Chapter Eleven

A New Beginning

Diana stared at the glowing archway and the vortex in it through which Steel had just vanished. Taking a deep breath, she strode through it and found herself elsewhere.

"Welcome to the Watchtower." a familiar voice said and she glanced up to where Superman was floating down towards her. He touched down lightly and smiled.

"Batman sent me. He asks that you join him in the Great Hall."

Diana tried not to gawk as she followed Superman through the bustling corridors where men and women in WayneTech uniforms were installing tecchnology behind panels, or fitting lights and controls. When they entered a large hall, she glanced up and her breath caught in her throat. Superman also looked up and smiled.

"Batman insisted." He said quietly. "The main skylight is an artificial diamond, optically perfect and a hundred meters across."

Diana nodded, her gaze not on the window itself, but on what was beyond it.

"I chose to have the orientation of the station set so that Earth was above us." a gravelly voice said. "It's to remind us that although the people of Earth look up to us, we must look up to them if we are to avoid becoming tyrants or conquerers."

Diana nodded again, her gaze fixed on the green-and-blue orb above them.

"Superman told me of your plan to recruit more allies. I approve, but you need to go further."

Diana blinked and lowered her gaze. "What do you mean?"

"A simple alliance will not work. Too unwieldy. You need more. Not a Justice Alliance, you need a Justice League. Arranged to be flexible, but fast to respond. Able to direct heroes to where they are needed. And it needs proper leadership."

Diana nodded a third time. "You proved yourself during the recent crisis, Batman, I would be honoured..."

"No."

Diana blinked at the interruption. "No?"

"I do not like being in the light." Batman said. "I will help, advise, aid, but I will not be part of the actual League. Consider me a... trusted ally, if you will. You are the most skilled diplomat in the league. Superman here has the most raw power and close links to both me and WayneTech. If you two think you can work together..."

"...joint leadership?" Diana mused. "That... might work."

"I've scouted out more metas who can aid you." Batman said. "And I will be setting up a few squads of my own for covert activities."

"Batman," Superman said, "Can we talk a moment?"

Diana stood in thought as the two men moved to the corner of the hall.

"Bruce, what are you doing?"

"I've held you back long enough, Clark." Bruce said. "You deserve to be in the light. I prefer the shadows."

"But..."

"The Justice League needs an icon." Batman said firmly. "You grew up in Gotham, but you managed to avoid having it stain you. You know how to use your powers, and when not to. You can cope if you lose your powers, something most heroes cannot do."

"But..."

"The hardest point in anyone's life is knowing when to let go." Bruce said softly. "I've held you back, Clark. Yes, you've learned much from me, and I from you, but there's so much more you can learn, that you can do. We need you on the front lines, leading the way. Not following, no more."

Clark dashed away the tears threatening to overflow.

"Bruce, I..."

Bruce grinned. "What, you think I'm throwing you away? No, you're still my brother, now and always. But it is time for you to soar, brother. I have always been proud of you, and I always will."

"Yin to yang. Dark and light." Clark half-whispered.

"Yes." Bruce said, then he hugged Clark firmly. "No be the light we need, brother-mine."

Clark grinned, then glanced round at where Diana was watching them. When he glanced back, Batman was gone.

"Dammit! How do you do that?" he asked and a familiar laugh sounded.

"Practice." a distant voice whispered, knowing that he could hear. "I'll see you at tea, you can tell me how it went."

"So," Diana said as she walked over. "Shall we go over the candidates for the new league?"

"Sure thing." Superman said. "I'm certain that most of those who helped will want in."

"Two of the Lanterns, Hal and John, have already volunteered." Diana said. "I know that Steel is in, and the Flash as well..."

x

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The Beginning...