Chapter 24

"We're very close to Gotham," Helena's mother informed her.

"I'm detecting a boom tube opening over the water on the scanners," Helena said as she surveyed the ship's console. "Something is flying out of it that the computer doesn't recognize. It appears to be a swarm of large, robotic insects."

"I don't remember ever fighting anything like that before," her mother told her. "It must be something new one of the warlords developed."

"I can see what they are as I ride them into Gotham," Helena told her mother. Without saying anything more as a good-bye she activated her ejection seat and flew up and out of the jet. She felt the jet fly away below her as she ascended. She unbuckled herself and kicked the chair away when she reached her apex. As she fell back to Earth she rolled herself over so she fell head first and brought her arms close to her body to lessen the air resistance.

She fell through the clouds and could see the swarm of robotic insects she was heading towards. When she first spotted them they looked like tiny ants over the blue water. They quickly grew in size as she fell at terminal velocity. When she was right above them she fired an exploding arrow at one to her right. It hit the robot and he fell like an old plane that had been shot down.

As she fell past another one she shot a net arrow at one to her left. The net encircled the robot. Helena held on to the rope that extended from the net. As her weight pulled against the robot it wavered, but kept flying straight. Helena's momentum caused her to loop under the robot and fly back up. She let go of the rope and allowed her momentum to carry her over to another robot insect.

She landed on top of it and while it wavered, it, too, was able to keep flying. She pulled a wing off of it and threw it at another robot. The wing sliced the robot in two and both pieces fell to the water below. With just one wing, the insect she was riding began to descend. She jumped off it, with the force of her push off sending it spiraling down faster into the water.

She landed on another insect and tore its head off immediately. With no head to guide it the thing started flying erratically down. Helena found the last robot left intact; it was the one she had fired the net around. The net still encompassed the insect and it was losing altitude as it had trouble flying that way. Helena pushed off from the headless insect she was on and grabbed the end of the rope still attached to the net. She watched as the robot she had just been on plunged to the water below.

With her weight added to the net the insect had even more difficulty flying. It started descending slowly as they headed for the Gotham docks. They flew over a crane and Helena let go of the rope and fell on the crane. Helena watched as the insect continued to descend uncontrollably until it crashed nearby. It looked to be out of commission so Helena ignored it.

She got a running start on the crane and jumped the long distance to the nearest roof. She jumped from one roof to another until she reached inner Gotham. She jumped up to the first high rise and jumped from one roof to another.

She stopped a short ways in as she saw the airships of Apokolips flying over the city. She crouched low next to a large air duct so she wouldn't be conspicuous. She watched the airships closely, but couldn't find any pattern in how they flew or any area where they were congregating. She moved to the edge of the roof and scanned the street below and didn't see anything more than a few parademons walking around. So far, there was little fighting taking place. She wondered where her father and Dick were.

She tried to reach them on the comlink, but there was nothing out of any of them. She figured they had to be fending off the forces somewhere, and once again looked out to see if there was any particular spot the airships were converging. She figured they would be going all out against her father and Dick if they knew where they were.

Helena thought she heard a jet engine behind her and turned to see an airship coming into view as it ascended over the building. Helena had just enough time to jump up as the ship fired at the spot she had been. The explosion helped push her up in the air a little more before she started falling to the street below with a bunch of debris from the building's roof.

As Helena fell she was at a loss to explain how the ship had found her. There was no way those ships could have spotted her. She tried to think of how they could have known her location. She remembered how they had targeted the communication satellites. She knew if they had hacked one before they destroyed it, they would have gotten the information they needed to track every League member through their communications. She quickly pulled the device out of her ear and crushed it.

She pulled out her crossbow and would have fired a grappling arrow at something nearby, but she saw several ships flying towards her and firing their guns. She didn't have time to fire the arrow as she needed to use her gauntlets to deflect the bolts. Most of them missed, but the ones that hit her gauntlets were so powerful they singed her arms.

When she hit the ground she formed a huge concrete crater. Oblivious to the pain, she jumped up right away and ran as fast as she could to avoid the laser blasts. She holstered her crossbow as she ran to the cars lined up against the street. Laser blasts erupted all around her.

The first car she reached she tossed straight up and behind her to act as a shield. Several laser blasts hit it and tore it to shreds, but it served its purpose and gave Helena the time she needed to grab another car and hurtle it at the ships. It swiped one gunship and sent it spinning into another one. Both ended up being damaged so badly they couldn't fly and fell to the ground. She tossed another car and it hit a ship square in the center and sent it flying back into a building.

There was one gunship left and the blasts it fired forced Helena away from the cars. The closest object to her she could use as a weapon was a lamp post. She tore it out of the ground and tossed it like a javelin at the ship. It tore through the center and the debris fell to Earth.

All the gunships that had attacked her were eliminated, but as she kept her eyes focused on the sky she saw three large battleships converging on her position. She saw the smaller gunships flying out of the larger ones. As they began to descend she realized there were too many for even her to take out. While she hated the idea of having to run and hide, she knew there was nothing else she could do right now.

Helena ran to the nearest manhole cover and tore it off. The gunships started firing at her as she fell down the hole. Debris followed her down, but luckily the gunships weren't in position to fire straight down the hole.

She landed in shallow water and immediately started walking swiftly. She had no idea if they would send parademons after her, but she certainly saw no reason to hang around and find out. Her body still ached all over from the fall she took, but the pain was quickly subsiding. There was little light in the sewers, but it didn't matter. One of the first things her father did when she went to live with him was he revealed the secret base he had built in the sewers of Gotham. It was practically a second Batcave and was connected to the first by a tunnel that could be traveled by a high speed train car.

He taught her the layout of the sewers and showed her how she could easily reach it from any point in the city. He trained her by having her walk the sewers blindfolded so she would learn her way through sound and feeling instead of by sight.

The training was paying off now as Helena was working her way through the sewers by feeling her way along the walls. She stopped every so often to listen hard and see if she was being followed. She never heard anything so she was reasonably confident she was alone.

When she reached the area where the secret door was located she remained silent and listened for any signs someone else was around. She heard nothing so she reached up and activated the door. A large block of cement moved away from the wall and Helena slid behind it before it closed again.

The cement block was just the first door. The second door was a large metal safe door. Bruce never told anyone the combination, he was so paranoid. He always trusted his proteges to be able to use safecracking techniques to open the door. Helena listened for the clicks of the locking mechanism as she turned the knob. She got the door open and entered the dimly lit hideout.

Her father was at the computer console. She could see the video feed for the door outside and knew her father had been watching her enter. "Take your communicator out and destroy it," he said without looking back at her. "They can track us through them."

"I know," she replied as she walked next to him.

"Dick and I found out the hard way." He looked over at her scorched and debris covered body. "I guess you did as well. These forces are much more cunning than any force from Apokolips we've ever faced. "Before we realized what they were doing and destroyed our communicators we heard the clock tower get attacked and taken off line. They hit Bludhaven hard. Richie contacted us; he said he was in hiding. It was a matter of seconds before he yelled they were on top of him. The only way he could have been found like that was if they located him through his communicator. That was when we figured out everything. We tried to send out a warning, but we knew practically no one would be in range without the satellites."

Her father's voice was amazingly calm as he told her what happened. She knew he was truly feeling scared and horrified, but was doing a wonderful job of suppressing it. She still got angry at him for showing no emotion. "You said our communications were supposed to be undetectable," Helena yelled at her father in order to release that anger. She knew exactly how the invaders had pulled it off, but she still felt the need to yell at him.

"Nothing's foolproof," he replied. "Particularly to someone with the right intelligence and breath of knowledge."

Helena didn't think much about what her father had just said. She was too preoccupied with other things.

"What did you two do? How did you end up here, and where's Dick?"

Her father looked extremely dejected as he hung his head. "We fought the parademons, but they were uninterested in us. They seemed to care little about actually establishing control in the city. The thought occurred to me they were after something specific. They were waiting on you. They knew this was your city."

Helena fell silent. Even though she couldn't have known what would have happened, she felt bad about having been away from Gotham. She didn't know why she was being hunted, but she was thinking about going out and giving them what they wanted.

"Where is your mother, by the way?" her father asked her.

"From what I found it looked like the forces were trying to establish a base in Kansas," Helena replied. "Mom took the Amazon warriors and flew out there."

Her father punched the computer. "That's probably what they want."

"Why do you think that?" she asked him.

"Dick and I came back here to try and get a read on the situation. All the news networks are broadcasting everything. Whoever is leading this wants the public to see everything. They've avoided all the major military bases and have concentrated all their forces on the cities where superheroes operate. They probably realize with the superheroes out of the picture there won't be a lot of will to fight them. I believe the captured superheroes are being held at this base in Kansas. In each city with a superhero, shortly after they are reported to be captured a ship takes off and flies to the base in Kansas. I've been able to follow them on some of the Wayne satellites."

The computer in the hideout ran on old fashioned cable connections with the Wayne building it was built under. "Luckily they're not recognizing what we're doing as superhero communications."

"Any news on what is happening in Kansas?" Helena asked as she was anxious about her mother.

"No real news. There is no indication any of their operations there have been disrupted, which isn't exactly good news."

Helena was disheartened by the news, but felt her mother would be able to do something. "Where is Dick?" she asked. "You never answered that question.

Her father sighed heavily. "He took the rail car back to the Batcave so he could grab the boat. He needed to go to Bludhaven so he could check on his family."

Helena knew there couldn't be much chance of his mission succeeding. "Any word from him?" Helena asked without realizing he couldn't have contacted him. "Sorry, I forgot. How bad is it in Bludhaven?"

"A ship that probably contained Richie and Olivia left a while ago. Tanks started moving into the city to occupy it after that ship disappeared."

"What about the tanks outside Gotham?" Helena asked as she started punching up the local news on the computer. "The tanks are just starting to cross the bridges," she exclaimed. "I can still stop them."

"How are you going to do that?" her father asked as she ran to the elevator that could take her up to Wayne Tower.

She stopped in front of the elevator as the door opened. "If I can commandeer a gunship I can take out the bridges," she told him. "I know it will be a lot of property damage, but it's the best way to try and save lives."

"And what are you going to do after the bridges are down and every ship is chasing you?" he asked her. As she looked at her father's face she saw a look of concern she hadn't seen before. Her father had always seen her as invincible, but now she sensed doubt out of him about that. He was worried about her in ways he hadn't been before. "I came down here to try and find out what the situation was and formulate a plan. We can't move until we know more and have a plan in place. We may be the only two superheroes left."

What her father said made sense to Helena, but she just couldn't give up the city like that. She was shocked he was willing to let it fall. She thought about the promise they had to his parents and felt she just couldn't give up the city.

"We can't keep the forces away for long," her father said. "There's no telling how long it will take to free everyone and repel the invaders."

Helena was going to do as her father wanted, but then she thought about a communication she had found on the jet. "J'onn got a message out to the nearby star systems, didn't he?" she asked.

"Yes, I came across it," her father answered, puzzled.

"Maril and Rex had to have gotten it," she said to him, excited. "They can make it here in a day. If we can keep the city safe that long we will have the reinforcements we need to repel the invaders."

Helena ran into the elevator. Her father yelled after her as she did so. "You can't count on them to come like that. Bringing their army here would be an enormous undertaking and leave them susceptible to an attack by the Gordanians."

"They'll come here, Dad. I know it," she yelled back at him as the elevator doors closed.

Maril flew around the city, checking on one thing after another for the military's departure. After much work by both her and Rex, the troops appeared to be boarding their transports in order. The loading of supplies on the other hand, was facing some difficulties.

"Where are you taking those supplies?" she asked the driver of a hovercart loaded with boxes.

"To the main transport," he answered.

"There are more than enough supplies being loaded there. Take that to the group of ships that have amassed around the reflecting pool."

Without argument, the private turned the ship around and flew it to the reflecting pool. Maril looked around at everything buzzing around the city and hoped they could make it to Earth in time to save it. Right now the plan was to leave within an hour and start the day long journey to Earth.

Maril flew back to the palace to check on Rex and his parents. Earlier the two of them had been fighting with the military leaders on Thanagar. They were reluctant to let their forces travel to Earth and leave the planet vulnerable to Gordanian attack. Rex and Maril assured them the Gordanians would not be able to pull together a significant force in a short amount of time. They also made a compromise with the military generals on Thanagar. In order to lessen the time they would be away they would travel directly to Earth themselves, instead of to Tamaran first and then Earth. Having to rendezvous in Earth orbit would complicate their attack, but Rex and Maril were willing to take that risk.

Maril entered the palace through an open window and flew around the halls until she found Rex with his parents in the Great Hall. She landed on the ground and listened as he spoke to the generals present. There were several holographic images representing the generals who were on Thanagar. Rex was explaining to them his plans for the defense of Thanagar should the Gordanians attack in their absence. He was explaining to them that Shayera and John would be in charge in the absence of the royals. From the body language of those assembled there appeared to be little opposition to the arrangement.

Rex dismissed them and the holographic images immediately disappeared. The generals who were physically there started filing out of the room. They all seemed content with the way things were.

Rex didn't pay attention to the generals as they left as he started conversing with his parents. He seemed to be arguing with his father about the gun he had been given. When she moved closer she was able to hear what the discussion was about.

"I would be a lot more comfortable with my old M-16," Rex's father told his son. "It can kill people just as good as a laser blast."

"If you're willing to go down to the museum of Ancient History here and pull out the machine gun they have on display and see if it still works, go ahead and be my guest. Other than that, you better learn how to use this gun."

Both Maril and Shayera snickered over the conversation the two had. "Fine, I'll use the laser," John said as he relented. He looked over at Maril as he took the blaster back from his son. "I saw you snickering at me," he said with a smile to Maril. "You should know we can't all be blessed with the ability to fire lasers with our hands."

Maril smiled over her father-in-law's joke. "I'm sorry I can't lone you my hands. Maybe once the baby comes you can use it as your laser blaster."

John got a good laugh over Maril's joke, but Shayera appeared bothered by what she said. She had spoken to Rex in private about Maril going to Earth to fight while pregnant. She felt they were putting their future child in harm's way. Rex had told her how important it was for Maril to save her family, but Shayera replied they could still be saved without Maril going.

Maril wanted to tell her mother-in-law what kind of hell she was going through worrying about her family. She knew Shayera would understand given everything she went through with Rex. However, Maril knew Shayera would point out she was causing worry for them and her child by putting herself in harm's way. The conversation Maril imagined was one she knew they probably shouldn't have. Maril was going to Earth and that was final. She knew the risks and nothing would change her mind.

"I think we should go and get ready for the journey to Thanagar," John said as he started walking out of the Great Hall. Shayera stood unmoved and John motioned to her. "Honey," he said, simply. She took the hint and followed him out of the hall.

When Rex and Maril were alone Rex walked over and embraced his wife. She put her head as his shoulder as he held her tight. "One hour and we will be on our way," he said to her. "One more day and our friends and family will be safe with us."

"I can't stop thinking about them," she said into his shoulder. "Did you talk to your parents any more about why we're going? Do they understand why I can't just sit back and let everyone else to do the fighting?"

"I think they do now, particularly my mother. I told her to remember how ecstatic she was when she knew I was alive, and how much she would have given to spend just one fewer second knowing I was not dead. I think she understood then why you must go to Earth yourself."

Maril looked down at her stomach and rubbed it. "I can't help but think this is not like many of the other threats the League has faced. I am constantly having images running through my mind of my father hurt. If anything has happened to him I need to be there to see him. I need to be there to tell him the great news."

"You shouldn't worry about your father," Rex said to her as he lifted up her head. "He's with. . ." Rex stopped himself as he realized saying Bruce wouldn't comfort her. Reminding her he was with Bruce would just make her think Bruce would push her father into doing something brave, but insane. "He's with Helena," he told her instead. "You know she'll do her best to keep him safe."

Maril was heartened by being reminded her best friend would be watching over her father. "The way Helena operates, she may just have the army of Apokolips defeated by the time we get there," she said with a smile.