5. Rescue

But then a familiar figure started materializing right before her eyes.

A figure she had least expected to see.

"J'onn" was all she could say as the green Martian came up through the mountain surface.

"Diana" J'onn seemed surprised to see her.

Batman disregarded their reactions and got straight to the point.

"What did you find? Is he here?"

J'onn looked to Batman and spoke calmly. "He's here."

Batman didn't give any intimation about who 'he' was and neither did J'onn, who was still struck to see Diana after so many years and that too with Batman.

"Security?"

J'onn nodded. "Level ten security. Apart from the external setup, they have anti-meta security inside. It seems impossible to break in or out."

"Did you find the main controls and power units?" asked Batman looking through his binoculars.

"Yes" "The main controls are on level two while the power unit is on level seven. There are also two backup generators, one on the surface and the second one on level four. Both of them are designed to startup even if there is a slight power fluctuation."

Diana looked at the building and realized that they were talking about underground levels. She still hadn't come to know who 'he' was and realized it was someone important, if they had gone to all these lengths to guard him.

"Can you get inside and disable the power unit. I'll take care of the main controls."

J'onn nodded his head, "I can, but I will need a major distraction and anti-meta defenses to be disabled."

"Ok" "Let's go. Maintain electronic and telepathic silence."

"I can help" said Diana coming forward.

"NO" Batman answered curtly, silencing her.

Diana looked to J'onn pleadingly. J'onn was silent for a few seconds, his yellow eyes glowing in the dark as he scanned Diana's mind.

"Batman, we could use her help."

"No" Batman repeated again. "I don't trust her."

----

Diana lowered her head. 'Trust' she had lost that when the 'Lords' attacked Wayne Manor. Although she wasn't a part of that attack, she didn't stop Superman from attacking. She had tried to warn Batman in advance, but he didn't take her call, so she had finally placed an anonymous call to the manor and informed Nightwing about the attack.

Unfortunately she was late and everyone was killed and the mansion and the cave were destroyed. Black Canary, Green Arrow, Robin, Huntress, Oracle and the Question, were all killed fighting the 'Lords' heroes. Only Batman, Nightwing, Batgirl, Hawkgirl, Zatanna and Alfred survived.

Diana had left the 'League' after that, not able to forgive herself for what had occurred.

"I have scanned her mind and she is telling the truth" explained J'onn. On Batman's silence he tried again. "We could use her to take out the power generators."

Batman just nodded his head to J'onn, not turning to Diana. "You co-ordinate her."

"Which level is he on?" asked Batman, climbing up the tank.

"Level six. Once you disable the controls, I should be able to get to him."

Batman nodded "Five minutes and then you go in" with that he closed the hatch. Soon the huge tank was speeding towards the base. As J'onn and Diana observed, it accelerated, doubling its speed, plowing through the fence like cardboard. The bat-tank speeded through the base, barging through four of the eight surface to air guns, toppling their towers, and over dozens of the guards, before breaking through the other side and leaving the base, but not before firing five missiles, taking out the hanger, the garage and the fuel depots.

"What…what was that?" asked Diana, stunned by the sheer ruthlessness of the maneuver.

J'onn didn't give any reaction, but spoke evenly. "It's not over yet."

As they watched, the bat-tank came to a halt, its top swiveled so that it was once again facing the base. It started to move again, gaining speed rapidly. It once again broke through the fence at another point. This time however, the guards started firing on it, but the bullets just ricocheted off. Batman started firing the external guns, taking down the guards, all the time barging into the remaining four gun towers. Once it was over, he turned the tank to the base and plowed through the first level.

It was all over under two minutes. The base was burning and looked as if it had been hit with not one but ten tanks and aircraft.

"He just killed them," blurted Diana. "He never kills."

"He never kills humans, that is his oath. It doesn't include aliens, robots and parademons...not anymore," answered J'onn solemnly.

"He has become...I have never seen him like this."

"A long time has passed Diana. Everyone has changed."

----

After another couple of minutes, there was another explosion in the base. It was their signal to act. "Come" ordered J'onn taking off. Diana followed him.

Batman had disabled all the anti-meta defenses allowing J'onn to phase himself and Diana into the base. Leaving Diana on the fourth floor he proceeded to the main power unit. Both of them didn't face major problems.

Diana had just finished destroying the power unit, when J'onn voice rang in her head.

"Diana, how far have you reached?"

"I have destroyed the power unit. What do you want me to do now?"

"Stay where you are" instructed J'onn. "We will get to you."

J'onn had barely finished, when Diana found herself in the air, moving at super-speed. It lasted for a second before she found herself on an island 'in the middle of the ocean'.

Turning around she found herself looking at another familiar face. A face with a lop-sided grin, red hair and a shaggy red beard and moustache.

"Hey Di" came the voice from the past.