Black Adam
Watchtower

Practice was becoming tedious. He didn't need practice. He just needed opportunity...an opening. Unfortunately, they were taking things just as seriously as they should. Trusting him would be foolish. The Martian Manhunter was no fool.

"I don't understand how we keep messing up," Shazam said, scratching his head. "It shouldn't be that hard."

"The fact that you think this would be easy proves just how immature you are."

"Twenty."

"What?"

"That's twenty times you've insulted me today and it's not even noon. You're quite a dick. Makes me think I'm not the immature one." He walked over and faced him. "It also makes me think we're failing because you don't want us to succeed."

"I told you I would cooperate. Have I done anything besides that?"

"Yes. You've been a dick. J'onn?"

"I can't read his mind, so I don't know. He hasn't tried anything...yet." Manhunter hadn't taken his eyes off of him since he'd gotten his powers back. Shaking him wouldn't be easy, but no one was perfect.

"We're wasting time talking. If there's a timetable, we need to keep working until we get it right."

They exchanged a look and turned back toward their fake "target".

"Fine," Shazam said. "Let's run it again."

Zatanna
Shadowcrest

"You're not going back there again!"

"Zoo!"

"No! We can't just show up on a whim!"

"Zoo!"

"You crazy little wizard...come over here." Thomas ran over to her and she scooped him up. "You, sir, are a mess."

"Zoo!"

She swung him over her arm and dangled him upside down. "No, no, no, no, no!"

He laughed and wiggled, trying to get loose. "Zoo!"

"Don't make me cast a spell on you!"

"Zoo!"

"I'll turn you into a frog!"

"No!"

"A big, slimy frog!"

"No!"

She righted him and tossed him on to the couch so she could tickle him into submission. "You will stay with me, sorcerer!"

"Okay, okay," he said through his giggling fit. "Stop, Mama. Stop!"

"So, I win?" He nodded and held onto her hand to stop the tickle torture. "Now I know your weaknesses." Picking him back up, she walked down the hallway and turned toward the sun room. On the opposite end, she came to a door that blended in with the wall. "I want to do something," she said, taking Thomas's hand and placing it on the hidden door.

"Outside?"

"Looks that way, but no. This leads to a different kind of outside. Now...tnarg mih ssecca." The door glowed and unlocked before creaking open to let them inside. She'd spent weeks working on the safe room. She'd spent just as many weeks keeping it a secret. It wasn't something she had ever felt like she needed before, but she couldn't shake the creeping sense of dread in the back of her mind that her wards wouldn't be enough to face all of the coming threats. Maybe it was the paranoia of motherhood, but she wasn't going to take the chance that it was something more. If nothing else, life had taught her to trust her instincts.

Thomas squirmed his way out of her arms and headed to the stack of toys in the corner.

"Play wif me, Mama." He got on his knees and pushed a red car along the floor.

"I can do that." She sat down next to him with another of the cars. "This isn't much, but it has what you need to survive, if it comes to that. No one can reach this place if you don't want them to, or if they're trying to hurt you...it doesn't even exist, really."

"Boom!" He crashed his car into hers, ignoring her orientation.

"We're outside of time and space right now. It's the safest place possible."

"Vroom! Jump!" He ramped the car over her foot and let it topple over onto the ground. "Oooh, no."

"I'm glad you've decided to take this seriously." Smiling, she kissed his head and picked him back up. "Let's go back home. You can help Alfred with dinner and play more. No need to worry about safe rooms today."

Bruce met her downstairs to train. He was still making her wear her armor, which she was beginning to think was just because he liked the way it looked on her. There was no practical purpose to it; she'd proven that she could fight in it.

"Leverage. It gives you the advantage against a larger opponent."

"I know. I've used it on you," she said, taking her place behind him.

"Uh huh. But only to take me down. If you use it effectively, you can break my arm or leg, too."

"I don't want to break your arm or leg."

"I appreciate that, but just hold here." He put her hand on his forearm. "Keep your weight on your back foot. You can bring your knee up just behind your hand." He nodded to her.

"Yeah, I'm not going to do that."

"Don't do it hard enough to break anything, but show me you can keep your balance."

Frowning, she slowly brought her knee up and tapped it against his arm. "There. Balance is good."

"A little faster."

"No."

"You won't hurt me, Zatanna, just..."

Instead of bringing her knee up, she gripped his arm tighter and spun around, bringing her front leg around to sweep his feet out from under him. He stumbled forward and gave her a glare.

"I said no!"

"You're not following directions."

"I'm not in a direction following mood."

He pounced on her, tackling her to the ground with a grunt. "Difficult."

"Just now figuring that out?"

"No, just making sure you're aware." Lifting himself up, he rested on his elbows, keeping her pinned. "You texted that you wanted to talk to me about something."

She wrapped her legs around him and pulled him back down. "Right. I finished up a project I've been working on."

"What kind of project?"

"One to protect..."

His wrist started to buzz, interrupting her.

"Damn. Give me a minute." He hopped up and walked to the computers. She could hear his rumbling voice on the phone. When he returned, he was scowling. "I need to meet the others downtown."

"Anything I can help with?"

"I'm not sure. We might have found another Scarecrow victim. I'd like to question him before he winds up in Arkham."

She nodded and stood. "I understand. I'll take out my pent up rage on the punching bag, instead."

He gave her a quick kiss and headed to suit up. She took the opportunity to shed her own armor and carry out a lone workout….hopefully with less blood and fewer threats of broken bones.

Batman
Gotham City

"This one is different," Batgirl said, leading him toward a man sitting on the ground.

"Different how?"

"You'll see."

Batman stopped and stood over him. The man calmly looked up.

"I need your help, Batman," he said.

"What's your name?"

"Michael Arroyo. Mike."

"What is it you need my help with, Mike?"

"I attacked your friend. The other one."

"Batwoman? The attack in the alley."

He nodded and shifted his weight. "The handcuffs...they're a good idea."

"You're welcome, I guess," Batgirl muttered.

"I've been trained...conditioned."

"By Scarecrow."

"Yes. There are many of us," he closed his eyes and shook his head slightly.

"Did he send you to talk to us?"

"No. If he knew I was talking to you…maybe I shouldn't be." He glanced around nervously. "Take me to prison."

"Not until you tell me what you know."

"Damn it, if he finds out..."

"I'll protect you. Tell me."

Mike shook his head again and looked down. "He thinks he's creating a fearless army. He's convinced that what he's doing is helping us."

"He's wrong?"

"I'm terrified," he said quietly.

"Of him?"

"Yes. And of what will happen if I turn against him. It's too late, now."

Batman looked to Batgirl and directed her a few yards away.

"Your impression?"

"He does seem afraid, but it could be an act."

"How did you catch him?"

"I didn't. He walked up to me and handed me this." She held out a glove. "It's Batwoman's."

"Hmm. Let's take him in. I want to run blood tests."

"I'll check him for trackers and blindfold him."

"Okay, put him in the car and I'll deal with him so you can keep patrolling." He walked back over to the man. "You're coming with me. You'll be safe."

It seemed too convenient. Scarecrow was trying to get to his family, so this could be an attempt to do just that. Still, he needed to know more, so he couldn't pass up the chance to talk to Mike further. Once he got him to the cave and into a cell, he brought him food.

"Where are we?"

"Somewhere safe." He walked into the cell with him. "I need to draw blood samples from you."

"What for?"

"Trust goes both ways, Mike."

"Guess so." He held out his arm and took another bite of the sandwich. "How long will you keep me here?"

"Depends on what I find." Batman drew several vials of blood. "I'll let you rest tonight. It's not the Ritz, but it's safe. I'll be back in the morning."

"Better than the streets," Mike said quietly as he walked back down the corridor.

Bruce changed back into his street clothes and went to the computer. He set it to analyze the blood samples; the results would come in by morning. It was only 10:00, so he headed upstairs, hoping to find someone awake, but with no luck. Thomas was in bed and Zatanna was asleep in the library, book in hand. He got on the couch with her and buried his face in her hair.

"Okay?" She mumbled.

"Yes. Sorry I had to leave practice."

"It's okay. Glad you're back." She opened her eyes and smiled. "Still want me to break your arm?"

"No. I could go for more baby making practice, though."

She kissed him and moved to face him. "Mmm...in that case, I'm feeling much more like following directions now." Shoving his shoulders, she dumped him to the floor onto his back and and crawled down on top of him. "Any requests? Demands? Friendly suggestions?"

"Fuck me till we pass out?"

She laughed and moved down, using her teeth to pull at the waistband of his pants. "Care if I start down here?"

"I don't think that's how baby making works, but please feel free start down there."

Scarecrow

"You saw them take him?"

"Yes. He wasn't struggling."

Scarecrow paced the room. One of his followers was now in Batman's hands. "He took the glove?"

"And gave it to them, yes."

Nodding, he paced back to his workbench. "I have things to do."

Batman
Batcave

"Start from the beginning. How did you meet Crane?"

"Crane?"

"Scarecrow. His real name is Jonathan Crane."

"Oh, okay. He never gave his real name. I was living in tent city downtown and he approached me one night. Threw something in my face that made me cough...made me hallucinate."

"It's a toxin."

"It sucks...but not as much as the injection. I can't even tell you how horrible my nightmares were on that shit."

Zatanna. She's never fully told me.

"How long were you exposed?"

"Just one big dose, but between that and the torture..."

"He tortured you?"

"Not so much physically, but the device he used to inject me was pretty bad. It was the psychological torture...breaking me down. I would have done anything to make it stop. I would still do anything to never experience it again."

Batman paced in front of the cell. "How many?"

"I would guess 30 of us now. He takes one or two, conditions them. If they fail...I don' t know. I never see them again."

"How many have failed?"

"Dozens."

Fuck this bastard.

"He told you to attack Batwoman?"

"He told us to attack any of you we could. We saw her cross that rooftop occasionally. Not often, but we tried it until it worked. Your armor...damn, that's some tough shit."

"You tried to inject her."

"And failed, miserably. Like I said...it's tough."

"So you beat her, instead." His voice wasn't hiding his anger very well. He needed this man's help, but he'd hurt a member of his family.

"She survived, right? I hope she did."

"If you cared about her, you wouldn't have been in that alley." He stopped pacing and moved closer to the bars. "Why are you here?"

"Because I want to help. I know where he is."

"Where?"

"There's an abandoned mine southwest of town. On highway 32."

"Gilded Ground Mining Company."

"Yeah, that one. It's well guarded."

He turned and walked down the hall. "I'll be back when I find out if you're telling the truth."

Tossing his cowl onto the desk, he pulled up the drone controls and sent out a group call alert.

"Hey, what did you learn?" Barb asked when she connected.

"He gave me a location. I'm getting the backup drone out now."

"Let's get the bastard," Kate said, stepping away from her camera.

"Don't suit up just yet. Let's see what I find. I'm not sure I believe the guy."

"Another ambush attempt?" She asked, still gathering her suit.

"Possibly. I'm not leaving anything to chance. Plus..."

"The drone can scan for the toxin without us being near it," Tim said, joining the call.

"Right. If we find signs of life, meet here ASAP. We're not going to wait around and give him a chance to get away."

He steered the drone toward the highway Mike had mentioned, and followed the signs to the mine entrance. Zooming in, he started to sweep the area.

"Anything?"

"The lock on the gate looks new. Tire tracks."

"I'll be over in ten," Kate said, fully suited up.

"Same," Tim said.

"Yep," Barb said, hanging up.

Bruce hung up the line and moved the drone further down the road. He set it to hover over the door to the mine and turned the scanners on. It was a good place to hide...deep and secluded. The drone wasn't detecting any of the toxin, but it didn't mean this wasn't the place. Please be the place.

When the others arrived, they all gathered around the computer.

"Who stays and monitors?" Tim asked.

"Sure as hell won't be me. I want a piece of these guys," Kate said.

"None of us. I've already let Alfred know. We're going in together."

"Good. I get the first swing at his masked face."

They all headed toward the car. "Barb, with me. Kate, Tim, on your bikes. Stay together."

Alfred arrived to the computer as they got in the car. Barb was controlling the drone, watching for signs of the toxin.

"Still nothing," she said, moving the drone back toward the gate. "What do you think?"

"I'm trying not to think too much."

"That's a first."

"I've been told I have a noisy mind."

She chuckled. "You do. It's a good thing, though...when you're Batman."

They topped the hill, nearing the gate. He pulled the car over and hopped out.

"One way in and out. It's going to be tight. Robin, I want you near the entrance. No one gets out. Batwoman, I'm assuming you want point?"

"Bet your ass."

"Batgirl, I want you to hang back from us a little and keep your scanners running. Let's be ready for traps. We'll take it slow. Alfred?"

"Still no traces of the toxin. I have the other drone toward the back, but I do not see any other entrances."

"Good...and bad. We could get stuck here if we're not careful. Robin, that's why you're staying here."

He nodded and stood next to the door. "You've got it. No one gets past me."

"Alright. Let's go in."

He pushed the door, listening to the hinges creak and groan as it eased open. The air was dense and cold. Batgirl leaned down.

"Strange."

"What?"

"Still no toxin. Surely they would track it on their shoes."

"Keep moving forward." His heart was racing. Don't let this be wrong. Turning on his flashlight, he hooked it to his belt and kept his hands free. The further in they moved, the more stifling the mine felt. "I don't like this. Alfred?"

"Sir?"

"We're going back out. This feels wrong." As soon as he finished the sentence, he heard the cascading explosions coming from the mine. "Run!"

They sprinted back toward the door, trying not to trip over one another as the light from his flashlight bounced wildly. He could feel the pressure of the air from behind, rushing up to try to trap them. The light from the doorway came into view a split second before the cloud of dust blocked his view again. Kate and Barb were in front of him. They all tumbled toward the entrance in a heap, landing outside as the heat of the last explosions scorched his cape.

"Fuck...fuck!" Kate stood and punched the no trespassing sign. "Fuck this bastard."

"Everyone okay?" His ears were still ringing and his cape was smoldering.

"Yep. Glad I could break your fall," Barb muttered.

"Appreciate it," he said, shaking his head and taking a knee when he got dizzy.

"It was a trap. All of that just to walk into a trap."

"Might be time to start overthinking things again." He ripped his cape off and tossed it to the ground. "Alfred? Things went a little pear shaped."

"Oh? So that wasn't part of your plan? I assumed it was an elaborate way to fake your death and get out of the next board meeting."

"Can I use a pounding head to get out of the next board meeting?"

"No."

"Well, then this has been a waste of time."

Kate glared at him and huffed. "You can joke?"

"I can be glad we're not dead. I'll be pissed when I can stand up straight. I think I have a concussion."

"Guess I'll be the chauffeur, then," Barb said, helping him stand. He staggered again, so Tim helped her get him to the car. "Alfred, we're coming in. Tell Zee her husband needs a bit of medical attention."

"Oh, she's going to be pissed. I didn't even tell her what we were doing."

"That was a bad idea."

"I expected to be able to tell her the riveting, heroic tale of how we took down Scarecrow and his band of brainwashed thugs. Not..."

"How you got yourself slightly exploded?"

"She's going to be so pissed." He let his head fall back against the seat and spin on the way back to the cave. Robin and Batwoman stayed behind to try to gather evidence, but he wasn't expecting anything to happen without some heavy equipment to dig into the destroyed mine. It was going to be a slow process. When they arrived in the cave, Zatanna was waiting. Thomas was sitting with Alfred and running the evidence scanner.

"What kind of damage are we dealing with today?" Zee asked, helping him to a chair.

"Explosively concussed."

"Oo. Fancy." She pecked his lips and worked her magic. "Tell me what I missed."

"Nothing too important."

"Getting blown out of a mine where you were looking for Scarecrow and his men isn't important?"

He frowned at Alfred. "Narc."

"Don't you dare be angry at Alfred. He's a good, honest man."

"Yes, dear," he said sarcastically. His vision was quickly clearing.

"He's someone you should try to emulate."

"Yes, dear." Walking to the computer, he mussed Thomas's hair. "Sorry I didn't tell you. Can you save the guilt session for later? I have a prisoner to yell at."

"No guilt session needed. But if you think you're getting any practice tonight, you're crazy."

Well...damn. I'd rather have the guilt.

She picked Thomas up and they waved as they got on the elevator (which, much to her disappointment, Thomas thought was a blast and insisted on riding). Bruce walked over and donned a new cape before putting his cowl back on. He trudged down the corridor to the cell to talk to his prisoner.

"Please tell me you got him," Mike said before he had fully made it to the cell.

"You can stop the act. Your plan failed."

"You didn't get him? He's still out there?"

"Enough! You set us up!"

"I didn't set you up! I told you everything I know! Everything!"

"Not only am I going to take you to prison, I'm going to make sure Scarecrow knows you're there."

"No. Please, no. I'm telling you, I wasn't setting you up. That is our base. Did you search it? There should be tons of evidence."

He turned and walked back down the corridor. Mike wasn't worth the effort it would take to beat the truth out of him. Once he called Gordon and updated him, along with requesting heavy equipment assistance, he headed back to the mine to help with the search.

Zatanna
Wayne Manor

"Cark?" Thomas asked when Callum appeared in front of them.

"No, this is Kal. Kind of like Clark, but lives in a slightly different zip code," Zee said. "And has a pretty great beard."

"Hey, little guy. I see you're already helping your mom with magic there."

"Go fly?"

Zatanna laughed. "He can't take you today. I just wanted you to meet him before we said goodbye."

"Goodbye? Does that mean you're ready to close the rip?" Kal asked.

"Yes, we're doing it tomorrow night. I wanted to thank you for all of your help...both of you."

He smiled and nodded before looking off to the side. Tanna entered her field of view, eyes glowing.

"You're welcome," she said. "And it's nice to properly meet you."

Thomas's head was in a constant state of snapping between the two of them. He finally pointed at the other her.

"Not Mama?"

"I don't even know how to answer that, baby. I feel like I would be slightly wrong, either way."

"Might be time to teach him the word 'doppelganger'," Tanna said. "I wish there was more we could do to help."

"You've both done plenty. You gave me a chance to get ahead of this, and that's more than I expected when we started. Go back to living a normal life."

She chuckled. "Normal, huh? Never heard of such a thing."

"I hear you. Kal, thanks for playing Prince Charming so well. You bought me the time I needed."

"You're welcome. Take care." He glanced briefly at Tanna, face turning serious. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you."

"Don't," Tanna said quietly. "I don't need to know."

"Maybe I do."

"Know what?" Zee asked.

A sudden, sharp cracking sound from outside the manor interrupted whatever he was going to ask. Zatanna stood, eyes wide, looking toward the direction of the sound. A shock wave went through her body, accompanied by another loud cracking sound.

"Zatanna?" She could barley hear Kal's voice over the noise.

Fear racked her, followed by panic as Thomas started to cry.

"What's happening?" Tanna yelled out.

"He found me. He came for me." She looked at Thomas. "Alfred! Alfred!"

He came running through the door, jumping when another crack sounded outside. "Ma'am? What's happening?"

Instinct taking over, she quickly handed Thomas to him. "I'm sending you to Shadowcrest. At the back of the sun room, there's a picture of Thomas in his League costume. Place his hand on the wall just below it and go inside. Don't open it for anyone but me or Bruce."

"But ma'am..."

"We don't have time," she said, kissing his cheek. "Take care of them. Both of them. Please."

"Zatanna..."

She held Thomas's head in her hands. "Malc. It's going to be okay. You're going to be okay. I'm so sorry. I love you more than anything. I...I wanted to be there, sweetie. For every moment." She kissed his forehead and fought back her own tears. She didn't have time to cry.

"You must come with us," Alfred said, grabbing her hand. She pulled away from him.

"Go. I'll make sure he doesn't follow you. He's after me."

"Then come!"

"I can't. I can't risk him following me to Thomas. I love you both. If I don't...tell Bruce I'm sorry. Don't let him blame himself. Tell him I love him more than he could ever know."

She took another step back, fighting against her desire to stay with Thomas. Alfred could get him to safety; it was the only thing that mattered.

"Mama?" He reached for her.

"I love you. Dnes meht ot Tsercwodahs." She wanted to collapse, but the piercing crack of lightning against her wards kept her on her feet. They were failing. He would be through them at any moment. Turning, she summoned her courage – she had to face him. She had to face death.