A/N: I don't own any members of the Justice League. They belong to Cartoon Network, Marvel, and DC Comics. I do, however, own Taipana.

Chapter 3: Bah, Humbug

"Welcome to the Watch Tower," Flash announced cheerily. Taipana gawked at the silver super computer complex. Famous heroes she'd read about and knew through word of mouth were walking around casually. She felt like a child on the first day of school with butterflies in her stomach. Everything was just so unbelievable.

"Flash, I see you brought a date," Batman commented, the remark obviously meant for Taipana. He came up from behind suddenly that he startled her, making her gasp and amuse himself.

"I have cats that make more noise than you," she commented easily, making the smirk on his face drop. He immediately knew whom that comment was referring to Selena. That shut him up, she thought proudly.

"Me," Flash questioned and shrugged, continuing the joke for Batman's sheer embarrassment. "I thought she was with you! She's got your taste in clothes," he added, elbowing his companion playfully in his gut. Batman glared at Flash, who stopped his nudging immediately, as Taipana, Green Arrow and a few of the other original League members joined them.

"Who's this," Green Lantern, asked curious, yet with the same kindness he always had. Batman looked as though he was about to say something rude, but Flash interrupted him and told the others who she was. "So you're the other hero from Gotham – the one who turned us down. How'd you get in this line of work?"

"Well, let's just say that I'm a civic-minded citizen with a lot of time on her hands," she replied, earning a laugh from Flash and few smiles from the others except Batman, Wonder Woman and J'ohn, who never really smiled. "The Martian Man-hunter," she asked, eyeing J'ohn curiously.

"Can I help you," he asked but, secretly, he was trying to read her thoughts.

"No, it's just the duty of every good citizen of Gotham City to report meeting a man from Mars," she joked seriously, remembering another incident with an alien, back when she and Batman were on good terms. As he continued to stare at her, Taipana's eyes narrowed as she looked at him more carefully. "Trying to read my mind," she asked, causing him to look shocked but she just smiled at him. "Didn't work, huh? Sorry, but it won't. I've dealt with telepaths before."

"Really? If that's true, why didn't you want to join us? You could be an asset," Wonder Woman piped up, crossing her arms. She was just as wary of her as Batman was himself.

"Like I told Bru-u-ah," she stammered, seeing his glare, "ah-atman, I prefer to work alone." Green Arrow then proceeded to remind her that she worked well with him and Flash. Taipana just discarded it though and sized up Diana. "I always thought you'd be taller, being a legend and all."

"Excuse me," Diana countered, moving forward to hurt Taipana but Batman and Superman held her back.

"Hey, time out," Superman shouted over the others, yet remained neutral as always. "There will be absolutely no use of superpowers to settle domestic disagreements," he stated. Ever the diplomat, that thought weighed on everyone's minds as Diana and Taipana calmed down.

"Take it easy, Princess," Taipana said calmly with friendship lining her voice. "I meant no disrespect. Just thinking aloud, if that's all right with you?"

"You know, half of me wants to strangle you right now," Batman said, moving his face close to hers in a threatening manner.

"What does the other half want," she asked with a wicked smile.

"To hit you with a truck," he replied, and she gawked at him with no surprise or shock, merely admiration.

"We used to date," she said by way of explanation, hands on her waist as she turned to face the others around them. Flash and a few others gasped at the knowledge, but Diana looked furious. Batman simply stared down Taipana before whipping around and walking away.

"This place is supposed to be a secret. That's the whole point of a secret lair," Diana argued silently to Batman.

"Then why are we floating in space, over Earth in plain sight of everyone," Flash asked, shrugging his shoulder with a sheepish smile.

"Look, the only reason I came here was because I need your help," Taipana stated, piquing everyone's interest. "Why do think I was in the exact same place you were at the exact same time," she posed to Batman as she walked over to him, her heels clicking as she went.

"What do you need? You look like you can handle yourself pretty well," Green Arrow commented, but a dirty look from Bruce made him shut his mouth.

"Thanks, but looks can be deceiving," she said quietly with defeat in her voice and on her face. "In all seriousness, Bruce, I need help. You remember our little Splicing incident a few years back?"

"How could I forget," he countered icily, still staring her down in suspicion.

"Yeah, well, the problem's come back to bite us in the ass," she stated bluntly, moving away to sit down on the edge of the teleporter. He just stood his ground, feet firmly planted.

"What do you mean," he asked.

"Oz Corp., that's what I mean," she replied. "They've taken over the industry of Splicing and plan to mainstream the process. You know, an upgraded version of tattoos to permanently disfigure yourself beyond belief."

"How do I know this won't be like last time?"

No one had a clue what was going on, but knew it couldn't have been good by his tone.

"You don't," she said simply with a small shrug. With that, he walked away only to have her run over and block his path. "Okay! Okay! I'll make a deal with you. If we go out on patrol and Oz Corp. is quiet, with no sign of trouble, we come back here, I'll make you Christmas dinner, and watch It's a Wonderful Life."

"You know, I've never seen that. I could never get past the title," he replied. Taipana and the others would have laughed at his deadpan had he not been serious.

"You're gonna love It's a Wonderful Life. It's a great movie," she assured him.

"I doubt it," he said, as dry as ever, then walked away with the other original Leaguers following him.

"Bah, humbug to you, too," she muttered and moved back to the edge of the teleporter to sit and wait.

P.S.: Three pages total.