire said with our pretense. The four of them made strained small talk for about two minutes then in typical Bruce Wayne fashion, he called everyone's attention and he turned on the playboy charm a notch higher.
"Thank you all for coming here tonight! I don't have to tell you how much this means to the people in Asia." There was a momentary applause and Bruce profusely thank them. As the applause subsided, he said, "I wanted to make an announcement."
At the back of the deck, some people were murmuring, here comes the announcement of their engagement. One young woman added and with certainly, "Oh, no! he's going to propose to that awful blind woman!"
It is a rare occasion for Bruce to be speaking candidly. Like a master orator he summoned the control he learned born from years of training as The Batman, he stared each person in the deck in the eye.
His friends knew this look very well, this was when Bruce Wayne and The Batman somehow merged.
"My friends, I rarely speak of about my parents and rarely even in public," Bruce started. And all four people who knew him best within earshot were taken aback. The same thought crossed their minds: what's he up too?
"My father once saved a thousand people's lives in one night! He was a great doctor who ran with a good friend of his, Dr. Leslie Thomkins a free clinic near Crime Alley." He briefly paused then continued, "My mother was an amazing woman who like my father had a big heart and a deep sense of public spirit.
Seriously he panned his eyes across the room and briefly locked eyes on Diana, Clark, Lois and Alfred, "some of my closest and dearest friends have over the years have reminded me that 'I can make a difference' as Bruce Wayne."
Bruce continued under the flashbulbs and video cameras of the news media, "I have a confession to make. When I asked this ship to be built, I didn't just had them make a luxury ship. The Martha is one of the best, well equipped floating hospital, research and communications ship in the world. Tonight, I am offering her services to Queen Diana's embassy for use in the Tsunami Crisis as base of operations and hospital or however she may see fit to use her."
There was an applause then with practiced charm and wit that could seduce a crowd, "I am directing Wayne Industries' CEO, Lucius Fox to begin a donation of US2 Billion dollars over the next two years to relief and rehabilitation of the area and to provide the said funds to Queen Diana's and I will personally be in Aceh, Indonesia to support these efforts!".
As Bruce Wayne's friends and the crowd gathered remained stunned and as Diana had to shake her surprise, thanking Bruce publicly for the support and promising to make ample uses of these resources through the League and through her embassy, Lois muttered,"What's he up to?"
"I was thinking the same thing," Superman whispered. "But he isn't lying. I'd know if he's lying". That surprised both Lois and Diana who heard him utter those words in complete disbelief.
It was Lois who broke their enchantment. "Here I thought that after the glasses came off, nothing would surprise me." She muttered with only Diana and Clark hearing and understanding her.
Throughout the night, the fund raiser was a success, earning a surprising One Million US Dollars for the relief operation in Asia.
HALF WAY across the globe, in their hidden Himalayan retreat, Nyssa and Talia Al Ghul watched the live broadcast from Gotham.
Talia narrowed her eyes as she saw Bruce and Diana danced that night.
Nyssa was intently listening to Wayne as he made his announcement that night. "He knows, or at least he suspects."
Talia raised her left eyebrow, "Did you expect any less from him, dear sister? Our father always spoke highly of him."
"ALFRED," BRUCE began as he caught him in a corridor. "Did Hiro send the new deep-wing from the factory yet?"
"Mr. Okumura has indeed shipped it via WPS. He advises you, sir that the ship has not yet been field tested-."
"He meant that he hasn't had time to play with it yet."
"Notwithstanding your apparent faith in Mr. Okumura's engineering skills, he highly recommends not to take it deeper than the specs he has furnished. I have also taken the liberty of preparing additional change of clothes, supplies, utilities and I'm sure Ms. Diana will have adequate medical skilled personnel available should the need may warrant it and, oh Master Bruce, I had Ms. Green, your attorney update your will."
"Noted, Alfred. Have Dick meet me in the 'cave tonight and Tim, Cassie and Barbara link up via conference."
"Yes, sir."
14 Hours later
"TIM? BATMAN actually asked you to take this?" Cassandra Sandsmark asked her fellow Titan.
"Well, not exactly. He told me to give Cyborg a disc. My guess is that he had some weird deal with Cyborg. This plane Cyborg said was to serve as our mobile base and hospital ship while in Thailand. I think the mission was a request from the League."
"Cool, I'm cool with that." Conner said.
"This is a great plane!" Kid Flash was saying. "It even has an XBOX and a Playstation 2!"
"Oh that!" Robin smiled, "Those weren't exactly factory issued specs. I, uhh, called ahead to Hiro for those."
"Hiro built this!" Conner exclaimed, eyes wide.
"Who's Hiro?" Beast Boy asked.
"He's the new Toyman, lives in Japan in this big dojo-base-factory. Superboy and I helped recruit him a few months back. Real genius, thirteen years- well fourteen years old now. Good kid." Robin answered.
In the background the news item regarding Bruce Wayne's donation to the Tsunami relief was being played yet again.
"You know, I don't know what Diana sees in that guy. I think he's just riding on this issue. Isn't he a playboy or something?" Cassie remarked.
"Who? Bruce Wayne?" Conner asked. "Superman says, quote, unquote 'a swell guy' and if he's good enough for Superman, he's good enough for me."
"The guy did donate US2 Billion dollars, there must be something good about him, right Cass?" Beast Boy asked.
"I dunno."
Superboy glanced across the table to Robin, who he noticed didn't get into this discussion about Bruce Wayne. Didn't Wayne live in Gotham? He was about to ask that when Cyborg announced that they were on final approach to Thailand and that they were to strap themselves in for landing.
BLUDHAVEN AIR was as polluted as Gotham's. Yet Gotham's wicked stepsister didn't have the same bright sparkle of lights. Here it seemed like one long perpetual dismal night.
For Batgirl, this was home. It was her own city to protect. She had it all to herself, now that Robin's been temporarily reassigned by The Batman to work with the Teen Titans.
Soaring over her city, she found tonight, a routine patrol. Her orders from Batman was to patrol the city and clean it up. No change from previous instructions, save the fact that Robin was out of town. She noticed Batman more worried when he talked to her.
Strange that he also asked her to call him Bruce more often especially when he had his cowl down. For a woman who could read body language, she found at that moment, it was difficult to read Bat- Bruce then. Like he was hiding something from her. Then he asked her to continue trying to read and stressed it was important.
That was odd. He never explicitly would say things like that.
Now he was gone from Gotham. It was just Nightwing over there. And she looking out for things here. As Batgirl flew over her standard patrol she saw something move in the shadows.
Following her instincts, she trailed him. There was something familiar with the the way the shadow moved. It was almost like Shrike. But wasn't he in the hospital? Didn't they just fight a few weeks ago and it would take more than those weeks for him to heal.
The shadow moved closer to Wayne Industries-Bludhaven. Then she saw him. Impossible as it may be, it was Shrike! From her vantage point, Shrike was trying to break into the WI and making a clumsy way of doing it. Like he wanted to be caught.
Batgirl like a flowing ink dot dropped behind Shrike. She still could not believe it was him. His body movements were telegraphing, he wanted to be caught. But why?
"I see you want more of the beating that I gave you?"
Shrike turned back. Batgirl had expected him to smile. And he did, one second before she thought it.
"Hello, Batgirl," Shrike said with a hideous grin then he ran towards her, drawing his sword in the process.
Batgirl was ready for him. But something indeed puzzled her. Shrike was almost clumsy executing the move. Though he was not up to fighting her a few weeks ago, at least he moved exactly as League of Assassin training demanded. His telegraphed movements where amateur at best.
Batgirl didn't even try to block the kick. Instead she countered with a move of her own, sending herself flying across towards him. Her kick landed squarely on his jaw, knocking Shrike to the ground.
When Shrike fell with a huge thud on the ground, Batgirl was surprised. He stood back up. Clearly the gushing blood from his mouth was nothing to him.
"Surprised?"
"How'd you..?"
"I took a restorative dip in healing waters, Batgirl. I'm sure you're old man will appreciate that bit of information. But then, you won't be around to tell him." With that he attacked her again.
Batgirl wasn't the world's expert martial artist for nothing! She avoided his blows and countered with her own- which all connected and under another circumstance would have sent the receiver, exquisite pain.
A chop in the neck, a connecting hit to his solar plexus. Blood poured out from his mouth. His body telegraph great injury but Shrike seemingly could not feel it.
"Hehehehehe," Shrike gloated. "I'm invincible Batgirl!" Then he reached for something in his belt. A vile of green liquid which he drank.
In his ear, a woman's voice called. "Mission accomplished, Shrike. Disengage."
"NOOO!" Shrike yelled. Batgirl could see he was listening to something. A hidden comm in his ear? She asked herself.
Then she could see the effects of the green liquid. It seemed to refresh him. And he attacked her without form or thought, like madness personified. With her talents to read body language and her quick reflexes, Batgirl was able dodge and hit back without injuring herself.
Above, beyond Batgirl's sight, a woman was disgusted with the sight she saw. Such waste of trooper material. She then reached for her sniper rifle and aimed at Shrike.
Batgirl from the edge of her sight, caught the gleam of the sniper rifle and dodged accordingly but the mindless Shrike was not so lucky. Two shots hit him in the back and another at his femur. He fell to the ground.
Batgirl thought to pursue the assassin. She was sure it was a woman and was certain that it was Shrike who was the target. Then she looked at Shrike, swimming in his own blood. He would die if she did not administer first aid and call for emergency services. The woman would have to wait.
The incident troubled her and long after the Emergency Services had taken Shrike to Bludhaven General, she had filled the report with Batman. Her mentor was half-way across the world now but when she called, he answered her.
He was troubled and clearly, she was right to report the incident to her.
"Cassandra," Bruce looked at her intently. "You did good. Take some rest and keep your eyes open. Report should anything else happen."
Bruce's body language told her all that she needed to know. She had given him valuable intelligence and whatever it was he was working on, this attack was linked to that.
AERIE ONE flew over Germany airspace. Aboard her, Black Canary, Wildcat, Green Arrow, Lady Blackhawk and Oracle. Oracle had received an anonymous tip. There was going to be an attack at Kord Industries.
Kord was formerly Wayne Industries' Research and Development division, until it was the subject of a hostile takeover. It had angered Bruce, Barbara heard.
Could it be a coincidence someone was out there to undermine the World's Greatest Detective or simply just out to get Bruce Wayne? They've all been here before. Bruce had asked her to take the Birds and Ollie in for this mission.
Then it happened. From their vantage point, the Birds could see it was the League of Assassins.
Black Canary, Wildcat and Green Arrow dropped from Aerie One. They needed to stop the League of Assassins.
"Arrow, three to your port." Oracle coordinated from above.
Green Arrow answered by firing at the two Assassins. From the corner of his eye, he could see Black Canary make his way towards four more and from a distance he heard others groan and fall.
Wildcat sent him a thumbs up.
It was Black Canary who saw him. A huge hooded man standing before the gate of Kord Industries. She attacked him. Wildcat was not far behind.
The hooded man deflected ever blow Canary would give his way. He was just as fast and just as deadly. Somehow, Canary could see he was toying with them.
Wildcat gave the huge man a strong blow and the later fell but he got up quickly and sent Wildcat flying across the parking lot.
From a distance, Canary could see, Green Arrow was providing them cover, taking out the other League members.
Overhead, Oracle was observing the battle. The League of Assassins were stalling. But for what?
As Canary tried to hit the hooded man again, he sent her to kiss the ground. Then she noticed him holding his hand in his right ear. He was listening to someone. The Canary Cry would sway this battle to our side, she thought.
The hooded man in a deep voice ordered the League of Assassins to withdraw. Before Black Canary could focus her attack, the relentless man knocked her out and before she fell to deep nothingness, she saw Green Arrow fall as a sniper got him.
DR. MID-NITE was administering to his patients. Black Canary had several broken bones, and cracked ribs as did Wildcat. They were the lucky ones. They would be out of the fight for weeks.
Green Arrow's injuries were more severe though. Had Aerie One not found a very close transporter, they would be burying Ollie for the second time now. Mid-nite had done everything he could and Ollie was a fighter. That was the only thing keeping him alive.