Chapter 4: A Glitch in the Plan
To Diana's way of thinking, too much thought and planning were spent on her behalf over the next two days. She had gotten into more than one argument with Superman over whether or not she was underestimating Trickster and his crew. Flash had nearly stopped talking to her at one point because he was convinced that she wasn't taking them seriously.
She was. She took the entire plan and the situation very seriously. But she was an Amazon warrior and defending herself from some men who thought she was incapacitated was not going to send her into a panic. In fact, she was much more excited about getting the answers she needed than she was worried about the probable attack in the park.
Batman did not talk to her about it at all when the couple was alone. Plans, strategies and layouts were all discussed in a group setting and there was certainly no doubt in her mind that he was thinking about it. But he clearly didn't want to talk about it and she didn't bring it up. For that bit of peace, she was grateful.
She had returned to her room after her workout which had followed the last meeting before the day at the museum. Stomping on even holograph villains had done much to alleviate her frustration at the second-guessing and last minute concerns from the meeting.
She took a hot shower and changed quickly into a pair of sweatpants and a cotton tank top – her evening uniform – and prepared herself for a peaceful evening reviewing the pottery on exhibit so that she would have some comments ready about them when asked. She smiled as she stood in the bathroom, towel-drying her hair. As much as she enjoyed the cultural work, she was amused by those people who wanted to hear something insightful on what was, in essence, the ancient version of a coffee mug. In fact, at one past event after being particularly pushed to provide insights into the implications of a wine carafe, she retorted "well, what does the wine glass that you are holding say about you and your culture?"
Fortunately, Arthur Jacob, the curator of the Metropolis Museum of Art, who was in charge of the exhibit, thought the comment was funny.
She opened the door from the bathroom to the rest of her room and sensed that she was not alone. She smiled. She knew that scent anywhere.
"Bruce," she said warmly. "A pre-patrol visit. I am honored."
She stood in the doorway, smiling at him. Batman was sitting on the small chair in front of her desk. Diana had a very simple room without a lot of furnishing and what she did have was highly functional. He could never figure out how she still managed to make it warm and inviting.
"Superman wanted to talk to me after the meeting about tomorrow," he answered without moving. "I am part of the team now."
"Really?" Diana answered, sitting down across from him on her bed. "I thought you were going to be in Gotham tomorrow evening."
"I should be," he answered darkly. "They don't need me, but I am the team coordinator now. According to Kent, League members obey me faster."
Diana laughed. "I can't imagine why."
Batman removed his cowl and Diana saw a gleam in his eye as he smirked at her. "Go figure," he said.
His expression remained light. "But I wanted you to know. You don't need me there but really, how can I say 'no' to being put in charge?"
She smiled. "That is quite a temptation, I'm sure."
She was having a hard time reading him, which usually meant he was somewhat conflicted about his feelings. She rested her hands palms down on his knees. He took them into his own.
"I'm glad you'll be there. You can keep Superman in line. He is worrying himself into a tizzy. I am tempted to ask Martha to come up with some reason why he has to be in Smallville tomorrow."
Bruce smiled. He did sometimes forget that Martha Kent and Diana had become good friends. The two women didn't see each other as often as they would like but they had an excellent time together during the rare occasions they did meet.
"He cares about you," Bruce said.
She nodded. "I know. That's why I don't talk to Martha. He doesn't like just watching from the sidelines. Like someone else I know," she said looking into Bruce's eyes.
Bruce smiled. "I thought all I did was watch from the shadows."
She smiled back. "You may pick your moment a little differently but no, you certainly don't only watch."
Keeping her hands in his, he put her hands together and gently kissed them. Then, resting his chin on their hands, he looked at her.
"Make sure you have some fun at this reception tomorrow. Don't let all this ruin why you are there."
Diana smiled warmly. He would never tell her to be careful. He would never ask her if she thought she could handle it all because they both knew she would be careful and she could handle herself. But in his efforts to not say those things to her, other things he also would probably never say to her shown in his eyes.
"I will. Besides, Trickster and his group won't know what to do with me once they've caught me," she said lightly.
His eyes softened. "I know the feeling," he whispered before kissing her. The kiss quickly deepened.
For the next hour, no words were required.
She woke up when he left her side. She smiled and purred a little when he leaned over to kiss her good night on his way out.
Gotham was calling him. He would fight his battle tonight and she would fight hers the following night.
-------------------------------
"Position one checking in. Wonder Woman just arrived," Black Canary said over the open channel on the communicator.
Batman, from his location on the roof of the museum's storage warehouse, turned towards Black Canary's position with his binoculars. He found Diana quickly. She was wearing a long red dress and was holding a large matching handbag. It was impossible to tell by looking at her, but she was wearing her armor under the dress and the tiara and lasso were in the bag. She was wearing the bracelets and the boots. He had seen her practice – she could get out of the dress and completely in uniform in under 20 seconds. He suspected that when there was actual danger and she didn't care about preserving the dress, that time would drop to under 10 seconds.
She looked stunning as she walked into the museum but Batman focused on keeping his expression flat and his eyes in her surrounding area. Superman and J'onn were standing next to him watching her enter as well.
"Position two checking in," Vigilante said with his heavy accent. "No one seems to be hangin' around."
"Position three checking in," Flash said immediately. "Nothing going on here."
The four positions – Batman, Superman and J'onn being the fourth – surrounded the museum at the major compass points. Although J'onn and Superman were currently standing with Batman, they would take turns taking to the air to look for any activity there.
The reception would begin in the museum and then, after about 30 minutes, the party would move outside to the sculpture garden located at the back of the museum for the remainder of the evening. Batman had a clear view of the garden but no one was positioned inside the brick wall that enclosed it. Diana had insisted on that. No one was joining her in the museum or in the sculpture garden. Superman had argued but Batman had stopped it. This was her mission and she could handle it the way she saw fit. Within reason.
"All right, according to the agenda, the party will head outside in about 20 minutes," Batman said into the communicator. Then he turned to J'onn. Although he didn't ask, the question was clear on his face.
"She's happy and intellectually stimulated," he answered quickly.
Batman nodded. Superman looked at Batman before he flew around the grounds.
"You really think this is going to happen when they go outside?" he asked.
Batman looked at him. "The other two were outdoor attacks," he answered.
Superman sighed. "I can't decide if I am angry or grateful that you don't seem more concerned about this whole thing."
Batman met his eye but said nothing as Superman flew off.
Superman returned a few moments later and the three waited in silence. They watched as the catering company finished the final set-up of the sculpture garden and Batman sent Flash over the wall to see if there was someone he recognized. There wasn't. Flash went over again when the string quartet moved outdoors. Again no one.
Finally, the party moved outside.
After 15 minutes, Vigilante called in saying he thought he saw some movement in the trees in the park and went to investigate. He signed on again a few minutes later and said whatever it was, it was gone.
Batman was about to send Flash to widen the search when when the flash of light appeared in the middle of the sculpture garden. When the light cleared, Mirror Master stood holding a large weapon. Diana was already in uniform and trying to get the crowd inside to safety.
"Flash! Diana needs some crowd control help," Batman shouted. He saw a red streak go over the wall and start moving the panicked crowd back inside as Diana flew over to Mirror Master, who was struggling to get a lock with the weapon.
Black Canary and Vigilante also raced into the museum.
Superman looked at Batman, whose eyes didn't leave the scene. "What is he carrying?"
"An electrostatic cannon," Batman answered calmly. "Someone has decided they don't care about her weakness anymore."
"I'm going in," Superman said. Batman grabbed his arm. Just the touch was enough to make the Man of Steel pause which was good because they both knew Batman was not going to be able to hold Superman back.
"No, you aren't," Batman said darkly. "It won't kill her and we still need answers."
"No, this plan has failed. I'm getting her out."
Even before Superman could fly off, Mirror Master discharged the gun. A blast of energy hit Diana at point blank range. They all heard her scream and then she, Mirror Master and the gun all disappeared.
"Shining Knight," Batman screamed to the man observing Diana's position at the WatchTower. "I need a position on Diana's communicator. Now."
"I lost it for a….oh, it is in Metropolis. In the warehouse district."
"Coordinates now!" Batman barked. "Superman is on route." As he said it, he gave Superman a shove. "Position leaders, get that museum empty! I don't want anyone in the sculpture garden until I can get down there."
Batman was vaguely aware of Superman acknowledging coordinators from Shining Knight as he turned to look at J'onn.
"She is unconscious but alive. And seems to be unhurt."
Although Batman said nothing, J'onn felt a scream of rage from the Dark Knight's mind. J'onn indulged in a moment of sympathy for Batman before flying beside him as he slid down into the sculpture garden on a line from a batarang. No matter how hard humans tried, they were unable to keep their powerful emotions secret from the telepath.
Batman began his search of the area when he heard an angry Superman over the communicator. "Shining Knight, there is no one here," he bellowed. "Rerun the coordinates."
"They remain unchanged," Shining Knight said smoothly.
"Well, that can't……I have Diana's communicator," Superman said, his voice was little more than a moan.
"Try the back up," Batman ordered Shining Knight. He had put a tracer insider her tiara, after being inspired by someone else's tampering with it.
Seconds later, Superman was on his way to another set of coordinates.
"Flash!" Batman barked again. "Meet Superman onsite. And then find me at least one of this trio. I don't want to see you until you've found one."
"On it!" Flash replied.
As the position leaders checked in with Batman, he sent them into the park to look for any signs of a hiding place. He suspected they would find none. It looked like Mirror Master transported in and out again.
The minutes ticked by in silence. J'onn's eyes were lit as he stayed in contact with Diana. Batman knew he would alert him on any change. Mirror Master had been careful – he hadn't dropped anything and the set of his footprints left behind didn't tell the Dark Knight anything he didn't already know. He closed his eyes for a moment and pushed back the hopeless feeling building inside him.
Nice work, Wayne. She is gone. You don't know where she is and you don't know if she is coming back, his brain screamed at him.
"J'onn?" he asked simply.
"Her condition is unchanged. I cannot tell you what is happening to her but she remains unconscious and not in any pain. I believe they have sedated her."
Batman grunted his acknowledgement.
"Superman?" he called.
"I'm here. Flash is here. Trying not to set off any traps," came the response. "I can hear her breathing but the only talking I can here is someone yelling about hurrying up. Lead is all over the place so I can't see much. Going back to work now, I'll call when we know something."
"We've found something out here," Vigilante said. "A set of footprints that come from nowhere. I think they missed the first time."
"I'll be right there," Batman responded. His internal clock told her that she had disappeared ten minutes ago. He leapt over the wall and raced toward the small grouping of trees where Black Canary and Vigilante were exploring for clues.
The canon confirmed what he had suspected would happen. Trickster and his group had gotten the attention of someone with money and resources. It had happened faster than Batman would have thought possible. He needed to find out who that person was and when he found out….
That was the thought he was enjoying when he came into sight of Vigilante and Black Canary, who both took one look at him and took a step backwards. Batman closed his eyes for a long blink to regain control and pulled his cape around him. No point in scaring the rookies until they deserved it.
"Footprint?" he said softly.
Black Canary pointed to a set of boot prints between two of the trees. They matched the prints that Mirror Master made.
"He did miss. Vigilante, you must have seen the first hop. So, someone without a lot of training was working the controls. Or, someone who didn't know the layout of the museum very well," Batman said.
"Now what," Black Canary asked.
He looked at her. He knew exactly what the Green Arrow saw in her. Besides being stunning, she was strong and confident.
"We find her," he said and turned sharply on his heel. The two others fell in behind him.
Batman was headed back to the museum. He planned go to the rooftop to see if there was something he had overlooked when Superman called.
"We're found the room where they've got her," he said. "I'm leaving the link open."
"Go," Batman said darkly, the rage and frustration adding an edge of steel to his voice. "And bring me someone to talk to."
Batman heard what he suspected was Superman pushing the door out of his way. There were shouts, all of them male.
After a moment, Superman roared with anger.
"They've transported again. But she went separately. I'm going to have Flash go through the paperwork here to see if he can find something."
And then, Superman's voice registered the sorrow of the implications of his next statement. "I've lost her again."
"Knight!" Batman shouted.
"That will not be necessary," J'onn said calmly over the communicator. "Wonder Woman is here. Right where she disappeared from."
Batman raced back to the sculpture garden. Diana was moaning slightly as she returned to consciousness. Two cuts on her arms, on the underside of her elbows were bleeding slightly. Otherwise, she looked unharmed but extremely pale.
He dropped to his knees at her side and was only vaguely aware of J'onn, Black Canary and Vigilante beside him as he cradled her head with his hand. His brain was working on the implications of the marks while he waited for her to come around.
"That didn't go quite the way I wanted, did it?" she said as she began to sit up. Batman moved his hand down her back to assist her. She immediately moved to stand up.
"Sit for a minute," Batman said softly but Diana waved him off. She stood but immediately moaned and grabbed her head.
"I'm fine. Just a little dizzy," she said before passing out and falling into Batman's arms.