Disclaimer: I do not own the DC comic characters
Claimer: I own this orginal story and characters
All thanks go to the Lady Isis for all her work on this chapter. It sounds as good as it is because of her works on it. Thanks a million! And for the many readers who have been waiting for the next update. I hope you enjoy this update as much as I did writing it.
Chapter Six
Keep Your Guard Up
It was supposed to be a simple job. Get in, grab the goods and get out. Of course, his mind warned, while he was cutting away at the protective display glass, robbery in Metropolis was never simple. The Man of Steel was on high alert these days with crime on the rise in his town. It was as if though he knew every job going down at every point. Caution and silence were the robber's allies. And it didn't hurt to have a little protective ace up his sleeve - just in case.
He went for his radio. "Roof, how we doing?"
"All clear. No sign of Super-duff anywhere."
The robber nodded approvingly. Stealing in broad daylight made him nervous, but it was a necessary part of the job sometimes. "Keep an ear to the police scanners."
His crew were experienced thieves, masked and worked with precision, taking only things worth a great deal of value. It was always a desire of his to steal from the old Luthor Museum of Natural History and with the more recent cutbacks made in its security, stealing from place could be possible. When the glass had been removed to reveal a satisfactory opening, the robber dipped his hand in to retrieve the proudly displayed diamond. It was beautiful.
"Hey Joe!" he hastily waved his buddy down. "Get a look at this."
Joe threw a few more things in his bag and came over. The diamond he looked at made his collected items nothing more than small-time stuff. "Ooooh...how much you think it's worth?"
"I'd say," he spun it around, "worth enough for my retirement."
"Let me see it," Joe reached for it.
"Get off," the robber shoved him.
"Hey, I just wanted to hold it," Joe growled.
"Yeah, I'm sure." He gave Joe the cold shoulder. "Go help with getting those statues at the other end ready. I heard they're cased with small jewels."
A team of professionals maybe, but crooks and thieves nonetheless. To work alongside several others assigned with him by the guy who put the job together made a clean house arrangement faster then ever. He definitely wouldn't hesitate to work with them again if the person wanted another sweet job that had such profitable promise. The additional help however were a quiet bunch and more on the edgy side of things that kept all of them on their toes. By their interactions alone made them hardly the ideal people to trust in the lead robber man's eyes.
"Roof check in," he ordered in the radio.
"Roof here."
"Anything?"
"We thought we saw something a minute ago, Gibbs is checking it out."
"Is it..?"
"Nah. Looked to me like a simple shadow or something. No way is it Superman. Gibbs will give the clear in a minute."
The robber's interest peaked. He wasn't about to ignore his senses. Something told this job needed to be over now.
"Load up, we're closing shop."
"Now?" one of his men asked.
"Now!" the robber shouted.
Confused but obedient the men wrapped up the work.
"Man, how much you think we'll get of this stuff? A few million?"
The robber groaned with aggravation under his breath and continued to clean out. He took hold of a small crate full of historical valuables.
"Personally, I think it'd get you three to five."
All eight stopped at the sound of the mighty voice. They stared at him, seeing him with arms folded across his chest with a smirk. "Maybe two with good behavior."
"Superman!" The robber didn't panic at the sight of the Man of Steel. Instead a curled smile crept across his face under its hood. He turned to his radio. "Roof! Bring the package down."
Superman stood there, not moving an inch. The seconds ticked by - with no sign of the men rappelling down as they should have been.
"Roof," he said to the radio softly. "Roof?"
"I don't think the roof's taking any calls now." Superman looked to his left at the first one trying to sneak his way out. With a gust of wind and an incredible speed, Superman tapped the man's shoulder.
The robber shuddered. Superman took hold of the man's shirt, holding him in the air with a disappointed glare. Nothing more than a toss across the room and the man was finished; knocked out as soon as he hit the wall. Easy enough for the thieves to see and maybe get it in their heads they were way out of their weight class. Then again, maybe not. He sighed at the charging attackers. Some learnt the lesson easily, and some did not. They just wanted to go down fighting he figured. A fight that lasted with little more than one punch to each of them with little effort put behind it.
Clark stood over six unconscious thieves shaming them with a look a father would give to his insubordinate child. The human nature of greed, its hold and power over everyone, he just didn't understand. And with Metropolis the way it is, everyone was out to make a buck. Disheartened and distracted as a blast came from Clark's backside and hit hard. Energy weaponry with enough firepower to bring him to his knees with a throbbing pain.
"Ugh..." Superman looked back at his attacker approaching weapon at the aim.
"Not a green rock, but this high-yield laser ought to knock you for a while." He fired a continuous blast of laser energy to keep the Man of Steel down.
Superman yelled in pain, unable to get to his feet.
"Nothin' personal, Superman," he added.
There was a sudden whirl in the air - then the weapon was dropped because of a sting in the robber's hand.
"Ah! Son of a-" he shouted, followed by a sharp gasp. His eyes opened wide as he spotted the object on the floor. The robber turned his neck stiffly, making eye-contact with the figure of darkness who loomed silently above from an open window. The stare of the Batman beamed toward him, glaring like an evil thing from hell.
"When you're finished, Superman," the deep, dark voice stated. With that, the shadowy figure of the Batman disappeared.
"Huh?" the robber turned back just in time for his face to be greeted by the fist of Superman.
Bruce waited with his finished party of five who were all out cold and rendered harmless. Superman flew through the open glass and touched down softly on the roof. Bruce's handiwork was the first to be noticed with four tied together.
"You're getting sloppy," Batman said.
"Sorry if I don't meet your standards of beating people to a pulp."
Clark stood next to the Dark Knight, examining the laser weapon he confiscated with x-ray. "Energy weapons are a little high tech for common thieves. What did you learn from them?"
"They weren't hired for stolen items. Someone hired them to get caught."
"Ethan?"
Bruce nodded.
"You sure?"
Bruce glared at the question, then pointed. "He certainly is."
Clark's eyes opened in shock to a man - the fifth member of the robbing group on the roof - hanging upside down from a beam by a halfway cut line. He rushed to the man and pulled him in.
"Why would Ethan plan a robbery for the sole reason of his lackeys to get caught?"
"When he makes his move, he wants your full attention."
Clark caught the small black box Batman tossed at him. He looked oddly at it before opening it slightly and peeking inside. A flash of green light was enough for his digits to slam down the cover.
"Could've warned me."
"What did you think was in it? It's a greeting card addressed to you."
Clark stared at the box more curiously.
"I think it was the sole reason for this robbery. Ethan expects a confrontation with you - maybe even desires it."
"Great," Superman huffed and squashed the little box to never be opened again. A quick toss and it was one less threat to him on earth.
"Was it necessary to call me for help? You could have handled all of them alone."
"I'm starting to wish I had." Clark went to work untying the unconscious man from his upside down state.
Bruce was too tired for this. Not a wink of sleep last night achieved, and his patience for Kent hung on threads. He turned, ready to summon the batwing to make his departure.
"The League is waiting in a tower not far away for an alert. Call them the next time you need a babysitter to watch your back. I've got better things to do in Gotham."
"Batman, wait," Clark said.
Bruce readied the grapple under his cape. Superman came to his side just as the batwing was summoned.
"This is third instance of Ethan's dealings in my city and you're not even curious enough to figure out why he wants to pick a fight with me?"
"Third?" Batman looked at him.
"Whatever it was he was after I think he got it." Clark cleared his throat, unsettled with the time of the crime. "Three nights ago, during the Metropolis Ball, Ethan stole a recently excavated artifact, made of stone, from Brazil." He pulled out a paper with a picture with its few details.
Bruce took it and read the information, then cursed himself for that night. The foolishness of all that had happened and Ethan got away with another theft. Under the cover of his cowl he saw Kent's apprehensive expression easily.
"What else?"
"Well..." Clark began with a nervous smirk. "No one has been able to make contact with you for three days and we're getting worried."
"Don't. The streets in my city have been busy," Bruce said coldly. "Metropolis wasn't the only one hit by the invasion."
"Batman, I haven't seen it, but you..."
Bruce drew away. "Tell Diana to stop worrying and concern herself with important matters. Like Ethan, who is obviously plotting against one of the Justice League founders." With every step to gain distance from Clark, Bruce continued the inner scorn for the distraction he placed in others and himself.
Clark ignored the business talk. Whatever Ethan was planning against him would be dealt with when it happens. He could handle himself with more than enough backup from all sides. Concern for his friend was taking priority. "She says you've been having some sort of panic attacks and-"
"I'm fine," Bruce snapped.
Superman crossed his arms. "I never thought I'd be caught up with any social circles dealing with you." He lifted one of his hands carelessly pointing. "Can you at least tell her that so she won't pester me about it?"
Bruce said nothing.
"What's going on between you two?"
"Nothing," Bruce replied instantly.
The batwing, Clark could hear, was moments away.
"Uh...Are you two-?"
"What?!"
No real surprise of Bruce's tone or reaction with the question before Clark even finished. "It's the question the Daily Planet posed on its front page since Bruce Wayne disappeared into in manor."
A glare was all Bruce could manage in return for Kent's inquiry. It wasn't unexpected but treated the same. A mental brush off and turned to face the ever increasing sound of the batwing making its approach. The matter was deemed permanently closed.
The grapple was lifted. "Tell your editor and anyone else concerning this that there is nothing going on between Bruce Wayne and Wonder Woman. That is coming from his soon-to-be boss."
"A picture says a thousand words, and the Planet's got plenty of- Batman?" The unsteady heartbeat from his friend screamed in Clark's ears. "Are you okay?"
Bruce strained, tried himself to focus. "I'm...fine."
His uneasy breathing Clark took notice of next, followed soon with grunts and groans. Bruce's grapple-readied arm began to shake ever so slightly. The device fired when the batwing was in range and missed the attachment entirely. Not a mistake Bruce would ever make.
"Ugh...ugh..." He dropped the grapple.
"Batman!" Clark rushed to his friend.
Uneasiness and sickening weakness overtook Bruce's body.
It came. The waking terrors like a flood of downpour rain all at once. Bruce fell to his knees screaming in agony; both hands held at his head for dear life. No defense against it, no solid will remaining to push against the mind-assault. Nightmare hurt, replicated a thousand-fold. The hands of his mother to comfort and leaving him that night in the ally. His father's strength and character of good men to model and look up to. Gone, in a flash of greed and distrust. Their last cries heard as clear as day with Bruce's own voice echoing with them.
He could see it; in his world the thing haunting Bruce. Nightmare strangled the world around him slowly and darkly laughed at its success.
Clark took hold of him. "Batman!"
In his arms, Bruce's screams died out and he fell limp. Superman stared in horrified shock at the man's heart slowly fading. He darted into the air without a second's hesitation for the Metrotower. The sky quivered in the speeds they went.
"Superman to Watchtower," Superman tapped his earpiece. "J'onn, come in!"
A static second. "Watchtower, Superman," J'onn's voice came in.
"J'onn, get down to the Metrotower now! Batman's heart just stopped."
"I'm on my way," came the quick reply before the line went dead.
Superman moved on at alerting the tower of the situation being a vague as possible to whom was hurt. He bolted through the doors like a gust of wind, winding around people and objects in a blur. Only the sharpest eye could see who it was or who he was carrying. Clark pushed right through to the medical room. Doctors were at the ready when Batman was set down. They pushed Superman out of the way going to work removing the Dark Knight's body armor and gear.
"His mask," Superman cut in. "Leave it on."
"Superman," a doctor pushed near him. "We know the procedure with this, now get out of here so we have room to do our job."
Clark obeyed and left the room to stand in front of the glass window staring as people worked quickly to try and save Bruce's life. It didn't look good and the garbling speech of the medical team only furthered the Man of Steel's despair. He wished he couldn't hear the every word they uttered, to at least give his hope on strings a chance. A silent prayer for a miracle in the seconds passed with no sign of a heartbeat returning.
"I heard the medical emergency call," John said, his green aura landing next to Superman. "Who is it?"
Superman didn't pay him mind.
"...Oh no," John said, horrified.
Both men stared through the window to the still body on the table.
"How did..." Lateran brought up his ring, its power blaring. "Who did this to him?!"
"I don't know, John," Clark replied calmly. "He just fell right next to me."
"How long ago did it happen?"
"Just now," came the quick answer.
"Gentlemen." As a ghost, J'onn appeared behind them.
"J'onn! Man, don't sneak up on us like that!" John shouted.
"His heart flat-lined, J'onn."
The Martian moved closer to the window. "He's..." He rubbed his head with a groan. "...something is... I'll have an explanation for you later." J'onn phased through the window immediately, directing the medical staff in reviving the Batman.
"He'll make it, he always does."
Clark only glanced at him, then returned his attention to the window scene. His worries, along with Lantern's, J'onn could sense and feel all too well. It became a distraction Bruce's life could not afford; the window was blackened out by an orderly in the room at the Martian's command. Superman found a nearby bench, deciding against using his x-ray vision to overcome the simple obstacle. John took a seat next to him, the air filtering with their fears.
"I can't believe that he's in there, dying," John said.
Superman shared the sentiment. It was conceivable that one day Batman, vulnerable as he was being only human, would be one of the first to fall in the line of duty. After every threat faced in the past it seemed impossible. The man of the shadows couldn't be killed.
No fist, no bomb, no fire, not even a gun to stop him. Bruce was being brought down by something Clark couldn't see. Seemed J'onn knew something before he went in there, maybe he'd care to enlighten him about what was happening. The Man of Steel needed to know why his friend all of a sudden died in his arms. Minutes rolled into hours until J'onn phased through the wall to address them.
"Did you-"
"He's alive," J'onn cut the Lantern off.
Clark sighed heavily with relief. "Can you tell what's wrong with him?"
"Not entirely," the Martian began. "Batman's physical form is perfectly fine aside from some recent stress related damage. Nothing really to cause his heart to suddenly stop."
"You said his physical form, J'onn. What about the other part?" Lantern asked.
"I sensed days ago during the night of the ball what I am sensing from Batman's mind right now. I believe Batman is being attacked on a mental level by something or someone and is responsible for his current condition."
"Attacked mentally?"
"It's the best way I can describe it. Whatever it is doing this, is happening from inside the mind."
Clark looked away, trying to think. For all his strength, he could do nothing to help him friend against something he couldn't punch. "J'onn," he began, "is there anything we can do to help?"
"At the present time, no. Batman is in a weakened state and me entering in his mind now would put too much of a strain on him to handle. We'll have to wait for the body to recover a little before any action is taken."
"If Batman's under attack mentally, how long can he fight it off?"
"The rate his mind is fading, a few hours at the most," J'onn spoke with lingering sorrow. "I'm sorry. Once his mind goes, he'll only be alive by the respirator machine."
Lantern stepped forward. "Then we can't just sit here and wait. We gotta get in there and help the guy before it's too late."
"Risking a mind incursion now would only guarantee Batman's demise."
"How long does he need, J'onn, before you can act?" Superman questioned.
"An hour maybe. Depending on how his condition improves."
Superman turned to John, nodded his satisfaction of the time frame and turned back to J'onn. "Okay, an hour then. That gives me plenty of time to fly to Gotham and tell Alfred and the others about Bruce's condition." Superman walked away from them.
"Are you sure that's a good idea, man? The last thing we need is the batclan down our throats about this," John pointed out.
Superman halted. "If someone I cared about was sick and might not make it, I'd like to know so I can say a few words to them before they.... I'll keep the circle small but his family and those who care about Bruce need to know."
The Man of Steel took off for Gotham at speeds no one could measure. J'onn phased through the wall to continue his medical aid on Bruce. Lantern was left alone to contemplate Clark's words. Batman he knew to a fair degree and the man didn't want the whole of people he associated with to be an in uproar about his health. In his world, they had far more important tasks to concern themselves with. Superman would have a lot to pay for when the Batman was back on his feet again.
As he walked quietly away from the infirmary, John sighed at the thought of someone else that most at the present moment wouldn't consider needed to know about Bruce's condition.
"Oh man," he groaned as he pensively rubbed the back of his neck.
New York City
Diana noted the city's great buildings and achievements packed in such a small area of land. Squeezing in such things made for little room to move about for most people in the streets which could explain their more aggressive tendencies. Not one of her favored places to work in, but Cheetah had been spotted somewhere in the city and demanded Wonder Woman's attention.
Diana had arrived yesterday in civilian attire rather then come in her usual uniform to look around a bit. Her foe had gone into hiding somewhere and flying about over the city's skies didn't make for a faster way of finding her. On the ground she could listen in on the latest chains of gossip floating around about the super criminal's activities. It was surprising how effective the human network was at collecting information about someone. Of course, Diana couldn't help but pick up on the talks some men had in regard to their women.
She hid herself well enough to not be spotted as Wonder Woman, but being in the places she needed to be to hear word of anything made for unwanted attention brought on her. Men who found her attractive came at her with suggestive intent. They normally found themselves in the nearest dumpster for their efforts, with maybe a broken bone somewhere in their body. Keeping a low profile was harder then she expected. It was time to excuse herself out the back door of the latest bar establishment of her search for information of Cheetah's location. A place full of unconscious men didn't make for the best crowd to interrogate.
Her blood was up too. Men made things so difficult all the time. Alone to herself again and an unoccupied alley, Diana vented her frustration on a nearby garbage can. Not much was left of its original form after she was done.
A sound of a bubble popping in the darkness signaled that she was no longer alone.
"Faraday?" Diana looked into the darkness, seeing his shadowy figure leaning against the wall.
He nodded with a clap of his hands. "You are remarkable."
The Princess straightened. "What are you doing here?"
"Eight places in thirty-six hours where men have been beaten to a pulp by a woman looking for the criminal Cheetah? I put two and two together. Had to come down all the way from Washington personally to address the issue."
"Cheetah killed two security guards while robbing an armored car. She needs to be found."
"By your methods? No dice, Princess." Faraday stepped out of the darkness.
"Excuse me?"
"You're making so much paperwork show up on my desk that you're giving my interns back pain just bringing it to me."
Her arms folded and her feet started to tap in annoyance. Faraday stared at her with large exaggerated chews at his gum. She wasn't going to budge an inch to reason and for the fact, he smiled at it.
"How about this?" He took a step back. "You tone it down with sending people to the hospital a little, and my report to the President about this will show you did what was reasonable."
It took a moment for Diana to lift even the slightest grimness off her face. The memory of how things worked in the world caught up with her. The lashing out at the insolent men who she suspected withheld information was not entirely called for. She knew that, she had reason for it. Deep down it wasn't their fault for the distress jumbled up inside.
"Sorry."
The surprise to King Faraday's ears stopped his chew midway. It sounded like an error of how sweetly sorrowful it was spoken. A shake of the head was all it took to collect himself.
"As long as I see a smaller body drop of guys in the hospital, I'm fine with it." Another stick of gum he shoved in his mouth. "Speaking of which; I heard you managed to drop another guy a few days ago without lifting a finger. One going by the name of Bruce Wayne."
"You heard that?"
"Heard and saw. You two were the highlight of the party."
Diana looked away. "Disaster of the party is more like it."
What a turn-out that night was - and all for nothing more than a few moments. The princess wished that none of it had happened. A horrible plan it turned out to be.
Faraday read her body language like a book. No surprise from the notorious Bruce Wayne to leave another woman brokenhearted in the dust of his playboy antics. His reputation true to its word to the farthest extent. But to have it done to Wonder Woman? That there was shocker. True, they looked to be having a good time that evening, but still...
Break this woman's heart?
Faraday cleared his throat. "Anyway, I got something for you."
"What?" Diana looked at him.
"Ethan." He pulled out a folder from his jacket suit. "Seems the fireball is making for a trip somewhere with some friends. Just got news of his mobilization."
Diana took the file and stared at it. "Do you know where-"
"Diana, this is John. Come in," her communication device announced. The mere pitch of his voice was enough for concern to the Amazon.
"Excuse me," she said to the agent while tapping the device. "Lantern? What is it?"
The line was silent for a moment. "You need to get to the Metro Tower. Better hurry." His words dragged with something tragic holding onto them.
"Why? What's wrong?"
"It's Br... It's Bruce, Diana," he said. "Superman just brought him in. He's not doing well."
Diana turned away from Faraday to shield her stricken face. "How? How bad is it?"
Hesitation on the line once more.
"Lantern!" she shouted.
"J'onn is doing everything he can, but... He's not expected to live past tonight."
The words sent Diana racing into the air without another word and zoomed out of sight. Faraday stared with hands in his pocket, perplexed at what just occurred. She's cute when angry...or sad or whatever she was just now.
'Course, Wonder Woman was Wonder Woman and was one heck of a woman to figure out.
"Man, I need a cigarette."
Metrotower
The Martain's hand hovered over Batman's forehead, accompanied by grunts for the task of reaching the man's mind. The struggle earned him a headache with no results to show for effort. The attempt to reach the Dark Knight ended with a heavy sigh and breath as J'onn fled his side to rest. Of the many, his was the most difficult to read and address.
"Any luck?" Lantern entered, and the door hissed close behind him.
"No," J'onn said, exhausted. He sat down and brought a hand up to his forehead. "Even in his current state, Batman's mind is still on high guard against any intrusion. It's probably what has kept him alive against this outer threat, but it also will kill him if I can't get through."
"Stubborn to the end." Lantern folded his arms.
"How long until Superman comes back with Batman's team?"
"Time? 'bout twenty minutes."
"Good," J'onn said with a sigh. "With any luck, they can be used in the mental aid."
"How's that going to work?"
J'onn stood and walked back to Batman's bedside. "Using myself as a conduit, those close to Batman might have enough leverage in his mind to let them pass against his defenses." His hand hovered cautiously over the man's head once more. "From there, they help fight off whatever this is killing him."
"Doesn't he know we're trying to help?"
"Yes," J'onn said flatly and looked Lantern dead in the eye. "But Batman has a lot of bad memories in his mind he doesn't want anyone to have part of. It's understandable how close he guards himself."
Everyone on that list of Batman's Gotham team; if Bruce regarded them anything like he did others in the Justice League than...
"J'onn, maybe teammates closer to home isn't going to be the answer."
"I'm open to suggestions."
"There's only one person I've ever seen Bruce or Batman get even remotely soft around. And Batman don't do soft."
"He regards them as family."
"Yeah, but his teammates all the same in the streets." Lantern took a few steps closer. "We gotta get..."
The door hissed opened.
"Speak of the devil," Lantern said with a grin.
"I beg your pardon?" Diana scowled at John.
"Nothing. You have perfect timing."
Diana ignored him and joined J'onn at Bruce's bedside. "How is he?"
"Weakened and growing weaker."
"What can we do?" she questioned.
"We were just discussing that." Lantern stepped up. "J'onn."
The Martian looked at the two and than solely at Diana. "Batman is being attacked in his mind by some outside force and is losing. I believe that a telepathic link will help in saving Batman. However, there have been difficulties."
"Difficulties?" An eyebrow popped up, simultaneously curious and severe.
"As isolated as Batman is in his life, he's even better at it in his mind," Lantern began. "J'onn thinks someone close to him could reach Bruce before its too late."
Diana turned to the Lantern; she knew now why she was called. And under all other reason, none of many were to be ever told when the Batman was hurt or needed help with something.
"J'onn?" Lantern offered his suggestion.
"Diana would be a likely candidate."
"Me?"
"You do fit the profile, Princess. You've seen as well as me that he does seem to relax a little around you. Even Superman is starting to notice it."
Behind her closed lips, Diana's teeth ground together nervously. Then it was something many others could now see.
"J'onn, I'm willing to do what I can to help."
"It is appreciated and welcomed, but I must insist that I begin first with Batman's more immediate members of Gotham. Their close proximity to him has a great chance of success."
A surprise statement as any to Lantern's ears. "And she doesn't? Come on man, you said it yourself he doesn't have much time. Don't tell me you missed what happened between these two a few nights ago?"
Diana lowered her head, feeling the beginnings of a blush.
"What do we got to lose in trying?" the Lantern added.
"Time, and quite possibly the helper's life."
"What?" Diana questioned.
"This sort of link takes a considerable amount of drain on me and the procedure is risky to the other's health." J'onn looked as grim as he could ever possibly be. "Whatever happens on the mental plain will very well happen here in the real world. Nothing short of death if we are not careful."
"J'onn," she touched his arm and reached out with her mind. "You were there that night weren't you?"
"I was present."
"Then you have a better idea of what's going on than anyone."
J'onn pulled away. His concerns for both of them pushed to the limit with the request. Diana really didn't know what she was getting herself into with asking. Batman existed in a different world than anyone else, in such darkness so few are prepared to face.
Diana scowled at him, but refused to surrender to caution. "J'onn, look at me."
He did so.
"What's wrong? Why are you not wanting me to help him?"
"Uh, guys?" Lantern asked falling out the loop of things.
"Despite the contentment of that single night, you are really not prepared to face the undertaking of Batman's inner turmoil. For your own sake, Diana, I am reluctant to put you in the middle of things." J'onn stared the Amazon down. "The others are closer and know his world better - they're less likely to be place in such harm by helping."
Diana admitted to being afraid, but it was a deterrent she would not let hold her off from aiding Bruce. It was pushed somewhere to the back of her mind, unnecessary.
Lantern watched the two stare at each other; it was clear to see they were having a telepathic conversation.
"J'onn?" she stared him down this time. "Read my mind, right now."
A few moments after the request, J'onn's eyes lit up and he obeyed. Memories of her past captured with every little feeling attached to each of them. An almost unseen smirk found its way onto the Martian's face with the more recent events in the woman's mind. Easily understandable now as to why she sped up the chase of Bruce Wayne.
"Hmm..."
"Hmm, what?" Lantern asked. "What's going on?"
"Very well, Diana," J'onn sighed. "If you are willing to, I will start the mental connection with you first."
"I am."
"Lantern, you must keep everyone out of here. I need full concentration for this."
"So you are going through with it?" Lantern asked.
"I have to do what I can to help. He would do nothing less for anyone here."
"Alright, I'll keep the room clear." Lantern moved to the door. "Diana, good luck."
Diana smiled and watched him leave the room.
"Stand here," J'onn pointed to the area with enough distance for his arm to outstretch at her. "Be warned, Diana, Batman is in a very hostile state. To do what we are attempting may not be welcomed by his mind."
She inhaled heartily. "I understand, J'onn."
"Relax then," he hovered his other hand over Bruce. "It will begin in moments."
The Martian's eyes glowed and Diana's became very heavy. Her conscious mind began the drift away from the world; all sensation of the body turned cold and was soon cut off from feeling. J'onn faded under the heavy eyelids as did the rest of the world. She moved without moving a part of herself through darkness and what sounded like wind. It wasn't sure how long she felt senseless, time was lost to the Amazon when both eyes opened. All around was darkness, without objects or any other form to fill the empty void. In this domain, the woman felt cold, vulnerable to attack from all directions.
Feeling of the body returned and Diana began her walk on a featureless ground, each step carried with echoes against the nothingness. Nothing of the place was liked and how isolated it made the woman feel.
"Bruce," she called out.
His name echoed and echoed - and the echo was her only response.
There was no time to go all over the endless domain of nothingness in search of him. She stopped in place to listen for any changing of the sound to bounce off of anything.
"Bruce!" she cried out for him.
Echoes upon echoes responded with the same demand.
What is this place?
Diana's eyes searched for something to get her on the road to reaching him. To a dim light below her, the Amazon snapped into a combat pose and stared down at the chance in the environment. It was as a shimmering golden light, focused solely on her position as it grew. Diana stood unsure of what the strange appearance of it meant; all she knew was to stay where she was. Both fists broke to the gentle release of what appeared to be pieces of the same light that flew around and encompassed her with its harmonious presence.
Nothing about it made her feel threatened with the slow movements. She followed one curiously with her eyes to discover the motive behind it, not caring much for her senses telling her to be at ease. Like a rush of the ocean wave, the effects of the lights took her before Diana even realized the soft gentle presence of them on her skin. Joy was in a tangible form in the very air and lost quickly to its bliss she wrapped herself in it. The body felt relaxed with such contentment as her spirit renewed with such easement, every hardship suffered ever in the woman's existence banished from her mind. She couldn't help herself and for all other reasons to do so, no resistance was given to the lights' song. Both eyes closed to the enjoyment of wonders of the spell cased with every breath breathed; paradise was hers once more.
"Diana..." a voice in the distance dragged out.
A slimmer of the word's existence was caught by Diana's ears. Her eyes remained closed, but her head turned curious to the owner's location. In the state of her mind, there wasn't much of a concern the called voice could make. The resolved joy of everything around, kept all ill-fated things at bay.
"Diana..." the voice grew louder and more curiously dreadful.
"Hm...." she responded happily.
"Help me," the voice strongly pleaded.
"Bruce?" Diana's eyes shot open.
Her heartbeat sped up against the effects and a silent curse to herself for the distraction. She pulled herself together and shook off what continued to course through her spirit. It was gone as soon as Diana stepped out of and instantly it was missed. She looked back to see the lights shimmer and slowly die out until gone from all sight. Sorrowful pity gripped her at the lost of such unquestionable sensation of fulfillment the lights gave. It was lost and she wished nothing more than for its return, but the voice called out for her help. Bruce's voice called out for her to help.
Like the voice that called her out of paradise once before; how could Diana refuse?
She turned away from the second paradise lost, determined more than ever to find her friend. She ran in the darkness, this was Bruce's mind she remembered, and whatever it was she regretfully left behind laid in him somewhere.
A sound from above caught her attention; Diana paused in step to its familiarity and looked up to find his soaring figure. No such promise in a sky of darkness, but the sounds did not relent and continued to draw closer. Batman's cape in the air of nothingness, he had found her. She saw him appear with arms extended for his glide down towards her. Diana smiled at last to see Bruce alive and well in dwelling place of his mind. As the shadows decedent from his form, the smile on Diana's face faded and replace with nothing short of fear. His glare gripped her with no response to any part of Wonder Woman's body to prepare herself. He hovered just like a bat from hell with no feeling or care in the cold eyes of his cowl.
"Bruce." She summoned the strength to reached out for him.
Diana's breath was stolen as he came down and before she knew it, Batman's fist charged at her right in the face. The hit was inhuman in power and strength, matching that of Superman's. It sent her flying back powerless from crashing into the back wall of the medical room.
"Diana!" J'onn broke from concentration and ran to Diana's side on the floor.
The door swished opened and Lantern rushed in. A cool sensation of horror hit him to see Wonder Woman on the floor against the wall with such a look to her. "What in Oa's name happened?!"
"Diana?" J'onn shook her.
Breath was scarce and unable to pull herself together before J'onn called out her name again, Wonder Woman passed out.
To Be Continued...