Chapter 35

As time passed Bruce could feel himself getting stronger. He could feel his body temperature return to normal, and he became rehydrated as the IV flowed through his veins. His head was all wrapped up in blankets and he started to unwrap them so he could move his head around and see what was going on in the Batcave.

He knew his wife was next to him as he had been able to hear her heart monitor beeping. It was beeping steadily so he knew she was okay and stable. He wanted to see her so he had a visual reference for understanding how she was hurt.

He pulled the blankets off his face and was able to look over at her. She looked to be sleeping peacefully. She was covered with sheets so that Bruce couldn't see the wounds Helena had been talking about. The color of her skin looked good, a sign she was relatively healthy.

Diana must have felt his eyes on her because she opened hers and looked over at him. "I'm so glad to see you're okay," she said to him. "I was afraid you were going to die in that pool."

Bruce had no idea how Diana had come to be injured. Given the timeline and her statement now that she thought he was going to die the thought occurred to him she might have been overtaken by Lash when she tried to save him. She should have let him go and worried about Lash, but unlike him, and maybe Helena, she wasn't that heartless. She often served as a decent foil in that regard, but this time that attitude almost killed her.

"I think I'm just about healed," he said as he continued to push the blankets off himself. He wanted to get out of bed and inspect his wife. He just had to know more about her condition.

"Now hold on, Bruce," she pleaded with him. "Hypothermia isn't that easy to recover from, especially at your age. There is no reason for you to get up and out of that bed. You need more rest."

"I know I'm okay," he said as he pushed himself to sit-up. He felt a little lightheaded and had to fall back on the bed.

Diana knew her husband was fighting to get out of bed so he could check on her. She wanted him to get some more rest and figured he might be placated if he could touch her and just feel she was okay.

"I'm okay, Bruce," she said as she stretched her hand out towards his bed. Take my hand and feel it.

Bruce did as she requested and held it tightly. Her hand felt warm to him, and he could feel the blood pumping through it. Both were good signs that she was okay and not close to dying.

For Diana, there was comfort in holding her husband's hand. She was able to feel his temperature was normal. She smiled at him and he smiled back at her.

They both heard someone come into the Batcave and saw their daughter walking by with the Atom. They both figured he was here to aid with Superman. Helena smiled at them and giggled when she saw the two of them holding hands in the manner they were.

She walked past them to lead Atom to Superman's room. She was back a few moments later to tend to the two of them. She had the canister of clay with her and opened it to reveal it was full.

"Do you need me to turn on my back?" she asked her daughter.

"No, you're actually better off like this," Helena answered.

Helena pulled back the sheets from her mother's body and Diana closed her eyes so she wouldn't have to watch everything her daughter was doing. She winced a little in anticipation of pain every time she felt her daughter's hand rubbing clay into one of her wounds. Diana was surprised to find there was little pain. She soon started relaxing as she could feel the wounds begin to close. Bruce was rubbing her hand, making his presence felt and soothing her.

Helena's hands felt like they were trembling as she applied the clay to her mother. Diana figured she was nervous for her health. She hoped her daughter could notice the wounds getting better and would understand she was going to make a full recovery.

Helena was done in a short time and Diana could hear her put the lid back on the canister. She opened her eyes to inspect herself and could see the wounds were still there, but the skin around them was regenerating. She rubbed Bruce's hand with her thumb as a sign she was okay.

Diana was a bit surprised when Helena started checking over her father. She checked all his monitors then detached them all. She pushed him over to one side of the hospital bed. This forced Bruce and Diana to let go of each other's hand. Helena then walked back around to Diana's bed. She picked her up and carried her over to Bruce's bed, placing her gently beside her husband. The two of them quickly embraced each other. Diana felt much more at ease holding Bruce in her arms and having him do likewise.

Helena grabbed some IVs that included sedatives. She hooked them both up, then pulled the blankets around them and kissed them each on the forehead.

"I love you guys," she said to them. "Get some rest." She wrapped the blankets tight around them before she left them alone. She knew it wouldn't take long for the sedatives to work. Once they were out , she could sneak in and grab the Kryptonite in its vault.

Now that Bruce and Diana were next to each other they concentrated on holding each other and trying to offer the other comfort. They had both noticed something about the way Helena told them she loved them, but neither one said anything about it to the other.

As Helena walked up the stairs and away from her parents she started thinking again about the plan she had for killing Lash. Earlier, when she had been applying the clay to her mother she had been trembling as she thought about what her death would do to them. When she reached the top of the stairs she looked back and surveyed the Batcave. She could see into the room where Superman was being tended to. Lois was wiping dust off his nose and into a lead box. Apparently Atom was succeeding at pulling the dust out of Superman's lungs.

Helena walked out into the hallway and found it quiet. It was a stark contrast to the chaotic environment she had found when she had been up here in the afternoon. She figured almost everyone would be asleep with night falling, and she was glad as it would give her a chance to inspect things unnoticed.

She walked down to the room that was serving as the hospital ward and peaked inside. All the patients in the beds were clearly asleep. Any family members keeping vigil by their bedsides appeared to be asleep in their chairs as well. She walked all the way in and started inspecting the room.

It appeared to Helena half the League was in beds while the other half was keeping vigil by the injured. Luckily, no one looked to be near death. Helena saw so many close friends injured she couldn't quite summon enough emotion to be sad for all of them.

As she walked around she took note of how few superheroes there were in good health. While most of the injured superheroes appeared well enough to eventually make a full recovery, they were certainly not going to be in fighting condition any time soon. She was one of the few who was healthy enough to go after Lash before he could put his plan into motion. She took a deep breath as she realized what she was going to have to do.

Helena soon found herself in front of Connor's bed. His mother was sitting in a chair, but draped over his body. She looked sound asleep. The readouts on all of Connor's machines showed him to be stable.

Helena started taking a closer look at the readouts. Her motions woke his mother, who sat back and noticed Helena.

"It's so good to see you, Helena," she said in a soft voice.

Helena wasn't sure what she meant by what she said. "I had some work to attend to," she replied. "Clean up from the invasion, that sort of thing."

"I understand completely," Dinah replied. "I wasn't trying to say I thought you should have been around here by his bedside. Olivia filled me in on everything."

"I'm sorry I thought-" Helena tried to say.

"Don't worry about it. This fight has thrown off us all." She looked around the hall. "I should check on my husband," she said as she walked to his bed. Helena understood immediately she had been looking for a reason to leave the two of them alone.

Helena was thankful for the time. She took a look at her fiancé, clearly understanding this would be the last time she ever set eyes on him. While she wished she could talk to him one last time, she knew if he was awake and alert he would ask too many questions about what she was going to do.

She still wanted to talk to him one last time and sat down and began whispering in his ear. She told him what she was going to do and that she was sorry for what it might do to him. She grabbed her engagement ring out of her utility belt and found his hand and put it in their. She closed his fingers around it as she finished talking to him. She made sure to place his hand on the bed so it wouldn't fall off.

She moved away from him and looked around to see if anyone had been watching her. There was no one awake around her. She leaned over and kissed him. When she broke it off she lingered in front of his face and took him in one last him. She ran her fingers along his face, feeling it one last time.

When she stood up she looked around and noticed Dick still in his corner. Barbara wasn't by his beside, but Maril was asleep in the armchair next to his bed. The twins were lying in her lap and asleep as well. She walked over to speak with her friend. She realized she was going to need help on her mission and Maril was one of the few people she could get to go along with her without asking too many questions.

She walked up to Maril and began having second thoughts about what she was about to ask. First, the girl was pregnant and Helena didn't want to put her and her baby in danger like that. Second, she would be lying to her about what she had planned, and once everything was over Maril was sure to feel betrayed and maybe even distraught over what she helped Helena do. She changed her mind once again when she remembered what was at stake; if they didn't stop Lash no one would be alive. Any cost of their mission seemed inconsequential in comparison to that.

Helena's presence was enough to cause Maril to wake. "Helena, you're back," she said with a groggy voice. "Did you accomplish everything you needed to?"

"Of course, I wouldn't be back if I hadn't finished my mission. You should know that about me?" Helena looked at the sleeping twins. "We should get those two to bed so they might be more comfortable."

Helena grabbed Harriet and lifted her up. Maril moved James around so she could carry him as she stood. "They slept in the room across from mine, last night," Helena explained. "We should take them back there."

The two of them walked the twins up to the room in silence. The girls put them in their bed and then quietly walked out and silently shut the door behind them. "We should talk in my room," she said to Maril. They went inside and Helena closed the door behind them.

"What's going on?" Maril asked her. "A lot of the League is a little concerned by the secrecy of your parents and Superman. They are all wondering what is happening. They know the invasion force left and Earth appears safe for now, but they can't quite believe it's all over."

"It's not over, not by a long shot," Helena began. "And my parents aren't the ones being secretive, I am. In case you haven't been told yet, this invasion was led by a son that Superman bore with Lashina in Apokolips. He was after something specific that required him to take Superman to the Fortress of Solitude. My parents followed them there and I followed them. I don't know all the details of the fight they had there, but each of them was near death when I reached them. Lash escaped, but I brought them here and they are healing up now."

"My God, Helena," Maril said. "You must be going through so much."

"I'm fine," Helena said in an angry tone. She was a bit offended Maril would imply she would be distressed over everything. Her friend should have known she was stronger than that.

"I've kept the condition of my parents and Superman secret because I don't want the rest of the League, or the world, to panic. I've been out on my own trying to figure out what Lash is up to, and I know his plan. He is working in league with Brainiac and I found a small piece of him that had been left behind. I used the Jor-El computer to find out they have discovered the anti-life equation. With it they can destroy all of creation, but still save themselves. They will be gods in whatever universe comes after ours."

"We have to tell everyone," Maril almost screamed. "I can take my army and we can march to Apokolips."

"I don't think an all out assault like that is the way to go," Helena said. "I think a small number of us can make a precision strike to take out the machine they have and cripple their ability to build another one. A large scale battle will be chaotic. I have information on where the anti-life machine is. As long as Lash and Brainiac are in the dark about our attempts to destroy it, the thing won't be moved."

"How can just a small number of us destroy the machine and their ability to reproduce another one?"

"We're going to have to use a hellspore to destroy it and the lab it was built in. The machine was constructed in an underground lair that used to belong to Vunderbar. We can steal a hellspore and place it in one of the tunnels that runs under the lair. When it blows it will take out everything."

"How many people do we need to do this?"

"I was thinking of you, me, and Rex. The three of us can each take our own task. You can steal the hellspore and place it under the lair. Rex can track down the captured warlords and find a way to get the codes for the hellspores. I'll make sure Lash doesn't cause you any problems. As long as Lash is occupied by me, he won't be able to command the forces to do much. Not only that, but for our victory to mean anything he has to be taken out, killed. If he is left alive there is just too great a chance he could make another attempt to destroy the universe."

An expression of understanding appeared on Maril's face. "I see you why you want to keep the group small. You don't think there are many here who will go along with the killing of Superman's son."

Helena didn't quite know what to say, luckily for her Maril kept talking. "Don't worry, I trust you. I remember when we were kids and played by the Metrotower. We dreamed of what it would be like to be superheroes and how we would work together. Rex and I understood you would always be the leader of our little triumvirate. You were the wisest of the three of us. I know what kind of proscription against killing your father filled you with, and I know you wouldn't be going against it unless your insight told you this was the only way. I agree with you, the stakes here are too high to keep alive someone with the knowledge and power to destroy everything. I will go with you. Rex will go with you." Helena was glad to have Maril on board, and hoped Rex would come as well, as Maril said.

"I take it you plan on the hellspore blast killing Lash as well as destroying the machine?" Maril asked.

"Yes, I have information on the current state of Apokolips. Above the lair, housing the machine Lash is building a palace and a statue of himself. The statue consists of nothing more then a metal framework at this point. When you set the hellspore I will need you to radio me and give me the time till it will blow. I should be able to trap Lash in the metal just before the hellspore blows. I could leave some Kryptonite by him to further weaken him. I know there is nothing that will hold him forever, but I should be able to wrap him up well enough he will stay put for a minute while I can get myself to safety."

"That really sounds dangerous," Maril said, obviously concerned. "Are you sure you will have enough time?"

"I'm the goddamn Huntress," Helena replied. "I can do it."

"What about Lash himself. Word made it through the grapevine how he subdued Superman in the beginning of the invasion. Apparently Kryptonite doesn't effect him as much."

Helena smiled to try and act supremely confident. "I can find a way to make something that will hold him. Trust me."

Maril still appeared skeptical, but appeared willing to give her friend the benefit of the doubt on it. "I take it time is of the essence. I will go and find Rex. I take it you know the location of a Mother Box?"

"I have an idea on where one is?" Helena answered. "We can take the invisible jet there. Bring Rex up here and then we will head out."

Maril left Helena alone and she quickly whipped out her laptop. In the event they were unsuccessful she had to leave her parents a message on what Lash was planning and what needed to be done. In the event she was successful, she needed to record a good-bye message to them.

She turned her camera on and began speaking into it. She figured everything would be over by the time they got this. "Mom, Dad, I am leaving this message for you as I know you must have some questions about what I did." Helena took a deep breath as she found it difficult to speak calmly. "When I went back to the Fortress, as Dad instructed me, I found a piece of Brainiac that had been left behind. I used the Jor-El computer to find out what they were after and discovered they were after a piece of the anti-life equation. With the last piece they got from the Jor-El computer, Brainiac had the entire formula. He intends to use it to destroy all of creation."

Helena paused for a moment as she collected her thoughts and determined what she wanted to say. "I had a plan for killing Lash and ending all this. I know it's probably not what you two would have done. You may even feel that it is not the kind of thing I was raised to do. I only hope I was successful in stopping him and saving all of you. That is all I am trying to do, save everyone I love."

Helena fought back a tear as she got to the really difficult part of her speech. "If you don't know it yet, my plan is to sacrifice myself and take Lash with me. I know you will be angry with me for doing this, for not consulting you about my plan. I knew you would only stop me, and this is the only way to save everyone. I'm sorry. I can't even imagine how much pain my death will cause you. Mom. . .you always knew this day would come, it's just earlier then you probably expected. Dad, I-" Helena thought about the death of her grandparents, and what that did to her father. She knew her death would affect him in a similar vein. "I don't even know what to say to you, Dad. You'll get through this, somehow, I hope. I'm sorry." She stopped recording. She set it up so the video would be sent to her parents in a message that would go out in several hours. She figured that by the time they got it she would either have succeeded or failed at her mission. If she succeeded, it would explain to them why and how she had sacrificed herself. If she failed it would explain to them what they needed to do to stop Lash.

She just finished putting her computer away when Maril walked in with Rex. "Is everything in order?" she asked her friends.

"I told Richie we were going on a mission. He's in charge of the troops while we are away. He'll take over for us if we die. We shouldn't have to worry about that too much, should we?"

"If everything goes as planned the two of you will make it through this just fine," she said them as she walked out of her room. "Go out to the backyard and wait for me, I need to get something from the Batcave."