Riki looked up as Diana's voice filtered through the Batcomputer.
"Batman, there's something wrong with the area around Central City," the Amazonian Princess said.
Riki hit a button and responded, "Diana, this is Batgirl, what do you mean wrong?"
Diana responded a few moments later.
"The City has disappeared, and we can't get through whatever is blocking us. J'onn can't phase through and Hawkgirl's mace cannot penetrate it."
Riki frowned slightly, "Force fields and holo-tech isn't my area of expertise, but Robin is in Tokyo at the moment, and Batman is…otherwise unavailable at the moment. I'll do a quick scan of the area and see what I can do," she said, making a mental note to do some research on holo-tech.
"Thanks, Batgirl."
Diana's voice cut out and Lexi began the scanning sequence, her green eyes flitted across the screens as hundreds of lines of data and codes flew by.
"SCAN COMPLETE." Droned the computerised voice of the Batcomputer; Riki read the diagnostics and opened Danny's research notes. She cross referenced the two and typed in the hacker code. Then hit send and the data streamed by.
And then, the alert siren blared and Riki felt a metallic hand grab her by the collar of her night gown.
She was thrown across the room, but did a flip and landed in a crouch.
Standing in front of her were the Batbots, three large suits of armour, kitted out with the best weapons Bruce's money could buy.
And it really sucked that Bruce Wayne had a lot of money.
The one on the left, the one in purple, raised its left arm and shot her with nets.
Riki dodged and grabbed her utility belt off the mannequin beside the armoury.
She charged at the big navy blue one and jammed a Batarang into its back. It short-circuited and collapsed. The red and green one swung its legs around and she dodged. Without her suit, she was just a gymnast with a few Batarangs; she would be killed if either of the bots got a lucky blow.
The purple one blasted her with its left fist on a chain; she ducked just in time and used a laser to cut the chain. The bot ran at her then, shooting Batarangs.
Riki dodged them, and then felt a sharp pain just below her right eye as one cut her. Blood dribbled down her face.
She pulled out a Batarang and armed the bomb in it.
She threw it at the purple bot, and its head exploded.
The red and green one began shooting her with small explosives.
Riki jumped, and her leg was caught under a fallen piece of the cave roof.
The red and green bot approached her, ready to cut her to ribbons with a Batarang.
Riki closed her eyes, waiting for the inevitable to happen, when the bot sparked, and crumpled.
Bruce stood over it, one of the swords from the arms gallery in the manor in his hands.
He shifted the piece of rock off Riki's leg and gathered her in his arms.
"You okay, sweet pea?" he murmured.
Riki nodded, snuggling into his warmth. "I was trying to hack through a force field for Diana, but something took control of the Batbots. Danny is going to have a fit when he finds out." Bruce smiled and sat down in his chair, Riki still on his lap.
He pressed a button and said "Diana, Batgirl tried to hack through the force field and some of the robots in the Cave came to life. We'll need a bit more time before we can hope to get through it."
Diana made a disgruntled noise. "The Flashes and Green Lantern are in there! Who knows what's happened to them by now!" Hawkgirl roared through her own comm.
Riki's eyes widened. "Dex is in there!" she cried.
Bruce looked at her and she blushed. "I…I mean, they are!"
Bruce smiled. "I'll contact you when we have something." He said.
Diana cut out and Bruce poked Riki in the ribs. "Dex, huh?" he grinned.
Riki blushed harder. "All the Juniors are on first name bases. Though none of us know each other's last names," she told him.
Bruce chuckled and began analysing the data the scans had got them.
He knew he was out of his depth the moment the lines of data flew across the screen. How does Danny read these things? He wondered.
"Danny?" Lexi questioned. Bruce nodded. "Danny."
"Diana," Bruce said, pulling on his gloves. "I've detected a second energy signature, similar to the one you've encountered." Riki swung her extra utility belts over her shoulders, "except it's in Africa." She continued.
"Africa?" Diana said, confused.
"Could the city have been transferred there?" J'onn asked.
"Unlikely," Batman growled, "but it's worth investigating. I'm sending co-ordinates to your on board GPS. Batgirl and I will rendezvous with you there."
He cut the comm and looked at Batgirl, who was fingering her phone worriedly, "should we call Danny?" she said, "He's better at this than we are."
Batman shook his head. "He's very busy, Sweet Pea," he said, "it's not often he gets to go places and talk about his inventions without people rolling their eyes. Let him have some fun."
Batgirl nodded and tucked her Phone into a pocket in her Utility Belt.
"Can I drive?" She grinned, looking at the Batwing.
Batman sighed and scooped her onto his shoulder, "when you can drive a car without crashing, I'll think about it."
Batgirl groaned and rolled her eyes.
The Javelin landed next to the Batwing and the three Heroes got out.
Batgirl fought the urge to scratch her face as the bandage Alfred had put on her cut began to itch. Diana smiled at her and looked a Batman.
"So?" She said.
Batgirl frowned. "There's no question, this energy field is exactly the same as the one in Central City."
Hawkgirl sighed. "Great," she groaned, "we couldn't get through that one, either."
"And there's still no sign of the city or its inhabitants." Diana stated.
"Perhaps if we…" Hawkgirl began, but was cut off by two balls of energy hitting them.
Batgirl crumpled at Batman's side, she tried to get up, but her arms gave out and she fell into darkness.
Batgirl awoke with her hands cuffed behind her back beside Batman in a cell with the rest of the League. She groaned and leaned her head on Batman's arm. "Ouch," she mumbled.
Batman smirked, "cheer up," he said.
If she had the energy, Batgirl would have kicked him, hard.
"Shut up," she growled, wanting nothing more than to go home, have one of Alfred's heavenly hot chocolates, and go to bed.
Suddenly, the cell door opened, and a Gorilla stepped in on its hind legs with a gun in its hand.
"Sir," it said, "they're awake."
A larger grey Gorilla stepped in with his hands clasped behind his back and his left eye missing.
Batgirl glared, this was not good.
"Where are we?" Diana spat; her eyes cold as stone. "Who's in charge?"
The Gorilla stepped forward as he spoke. "You misunderstand the situation, intruder," he said, "You will answer my questions."
Batgirl smirked. "Sure, just get us out of these things, King Kong." She said sarcastically.
The gorilla swung his mighty fist around and smacked her across the cheek. "You will be silent in my presence, child!" He roared.
Batgirl felt actual fear in her belly. She hadn't felt this scared since the night her father tried to murder her.
"It is not my policy to allow spies to roam free." He said, grabbing her chin so he could look at her.
"We are not spies," J'onn said, standing up, "nor will you hold us against our will! We've…AH!"
J'onn collapsed and fell unconscious.
"J'onn!" Hawkgirl cried.
"You will find Gorilla City much harder to leave than it was to enter." The gorilla growled.
"Gorilla City?" Diana inquired.
The gorilla ignored her. "Now, let us begin again," he growled, "who sent you?"
Batgirl felt Batman hand her a lock pick and she fought the urge to grin.
She began picking his handcuffs while he worked on hers.
The gorilla was yelling again, and Batgirl wanted him to stop, or for Batman to hold her. She'd prefer the latter option. Even wrapped in Kevlar and rubber, he gave the best hugs.
The gorilla punched J'onn, hard, trying to get answers out of the last Martian. He shoved J'onn against the wall and yelled "quit stalling, spy, who sent you?"
J'onn groaned. "No one sent us," the Martian insisted.
"Lies!" the gorilla roared, smacking J'onn down.
He turned to the other Leaguers, "I want answers, now!" he shouted. "or you will all pay most dearly."
Batgirl unlocked Batman's cuffs as he did hers. She smirked, but it disappeared before the gorilla could see it
"I'll give you one last chance," the gorilla leaned in close to Hawkgirl's face, "starting with you."
Diana saw Batman and Batgirl's cuffs had been opened and noticed the mangled rods of metal between them.
She had admired Batman for some time. Not just his prowess as a warrior, but his tact and compassion for those he loved. Batgirl and Robin may not be his children by birth, but they were in every other way. He didn't try to pick fights with the other Leaguers, though he and Superman butted heads much too often, he was a kind man.
It was then that Diana realised she loved Gotham's Dark Knight even more than she loved the gods.
"Take your best shot." Hawkgirl challenged.
The gorilla raised his fist to hit Hawkgirl, and the Caped Crusaders leapt up.
Batman tossed a bolo at the gorilla and Batgirl threw a Batarang at one of the other gorillas.
They both used their grappling guns to get to the ceiling.
Batgirl threw a Batarang at Hawkgirl's cuffs while Batman threw one at Diana's.
Diana tackled a gorilla to the ground then moved to the next one.
Batgirl kicked one in the groin with her knee and shocked it with the static pads in the palms of her gloves.
"Batgirl, stance five!" Batman shouted.
Batgirl grinned and charged the static pads.
Her gloves crackled with electricity and one gorilla ran at her. She shocked it and moved to the next one.
Batman was about to get shocked when Diana picked up a Batarang and threw it.
It hit the gorilla's hand dead on and Batman looked shocked for a moment, as did Batgirl. It took months to learn how to throw a Batarang properly. Technique was essential in using most of the equipment the Caped Crusaders used.
"Thanks," Batman said, fully taking in how incredible and smart Diana really was.
He'd have to invite the League to a Charity Ball at Wayne Manor.
Batgirl jumped between them. "Dad, if you've stopped giving Diana the goo-goo eyes, we need help!"
Batman felt his cheeks flush red and he turned, throwing a Batarang.
When the final gorilla fell, Hawkgirl picked up her mace and said "Let's go." Before swinging her mace and smashing a hole in the wall.
Batgirl swallowed. She'd never grappled through a city before. She'd much rather go by rooftop.
"Uh, Dad?" She whispered. Batman, realising what troubled her, crouched down and said "get on my back."
She did so, wrapping her arms around his neck. He stood up and pointed his grappling gun at a building.
And they were flying.
They landed and Batgirl leapt off his back, running beside him like they did in Gotham, only, in Gotham they didn't have a whole squad of talking gorillas on flying scooters after them.
"This is nuts!" she cried, skidding between the legs of a gorilla and leaping back to her feet.
"And I thought Joker was crazy." Batman grinned, she gave him a look. He scooped her up and used his grappling gun.
He landed and saw Diana hit the force field and fall. His heart clenched and he ran to catch her.
She landed in his arms and groaned, resting her head on his shoulder.
Batgirl smirked and made kissing noises.
Suddenly, the gorilla who beat up J'onn in the cell yelled "you will never escape Gorilla City!"
And the force field disappeared.
The gorillas argued amongst themselves before one approached. "The scans have shown a large missile approaching the city, sir! What are your orders?"
"Evacuate the city!" the gorilla said. "Immediately!"
"But what about the humans?" another gorilla cried.
"I've got bigger problems now!" the gorilla yelled.
"Maybe we can help!" Batgirl called.
The gorilla stopped.
"You?" he said, turning around. "What could you possibly do to save us?"
Batgirl held up her hands, and electricity crackled through them.
"Just watch." She grinned.
The two missiles appeared in the sky, heading straight towards Gorilla City.
Batman and Batgirl called the shots from on the ground while the others went to stop the missiles.
"Diana, be careful." Batman murmured.
J'onn took out the first one and Hawkgirl split the second one in two, but the nose cone still headed towards the city.
Diana raced in front of it and tried to stop it.
It smashed through two buildings, and it wasn't slowing.
She pushed harder.
"Diana!" Batman cried as the missile smashed into the ground, burying Diana.
He ran to the Missile's side and tried to dig her out.
Batgirl growled out a curse in Italian and punched the wall.
Hawkgirl and J'onn landed beside the Missile and bowed their heads.
Batman didn't stop trying to dig her out.
"Dad, she's gone." Batgirl murmured.
Batman slumped, his shoulders shaking slightly.
And then the Missile was lifted and Diana tossed it to the side.
She flew up and stood beside the others.
"The fates were kind today." She said to the gathered gorillas, "your city is safe."
And the crowd erupted into applause.
Diana looked down and saw Batman's gloves were covered in dirt.
He blushed and pulled them into his cape.
Diana smiled and leaned over. Her lips brushed against his cheek and his eyes widened, "thank you," she murmured before pulling back.
He turned away, and avoided Batgirl's smirking face.
"I'm sorry for how we judged you, we can never repay you for all you've done." The Gorilla said.
"No worries," Kid Flash grinned, "what's going to happen to Grod?"
Solo smiled, "I'll show you." He led them to a big enclosure, Grod sat on a branch, a banana in his hands and his mouth wide open.
"The feedback from his helmet completely wiped out his mind." Solo said.
"I almost feel sorry for him," Green Lantern said.
"You have my solemn word he'll have the best of care," Solo said.
Batman and Batgirl were chatting softly off to the side.
"A party? You're sure?" Batgirl murmured, "It's a big risk, Dad."
Batman nodded, "Green Lantern and Superman still don't trust Bruce Wayne, they don't trust Batman either, but they'll be more likely to trust Bruce Wayne. Anyway…" he blushed a bit, "Diana…"
Batgirl grinned, "Bruce and Diana, Sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." She sang softly.
Batman glared at her playfully. "Why I adopted two child geniuses is beyond me." He growled.
Batgirl rolled her eyes. "So, you're going to tell her? About our secret?" She questioned.
Batman shrugged. "Depends on what she thinks of Bruce Wayne."
Done. I know it's been a long time and I promised to write Paradise Lost next, but I couldn't. I tried and tried and tried.
A night gown, by the way, is a dress you wear to bed. In Australia, they're called nighties, and from now on, they will be called nighties. I don't give a crap on what people say. They will be called nighties.
Next time might be Fury.
Bye!