Chapter Four

Passenger Train Car

Somewhere in Illinois

United States

11:25 – Central Standard Time

March 10, 2007

The clean-shaven Emil Hamilton sat across the way from the black-shirted, black-dyed-haired Galatea as they headed east on the train.

After some frustration, the two of them had finally figured out how to properly apply the dye to her hair. All that mixed with the sunglasses and change of attire and she looked like a completely different person.

Emil himself looked quite different. With his glasses off and his face shaved, he hoped no one would recognise him. After-all, he'd had a beard for nearly thirty years at this point, and wore glasses for even longer.

Between the two of them, lay a small metal table. They'd been sat here for a few hours, since leaving Central City earlier that morning. Galatea was staring out of the window, watching the wilderness scroll by. She hadn't said much since they had gotten on the train, and she seemed lost in thought.

Emil decided to break the silence. "Everything okay?" he asked her.

She turned to him, looking quite bored. "I can fly faster than this," she told him. "And it would have been free."

He put his finger to his lips, before speaking in almost a whisper, "No one can know about your abilities. You must try to behave normally."

"I don't know what normal even is," she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "What I do know, is that I'm really bored. Can't this thing go faster?"

"We have a long journey ahead of us, Tea. Try to relax and enjoy the experience."

"I'll try," she said, not at all sounding enthused about having to spend the next few hours on the train.

The clone looked back out of the window, as did Emil. Several minutes passed before she started to tap her fingers against the table's surface. It started off fairly quiet, but quickly got louder and louder, until it sounded like someone was using a set of hammers on it, drawing not just Emil's attention but that of several other people around them as well.

"Tea, you're being really loud," Emil whispered harshly.

She stopped, resting both of her hands on her lap. "Sorry," she muttered.

Emil looked at the table and much to his dismay the surface was cracked and dented. He closed his eyes, trying not to show the despair he felt. He had thought it would be easy to hide their identities and leave the area. He now realised that he hadn't counted on Galatea's restlessness, nor her ability to regulate her strength. He suspected close to a year with blocked powers was to blame for her being less careful. He just hoped they could finish their journey without her damaging anything else.

Galatea turned to her father. "Y'know, I think we should have kept the Jeep," she said in a hushed voice.

Emil frowned. "The plate was traceable," he told her keeping his voice equally low.

"Yeah, but I could have, y'know." She lowered her voice even more, before continuing, "I could have carried it to wherever we're going."

"If it was found, then they'd know where we'd gone."

"I could have smashed it into debris. Anyway, where is it we're going?"

"Metropolis," he told her.

She was surprised by that. "But isn't that where y'know, where he is, the guy in blue? And their Metro Tower? The whole league's there. This sounds like a bad idea. Why are we going there?"

"I have an old friend that lives there that is willing to help," he told her. "Also, we can keep an eye on them if necessary."

"That's actually a good idea," Galatea said with a cold smile. "And it's good because I want another chance with the super-bitch."

Emil shook his head slowly. "Please, just forget about your rivalry with her."

"I can't," she protested, keeping her voice low. "She mocks me by her very existence. With her alive, I'm just a copy. I can't be a person until she's dead. I should have killed her when I had the chance."

"Listen, Tea. You are a person" he said earnestly. "I know it must be difficult, but I don't want you to kill anyone else."

"But that's what I was trained for," she pointed out, her voice barely audible to him. "It's why they allowed you to create me. I'm the government's secret weapon, designed to kill. I have killed already."

"That was Cadmus. The same type of people that were going to murder you a few days ago. I never wanted you to take life, I wanted you to save it, I wanted you to protect it. I wanted you to be our angel. I still do. I still want you to be the one that protects us if the Justice League and the other heroes become too dangerous. What Cadmus wanted out of you wasn't really what I wanted. Not at the end of the day."

"Do you regret your time there?" she asked solemnly. "Do you, regret making me?"

"I don't regret your creation, Tea. I regret what they made you do." He ran his hand through his greying hair. "I love you like my own daughter," he told her sincerely. "I just want what's best for you."

She smiled. "I love you too, dad." She moved her hand across the table and rested it gently on his. "You're the only family I have."

"And you're mine."

Emil had been an only child, to parents that had been in their late-thirties. They had died some years ago now, and being fifty-four, he knew himself that he had more years behind him than ahead. Galatea would have a much longer life. Being under a yellow sun, meant that she might easily age at half the rate that a regular human would.

He just hoped that she would live that life well. It was his fear that it was already too late. That Cadmus had set her on a course of self-destruction, that couldn't be undone. His worst nightmare was that she had become the very thing he had created her to defeat.

But now he had a chance. He had the chance to change that direction and point her somewhere good. To direct her on a moral path. All he had to do was keep her out of the hands of the government, and to anyone else that would wish to use her for their own ends. He would do everything in his power to keep her safe.

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

15:21 – Station Time (EST)

March 10, 2007

Kara 'Argo' In-Ze stepped out of the Javelin with Superman and was promptly led to the nearest elevator. Not three minutes later, the two of them were entering the founder's conference room. Superman took his seat at the table, with the rest of the league founders.

Sat at the circular table, starting on the left, and the closest to her was Batman. To his left was Green Lantern. Then it was Wonder Woman, Superman, Flash, Shayera and finally J'onn J'onzz on her right. They had all moved their chairs around to open up a gap at one end so that she could stand there, and they could all see her.

Superman webbed his fingers, as he rested his arms on the table-top. "You're probably wondering why we brought you up here?"

"Yes, I am," she admitted. "You were awfully quiet on the way. It must be important if it requires all of the founding members."

"It is important," Batman said. "You won't like what we have to say."

"I don't understand?"

Batman raised a gloved hand, gesturing to the Martian shape-shifter. "J'onn can explain."

The Martian began to talk, in his usual monotone voice, "When I checked your mind yesterday, I discovered something."

Kara grew concerned by the rather ominous and opaque statement. "What did you find?"

"That you have a mental link to your clone."

The Argoan paled slightly. "I thought it had gone? How can I still have it? I've been gone for a decade."

"I do not believe that you are the source of the link," J'onn told her. "It is your clone that is the originator. Though, your mind does reciprocate the connection. Also, unlike the first time, it doesn't just manifest itself while you're asleep, but is constant."

"I don't care exactly what, or how it's manifested itself, can you get rid of it?" Kara asked heatedly.

"I do not know. It may only be possible from the clone's side," J'onn explained.

"Can you at least give it a try?"

"I can't guarantee I won't make it worse by accident," J'onn said. "The best course of action at this moment is to simply monitor it."

Kara bit her bottom lip. "If you think that's best. But if it does get worse, I want you to tell me."

J'onn nodded. "Of course. We'll also require you to inform one of the founding members if you start to have the visions again."

"It's best," Batman added, "if no one else knows about this."

Kara nodded quickly. "I understand."

Superman offered her a sympathetic look. "I know this isn't what you wanted to hear."

"No, it's not," she agreed, feeling a little sick. "Could you check on it now?" she asked the Martian.

"Yes, I can," J'onn said, standing up.

He made his way over to her, and she stood straight as he raised his hands to each side of her head. Once again she felt the touch of his mind on hers as his eyes glowed red. A few seconds later his eyes went back to normal and he lowered his hands.

"Has it changed?"

"No, it is still just an echo."

"What do you mean by it's just an echo?"

"It is just a touch of a connection. It is why I don't think it prudent to try and block it at this time. There is simply no reason to risk it."

"Okay," she accepted reluctantly. "How often do you want to check up on it?"

"For the first week, every day. Then I will check it every two days for the next week, then if there is absolutely no change, then I will monitor it once a week."

"Okay, and if you find a way to remove the link safely, you'll do it, right?"

J'onn bowed slightly. "Of course."

"So, is that everything?" Argo asked them.

Wonder Woman rose up from where she sat. "One moment, I would like to speak to you about something."

"We'll leave you to it," Superman said, as the others promptly left the room.

Once the two were alone, the princess of Themyscira began, "I want you to come on patrol with me in Washington DC while you wait to be inducted."

Kara was intrigued. "Why?"

"It's something we normally do now before inducting people. Late last year, Barda spent two weeks patrolling with me, while Mister Miracle went with Batman."

"You teamed him with Batman?" Kara asked. "Were you punishing him for something?"

"We try to team them up with a founder who has a similar skill set. Batman was the closest to him, believe it or not, while Barda was the closest to me."

"But aren't I closest to Clark?"

"Yes, but we decided that it would be better if you went with me instead. It won't be two weeks, instead, it will be three days, as you're induction is on Wednesday."

"So, this is to see if I'm ready or something?"

"In a way, yes," Diana confirmed. "You have changed quite a bit physically. We want to see what else has changed."

"And you already did this with Barda?"

"Yes."

There was something that confused Kara. "Why such the long wait?" she asked. "Between observing Barda and Miracle, before giving them official membership? You said it was late last year."

"Because they are on a tour. Miracle is doing twenty escape attempts in twenty cities," Diana explained. "Trying to break his own record. Apparently it draws quite the crowd."

"Oh right, okay," Kara accepted. "So, when do we start?"

"Tomorrow."

"At what time?"

"You'll be staying here in the Watchtower tonight. I will wake you when it's time."

"I'll get an early night, then."

"Yes, that would be best."

"I'm looking forward to it."

"Just one question," Diana began, suddenly looking a bit sheepish. "Am I still around in the future?"

Kara kept her face as neutral as possible. "You know I can't answer that," she told her simply.

The Amazon smiled. "I had to ask. I guess I'll just have to wait and find out for myself."

"Yes, you will. Is that all?"

"Yes, that is all. You may go now, Kara."

Wayne Manor

Gotham City

United States

15:58 – Eastern Standard Time

March 10, 2007

Batman had returned home after the meeting with Argo. It had gone better than he had anticipated, though she had been expectedly and justifiably concerned. Everyone that knew about her condition was.

After removing his cape and cowl, and putting on a dark suit, he headed out of the Batcave, up into the house.

"Good afternoon, Master Bruce," Alfred greeted, as he entered the main room.

"Afternoon, Alfred," he replied courteously. "Did anything happen while I was away?"

"Master Dick came around."

"He did?" Bruce asked in surprise. "When did he leave?"

"He didn't. He simply needed the restroom."

As if on cue, Richard Grayson entered the room, casting a dark look towards his former friend and confidant. "Bruce," he said dryly.

"Dick," he replied.

"It's Richard to you now, Bruce," he told him. "So stop calling me Dick, or a dick, or whatever."

"Okay, Richard," he accepted.

Alfred made his way up the stairs, not wanting to be present if things went sour between the two. "If you two don't mind, the library needs a good clean and polish."

"Go ahead, Alfred," Bruce called after him.

Dick sat down on one of the three seater couches and leaned back as though he were at home. Bruce proceeded to sit in an armchair.

"I've already had something to drink, so don't bother offering," Richard began. "I'm only going to stay long enough to say that I've been thinking about your offer. The answer's yes if it's still open."

"It is," Bruce assured him.

"I want to see the Watchtower at some point," Richard said, leaning forward.

"That isn't usually something reserve members get to see."

"I don't care. I know you've got that gun, and I know it's still active."

"No, Richard. The gun was disabled."

"And how long would it take to re-enable it?" Bruce didn't respond. "How long, Bruce? And tell me the truth."

The two men stared at each other for a few minutes, before the Dark Knight finally decided to come clean. "It can be reactivated within four hours if needed."

"So, you still have the gun," he lamented.

"Nobody can get it to fire. Several key components have been removed, and the flow transmission coils aren't even on the station, they're in the Metro Tower."

"But it's not completely disassembled."

"What do you want, Richard?" Bruce asked, annoyed. "If we'd had that gun during the Thanagarian invasion, we'd have been able to blow their hyperspace device to pieces from orbit. Instead, I nearly cooked myself alive to take it out. If there's another hostile invasion we need the option available to take action."

"But it faces the Earth. How can you do anything against anyone that wants to invade?"

"We can reorient the Watchtower to face any direction we want."

"That makes me feel a whole lot better," Dick mused.

"You seem to be hung up on the gun. It has only ever been used twice, and only once while not under our control."

"And what happens when it's you lot that's out of control?"

"Don't worry, I have the means to take down any single member of the league if any of them take things too far."

"And who takes you down if you go too far?"

"It's called the Justice League."

"Do you know how arrogant that sounds?" Richard asked in disbelief.

"Maybe it is," Bruce admitted. "And as for your request. I will grant you access to the Watchtower, after your induction."

"Which will be?"

"March fourteenth. It will include three other new members."

"And what are the benefits of joining exactly?" Richard asked. "If things are bad enough to need my help, I'd help anyway. So why should I join?"

"We would issue you with a communicator. Not only would we contact you if your help is required, but you'd be able to call for backup if things got too difficult to handle on your own. In the end, you gain more than the league does."

"I can see the benefit," Richard admitted. "Though what if I want to be more than just reserve?"

"That can be arranged. I just assumed that you wouldn't want to be an active member. You like to work alone now."

"I do. But maybe I want to see how you lot do things. Maybe I want a change of pace."

"If that's the case, then it is something that can be discussed on induction day."

"Good. I suspect you'll take me to the Metro Tower for this initiation?"

"I will."

"Then that's all I need for now. I'll see myself out."

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

17:12 – Station Time (Eastern Standard Time)

March 10, 2007

Shayera Hol, the former Hawkgirl, stared out of the large window down to the planet below. She liked standing here in this particular corridor, as it wasn't used as a thoroughfare and as such, she got a lot of peace and quiet. While she could see the Earth from her quarters, she liked it here better. The windows were angled more, giving her a better view of the world below.

Tonight, though, her mind was elsewhere. She was dwelling on the mistakes of the past, and on how it resulted in a certain event taking place down there, right now. John was going out on another dinner date with Mari, and it was dragging her mood down.

She knew she should let him go, but she couldn't. Especially when he mentioned that he'd met their son when he, Batman and Wonder Woman had travelled to the future. It was a dick move to tell her that, then immediately tell her how he was staying with Mari regardless. She would have asked Diana about their future son, but she had no recollection of the event. So instead, she had been forced to ask Batman.

The Dark Knight had been frustrating to talk to. He still hadn't entirely forgiven her for her betrayal when she had sided with her people, the Thanagarians against them. What she had managed to get out of him, wasn't much to go on, apart from he had existed in the future he visited, and that he went by Warhawk.

It was times like this, when he was enjoying the company of another woman, when she wished she could let him go. By holding on, she was only hurting herself. So why couldn't she just get over him?

Even the sight of the blue planet beneath her, wasn't enough to ease the tension she was feeling. She just wanted to move on with her life and yet she couldn't. It was frustrating and was actually making her start to despise him.

With a sigh, she turned away from the window. "Why?" she asked aloud before she started down the corridor.

She needed to go for a walk, and the Watchtower had a lot of floor space. Right now, she didn't care where she ended up, she would just let her legs take her somewhere.

Five minutes later, she realised that she was just walking in a giant circle around the deck, and was now passing the large window again for the third time.

"To Hell with this," she declared to herself.

Shayera headed to the nearest elevator and took it to the residential area of the station, where she promptly headed for her quarters.

A few minutes later, she was stood at the base of her bed, staring out of the window, watching the moon as it slowly rose over the Earth.

She stepped to her left, and pulled out the chair and sat at the small desk. There, she remained for several minutes, her mind blank.

Finally, she decided that she was hungry. She hadn't eaten anything since midday, and her stomach was starting to protest.

Forcing herself to stand back up, Shayera left her quarters and made her way to the cafeteria. After grabbing herself some sandwiches, she sat herself down and ate alone, despite the fact there were a few others around.

Two, in particular, were Fire and Ice, who were near inseparable. In her opinion, their friendship was rather odd, considering they were opposites. Fire was currently laughing over something Ice had said. The sound only made the Thanagarian feel worse. Her mood only worsened when Hawkman strode in.

The fake Thanagarian was one of the few she had actively objected to becoming a member. He was inexperienced and was holding on to an identity that wasn't even his. He was Joseph Gardner, only he had legally changed his name to Carter Hall. His wings weren't real either. They were held on by a harness. His Nth weapon, helmet and attire, he had all found. His whole identity was stolen from someone long dead.

The identity belonged to someone else who had lived long ago. Joseph, or Carter, had been mind-blasted by a Thanagarian Absorbacron, a much older version of an Absorbascon, which had given him the memories of a Katar Hol. Katar had lived millennia ago, and had ended up on Earth. Gardner believed he had been reincarnated, and he believed she was the reincarnation of his love, Chay-Ara Hol.

She had to admit, there were similarities. But she had long ago put it out of her mind and moved on. So had he to some degree. At least he no longer obsessed over her, as he had done once not so long ago.

Shayera focused back on her half-eaten sandwich. It was ham, egg and mayonnaise, which wasn't really to her liking. What she wouldn't do for some Thanagarian Korschian Oysters. Unfortunately, she wasn't really likely to ever eat them again.

A shadow fell over her. She clenched her teeth, hoping it wasn't who she thought it was. Looking up, she gazed at the golden-helmeted man stood over her.

"Do you mind if I join you?" Hawkman asked her.

She took another bite out of her sandwich, before answering with her mouth full. "Yes, I do mind."

"What's wrong?" he asked as he sat down opposite her, disregarding the fact that she didn't want him to.

Shayera decided to just ignore him and continued to eat her cold meal.

Unfortunately for her, the man couldn't take the hint. "It's because of John, isn't it?" he said.

Still, she kept on ignoring him. It was her hope that he would eventually either be silent and eat his food or more preferably, get up and go annoy someone else.

"I heard that he's on a date with Vixen, is that why you're moping in here?"

Shayera kept chewing the last piece of sandwich, before casting one of her foulest glares at him. "Is there something wrong with you?" she questioned. "Are you someone that really enjoys agonising pain, because you're gonna feel some if you don't shut it."

"I'm worried about you," he said, sounding earnest.

The fact that he seemed to genuinely care, only made her angrier. She rose up sharply from her chair. "I don't need sympathy, especially from you!"

"I'm not offering sympathy," he said back. "I do care for you, even though I've accepted that there will be nothing between us. Just know, I'm here if you want to talk."

"You're right, there won't ever be anything between us," she told him fiercely. "And if your idea of making me feel better, is to come down here and rub it in that John's with another woman, then you're doing a bang-up job."

"It wasn't my intention-"

"Don't speak to me, unless by some sick twist of fate we happen to be on a mission together," she told him, interrupting whatever it was he was going to say.

Before he got a chance to speak again, she stormed out.

Florence

Italy

00:34 – Central European Standard Time

March 11, 2007

The night had gone very well for John Stewart and Mari McCabe. First, they'd had a wonderful dinner in a five-star restaurant, and now they were wandering the streets of the ancient Italian city, heading in the general direction of the Arno river.

The two were walking arm in arm, Mari's head leant up against John's shoulder. She was wearing a long dark red strapless dress, while he was dressed in the typical dark suit, white shirt and black tie.

They finally arrived at the river, which sparkled with the reflection of the city's lights. The two of them stood there in silence for a few moments.

"Such a beautiful night," Mari said.

"Yes, it is," John replied.

"I'm glad you chose this place," she said. "Paris is overrated."

"I agree," he said as he pulled his arm free from hers, and stepped away.

"What's wrong?" she asked him, suddenly concerned.

John reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small black ring box. He got down on one knee, causing Mari to visibly cringe.

"John-" she started.

"Will you marry me?" he questioned, hopefully, cracking the box open.

Mari didn't see the ring inside. She turned away, shaking her head. "I'm not going to marry you, John," she said, dropping a proverbial bomb on him, as she stared out at the river. "I'm not the kind of girl who likes to be tied down," she explained. "One day, maybe. Just not now."

John didn't respond. She turned back to face him, seeing him still down on one knee, looking up at her in shock. He hadn't been expecting her to turn him down. He had been so certain that she would say yes, to hear otherwise made his mind go completely blank. He had absolutely no clue what to say.

"I'm sorry," she apologised.

Slowly, his mind began to clear, and he snapped the ring case shut. He rose back to his feet, promptly returning it to his jacket pocket. He felt positively rejected.

Mari smiled weakly. "Let's not ruin the evening," she said. "Let's take a walk along the river."

Too late for that, John thought bitterly. He forced a smile. "That would be lovely," he lied.

For a night that had started out so wonderfully, it had ended up positively disastrous.

John realised that he probably should have expected this outcome. Mari was a free spirit, while he was more of a traditional kind of guy.

First, a couple dated. Then, when the time was right, they got engaged. Then finally, they married. To him, it was just how things progressed. Now, he wasn't sure how to proceed with their relationship.

He would just have to wait and see. For now, his emotions were confused, and he just wanted the night to be over.

Updated December 2017