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Son

18

The car took off with a powerful roar and on board, Bruce and Diana. Dick watched anxiously as the vehicle disappeared at the end of the lane. Too many things had happened in the past half-hour, starting by this fight in Smallville and the appearance of those two alien things in the atmosphere. Clark Kent seemed to barely hold his own against what could only be hostiles. Diana had watched the fight very carefully while Bruce barked orders on the phone to have his chopper ready. He remembered her words, the cold analysis she had delivered once the combat was over…

"They are warriors, but unused to this earth's atmosphere –they keep their helmet at all times. It won't last. We need to strike now before they adapt, break the glass. If not, it's the machines that need to be destroyed."

To which Bruce had replied:

"Metropolis is closer. How can you be sure it won't hurt you?"

"I'm invulnerable," she had retorted. "I can't quite fly, but I can jump at least halfway through those monsters. My sword was blessed by the gods and made to cut through anything. If it fails, I shall at least try to tear it with my bare hands."

And then had followed the matter of whoever would stay behind, protecting the house if the threat expanded. Dick had settled the argument before it even began by volunteering. He doubted any would back down, and he would have better luck staying under the radar should the worse happen –the advantage of being the underdog. While he wished he could join, Bruce's chopper only contained two seats. He would be flying himself and Diana along, as to not put anyone else's life on the line. Had he been working in Gotham today, he might have been in the air already.

"They're gone?"

Hippolyte's small voice caught his attention and he looked down. Still early and still in his pjs, his hair in a nest, clinging on what looked to be a small blanket. The little boy looked up worriedly. He did not look sleepy, a detail Dick attributed to jetlag.

"They're gone, aren't they," he repeated quietly.

"They'll be back," Dick assured. "You know they won't leave you behind."

Hip said nothing, his face carefully blank, which might be far worse. Instead, he tightened his arms around what Dick realized was a sweater. One of Diana's if he wasn't mistaken. He briefly wondered how many times she had to leave without notice, how did the kid deal with the knowledge that his mother might never return. When he first lived with Bruce, just turning eight, just figuring out who he was and before he was even allowed on patrol, he used to wait up at night. Hip was going through the same deal at a much younger age.

"We can watch from the cave, right?" the boy inquired softly. "I want to watch."

"Hip-"

"I am five. I want to know who mother and father are fighting. If you don't take me down, then I'll run and you'll have to tie me up or have Alfred keep me away and you will worry that I am not where I'm-"

He went on rambling, and Dick would have locked him somewhere in the lake house –because watching a potential town being ripped to pieces was not meant to be witnessed by a kid! –if not for his eyes. Those eyes –both his parents'–determined and strong –not the kind he expected to see on a child's face…and he also knew Hip would make his life hell if he didn't comply and let him accompany him. Dick inhaled sharply and picked the little boy. He hadn't really done it out of reflex, but right now, he too needed to draw comfort from the small presence. The three of them –when Alfred joined –would be eye-glued to the screens in the cave. And to be honest, Dick wanted the kid right where he could see him.

He just prayed he was not bringing a child down to watch his parents die.

Son

The drive to his base was made in tensed silence. Bruce kept his focus on the road, remembering everything he had seen on the screen, everything Diana had said. He was very aware he could not do much –if his inefficient blows against Diana were telling enough –but perhaps he could still help on the ground. He needed to be there, if only to manage his employees –the people he was responsible for. Jack was supposed to be in Metropolis. He was a good man with common sense, one of the rare he could trust with his employee's interests. The recent Wayne Tower –renovated for the occasion –was supposed to be strong. He hoped the structure would hold at least long enough for people to evacuate, should it need to happen.

No, it would have to happen. Though it was only through the lens of a satellite, he had seen how easily those aliens went through concrete walls. If they flew in Metropolis and carried out their fight there…

"How long do you think it will take them to adapt to earth's environment?" he suddenly blurted. Diana glanced at him sideways. "Earlier, you said something about earth's atmosphere and its influence on aliens, when I was on the phone." She nodded in acknowledgment. "If Kent moves well on earth, how fast they should they be able to fit in?"

"He spent his whole life here, he had over thirty years to acclimate," Diana offered. "Unlike Hen-I mean Clark, they have just arrived, but they are older and obviously trained. You and I know how fast a trained body can adapt to a new situation." They made eye contact. "It could be anything between months and hours."

"But you think it will be hours."

She seemed to realize he was inquiring about her opinion as a warrior. If she were them, what were she do?

"They will gain confidence seeing Clark is in good health. I am praying for more time but yes, I believe so."

He pressed the gas pedal harder.

They finally arrived at the outskirts of the city, where the chopper was expecting them. Diana had brought an odd-shaped luggage –her sword he assumed –and climbed beside him. They took off, flew over the bay and headed over a town already halfway in ruins. The clouds of dust were visible from afar and made Bruce shiver already. Beside him, Diana still hadn't said a word. The solemnity of her face was sobering, something he hadn't seen since his introduction to the chimera.

He wondered if she regretted not saying goodbye to Hippolyte. He certainly did, although perhaps it was for the better.

"I need to go to Wayne Tower," he announced. "It's too closely located to that machine."

"Then I will follow you there. If I see any flying around, I will give chase."

No more words were spoken till they landed. A car was waiting for them. The two boarded after a brief thanks and the men worried stances and drove into the city. The drive was tedious and tensed –the roads were shaking under the impact that thing was doing on the ground, Jack barely answering the phone, the blocks falling off the buildings because a frigging spaceship was flying over their heads. The commotion was strong, agitated enough that he barely heard Diana shout: 'keep going' before she grabbed her sword and launched herself out of the car. Whatever she had spotted, she had to pursue alone. People were running, he had to stop and step down before hitting anyone accidentally. A quick glance around told him Diana had already vanished. He put her aside for the moment –she was a far better warrior than him, she would survive easier.

A passerby –a man in his mid-forties –tripped and fell flat on the ground. He helped him up and watched him take off without much of a thank you. Bruce considered following his example –especially as what appeared to be waves of gravity were coming closer. The ship spit its laser again, lashing out with vengeance. This time, he felt the ground tremble and had no other choice but to flee –unless he wanted to be caught by gravity and become really useless. He had barely started to run when the 'whoosh' stopped. He glanced in the direction of the machine, saw with astonishment how an aircraft crashed straight into the alien ship, and the formation of what he could only describe as a black hole.

The Fuck? he thought, and this time, when the 'WHOOOOOOOSH' returned with a vengeance, he overrode his survival instincts and changed into the tempest of dust.

Son

Had Diana not turned her head at that very moment, she would have missed it. Two people, one holding a bar, the other pushing something looking like an enormous heavy grill –the kind of reinforcement they put in building walls to keep them solid –someone was stuck underneath. She didn't think twice. She grabbed her sword –she couldn't let these people die, not when another pulse was shaking the ground, when pieces and bits of everything –buildings, people, trees, cars –were being dragged up and slammed down repetitively. She hoped Bruce would think of stopping soon and getting out of what was slowly becoming a death trap –but he was a grown man with experience of stressful situations, she had to trust him to watch after himself because too much was going on right now and-

She jumped out of the car, ran to the site in a snap of her fingers.

The man carrying the long tube nearly dropped his charge when she appeared out of nowhere. Behind her, the huge man was still trying to lift the grill.

"Get away," she ordered, shoved him off when he looked about to protest, and twisted the grill back enough to have an opening and crawl out. The woman halfway buried underneath stared at her in shock. The two men blinked owlishly, equally stunned. "Go, now!"

The huge man snapped out of it first, encouraged his companion –Jenny was her name –out and urged the other to follow. He gave her one long, hard look, the kind of suspicious and uncertain look she was used to receive, and took off without a word. The second man, more nervous, babbled a 'thank you' and fell in their steps. Diana looked around, visually seeking for something she could do –there was no enemy in sight and she had no idea where Wayne Tower was –but suddenly –

Everything seemed to still.

A loud deflagration followed a heavy explosion. For a few seconds –they sounded like hours –nothing happened.

And then, a thunderous 'WHOOOOOOOSH' echoed throughout the city and a storm of sand and dust blew in the streets. She crossed her arms to protect her face, ears opened but the racket made it hard to focus. The sound eventually died down and she looked around again. The area had been evacuated –humans could move fast with the proper motivation –the wounded and the dead would be found closer to the center. As far as Diana could see, no foe was around.

"Is it over?" she heard someone –most likely the woman she had helped rescue earlier, Jenny –speak.

The trio hadn't gone that far, just enough to climb over the debris of a building. Diana would have left for further investigation, had she not spotted Henry –no, Clark Kent –flying in, carrying someone –wait, was that Lois Lane? –and landing out of her view. She hesitated to join them, curiosity and wanting to meet him face to face again, before deciding against it. There was no need for her to linger –if she had arrived too late, if the battle was over, then other people might need help. They were the priority now. And Bruce –she needed to find out if Bruce was alright.

And then, gasps –and a familiar voice spoke:

"Look at this…"

Soft, desolated, angry. Not Clark and she would not wager on the two men. One of the aliens. Familiar voice. Zod, her mind supplied. She breathed in sharply. Zod was still alive.

"I exist, only to protect Krypton. That is the sole purpose for which I was born…and every action I take, no matter how violent or how cruel, is for the greater good of my people. And now I have no people."

The following silence was deafening. No-one spoke, as no word could be adequate in this situation. Diana clenched her teeth, stealthily moved closer to the fallen building. Her Amazonian instincts ushered her to jump in and confront the newcomer in the open. Experience had taught her to take every bit of advantage she could gain when facing an unfamiliar enemy.

"My soul that is what you have taken from me."

She heard it, the last shred of sanity snapping in his mind and in that moment, there was no room for hesitation. She grabbed her sword, breathed in and out. He still wore his armor. No helmet, so gaining confidence, but not fully adapted yet. He was a hardened warrior, not at old as she, but if she didn't act now, he would go against Clark and Clark was not a soldier. Zod wanted mass destruction and his focus was on causing his foe pain. Clark would use his muscles, not his head. The collateral damage would be far too much to even consider another path. Had she have the slightest hesitation on his intentions, she might have tried to talk first. But she had seen people like him before –those who had lost everything and who didn't care anymore.

This was no better than assassination, she thought bitterly. Antiope had told her battles were not fair. Today, she was proving how well she understood that lesson.

Her sword seemed to glow in response to her intent. It had been forged by the hands of Hephaestus and blessed by Athena. How naïve she had once been, to believe the one she used to call 'Godkiller' to be the ultimate weapon. This sword had been forged by the gods to befit a god. And she had Zeus' blood running through her veins. It would not fail her.

"I'm going to make them suffer Kal, these humans you've adopted," Zod said, and through the debris, she saw him walk with the determination of a soldier with nothing to lose, and she knew her choice was right. "I will take them all from you, one by-"

Nobody saw her coming. Nobody suspected a flying warrior staying in retreat. She burst through the remains of concrete using her god-gifted speed and wielded her weapon. Her sword proved true and plunged deep into the throat of General Zod. The alien barely had the time to gasp, his mouth filling with blood. His eyes, wide in shock, seemed to ask 'why' before falling dull. His expiration rail blew softly in her neck as his body. She closed her eyes, accepting the burden of taking the life with her hands.

"My name is Diana of Themyscira, daughter of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons," she said softly to his dead ears. "This world is mine to defend."

She wished she had been there earlier, wished she had kept tabs on Clark. Bruce had been right, in that regards. Had she found out earlier, had she let him prepare a counter-measure, perhaps the damage wouldn't have been so great.

Too late for regrets now. She could only make sure not to repeat that same mistake. The lifeless body slid off her sword and hit the ground. No-one spoke in her back, although she could feel five pair of eyes set on her.

"Who are you?" Clark asked.

They hadn't seen her face. Lois and the three others were still far away and the dust hadn't quite settled yet. Her features would be masked to the mortals, not to Clark. She didn't turn around. Instead, she knelt next to the body and contemplated her next move.

"Where are the others?" she asked in turn. Her voice was low enough, only one man would hear her words.

"Gone. Back to the Phantom Zone," he replied. "Who are you?"

Zod had been the last one. Good.

"I cannot fly like you do," she said and stood up. "I will let you drop his body in the closest volcano. Don't let mankind study its remains. Only the gods know what they would be capable of again."

This time, she felt him approach, flying cautiously closer. She had killed Zod by catching him by surprise. Her sword was still red with his blood. Diana knew he would be wary of her, as he should.

"Why should I listen to you?" he asked and he stood close. "Who are you? Answer me!"

Her silence must have angered him for she felt his hand on her shoulder. She didn't hesitate and twirled around, throwing his body over her shoulder with ease and slamming him back on the ground. Her sword pressed down to his neck and their eyes met. Clark Kent's jaw dropped, his eyes bulged in shock and in another situation, Diana would have laughed for robbing him of his speech. Somewhere in the background, she heard someone shout and run. If she had to wager, she'd bet on Lois.

"You are so young, Henry, and there is so much you don't understand yet," she said gently and removed her weapon. He didn't move, still stunned into silence. "You will have your answers but not today. There is too much to do right now. In two months, meet me under the Eiffel Tower at three pm. We will talk then. In the meantime, do as I say, please."

He stared at her as if he had never seen her before. Still, with very slow movements, he stood up, picked Zod's corpse and lifted it over his shoulder.

"We will talk," he confirmed coldly and took off. She waited until he had completely vanished to jump away, mindless of the cries of the four humans left behind.

Son

Bruce found his building burning. The gravity engine had done much damage, but its waves hadn't reached Wayne Tower yet. The top floors were destroyed, most windows have shattered and the base was dangerously inclining on the left. The building would have to be brought down and rebuilt to limit the threat. Still, the damage was minimal compared to the others around. The adjacent buildings were in rumbles, burning or halfway destroyed.

A man cried for his help, one of the few people left alive in the aftermath. A little girl stood in front of Wayne Tower, crying. A metal beam creaked as its support finally gave away. Bruce ran and plucked the girl away before it could hit her. She was barely older than Hippolyte.

"You're alright," he said, kneeling in front of her as she stood shell-shocked. "You're okay, you're gonna be okay. Your mom, do you know where's your mom?"

"Maggie!"

A woman limped in their direction, a strangled cry tearing her throat with each step. The girl escaped his grasp and ran straight in her arms, sobbing loudly. For a few moments, he watched them reunite. He was not the only one. The few people still around stared in mild interest, minds too numb for reality to sink in. Bruce shook his head and looked up as he heard two deflagrations. The sound made people flinch, but nothing followed –no attack nor catastrophe. He was still wondering at the sound when he felt a presence by his side.

"Zod is dead."

He turned around. Diana stood beside him, oddly withdrawn. Her outfit was covered with blood and she was empty-handed.

"His, not mine; I hid the sword," she added quietly. "The fight is over, we need to help now."

"The others?"

"Our friend flew to destroy the body," she said with a sad expression on her face, and he was briefly reminded of the time she had spoken of the Chimera's remains. "I will tell you later."

He gave her a stern stare –they would talk later.

"So it's really over?"

She nodded.

"Now it's the aftermath."

Bruce knew he hadn't fought in this battle, knew he had arrived after anything could be done. He still stared at the former Wayne Tower, feeling tired. Good people had died today, and-

"Bruce?"

Jack's voice brought him immediately back. The middle aged man was slowly edging out of the building, his hand clinging at the pendant around his neck. He could only stared, dumbstruck, as the man toddled towards him with the same expression of incredulity on his face.

"What are you doing here?" Jack asked in disbelief. "You were supposed to be –I mean, I am glad to see you in one piece but –really?"

Bruce had no words, so he merely stepped forward and gave his partner a manly hug. When he turned around to introduce Diana, she had already gone further down to help people stuck beneath the remains of a fallen building. Jack followed his gaze and nodded.

"Sad day," he said. "At least no-one was left behind when I got out."

Bruce nodded absentmindedly. No-one was left inside the building –how many were injured outside?

"I'm glad you're okay," he replied instead. "Let's see what we can do now."

He would call his headquarters soon. He would make sure people had enough staff to organize the rescue without endangering themselves. Oversee the concrete damage to his company, reinforce the insurance service to help the innocent people caught in this mess. Register every single thing Diana knew about this, sample and analyze residue floating in the air –make sure no alien germ would develop under their noses. But for now, he would use his two bare hands to help.