Chapter 3:

Green Lantern had devised a plan by the time he reached Gotham City. It was late midmorning, and time was of the essence. The talk with Katma Tui had reminded him, "The mind is the weapon not the metal..." and it gave him an idea. If it worked, he could begin searching for Shayera without delay. He decided to head back to Wayne Manor to somehow re-trace her position from when he last saw her, but first he had a stop to make.

Alfred answered the door, "Master Stewart. May I help you?"

"Yeah... is he in?

"Right this way, sir. Its good to see that your injuries have healed," Alfred noted.

"Thanks, Alfred. Appreciate your concern," Green Lantern responded. He was still injured far deeper than his physical wounds ever shown, but hopefully he could find the cure for that soon enough.

Alfred led him to the repaired entrance of the batcave," You have a guest, Master Bruce."

Bruce Wayne was seated at his computer center analyzing technical plans on the massive computer screen. "Lantern..." he said dryly. "Good to see you got your ring back."

He looked at John with a slight smirk on his lips, "...you're going after her, aren't you?"

"Yeah... I need something first. Do you have any medical samples of Hawkgirl?" John asked.

"I might... why?"

"I think I can track her if I can get to the molecular level of her DNA. With it my ring should be able to lead me to any Thanagarians on the planet. I just need something to differentiate her species from humans." Lantern reasoned.

"Clever...didn't know you could do that..." Bruce said as he headed towards the medical station. He reached into the refrigeration unit and pulled out a case that contained vials of blood samples of all the League members.

"Don't know if I can..." Green Lantern said optimistically, "...but I have to try..."

Bruce started to hand Green Lantern the vial, when suddenly it was enveloped in bright green energy and drifted towards John's face. Bruce could see the grim determination etched onto Lantern's face as he concentrated.

...the mind is the weapon not the metal... John thought with immense intensity.

He focused on her blood, then mentally pushed his mind past the barriers of the vial, then past the blood's surface until the vial phased into several circular projections of green light that displayed the microscopic contents of Hawkgirl's blood sample. Each time the projections phased it broke down the proteins and enzymes, layer after layer, until it finally got to her DNA strand.

"Impressive." Bruce remarked at his friend's accomplishment.

John imprinted the projection into his mind and set the vial back into the case with the others. "Thanks. Bruce, if this works, I will have you to thank."

"Don't mention it. Tell me something, "Bruce said, as he placed the case back into the refrigeration unit.

"What?"

"What if she doesn't want to come back?"

"Like you once told me... I'll have to deal with it." John said, recognizing that possibility. But he had already made up his mind that he refused to let that happen. Not this time. He needed her. He'd have to convince her of that, no matter how long it would take. He would show her that he loved her and he wasn't willing to give her up for anything.

"Thanks, I can see myself out." He smiled at Bruce as he made his way to the stairs.

"Need any help?" Bruce offered.

"Not this time," Green Lantern shook his head. "This... I gotta do on my own..." he said with strength in his voice.

John watched the secret door slide back into place as he crossed the threshold into the mansion's hallway. He made his way to the staircase when he walked upon Alfred.

"Sir, if I may?" Alfred injected. "I'm not one to pry... but, when you find Miss Hol, if you could do me the honor of giving her my best wishes? I feel that she is in great need of a friend right now."

John smiled, "I'll be glad to pass that on to her. She must have made quite an impression with you."

"Indeed, sir. She has a quality within her that few can see from the outside." Alfred commented with great resolve. "She had shown great courage for what she did. She is one that I would gladly call my friend," he smiled as he walked away.

John smiled even more. He was glad that he wasn't the only one that believed that Shayera possessed great qualities. He was proud to be in love with her.

"John..."

Green Lantern turned to see Diana walking up the staircase. "Hi, Diana." She seemed to have calmed down, since the meeting the day before.

"How do you feel?" Diana asked concerned. "Wait a minute..." she said when she noticed that he had his power ring on his hand, and no longer wearing his sling. "John, you can't be serious...," she fumed trying to remain civil. "I can't believe that you're going to look for her..."

John didn't want to lose his temper, and simply looked at her calmly. "Believe it..."

"She's not worth it," Diana said with a hint of contempt.

He looked at Diana with deep sorrow, "It's so easy for you to judge her, isn't it? Don't you think its time for you to stop looking at the world through rose colored glasses?"

"What.." she seemed confused.

"Diana, once you can put yourself in her place and try to understand why she did what she did," he looked at her rigidly, "Then and only then, can you understand what Shayera is like, because to me..."

"...she's everything..." he smiled. "Now...if you'll excuse me..."

Green Lantern walked down the staircase and headed for the door.

Diana watched him briefly not sure what to say next. "John!" she cried out. "You're right...I'll try..." she gave him a look that reached out for his forgiveness. "I'm sorry..."

When he reached the door, John turned to look at her, shimmered into his familiar bright green hue, and gave her a broad smile.

"We'll be back..." he said as he lifted up into the late afternoon sky.

"Wake up...they're coming... from the north side of the ridge..."

Shayera heard something whispering in the back of her mind, through the haziness of her troubled dreams. "...Wha...?" She was still exhausted from her broken slumber; but she knew that something was wrong.

It was dusk, and the temperature of the night air was dropping with every minute. The fire had burned down to very low flames.

"Watch out...they're coming from the north ridge..." it whispered to her mind again.

"Who's coming...?" Shayera thought as she shook off what little sleep she had drifted into. "Who said that?" She asked not sure whether she was still dreaming.

"I did..."

She looked up on the windowsill as a small sparrow landed on it looking directly at her. It's head tilting from side to side.

"There are others like you heading this way... others with wings!!" the little bird chirped anxiously.

Shayera scrambled to her feet, headed to the window and slowly peered over the sill. Using her keen eyesight revealed a contingent of Thanagarian soldiers slowly making their way through the heavily wooded area. Armed Thanagarians. Which meant only one thing. They were coming for her. How did they find her? Someone must have tagged me with a transmitter. "But how?" she wondered. My wings...?

Shayera raced over to the small fire and extinguished the smoldering embers with dirt. She then stretched her wings, and methodically examined them until she discovered a small square shaped cloth tucked under the lining of her right wing. She detached it slowly from her wing. She then checked the other wing to make sure no other devices were attached.

What was she going to do? She had no weapons, no way to call for help. Her only avenue of escape was to expose herself in the forest. She knew what they were there for. Execution. To execute the one that betrayed them to the humans. Did Talek send them... no... this is someone else. Someone that decided to come back undetected, and wanted her dead...

She went back to the window being careful not to make any noise. They were about five hundred yards from her position now. They haven't seen the cabin yet... or they would've been up here by now, she thought. Must be using some sort of tracking device...

Shayera Hol in a way felt somewhat relieved, at least she would die fighting, she decided. She needed a plan of attack. No... she would need a diversion.

"You can understand me?" Shayera sent her thought to the little bird.

"Yes."

"Would you be willing to help me?" she asked hoping that the little bird could really understand her.

The bird shook its head diligently.

"Can you carry something to the south as fast as you can and drop it as far away from here as possible?"

"I can do it." The little bird shook its head quickly.

Shayera quickly gave the patch of cloth that contained the tracking transmitter to the sparrow. It took the patch into its beak and turned to fly away.

"If they start shooting at you, drop this and find a place to hide, ok?" Shayera thought as she reached for one of the spears she'd made earlier.

The little sparrow chirped its acknowledgement as it darted off the windowsill towards the woods. It headed directly towards the approaching men, then turned sharply to the left up above the tree line and abruptly turned south.

"Target's on the move!" someone barked.

"Where? I don't see anything..." another cried out.

"Hold on..." the voice paused. "South!"

Shayera heard the rustling of flapping wings as the Thanagarians lifted themselves towards the tree line in pursuit of the transmitted signal. The little sparrow had done it. "Thanks... little guy," she laughed inwardly to herself.

She slowly opened the door of the cabin, listened intently to sounds of the night for anything out of the ordinary. She didn't hear or see anything so she darted up over the cabin and headed east over the tree tops. "That was too close," she exhaled in relief.

As she flew swiftly to the east, Shayera realized that now she has become the hunted. She actually welcomed this fact, for it gave her something else to think about other than her current troubles.