Diana
Gotham Docks, Shipment Yard
It was night in Gotham as several masked men unload wooden crates off of the back of the van. One holds his arms under the box to best support it, clearly annoyed at the weight of it "What the hell does that bitch want with these things anyway?," he curses as he lowers the box down with the others, "I swear she has been busting our backs over the dumbest of stuff," he walks back to collect another crate, stepping over multiple bodies on his way.
"Quiet. We're on her payroll now which means we do what she says. Don't be a baby, just lift with your knees!," another thug comes over to grab a crate of his own, "Let's not get started on that guy that she's working with. He scares me."
"I used to work for Sionis, y'know? Sure he could be a dick sometimes... but he just had me guard his penthouse. Sofia is working me to death," a third guy chimes in.
"Keep on yapping and she'll just skip to making you dead," the second man unloads crate atop of the others.
"What the hell is even in these things?" the first thug questions, not noticing the shadowed figures moving from above. He stops when multiple arrows are shot through his chest. He drops to the ground and the two other masked men are alerted.
"What the hell-," the second goon is slain when an arrow is shot through his right eye,
The last man drops the crate and runs for it but is stopped when an arrow is pierced through both of his calves. He is thrown onto the ground and desperately crawls away. Another pair of arrows are fired and pin his hands to the ground, he screams. Three shadowed figures leap down and make their way to the man's front.
"Man of Gotham speak only of what we ask of you if you wish to live," a raven-haired woman decrees as she holds the tip of her blade to the man's chin. She has blue eyes and wears a crimson metallic chest plate and silver bracelets with golden accents, red metallic knee-high boots with a silver lining. She has a sword holstered on her back along with a quiver of arrows and bow. She wears a silver crown and leather straps around her bare legs and arms and has a red cape. The woman appeared to be of Greek descent.
The second figure, a redhead woman who wears golden armour and the third, a blonde who wears the same golden armour. They both wore quivers and bows on their backs. The raven-haired woman kneels, "I am Diana of Themyscira. There's a man in this city, one who is scarred on his left eye. Where. Is. He?," she reaches to her left thigh and takes hold a lasso which she wraps around the man's neck, "I command you to answer...," the lasso faintly glows golden.
"T-the guy who is working with my boss...? Sure, I know where he is! Find Sofia Falcone and he should be with her!," the man explains in a panic, "I'm not in the know of where he goes off on his own, I swear! I swear!"
"I believe your words...," Diana softens her grip on the lasso and untangles it from the man's neck, "But you've still seen too much. Man's world must never know of us...," she stands and walks away while the redhead reaches for an arrow in her quiver and aims her bow at the back of the man's head.
"Please don't kill me! Please!" the guy pleads. Diana walks away, rocking her hips with each step she takes. She hears the other amazon fire the arrow at the man and hears his screams silenced. The two other amazons follow after her, each taking a side.
"This is man's world... don't let any witnesses live," Diana orders, anger filling her eyes.
Blackgate Prison
- Visiting Room -
James Gordon looks at the glass and the individual sitting on the opposite end. He holds the phone against his ear, "Things aren't getting easier out there. Every day there are more people dying, suffering and becoming even more lost in fear. The underworld of Gotham is growing in power, Waller and her men aren't helping. They've turned Gotham into a police state... I really could use some advice on this, you were one of the most honourable cops I've ever known. I want to stop Waller... but she has my family at her mercy, even if she didn't; I don't think that I could...," Jim tells the inmate, "Batman. He is the only one who could stop her, but he promotes the same kind of lawlessness that Waller thrives in... what should I do?"
"You appear to be caught between a rock and a hard place. I do not envy your position right now," Nathaniel Barnes replies, "Whichever you choose will betray your values. You know how I feel about vigilantes, they've been propping up all around the place lately..."
"The Tetch Virus was cured from your system. Those things you did were not your fault," Gordon confronts the older man, "As far as the law is concerned, you're innocent. I could really use a friendly face out there... and with your parole hearing coming up..."
"The tech virus only brought all of my darkness to the surface. It was always there, all those things I did... were me, the darkest parts of me. I don't care what the laws says... those things I did... I deserve to rot for them."
"You respected the law, Barnes. You actively tried to preserve it. Just tell me, what would you do? What would you do to save this city?"
"I would try not to lose myself on the way, James. But you're not me. Sometimes you have to get over your pride and see the bigger picture. That vigilante friend of yours could be your best bet, the city's too. Don't let personal vendettas get in the way of saving Gotham," Barnes offers, "Instead of asking me, you should be asking yourself: what would James Gordon do is such adversity? You're scared for your family, I understand that... but if this city keeps teetering on the edge… it'll eventually fall and take everyone with it, including your family."
Wayne Manner
"... No... that's not possible...," Bruce stammers, suddenly realizing that he could move and walk perfectly, "... I saw you die..."
"You were always naïve, just one of your many traits that bewitched my sister," the woman turns to face Bruce and pulls down her hood. Nyssa lifts her eyebrows, "Hello, Bruce. There is a matter that we must discuss," she tells him.
"How. Are. You. Alive.," Bruce growls, too angry to bothered by the woman's gaze on his bare body, "You were dead. Not even the Lazarus can bring you back from that."
Nyssa unfolds her arms and hangs them at her sides, "From what I recall, my body was never recovered from that church. Do you honestly believe that I would not have a plan for my doom? No, the Lazarus is not to be credited for my resurrection... but I discovered other means"
"Like what?"
"The same method that brought you back into the land of the living. You were dead, Bruce. I resurrected you and healed your wounds, a simple *thank you* shouldn't be out of the question, would it?," Nyssa steps towards Bruce, "But that will come in due time. For the moment, we have more pressing matters that require our attention," she lifts her gaze to the man's eyes, "It appears that we share a common foe. One that we cannot defeat by ourselves."
"Prometheus?" Bruce slants his view down to meet Nyssa.
"Indeed. The most peculiar of monikers. Though I chose to use his true name: Vandal Savage," Nyssa marvels at the break of the man's stern gaze, "The news of my death was helpful in many ways. I was allowed to conduct research in absolute secrecy. Not even he would waste time looking for a dead woman, I learned his true name, his plan and all his weaknesses. I know how to kill him."
"Kill him?," Bruce chuckles, "You can't even hurt him. I've tried... I tried to take him down... but nothing worked."
"Well that's because... well... you're a complete bitch when it comes to doing what needs to be done," the oldest daughter to the demon clenches her palm into a fist, "Make no mistake. Though I offer you an alliance, we are not friends. And don't even think of trying to get me in bed with you. Whatever problems we had before, we must work together to save Gotham."
"Work with you? You're a murderer... you're a monster, Nyssa. You manipulated Thomas and corrupted him. He's dead because of you!"
"514A was always going to die. He was a flawed experiment. He would've died eventually," Nyssa smiles, "You need me, Bruce. So I suggest you start treating me with the respect I deserve." she lifts her palm and stretches her arm out towards Bruce, "Me and you... saving the city. Who would've foreseen the irony..."
"I'm not shaking your hand" Bruce spits.
"You're a gentleman, Bruce. I was hoping for a more chivalrous display...," Nyssa jests to her hand, "I can just leave and take all the information that I have gathered with me. Go on. I won't tell my dear sister...," Nyssa's eyes round as Bruce cups her hand and kisses the dorsal side, "Good. I am glad that you are willing to share my humiliation in this matter."
"Don't get comfortable, Nyssa. As soon as this is over, I am coming for you," Bruce threatens.
"Feeling's mutual. Get dressed... and then we can continue this in that oversized man cave of yours," Nyssa picks up a pile of folded clothes and hands them over to Bruce, "Don't act too surprised. I've had over a month to learn all the secrets of this place."
"A month? I've been out for a month?" Bruce widens his gaze as he takes the folded clothes from Nyssa, "What happened to Lucius and the others? Are they safe?"
Nyssa shrugs, "They're alive if that's what you ask of me. However, their position on that island is anything but safe. Hurry, we have no time to waste."
Skylight Club
Vandal Savage stands, holdings his arms behind his back. His brown hair is combed back and tied in a ponytail with multiple loose strands of his hair pressed against his face. He wears a black Victorian tailcoat jacket that is buttoned up to his collar bone with the collar of the coat popped. He has multiple silver rings, all in the shape of animals: wolf, bear, Snake and crow. A sheathed sword rests at his side. He looks out through the glass window and to the city.
He spurs from his watch as he hears a distressed Sofia Falcone enter the room, huffing and storming to him, "The shipment last night was compromised! I just lost millions! And three of my men are dead! AND they were murdered by bloody arrows!," she lifts her arms to show Vandal that she was holding one of the bloodstained arrows as she slams it on the desk, "First Batman and now this...!? I traded one inconvenience for another!"
"Troubled, my child?," Savage turns, arms still behind his back and he looks at the markings on the arrowhead, "This is fortuitous. It appears that the hands of fate and I are finally in agreement for once."
"*Fortuitous*?, what part of this is fortuitous? Three of my men are dead!" Sofia yells.
"Watch your tongue. Your men can be replenished... my patience for you cannot," Vandal reaches down and lifts up the arrow.
"Fine.," Sofia calms before she addresses him again, "What are we going to do about this? We need to find them and kill them."
"An erroneous misjudgement my dear. We need not lift a finger in this matter, they'll come to me...," Vandal Savage lifts his gaze to Sofia, "You best not be here for when they do."
"Like hell. I want to see them die...!"
"My child, I offered you a place at my side not because of my admiration for you but as a sign of respect. But do not misconstrue my intentions, we are not equals in matters. You are insignificant in these affairs of mine," Vandal returns to face the window, "Leave me to my devices, young one. I have no further use for you right now."
"You. Better. Kill. Them.," Sofia grinds her teeth.
"I will do as I please, now leave," Savage holds his hands behind his back, "Need I remind you that you still have not delivered on your end of our agreement? Only return when you deliver the knife to me"
Wayne Tower
- Bat-Bunker -
"This is the best that I could do," Lee sets a sealed plastic bag on the workbench next to Lucius which held an arrowhead in it, "Elliot is watching me like a hawk these days. I think he's caught onto me taking evidence from the reports," she looks to Lucius as he pulls on a pair of gloves and opens the bag, taking out the arrowhead. Lucius lifts the arrowhead up and studies the unique engravings on it, "I'm quite sure that Jim has never come across some whack-job who uses these kinds of arrows," Lee adds.
"Bruce neither... the craftsmanship is astounding...," Lucius turns the arrowhead, "Say you wouldn't have got the autopsy report?"
Lee reaches into her back and takes a laminated sheet, "Of course. Already putting my job on the line, what's a little more? Tommy performed these ones personally, it says that all the shots were clean: this was a pro," she looks over the report, "There were three victims in total... all connected to the Falcone crime family. The first two were dealt lethal blows but the third was only subdued, kept alive until the perpetrator changed their mind and finished the job."
"You think it was interrogation? Could explain why the guy wasn't just killed like the others. Once the person behind this got what they wanted, they killed him anyway," Lucius then flips the arrowhead over once more, "These markings are not like anything that I have seen before plus whatever this arrowhead is made of, it definitely is not like any metal that I've seen before," he leaves Lee's side and heads towards the Batcomputer and slides it under the scanner, "Maybe the database can find something that we are missing..."
Lee folds her arms over her chest and Lucius slides his hands into his jacket's pockets, "...What's it saying?" Lee sees the screen glitch. Lucius hurries forward and examines the problem, "Is it supposed to do that?"
"No. Not at all. The Batcomputer's systems are being disrupted, interfered with by the arrowhead. It didn't pick up any sign of technology, so there should be nothing that should be able to mess with it on this scale," Lucius informs Lee, "It's origin is untraceable."
"By computers maybe, but not good ol' fashioned books," Lee suggests.
"Are you proposing what I think that you are?" Lucius only has to see the look in Lee's eyes to confirm his suspicions.
"What? Blüd seems to know his stuff. If there's anyone in this city that would know where this thing came from, it's him. And since Talia is MIA, we don't have much of an alternative here," Lee presses her palms together, "Listen. We find out where this arrowhead came from, we are one step closer to finding the murderer."
"It would be what Bruce would want," Lucius agrees as he grabs the arrowhead, "I'll drive."
"I'll give Selina a call, she might want to know about this."
"It's still daytime, Lee. I think Selina can have a day to herself."
Gotham, Wayne Manner.
- Batcave -
Bruce and Nyssa walk out of the elevator and head towards the Batcomputer. The daughter of the demon's eyes wanders over a small briefcase set on one of the tables. She saunters to it and opens it, "As I scouted all across the globe for the answers that I seek, I came to know many truths. But there was always one part missing. One part of the puzzle that eluded me," she takes out the photograph of the meteor, "Luckily for us, you have already found it,"
"That?," Bruce snatches the photo from the woman, "I took this from Sofia Falcone last year. I chalked it up to just being something valuable on the black market."
"And what of the image being captured by your own satellite? Surely that must've raised some questions?," Nyssa smiles, "I'm positive that Wayne Enterprise isn't in the market of observing space rocks. There is someone inside your company that's doing some very naughty things."
"You think that someone is using my company?"
"How else would they have gained access to the satellite? It's quite simple, please try to keep up," Nyssa scoots over as Bruce comes closer to the table, ''Savage is using your satellite to track the meteor. He must be using means to magnetize it to this planet. And it's landing destination."
"Gotham. I know. Why the hell would he be going through all this effort for a meteor?"
"That is a card that I'm going to be keeping close to my chest for the time being. For now, you are required back in the city. With Batman back in Gotham, it will gift me with the necessary cover to conduct further research into this matter," she closes the briefcase and turns to Bruce, "We will be seeing each other soon. I trust that you will keep the detail of me being alive just between us, I cannot risk anyone else knowing of me."
"What are you getting out of this, Nyssa? Before, you would've destroyed Gotham at any chance that you got. And now you are going out of your way to save it? I'm not foolish enough to believe that you turned over a new leaf... you are planning on getting something out this, aren't you?" Wayne glares.
"You have your reasons and I have mine. I never claimed to be some good Samaritan," the woman pulls her hood back over, "Your Halloween costume was ruined beyond repair when I came across you on that mountain, thus I took a few liberties. I hope that you are not too bothered," she jests her head at the console of the Batcomputer which Bruce follows as his eyes lock onto another briefcase on the side. He approaches the console of the computer and unlocks the case.
He opens it and sees what's inside. A costume, a Batsuit seemingly made from thin materials. A grey suit with a black cowl and cape. He pulls the costume out and observes the finer detail of its workings. Black gloves and boots along with a golden metallic utility belt around the hips of the costume. The ears were longer, probably by a third than his last Batsuit. Nyssa walks behind him with her hands on her hips, "Kevlar embedded material with light-weight nanofiber. You will be faster, deadlier and a true force to be reckoned with."
"And you're just giving me this? Wait... how did you get my exact measurements... wait... did you measure my..." Bruce asks Nyssa in a sceptical tone.
"Your previous costumes were too focused on your technology, you became dependant on it and without it, you were a joke. A true League of Shadow's member has no need for armour when they were taught to be untouchable," Nyssa smiles wider, "And yes, I did indeed take the time to measure every part of you to make the suit an exact match. You know that I like to be thorough in my work, now suit up. There seems to be something quite extradentary going on... you best look into it before you return to your friends...," Nyssa turns and walks towards the elevator, "I'll leave you to be for now"
Bruce pulls on the black gloves. He slides on the boots up to his shins and lifts the cowl over his face. He then clipped the metallic golden belt around his hips. The eyes of cowl glow white, though slightly dimmer compared to the previous suit. Batman stands in the black and grey suit. The gloves have three thins on the side along with a vertical partner and silver armour running across the knuckles of the gloves. His cape reached down to the floor, narrowing in size halfway down. The cape droops around his shoulders but leaves the Bat Symbol bare and visible. The symbol itself was the most armoured section and had harsher edges and is nearly the width of his whole chest.
Gotham City, Skylight Club
The raven-haired Amazon, Diana, the redheaded amazon, Orana and the blonde Amazon, Antiope slay their way through the hallway leading to the main office. Wielding their bows and firing their arrows into the guards before them. The three warriors mercilessly take down their enemies, one by one. Diana's eyes were full of rage as she takes another bow from her quiver and fires it at one of the last remaining guards, firing the arrow into the man's neck.
Diana then charges forward and yields her sword and decapitates him in a single swing, "Sisters with me. We will avenge our queen together!," she returns her blade to her back and uncaringly walks on the corpses below them with Orana and Antiope following her lead. The redhead fires an arrow into the last man standing, sending it through his eye and into the wall behind him, "Now!," Diana lifts her knee and kicks the door, sending it off its hinges.
"For Hippolyta!" Orana, Antiope and Diana all declare. They come across the sight of a man whose back was turned to them, "Vandal Savage, for your crimes against Themyscira you are there for sentenced to death!," Diana and the two other Amazons raise their bows and align arrows with them.
"Death? Trivial to a man such as myself. Though I supposed that I should show my gratitude towards you... the enchantment on the island made it impossible for me to find it...," Vandal Savage turns to confront the three Amazons, still keeping his hands behind him, "Killing your mother made you come to me instead, though I am curious on just how you became aware of my location? What was it...? Ah... two years ago since I slew your mother..."
"And today is when I slay you!," Diana reaches for her sword, "With me sisters!," Orana and Antiope join Diana as they charge towards Vandal who reaches for the hilted sword on his side. He ducks under the first swing of Diana's sword and uses his sword to block Antiope's blade, spins out of the way of Orana's swing. Vandal moves in front of Diana and catches her blade in his hand. He throws her over his shoulder and onto the ground. He then side-steps an attack from Orana and uses his blade to slash her sides.
He then sees Antiope going in for another attack with her sword. He brings his hand up and grabs the blonde's left wrist and twists her arm to instead impale her on her own blade. Vandal kicks Antiope to the floor and then sees Diana once again attacking, this time at the man's side. Vandal slouches and catches the raven-haired beauty's arm and rolls her over his back. He kicks backwards at Orana which throws her against the desk.
He then turns on his heels and thrusts his sword through Orana's chest The redhead's mouth dribbles with blood as her eyes widen. Vandal Savage shakes his head and yanks his sword out of the woman and allows her to fall to the ground. Diana stands, seeing both of allies now lost, "You killed them! Murderer!," Diana swings with her sword. Vandal lifts his own sword to block the strike. They repeat their parts with Diana attacking and Vandal effortless defending.
"Their fates were sealed the moment they decided to walk through that door, child. To think that they could match me is a death sentence all on its own...," Vandal uses one hand to manoeuvre his blade to block the Amazon's attacks "Though your ways are of the gods, even they are in their infancy compared to me," he swings his blade and knocks Diana's own sword out of her hold. Vandal then swings down with his blade which the Amazon lifts her arms and blocks the strike with her bracelets.
"...You killed my mother... without mercy or remorse...," Diana growls, "... I want to know why... why would you commit such an act of war against my people?!"
"Your mother was a magnificent woman, young one. A strong, powerful yet compassionate leader who strived for prosperity. As such I saw to it that she died as she lived... kneeling before a god," Vandal sombrely tells the amazon, "While she sat on her knees before me, gasping her last breath and pleading for her life, she did not struggle for her own survival, but for yours," he sees Diana's face becoming more enraged, "... You coming here to face me only undoes her final moments, the strength she showed to throw away her pride for the sake of begging for her daughter's life..."
"I won't die as easily... I demand justice for your crimes!" Diana snarls.
"Naïve child, if I wanted you dead... you would be. No... I have plans for you. When I figured that you would be coming for me, I took it upon myself to invite some acquittances of yours, they were happy to come and catch up with you," Vandal yanks his sword away and turns on his heels. Before Diana could understand what he was refereeing to, a blurred object tackles her and throws her through the window to the floor. Diana takes a moment to regain her composure and then sees the culprit.
A woman with long bright-red hair dressed in silver armour with black knee-high boots and gloves with falcon-like wings. Her fingers were sharpened like talons. She holds her arms around Diana's neck from behind as she flies them towards the ground and the building across, "Kapatelis? Doing the bidden of a man... how far you've fallen!" Diana hisses as she brings her arms up and grabs the redhead's hair. Silver Swan smiles as she hurls the amazon princess off of her and onto the roof on the building below them.
Diana's strength made it so she was unscathed by the drop but the roof she fell on was cracked. Diana jumps onto her feet and grabs her bow from her back along with an arrow from her quiver. She fires at Vanessa who evades the attacks as she manoeuvres through the air and laughs at the princess, "What's wrong your highness? Do you need your guards to aim for you?" Silver Swan continues to mock Diana as she then begins dive bomb her.
Diana grabs the shield strapped around her forearm and holds it against Silver Swan who easily prowls through it and throws Diana onto the ground with the impact. The villainess than spirals around and repeats the action, this time faster than Diana could lift her shield. The Amazon was thrown against the ledge of the roof, sinking her heels in the ground to keep herself on it, "You dare strike a daughter of the gods? You shall be punished for this atrocity!" Diana yells.
"Then fight me, your majesty!" Silver Swan laughs, curving her lips and raising her right arm, ejecting three razor-sharp claws. She flies through the air and torpedoes her way down to Diana, "Allow for your last moments to be of bravery!" Diana's eyes narrow as she throws her shield, just missing the villainess, "Hah! You missed, such a waste of a warrior!" Silver Swan is then struck from behind as the shield knocks her off course and returns to Diana.
In the confusion, Diana grabs her lasso and wraps it around Silver Swan's neck and yanks her down onto the roof with her. The Amazon stomps her boot on Silver Swan's back and forces her to lie below her. Her grip on the lasso tightens and the rope starts to glow, "I command you to cease this madness! Why would Vandal bring you here to fight me!."
Silver Swan lets a small chuckle out as she looks up to Diana, "He didn't. He brought us to fight you."
"Us?"
Diana was then thrown forward as she feels something sharp cut into her back, "Oh little naïve Diana, how long I've waited for this moment...," a familiar voice rings through her ears. The raven-haired amazon turns her gaze to the woman above her. A woman who was covered in fur, like a cheetah with messy auburn hair down to her beck. She has a tail and wears a black sports bra along with a pair of shorts. She kneels on the ground and licks her lips, "Ah... the fear on you... smells delicious..."
"Minerva...? You too are fallen to the commands of a man? And I believed that you couldn't stoop any lower...," Diana begins to stand but is stopped when Silver Swan brings her arms around her neck and holds her back. Diana's blue eyes look to Cheetah who was slowly sauntering to her as she rakes her claws.
"I only do what I desire, and killing you falls upon that list...," Cheetah grins as she drags one of her claws across Diana's cheek, cutting it, "You are a far way from home. Your people can't save you here," she whispers as she prolongs her words like a snake constricting its prey.
"Just kill her now, Cheetah. Get it over and done with!" Venessa tells Minerva.
"No. She must suffer for what she did to me!," Cheetah growls.
"Still blaming me for your condition, Minerva? You are stuck in that form because of your own greed. The outside just matches the inside...," Diana sees the shift in the animal-like villainess' expression, from delight to anger in a flash, "And you, Venessa. Your mother took me in all those years ago... we were grown as siblings under her roof," she feels the woman behind her reinforce her hold around her neck. Silver Swan laughs as she looks to Cheetah.
"We were never sisters, Diana. Everyone saw me as inferior to you... even myself," Venessa growls.
"For once we agree," Diana moves her head out of the reach of a strike from Cheetah, which struck Silver Swan instead. The Amazon rolls out of the way of another strike from Cheetah and again. Diana catches the fourth strike from the beast-like woman and bends her arm behind her back. Diana then throws Cheetah into Venessa who uses her wings to knock Cheetah away from her. Silver Swan jumps into the air, ascending up with the wings of her suit.
"Fight as hard as you desire, Diana. You are only fighting the inevitable!" Silver Swan warns the Amazon Princess.
"Indeed. You cannot take us both on!," Cheetah squats down and rakes her claws, "You shall suck on your last breath here!"
"Wrong. It is you two that you meet your maker this day!," Diana grabs her shield and blade and squares up before Cheetah and Silver Swan. The three stop when they see a bat-shaped object fly between them to get their attention. Diana, Cheetah and Silver Swan look up to the water tower on the roof and sees a creature standing on top of it. Batman stands with his arms held at his sides and cape swerving in the wind as the sun sets behind him.
"Nice costumes. You'll feel right at home in Arkham," Batman snarls, unaware of the three woman's true nature.
"What sort of creature is that?" Diana questions as she observes the bat-themed individual, unclear of what he really was.
"A... Bat-man...?," Cheetah comments, clearly amused.
To Be Continued...
A/N:
At this point in her career, Diana has not yet taken up the moniker of Wonder Woman, nor has met any other Justice League members.