Chapter 23: Getting a Grip
There seemed to be a haze forming around the darkness. She couldn't see anything and wasn't sure exactly where she was. Had she failed her mission? Had the rip in time pulled her in and this was the result of that form of destruction, to feel like she was floating around in vast nothingness? What was happening? If she'd been pulled in, then wouldn't she have been ripped apart from existence? Shouldn't she feel nothing at all if that actually was the case?
Diana wasn't sure what she was experiencing, but she slowly came to the conclusion, that wherever she was, she was still alive. She still existed. She needed to focus, center herself and her thoughts so that she could escape this limbo she was experiencing before it was actually too late. Taking a deep breath in and blowing it out, she closed her eyes, focusing on calming everything around her as well as inside her. She thought back to the last moment she could recall, soon finding herself back inside the control center with Bruce, who'd been holding onto the Triangle of Light. That was until he'd realized that he was going to be pulled into the white light, and he once again proved the quality man and hero that he really was, sacrificing himself in order to get the amulet to Diana instead of trying to find something, anything to grab hold of.
Diana could recall catching the amulet, and then was forced to watch as Bruce was pulled away. She could recall putting the amulet around her neck, saying the words and thinking of a time in the past before a second flash of light occurred. The next thing she recalled was being trapped in this darkness, but she believed wholeheartedly that there was more. She wanted to focus on that more she believed to be missing from her memories, but suddenly felt a violent thud against her ankles. It felt as if she'd been kicked by someone, but before she could delve into that feeling, she was struck again by the feel of her backside slamming onto something.
"You hesitated." An oh so familiar baritone voice announced, causing Diana to snap her eyes open instantly.
She had to see if it was true, and sure enough there was Batman, pinning her to the ground. She took a brief moment to collect her thoughts, realizing she was really back in a training room with Batman. She almost couldn't believe it, and had the memory of what had happened not slapped her in the face at that moment, she would've been overjoyed.
She remembered that originally she had Bruce right where she'd wanted him. She'd gotten him to position his legs awkwardly to where she could lunge forward and force him to almost trip over himself, and all it would take would be a leg sweep before he'd be on the ground. But something wasn't right this time.
In her memory, she'd beaten him. The leg sweep had worked against him, she was sure of it. She could remember pinning him successfully, and the husky nature of his voice as he seemed to tease her through not submitting. She could even remember the shiver that had traveled down her spine. She was about to kiss him, and she knew that it all happened. But then he disappeared out from underneath her.
"Diana?" Bruce questioned, causing her to snap back to the moment.
"I...I'm sorry." She quickly reacted as he released her from the pinned position. As soon as she was freed, she rapidly rolled over and pushed herself up to a standing position. She was confused and was completely uncomfortable with who she was with and the when. "I...I should go."
"Diana." Bruce called out again, and she could hear the concern etched into his tone. "What happened? Are you alright?"
Diana hesitated for a second before eventually answering him. "I'm fine. Something just came to mind." She then rushed to the door, knowing she needed to create as much distance as she could until she could figure out what happened. "Thank you for training with me." She called out as she disappeared from the training room completely.
Bruce stood there almost dumbfounded. He didn't know what just happened, and was immeasurably concerned. She'd had him right where she should've wanted him. He had fallen for her strategy, moving into the exact position she'd obviously been anticipating. Her execution was flawless as she started to trip him up, but then for some reason, she paused. It had given him enough time to react and rediscover solid footing before redirecting an attack on her. The only difference was he finished it, and had pinned her to the ground before she could react. That was when he realized something was wrong.
He'd watched her closely upon realization that she wasn't struggling at all in his grip. Her eyes were pinched shut, and it almost seemed as if she was in some kind of discomfort or pain. She was a Meta, and neither the leg sweep or the fall should have affected her, let alone caused one iota of pain. She wouldn't even have had the wind knocked from her. Not only that, but if he wasn't mistaken, there seemed to be a sense of awkwardness coming from her as well. Almost like she...
Not one to let a mystery go unsolved, Bruce's detective mind kicked into high gear. As he stalked out of the training area and through the Watchtower corridors, his mind was analyzing everything that he could about Diana's behavior, both recent and distant. He eventually came to the conclusion that she was fairly steady in her demeanor until just then inside the training room. The only other discrepancy was when she'd been traveling back and forth to Themyscira, but he paid little mind to that as he'd originally found out she was going there for continued training. Now for the first time, he found himself wondering just what that training might've been for.
Focusing back to their training, he moved to another point that he'd noticed. It wasn't for long, but there was a moment where she seemed to be lost. It was as if during that time, Diana's mind was somewhere else entirely, and that was not at all like the warrior who he'd come to know and appreciate training alongside. She'd never lost focus like that before while training or in battle. Something was most definitely on her mind, and he needed to find out what that something was in order to uncover how detrimental it might be to the team, to her, to him.
Diana knew that Bruce's mentality wouldn't permit him to leave her alone to her thoughts. He was obviously aware that something had gotten to her just by her reaction in the training room. He'd have an innate need to get to the bottom of it. Normally that was an endearing quality, but not at this particular moment. She was confused, and didn't know what to make of what was going on. The last thing she needed was a detective trying to figure out what was going on with her when she didn't know for herself.
The Watchtower wasn't a safe place to be. Actually, there was almost nowhere that she could go where Batman wouldn't be able to reach. Nowhere except her homeland. Out of respect for the Amazon beliefs, Bruce wouldn't step foot on Themyscira unless the situation was life or death, and this wouldn't qualify as that. For the moment. Diana was relieved as she noticed she not only was she already in her armor, but that her Justice League communicator was once again planted in her ear. "J'onn." She announced after opening a communication channel.
"Yes Diana." Her Martian friend replied, much to her relief that he existed once again.
"I've just returned from a time altering mission, and I need some time away, unsure of how long it will be." Diana revealed. "I have to request taking a Javelin to travel home, and I'll return once I've worked everything out."
"Very well, Diana." J'onn confirmed as he began making the changes to Diana's availability status for League activities. "Would you prefer that I keep that from your file until you've returned?"
Diana hesitated as she mulled the idea over for a few moments before coming to a decision. "No J'onn." She answered. "When I return I'll submit an official mission report to League records. For now, just put in the mission as in progress. I have to validate some things before I return to ensure that I was successful."
"As you wish Diana." J'onn announced as he submitted the information into the log files. He didn't make mention of anything more, knowing that Diana was the type to share when she was ready. "Take care, and I'll see you soon."
"Thank you J'onn." Diana replied before closing the communication channel. She swiftly went to her room to grab a handful of things that she might need, and that's when her demeanor plummeted. On the center of her bed was that damn amulet. Even though every fiber in her being knew she'd not hallucinated or dreamed everything that'd happened in the other timeline, she'd almost pleaded internally to discover something that would prove otherwise.
Her heart broke instantly upon seeing confirmation that the time changes did happen. She had fallen in love with Bruce, had become intimate with him in every way. She'd met his parents, seen what they were like in real life. She never admitted it, but she loved them just as she loved their son. She'd been forced to witness them being taken violently by a mad man, and then witnessed what it did to Bruce. She was also forced into seeing the man she'd fallen in love with become corrupted by the desire to save his family. She hadn't realized it until now, but it'd cost her him and his love as well, even if it was temporary.
Diana tried to shake herself from those depressing thoughts, knowing she needed to focus quickly and solely onto Bruce. This Bruce. He was surely close behind her by now, and she couldn't face him. Not now. She needed some time to work through everything first, and her mind was a jumbled mess. Being around him would only make it worse, and if she didn't move, she knew she wouldn't be able to avoid seeing him. That was enough to get her moving again, snatching up the amulet before flying as fast as she could to the Javelin bay.
Just as the jet exited the docking bay, Batman walked in to see the last of afterburners. Diana was evading him, and he was certain of it. The question was why. What had changed while they were training together to cause such an abrupt reaction from her? He needed to find out where Diana was going. If she needed help, he'd gladly offer for her. He just needed to follow the bread crumbs she would've left behind. Leaving with such haste would certainly cause her to be sloppy enough to leave some form of a trail, and he would be damned if she thought he wouldn't be able to track her down.
The monitor doors slid open, and J'onn didn't have to spare a glance to know who was approaching or why. Batman was normally a man bereft of revealing anything for a telepath to pick up on, but at the moment his emotions were exuding outward so forcefully that J'onn couldn't help but to pick up on them. Batman was deeply concerned about Diana. "Something I can help you with?" J'onn inquired.
"Need to know where Wonder Woman is headed." Batman acknowledged. "She left with a Javelin unexpectedly, and according to the computer in the Batcave, there aren't any current League level threat alerts to account for."
"I know, and I authorized her use of the Javelin." J'onn explained.
"Why?" Batman questioned as he came to a stop in front of the Martian.
J'onn wondered just how much he should divulge to Batman. He knew that the Dark Knight's reasoning was well warranted, but Diana had also been protruding her emotions almost as strongly as Batman was now. He'd sensed the level of confusion, pain, and depression roiling off her in waves. Concern was certainly a deserving feeling coming from Batman, but was it his place to share that information, especially since it was information that Diana had yet to share?
Bruce was starting to become angry as the Martian seemed to be debating with himself as to what he should share and what he should keep hidden. Anything was too much to hide in his opinion. Bruce decided that he couldn't wait any longer, briefly contemplating lashing out at the Martian mentally. He'd help play the part in giving J'onn a headache that he would deeply regret if he didn't get information he wanted, but the Martian apparently picked up on the threat as well.
"She announced that she just returned from a mission relating to time travel."
"A mission?" Bruce rhetorically asked. "She came straight from the training room with me."
"Perhaps the change occurred at that time, and she returned to the point where it initiated?" J'onn suggested.
Bruce grunted in thought. It was possible. He'd been involved in time travel himself on a couple occasions. It was never an enjoyable experience. "Perhaps." He eventually conceded. "When can we expect a mission report to be filed and debrief her?"
"She informed me that she would complete the report I started for her upon her return as she wished to confirm any changes have been reset." J'onn shared.
"Back from where?" Bruce continued to push.
"Themyscira." J'onn answered, and Bruce knew that he was sunk. She'd been clever, going to the one place that he wouldn't go purely out of respect for her.
Well, if she wanted time to confirm and work things out, then he'd give her all the time she wanted, and that also meant that he didn't have a reason to be on the Watchtower. "Fine." He grumbled, turning to leave. "I'm heading back to Gotham. Don't call unless I'm actually needed. Be sure to let Kent know the last part."
J'onn would've confirmed Batman's request verbally, but by the time he'd spun around to look over toward the Dark Knight, he'd apparently already stalked out of the Monitor Womb. He knew that Batman's frustration wasn't actually directed at him, but rather toward the concern that he was feeling for Diana. J'onn didn't need the use of his telepathy to sense that as he too was concerned for her.
When Diana had contacted J'onn to announce her leave of absence, he could sense something different from her. It was almost as though she was driven by desperation and fear to get off the Watchtower as soon as possible. Those emotions weren't synonymous with the valiant and courageous Amazon that he'd come to know over the years.
He almost wanted to share his concerns with Batman, but thought better of it. The man was close enough to tracking her down as it was, and if he added to that paranoia Bruce was experiencing, it wouldn't matter where Diana went. He'd very likely break all rules to find her, and that was something J'onn knew Diana didn't want at the moment.
It was a good fifteen minutes of flying time before Diana was willing to relax even a small amount. She'd half expected to have a black jet on her tail by now, but perhaps Bruce was giving her the space she needed. There was a lot on her mind, and she needed some time to work through everything as her mind was a cluttered mess. She was never more thankful for technology like autopilot than at that very moment. After setting her course trajectory, she allowed herself to start sifting through everything that she was drowning in.
She hated to admit it, but Bruce was at the forefront of that large amount of turmoil in her thoughts. She was lost as to what to do about him. Diana had to accept that she'd fallen in love with Bruce from the altered timeline, but was that man still somewhere inside the one she would have to work alongside now? She'd given herself to the other Bruce, loved the feel of him next to her. Being with him had momentarily brought a sense of added peace to her heart, and seeing his actual smile simply because he was with her was enough to melt her heart. She still fondly remembered the times that Bruce smiled around her. He was legitimately happy, she knew deep down that he was, and she was a direct cause of his being happy.
Could she bring him somewhere close to that same level of that happiness now? Did she even want to? Would it even be possible after she eventually confided that a part of her mission involved ensuring that his parents would die right in front of him? There were so many questions to answer, bridges that she'd have to eventually cross, but she would have to focus on that once she returned from her homeland.
For now she planned to commune with her gods and goddesses as soon as she could. She needed to know what happened before she could move forward.
Bruce almost shot out of bed in a panic. He was drenched in sweat, it running down like rivulets, momentarily clinging to the tip of his nose and various points around his jaw line until gravity finally claimed them. He was panting as well, almost hyperventilating as he fought to catch his breath and calm his nerves.
Throughout the years, Bruce had experienced a plethora of nightmares, all with the same basic ending of his parents being ripped away by death's clutches in some form or another. As the years distanced him from that horrible night as a young boy, the nightmares tended to evolve. Sometimes it was a different person killing them, while with others, the location was what changed. But this nightmare seemed to be so much more vivid and real over any others he could recall, and that was incredibly startling for him.
It was as if he'd witnessed their deaths first hand again. The pain that came with it was so fresh in his mind, even after he'd finally come to the conclusion that it was nothing more than a nightmare.
Normally, after a minute or two once realization sunk in, Bruce would be able to calm his nerves and go back to sleep, but this time, he was still catching his breath, still sweating even though he felt a chill running through him. He started to climb out of bed when a knock came from the bedroom door. "Is everything alright sir?" Alfred called to him from through the door.
Bruce hesitated, taking two deep breaths in an attempt to calm himself down. It didn't work. He didn't want to concern Alfred any more than he already did every day just by being a vigilante, but despite his best efforts, he couldn't bring himself to respond and quell the British butler's growing concern. Soon, Alfred cracked the door open just wide enough to peek his head inside. "Sir, is everything alright?"
Bruce then managed to swallow down the lump that had unwittingly grown in his throat. "Y...yes." He finally choked out. "Nightmare."
Alfred, having raised the young man basically since birth knew better than to believe Bruce's lame attempt at passing this instance off, and opened the door fully and marching right up to his surrogate son. "You haven't been this worked up over a nightmare since before you were a teenager sir." He pointed out as he took a seat next to the younger man, and stared at a wall reminiscing some of those times. "I recall many a nights sharing a spot of warm cocoa with you as a young child. I'd thought those days had long since past."
Bruce finally managed to start composing himself, Alfred's presence having the needed calming effect. "So did I." He muttered. "But this nightmare seemed so much more real. Almost like it just happened instead of years ago, but this time it was so much worse."
"Worse?" Alfred inquired in astonishment. "How in heavens could it be worse than before?"
"Be...because Alfred." Bruce stammered. "It wasn't just them that were killed. It was you too."
That was certainly a first for Alfred. He'd managed to se Bruce through all of the worst that his dreams could concoct, but his death being a part of it had never come up before. "Well...Master Bruce..." He worked toward attempting an explanation. "As you can see, it was only a dream. Obviously nothing like that has occurred as I am here now."
"Yes..." Bruce responded as he tried to convince himself and failing miserably. "It was just a dream, nothing more. Thank you Alfred. You always seem to know how to help me through these things. I'll see you later in the morning."
"Do try and get some rest sir." Alfred requested as he climbed back to his feet before making his way to the bedroom door. "I shall return to wake you for breakfast, Master Bruce."
"Th...Thank you Alfred." Bruce choked out. He held his composure up to the point where Alfred pulled the door closed behind him. There would be no more sleep on this night. The dream was just too real. It still felt like it'd really happened, and he couldn't shake that feeling no matter how hard he tried. If sleep wasn't a possibility, then he decided the next best thing was to dive into some work. Surely there was something in the Batcave for him to do until it was time to head to Wayne Enterprises.
Unfortunately, while trekking his way down to his base of operations, he had to walk past the very room where his nightmare had taken place. Bruce couldn't help but to stop as he came to the entrance of it, staring at the area he'd seen his parents and Alfred before they were cruelly murdered in front of him again. It wasn't until now however, that he realized his parents weren't the young couple they'd always been in his dreams before. This time, they had aged just as Alfred had between the actual death of his parents to now.
Eventually, Bruce tore himself away from the moment, and reached his intended destination, taking a seat in front of his Cray supercomputer. Within seconds, he'd pulled up a program, loading a picture of his mother and father before starting it. The image of his parents on screen seemed to age rapidly until the program reached it's completion.
In the past, he'd used this program to help in identifying people that had gone missing for years at a time. It wasn't believed to be 100% accurate, but more often than not, it was close on the estimation of how age affected a person's features. Now, looking at the images of his parents, the program seemed worth every penny.
The images looked exactly like his parents had in the dream, and seeing their faces on screen revealed to him more details from his dream that had until now slipped his mind. The images helped jog his memory to realize that he wasn't alone in his dream. Diana was there too.
Being back on Themsycira had always been a comforting experience for Diana. She'd always enjoyed returning to her homeland, getting to see her mother and fellow Amazon sisters. There was always a celebration upon her return after any extended period of time, and that was the case on this occasion as well. Everything seemed the same, save for the feeling of comfort she was experiencing.
Diana arrived not wanting to celebrate anything. She didn't feel like she'd been victorious, and because of that, she just wanted to focus on the main reason she decided to come home. She came to gain an understanding and discover what actually happened. She came to speak with her gods and goddesses.
Exiting from the Javelin, her mother knew instantly that this wasn't a typical visit. Her daughter was attempting to hide her dour emotional state, but a mother can just tell when their child is troubled, even as an adult. The queen in her didn't interrupt the celebratory greeting for her daughter despite the obvious desire Diana had to skip it, but as soon as she greeted her mother, Hippolyta leaned in closely as they embraced. "Something is troubling you, my daughter." She whispered into Diana's ear.
Momentarily, Diana's eyes widened, having thought she'd hidden her feelings well, but discovering the exact opposite to be true. "Yes mother, I am troubled." She confirmed as she stepped back to grant the queen the proper respect expected.
"I must say that I hadn't expected you to return so quickly, Diana." Hippolyta shared. "Though it certainly isn't an unwelcomed gesture."
"I wish I could say that my visit today is purely cordial in nature, but I must beseech information from our patron gods and goddesses." Diana offered.
"I see." The queen acknowledged. "Very well. I will see you to the temple of Athena. Please, come with me." The queen then moved her attention to the guards at her sides. "Return to the palace so that I may walk with my daughter."
Rapidly, the Amazons around the queen and princess dispersed, all of them knowing that the order reached further than just the queen's royal guard. Both parent and child remained silent from that point on until they were alone on the path up to Athena's temple. "Tell me what is troubling you, my little sun and stars." Hippolyta implored.
Diana sighed, knowing that her mother would want to be informed of what the nature of her request involved. "I know it may sound strange mother, but I was ordered to complete a mission to repair damage caused by a man who gained the ability to change the past."
"Man will never learn it seems." The queen grumbled, her lack of affection toward the male side more than apparent.
"I assure you mother, he had only the best of intentions." Diana defended. "Every change he made was done to save lives, but he wasn't aware of the damage he was causing by making those changes."
"Even the best of intentions..."
"That is beside the point, mother." Diana interrupted in exasperation. Sometimes her people could be so short sighted when it came to Man's world. Having witnessed the exact opposite in many cases, it almost drove her to the brink of insanity trying to dissuade them from years of unchanged beliefs, and she didn't want to waste time engaging in that debate again at the moment.
"What troubles me is what I experienced along the journey. I have no idea what happened, and...and I need to confirm that I was indeed successful." I also need to figure out what was real and wasn't if that is that case, she thought, choosing not to share that bit with her mother. Especially because of her involvement with the Bruce of that timeline.
Hippolyta stopped at the entrance of Athena's temple, sensing that her daughter not only wanted, but needed to commune with the gods and goddesses on her own. She'd get the answers she was seeking upon Diana's return, even if she was concerned by noticing there was obviously more than what her daughter was sharing with her. "Come to the palace once you've received your answers." The queen ordered. "We still have matters to discuss before you make your leave."
Diana nodded before turning and heading into the temple. Being simple in structure, it wasn't long before she reached the center of the temple where the altar stood. She steeled herself, knowing what she had to do as she reached over to the nearest wall, grabbing a torch that was hanging on it. She used the torch to light some candles and incense before kneeling and praying for Athena to answer her plea.
After a few moments of silence, a flash of light was met with a booming voice as Athena spoke. "Welcome, champion of Olympus. Please stand Diana. We've been expecting you."
Although initially surprised by that revelation, Diana respectfully called out her request as she stood before one of her patron goddesses. "Mighty, Athena. I came due to the most recent mission in which I was decreed to accept. It appears as though the mission was a success, but I do not have any recollection of what happened even though Apollo informed me that my memories would remain intact."
"I can confirm that your mission was a success." The goddess responded. "The Fates and Hades are thankful of your efforts."
"While I am happy to have successfully completed the task asked of me, I still request an audience with Apollo. I need to be certain that all changes have been corrected and the time stream repaired." Diana implored.
Athena began to pace in front of the mortal as she processed the request until she came to a decision. "Because of your many exploits in our name Diana, I will grant your request." Athena declared. "Stand with me now child, and I shall take you to Olympus."
Diana didn't hesitate in complying to the orders given, taking her position next to Athena, and the in the next instant, she was standing before many thrones inside the chamber of a glorious white palace. She immediately knelt as a sign of utmost respect.
Zeus and Hera were seated at the forefront, while the rest of the gods and goddesses were seated to their sides. Athena walked over and joined them, taking her seat next to Artemis, who was staring angrily upon the champion.
"Why have you brought the Champion of the Amazons before us?" Zeus barked, his voice reverberating through the large chamber in a manner leaving no doubt who ruled Mount Olympus.
"Diana of Themyscira has requested an audience with my brother Apollo." Athena announced. "She requests answers with regard to her last completed mission."
Apollo leaned forward, only somewhat interested in Diana's request, but more so intrigued by the looks he noticed from his sister Artemis as well as Aphrodite. They seemed to both be incredibly invested, and why they were interested is what gained his own interest. "Speak your concerns child." He commanded.
Diana remained in her kneeling position, knowing full well that she needed to remain there unless instructed otherwise. She also never made eye contact, not wanting to do anything that could potentially anger the gods and goddesses seated before her as she began to speak. "Mighty Apollo, I've come to beseech you. I have missing memories of what transpired toward the end of my mission. I don't have any recollection of what transpired from the moment I attempted to use the Triangle of Light up to the point where I was returned to the original timeline. It was my understanding that my memories would remain unaffected..."
"And you believe that I may be responsible?" Apollo accusingly interrupted as he jumped up from his throne and stood in front of the kneeling Amazon.
"I admit that I am unsure as to what happened." Diana broached. "I'm only seeking answers as to what the cause is and if it can be reversed."
Apollo stroked his chin with his forefinger and thumb, pacing around Diana as he pondered her words. She could almost feel his gaze piercing through her like a string of fire burning right to her core. He'd circled around three times in silence before eventually returning to his throne and taking his seat. "Rise Diana." He commanded.
Slowly, she complied, keeping her eyes closed until she reached her full height and turned to face the direction Apollo's voice generated from. "I've done nothing to your memories, young Amazon." He announced. "You will have to discover your own means of remembering what transpired, but fear not for the time line, as it has indeed been restored."
Although disappointed from still not knowing what occurred, she started to sigh in relief, but that only lasted until Artemis bolted up from her own seat. "You may have completed the mission asked of you, but some of you're choices along your journey MUST be judged."