"One minute until impact, Lieutenant," the pilot said to Issi.
"Good," Issi snarled.
"Are you sure you'll be able to kill your own sister?" Katar asked, coming to stand behind her.
"Will you be able to kill the woman your heart desires?" Issi shot back.
"Your sister and my relationship was platonic at best."
"But you'd rather be married to her than me," Issi glared at him through her war mask. Katar said nothing. "Why don't you worry about taking down Earth's Man of Steel?" Issi said.
"Are you certain this Lex Luthor is trustworthy?" Katar asked, staring down at his mace lined with kryptonite.
"No," Issi said with a scoff. "He is very untrustworthy. But I was his jailer last time we were on Earth. All he talked about was how much he hated Superman and all of the different ways he was planning on killing Superman."
"All stop in 3…2…1," the pilot said, all ships coming to an abrupt halt. "Earth up ahead."
Issi straightened her gold gauntlets. She gave her husband a wry smile before kissing the underside of his jaw. "Let's go kill my sister."
Carter, or Hawkman, walked the halls of the Watchtower, whistling a merry tune – swinging his mace. He loved it up here. Being that he was into astrology and astronomy, looking out the windows at the stars was his favorite pastime. Sometimes, he felt so close, he could almost touch them. A gaggle of chatting superheroines walked past him. Of course, the stars weren't the only view-worthy things in the Watchtower. One of the female leaguers, green from head to toe, turned and gave him a sultry wink before walking away with a flirtatious sway to her hips. Oh yeah, he could totally get used to this.
He turned to look out a nearby window, his superior eyesight homing in on a flying object. Crap! He flew to the monitor room. Instead of the Martian, Booster Gold stood at the helm. "We need to alert Superman!" Hawkman yelled. "They're here! Thanagarians are here!"
Shayera stood on the balcony, staring up at the early morning sky. Clark and Diana had left around 2 a.m. – 15 minutes ago. "How was your talk with Diana?" she heard from behind her. She turned to face Bruce. "I didn't hear any shouting. Nothing was broken." Shayera smiled as Bruce came closer to her. "We were fi-" Shayera's voice broke. She turned her head towards the sky. The hair on her arms stood up. She could sense them. Lights resembling stars began to appear. "Bruce," she said as he too raised his head to the sky.
"Those aren't shooting stars, are they?" he asked as he followed her gaze.
"No. They're here." As soon as the words left her lips, all hell broke loose.
Mass panic erupted over Gotham, Metropolis, and other surrounding cities as both Thanagarians and Thanagarian warships rained down from the sky. The heroes who weren't able to breathe in space, fought the bird-people on Earth. The heroes with no flight ability fought the Thanagarians grounded after their faux wings were successfully ripped from their bodies. Chey-Ara, J'ohnn, and other heroes did their best to prevent the Thanagarians from entering the Watchtower. "They just keep coming!" a lantern shouted.
"We need to find the command ship," Chey-Ara said to J'ohnn. "They'll continue to fight until the leaders tell them otherwise."
"I believe Shayera and Batman are working on that."
"Are you sure?" Bruce asked as he and Shayera briskly walked the halls of the Watchtower. Shayera was brandishing her long swords. He had yet to pull his cowl over his head. But since the Watchtower was empty, save Superman and Wonder Woman, he wasn't worried about this identity being exposed.
"Even with the world governments fighting…Thanagar's soldiers won't stop coming until Issi tells them to stop. And she won't tell them to stop until I am dead. Superman can get me to their command ship, past…everyone." Shayera stopped walking. "I can't move on with this hanging over my head. I need to cut ties with Thanagar once and for all." Shayera turned away from him and kept walking. "No matter who dies, this thing with Thanagar ends today. Hey!" she exclaimed. Bruce gripped her around the waist and pulled her tight against his body before backing her against the wall. He grabbed the back of her head with his free hand and smashed their lips together. His tongue pushed past her lips and teeth, his mouth hot against hers. Shayera didn't know how, but her tongue ended up in his mouth…which was new for her…battling his tongue as he sucked and gently bit her lower lip, causing her to release a long, drawn out moan she tried very hard to contain. Bruce abruptly broke the kiss while pulling his cowl over his head, leaving her breathless. "Don't die," he said as he turned and walked away from her. Shayera herself was in a happy stupor. She placed her hand against her chest, willing her racing heart to slow, as she leaned back against the wall. Her face felt…hot. She needed some air. After a few seconds, she straightened and began to walk to the monitor room. Her legs felt like jell-o . "I'll be in the Batwing," Batman was saying to Superman and Wonder Woman, who looked up when Shayera entered the room.
"You okay, Shayera?" Wonder Woman asked with a knowing smirk. "Your face looks…flushed."
"I'm fine," Shayera said, looking down, pretending to check her weapons.
"Robin and Red Robin are helping in Gotham," Batman said. "I'll be in constant contact with them."
"Sounds good," Superman said. "Are you ready, Shayera?" he asked.
"Let's do this," Shayera answered. "I know a way we can get in. But we have to come from behind."
What a rush! Shayera thought as Superman rammed his body through the Thanagarian ship. She had never flown with Superman before. But man was he fast! "There's nobody here," Superman said as he and Shayera walked the silent halls of the huge Thanagarian command ship. At the very least, it was the length of a football field. And from what he could see, he and Shayera were on the fourth – the top level – of the ship. Superman's body began to slowly sway. He used the wall to brace himself. "Are you okay?" Shayera asked in concern, stopping beside him.
"I'm fine," Superman said as he righted himself, "I was momentarily dizzy. Which doesn't make any sense, there's no kryptonite in these walls."
"No," Shayera swaid, "they're lined with Nth metal."
"Oh…I don't do well around magic."
"It's not magic," Shayera said matter-of-factly.
"To us, it is – meaning the people of Earth – it might as well be." They both stopped in front of two closed doors.
"Will you be – "
"I'll be fine." Superman stared through the doors via his x-ray vision. "I see four figures. One female."
"Issi," Shayera growled. "She's mine."
Superman nodded. He wasn't going to argue with her. "I'll take the other 5," he said as his eyes glowed red.
Issi stood with her arms folded, glaring through the eye slits of her war mask. She was watching the battle taking place before her. The foot soldiers had already broken through the atmospheres surrounding Earth. But, she was annoyed. She did not expect the other world leaders to help the Justice League. Every able-bodied world government had sent their fighter jets to protect their people - which was shocking. From what she'd read of this world's history, peace and unity were the farthest things from these humans' minds. "Lieutenant," one of her personal guards motioned to the monitors. "She's here. With the Kryptonian."
"You think you can handle him?" Issi asked Katar.
"Don't worry about me," Katar answered as he picked up his mace, the spike tips glowing green with kryptonite.
"Are you ready?" Issi asked, as she turned to face the doors.
"Are you?" Katar said, watching as a laser cut through their doors.
"Ready for this?" Superman asked. Shayera nodded. Superman's eyes glowed red as his laser vision pierced through the Thanagarian metal, carving a giant hole in the door. He flew in first, followed by Shayera. Judging from the monitors, this was the command ship; but there were only four occupants in the room. The two lieutenants were easily spotted; and the other two seemed to be wearing silver armor instead of gold. Bodyguards, maybe? "Well, well, well," Lieutenant Issi mocked in Thanagarian. "Look who was able to get her wings back. You know, the fake wings are a better look on you," Issi lowered into a fighting stance, holding a mace defensively…Shayera's mace.
"You don't have to do this," Superman said. "Just fly away and go back to Thanagar."
Issi laughed. "Not happening, Krypton. But we will give you a chance to give up," she responded.
"Your quarrel is with me, Issi," Shayera stepped forward. "Call off the attack, and you and I can settle this alone on a battlefield."
"No. I'd rather kill you and your planet." She then lunged at Shayera as Katar and the two other guards attacked Superman.
Shayera felt her sister's anger with every clank of their weapons. They were evenly matched, neither one able to land a blow on the other. Shayera realized, fighting Issi in the air would do nothing but exhaust her. Blocking a blow to her head, Shayera realized she needed to ground Issi. "What's the matter, sis?" Shayera said as she lunged expertly at Issi. "No taunts," Shayera said as the edge of her weapon made contact with Issi's helmet, causing a small crack to appear.
"I am not your sister," Issi spat angrily as she blocked the incoming knee to her stomach. She swung her mace in an attempt to put space between her and Shayera. But Shayera was able to easily dodge the clumsy swing and block Issi's next attack.
The sisters' fighting once again picked up momentum. Through the barrage of swings and attacks, the two still continued to shout taunts at each other in their native tongue. But it all came to a head when Issi was able to land a lucky shot on Shayera's back, right where her real wings used to be. Shayera immediately fell to the floor as the pain soared through her back and into her head. She immediately fell to one knee. Issi landed in front of her and looked down at her smugly. "The faux wings aren't as sturdy as organic wings. They don't protect the scar tissue in your back." Shayera grabbed a small dagger she had hidden in her boots and flung it at her sister's face. "Ahh!" Issi screamed as the sharp object made contact with her eye before embedding itself into a wall. Her hand immediately covered her damaged eye, giving Shayera the opening she needed to land a roundhouse kick to her sister's stomach. Acting quickly, Shayera plunged a spear into one of her sister's wings. "Ahh!" Issi screamed as her body automatically recoiled in pain. Her wings began flapping out of sync with each other. She wasn't able to leave the ground. Issi ripped the spear from her own wing with a war cry. Now they were on even ground; and as much as Shayera loved the feel of her faux wings – they would be more of a hindrance than an asset. She pressed the release button on her chest as Issi squared up with her. "You really expect to beat me with no wings?" Issi mocked as Shayera's wings fell to the floor. "I only need one good wing to beat you," Issi continued as Shayera also dropped her spear. She was going to get her mace back; and to do that, she would need both hands free. "Pathetic," Issi growled as she charged Shayera. Unfortunately, Issi didn't realize just how much of an affect not having one wing would be on her balance. Instead of a fluid attack, her swing was clunky; and her legs wobbled with each step. Shayera took complete advantage of the situation by dodging every attack and striking at every weak spot in the Thanagarian armor. In an act of desperation, Issi lifted the mace above her head in an attempt to bring it down upon Shayera. Shayera used an easy X-block, grabbing Issi's wrist in the process. With one quick snap, Issi dropped the mace and fell to her knees. Shayera quickly picked up the fallen weapon and, with a well-placed swing, made contact with the side of Issi's helmet – affectively ending the fight. Issi landed on her stomach with a thud. Half of her helmet was gone; blood poured from the open wound on her wing; and Issi grasped her left wrist in pain. Before she could stand to her feet, Shayera grabbed Issi by her injured wing and dragged her to the ship's console. "Call off the attack!" Shayera demanded.
"Over my dead body!" Issi spat as blood began to pour from her open head wound. "Call it off!" Shayera demanded once again. Issi spat in her face. Shayera immediately gripped her sister by the throat and began slowly squeezing. "You…won't…do it," Issi gasped. "You're too…weak," she coughed.
"You're right," Shayera admitted. "But General Trogaar will."
"You're…bluffing," Issi said weakly.
Shayera looked deep into Issi's eyes. "You took my wings from me," Shayera growled, shaking in anger. "You were going to hand me over to them like I was nothing! Trust me when I say I am not bluffing!" Shayera slammed Issi's head against the console. She was running out of patience. "Do it! Or I'll contact Trogaar myself," Shayera threatened. Issi tried to fight her older sister's grip. "Fine," Shayera said resolutely. After punching in a few buttons, a hologram of General Trogaar appeared. "What now you – oh," he said as he realized he was not speaking to Issi. "Well this is a surprise. You are the one that was promised to us."
"I'd like to make an exchange," Shayera replied in the Gordanian language. "You get Issi-"
"Alright! Alright! I'll do it!" Issi screamed.
"Now!" Shayera ordered angrily. Issi immediately spoke into a communicator attached to her sleeve and ordered every Thanagarian to stand down. Shayera looked out the giant window and watched as the Thanagarian ships ceased fire almost immediately and began to retreat. Shayera released her grip on Issi, dropping her onto the floor. Shayera began typing on the computer. "What are you doing?" Issi asked weakly, her injured wing laying lifeless by her side as blood continued to pour from the wound, dying her white feathers red.
"Typing in the coordinates to Thanagar."
"I hate you," Issi said.
"I know," Shayera stared down at her sister, "the feeling is almost mutual." The doors to the command room opened before Shayera could say anything else. Superman walked in with an unconscious Thanagarian thrown over each shoulder. Even more surprising was Katar strolling behind him. Shayera looked at Superman questioningly. "Oh, we stopped fighting after five minutes. Took out a few Thanagarian ships," Superman explained, dropping the two bodies on the floor unceremoniously. "Trai…tor," Issi growled in pain. Shayera quickly turned and delivered a knock-out blow to her sister's face. Katar smirked. "I'll make sure she gets the care she needs on Thanagar," Katar stepped forward, "I am her husband after all."
"And the Gordanians?" Shayera asked him pointedly.
"Leave General Trogaar to me," he said resolutely.
Superman's comm began to blink. "I need to take this," he said, stepping away from Shayera and Katar.
Katar stared down at Issi's unconscious body. "Go easy on her," Shayera said softly.
"Why?" Katar questioned in confusion. "She was trying to kill you. All of this," he motioned to the ships in space, "was meant to destroy you."
"As a result of her failure, my parents along with the other leaders of Thanagar will destroy her reputation," Shayera looked at him pointedly. "You know this."
Katar looked away. "You're right," he said as he remembered the part he played in separating her wings from her body. "I'm sorry…for all of it," he said much to Shayera's surprise.
"Just make sure she stays…safe. She is my sister, after all," she said with a bitter laugh. Katar nodded. The doors to the command center opened, and several weary, Thanagarian commanders piled in. They stared in confusion at the scene before them. Katar barked out a few orders that were immediately followed. Superman walked over to Shayera. "Ready?" he asked Shayera. She nodded.
"This is goodbye, isn't it?" Katar asked as Shayera turned on her heel. She stopped mid-step, looked down at the floor where her wings lay. She reattached them to her body. "Goodbye, Katar," she said, following Superman, not once turning back.