A Whale of a Tale

By Icha

Rated: T

Summary: A massive whale stranding threatens to disturb Bruce and Diana's holiday in Bali! Guest starring: the almost forgotten Cascade, and Aquaman - the King of the Oceans.

Disclaimer: Batman, Wonder Woman, Cascade, Aquaman, Martian Manhunter, the Batclan and the Global Guardian belong to DC Comics. I deliberately developed the second persona of Cascade (i.e. Chandragita Delphina), her job and her life in Indonesia. This story is in continuity with 'Roses of Paradise'. Many thanks to Athena Phoenix for beta reading.

Chapter 2. Turning the Tides

Cascade emerged from her jeep. She had changed to her blue-green costume there, while contacting Aquaman through the Justice League commlink. She was not a member of the League, but her Global Guardian communicator had a direct link to the League's emergency channel on the moon. Martian Manhunter had answered her inquiry directly, but to her dismay informed her that Aquaman was occupied in Hawaii. She then was patched directly to Orin, finding that the King was indeed busy in the Pacific.

"I can't help you now, Cascade, sorry about that. But I will come down there as soon as the problem here is solved," His royal voice reassured the worried Cascade. "And I am sure you cannot guess the problem I face at the moment."

Cascade frowned. How the hell should she know? Was Aquaman having problems with Meera, perhaps, during their holiday in Hawaii? "Er... I dunno. Something to do with the sea?" Sounds stupid, but what else could it be?

"Stranding! I have whales stranding here as well. Multi-species, as you have in Bali!"

Cascade blinked to hear the information. "You are suggesting that these two events are somehow connected?"

"It's a hunch, but I'd bet on it. I still have to go to Baja; it seemed that the gray whales there are going AWOL as well. But I will come down to see you later."

"Acknowledge. Cascade out." Then telepathically she added to J'onn, "Thank you, J'onn."

"You're welcome," J'onn's voice calmed her anxiety. "I will try to contact other Leaguers adjacent to your area. I might be able to send two of us to you."

"Thanks. I will try to hold the ship now. Talk to you later," Chandra opened the jeep and ran to the water. She felt a greater freedom of movement as she donned her blue-green suit, much better than her blue jeans and rain jacket.

Running through the heavy rain, Cascade could see that some volunteers already halted their rescue, and now sheltered under the ketapang trees that grew along the road. She did not worry about it; the whales would survive the rain. It was the tanker that she was worried about. And Manis's labor. Also the sperm whale mother. She wished that her Global Guardian friends were around to help her; but most of them were also occupied by an earthquake in India.

She heard Yanti and Aditya cry out as they spotted her; recognizing Chandra behind Cascade's costume. She did not have time to say anything, so she just waved to them. She knew that she had risked her privacy by revealing her secret identity to the public like this (her costume had no mask or cowl), but she didn't care.

Cascade felt the water touching her skin as she entered the sea. She didn't feel the chill, though, as her power protected her from extreme water temperatures. She swam quickly to the tanker ship that currently was just two kilometers away from the beach. She saw some of the ship's crews start to get out of the ship and into the safety boats, only to find that the boats were not safe either. They should've stayed inside the ship, as the ship had not crashed yet, let alone sunk.

As she approached the ship, Cascade slowed her speed. She studied the tanker ship, and her heart sank a bit. It was very large indeed. Floating on the water, she lowered her hands to her solar plexus, summoning her power over the water. She raised her hands again to the sky, and at the same time the water column in front of her started to bubble and rise, creating a wall of water. She pushed her hands forward, and by doing so the water wall moved forward against the strong surge and winds. She heard gasps and shouts from the ship, as the crews stood in awe to watch the high water wall. She heard them shouting "Who is that?", "Mermaid!", etc. to one another. As the ship became stable, some of the crews in the safety boats had started to climb back to the tanker ship.

Cascade gritted her teeth. Her actions had stabilized the tanker, but not for long. The wind blew harder, as if it was aware of her challenge. What a fool she was to not be able to cope with a tanker ship and hard winds. She remembered her 'failure' during the Aceh tsunami, and determined not to fail again. There was no Global Guardian or Justice League this time, but she had to win this fight. Or she had to spend her next days cleaning Candidasa from the oil spills and burying dead whales at the beach. She summoned the Power of Water again, praying that the Existence would help her. She had planned to push the tanker away from the shore, and perhaps steer it to the Pertamina harbor.

"Need any help, Cascade?" A familiar feminine voice in English disturbed her concentration. Chandra looked into the sky, to the source of the voice. Her eyes widened in disbelief.

"Wonder Woman! You're here! What are you doing here?" Cascade cried out in the same language.

"Trying to help you, apparently," Diana grinned to see the blunt surprise in Chandra's face. She liked this young scientist that bore the same name as she did (in the ancient Sanskrit language, Chandra also means 'the moon', whereas 'Diana' is the Roman Goddess of the Moon).

"Great! I definitely need your help with this big thing," Chandra still held her hands upwards, struggling to maintain her water walls. "I think we better get rid of this ship right away."

"Understood. Where should I take it to?" Diana flew downwards and dived to the sea. A moment later the giant tanker ship was lifted from the water, held by Wonder Woman from below.

"To the Pertamina depot over there!" Cascade gestured westward. She then turned to the crews and shouted in Indonesian. "Don't worry, Sirs! Wonder Woman will take your ship back to the harbor!"

Diana nodded, and flew westward to the depot. The tanker ship created a large waterfall as she lifted it, making more crews gasped in awe. She managed to turn her head to Cascade and shouted, "Go back to the beach! Batman is there with the whales!"

Cascade's mouth dropped in more disbelief. Wonder Woman was here; she could understand that. Diana had a tendency to go international with her mission as the Amazon Ambassador. She had even met Diana several times during some humanitarian meetings in Indonesia. But the Batman? Jeezzz...wasn't he the one who always lurked in the dark corners and scared the criminals of Gotham? Cascade heard gossip that the Batman was a mere urban myth created by Gothamites. Hmph, she would not be surprised if Batman was an agent of the Sith!

She shrugged and swam back to the beach. She saw two young male killer whales, a few spinner dolphins, and three pilot whales swimming nearby; all were already freed from the beach. The rain had subsided, not as heavy as before, but still raining. Good. If you are in the whale rescue business, rain is better than the sun. Sans tanker ships, of course. And no pregnant whales or angry whale mothers.

She stopped swimming, amazed at the scene she saw on the beach. A slim black futuristic jet hovered above the water. It must have been Batman's vehicle, as she recognized patterns of bats everywhere, from the wings to the jet tail. And there, on the beach, next to the little sperm whale, was the Batman. A tall dark figure with long black cape swirling in the rain, talking to Niartha. Cascade saw the tall Dark Knight nodding several times to the reporter, and looked at the sea where the sperm whale mother almost beached herself in her attempt to rescue her calf.

Cascade turned her attention to the killer whale pods, especially to Manis that would be laboring in minutes. Parama and Yanti were standing next to the female whale, with mixed expressions of relief and worry in their face. Cascade knew that they had to save Manis first. The sperm whales would have to wait.

She swam again to the other corner of the beach, approaching the sperm whale. Niartha nodded to her in recognition.

"Well done there, Chandra," he said, " – or should I say, Cascade?"

"Anything will do now," Chandra shrugged, turned to Batman. "Thanks a lot for helping us, Batman. I was not expecting you here."

Batman only nodded. "We'll take care of this young whale then?"

"We can't. There's a female orca over there that will deliver her baby in minutes. We have to make her the first priority."

"I don't think you need me to help with the delivery," Batman commented, his chin gestured to the sky. "Diana can help you for sure."

Wonder Woman was flying to the beach, and descended gracefully. Her wet hair made her look even more exotic than the last time Batman recalled her. She grinned and said, "Everything is under control there. They will have to make sure their ship is worth cruising afterwards, though. I don't think we need another thing like this to happen again."

"I trust that you also handled the crew well?" Batman asked matter-of-factly. "No 'autographs for my children'?"

Diana laughed. "Actually two of them did ask me for signatures, on top of their wet hats. I said I didn't have a pen, but then they handed me a waterproof marker. So I had to give them." She shrugged, and turned to Cascade. "Nice to see you again, Cascade. You have plenty of whales here."

Cascade grimaced. "Yeah, I suppose I'm the richest girl in Indonesia now. There's also another whale that will be delivered soon, or die if we don't help the mother. I need you to help me again, Wonder Woman."

Diana nodded. "I will lift the whale and bring her to the deep water, so she can deliver safely."

"Do it," Batman agreed. "I will stay here to drag the young sperm whale and other whales to the sea. I don't have the Batboat with me, but the Batwing would suffice."

Cascade looked at the sky. The rain had nearly stopped, and the volunteers already began to resume their rescue (and also to admire Batman and Wonder Woman).

"There are many of us here, so the rescue would be quick. Niartha and Aditya here will help you," she gestured her two friends to Batman, almost blurted out laughing. Niartha, a professional reporter as ever, did not show any admiration at all of the Batman. He did, however, start writing in his waterproof notebook. A quick interview with the Batman, of course. Aditya on the other hand was dumbstruck. His mouth dropped and his eyes just widened in awe. Cascade was very sure that he would ask the Dark Knight for an autograph right there, on his wet t-shirt.

Diana beckoned Cascade and lifted her to the sky. A short trip, and they descended again to the killer whale pod. As they landed, a bunch of people had already gathered. Not to rescue the whales, apparently, but to ask for photographs and signatures from the Amazing Amazon. Parama and her TV crews were ready with their cameras and microphones. Cascade clenched her jaw in annoyance. She also admired Wonder Woman, and understood why the people there just flocked to see her and have her smiling at them. But this was just not the right time!

Diana noticed that as well, as she raised her hands and said, "Please, I have some whales to rescue here. I will return to you later on. But right now I really appreciate if you help us with the rest of the whales." Her Indonesian was pretty good, with a hint of an accent. She then turned back to Cascade, who had already squatted next to Manis, examining her.

"How is she?" Diana asked.

"Still fine. But we really have to move her now. Her baby is going to pop out any minute."

Diana nodded, spreading her arms across the female orca, and lifted her to the sky. Swimming, Cascade followed her to the sea. A few hundred meters later, the Amazon dived down, and plunged herself and Manis deep into the sea. The water in that spot was already deep. The rain and wind had already stopped, making it easier for the delivery. Underwater, she turned her back to see Cascade approaching. The whale scientist gestured her to the surface.

"What then?" Diana asked her friend as they surfaced.

"We have to assist her now. Usually other female killer whales would assist her in the labor. But we have only freed two young male orcas. All the female killer whales are still stranded, and it will took more time for them to recover and perform as nurses."

"So we need to stay and nurse her then?" Diana asked, then stopped as a thought entered her mind. "I can talk to her. My telepathy with sea animals are not as good as Aquaman's, but that should do now."

Cascade nodded in relief. "Yes! How could I forget that? You possess the power over animals. Manis would listen to you too."

"Done then. You tell me what to do." Diana grinned to see Cascade's excitement.

"Well, for now, just talk to her. Soothe her, make her sure that everything is fine. Later as the baby is born, we have to guide it to the surface for its first breath, and then help it to suckle the milk from its mom."

"Acknowledged," Diana dived again, swimming to the laboring whale. Manis was already contracting, and thus becoming nervous. Diana stroked the whale with her hands, speaking her mind to her, assuring that they would help her labor, that everything would be fine. Soon, Manis became calmer and calmer, and was ready for labor.

Still floating on the surface, Cascade scanned the beach for other whales. The danger of the tanker was gone, and this had revitalized the volunteers. They hauled themselves to the sea, dragging the whales and dolphins to the water. Yanti and Wayan were busy again with the orcas, spinners and pilot whales. Batman was still there, supervising the rescue of the young sperm whale. Cascade noticed that he had tied the rope to a strong chain that attached to the Batwing, and ordered the plane to drag the whale to the sea. It was just in time that the young whale was freed from the beach and could swim to his anxious mother. From afar Cascade could feel the relief of the helpers as they witnessed the whale mother caressing her calf, and swimming away with him, clicking and grunting in excitement.

Cascade turned her attention to the Batman who gave the rope to Niartha and Aditya, his hand gestured to the remaining whales. So he instructed them to do the same thing to other whales and dolphins. He must've programmed his Batwing in autopilot. Then, in her wonder, she saw the Batman take off his cape, leave it on the ground, and swim to their current location.

Diana surfaced behind her, literally making her jump. "I think she is ready for labor. I saw the opening, it was big already."

Cascade looked down to the water. Blood started to spurt out of Manis's genital area. The baby whale would pop out soon. She surfaced again, grimaced.

"Hard to look into the water now," she admitted. "I should've brought my diving mask."

"Here, take these," A deep baritone voice from behind told her that the Batman had arrived. She was right; he had floated near them, handing over two sets of goggles. The myth was right; the Batman was always prepared.

"Thanks," She smirked, took the goggles and put them. "My eyes are not Aquaman's; they are not adjusted to water column."

"We don't know that," Diana commented, putting the goggles over her eyes. "There are a lot of things we don't know about you. We should have a chat sometimes."

"What next?" Batman sniffed. "Blood everywhere. I take it that she's delivering."

"We wait until the delivery is over, and then we help the whale baby to surface for its first breath. Then we help it find its mom again for milk," Diana answered that question excitedly, and then grinned to Cascade. "Am I right, Chandra?"

"Perfect," Chandra smiled widely. She thought she caught something between the two famous heroes, but she could not pinpoint what it was. She dived, followed by Batman and Wonder Woman. As soon as her views were clear and her eyes were adjusted to the red water, she saw it.

A tail. A tiny black tail, spurting out from Manis's vagina. The female whale wiggled her body, trying to release her baby. The little tail also wiggled, and soon the other parts of the body popped out too. Then the little dorsal and pectoral fins. And the head. And thus a whole new whale baby came out to the world.

Cascade looked at Batman and Wonder Woman, and smiled as she saw them staring at the little whale and its mother in amazement. She beckoned Diana who nodded, and together they swam to the whale baby and pushed it gently to surface. The baby was a female, with a curvy dorsal fin and four tiny holes at the abdomen.

Diana and Cascade surfaced together with the whale baby, helping her with her first breaths. After a few minutes, they dived again, carrying the baby to her mother for milk. For a while, they watched in admiration as the baby suckled rich nutritious milk from Manis, then the women went back to the surface.

Diana beamed happily. It was a very amazing moment. She saw Cascade could not stop grinning at her side. In fact, the bronze skinned girl was crying in relief. Diana sniffled; she also wanted to cry. She turned to Batman who had been diving and surfacing with them, witnessing the same moment. The Batman was smiling, a warm smile that penetrated from his eyes through his white lenses. Diana sniffled again, and could not help the tears running down her cheeks.

"It was beautiful," she said to Batman, who just nodded in agreement. She turned to Cascade who beckoned her, gesturing to the beach. The land rescue team already saved most of the killer whales, which already were swimming to their location.

Cascade also sniffled, laughed and cried at the same time. She wiped away her tears, saying, "It's done. They are safe, they will nurse Manis and her baby from now on."

"We can leave then?" Diana sounded a bit disappointed. She did not want to leave the whale baby too soon. She turned to see Manis and her baby surfacing for the first time, all looking healthy.

"We can stay here until we are sure that the rest are healthy enough to nurse the mother and calf," to her surprise, Batman answered. "Ten or fifteen minutes. The land team was doing great, we don't have to help them."

"Thank you," both women said in unison. In a short time the other whales arrived, and to the heroes' surprise, were ready to take over the nursing role.

Batman, Wonder Woman and Cascade stayed there to see Manis and her baby. Cascade was getting very aware of the closeness between the Dark Knight and the Amazon (ex) Princess; they floated together and holding hands.

"I suppose I was late for the show?" she heard another masculine voice from behind. Turning to see Orin, a.k.a. Arthur Curry, a.k.a. Aquaman, she smirked.

"A bit late for the show, indeed. How are Baja and Hawaii?" Where's the long hair and beard? I miss them!

"You wouldn't believe it. Two massive strandings at the same time. And they were so panicked that I had to remind them who was the King of the Oceans," Orin nodded to Bruce and Diana to greet them. "Batman. Wonder Woman. I have to say that I'm surprised to see you two here."

Diana smiled. "We were...in the vicinity. But as you have arrived now, I presume everything would be in order then."

Orin frowned. "I wouldn't say it was in order at all. Nature didn't have her hands in this game."

"You were saying that something – or someone – was behind this?" The World's Greatest Detective spoke up. "Black Manta?" The Black Manta was Aquaman's archenemy.

"I couldn't tell," Orin scratched his clean chin. "The M.O. was different. I have to do some research for this," he faced Batman, "I might need your help then."

The Dark Knight nodded. "Just contact me at the JLA," He then gestured to the whales. "And now, I take it that we can leave the orcas in peace?"

The killer whales were showing signs to leave. Manis and her baby looked healthy, and so were the rest of the whales. Orin swam to the whales, clearly communicating with them. He then went back to say, "They are leaving. They said thank you for all of your helps."

Diana and Chandra beamed brightly.

"Thank you too, for letting us witnessing such a beautiful moment," Diana said solemnly, then swam back to the beach; Batman followed her closely.

Cascade nodded to both heroes. "I will catch you there. I still need to talk to Aquaman." She then turned to Orin who was watching his 'people' swimming away in peace.

"So you will guide these whales to the open sea, making sure that they're all right?"

"That's my intention, yes." Aquaman studied the pilot whales and spinner dolphins that swam approaching him, squeaking and chirping in delight. "But don't hesitate to call me again directly next time such things happen again. Just contact me telepathically, and you're with me."

"You really think something fishy behind this?"

Orin's blue eyes looked into Chandra's brown eyes in amusement. "Fishy. Yes, fishy indeed. Well, I have to go now, my friend. But I will contact you later for this fishy case."

The King of the Oceans swam away with his herds. Cascade watched him for a while in awe, then returned to the beach. All of the whales and dolphins were already freed. She saw Yanti and Aditya packing the ropes and other tools, while the rest of the crowd flocked around Batman (he had already donned his cape) and Wonder Woman. To her amusement, Batman looked very uncomfortable, though Diana was relaxed as usual. The Amazon talked to the people for a while, then beckoned to Batman. Suddenly Cascade realized that she had interrupted the two heroes' private business with this whale affair.

"Wonder Woman, Batman, I really thank you for your helps." She walked to them.

"My pleasure, Chandra. That was the first time we watched a whale born," Diana replied. We, Cascade noted. Hmm...something was really happening here.

"But I really should say that I'm also sorry to drag you here, and disturb your weekend in Bali," Cascade blurted out her deduction. They were standing far from the crowds (Diana apparently managed to dismiss them properly), so she thought that a little truth would not hurt.

To her relief, Diana smiled and said, "It was all right, really. We only spent less than two hours here with the whales. Consider it outdoor activities."

Cascade blushed, realizing that her theory was right. Wonder Woman is dating the Batman!

"Well, er... I won't bother you again for the weekend then... Er... thanks a lot, Diana. Batman." Batman just nodded, then left with a swirl of cape to his Batwing. Diana also walked to the Batwing with him. The Batwing! But Diana can fly alone, can't she?

"Er... Diana..." Cascade summoned her willpower to overcome her excitement. The Amazon stopped and looked at her. "I was wondering... if you could name the whale baby we helped just now? I might be able to spot her again in the years to come, and I want a proper name for her. Not just some numbers."

Diana frowned, thinking. "How about Amphitrite? She is Poseidon's wife, and her symbol is the dolphins."

"Her name is too hard to say," Cascade admitted, and added shyly. "I was thinking of another name actually. How about... Diana?" She blushed, and then added quickly. "If you don't mind of course."

Diana nodded in amusement. "I think Diana would be nice. Tonight is full moon, so the baby Diana would be able to swim beneath the moonlight."

"Deal. Diana, then. Thanks a lot, Diana." Cascade gave the Amazon a big hug. "And have a nice weekend then. In Ubud, I suppose?"

Diana only hugged her back, grinned widely and resumed her walking. She entered the Batwing where Batman had waited, and together they flew to the afternoon Bali sky.

FIN-

Author's note:

Eeeekkk! I did it! I wrote about three things in one story. The Batman-Wonder Woman story (my fave...), the whales and dolphins (my beloved animals) and Cascade (the forgotten heroine from Indonesia). All the Bali and whale thingies were based on my knowledge as a Balinese Indonesian who loves whales (grin). I realized this story might be a bit weird for you; what does the Dark Knight have to do with whales? But, once in a while, I just wanted to write about a more humane Batman, who doesn't have to always deal with crimes and detective works, and who can enjoy a bit of holiday. And I could not tell how happy I was to give a little hint of Bali in my story. I hope you could smell the frangipani and sweet rain of Bali as well!