21. Secret Weapon…s

"Long time no see"

"CASSANDRA." Diana gasped as the golden haired woman came out into the light, her beautiful facial features looking eerily familiar.

"Hey Diana," Cassandra Cassie Sandsmark, Aka. Wonder Girl grinned tearfully as she rushed forward and hugged her 'Aunt'. "Good to see you. We missed you, a lot."

Diana hugged her tightly, too choked up with emotions to say anything in response.

"Diana," Wonder Girl drew back, staring up at her mentor and fellow gifted superhero, joyful tears flowing down her cheeks. "Say something?"

"Its-its…." Diana took in a deep breath to calm her already frazzled emotions. The just ended day's events and its affect on her still fresh in her mind. "Its nice to see you too," she said finally, forced her voice to regain its composure.

"You're telling me," Cassie grinned and shook her head. "When Oracle told me that you had returned, I almost didn't believe him. Not until he showed me the security video from our latest records."

"Oracle? Him?" Diana's brow creased. "But Oracle was…" she trailed off, not wanting to speak out aloud about the death of Barbara Gordon, the first Batgirl and the only Oracle she knew about.

"Yes," Wonder Girl lifted her hand and pointed towards her companion, who was still shrouded in shadows, a habit which he retained from the time he had spent with the Dark Knight.

If seeing Cassandra was a shock that left her mouth open, seeing the new Oracle was a shock worthy of a heart attack. Managing to avoid that, Diana settled for taking a step back and lifting a hand to cover her gaping mouth.

"Wonder Woman," the trademark grin greeted her as a shadow from the past came to life before her. "Batman," he gave an air salute to his mentor.

"Oracle," Batman greeted back as he stood back allowing the others to step forward to greet their teammates.

"Timbo," Flash exclaimed as he zipped up to his friend and teammate, Tim Robin-nee-Oracle Drake, who ducked and easily avoided the back slap coming along his way.

"Not so fast West," he snapped his fingers at the crimson-garbed Flash. "I know your tricks. Nice to see you too," he responded as shook hands with the speedster. "Hey Zee, Cass, J'onn," he tilted his head and greeted over Wally's shoulder. Letting go of his grip, he stepped up and hugged both Zatanna and Batgirl in turn.

"Oracle," J'onn greeted evenly.

"Lets go," Batman started walking away from the group.

----

Walking behind the caped crusader, the group made their way through the dimly lit corridor.

"Cassandra how did you…?" Diana started out.

"Get here," Wonder Girl completed, gesturing towards the walls around her and towards her teammates. "Get with them?"

"Yes," Diana nodded hesitantly, wondering why no one had told her about this earlier. Not even Zatanna had mentioned anything remotely related to this. Whatever it was, was something big.

"She found me," Cassandra thumb gestured towards the stoic form of the other Cassandra, Batgirl. "Don't worry, I'll tell you everything. You guys are going to be here for at least a day. It will take you that long to get up to speed…and meet everyone."

"Where is here?" Diana looked around. "And meet everyone? Who else is here?"

"Here is…here," Cassie grinned as lifted her arm to gesture through the door that had just slid open. "And everyone...that's a secret. One that be revealed to you soon."

Stepping through the opening Diana's eyes widened as the sight before her.

-----

"Welcome to Resistance Central," Cassandra announced proudly. "Secret hideout, training facility….and for the last three and a half years; our home."

"Hera," Diana exclaimed in surprise.

It was HUGE.

Although similar in setup to the bat-cave (s), this facility was at least ten times as large. In every direction.

"Holy sh…crap," Flash corrected himself, stopping in his tracks as he took in the sights along with her. "What is this place?"

"Its…" Cassandra started to tell, but stopped as she remembered where and for what they were going right now. "You'll soon know."

"Is everything ready?" Batman questioned the younger man walking next to him.

"Yes boss," Tim answered with his seemingly unflappable enthusiasm. "Everything and everyone. Present and accounted for."

Stopping in front of yet another door, Batman turned to the two new and very surprised heroes.

"What you are seeing around you is our second base. The one I had told you about. On the other side….is years of hard work and labor, and the one thing that is going to help us to bring our enemy down. Are you ready?"

"Yes," Flash answered instantly, while Diana just gave a nod in return.

"Good," Turning around Batman stepped towards the door.

-----

What awaited them on the other side, stunned both superheroes into silence.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Tim stepped aside, placed one hand behind his back and bent slightly to give a mock bow to let them through. "I present to you our secret weapon….the EARTH RESISTANCE"

-----

"Holy mother of…." Flash gasped in surprise. "How many of you are there?"

"Why don't you count fo…." The words were not even out of Tim's mouth when a red flash zoomed through the large hall, counting each present male and female in the room."

"I don't believe it," Flash came to rest. "Two hundred and Fifty three. You have two hundred and fifty three people you are training in this secret facility of yours. And you didn't tell us about this. WHY? I knew about you and Cassie, but the rest of them?"

"We would have, but you weren't there for us to tell you about it," Batgirl answered on behalf of her father and the rest of the in-the-know team members, her words cutting right through Flash's enthusiasm to his heart.

"We don't have time for this," Batman ended their line of talk. "We have more important matters at hand."

"Cass…" Flash whispered dejectedly as Batgirl walked away behind the caped crusader.

"What's wrong with them?" the blonde haired Wonder whispered to Zatanna. "Oh god," she suddenly remembered the past shared by the scarlet speedster and the female 'Bat' incarnate. "How could I forget?"

"Yes," Zatanna nodded sadly. "This is not a good time for…."

-----

"Get back to the batwing," Batman rushed past them.

"Why? What happened?" Tim followed behind him. "Is something happening at the 'cave? Do you want…?"

"No," Batman cut him off. "You stay here. Only those who came with me will go back."

"What happened Batman?" Zatanna asked worriedly as she levitated and moved alongside him. "J'onn?"

"We are needed elsewhere," J'onn calmly replied. "Alfred has just transmitted a video from one of our surveillance cameras placed in what used to be Smallville."

"Oh god," Zatanna gasped as J'onn telepathically relayed a mental picture. "He's ALIVE."

"Who are you talking about?" Diana questioned as she flew alongside them.

"Who is alive?"

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Note: Next chapter (Ch.24) of 'Symmetry' has also been posted. Please R&R that too!