31
Paris was experiencing its second day of unrestricted conflict. And like the two battles before it, the current engagement centered around the Dome. The original Dome had proudly served as the headquarters for the original Global Guardians from the late Seventies until the turn of the century.
After the Global Guardians lost their status as the Unites Nations' protection force, the Dome had been stolen by the Legion of Doom. Destroyed in Bailya, the Dome went without replacement despite the UN holding the site's property. It wasn't until the Global Guardians were reorganized as the Justice League International that a second Dome was built and now served as the epicenter of Paris' terrors.
Steve Trevor groggily awoke with a pounding headache and an aching jaw. Then he snapped into full cognizance and snatched up his Sig Saur MPX submachine gun. The MPX served as a modern update to its venerable rival, the Heckler & Koch MP5-3A. It could be chambered in 9mm, .40 caliber, or .45 caliber. Trevor and Starling both carried the .45 cal. variant. It sacrificed range for bone breaking power.
He was currently aiming the weapon at the Atom. The copious amounts of blood scattered everywhere told Trevor the Atom was wounded. It appeared someone had shot him in the side. It wasn't a killing stroke so long as the blood flow was stopped in a reasonable amount of time. What struck Trevor as odd was that the Atom was dialing a number in a mobile phone.
And then it occurred to Trevor why the Atom carried easily disposable prepaid cell phones, "Freeze! Drop the phone!"
But the phone made a connection and Atom shrank into it to ride the radio signal to the receiver's location. Trevor quickly disconnected the call and hoped he hadn't just doomed a JLer to a horrid death somewhere. At that point, Atom had probably already reached a satellite acting as a relay. He had no means of determining of whether or not Atom ever arrived at his destination. And he wouldn't until Atom popped up on the grid again.
Trevor used smelling salts to revive Starling. She came awake throwing a punch at him. He turned it against her, "Eve, it's me, Steve."
"Sorry. Did we get him?" Starling's head pounded away.
"Someone got him," Trevor pointed at the blood covering the pavement.
"Where's Bat-Girl?" Starling asked a little desperately.
"On your other side," Trevor shifted position so they were to either side of Bat-Girl.
"Come on, Lizzie. Wake up," Starling popped the smelling salts beneath Elizabeth Kane's nose and she jolted awake throwing punches at both of them.
Trevor and Starling caught her arms and braced her. Starling leaned her head onto Bat-Girl's shoulder, "It's okay, babe. I've got you."
Suddenly a massive roar of frustration lifted across the boulevard. They all turned and saw the Martian Manhunter battling Deathstroke. And the Martian wasn't pleased with the results thus far.
J'onn Jonzz had intercepted Deathstroke after Slade Wilson had shot the Atom to spare Trevor, Starling, and Bat-Girl's lives. J'onn had attempted to use his telepathic skills to disable Deathstroke. But Slade was more than happy that J'onn discovered it would take a greater mind than his to manipulate Deathstroke's thoughts.
So J'onn had tried to simply overpower Slade. Deathstroke was inhumanly strong but the Martian's strength was still far greater than his own. But Deathstroke was a master of unarmed fighting techniques from across the globe. So J'onn took the brunt of the punishment.
Finally, Martian Manhunter resorted to using his native shape shifting powers. Deathstroke unsheathed his sword at that point and went about crippling J'onn. None of his strikes were lethal but they were intended to hamper J'onn's ability to alter himself or to fight decently.
The Titan's contract with ARGUS prohibited them from killing a JLer without official sanction. On this field, the only ARGUS agent capable of authorizing such a termination was Col. Trevor. And Trevor had already informed Deathstroke that terminations were a last resort on this operation.
But the same compulsion driving J'onn to attack members of other Justice Leagues in service to the Legion of Doom was also pushing him to neutralize Deathstroke even at the cost of his own life. So Deathstroke, forewarned about who his potential targets would be, carried two specialized grenades for this eventuality.
He pulled the first cylindrical grenade from his belt, thereby automatically pulling the pin. Slade threw it to one side of the Martian Manhunter. The chemical explosive within it detonated and phosphorous spilled out of it. Certain elements burned on contact with oxygen but phosphorous was fairly unique in that it consumed any available oxygen, even that bound to two atoms of hydrogen. J'onn began to retreat and Deathstroke hemmed him in with the second phosphorous grenade.
The only retreat was straight away from Deathstroke and the only other viable option was to come straight at him, which would cost him his life weakened as he was by the burning phosphorous. J'onn wisely retreated.
But Saturn Queen stepped in at this juncture, "I should have known I'd have to personally deal with you."
"You can try," Deathstroke calmly told her.
After several second spent in silence, Saturn Queen snarled, "I can't affect you!"
"My entire life is dedicated to control. That includes my own body and mind," Deathstroke advised her, "To defeat me, you'll have to break both. And I don't think you can."
Trevor and Starling opened fire at Saturn Queen with their submachine guns. Bat-Girl was wearing a sidearm and she started shooting at Saturn Queen with her pistol. Saturn Queen quickly ascended above their weapons' effective ranges. Then she summoned Superman.
Superman swooped in on Deathstroke and promptly face planted into the blacktop. The JLers stared in transfixed horror. Deathstroke revealed he had a shard of kryptonite sharpened into a knife. He plunged it into Superman's ribs and snapped off the tip. Superman's backhand jolted Deathstroke into a tuck and roll before he came up onto his feet.
Superman wobbly joined Saturn Queen and they flew to the very edge of the police perimeter. And there she summoned the Justice Leagues under her control to return to her.
"You three with me," Deathstroke ordered the JLers as he tossed transponders to each of them.
"What's going on, Slade?" Trevor grated.
"You have wounded that require immediate medical evacs," Deathstroke informed them.
Deathstroke brought Trevor to Power Girl while Starling assisted Teth-Adam and Bat-Girl inspected Adrianna Tomaz's injuries. For the Black Marvels, it was easy to diagnose. Each of their legs had compound fractures and bones were jutting out of their flesh. Further injuries had probably also been sustained from the falls they'd endured.
"Can't you just…y'know?" Starling asked Teth-Adam.
"The same compulsion that forced me to say the wizard's accursed name also prohibits me from saying it now," Teth-Adam fumed through the tremendous pain, "How is Adrianna?"
"She looks the same as you. Bat-Girl is tending to her as we speak," Starling assured him.
Bat-Girl found Adrianna's condition, and the root cause of it, to be identical. But it was difficult to follow Adriana's patchwork English and Bat-Girl didn't speak Egyptian. But she dutifully clipped the transponder to Adriana's blouse.
"God, what could have done this to Galatea?" Trevor's triage efforts indicated Power Girl was catatonic.
"That redhead only pretends to be a goddess," Deathstroke advised him, "Now stand clear."
Trevor ordered the others to stay clear of the patients while Deathstroke contacted Gwen Cormaugh, "Agent Cormaugh, Slade Wilson here. We require an immediate medical evacuation of key personnel. Have the ARGUS facility you route them to prepare to cope with severe physical and psychological trauma."
"Understood, we have a standing arrangement with ARGUS for these eventualities," Gwen informed him, "That's why they rely on our teleporter network while their range is being extended. Our systems have locked on to your transponders and network control says we'll have them in three…two…one."
Blue flashes snatched the wounded away. Deathstroke reported, "We have three clean teleports."
"ARGUS reports the same," Gwen informed him, "Director Waller is standing by for an update."
"I'll get Trevor on the line," Deathstroke deferred to the field commander.
"Negative, Waller wants an update concerning the…other…matter at hand," Gwen told him.
"Tell her I'll get back to her when I know something," Deathstroke replied.
"Copy that," Gwen was pure professionalism. Which Slade thought appropriate because Agent Gwen Cormaugh of the International Security Agency had once been a Special Agent Cormaugh in ARGUS' Black Razor Corps. Waller had arranged for Gwen's transfer to the ISA.
"Colonel, what do we do about Green Lantern?" Bat-Girl wondered as she and Starling inspected John Stewart's fallen form.
"Tag him and send him on to base," Trevor ordered.
For a prisoner transfer, ARGUS was willing to trust the edge of their teleporter capabilities. Green Lantern disappeared in a red flash while Trevor gave ARGUS' unit at Belle Reeve special instructions. Afterwards, Trevor noted Deathstroke was observing the captive Justices Leagues' ongoing withdrawal.
"We could attempt several captures," Trevor thought out loud.
"They're already missing several people," Deathstroke stated, "I'd say capturing JLers has already been accomplished. But the real fight is across town. This is just one long laborious distraction."
Trevor thought about and recalled the Titans had been short one member. The Italian woman called Cinder hadn't reported in at the Dome, "Where's Cinder, Slade?"
"Very good, Colonel," Slade chuckled, "Cinder is acting on our best interests as is the backup agent I sent to join her. But one of your own is moving against them. It'll be fascinating to see who wins this round. It could literally cost us the war if my people fail."
"I assume you're talking about the scientist you referenced earlier," Trevor guessed, "You advocated killing them."
"An option," Deathstroke conceded, "But Waller had already dictated the course I would pursue prior to my arrival. So if you want the scientist dead or alive, you have to take it up with her since it was her call to capture and exploit the person's technology."
"Does this mysterious person have a name?" Trevor dryly asked.
"She does," Slade admitted, "And you even know it."
After Deathstroke revealed the identity, Trevor's jaw could've easily hit the ground, "Sonuvabitch."
"But it makes sense, doesn't it?" Deathstroke asked without a trace of irony.
Nightshade and Black Orchid came to assist Question and Huntress escape their bonds. Mr. Miracle was still on station and attempted to subdue the reinforcements. Black Orchid listed a litany of complaints while Mr. Miracle evaded her at every turn.
Nightshade sucked the stun grenades that Mr. Miracle threw into the Night Force. Then she infused nearby shadows with Night Force dwellers and they came alive and hunted Mr. Miracle. All of his New God technology proved useless against the shadow spawn.
"Pits of Apokolips!" Scott Free cried out as the shadow spawn yanked his hover discs out from underneath him. Opening a boom tube, he transited directly to OmniTech headquarters in Los Angeles without the other JLers.
"Okay, I should feel bad that he got away but I really don't," Black Orchid commiserated.
"Don't feel bad. It isn't worth it," Nightshade unclasped Huntress' bonds. Black Orchid released the Question.
More JLers fled past them to meet up with Saturn Queen. Black Orchid pointed at them, "Should we be doing something about that?"
"I've tossed enough people in the Night Force. I'm through with it," Nightshade complained, "I'm only risking so many people's sanity as it is."
"Does Trevor know about that?" Huntress wondered.
"Intimately," Nightshade promised her.
"Curioser and curioser," Question mused.
"For shame," Goldilocks chided Man-of-Bats and Raven Red as they loomed over the fallen Animal Man and Crimson Fox.
Raven Red attempted to charge at Goldilocks but her hair snared his feet and hands and he face planted. Man-of-Bats was aware of Goldilocks' abilities from his training sessions with her sister, Godiva. So rather than directly confront her, he threw an incendiary device at the garden grounds they stood upon. The device sprayed gasoline before detonating to ignite it.
Despite recent rains, the gardens blazed like a tinder box. Man-of-Bats and Raven Red received Saturn Queen's summons and withdrew while Goldilocks lifted Animal Man and Crimson Fox out of harm's way. Afterwards, she wondered why they hadn't attacked her while she was distracted. It was lost, golden opportunity.
And, while the Dome was safe against the fire, the gardens were a total loss. Goldilocks summed it up in one sentiment, "Bloody hell."
Silver Swan witnessed the transformation in the recovering Sandstorm and Tundra when Saturn Queen recalled them. They each used their powers to keep Silver Swan at a distance. They didn't yet realize that she could have struck them down with her swan song even at that distance but she held back. She wanted to learn what was so important that it drove her foes from battle. And she soon discovered she wasn't alone in wondering this.
Enchantress sensed Saturn Queen's summons but it wasn't until the street began rising and cracking as it did so that she realized that Seraph had been awakened. Using the fabled strength of Samson, he pushed the street levels off of him from where he'd been trapped in the sewers. And then, rather than confront Enchantress again, he departed. Fleeing back to his new queen.
Enchantress chose to let him go. He wasn't creating any mischief by retreating and her instructions hadn't covered the mere possibility of the JLU or JLI evacuating. So she decided to hang tight and see what would happen next.
Spread across the Dome's exterior, the Titans had wounded several JLI team members. Their wounds were severe enough to prevent them from rejoining their teammates. So, in effect, Cheshire, Arsenal, and Gunslinger had captured Fleur-de-Lis, Freedom Beast, Centrix, Jet, Manticore, El Gaucho, and Mr. Unknown.
In juxtaposition, no one even observed Tasmanian Devil escape while still wearing his smart metal bonds. Nor did anyone witness Hood, Wingman, Fire, Ice, Cascade, Maxi-Man, and Nightrunner's exit. But others awoke with surprising results.
Black Bat waved off Katana and Batwoman's concerns, "I know you probably don't believe me but I'm free of Saturn Queen's control."
"And would you even be aware of it if you were?" Katana asked the natural question.
"Seeing how her voice in my head awoke me and ordered me to rejoin her and I'm able to resist that compulsion I'd have to say, 'yes'," Black Bat dryly observed.
"Then you can assist us with him," Katana pointed at the withdrawing Batwing with her sword.
"I'll look after Ri and Darkwing," Batwoman volunteered.
Katana swiftly had Batwing disarmed and pressed up against a wall with the SoulTaker's tip in his throat. Black Bat urged leniency, "Saturn Queen is exiting this place. Afterwards I can free Batwing in a similar fashion as I was freed."
"How so?" Katana inquired while never losing focus on Batwing.
"By forcing him to choose between taking a life or being liberated," Black Bat told her, "And the only life I will gamble with is my own."
Katana was amenable to the plan.
Starman, Goldstar, Reverb, Blue Beetle, and Echo all came awake and started to leave the Dome's periphery. Hawkman and Troia had just lifted off the ground to inspect other teammates' progress.
"Do you want to go after them?" Troia asked him.
"I think it at least behooves us to learn where they're going," Hawkman admitted.
They soon met up with Silver Swan. Troia looked around, "They're all leaving."
"And Trevor isn't doing a thing about it," Hawkman observed, "So I guess we have our marching orders."
"It would be kind of nice to take the fighting out of Paris for a change," Silver Swan said wistfully.
"Besides the numbers are completely on their side and Saturn Queen is problematic," Hawkman opined.
"How so?" Troia was curious as to why.
"Could you really go all out against a woman wearing Tessa's face?" he asked her.
"I guess not," Troia admitted sadly.
"Neither could I," Hawkman confessed, "At least not yet."
Gypsy had freed Praxis' mind but she could still see his desire to obey Saturn Queen was at least partially intact. She slapped him so hard his sunglasses flew off. He gave her a rueful look before reaffixing them on his face.
"Thank you, I think," Praxis said with his usual droll manner.
"What can I say?" Gypsy smirked with undeniable pleasure at repaying Praxis for what she'd endured in his mind.
"As little as possible, I trust," Praxis avoided outright pleading but the request was still urgent.
"I'd rather avoid the topic altogether," Gypsy confessed.
"Thank you," Praxis said gratefully.
Tattooed Man wasn't expecting Rising Sun and Dr. Light to rouse. And then they blasted away at him while he wasn't looking. Finding himself nearly insensate, Mark Richards was barely conscious enough to watch the Japanese couple depart.
Later, after everyone had gathered in the Dome following the Justice Leagues' retreat, Tuatara was screaming, "Let me go! She's summoning me! I have to go to her!"
Ri had healed the wounded JLI members and they were now in ISA custody. But Tuatara was still being thawed out as Black Canary stepped in front of him. All three of his eyes widened.
"There's no call for…ugh!" Tuatara fell silent as Black Canary's punch knocked him out.
Killer Frost smirked, "I think he forgot to say 'that'."
But Katana had convinced Trevor to keep Batwing incarcerated in one of the Dome's holding cells while Black Bat tested her theory. Trevor grumbled, "We might as well hold him here. It doesn't look like Killer Frost will ever see the inside of one of those cells."
Katana couldn't deny it.
"Slade, a moment of your time?" Trevor led Deathstroke into Dr. Mist's office, "All of those wounded were a direct result of your people's actions. Ri bluntly states three would have died within less than an hour's time of her treating them if she hadn't intervened."
"But she did, so what's the problem?" Deathstroke wondered.
"Dammit, Slade! You've always played fast and loose with the rules of engagement and chains of command. These people would have died," Trevor said through clenched teeth.
"Colonel, I get results no one else can. That's why people who can afford me, hire me in the first place. Trust me when I say your chain of command doesn't give a rat's ass whether or not the JLI survives this engagement. They're just one more competitor in the food chain," Deathstroke told him.
"I care," Trevor grated.
"And you're in a minority of maybe two or three in ARGUS' hierarchy," Slade warned him, "I know Dibney is on the same page as you but I can't think of anyone else save that fat Hawaiian, Hula Hula."
"Hula Hula joined ARGUS?" Trevor was startled, "When did he leave Spyral?"
"This morning, US Eastern Standard Time," Deathstroke informed him, "It's in the briefing papers Waller sent that you've ignored so far."
Trevor decided to read the briefs. When he'd finished, he contacted Sue to find out if Amanda Waller was out of her mind. And Sue had to tell him, she and Hula Hula had backed Waller's call. Trevor decided it was time to leave Paris.
Ravager had "borrowed" a Ducati street bike. The motorcycle cost more than some provincial homes. She met up with Cinder where the Italian woman was staking out Claire Connelly's apartment.
"How's our girl?" Ravager asked Cinder.
"Restless," Cinder answered, "And I can't blame her."
"Other than that?" Ravager grinned.
"She's a cherry waiting to be picked," Cinder summarized.
"Good, because we've got competition," Ravager warned Cinder, "I'll grab Connelly while you distract the Order of St. Dumas."
"Who'd they send?" Cinder wondered.
"Azrael and an unknown woman who likes fast cars and knows how to drive them," Ravager told her, "I passed them on the way here. But you can't just kill them. Azrael is working for the JLA. And we're working with the JLA. But Azrael's mission isn't sanctioned so if you lightly toast him it'll be interesting to see what he'll have to say when he reports back to the JLA."
"You're always playing games," Cinder chuckled, "Which is good. I like playing them too."
"I'll signal you when I'm done," Ravager disappeared into the apartment building.
Cinder was actually looking forward to the fight. Up until now she'd gone into operations wearing clothes cut from average cloths and they always incinerated when she shifted to her plasma form. But Deathstroke had stolen a thermolytic cloth from NASA. Her plasma field would extend over the cloth but not burn up. Or so it had worked in tests back at their base. She hadn't fully tested it in combat conditions yet so this would be revealing. Possibly in more ways than one.
Cinder didn't have to wait long before a Bugati supercar raced up the middle of the road. Azrael stepped out of one side and Sister Lilhy exited the driver's side. Cinder triggered her transformation into her blazing red plasma form and both Knights paused.
"You're too late to kill Dr. Connelly," Cinder tested out English on them. The Order of St. Dumas drew members from across the globe so this pair could literally not even be able to understand one another. But English seemed to be a good neutral language most of them understood.
"Then you will lead us to them," Azrael declared, "Or die in defiance of our holy cause."
"And how do you know if I'm not a helpless woman with a threatening optical illusion?" Cinder asked.
Azrael extended his gauntlet blades and ignited them. Cinder smirked, "So you like to play with fire? Good."
Cinder projected red hot plasma at the Bugati and it's fuel tanks exploded throwing Azrael and Lilhy to either side of the car. Cinder hated wasting fine Italian workmanship but she supposed liberating it from its slave owners counted in the plus column. Besides, now they couldn't pursue her when she withdrew.
"Surely there's more to you than that?" Cinder had to wonder.
"Kill the woman!" Azrael commanded Lilhy, "I will deal with this demonness."
"Demonness? I think I like the sound of that," Cinder decided as she ignited the grounds stretching between Lilhy and the apartments.
Azrael charged at Cinder. She blazed away at him with plasma and his armor ignited. Only its interior insulation kept him alive. But the heat was stifling.
"Die, bitch!" Lilhy's accent revealed her to be French. Cinder waved at her and erected a flaming wall, trapping Lilhy between blazes. She had to march to either end of the street to circumvent either wall of flame.
Cinder's left hand displayed a flashing green light from the display built into her thermolytic glove. So she moved to her own stolen motorcycle and shifted back to being human before she strapped on her helmet prior to departure. A still smoldering Azrael marched on the complex through the flames.
Ravager went over the roof to Claire's balcony and dropped in before jimmying the sliding door. Claire entered the living room nursing a cup of tea. When she spotted Ravager, she calmly sat the tea down and asked, "Are you here to kill me?"
"Quite the opposite actually," Ravager told her, "My associate and I are fighting to keep you alive. But in order to keep you alive, you have to come with me. Now."
"Where are we going?" Claire wondered as she grabbed her jacket.
"The Dome," Ravager told her.
"Have they found Booster yet? Or Goldstar?" Claire inquired.
"I haven't a clue," Ravager admitted, "My mission is you."
"And you are…?" Claire led her with the question.
"Ravager," she saw Claire wince, "But you can call me Rose."
Ravager signaled Cinder as she and Claire exited the building to reach Rose's bike parked on the opposite block. Claire looked the bike warily, "No helmets?"
"We don't need them," Ravager handed her a pair of clear glasses, "But these will be handy."
After a hectic ride through Paris that nearly made Claire pee on every hairpin turn, they arrived at the Dome. Ravager waited outside for Cinder's arrival. Despite her impatience, Claire agreed with Ravager's motives so she waited beside her.
Finally Cinder came pulling up. Claire glared at Ravager, "She has a helmet."
"She didn't have me riding the bike," Ravager grinned at Claire.
"It'll be a while before her attackers join us here," Cinder predicted.
"They're coming here?" Claire gulped.
"One of them is a member of the Justice League," Ravager shared with her.
"Are they brainwashed like the others?" Claire was hopeful.
"Not in the least," Ravager disappointed her.
"Dr. Connelly," Trevor greeted Claire.
"Col. Trevor, it's been awhile. Not since LexCorp's symposium for ARGUS was held," Claire recalled, "Why am I here if Booster isn't?"
"Slade insisted," Trevor nodded towards Deathstroke, "He said your life was in jeopardy due to some research you've been conducting."
"My life was threatened," Claire confirmed it.
"By whom?" Trevor asked.
"By Azrael and an unknown member of the Order of St. Dumas," Ravager informed him.
Claire studied Ravager and then the helmetless Deathstroke, "You're his daughter. The eye should have given it away."
Azrael burst into the lounge with his blades extended, "The heretic must die!"
Slade and Rose already had their swords in hand. Trevor interposed himself between Azrael and Claire, "Stand down! All of you!"
"She is the instrument of our destruction," Azrael said hotly.
"Or she could be our greatest weapon," Deathstroke countered.
"Claire, could you use your chronal technology to build a device to hurl people into the future? Say a full thousand years from now?" Trevor inquired.
"That theoretical application of my equipment is a potential Booster warned me about but it would require repurposing and redesigning it to an industrial scale," Claire explained.
"Good, you just volunteered to do it," Trevor told her before he swung to point a finger at Azrael, "And I don't want to hear another damn word about it."
"What's so damn important about my research?" Claire finally had had enough.
"It's starts with Tessa Richardson," Trevor told her, "But let's talk privately."
"This is a mistake," Azrael warned Deathstroke.
"I agree to a point. No one can be allowed to follow her work," Slade said.
"Do you mean…?" Rose hesitated.
"When her work is done, you may fulfill your mission," Deathstroke promised Azrael.
"The Order can live with those terms," Azrael promised.
"Well…this is homey," Killer Frost commented on seeing Godiva's suite inside the Dome.
"It rather resembles my old Parisian apartment," Godiva admitted, "The engineers arranged for a similar square footage and layout."
"It certainly beats my piss poor room at the Hall of Doom hands down," Killer Frost said ruefully, "What's it take to get a luxury room like this?"
"I'm a senior member of the JLI and a founding member of the Global Guardians before that," Godiva shared, "But Frost…"
"Please, it's just Louise," Killer Frost reminded her.
"What are you really after here?" Godiva wondered.
"Being with you is like a dream come true but beyond that I'm not sure," Killer Frost confessed, "Even in the Legion I'm treated like a freak. But here, despite no one trusting me at all, they treat me like a normal person. It's kinda addictive."
"Trust is earned," Godiva warned her, "But basic human kindness and respect are due you simply because you are human and are alive. Aren't you?"
It took a moment for Killer Frost to realize the twinkle in Godiva's eye indicated a rhetorical question. Godiva added, "Anything above and beyond these basic allowances will be earned by your behavior and displayed trustworthiness."
Killer Frost took a seat in a stuffed chair, "Which is true of relationships of all kinds. I'm serious when I asked you out on a date. Of course, it'll have to wait until this mess is done. But I want to get to know the real you. The bits left out of the interviews. And what the hell is up between you and your sister?"
"I can start with the basics but everything else requires time…and trust," Godiva replied.
"I'm not going anywhere," Killer Frost promised.
"We'll see, won't we?" this time Godiva's question wasn't rhetorical.
Power Girl, Teth-Adam, and Adrianna Tomaz were transferred to a secure ARGUS trauma treatment center. Blackhawk was alerted and he immediately requested emergency leave to be with Galatea. The Black Marvels were looking at having to require pins and plates holding their bones together if they couldn't say their magic words to receive healing with. But Teth-Adam and Adrianna were able to at least share a room and caretakers began bringing Osiris in to visit his parents. And Ahmud Tomaz arrived as well without revealing he was now also Horus.
All of the JLA, except the missing Guy Gardner, and all of the JLD and JLI present were teleported to the Hall of Justice. Black Bat's gamble that Batwing's moral compass would break Saturn Queen's hold rather than the reverse paid off. But those JLI members held by the ISA didn't seem to have the same moral certitude. So they remained incarcerated.
Vapor was recruited to assist Sue and Ralph Dibney and Hula Hula in the operations center. Elongated Man and Vapor quickly bonded over the plight of being too severely injured to directly participate in the struggle. Killer Frost was recruited as an expert on the enemy and their intentions.
ARGUS redirected the JSA All Stars to the Hall of Justice. Sue had neglected to update Deathstroke as to the recruitment of the Injusticers. So Trevor was able to carefully observe Slade's reaction to Nyssa's intentions to ally with the JLA. Even with having served beside Slade for years, the tell was hard to spot. But Slade's reaction proved he didn't know anything about Nyssa's plans.
By that point Trevor was ready to accept nearly anyone's help. He was even warming towards Killer Frost. But Sister Lilhy's effect upon Azrael still bothered him.
Nyssa was surprised and delighted to learn about Claire's chronal research. But despite Nyssa being a hard read, Trevor could tell the al Ghul woman considered Claire to be as grave a threat to the world as the Legion. As the group leaders assembled in a briefing room, Trevor finally voiced the question on most minds.
"Where's Batman in all of this?" he had to wonder aloud.
"My sources revealed that Batman faced one of your time lost Legionnaires. And he seemed to be gravely injured afterwards. Spyral agents Dick Grayson and Plastic Man collected Batman and disappeared. Presumably to the Bat Cave given Grayson's unique knowledge of its location," Nyssa shared.
"And even ARGUS is unaware of the cave's location," Sue complained.
"I'm fully cognizant of the Bat Cave's location and its various entrances," Nyssa revealed, "Call it a family secret. And familial respect keeps me from disclosing that same secret. But I have associates who already knew Batman's hidden identity without my saying a word. So I dispatched them to the cave to determine Batman's fitness."
"The White Rabbit," Slade surmised.
"Yes, the White Rabbit is many things but she isn't a fool," Nyssa confirmed it, "She once had Batman's alter ego held captive for a number of hours. His true identity became revealed then."
Sue noted that Batman was considered the true identity in this mix, "Convenient."
"It's said you have an expert who is also from the future," Nyssa stated, "I would like to meet with her. Privately."
"I don't know if that's a good idea," Trevor replied.
"I can always parlay with Saturn Queen, Lightning Lord, and Cosmic King and come to an agreeable accommodation with them rather than the free Justice Leagues," Nyssa countered.
"You can speak with her if she agrees to it," Trevor offered.
"I'm certain you can persuade her to, Colonel," Nyssa smiled.
Trevor knew from Waller's expression Nyssa had baited this trap with Amanda's blessing.
The Hall of Justice possessed one main recreation center and a dozen smaller lounges. Nyssa was shown to one of those smaller spaces while Trevor collected Goldilocks and brought her to the al Ghul. Trevor waited outside the lounge with Goldilocks.
"You don't have to do this," Trevor reminded her, "And even if you feel you do, I'll be waiting at the end of the hallway."
"I think we both realize I do have to do this," Goldilocks said sadly, "There aren't any other choices. We can't afford to lose her or her Injusticers as allies."
Goldilocks opened the door and Nyssa waited inside, "Come in. I won't bite…much."
Goldilocks looked back at Trevor, "I'll be fine."
Nyssa's own Injusticers believed to be an ascetic, devoid of any sexual desires. Goldilocks knew the opposite to be true. Nyssa was born when her homosexuality was considered a perverse deviation. Even after Ra's al Ghul came looking for Nyssa Raatko after her internment in the concentration camps, even her own father considered her being a lesbian distorted and vile.
So Nyssa had spent the decades afterwards suppressing her desires and choosing lovers with great care and relying upon their discretion. No one knew how much of her appetites were known to the League of Shadows or to her own sister, Talia. Nyssa herself knew Ra's mind was within Talia's body so "she" knew everything he ever had which included her homosexuality. And s/he had still given Nyssa the family name and the title the Demon's Hand.
But Nyssa didn't just give her heart away even in the face of a more tolerant society. Goldilocks knew these things because Lightning Lord and Cosmic King had used Goldilocks as eye candy while they raped Nyssa over and over again until she died from the injuries from it. But the duo had left the dying Nyssa with Goldilocks and Nyssa had poured her heart out to her fellow slave.
So Goldilocks knew that Nyssa would find her one true love in this struggle and that Nyssa would give her access to her rejuvenated Lazarus Pits to heal wounds sustained before the Legion's campaign began. And the nature of the Lazarus Pit would indeed restore her lover's vitality but it would make it so when Saturn Queen took over the woman's mind, the bloodlust would consume her soul and Nyssa would be forced to kill her in order to liberate her. An act which would break Nyssa.
Goldilocks witnessed as Nyssa laid her bow down on a nearby couch. Her short sword joined it as well as the combat knife she kept sheathed across the small of her back. But it amused Goldilocks to see Nyssa retaining her quiver full of arrows. Arrows which Nyssa didn't need a bow to kill her with.
"I believe you and your hair now hold the advantage," Nyssa motioned towards the card table in the center of the room.
They sat opposite each other. Goldilocks sighed, "You want to know the future. Sorry but my history has already been erased. Events have gone to shit and I'm really uncertain over what's to happen next."
"How so?" Nyssa asked.
"Power Girl wasn't supposed to be neutralized. The Black Marvels weren't supposed to be crippled. Col. Trevor is supposed to be dead and we're supposed to be led by Batman with you and Deathstroke serving as his lieutenants. The JLA was supposed to rally the survivors of the Legion's campaign against the world's super teams into a global resistance."
"Only now, Trevor lives and Batman may have died," Nyssa saw the predicament.
"Yes, the world has gone to shit again and my coming here was bloody useless," Goldilocks griped.
"Yet you managed to kill two Legionnaires on your own," Nyssa pointed out.
"I'm never living through that hell again," Goldilocks snarled.
"You won't have to," Nyssa promised, "If plans prosper then you will never afterwards. And if plans fail, I'll kill you myself so you won't have to endure the nightmare a second time. And I'll kill Godiva as well so she won't be forced to endure it either."
Goldilocks gave a grateful look but she still hesitated. Nyssa noticed, "You can feel free to speak your mind."
"Don't put Black Canary in a Lazarus Pit. You'll regret it for the rest of your life," Goldilocks warned her.
Nyssa just blinked at her and Goldilocks added, "It will be costly in the most personal terms. Far more than never healing her throat."
Nyssa stared at Goldilocks wondering how the younger woman had deduced Nyssa's admiration for Dinah Drake Lance even existed, "Please…please send Col. Trevor in here."
"Just remember what I said," Goldilocks urged as she departed.
"How could I ever forget?" Nyssa murmured as she gathered up her personal weapons again.
Trevor walked in while Nyssa was finishing up, "Did you want something?"
"I believe it's time for Director Waller's suggestion that unit and department heads gather and begin to formulate a strategy."
"Amanda and Sue are gathering technical details from Claire Connelly. Gwen Cormaugh is assisting them from the ISA's technical base," Trevor stated, "Slade is up to something. Hula Hula contacted agents Morgan and Penny and relayed Katherine Webb-Kane's amended directives. Lady Blackhawk is delivering Morgan to Spyral's headquarters beneath Hartford. Penny is holding out with the GCPD waiting for Plastic Man to reappear. Support Services has collected Plas and Penny's infant son and brought him to an ARGUS day care in Queens."
"Has Waller decided whether or not to allow Batman into our collaborative effort?" Nyssa asked.
"Amanda is a Batman groupie," Trevor divulged, "So he's a shoo-in. If he survived."
"Slade will want to bring the Teen Titans in as well," Nyssa shared.
"Slade has hardly had anything to do with the Teen Titans over the last six years," Trevor replied, "After Robin became Nightwing and resigned, the original Speedy became disenchanted and joined the Suicide Squad, our Donna Troy left Earth, Kid Flash graduated into being the Flash, and Cyborg left to eventually join the JLU. That left Beast Boy and Protector. Cyborg and Protector are dead. Speedy is now the same Arsenal working with Slade. Nightwing retired his costumed persona and we exiled Flash to a dimension called the Night Force. He won't be coming back from that trip anytime soon."
"Still, it's a special request from his daughter, Rose," Nyssa smiled.
Alfred Pennyworth opened Wayne Manor's front door in a huff, "Really! The doorbell will continue to function with or without you incessantly ringing it."
"You must be Alfred;" Jaina Hudson smiled warmly, "Bruce has said so many kind things about you."
Alfred was completely flustered, "I say, where are my manners, Miss…?"
"Hudson, Jaina Hudson," her smile grew in intensity.
"I daresay, Master Bruce seems quite smit…taken with you as well, Miss Hudson," Alfred shared.
"Can I speak with Bruce?" Jaina asked.
"I'm afraid Master Bruce is detained on business out of town," Alfred said smoothly.
"Well, considering he no longer runs Wayne Enterprises since the hostile takeover took the family business away from him, I suppose that leaves him dying down in the Bat Cave," Jaina wore a sly smile.
"Cave? I daresay there aren't any caves on the grounds," Alfred protested.
"I disagree," White Rabbit stepped out of the shadows, "Now, show us the grandfather clock."
"I must insist…" Alfred began to lie again.
"That there isn't a grandfather clock in the study hung on hinges that hide a stairwell that descends into the Bat Cave?" White Rabbit teased him, "You can tease my little tail but I'll find the clock with or without your help, Jeeves."
"Alfred," he sniffed.
White Rabbit rolled her eyes, "Sure, argue semantics while your boss is dying."
"Why are you paired with her?" Alfred pleaded with Jaina.
"White Rabbit and I were literally joined at birth," Jaina revealed, "Now, I care about Bruce and don't want to see any harm to come to him. White Rabbit is transfixed with Batman. She's been suggesting a time share between us."
Alfred looked horrified. Jaina shook her head, "Things like that are very, very common. They're just not advertised."
"Can you honestly help Master Bruce?" he asked Jaina.
"I have six years of medical schooling. I just never did my residency before my parents died. Afterwards it just seemed I could do more for their legacy that simply patch together individual patients," Jaina explained.
"Hey!" White Rabbit yelped, "If I could actually feel cold I'd be freezing my fluffy white tail off."
"Follow me," Alfred said in resignation.
They descended the stairs to come to the Bat Cave's central floor which was where the medical unit was situated. Jaina smiled, "You must be Dick. And Plastic Man as well. How…unexpected."
"Who's the rabbit?" Plas asked.
Dick drew his sidearm, "Freeze! Hands on your head!"
"Um…who is she again?" Plas wondered.
"Someone who plays all sides," Dick grated, "Who told you about all of this?"
"They already knew," Alfred said defensively while White Rabbit confessed, "Brucie told me."
"Excuse me?" Dick thought he was getting hard of hearing, "You're saying Bruce Wayne told you he was Batman."
"Well, not in so many words. But words weren't really necessary as I mapped out his body between our seven romps in bed," White Rabbit snickered, "I probably know him better than you do."
Alfred looked stunned. Jaina merely groaned, "Be that as it may. The point is, we're here to help."
"Why?" Dick wanted to know.
"Because the world needs a Batman. Especially today," Jaina told him.
"And it needs a White Rabbit?" Dick asked snappishly.
"Hey!" White Rabbit protested.
"More often than you'd think," Jaina began studying the monitors and test results that had been run on Bruce.
"How are you qualified to help?" Dick wondered.
Jaina gave her bona fides again, "It seems ten percent of the iron in his blood somehow transmuted into arsenic. Which hooking up to blood transfusions and dialysis has been purifying his blood. You saved his life. Now we look for repercussions."
She ran several cardiograms, "This isn't good."
"Why?" Alfred had to ask.
"His heart is damaged. Permanently damaged," Jaina pronounced gravely, "He could have a massive heart attack in ten minutes or ten years from now. Either way, it'll be crippling. Batman will die that day even if Bruce Wayne survives."
"Understood," Bruce said gravely from the bed he occupied, "Can I be disconnected yet?"
"Let me check," Jaina ran another blood serum analysis, "Your blood is pure enough you'd survive if you were unhooked. But Bruce, your heart can't endure a high stress load anymore."
"It won't," Bruce told her, "Dick, open locker number nine."
Inside Dick discovered a black Batsuit with a red emblem and a full face mask. Bruce explained, "That's the suit I had Azrael develop for me. It augments strength, has a cloak, and limited flight capability as well as a ballistic weave protection. Now open weapons locker number thirteen."
Dick found the latest generation batarangs inside of it, "These are…different."
"The suit had a storage pouch and dispenser on the back modeled after your Nightwing suit. But the dispenser archives batarangs by capability and delivers them based upon the inputted requirements," Bruce explained while Jaina and Alfred disconnected all the IVs.
"Thank you, Dick," Bruce said as he took the Batsuit from his original protégé. Dressing behind a curtain he emerged moments later and there was a collective gasp from everyone but White Rabbit.
"Yummy!" she practically hummed.
Batman loaded the batarangs and then touched a control located inside his wrist. The new Batmobile activated and began to float. Even Dick was amazed.
The cabin hatch slid forward and Batman mounted the vehicle and got in. Strapping in, he gazed out at White Rabbit, "Coming?"
"In more ways than one!" she thrilled at his invitation.
Hopping behind him she waved at Jaina, "Don't wait up!"
The Batmobile flew out of the cave. Dick plugged his phone into the Bat Computer and received all of his text messages since he went off grid. He was disappointed by them.
"Plas, you and Penny have been terminated from Spyral's employ. Hula Hula resigned over it and now he's with ARGUS at the Hall of Justice. Penny is waiting for you at GCPD headquarters. Need a guide out?"
"Just straight down the cave, right?" Plas wondered.
"I'll arrange for the exit to open for you," Dick promised.
Plastic Man transformed into a helicopter and flew out of the Bat Cave. Dick went to the visible display case hanging one of his spare Nightwing outfits. Checking weapons lockers he found a cache of wingarangs. So he donned the costume and Nightwing was reborn.
"I'll be borrowing the original Batmobile," Nightwing announced as he boarded and activated the vehicle. Then it roared out of the cave.
Alfred gripped Jaina's shoulders, "Come, dear. All that's left to us is the waiting."
"He's going to kill himself," Jaina whispered before she'd consent to moving.
"That has been a possibility for years," Alfred sadly acknowledged, "But as today proves, Master Bruce is a survivor."
"Are you certain Bruce Wayne even really exists?" Jaina asked the question that had been plaguing her lately.
The new Batmobile landed behind the Hall of Justice. Question led Huntress, Starling, and Bat-Girl out to investigate. Question quickly deduced Batman had simply upgraded his vehicle and attire. No one knew what to make of White Rabbit but Batman continually insisted she come with him. White Rabbit just seemed deliriously happy to accompany Batman.
Batwoman lingered outside the conference room where the planning session was underway, "I heard you had a rough time of it. Glad to see you're still with us."
"How are Spoiler and Azrael?" Batman had placed them both under Batwoman's supervision.
"Catwoman has Spoiler on a mission in Monte Carlo," Batwoman answered, "Azrael is being…problematic."
"I'll deal with it," Batman promised before he led White Rabbit into the conference room. Conversations ended.
"I understood you were injured," Trevor broke the silence.
"I got better," Batman said tersely.
"And we're all happy you did," Waller said gratefully. Sue and Hula Hula were more than happy to greet Batman's arrival. Deathstroke grudgingly gave him respectful acknowledgement. And Nyssa…even Nyssa looked pleased to see him and the White Rabbit.
"Hula Hula, escort the rabbit out of the room," Waller instructed.
"She stays," Batman, Nyssa, and Slade said in unison.
Waller looked slapped, "Very well then. Back to business. Why the Teen Titans?"
Slade had his helmet resting on the table, "Because Rose wants them. And after her judgment call with Horus, I think she has an eye for these things."
"Literally," White Rabbit snickered.
Slade gave her a weary look.
"Sorry. Family joke," White Rabbit remarked.
Sue and Hula Hula struggled to maintain their composure. Even Trevor was enjoying the irreverence. Nyssa got them back on track.
"So are you suggesting we dispatch one of your Titans to San Francisco?" she inquired.
"Rose has a tentative relationship with the Teen Titans after working alongside some of them. She may be indirectly responsible for Speedy joining the JLA," Deathstroke pointed out, "But Rose is inclined to go alone. She thinks greater numbers may antagonize the teens."
"That's because they're undisciplined and will present themselves as a hazard to our force," Waller argued.
"Slade's proposal has merit," Nyssa countered.
Sue and Hula Hula concurred. Trevor voiced his support, "We simply need the manpower."
"The Titans are undisciplined but their leaders aren't," Batman summarized, "Send Ravager."
"I also propose we recruit an associate of mine who is based much closer to us," Nyssa spoke up.
"Who?" Waller wanted to know.
"Poison Ivy," Nyssa stated.
"Yay Ivy!" White Rabbit enthused.
"Do it," Batman decided.
"This isn't a democracy and no one placed you in charge," Waller grated.
"Let's pretend it is a democracy," Trevor suggested, "Any nominations for group leader?"
"Batman," Nyssa quickly spoke up.
"I agree," Slade put in.
"I nominate myself," Waller threw out there.
"I endorse Batman," Sue shared.
"I'm with the majority on this one," Hula Hula admitted.
"I vote Batman as well," Trevor added.
"Is there a doubt how I'll vote?" White Rabbit wondered.
"Fine," Waller sulked, "Batman is in charge."
"I assume Ravager is standing by, ready to deploy," Batman guessed.
"She's just awaiting clearance to depart," Slade told him.
"Tell the teleport control personnel she has clearance," Batman instructed. Then he turned to Nyssa, "How soon can you be ready?"
"Now," she told him, "And for the record, I'm glad my sister's plans for you failed. Your escape may insure humanity's right to self-determination."
"We need to talk when you return regarding your own plans for the future," Batman warned her.
"Yes, it should prove…enlightening," Nyssa agreed.
"The rest of you, I need a rundown on our available assets and personnel," Batman told them.
"I have the manifests prepared and right here," Sue handed the tablet computer over, "That incorporates the arrivals of the Teen Titans and Ivy."
Batman almost smiled. Almost.
Ravager teleported just outside the outer fence of the Teen Titans' compound. Rather than seek an entrance, she simply leapt atop the ten foot wall and vaulted over to the inner courtyard. From her position she could make out several breaches in the fence and even one in the compound walls.
Inspecting the breech, she quickly deduced that the hole was monitored by a network of lasers and probably a few IR and UV sensors. Deciding making a ruckus was in her best interest, Ravager sprinted through the hole. Alarm klaxons began to sound all throughout the building.
Knowing she only had seconds before Bart Allen arrived, she ducked inside a janitorial closet. She heard the staccato of Kid Flash's running feet. Then, after inspecting the now deserted hole, he ran in the opposite direction.
Ravager listened in while the Teen Titans responded. Superboy and Wonder Girl were sent outside to scout the surrounding area. Red Hood and Miss Martian secured the breech itself.
"I sense a mind. A highly focused and disciplined mind yet there is chaos underneath the iron walls of resolve. It is unlike any mind I have encountered here on Earth," M'gann told Red Hood.
Solstice, Bunker, and Skitter manned the security station. Skitter was still fully human and Bunker would buy her the time she needed to transform. Fairchild had secured the lab while Red Robin and Kid Flash patrolled the corridors.
Finally Red Robin came to inspect Red Hood and Miss Martian's protection zone a little more thoroughly. Kid Flash was well known to overlook key details. Red Robin opened the janitor's closet and hands with an iron grip pulled him into the darkness.
Red Robin found a mouth clamped onto his and a tongue doing enchanting things with his. Miss Martian opened the door and turned on the light while Red Hood aimed weapons at the occupants, "You!"
Ravager let Red Robin go but she wore a delighted grin, "Yes, me."
Kid Flash suddenly arrived, "Hmm…I never thought about looking in there."
The Teen Titans gathered around their conference table with Ravager. Rose had her mask off. She could overhear Wonder Girl and M'gann whispering about the compromising position Red Robin had been found in. Rose distinctly spotted how miserable Fairchild looked. Which Ravager didn't mind at all. She'd always despised Caitlin.
"I always thought you one sided mask bit was a trick," Kid Flash was utterly fascinated by Rose's eye patch, "I guess it isn't after all."
Solstice barely kept from face palming over that remark. Ravager just smirked, "Anyone have a real question?"
"What exactly were you doing with Red Robin in the janitor's closet?" M'gann asked.
There was a collective groan as Rose chuckled, "You really are a Martian, aren't you?"
Miss Martian scowled, "I don't see where that has any bearing on anything."
Red Robin was silent and no one was assuaging Fairchild's bruised feelings. M'gann wasn't certain she approved of this behavior. But M'gann had sensed Red Robin held affections for someone other than Fairchild before. Now she knew who the someone really was. And she wasn't certain she approved of that either.
"Why are you here?" Wonder Girl asked, "Why now?"
Red Robin obviously approved of the line of inquiry. Rose knew he was playing damage control but she still sullenly wondered who the hell's business was it what they did together inside a closet or not? But for his sake, she held her tongue.
"I need your help," she admitted, "Technically, we need your help."
"Who counts as 'we'?" Red Hood asked. Ravager already knew Jason Todd was under the helmet so he'd removed it.
Rose listed all the parties concerned. Then she described the enemy. Finally she summarized Claire's plans.
"I can't stress how much I…we…need you on our side," Ravager declared.
"We'll do it," Red Robin volunteered everyone.
"What?" Red Hood protested, "She jams her tongue down your throat and now you'll do anything she says? What happened to our usual idiotic voting?"
"The majority will vote to go with Ravager," Red Robin predicted.
"Let's find out," Red Hood called for a vote. Only Fairchild and Solstice sided with Red Hood. The other seven felt compelled to go to the Hall of Justice and unite with what might be tantamount to the greatest hope for human freedom.
"You have to learn how to gauge the mood of your teammates," Red Robin suggested.
"Grab anything you'll need and meet me in the courtyard," Rose instructed, "The teleport network can't grab us inside the building."
Red Robin stayed with Rose as everyone returned to the dorms to pack.
"Aren't you going to pack up?" Rose asked him.
Red Robin reached beneath the table and dumped a back pack on it, "I keep this handy just in case."
"You didn't seem surprised to see me or that I was the one in the closet," Rose pointed out.
"I've been expecting a reunion ever since we left things…dangling," Red Robin confessed, "And I remembered how you smelled…and tasted."
"Beryl, you'll make a girl blush," Rose teased him.
"It'll take a lot more than that to make you blush, Rose," he replied.
"We've hardly met and yet I seem to know you like I've spent a lifetime with you," Ravager sighed.
"It's the same way with me," Red Robin shared, "Despite having virtually no contact when we were both at NOWHERE."
Rose seemed to soften as she stated, "You never asked why I came."
"You're afraid that if the Teen Titans don't join up with this mega-force then we'll be killed," Red Robin explained, "Specifically for you, that I'll be killed."
"Damn, you do know me," Ravager muttered.
"Our last meeting left a lot to be desired," Red Robin recalled, "It left a helluva lot to be desired. And it created a lot of desire."
Rose did manage to blush at the recollection of fantasies she'd had about Beryl Hutchinson. Red Robin looked more than a little frustrated at that point, "But your father still stands in our way."
"Meaning he won't let you join my Titans and he'd disown me if I join yours," Ravager said inconsolably.
"That pretty well sums things up," Red Robin confirmed it.
"There's a third path," Rose suggested, "We run away together and become independent operators. Lots of people would pay for our muscle."
"I appreciate the thought but the goal is too nebulous for me," Red Robin tried to let her down easy.
"Why do you have to be such a pain in my ass?" Ravager groaned.
"Let's talk about this later," Red Robin requested, "The others are returning."
Unbeknownst to either of them, Miss Martian had been invisible and within earshot for some time now. She'd heard Red Robin's accent change and then Ravager had even revealed his true identity. And now she finally understood the bond, and the struggle, between them. M'gann wanted to help but she needed to learn more before she could.
Plas flew to the Hall of Justice has a helicopter again. Penny was his sole passenger. They were quickly sworn in as ARGUS agents and members of the JLA. Penny was added to the flight crew of the Invisible Jet. It was arriving at LexCorp Air outside Metropolis within twenty minutes. Penny hated to leave right after being reunited with her husband and son. Waller compromised and let Penny take her son on the flight line to inspect the plane.
"I know you're here, Nyssa," Ivy's voice responded to her arrival through the arboretum. Nyssa still stood at the entrance.
Plants parted and cleared a path for Ivy to walk through. Nyssa gave her the League of Shadows' traditional salute, "I wish I could be here under better circumstances."
"I hear Gotham is weathering another storm," Ivy stroked the petals of mutated lilies, "There were even descriptions of your merry band. But what does any of that have to do with me?"
"Because the Legion won't let you simply sit it out. They'll force you to choose a side. Saturn Queen can't reprogram your hybrid mind and Luthor can't afford to kill you," Nyssa shared, "So they'll find alternative means to persuade you to join the cause."
"Meaning Harley," Ivy was distrustful, "Jaina promised the 'New Life' program was perfect."
"Nothing is ever truly erased if you know what to look for and where to find it," Nyssa warned her, "And they'll force Harley to choose as well."
"How?" Ivy packed a lot of meaning in a single word.
"Luthor rebuilt Brainiac. No one knows the AI's full capabilities but there is a remote chance he could uncover everything there is to know about Harley Quinn," Nyssa warned her.
"How do you know they'd approach the problem this way?" Ivy asked.
"Because it's what I would do," Nyssa confessed.
"I take it you're not alone in this resistance, or whatever it is?" Ivy asked.
Nyssa listed the key players. Ivy groaned, "It would have to be Batman. Wouldn't it?"
"Ivy, he thinks Harley is dead. He won't ever look for her as long as he stays ignorant of her survival," Nyssa told her.
"Which he'd learn about if Luthor found her," Ivy groaned again.
"Probably," Nyssa confirmed it, "But look at it this way, if we defeat the enemy, you could make a life with Harley with no Batman ever chasing either of you again."
"We'll see," Ivy sounded despondent.
"So, you're Nightwing again," Ulla smirked.
"We'll see," Nightwing shrugged.
"Dick Grayson, I know Spyral terminated you. I know you made your choice before donning that costume again. Just be honest about it," Ulla requested.
"All right, I'm going back to being Nightwing," Dick confessed.
"What about the JLA or any other Justice League?" she had to ask.
"No, Bludhaven has plenty of crooks and very few super villains. It'll be a nice change of pace," Nightwing promised, "But our home could always use a couple of heroes. Especially when the couple is a couple."
"Are you asking me to quit the JLI?" Ulla half laughed.
"Yes," Nightwing flat out admitted it.
"Oh," she was stunned, "I have to admit, that was unexpected."
"I hated working for the UN. We barely saw each other. Even if you come home every night, that still kills a lot of time we could be spending together," Nightwing explained his rationale.
"But it's just like going to a job. With horrible hours," Ulla had to admit the last part.
"How about you take a sabbatical and we try it out," Nightwing suggested.
"For how long?" Ulla asked.
"For as long as you're comfortable with," Nightwing suddenly dropped to one knee and revealed a jewelry boxy he'd kept hidden from her, "But ultimately I was hoping for the rest of our lives."
Ulla's eyes were bulging, "Are you…? I mean, are you really…?
"My answer is 'yes', what's yours?" Nightwing looked more vulnerable than she'd ever seen from Dick Grayson.
Dick and Ulla had discussed the merits of marriage but Dick had always seemed standoffish. They hadn't even remotely broached the subject lately. And now she knew why. He'd wanted to blindside her. And he'd succeeded.
She opened the case. Inside was a a three carat pink diamond with small quarter carat surrounding white diamonds. Dick knew pink diamond settings were her favorite. She gingerly put it on and it fit.
"How…how did you size it?" Ulla wondered.
"You have more than one ring," Nightwing said dryly, "I can always wait until you have an answer."
"Get up, silly man," Ulla laughed, "I just never thought you'd ask!"
"Um…so that's a 'yes'?" he was nervous again.
Ulla wrapped her arms around him and kissed him deeply. Then she whispered in his ear, "Of course it's a 'yes'."