Vote
"There's always one"
Gotham Heights
Lashina was very happy, Clark was more than a little confused and Diana was very unhappy.
"You left Apokolips,' Clark asked. He disengaged himself from Lashina's embrace and took a step backwards. Diana took a step forwards. Lashina gave her a glance, but returned her focus to Clark.
"Yes."
"Why,' Diana asked. She was ready for any attack and wouldn't put anything past this woman. Lashina almost smiled at this and then turned and looked at Diana directly.
"You've been to Apokolips and seen what it's like," Lashina offered. "Isn't that a good enough reason?"
"Normally, yes, but not for you,' Diana replied.
"So much for that Amazon mission of peace and understand,' Lashina remarked and then turned back to Clark. "I don't expect her to believe me. I'm not even sure you will, Kal-El, but you're my only hope. Please, help me."
Lashina threw in the 'please' just to sound a little more vulnerable.
"All I ask is a second chance,' she added. She let her eyes drifted lower so she presented a more downcast image to him. Lashina didn't expect to win the 'Princess' over, but she wasn't her primary audience. She stepped a little closer to Clark, letting her shoulder droop while holding her hands in front of her.
"I don't know, Lashina, this all seems a little hard to believe,' Clark said.
She looked up at him, batting her long eyelashes, her lower lip quivering just a little bit.
"Are you saying it's too late,' she asked. "Can't someone change her ways? Is there no second chances, Kal-El?"
Diana wasn't buying any of it. She rolled her eyes at Lashina's antics and shifted from one foot to the other, still ready for a fight.
"She's laying it on a little thick, isn't she," Diana observed.
"Diana, please."
"You're not seriously thinking of believing her, are you,' Diana asked. She turned now to completely face him, not quite believe he could fall for Lashina's act. Clark looked at Lashina again and then back to Diana.
"Lashina, would you wait out here, please, Diana and I need to talk about this,' Clark said.
"I have nowhere else to go,' Lashina replied. She moved over and sat down on the couch and put her feet up on the coffee table. Clark gestured towards the kitchen and Diana nodded.
"Get your feet off my table,' Diana said as she walked towards the kitchen. "Now."
Lashina waited a beat and then slowly removed them. Clark looked at her again and then followed Diana.
Moments later in the kitchen, Diana turned, her arms cross as she looked at Clark.
"I don't trust her, Kal."
He ran his fingers through his hair, still trying to wrap his head about everything that was happening.
"I don't either, Diana,' he replied. "But what if she's being honest?"
"She's not,' Diana said. 'This is some scheme of hers. I don't know what yet, but she's up to something."
He nodded, but there was just something nagging him about this.
"Maybe, but on the outside chance she's not, I think we have to consider this,' he offered.
Diana immediately understood where this was going for him. He always wanted to see the best in everyone. While it appeared naïve to her, she knew he truly believed no one was beyond redemption. She could try and convince him this woman was different, that it was all a lie, but here in their home wasn't the place to do it.
"Then we should let the others know about it,' Diana suggested. "This isn't something we should decided right here and now. We should take her up to the Watchtower."
"Okay, I can go along with that."
Clark turned and glanced out towards the living room. He doubted Lashina's honesty almost as much as Diana did, but there was still a part of him that couldn't dismiss her out of hand. Hadn't he been given a second chance? Hadn't Scott Free and Barda escaped Apokolips? Weren't they given a second chance here on Earth? Hadn't each member of the League given second chances to people just as bad, if not worse than Lashina?
A second chance, redemption, those were powerful ideas for Clark.
Diana believed in second chances too, but what she didn't believe in was Lashina. Few people she had met in her life spawned the sort of enmity that Lashina did in Diana. She had fought her share of villains, from Ares to Cheetah, but none grated on her quite like Lashina did. With the others, there was a reason or an explanation for why they did what they did. Ares was part of Diana's pantheon and war and strife were his role, just as Aphrodite's was love. Cheetah had sold her soul to a plant-god for power and immortality, not realizing she'd be bound in eternal servitude to him. There seemed to be mitigating circumstances with all of them.
Lashina was different in Diana's mind. She did the things she did because she enjoyed them. She was cruel and vicious because she liked being cruel and vicious. She enjoyed serving Darkseid, as long as it afforded her the opportunity to inflict pain and suffering on others. Lashina was everything Diana despised. They were opposites, reflections of each other. One embraced all that was wrong, while the other tried to promote everything that was right.
Diana knew Lashina recognized it too. Even though they had limited dealings with each other up to this point, they were mortal enemies and always would be.
Diana already knew what her vote would be on Lashina's supposed second chance. She also knew she couldn't just dictate to Clark what they should do. She could tell he had some history with Lashina that she didn't know about. Lashina had made that obvious by coming to him with this. That was just another reason for Diana to despise her.
"I'll contact Jonn and have him relay what is happening to the others,' she finally said. Another idea occurred to her, one that would end this charade right here and now. "I think first, though, I should use my lasso on her. We will know right away whether she is telling the truth or not."
"I don't think she'll go for that,' Clark replied. He knew more than most about Lashina's volatility and he didn't see this working well.
"If she has nothing to hide, she has nothing to worry about."
Diana headed back out to the living room. As if to annoy her, Lashina's feet were back on the coffee table.
"I used a coaster,' Lashina offered and then slowly took them down again. Diana thought of a few choice words she wanted to say, but didn't give into temptation. Clark was right behind her, a little worried this situation could easily get out of hand.
"You say you escaped Apokolips and want a second chance,' Diana asked. "Is that the truth?"
"Yes."
"Why don't we put it to the test, then?"
With a quick spin, Diana was in her Wonder Woman costume. She uncoiled the Lasso and held it in front of her.
"This lasso burns with a magical aura of the Fires of Hestia, forcing anyone within the lasso's confines to be truthful," she stated. "Why don't we just bind you with it and see what the truth is?"
Lashina was on her feet now. In all her careful planning she had overlooked Diana's lasso. She needed to think fast, if she was going to avoid it.
"No,' Lashina said, backing up. Diana stepped forward, holding the lasso out in front of her. There was a smile on her face as she looked at Lashina.
"If you have nothing to hide, what is the problem, Lashina?"
"When I was young, I was bound against my will,' Lashina said, putting the couch between her and Diana. She knew she needed a good excuse at this moment, so she fell back on her own experiences. She would use the truth this time to avoid being forced to tell the whole truth. "In Granny Goodness' orphanage, I was bound and shackled, then beaten and tortured. I swore to myself that one day I would be strong enough so no one would ever do that to me again. I am a warrior, Amazon, I submit to no one, ever. You will just have to take my word as a warrior."
Lashina uncoiled her whips, ready to strike of Diana insisted.
"As one warrior to another, Wonder Woman, I give you warning, I would rather fight than submit."
Diana hesitated. As much as she despised her, Diana had to acknowledge that Lashina was a warrior. As an Amazon, Diana had been raised by the warrior's code. The very bracelets all Amazons wore were to remind them of their own enslavement and that they would never let it happen again. Diana's own people were warriors; they would rather fight and die than ever submit again. Diana was a warrior too. She could not ask Lashina to do something she wouldn't do. That was the warrior's code. Diana reattached her lasso to her belt.
"Very well, we will do this another way,' Diana finally said.
Lashina almost smiled at this. She'd gambled on the Amazon's sense of fair play and won. The Princess probably believed in the warrior's code, Lashina mused, how foolish.
"Okay, estrogen levels off the charts in this room,' Clark offered, trying to break the tension. "Why don't we all transport up to the Watchtower and discuss this?"
"I will go wherever you want me to, Kal-El,' Lashina offered, looking only at him.
"Oh, please,' Diana muttered, rolling her eyes.
"Right, um, ah, Jonn, three to transport up," Clark said into his communicator.
Gotham
The music was deafening and the club was packed. Dinah had spent more time in Gotham than probably anyone in her group, yet she'd never heard of this place. Constantine had brought them. Low by Cracker shouted from the speakers, as Zatanna and Shayera danced. Wally was chatting up a young woman, well more like shouting up a young woman, but he didn't seem to be having any success.
Dinah turned to see Constantine weaving his way back from the bar, holding shots in his hands. He seemed completely in his element here. He greeted Zee and Shayera and handed them both shots. Wally had been shot down, so he was called over to join them. Dinah shook her head no when they signaled to her. She just watched at they clinched glasses and downed the shots. Wally gasped, whiled the others shrieked. They all started to laugh as they were having a wonderful time.
Normally Dinah would have been right in there with them, but not tonight. She didn't' feel much like partying and hadn't even wanted to come. Zee had insisted, so Dinah thought she would give it a try. Red Flags and Long Nights by She Wants Revenge began pulsing through everything. The four of them dancing seemed to be the focus of everyone in the club and with good reason, Dinah thought. Another young man asked her to dance, but mercifully her communicator went off. Politely she turned him down and then tried cupping her hand to her ear, but it was pointless. She finally stepped outside and asked Jonn to repeat what he was saying. Dinah replied she would be there in a few minutes.
The Watchtower
Kara, Courtney and Mary were sitting in the cafeteria discussing what they were going to do when they finished their shift. Kara's idea of fun was slightly different than Mary's.
"A G rated animated movie, seriously,' Kara asked. "Only old farts and their grandkids go to those. I want to have fun. Why don't we go to Gotham and see if we can find Zatanna. I'll bet she's having fun right now."
"Gotham's dangerous,' Mary replied. "It's a bad city."
"Well, Candyland probably closed for the night, Mary, besides, bad sounds fun to me."
"Hey, there's your cousin, Kara,' Courtney spoke up, pointing towards the door. "Diana's with him and that other woman I'm not sure I know."
"That's Lashina!" Kara growled out the name. Her own experiences on Apokolips had left a rather negative impression on Kara. Next to Darkseid and Granny Goodness, Lashina was a focal point of her anger.
"From the Furies,' Courtney asked. She looked at Lashina with more respect now. "Isn't she evil or something?"
"Yes, she is,' Kara replied, her eyes angrily watching them walk by the cafeteria. The sound of a chair pushing away from the table caused Kara to turn. Mary was standing up, her hands balled up in fists. There was a wild look in her eyes.
"Let's kick her evil ass,' Mary shouted. The few people in the cafeteria turned and stared at Mary, not sure if they'd actually heard her say that. Courtney felt all the eyes on their table and was embarrassed.
"Shit, Mary, watch the fucking dirty language, would you,' Courtney complained.
Kara turned and looked at Courtney now.
"Nice," Kara said. "So you've just given up on your promise to Pat about not swearing, haven't you?"
"I thought she was going to go all psycho girl on us again,' Courtney said, trying to justify herself. "She freaked me out last time."
Mary shoved the table they were sitting at to the side and looked at them.
"So are you Nancy boys going to just sit on your fat asses all night or are we going to kick that evil bitch's ass,' Mary challenged them.
"I'm not fat,' Courtney shouted. She turned to Kara. "See? Psycho girl and here come the insults! First it was I'm a bitch, now I'm a fat ass Nancy boy!"
"Nancy boys? What the hell, Mary, that doesn't even make sense,' Kara replied. "Are we going to have to get Jonn in here again?'
"No,' Mary said softly, sitting back down. Kara looked at her two friends, wondering what the hell was going on with them.
"You should apologize, Mary," Courtney said.
"I'm sorry, you don't have a fat ass, Courtney."
"Thank you. I don't know what a Nancy boy is, so we'll let that slide."
Kara moved the table back into place and tried giving a reassuring smile to the others in the room. She turned back to Mary and Courtney as she sat back down.
"Look, I hate Lashina, but she's with Clark and Diana so it must be something important,' Kara offered. "They'll tell us when they think it's necessary, okay?"
The other two nodded.
"Screw Lashina, let's not let her ruin our night. So now, how about we head to Gotham? I heard earlier that guy Constantine was with Zee, so you know they're having a wild time,' Kara said, a big smile coming to her face.
"Wouldn't that be wrong,' Mary asked. "We're underage and shouldn't be in those sort of places."
"Could you land somewhere in the emotional middle, please, Mary,' Kara asked. "One minute it's Mary Poppins and then the next it's the Road Warrior."
The Watchtower Conference Room
Dinah had just arrived and was followed by Bruce. They were both in costumes and turned as the door opened and Clark, Diana and Lashina entered. The door was just about to close when Plastic Man slithered through.
"A meeting?" Plastic Man was all smiles as he looked at everyone and then sat down. "I live for meetings!"
"Who's that imbecile,' Lashina asked.
Dinah leaned over and whispered to Bruce,' Well, maybe she's not all bad."
"Why don't we all take a seat,' Jonn suggested. Clark moved over to his customary seat and Lashina followed him and sat right next to him. Diana held her tongue and walked over and sat on the other side of Clark. Jonn waited a moment till everyone was comfortable and then turned to Dinah.
"Where are Flash and Hawk Girl?"
"They were out with Zee and Constantine,' she replied. "They already started partying so I figured they should probably skip this meeting under the circumstances."
"How drunk were they,' Batman asked.
"On their way."
"All right, then this will have to do,' Jonn said.
"Point of order, Senor Martian,' Plastic Man said.
"Yes?"
"I think we should all introduce ourselves, just in case some of us aren't familiar with everyone."
"Is he really with your group," Lashina asked Clark. "What is he like a pet or something?"
"Lashina, that's Plastic Man and yes he's in the group,' Clark replied. "Plastic Man, this is Lashina, formerly of the Female Furies of Apokolips."
"Allegedly former,' Diana quickly added.
"Howdy-do!" Plastic Man stretched his hand across the table. Lashina just sat there looking at it for a moment. Slowly she turned to Clark.
"Your pet is starting to bother me, take it away."
"Yeah, definitely not all bad,' Dinah whispered to Bruce.
"I think that will suffice for introductions, Plastic Man,' Jonn continued. "I think we should get right to the matter at hand. Lashina, why don't you tell us all why you are here?"
She looked at Clark and he nodded. Slowly she rose to her full height and looked at each of them around the table.
"I left Apokolips and everything I had,' she started. "I came here for a fresh start. A second chance, if you will. I turned to the only one I knew would listen before judging me, Kal-El. I ask no special favors, just a chance and his protection."
"That all sounds nice, but why did you leave,' Diana asked.
"For the same reason Barda did,' Lashina replied.
"And what was that,' Jonn asked.
"I had enough. Any other questions?"
"How much do you weight,' Plastic Man asked.
"Okay, I don't believe I'm saying this, but I have to agree with the Fury,' Dinah spoke up. "Plastic Man, get out!"
"She said any other questions," he justified. "You notice she dodged it, very telling."
"Let's try and focus on the matter at hand,' Jonn interrupted.
"Can you read her, Jonn," Diana asked.
"No, she isn't letting me."
"Will you allow that, Lashina,' Dinah asked.
"No.'
They all sat there for a moment, unsure how to proceed.
'So we are just expected to take you word for all of this,' Batman finally said. "We have no way of proving anything you say. You won't let Jonn scan you to see if you're telling the truth. I imagine the same goes for Diana's lasso, too. You want us to just take your word, is that about the size of it?"
"Yes,' Lashina replied.
"Why should we," Batman asked.
"I don't care if you do or don't, human," Lashina offered. "I'm asking only one of you to accept my word. What the rest of you think of me is of no concern."
Lashina returned Batman's gaze, not flinching under his cold stare. In her mind he was no challenge to her, so all his theatrics and posing meant nothing.
"You give us no reason to believe you, Lashina," Jonn stated. "This could all be a ploy on Darkseid's part. You must realize this."
"If you believe that, you're wrong,' she replied. Her statement was actually almost the whole truth. Her plan had nothing to do with Darkseid.
"Very well,' Jonn said. "Would you mind stepping into the outside for a moment, while we discuss this amongst ourselves?"
Lashina glanced at Clark and then silently walked out of the room.
"So,' Jonn asked, looking at the others.
"How do you think she gets into the outfit,' Plastic Man said. "It looks painted on and I didn't see a zipper anywhere."
"She's right about one thing,' Diana replied. "You're an imbecile."
"Am I?" He countered. "Or are you just trying to deny that it's Kismet or Annie Get Your Gun, one of those old musicals between us?"
"No, you're an imbecile."
"Am I really? Or am I just …" Plastic Man started to say, but was cut off.
"Okay, that's enough of that,' Bruce said. "I think we have to decide what to do about Lashina. I don't trust her or believe her. I think we should lock her up in a holding cell until we know one way or another."
"I agree,' Diana immediately added.
"I'd like to challenge her to a tether ball game,' Plastic Man said.
"Okay, really, get out this time,' Dinah replied. He looked at the others and then all nodded in agreement. Turning himself into a spring, Plastic Man bounced out of the room.
"Now that he has left, what charge would we hold Lashina on," Jonn asked.
"She's been part of attacking this world many times,' Diana said. "That should be plenty to put her behind bars."
"She also represents a hostile foreign power,' Bruce added. "We have nothing but her rather dubious word to contradict that."
"Dinah, what do you think?"
"I don't know, I guess I would agree, we should probably lock her up.'
"For how long,' Clark finally spoke.
"Until we know she's sincere and not a danger to this world,' Bruce replied.
"And how will we know that," Clark asked. "In the mean time, who is going to be her jailer, you? Me? Will we take shifts coming up here to watch her?"
"You can't trust her, Clark."
"This place wasn't set up to be a jail, Bruce."
"Then there must be a jail somewhere on Earth we can put her,' Diana offered.
"Do we put her on trial? I'm uncomfortable with the idea of locking someone up indefinitely without a trial,' Clark said.
"What do you suggest,' Jonn asked.
"Let her stay here tonight, I'll take responsibility of her in the morning,' Clark suggested.
"No,' Diana said, not able to hold back. "I know you want to believe her, Kal, but you can't trust her."
"Then I'll find out,' he replied.
"That's a mistake,' Bruce said.
"Maybe, but how else are we going to find out if she really is being honest about wanting a second chance? Sitting in a cell up here isn't going to prove anything.'
"So what?' Diana asked him. "Are you going to convert the den into a guest bedroom for her?"
"I don't know yet, but I'm just asking you, Diana, all of you to trust me on this,' Clark replied. "I have all the doubts you have, but I can't dismiss the possibility that she's being truthful. If she really wants a second chance, I'm willing to give it to her."
"I'm not,' Bruce said.
"I know, I'm asking you to let me be responsible for her,' Clark offered. "I'm asking you to trust me."
He looked at each of the members sitting around the table.
"Okay, she's yours,' Dinah said.
"I'll go along with it,' Jonn added.
"Bruce?'
"I think it's a terrible mistake, but I'll trust you for now."
"Diana."
"All right, but we'll talk about this more, later," she softly said.
"Thank you all."
"So where is she going to stay tonight,' Dinah asked.
"She can stay in my quarters,' Clark said. "You can monitor her much better if she's there."
"Agreed."
Outside the Conference Room
Lashina leaned casually against the wall, waiting for their decision. She knew this was a risk, but she was gambling on two things. One was Kal-El. If she had tried an elaborate plan, he would have seen through it. By simply asking for a second chance, she had made it a matter of conscious. She knew his would always come down on the side of giving her a chance. The second thing she was gambling on was that they were all heroes. It was her experience that heroes always want to believe. Whether if was a better tomorrow, truth or just that there was good in everyone, they all wanted to believe it.
She glanced down the hallway and saw some of the other members looking at her. It spoke to who these people were that she hadn't been thrown into chains the moment she arrived. If the situation was reversed, she had no doubt they all would be in dungeons on Apokolips suffering torture at Granny or Desaad's hands by now. No, it was that belief they had that would win her the day.
The door slid open and she turned to see Kal-El exit, followed by the others. She immediately shifted, as if nervous about what they would say.
"All right, Lashina, you get your chance at a second chance," Clark said. "I'll show you where you're staying tonight."
"I'm not staying with you,' she asked.
"No, not tonight."
She didn't like that, but decided not to push it at this point. She'd managed to make it over the first hurdle and there would be time for the rest.
'All right, whatever you say, Kal-El."
Gotham
There was a look of shock on Mary's face, a look of wonder on Courtney's and a look of excitement on Kara's as they stood just inside the entrance of the club. 911 is a Joke by Public Enemy was just finishing and the DJ followed it up with Jump Around by House of Pain. The music seemed to assault them from all sides. A man painted silver bounced by tossing glitter in the air. The very floor seemed to bouncing under their feet.
"I don't think we should be here,' Mary nervously said.
"I know, let's dance,' Kara shouted and started pulling her two friends through the crowd towards the center of the dance floor.
"Kara, that last song didn't present a very good message,' Mary protested.
"A little less Mary Poppins and more Road Warrior, Mary,' Kara replied.
"What?"
"Just fucking dance, Mary,' Courtney shouted.
"You really do suck at that promise thing, don't you?'
"Shut up and dance!"
The three joined in, merging with the crowd. The whole club was a madhouse. As they continued to dance, they spotted Zatanna and Shayera.
"Hi, Miss Zatara and Miss Hol,' Mary shouted and waved.
"Jeez, Mary, at least try and play it cool, will you,' Kara shouted at her. "We're not supposed to be here, remember?"
It was already too late; Zee and Shayera had seen them. They made their way across the dance floor to them.
"How did you three get in here,' Shayera demanded.
"Yes, good question,' Zee added, though she seemed a little distracted. "I thought Constantine was getting shots?"
"Focus, Zee, focus,' Shayera reminded her.
"Right, right,' she replied and then turned her attention to Kara and the others. "You shouldn't be in here."
"We're just dancing,' Kara offered.
"Oh, well, than have fun,' Zee said and started to turn away. Shayera grabbed her arm and pulled her back.
"No, no, as senior members it's our responsibility to set good examples for these three,' Shayera said.
"Really,' Zee asked.
"Yes."
At that moment, Wally came bouncing over.
"I got digits! Read them and weep!"
"Are they from a woman,' Zee asked.
"Yes, there from a woman!"
"A real woman, Wally or one of the girls on the TV again,' Zee said with a smirk.
"Hey, that was your friend, Constantine's fault,' Wally shouted. "He told me it was a camera here in the club and that she was into me!"
"Did someone mention my name,' Constantine said. He was carrying more shots and passed them out. "And who do we have here?"
"Don't even think about it, Constantine, they're all too young,' Shayera shouted. "Cheers!"
"Here's looking up your old address," Wally offered.
"Les Paul,' Zee shouted and then they all did another shot. Shayera just finished swallowing when she noticed Kara, Courtney and Mary were staring at her. She looked at her shot glass and then at the three.
"Okay, what the hell, have fun," she said. "But no drinking!"
She turned and joined Zee, Wally and Constantine, who were already dancing.
Gotham Heights
Clark and Diana walked back into the house and sat down on the couch. He didn't even mention that she was sitting too close. Diana had changed back into the outfit she wore to the show and was fiddling with her necklace.
"You said earlier, you wanted to talk,' Clark offered.
"I still don't agree with you on Lashina,' Diana replied.
"I didn't mean about her, before that."
"Oh."
"You were pretty angry at me,' he said.
"Yes."
"You hit me."
"Yes."
"You also kissed me."
Diana didn't answer this time.
"It was a really good kiss,' Clark told her.
"Thank you,' Diana replied, just a little smile coming to her lips.
"So what's going on, Diana?"
"I don't know."
"Were you mad because we didn't go together or how I acted at the theater?'
"Both, I guess."
"You said you understood."
"I did, but it still bothered me,' she admitted. "You seem to go out of your way with the whole stumbling act."
"Okay, I might have laid it on a little thick," he said. "I'm sorry, I guess I wanted you to see it and understand."
"Is that why you flirted with Shayera, Dinah and Zatanna,' she asked.
"I wasn't really flirting with them."
She just gave him a look.
"Okay, maybe a little flirting, but it was harmless."
"I didn't like it."
"It sounds like you're a little jealous,' he asked.
She didn't answer right away.
"Maybe a little bit,' she finally said.
"So is that the only reason you were so mad at me,' he said.
"No, I don't know,' she replied. He could see there was something on her mind.
"What's going on, Diana? Something's the matter, isn't it,' he gently asked.
"Yes, but the problem is, I don't know,' she replied.
"What do you mean?"
"Everything feels out of control,' she softly said. "I've never felt like this before. I've never felt angry and jealous. I find myself flying off the handle at the slightest thing. It's all so confusing. One minute I want to hit you and the next…"
Diana trailed off and just sat there.
"And the next,' he asked.
"I want to kiss you."