Shifts
Isle of White
The smell of salt and brine filled the air as Mordred strolled along the empty beach. A cold, damp wind pulled at his coat and tossed his blonde hair around his face. Occasionally he glanced out at the turbulent sea, the cold gray water churning endlessly.
Mordred raised his hand in front of his face and simply by thinking about it, his fingers began to glow with energy. What the source of this was or why he was chosen, he didn't have a clue. He'd been able to control it for the last few days, but had made sure Morgaine didn't know. He let her believe she was provoking it as she had the first few times. It would be especially dangerous for him if she found out he could continuously access the energy. He might be her son, but she wouldn't hesitate to drain him of this power.
No, if Mordred was going to have any chance of breaking the cycle of being used he always found himself in, he needed to escape Morgaine. That had always proven easier said than done. He knew her as well as anyone. If she couldn't have something, she took it, son or not.
As he let the energy dwindle down to just a faint glow on his index finger, one thought occupied his mind, the new world. He had read it was a place of new beginnings, perhaps he could find one for himself. The alternative was a script he knew only too well. It always ended badly for him.
New York
The usual super villain mayhem was in progress as the Justice League arrived on the scene. They transported in and moved with practiced efficiency to confront the villains. Hippolyta was on duty and in the group that responded. As she teleported in, there was just a moment of hesitation for her.
As she gazed on the scene in front of her, she couldn't help but wonder would this be the time. Is this where it ends? Will it be by one of these villains' hands that I die? Are these my last moments? The prophecies and omens had been haunting her since she made her decision. Now every battle, every skirmish she entered, she couldn't help wondering if this would be the moment where it all ended.
The knowledge that her life would end shortly had been taking a toll on her, but she vowed to face it bravely. Exhaling to calm her nerves, she joined the others on the attack. Let the fates be what they may, she would not live in fear.
Gotham
Bruce heard someone sigh in relief as his eyes fluttered open. He felt weak and vulnerable, two things he hated feeling. Shifting his gaze as quickly as he could, he took in his surroundings to access his situation. A sense of relief came over him as the familiar objects told him he was in the mansion. Taking comfort in this, he turned his gaze to the person that had sighed, Selina.
"How?"
His voice cracked and he felt exhausted just by the effort it took to say the one word.
"Shh, you're still weak,' Selina whispered to him. "You need to rest and get your strength back."
"How?' He asked again.
"I brought you here and Alfred and I patched you up,' she explained. "You were in pretty bad shape back there. Bright move jumping into an ambush, Bruce, I always thought you were supposed to be so smart."
"No choice."
"I'm not going to argue with you,' she said. "You'd probably pass out before I won and then deny it once you recover anyway."
A smile came to his face and he started to chuckle but it turned into a coughing spasm. Selina moved over and checked his bandages to make sure he hadn't torn anything.
"It would serve you right to bleed to death because you finally developed a sense of humor,' she whispered.
"How long?"
"Two days."
"You here, all that time?"
"Yes."
He groaned at the effort, but reached his hand out and laid it on top of hers.
"Thank you."
Selina smiled at him and squeezed his fingers.
"Get some rest or you'll ruin all our hard work."
Bruce managed a smile and then his eyes closed as sleep won the battle.
London – Heathrow Airport
"What wonders does this world possess?"
"Come on, mate, move it along, you're not made of freaking glass you know?"
"My apologies."
Mordred stepped to the side allowing the short, fat man to drag his bag on wheels by. Everywhere he looked he saw strange and amazing sights, yet everyone else just take them for granted. Not for the first time, Mordred wondered if he would ever fit in? Could he leap such a great chasm in such a short time? Could he escape the past? Could he become his own man by doing what all little boys dream of?
He was running away from home.
The Watchtower
Jonn, Dinah, Ollie and Wally stood in front of a bank of monitors watching a news report from Fawcett City. The reporter practically gushed with excitement as he described the arrival of a new superhero. The news coverage switched to footage of the new hero. Jonn and the others immediately knew it was Mary Marvel. She wasn't wearing her traditional white outfit or even the black one, but something completely different yet familiar. It was black, but more of a bathing suit then anything else. The lightening bolt was gone replaced by a rather daring, plunging neckline. There was no skirt and it was cut high on her hips. Black high boots and elbow gloves along with a small cape completed the outfit.
The camera showed her stopping a bank robbery and then turning over the criminals to the police before flying away. She didn't do any interviews, just smiled to the camera as she took off. The station cut back to the reporter on the scene and he continued to rave over the new, beautiful super woman.
"Did her outfit look familiar to anyone else?' Wally asked.
"Unfortunately, yes," Jonn replied. "It was startlingly similar to the Crime Syndicate's Superwoman."
"Yes, that's it!' Wally exclaimed. He snapped his fingers, as if it had all fallen into place for him. "I knew I'd seen it before. I can't believe I forgot someone that hot!'
"It appears little Mary has grown up,' Ollie added. "Quite a bit from the looks of it."
"She's eighteen, Ollie.' Dinah pointed out.
"She didn't look eighteen,' he replied.
"I hear you, brother,' Wally acknowledged.
"You two are both perverts!"
"This from the lady wearing fishnets and a corset,' Ollie joked. The look Dinah gave him caused the chuckle to die on his lips. "Sorry, Di."
"I think we should focus on something other than Mary's appearance,' Jonn interjected. "It seems she has her powers back. If they are anywhere near the level they were before, she is a powerful young woman."
"Do you think its Black Mary all over again, Jonn?" Dinah asked.
"I don't believe so, but I can't be sure and it is a cause for concern."
"You know, maybe she's not evil this time,' Wally offered. "I mean she stopped a robbery, that's a good thing, right? Maybe she's just a hot, hot, new hero!"
"Wally has a point,' Ollie said. "She's done nothing to indicate she's anything but what she has always been. Maybe we should give her the benefit of the doubt."
"Is that your hormones talking, or are you actually being unbiased?' Dinah pointedly asked.
"Can't it be both?" Wally offered this, but he wasn't getting any support.
Fawcett City
Mary was in a wonderful mood as she turned the key on the apartment door and opened it. Billy was standing waiting for her. He looked nervous and upset.
"Hi,' she said, closing the door and moving inside.
"Hi? That's all you are going to say, Mary?' Billy gasped. "Holey Moley, Mary, I saw you on the TV!"
"Oh, the robbery, yeah that was fun,' she replied. She moved to the refrigerator and got herself a Coke. Billy was right behind her.
"What were you doing, Mary?"
"Helping, what did it look like?"
"What's wrong with you, Mary,' Billy protested. "You've changed so much. It's not right, something's wrong with you!"
Anger flashed over Mary's features and she slammed the pop can down.
"Nothing's wrong with me, Billy! I helped stop a robbery, okay? What did you want me to do, just let them get away?"
"You've changed,' Billy nervously said. "You're so different. I don't like it. This isn't you, it has to be Black Adam's influence."
Mary grabbed Billy and pressed him against the wall in frustration. He struggled, but she easily held on to him.
"It's not Black Adam, Billy,' she shouted. "I've grown up, that's what you don't like! I didn't ask for this, but it happened! It should have happened eventually anyway!"
A confused look came over Billy's face.
"Wh-What do you mean? You're not making any sense, Mary,' Billy protested. "I just wish things were like they used to be!"
Mary held his hands over his head and moved closer to him. They were touching and Billy felt very uncomfortable with her new body this close.
"That's what this is about, isn't it, Billy,' Mary whispered, her face very close to his. "You never wanted anything to change. The Sivanas had put us all into suspended animation for 20 years, Billy."
"I-I know that, Mary."
"Yes, but you don't see that Shazam did the same thing, Billy,' Mary continued. "We were frozen in time, never growing up, always kids."
"When we changed we were adults,' Billy protested.
"No, Billy, we just looked like them,' Mary countered. "That was fine with you, but now I see it wasn't for me. I was going to spend an eternity as sweet, cute, innocent Mary Marvel, never growing up. You might want to be Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, but I realized now I didn't, Billy."
"You're not making sense, Mary."
"You don't get it, do you,' she whispered. "Six months, Billy, I was in the hospital for six months and no one came. Not even a card, Billy. You all just forgot me, cause it was so easy to forget sweet, innocent Mary Marvel. That's what Shazam did to me, Billy. What you did to me. I never grew up so people just moved on with their lives and forgot me."
"Th-That's not true,' Billy stammered. He was very uncomfortable with Mary being pressed against him like she was. He tried to get away from her, but she held him fast.
"Isn't it, Billy?' She whispered, moving even closer to him. "I'm a woman now, Billy. I've finally grown up just like everyone else. That's what really makes you uncomfortable, isn't it? You can feel those grown up feelings inside you, but you don't want to deal with them. You want everything to stay the same so you don't have to deal with growing up, Billy. You would sit here like this forever just waiting for that old man to give you back your powers, so you could be Captain Marvel again. Than you could pretend to be an adult, but it would be safe because you could always change back into a kid if things got too 'adult' for you."
Mary pressed herself even harder against Billy.
"You were around all those beautiful adult women in the Justice League, Billy,' Mary whispered, her lips almost touching his. "Wonder Woman, Black Canary, Hawk Girl, Zatanna, Vixen and the rest were so close, Billy. You were Captain Marvel, an adult, but not really, were you Billy? Did they make you uncomfortable, Billy? Did you try and stop those adult thoughts that were going through your head? You couldn't, could you? You ran away, came back here and changed into Billy Batson if things got too uncomfortable, did you?"
"Stop it, Mary,' Billy pleaded with her.
"I make you uncomfortable now that I've changed, don't I, Billy," Mary continued. "Do I make you have those same unwanted feelings? Do I remind you that everyone grows up, Billy? Does that scare you?"
"Stop it,' Billy whimpered, tears starting to roll down his cheeks.
Mary gave him a smile and then kissed him. He tried to tear his lips away from hers, but she was too strong. She finally pulled back and released him. Billy wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Mary smiled as she stepped away.
"You not going to forget me now, are you Billy?' She said.
Gotham
The health club had been a victim of the economy and a poor location. It was suppose to be a state of the art facility, situated on top of one of Gotham's oldest buildings. The Mayor had been at the opening, talking about how it was part of a revitalization of this part of the city. The revitalization never happened and a year later the health club was closed.
Moonlight bounced off the Olympic size swimming pool and created eerie shadows on the wall. In the haste to board this place up, no one had taken the time to let the water out. The stale water rippled as something silently moved through it. The red tinge of blood was everywhere. Masami floated, barely alive, in the center of the abandoned pool. The dragon spirit feasted on her blood. Images flickered through her brain, the death of her parents, the endless training and the feel of her steel cutting into her opponents.
There were no other memories, just the mission. Her whole life had been given over to that one thing. As she lay there, half dead, she realized dimly that her life had ended long ago in the moment her parents died in front of her. There was only vengeance now. The dragon whispered to her as it skimmed against her body. It promised her that she would complete her mission, but there would be a price. Her leaking blood disappeared into the dragon and it become more solid. It whispered was she wiling to pay the price. She wasn't strong enough to speak, but the Dragon was in her mind.
She thought she heard it chuckle as she agreed to the price. The Dragon turned and headed straight for her, colliding with her body. Masami thrashed and jerked, as the Dragon slithered over her healing her wounds and digging deeper into her skin. They were one now. It took a few moments, but then her eyes opened and she gasped. She was weak, but knew she would survive. She would complete her mission.
"Blood for Blood."
The words didn't come from her mouth, but seemed to echo through the abandon building.
Gotham
Kijuro Makuda was angry. The Hunters stood in front of him and had just announced they were not going to finish the job.
"I was under the impression the League of Assassins were the best,' Kijuro growled. "I didn't realize when I paid you your handsome fee that you were cowards!"
The Hunters took a step forward and Makuda's guards were on alert, weapons drawn. The leader of the Hunters stopped his men with a look.
"Name calling will solve nothing,' he said. "You did not tell us the whole situation when you hired us."
"What are you talking about? Of course I did,' Kijuro shouted.
"No, you did not mention Batman was involved. The master has a prohibition against any of us being involved with the Batman."
"The costumed hero? You think too highly of him, he's just a man,' Kijuro scoffed. "You're just trying to cover your incompetence with this poor excuse! If you're trying to get more money out of me, forget it! One American hero isn't going to make me pay more!"
"This is not a debate or a negotiation. If you have an issue, you may take it up with Ra's al Ghul. The prohibition comes from him and his daughter Talia, directly,' the lead Hunter said. "Would you like us to relay your complaint to them?"
Kijuro suddenly went pale.
"N-N-No, no that will not be necessary,' he stammered. "There is no need to involved them!"
"As you wish."
The Hunters bowed and started to leave. Kijuro's head of security spoke up.
"We don't need them, boss. We have enough muscle to take care of this in-house."
The leader of the Hunters stopped and turned towards the man.
"You have men with guns, that's all. Yes, they are killers, I'm sure, but she outclasses you all. You won't beat her driving by in a car or throwing a bomb through her window."
"You know nothing about us,' the security chief shouted. "We are professionals!"
"No, you are prey and she is the hunter,' the leader of the Hunters calmly replied. "One hunter recognizes another. We recognize her, not you."
The man turned to Kijuro.
"It is of no consequence to me, but since you've paid, I will leave you with your two best options,' he said. "The first and best is to leave here, go back to your own country. The second is to hire professionals here. This is Gotham after all, it is known to be a haven for such people."
"We saw how well you did,' the security man said. "We will deal with this woman ourselves!"
"Then you will die,' the leader replied. "You believe you are better than you are. Belief is a powerful thing, but if there are no facts to back it up, it becomes just an opinion. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts."
With that, The Hunters silently left. Kijuro sat silently as his men began talking. They were telling him they didn't need the hunters or anyone. They were full of enthusiasm, but Kijuro didn't reply. For the last thirty years he had been a man that believed in his own power. With each successful move up the chain in the Yakuza this belief became stronger. Before arriving in Gotham he was assured in this belief. This assassin, this woman had shown the flaw in that belief. Once the flaw was exposed, doubt began to creep in. With doubt comes fear.
"We will return to Japan immediately,' Kijuro shouted. "Let's us get away from this accursed place!"
Washington
Hippolyta returned from another successful mission with the Justice League. The battle had been hard fought, but they had taken the day. She found she liked being Wonder Woman 2.0. As silly as it sounded, she'd even gotten used to the name the press had dubbed her with. She had been Queen so long she hadn't realized how much she missed the active life. Her duties as Ambassador were time consuming, but nothing like being Queen. Part of her missed home, Themyscira and being guardian and shepherd of her sisters, but things changed whether she wanted them to or not.
Slipping off her uniform she downed a loose gown and made her way to the sanctuary. She lit several candles to her Gods and genuflected in front of the altar. She thanked for giving her strength in these trying days and asked for their continual guidance in the coming troubles. She said the usual prayers and was just about done, when a thought occurred to her.
The dreams had stopped.
Her hand stopped in midair and this thought sunk in. Those horrible visions, nightmares really, hadn't plagued her once since she'd entered the tournament. Why would that be, she wondered? The Oracle had confirmed the omens, but as she thought about what the woman had said it didn't seem quite as clear as before.
The dreams had made it clear that the wearer of the Champion's armor would die; there had been no mistake about that. It was Hippolyta's entire motivation for everything she'd done. So why had they stopped?
Then it happened, the first small doubt entered her mind. Was it possible the dreams and omens were wrong? Could they have really just been dreams? NO, she thought, the Oracle had confirmed them.
Hippolyta looked up at the altar and said a silent prayer that her Gods show her the way.
Themyscira
Diana and Artemis had made the long, difficult trek up to the Oracle. Diana wanted answers. Artemis wanted to sit down and rest her aching feet.
"Why is the Oracle way up here again?' Artemis asked. "Couldn't she give out her prophesy in a nice bungalow down by the beach?"
"Let's not talk about the beach, please,' Diana replied. "Something odd is going on down there and I'm not talking about just us."
"Is that where Hippolyta and Superman got it on too,' Artemis asked. "Well, it is a really nice beach, I have to admit."
"You do that just to annoy me, don't you?"
"What? Talk about them sleeping together?"
"Yes!"
"Maybe,' Artemis admitted with a smile. "I like watching that vein pop out on your forehead.'
"How would you like to watch my foot placed forcefully up your ass?' Diana growled.
"Not so much,' Artemis replied.
"Than don't bring it up again!"
"Yes my Queen."
"Oh, and stop doing that, too!"
"You make someone a Queen and they go all bossy on you,' Artemis grumbled.
"What?"
"Nothing, nothing."
They continued the rest of the way in silence.
Gotham
Bruce sat in the Batcave in front of his computer watching several screens at once. They were all airport cameras, live feeds. Selina moved around, growing more bored by the minute.
"You know they say Bruce Wayne knows how to show a girl a good time, but I'm starting to doubt it."
"I'm working, you know that,' he replied without turning to look at her.
"Yeah, I clued in on that awhile ago, but on what? You haven't told me,' she said.
"This,' he said, bringing up one of the screens to the main viewer. It was a shot of Kijuro Makuda and his encourage walking down the airport concourse to their plane. Selina slipped off the consol she was sitting on and moved over to get a better view.
"Head Yakuza guy is leaving, okay,' she offered. "So does that mean it's over?"
"No," Bruce replied, turning to look at her. She was standing by his right shoulder leaning forward, very close. "It means the scene shifts. See those five men?'
"Where?'
"Screen seven, here I'll bring them up on the main one,' he said, punching several buttons. Five men dressed in black were walking towards a different plane. Even on the poor quality airport security feed you could tell they were trouble.
"Okay, Brothers Grim there are the shooters from the alley, right,' Selina asked.
"Yes."
"So they're leaving too, what's the problem? Good riddance, I say."
"Who haven't you seen on these screens yet, Selina,' Bruce asked.
"The Dragon Lady.'
"Exactly,' Bruce replied. "I guessing she's somewhere I just haven't found her yet."
He had Selina's full attention now and the two shifted from screen to screen looking for the elusive Masami. It was almost an hour later when Selina pointed to the top left screen.
"I think that's her! Pull that screen up on the main one, please?"
Bruce made the adjustments and they both stared at the slender figure in a black coat and hat. She walked with an ease and confidence, without a hint of injury.
"I thought you said she was hit worse than you,' Selina asked.
"She was."
'Well, than she's not human, Bruce," Selina replied. 'Look at her, no limp, nothing."
"She was human the other night, I don't think that's changed since then,' he countered.
'Then how is it you're still hobbling around here and she's waltzing through the airport?"
"I'm not hobbling,' he protested.
"Oh, please, I see you grimace every time you think no one's looking. Don't BS me, Bruce, I know you're human, she's not,' Selina fired back. "That little girl is something else, I'm telling you."
"Whatever she is, I'm going to stop her,' Bruce firmly said.
"Why?"
"What do you mean,' he asked.
"She's leaving, Bruce, along with the rest of the gang,' Selina explained. "Once they cross the Gotham city limits are they out of your jurisdiction or something?"
"So because she's not in my neighborhood anymore, I shouldn't try and stop her from murder?"
"Well, it's not like she's pushing a busload of Nuns off a cliff, they are bad guys, Bruce,' Selina said. "They're Yakuza."
"Selina, they came into my town and shot it up,' Bruce said, his voice grim and low. "That woman isn't going to stop."
He froze the image of Masami on the screen.
"She killed Crane, which is no great lost to anyone, but she's killed too many others. I can't turn my back on this. I can't explain it, but I have to try and stop her, to save her."
Selina looked at him for a moment.
"Always the hero,' she whispered. She sighed and stood up. "So when are we going to Japan?"
"We aren't, I am,' he flatly said.
"What? That's not fair, I'm the one that brought this case to you!"
"You passed out in my arms, I don't think that's actually qualifies.'
"I'm going Bruce, you're still not in shape for this, besides do you speak Japanese,' she asked.
"I suppose you do?"
"Nihongo ga hetakuso de suman,' she rattled off fluently and then smiled at him.
"Okay, I'm impressed, what does that mean, 'he asked.
"I'll tell you on the way to the airport,' she replied and started for the steps. "Don't even think about trying to give me the slip, Bruce. Pick me up at my apartment in a half hour."
"Yes, ma'am."
"You're learning," she called over her shoulder.
Bruce watched her leave and had to chuckle to himself. He swiveled back and the smile disappeared as she took in the image on the screen in front of him. He leaned forward, trying to get inside her mind. She had dark glasses on, so he couldn't see Masami's eyes, but he had this strange sense they understood each other. The night in the alley had been rolling over in his mind. He could tell she cared nothing for him; he was incidental to her mission, yet she had pulled him to the safety of the rooftop. Why?
He would never admit it to anyone else, but he knew the feeling she had in the alley. It was a complete focus on one goal and one goal only. Friends, family, everything else slipped away in that moment. You were totally in that moment, your focus like a laser on your goal.
What Bruce hadn't told Selina was how much it bothered him that he felt he knew Masami so well. It felt as if they were walking the same path, yet she had strayed into the darkness even more than he had. Joe Chill had been murdered robbing Bruce of his vengeance, but he knew what that desire felt like. It could easily become all consuming. Bruce had never told anyone, but back then he would have paid any price to kill Chill with his own hands, to watch him pay for killing his parents. That feeling was what drove him to leave Gotham and search for some answers. It had taken more years than he thought, but he finally felt he found some peace, so resolve to everything, but deep down inside that thirst for vengeance was still there.
Maybe that was why he had to go to Japan. It wasn't that he was concerned for the Yakuza, far from it. It was Masami. That she's saved him on the rooftop showed she wasn't completely lost yet. Somehow he wanted to reach her, to pull her back from the darkness, otherwise she would she would die in her quest for vengeance. If he could save her, then maybe he wasn't so far gone down that same road either. Maybe there was more for him that just the Batman and the mission.
First things first, Bruce told himself. He turned from the screen and called his travel staff to get the Wayne Industries jet ready for take off to Japan. Two would be flying, he told them. As he headed up the stairs to the house, Alfred was waiting for him at the top of the stairs.
"You're taking a trip, Master Bruce?"
"Yes, Japan.'
"I'll have the car brought around, sir."
'Thank you, Alfred."
Bruce smiled at the older man and was just about to head up to his bedroom when another thought crossed his mind. He retraced his steps and headed into the den. Pulling back the picture on the wall, he dialed the combination on the safe and opened it. The jade cat was gone and there was a slip of paper in its place. It had one word on it, Liberated.
Themyscira
Diana and Artemis entered the caves of the Oracle. Mists and gases swirled around them.
"What is that stink,' Artemis whispered.
"Sulfuric gas,' Diana explained. "This part of the island is right above a volcano."
"Why in the Gods name would anyone want to live here?"
"Would you show some respect, please,' Diana whispered back to her.
They moved slowly, the way obscured in the dense fog. With unerring judgment, Diana found the central chamber. They could barely make her out. The new Oracle sat on a tripod seat over an opening in the earth. According to legend the intoxicating vapors the swirled around her caused the sibyl to fall into a trance and allowed her to pronouncements. Diana and Artemis approached slowly and knelt in front of the old woman.
"Ah, the new Queen and her consort come to pay me a first visit,' the Oracle said.
"I'm not her consort, it was just a one time thing. I mean so far, but who knows about the future? I guess you do, but we really haven't discussed anything,' Artemis replied, rambling just a bit. Diana shut her up with a look.
'Oracle, we come to humbly visit, seeking answers,' Diana said.
"Yes, fates have changed and you sense it, daughter of the Gods,' the Oracle replied. "Omens and dreams are powerful things in the wrong hands."
"Have you had any dreams?' Artemis asked.
"Not really,' Diana admitted.
"Not even about me?' Artemis joked. Diana gave her a stern look and then turned back to the Oracle.
"Oracle, why did my mother do what she did? Can you tell me?"
"Hippolyta made a sacrifice, new Queen of the Amazons,' the Oracle replied. "It was a matter of the heart that caused her to take the path she did."
The mists began to intensify and it became harder to breath.
"Oracle, wait,' Diana called. "I have so many questions!"
"I have shown you the way, you must seek the final answers elsewhere, new Queen of the Amazons. Go now!"
The mist was too strong and Diana and Artemis quickly retraced their steps and exited the caves.
"Gods, I never want to go back in there again,' Artemis gasped. "Prophesy or not, it stinks in there!"
"Yes,' Diana admitted. "But it also gave me some of the answers I've been looking for."
"How so?"
"You heard her, my mother made a sacrifice, a matter of the heart, what does that tell you?"
"Maybe it's the gas still effecting me, but I'm not following you,' Artemis admitted.
"The sacrifice was to give up the throne, Artemis,' Diana exclaimed, her temper rising.
"And the matter of the heart? Oh, wait, her torrid romance with Superman!"
Diana glared at Artemis.
"Isn't that what you meant?' Artemis asked, taking a step back just in case.
"Yes,' Diana growled
Fawcett City
Mary opened the apartment door and immediately saw Billy standing nervously behind the couch. She'd calmed down and now felt horrible about what she'd done to him.
"Billy, I'm sorry,' she said, taking a step towards him. Billy stepped back and raised his hand for her to stop.
"Don't come any closer, please,' he quickly said.
"Billy, I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
"The Justice League called while you were out,' he nervously said. "They'd like you to come up to the station."
"When?"
"As soon as possible."
"I guess I'd better go then,' Mary said. She could tell she wasn't going to get through to Billy, so she reluctantly headed towards her room. He was afraid of her; she could see it in his eyes. So that's the way it's going to be, Mary thought. No one's going to ignore me now; they're going to be frightened of me. Let them, I didn't do anything wrong, she thought.
Billy just stood watching, never talking his eyes off Mary.
Somewhere over Western US
The Wayne Enterprises jet cruised effortlessly at thirty thousand feet. Aboard were Bruce and Selina. They sat opposite each other. She was having a glass of wine and he had a bottle of water. They'd lapsed into silence twenty minutes after take off. He knew she was watching him as he went over all the data he'd been able to find on what to expect once they arrived.
"You never told me how you're going to find the Dragon Lady,' Selina said, finally breaking the silence.
"Masami."
"Excuse me?"
"That's her name,' Bruce replied. "I know what she's after, so it should be a simple process to figure out where she'll strike."
"How do you know her name, Bruce?"
"I got a print from the warehouse where Crane was killed. I checked it against every available record and database I could find, criminal, death, tax and birth and got a hit."
"On which?"
"Excuse me?
"Which records did you get a hit on?' Selina asked.
"Birth,' he replied. "It's the only record that exists concerning her. She's only twenty-two, by the way."
"That's young. How come there aren't any other records of her? You know, school, that sort of thing."
"I don't know,' he admitted. "She just dropped off the map when she was six, until she popped up again in Gotham recently."
"What happened when she was six, Bruce?"
He looked up from the data and fixed his gaze on Selina's.
"Her parents were killed in front of her. Drive-by shooting, no arrests were made."
His voice was flat and neutral, but Selina already knew the significance. The similarity could hardly be missed. He lowered his eyes and returned the scanning the data. Selina took a sip of her wine, mulling over what this new piece of information meant. She tactfully didn't press him on it just yet.
Heathrow Airport
Mordred could feel his hands perspiring as he tried to remain calm. He kept telling himself this was possible, it happened everyday, yet the idea of this long metal tube flying seemed a complete impossibility. He felt closed in, crowded and uncomfortable. The large couple next to him was already complaining about not getting their bags of nuts. A small boy behind him was kicking his seat, while his mother made a last minute phone call and argued with some unknown person on the other end. The air tasted stale, as the noise seemed to close in on him from all sides.
Madness.
The disembodied voice of someone called the captain came blaring through the tube. Seat belts, something, Mordred didn't catch everything he was saying. A pretty girl in some sort of costume came along and repeated this to him. He assumed she worked for the plane company. She repeated it again; then just helped him with the straps that he realized everyone was wearing. He somehow managed to thank her, his voice quivering with nerves. The couple next to him spoke in loud voices, asking where their peanuts were. The pretty girl calmly replied, but Mordred wasn't listening.
The plane began to roar like some dragon out of legend. He gripped the armrests so hard his knuckles began to turn white. It was a strange sensation, his body being gently, yet continuously pressed back into the seat. He thought he would scream in terror as the angle began to change, the great tube tipping upwards and the pressure increasing. His ears, something was wrong with his ears. Mordred shook his head, bringing one hand up to try and unstop them. This was a horror mistake he thought. I'm strapped in like cattle with these strangers on this metal tube racing towards all of our deaths.
He opened his mouth wide and finally his ears seemed to pop and normal sound came rushing back. The tube continued to climb at a maddening rate. He glanced out the window as the world fell away. He was already too high to jump so he was a captive of the tube's fate.
The couple next to him had grown tired of waiting, so they began eating snacks they'd brought with them. Mordred glanced over at them. They were open mouth eaters and breathers. Perhaps it was the construction of the tube, but he could hear ever lip-smacking chew they took of the energy bars they devoured. His stomach rolled and he turned away from them. Closing his eyes, he fell back on something he thought he'd forgotten. He said the Rosary over and over until miraculously the plane leveled off. The disembodied voice came again, saying everyone could be released from his or her restrains. Mordred fumbled with them for quite awhile, but eventually managed to extricate himself.
He took several deep breaths. He felt as if his body was covered in sweat. The pretty girl appeared again pushing a cart. The couple next to him demanded service and when the girl was finally finished with them, she asked if he'd like something, a drink perhaps?
"Yes."
The Cafeteria – Later
Dinah, Zee, Shayera, Mari and Wally were taking a break together. It was story time.
"So whose turn is it?" Wally asked.
"Shayera's." Mari quickly said.
"Why is it mine, not yourself?"
"I spoke up first,' Mari explained.
"Well, that's not fair!"
"Sure it is, it's like calling shotgun,' Wally replied.
"Oh, come on, Shayera, tell us a story,' Dinah encouraged.
"And nothing about battle or bloodshed, please,' Zee added.
"Those are all my best stories," Shayera grumbled.
"Hey! How about one from when you were traveling around Earth?' Wally suggested.
"Yes, something interesting must have happened to you,' Dinah added.
Shayera seemed to think about it for a moment. One incident seemed to come to her mind immediately.
"All right, if that's what you want,' she said. "Now you must remember I was traveling undercover when this took place."
"How do you travel undercover with wings?" Zee asked.
"A backpack."
"That's it?"
"Yes, humans are very trusting,' Shayera replied.
"And stupid if they fell for that,' Dinah said.
"I am a trained operative, Dinah, it was my job to fit in,' Shayera stated.
"Dinah, don't get her going on being a warrior, please,' Mari added.
Shayera gave her a look, but then started her story.
"I was using the mass transit system in one of the major cities."
"That means she was riding the bus,' Wally joked.
"That's more blending in than I'd ever want to do,' Zee replied.
Shayera gave them both a look, but didn't comment just continued with her story.
"As I was saying, I was riding the mass transit system."
"The bus."
"Okay, yes it was the bus,' she said in irritation. "We aren't all rich like Zatanna; I'll have you know!"
"Someone's a little touchy,' Wally whispered to Dinah.
Shayera grumbled and gave him a look. Wally smiled but moved a little further away from her.
"Anyway! There weren't many seats left, as the bus was full. I had to sit next to a rather large young woman."
"How large?" Wally asked.
"Four fifty, easily,' Shayera replied.
"Okay, that's large. Wow!"
"So she started talking to me,' Shayera said, continuing. "I was trying to be polite and not draw attention to myself as I was undercover. I didn't even know her name or her mine, but she just felt like telling me her life story. It seemed she had been to a tattoo and piercing party the week before."
"I've always wanted to go to one of those,' Wally offered. "I think I'd look cool with a tattoo."
"What would you get?" Zee asked.
"That's the problem, I could never figure out what,' Wally replied. "Maybe something original like barbwire around my bicep or something."
"Yeah, that's very original,' Dinah joked. "You'd be so mucho."
"See that's what I thought,' Wally offered.
"Do you want to hear the story of not?" Shayera demanded. The others nodded and let her continue.
"So the young woman told me that after a few drinks she decided she would get some piercings,' Shayera explained. "She wanted to get into the spirit of the party."
"Always a bad move,' Zee said with a shake of her head. "Booze and body art should never mix."
"That was the case with this young woman,' Shayera replied. "She told me she got three piercings. The three big piercings."
The women all cringed at the thought, while Wally seemed confused.
"The big three? I'm lost, what are the big three?" He asked.
"Think of a triangle on a woman's body, Wally,' Zee informed him.
"Eyebrows and nose?"
"Think Power Girl."
"Okay,' Wally said. Then it hit him what they were referring to. "There? That big three? Ouch, that has to hurt, doesn't it?"
"Yes."
"It is kind of hot though,' he admitted. "Do you think Power Girl has them pierced?"
"In her outfit, I'm pretty sure we'd notice, so no,' Zee replied.
"I would point out this woman didn't look like Power Girl,' Shayera added. "450 pounds, easily."
"Those must have been some big rings,' Dinah mused.
"It gets worse,' Shayera said. "So anyway, we continued talking and then she pulled out her phone. She started showing me pictures of her child. One of them was her young son standing next to the Christmas tree, that sort of thing."
"Well, that's kind of nice,' Mari commented.
"Yes, but then she said here's one of her and her boyfriend,' Shayera replied. "As she put it in front of my face, I realized too late they were naked."
"Ewww!" Zee and Dinah immediately said. Wally just sat back in horror.
"Her boyfriend was a little tiny guy, and she filled up the rest of the frame,' Shayera informed them. "I got to see two of the piercings."
"Well no dinner tonight,' Zee said with a cringe. "Why do huge women always have tiny boyfriends, anyway?"
"It was like a car accident," Shayera continued, not paying attention to the others. It was like she was reliving some horrible moment in her life. "I was horrified, but I couldn't pull my eyes away. These huge mounds of flesh just stared back at me. I felt like it was being burned into my brain!"
"Stop!" Wally shouted. "Oh, it's too late, now I'm picturing her in my mind! Aagghhhaaa!"
Everyone sort of cringed. Shayera sat there for a moment and then smiled. She turned towards Mari.
"Still glad I didn't tell a battle story?"