Games

Gotham

Bruce Wayne was a rich man, a very rich man. The way he remained a rich man was the same as every other rich person that wanted to remain rich.

He kept track of his money.

He wasn't hunched over a table with pencil and paper counting every nickel and dime. He was far too rich for that. Again like most rich people, Bruce had hired an entire team of lawyers, analysts. accountants and assistants to keep track of it. Any discrepancies were immediately brought to his attention. As he sat at his desk in Wayne Tower he looked over the latest facts and figures. One of the accountants had found what they termed an anomaly. The amounts were so small they evaded the normal detection methods. It was only when they were all put together that the sum became a bit more sizable.

It wasn't an amount he would really miss or that would hurt him, but it was still his money and someone had taken it. As Bruce pored over the report he had to admit it was very clever work, very clever. In an abstract sense he even had a little admiration for whoever had pulled this off. It was simple, brilliant and logical, but it also had a hint of playfulness to it.

As he looked at the part of the report the analyst's hadn't figured out, a rare smile came to Bruce Wayne's face. He saw it immediately and even chuckled a bit as he looked at the words on the paper.

Robin Grow Just.

Poem Sir.

And then the final one made him smile even wider.

A Contumacy Chief.

Anagrams, he thought. Someone wants to play.

The Justice League Satellite

Clark had just finished up a mission with Victor and was ready to head back when he rounded a corner and happened to glance into one of the side rooms. He couldn't help stopping. Kneeling in what looked like prayer was Wonder Woman. He felt uncomfortable, feeling as if he'd invaded her privacy. Before he could turn and leave she looked over at him.

"Superman."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude, Wonder Woman,' he immediately offered. "I'll leave so you can continue your prayers. Again, I apologize."

"I wasn't praying,' she replied.

"Either way, it seemed private and I didn't mean to interrupt you,' he said, starting to move away.

"I was actually meditating,' she replied. "I find that it helps me. Have you ever tried it?"

For some reason she seemed to want to talk, and despite his reluctance, he didn't want to be rude.

"Ah, no, I haven't."

Diana could see by his body language he wanted to leave. She wasn't even sure why she felt like talking, especially to him. While he was always cordial towards her, they rarely spoke. They were supposedly teammates for five years now yet he had never used her name. While he was a powerful ally in a battle, that seemed the extent of his involvement with any of them. She had frankly been a bit surprised when Batman said they had worked together outside of the League.

"I'm sorry, am I keeping you?" She asked.

"No, that's all right,' he replied. She was looking at him and he knew she expecting him to say something more. "Um, so have you been meditating long?"

It sounded lame to his ears, but he remembered Arthur's words and the implied message of being more a part of the team.

"No," she said with a shake of her head. "It's something I started only recently."

What she didn't say was that since the revelation about her true birth, she had stopped praying to the Gods. She was angry with them and felt betrayed. To go on praying to them would make a mockery out of prayer, she thought. Yet the habit was so ingrained in her now it left a void inside her. She'd come to realize that it wasn't just the prayers, but the whole ritual she had forsaken. Ritual was such a huge part of every religion and hers was no different. The supplication, the lighting of candles and repeating of sacred words all seemed designed to create an almost other worldly atmosphere away from the ordinary.

When she stopped, Diana realized the actual ritual was what she missed. The quiet time of reflection had always helped to center her and focus her mind. Meditation seemed like a substitute so she integrated into her daily routine.

"Is it helping?" He asked, hoping this would be enough of a conversation and he could go.

"Yes, I believe it does."

"Then I'll let you return to it, Wonder ..., I mean, Diana."

He was just starting to move off, when she stopped him again.

"You have me at a disadvantage, Superman."

Diana was pleasantly surprised that he used her name. She had begun to wonder if he even knew it. He turned to see her smiling at him.

"I apologized for intruding, it wasn't my intention,' he replied.

"That wasn't what I meant,' she said with a shake of her head. "You apparently do know my name, but I don't know yours."

Clark looked at her for a moment, not quite sure what to say. He certainly wasn't just going to tell her his secret identity, yet he felt he should offer her something.

"Um, well, my Kryptonian, name, the name my birth parents gave me is Kal-El."

Diana let the name roll around on her tongue for a moment.

"Kal, I like it, she replied. "Do you mind if I call you Kal, Superman?"

"Um, no, that's, um, fine,' he offered. No one actually had ever called him Kal before but it seemed easier than the alternative. "Again, sorry to interrupt, um, Diana."

With that he was gone.

Malta

A 'Fly In" was the sort of party you see in W magazine. A bunch of rich people get on their private jets and fly to a specific location, have a party and then fly back out. The billowing white tents formed a circle on the beach. Above on the cliff, the row of jets gleamed in the sun. Everyone looked like they'd stepped out of a Ralph Lauren ad or a CK commercial. Good money had been spent on the best plastic surgeons to make sure they did.

Karen stood with a glass of chilled white wine in her hand, half listening to a conversation. Music wafted over the scene from the distance. She absently brushed a few of her blond locks out of her face as a cool breeze came off the ocean. Her invitation meant she had arrived and was now part of the club. A month ago she would have seen this as a golden opportunity and been thrilled to be here. The connections and contacts she made today would serve her well on her pursuit of a way home. These people were investors in all the major tech firms and knew what they were developing.

As she listened to the latest gossip on which large, financial firm would next be caught cooking the books, she found her mind wandering. It had been doing that a lot lately. Why did he do it, she kept asking herself? He didn't know her at all. Why would he help her when he had nothing to gain from it? She cringed a little as she remembered being a bit of a bitch to him. Well, he did piss me off, she justified. It had been over a month and so far he'd kept his word. There had been no attempts to contact her and no stories on her company.

It wasn't that she doubted he would keep his word, just that it still didn't explain why? She kept thinking of him in terms of Kal back home, but was realizing they were completely different people. On her world Kal had been forty when she first met him. He'd been like an older brother or surrogate father to her when she got to Earth. He was married and settled into his life. He was already established as probably the most famous and loved hero in the world.

This world's Clark was no more than twenty-seven, only three years older than she was. As hard as it was to see him through the image she had in her mind, she was beginning to understand the forces that shaped his life were much different than the man she knew back home. They had the same names, Superman, Clark Kent, Kal-El, but that was all. They were like twins from different mothers. Expecting this Clark to be her Clark was the mistake. So where did that leave her, Karen wondered?

She had told him in no uncertain terms she wanted to be left alone. That's exactly what he'd done. She should have been happy that things had worked out the way she wanted them to. She should have been able to put all her focus on getting back home now that he wasn't an issue.

So why was it still bothering her?

Milan

Helena Wayne for all practical purposes was a Daddy's girl. She had the same ordered, disciplined mind as him. The same drive for justice and need to have control over as much as she could. She was like a sponge when it came to information, as he had taught her that being the strongest didn't always mean you couldn't be beat by the smartest. She excelled in many fighting styles having learned from the best. In so many ways she was a carbon copy of her father. He was very proud of her.

The small glitch in this and a source of much chagrin for her father was that she was also her mother's daughter. It tended to show itself in the most unexpected ways. Helena liked the chase just like her mother before her. The idea of matching wits and talents against a worthy opponent no matter how reckless it seemed at the time was almost irresistible to her. It tended to make her a bit of a hypocrite, for while she was lecturing Karen on the dangers of getting too involved with Superman, Helena was flirting with danger herself.

She smiled as she thought of it. Sooner or later it would come to his attention. He would recognize them as anagrams right away. While it might not be the same as beating her old man, this Bruce Wayne was as close as she could get on this world. Somewhere her mother, Selina was smiling. While she took after the Bat there was still a little Cat in her too.

Baltimore

An army of mutated insects had descended on the city. The Justice League was called. Four members arrived and took on the challenge. As the tide turned in their favor, Wonder Woman saw a swarm of giant hornets heading straight for what she thought was an unsuspecting Superman.

"Kal! Behind you," she shouted. It probably wasn't necessary, for in the next moment he was swatting them away out into the bay.

"Kal?" Hal said, looking at the Barry.

"I think that's what she said."

"Did he change his name?" Hal asked.

"I don't' know why he would, Superman's really working for him,' Barry replied.

"That's his name,' Diana informed them as she continued to defeat the insects.

"It is?" Hal questioned. His ring had projected a giant fly swatter and he was smashing bugs left and right.

"Yes."

Lantern and Flash looked over at Superman, as he was finishing off the main body of mutated insects.

"Kal? Really? What is that short for Kalvin?"

"No, it's his Kryptonian name, Kal-El,' Diana explained to Hall.

"So is El his last name?"

Milan

Batman moved silently over the rooftops towards his destination. He was on alert as the clues were just a little too convenient. Little teasing hints as to where he would find the person behind the thief of his money. At first because of the anagrams he'd thought of the Riddler, but the style was different. It was familiar, very familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. It was like having a name on the tip of your tongue, yet it wouldn't come out.

Slipping down the side of the apartment building, he moved over to the third floor window. The lights were out and he didn't see any movement. He still didn't have a face to go with the crime, but whoever it was had been here recently. Checking for traps and alarms, he finally opened the window and moved inside. As he swept his eyes over the room, he could tell almost at once it had been swept clean. He would check it, but some instinct told him it was a very thorough job. He saw a piece of paper on one of the tables and moved over to look at it. More anagrams.

Tat Oleo

A Contumacy Chief.

A brief smile crossed his lips.

"So game on,' he whispered.