As always all characters are fictional. Wyvern, Deus, & Reaver are my characters. All other characters/locations are copyright of DC Comics & their respective creators.

The Awful Truth Revealed-Mayhem, Myths, & Magic Part 2: The Wyvern Arrives Part VII

Athena cast her gaze over the defiant young man standing before her. "A touch more civility from you would be pleasant. Have you so quickly forgotten your mother's teachings?"

"I would wager a time dilation field is why Deus has yet to respond to my command?"

"Your computer isn't here." Athena gestured around her, she'd transported them to her own palace on Olympus. "I've wanted to talk to you for some time, but, I'm growing displeased with you more & more."

"Could it be my being the only male born on Themyscira, not following in the 'family' tradition," he even made the quote marks with his hands." or the fact that I am a Roman Catholic by choice?" Athena's anger put him off guard.

"Your choices are your own to make, I've an issue with how you've been treating your mother!"

"What could you know of the loss I have endured?!"

Diana woke up on a comfortable room in Wayne Manor. 'I remember Kara visiting, I felt CJ was in danger, how in Hera's name did I end up here?' A gentle knock on the door caused gave her a start.

"Miss Diana?" Alfred politely backed into the room, Diana could smell that he'd brought breakfast. "Master Bruce thought you may like something to eat."

"Thanks Alfred, is Bruce still here?"

"No, he drove himself into the office," Alfred spoke as he poured a cup of coffee for her. "he did, however, wish me to convey the message that he will be returning at his earliest opportunity to assist you in searching for young Christian." Diana was glad that Bruce wanted to help, as she took the offered cup of coffee, her face reflected her gratitude.

"I know how hard it was for Hippolyta when you declined the offer to join her on Themyscira when we took it with us & withdrew Olympus from your world." Wyvern's eyes widened in shock at her announcement.

"Oh yes stubborn little dragon, I know what happened. I know that she would have gladly accepted you & the female Kryptonian that aided you. I also know the identities of those remains in your memorial garden." Wyvern reeled from Athena's announcement, how could they have known? The realization crashed upon him like a tidal wave.

"Yes, we are aware of that now deceased universe. There were precious few differences there."

"I do not exist in this place, Batman & Wonder Woman are not from the world of my birth." Athena further surprised him with her next action, she laughed.

"Is something about these events humorous to you?" Athena laid her hand gently on his shoulder. "If that were the case, why do you & Diana feel the connection." As Wyvern searched for a counter-argument Athena continued.

"The bond you share with your mother is so great, she felt the danger of your introduction tussle with Circe & Aries."

'I know my own flesh & blood, a part of my very soul, when I touch it.' the memory flashed unbidden into his mind.

"Perhaps another voice of reason will help to bring my point home." Athena stepped aside, revealing a surprised face Wyvern never expected to see.

"So, you're certain he's fine?"

"He's out of danger Bruce, I wont know that he's fine until we have him back home safely." Bruce had called her in between meetings

"I've Tim, Stephanie, Dick, & Cassandra all seeing if they can chase down any leads on CJ's whereabouts."

"We'll my son is very smart, I think he may give you the slip." Despite how much CJ's leaving had affected her, she was glad to be able to have a moment of levity.

"Yes, well if your son" Bruce fired back, "wasn't so stubborn as to think he has to take care of everything on his own."

"Oh, don't you DARE use that line with me Bruce Wayne! YOUR pig-headedness is what caused that, not my Amazonian persistence."

"Kara?!"

"What the hell am I doing here?" she glanced around at her surroundings. "Wait, Athena, how'd this happen?"

"You can thank your friend's idiotic stubbornness."

"CJ!" her eyes narrowed as she seemed to notice him for the first time. "I should knock your damn head off for what you did!" Moving past Athena Kara got right in Wyvern's face.

"Diana's been near hysterical since you bailed, how could you do that to your own mother?!" Kara appeared on the verge of striking him when Athena spoke up.

"Before you do something you may later regret child, you should see all the pieces of the puzzle that is Diana's son. The extent of his loss will help you to understand."

"NO!" before either of them could react Wyvern moved back through the portal they'd entered.

"I'm sorry for how this'll sound, but, what the fuck is his problem?"

"Do not judge him too harshly, pain has been his only companion for some time." Kara's confusion was evident as Athena opened another portal. "Come, I'll show you what I mean."

As he crashed into an empty hallway in his new base of operations Wyvern heard the voice in his mind silently berating him. 'Great move dipshit, way to act like a three year old.'

'They cannot know, if that secret were to be revealed it would destroy them!'

'Don't have to worry about that, you're doing a bang-up job all by your lonesome.' These unexpected revelations were more than he could ever anticipate.

'Hey here's a novel idea, grow a friggin' pair of balls & live! It's what they would've wanted!'

"Damn CJ, nice digs." The speed of his head whipping about to look at her was shocking. "Is it something with Amazon blood that doesn't make your neck pop when you do that?" Looking past her he saw how she'd arrived unannounced.

"These are your options child." Athena declared. "You can accept the gift given to you here, or, the next people I bring will be your parents." She waited a moment before issue her ultimatum.

"Only I will, I promise you, transport them right into that crypt you've been hiding from them." With that Athena disappeared leaving Kara stunned to silence & Wyvern shaking in anger.

"Have we heard anything Alfred?"

"I'm afraid not Master Bruce." Alfred seemed just as disheartened as Diana did.

"Have we heard anything from Kara yet?"

"No," Diana sighed "I haven't been able to get a hold of her."

"Has there been any word from your mother? You said she'd asked for some additional assistance of the Olympic persuasion."

"No, mother contacted me before you got back. She did tell me to thank you for the picture of him, she's going to hold onto it."

"Damn it all, how could he have completely dropped off the face of the Earth?" Bruce's frustration at the inability to find their son was beginning to weight on him, he knew it would be difficult, but, CJ had left no trail & now, he couldn't get in touch with the one person that gave them the best chance of finding him. 'Damn it all, where is Kara?'

"CJ, what the hell is it that you don't want them finding out about?" Kara was following Wyvern down to the Lair, confused & angry at his refusal to answer her.

"Fine, play it that way. I can backtrack to Wayne Manor & Rao help me I'll have your parents here faster than Athena could even dream of." she was so shocked when Wyvern whirled about to face her that she took a step back & stumbled.

"You really wish to see what made the monster?" His voice was lower & more menacing than she'd ever heard it before. His eyes glowing in the low light were more frightening than anything because she saw no emotion in them. Not a shred of humanity was present as he grabbed her arm & practically drug her down the passageway. She stumbled along behind him as she muttered choice epithets under her breath. When she came to a stop she was shocked to see what looked like a breathtaking underground garden.

"How did you do this?" As she looked around Kara's gaze fell on several stone monuments.

"Bruce, Diana, Alfred, Tim, Dick… he killed them all didn't he?" She'd been standing there for about a minute when she realized he'd disappeared.

"CJ, where are you?" She was mildly shaken when she passed by the memory crystal hologram of herself set towards to back of the monuments.

"CJ, are you still here?" She followed the faint heartbeat until she heard something else. 'Wait a second, is he… crying?' She followed the sounds, as fast as she was able in the unfamiliar terrain, & emerged in a much more somber antechamber hidden from the garden. As she glanced around the patch of grass with a single blue rose bush she saw him. Wyvern knelt on the ground, his shoulders shaking as tears ran freely down his face. Kara felt much of her anger dissipate as she saw him at his most human. As she moved to try & console him, her gaze fell upon the two headstones on either side of the rose bush.

"Oh no… CJ, how?"

"I could not protect them." his voice was ragged as all the rage seemed to cave in upon itself & his agony burst to the surface.

"Martha Harmony Wayne & Lyta Charity Wayne, who were they?"

"The ones I could not save." As Kara knelt down & placed an arm around the grieving young man she noticed that he seemed different, like something had broken loose. She saw the same person she'd seen back in the Mojave desert, not the creature he seemed to embrace, but the man beneath the armor.

"I should have been there, I failed them Kara, all of them."

"CJ, these girls, who are they? Tell me, please." she gently prompted.

"They were my greatest strength, & my worst failure. The reason I learned to abandon my humanity when it comes to Reaver. The beginning of the twilight of my universe." He turned & looked straight into Kara's eyes,

"They were the little princesses of the Wayne Manor. Raped & murdered by Reaver in an attempt to drive me over the edge of sanity. " Kara's left hand flew to her mouth to stifle a cry as her own eyes filled with tears.

"They were my baby sisters."

A/N: Yes, I do have Wyvern arguing with his conscience here, imagine a little armored Jiminy Cricket if you will. (I know I need help, but, I don't want it because the voices in my head always sing my favorite songs…)