15. Message in a Bottle

"Hello Diana"

"Lois" Diana whispered at the face on the screen. Lois Lane looked haggard and tired, very unlike the prim and proper look she usually sported. She looked like she had lost a lot of weight and her breathing was labored, a breathing mask clasped firmly in her right hand. 'She's dying' thought Diana.

Lois took a deep breath from the mask and began speaking.

"Diana….. I am not sure when will you get this message or even if you will get it, but Shayera seems to think that you will return one day….and on some level so does Bruce and so do I."

Suddenly she started coughing loudly, her free hand going to her face as she coughed up blood. Immediately, Shayera appeared at her side, her one hand holding a clean cloth to Lois's mouth, while the other hand smoothed her back to calm her outburst.

Once Lois calmed down, she waved Shayera away. Waiting few more seconds to have everything under control, she began again.

"Things have gone horribly wrong. Clark is…..he's not anymore. The rest of the league has also been massacred. In defeating Darkseid, something more sinister has been unleashed on earth……something…..it's the living 'Devil'."

Lois gave the camera a half hearted smirk. "I am dying" she spoke, almost nonchalantly. "Bruce is trying everything he knows….and although I have no doubt in his abilities, I know….I know that I don't have the time…. A week at the most…."

"Lois…." Diana had tears in her eyes. It was Lois's last message.

"You know I was always afraid that you'll take Clark away from me….." Lois commented, a tired smile on her lips. "However……seeing you with Bruce and confirmation from Shayera, has finally laid that fear to rest. I used to think of myself as a very good 'snoop' detective….the great journalist and all….although not as good as 'Dark n' Broody'…But even I missed the signs. I hope that you and him can get over your differences and…..achieve happiness…with each other."

"Also…." Lois pointed a shaky finger at the Diana, a twinkle appearing in her teary eyes. "Don't think that I have only left a message for you only……you maybe a immortal Amazon…but for me, you are like the rest of us…..you made the same mistake women have been making for thousands of years….." "You fell in love with a man…..a very brave, honorable, loving…..frustrating, stubborn, hard-headed man" she smirked. "So much for that Amazonian prime law about no men, never….." Lois let out a little laugh, setting off another minor coughing bout.

"Be happy Diana….and be safe" Lois finally spoke. "...Goodbye."

The screen went blank as the video ended, leaving a sudden silence around Diana.

----

In another part of the cave,

"She's seen the video message from Lois," was the statement from the bat-chair.

"Yes" came the solemn reply from behind it.

"Its time then."

"We…..you should talk to her first…" "Explain the circumstances."

"NO" was the blunt and firm reply. "I want her complete and unconditional trust….not just circumstantial."

"How do you expect that when you don't trust her yourself" the reply wasn't an accusation but a mere statement.

"Batman…." began J'onn. "Give her your trust back." "She had been burning in her own private hell, for sixteen years. It needs to end now. She needs a lifeline…." "….and you are only one who can provide that" he ended, floating away, leaving Batman alone with his thoughts.

----

Upstairs

Wally West was sitting alone in his room. After his confrontation with Bruce, he had retreated to his room, Cassandra Cain on his thoughts. He had loved her…and seeing her again, made him realize – he still loved her – more than ever. Four years of separation did nothing to lessen it….on the other hand it only increased it. Her thoughts and the hope of seeing her again was the only thing that kept him together in his circular prison.

He had to do something. He had to convince her that he still loved her and had to know if she loved him.

A knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, bringing him back to the present.

"Who's there?" he asked, knowing that it wasn't Alfred.

"Its me," a female voice answered from the other side of the door.

"Oh" Flash muttered, he should have expected this, she always did care about her teammates…..especially Cass.

"Zee" Zatanna smile dropped a little at his sorry state. He had been his usual spunky self an hour ago; but now he looked tired….older…much older. She had an idea what had occurred between Bruce and him, and the reason for that confrontation.

"Would you mind my coming in?" Flash stepped away to allow her entry. "I am not good company right now," he offered as a weak attempt at humor.

Zatanna nodded her head, passing him and sitting down on one of the couches in the room.

After a few moments of uncomfortable silence, she finally asked, "Want to tell me about it?"

"Not really" he answered half-heartedly.

"She still loves you" Wally's head snapped up at her remark. Zatanna smiled at him. His actions just confirmed her suspicion. "And you still love her" she stated as a fact.

Wally just nodded his head, his fingers intertwined with each other.

"Wally….you can tell me" Zatanna tried again, her voice soft and encouraging.

Wally took a deep breath and began to tell her everything that had occurred between him and Cassandra and then between him and Bruce.

-----

Meanwhile, in the Bat-Cave

Batman had run this simulation countless number of times. However, the events of the last couple of days had given him new ideas and if the smug smirk on half exposed face, the new changes were working exactly as he wanted them. The probability of success had gone up from 43 to 66, an increase of twenty-three percent. Another month and it would increase by another fifteen percent – that is when his real secret weapon would finally be ready.

He had spent three and a half years getting this plan in order. In truth, he had started thinking about it the first time he turned to Zatanna. He had never thought of magic as much, but he had to compensate for the sheer physical prowess of the enemy, and magic gave him the boost he needed to keep himself and his teammates safe. 'Couldn't keep Shayera safe' came a voice from the deep recesses of his mind. Shaking that thought off, he re-focused on the results before him.

Now he felt that he was finally ready. The time was right and for once, his hand was strong. He just had to make one last confirmation – two as a matter of fact. With that final thought, he reached forward and pressed the intercom button.

"Conference room – NOW….Its time"

----

Flash's room

"What do you think he wants?" asked Wally, changing into his scarlet costume. Batman had just summoned all of them to the cave conference room.

"I think he's ready," replied Zatanna, standing outside the room, waiting for Flash to join her.

"Ready….I got that much" "But for what?" Zatanna gave him a mysterious smile.

"That's a secret….for now" with that she dissolved away, even as Flash zipped to the cave door.

----

Kitchen,

"Good luck Ms. Cassandra," Alfred wished his ward, laying a grandfatherly hand over her head.

"Thank you Alfred" Cassandra knew this day would come. She had known about the plan right from its conception and also knew that Batman was waiting for a certain push – and two days ago, he got not one but two such pushes. He must have worked tirelessly getting the new simulations completed. From his urgency, it sounded that he was pleased with the results.

---

Cave, Diana's station

Diana had just finished listening to Lois's message for a third time. Her tears had stopped but her mind was filled with new questions. What was the Devil that Lois was referring to? How did she get so sick…..so soon? How did…

Her thoughts were interrupted by a loud voice over the intercom.

"Conference room – NOW….Its time" Batman announced, his voice brooking no delay.

'Whatever it is…..it's important?' she thought, closing the file.

Rising from her seat, she made her way to the washrooms. She had to get the telltale tear stains away from her face.

---

Five minutes later, she entered the conference room to find everyone except Batman seated along the circular table. They were sitting closer than usual, leaving half of the table empty, a large projection screen before them.

Taking the only empty chair, she looked expectantly at the rest of her teammates. Flash looked as lost as her, while Zatanna looked almost excited, J'onn calm and collected, while Batgirl looked as stoic as ever, her face bereft of the mask, which was lying on the table, in front of her.

Seeing that everyone was seated, Batman started.

"Its time"