Chapter Twelve

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

06:23 – Station Time (EST)

March 14, 2007

Shayera Hol watched the screen which displayed the two Tameranians as they sat in their room. They had been talking for the last hour or so and she had been sat there watching for much longer since they had been asleep.

She had been unable to sleep and had come down here at around quarter-to-five in the morning. They didn't know she was watching them, and she acknowledged that it could be seen as creepy for her to be seen just sitting there staring, but at that moment she was too preoccupied to care.

One thing people didn't know about her was that she was fairly good at picking up languages. She had been listening to them speak, managing to pick up the odd word here and there and what it meant.

The translation software that had been analysing their speech was starting to get some of it down as well. Shayera suspected that in another day, it would have all the basics translated.

"Shayera?"

She looked around to see Wonder Woman stood by the door.

"I was told you were in surveillance room two," the Amazon said. "Get ready, we're heading down to the Metro Tower."

"Okay."

"All the founders are going to be there," Diana told her.

"Even Flash?" Shayera asked.

"Yes."

"I thought he couldn't get any more time off from his day job?"

"He lost it."

"Oh," Shayera said surprised. "I guess the hero business has its casualties."

"He's pretty upset about it, but as usual he's covering it up with asinine jokes."

Shayera smiled. "His bad jokes are what's so endearing about him."

"Perhaps."

The two stepped out of the room.

"How are our alien guests?" Diana questioned.

"Fine as far as I can tell. They've been talking to one another, but little else."

"How about their language?"

"We should have a working translation before too long."

"It will help in the event we encounter any more of their kind in the future."

"It will, but it's unlikely. They rarely leave the Vega System."

"Still, we will be prepared."

"Yes, we will. I'll meet you at the teleporter. I'm off to grab a shower and a change of clothes."

Diana nodded. "Understood."

Metro Tower

Metropolis

United States

08:23 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

Nightwing was led by someone dressed in a grey uniform. He wasn't a hero, just League staff. A regular person, who was just doing his hours for a paycheck.

They came to a stop outside a door, which slid open.

"In here," the man said with disinterest.

Nightwing stepped inside, seeing Kara in her Argo outfit and two strangers. Firstly, there was a rather butch looking, black-haired woman. Then there was a man in a yellow mask and mostly yellow outfit.

Kara stood up and made her way over. "Good to see you again, Nightwing," she said.

The muscular woman folded her arms "You know this person?"

"Yeah." She looked back at the Bluebird. "That's Big Barda, and he's her husband Mister Miracle."

"Nice to meet you," Nightwing said.

"The same," Miracle greeted.

"So, what is his power?" Barda questioned, eyeing him suspiciously.

Nightwing frowned. "I don't have any."

"He was Batman's protégé," Argo told them.

"So he plays with toys," Barda commented.

Nightwing decided not to respond to his insult. Instead, he made his way over to a chair that lay along the wall and sat down.

"No retort?" Barda asked. "Cat got your tongue?"

"Barda," Miracle said, in a warning tone. "Try not to antagonise him. We might have to work with him in the future."

"I wouldn't underestimate him," Kara said. "He works in Blüdhaven."

Everyone looked towards the door as it slid open. Superman and Wonder Woman stepped into the room, the door sealing itself behind them.

Nightwing hadn't seen either of them close up before. Superman looked just like a buff man in a suit. If he didn't know that it was actually Superman, he could easily have assumed that it was just some muscular man in a suit. Or at least that was his first impression of the Man of Steel.

Wonder Woman, on the other hand, had flawless skin and almost seemed to glow. Her arms were muscular, but not as much as Barda's, despite her supposedly being stronger. There was a radiance emanating from her, that made her stand out above everyone else in the room. He could see why Bruce was attracted to her.

Superman spoke, "In about thirty-five minutes we'll be starting. The press is already congregating. You don't have to answer any questions, we'll deal with them if you don't want to."

Wonder Woman looked to Barda. "And remember, some questions might seem insulting. But try not to rush into the crowd and beat them senseless."

"I have no interest in beating up journalists, or civilians," Barda assured her. "Though, I am hoping me and you get in a few rounds sometime. I'd love to test myself against you, Princess of Themyscira."

"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten your offer," the Amazon said.

"Neither have I," Kara commented, before quickly changing the subject. "So, how many journalists will there be?"

"All sorts, from all over," Superman answered. "It's a healthy crowd."

"And I'm guessing Lois is going to be there?" Kara asked, with a smirk on her face.

Superman ignored the comment. "When the time comes, you'll be escorted outside."

"Understood," Nightwing said.

"This is all just a formality to help sate the masses," Wonder Woman told them. "Just try to act professionally," she added, looking at Barda.

"We'll see you along with all the founders in half-an-hour," Superman said, as the two leaguers turned and left.

08:58 – Eastern Standard Time

Galatea stood beside several onlookers, who had gathered around behind the press to gawk at the induction of the new members of the league.

While it was cold, the sky was fairly clear. Nearly everyone wore a coat, due to the tepid temperature.

The seven league founders were stood on the raised steps. A dais had been set up, with microphones and speakers to the side.

Deciding she wanted a better look, she pushed her way forwards, easily displacing anyone who stood in her way. She ignored the angry glares and comments, as she forced her way to the front.

"Haven't seen you before," a female voice said, from the side.

Galatea looked at the red-headed woman stood beside her, a cameraman at her side.

"Huh?"

The woman smiled. "Summer Gleeson," she said, introducing herself. "You don't have a press pass. Are you meant to be up here?"

"No, but I'm here anyway," she replied with disinterest.

"Heh, I like you. I'm with WGOB."

"I don't know what that is."

"Never been to Gotham, then?"

"Why would I want to go there?"

"Touché," Gleeson said with a wry smirk. "Hold on, I think it's starting." She moved in front of the cameraman and began to speak while Galatea focused onto the stage.

Her eyes narrowed, as she saw the familiar blonde girl step out with three others, who she didn't recognise.

09:03 – Eastern Standard Time

Kara looked out into the crowd that had gathered. There were a lot of flashes from photographers going off, and there were a lot of TV reporters stood in front of cameras.

This was quite a bit different from the last time she had been inducted into the league. For one thing, it had only been the four out of the seven founders that had been there; Flash, Batman and of course, the former Hawkgirl, Shayera, had been absent at the time. Hawkgirl, because she had quit. The other two, because they had other engagements. There also hadn't been any press and it had been a rather quiet affair by comparison.

She actually felt somewhat nervous. It was strange, when she was younger, before she had gone to the thirtieth century, she had revelled in the attention. Now, not so much. She just wanted this over as quickly as possible.

She glanced over at Nightwing, whose mouth was slanted down. He wasn't enjoying the experience much either. Big Barda and Mister Miracle on the other hand, appeared indifferent.

Superman walked up to the dais that had been set up, resting his hands on its slanted surface, which was adorned by numerous microphones. It also had a Teleprompter built in, the clear rectangular display at a seventy-five-degree angle away from the speaker, the words only visible from the front side.

The Man of Steel cleared his throat, as camera flashes flickered throughout the press part of the audience, and chatter began to pick up.

"May I have quiet please," Superman said. The volume of the crowd diminished but didn't completely die down. Regardless, he felt that it was quiet enough for him to begin. "Today, we are welcoming four new heroes to our family. These heroes have proven themselves to us, the founders of the Justice League." He took a long look at the crowd before continuing. "These four understand what it means to be a hero. Today, they will take that extra step and become part of a larger whole."

Wonder Woman moved over to her and rested her hand on Kara's back, before giving her a gentle push. The blonde woman stepped forwards, standing next to Superman.

"Firstly, is Argo. She hails from a planet of the same name, which was a sister planet to mine, Krypton," he told them. "Her abilities are comparable to mine, as is her sense of morality. Her goals align with that of the league. To protect and serve the people of Earth and beyond."

As they had rehearsed the initiation beforehand, Kara knew that she would have to speak her affirmation, in the next part.

Superman stepped slightly to the side, and Kara stepped forwards so that the microphones would pick up both of their voices.

The Man of Steel began the next part of the initiation, "Argo, being a member of the Justice League is a great responsibility. Your primary mission is not to defeat the foe, but to protect the citizens. If that means letting a felon escape so that no one is injured or killed, then that is your duty. Do you understand?"

She nodded her head. "Yes, I understand."

"Will you uphold the tenets of justice and liberty?"

"I will uphold them to the best of my ability."

"And finally, are you willing to sacrifice yourself if it serves the greater good?"

"Yes, I am. I wouldn't be here if I wasn't."

"Then on the behalf of the Justice League, we welcome you into the fold."

There was clapping from the audience, as Kara proceeded to shake the hands of the founders, noting Flash's slightly slouched posture. She wondered if something was wrong, promptly deciding that she would ask him about it later.

Next up to take the stand was Mister Miracle. His introduction was similar to hers, except Superman conveniently left out his connection to Apokalypse and Darkseid and instead mentioned New Genesis.

The same went for Big Barda. Introducing her as Miracle's spouse, and avoiding the mention of Darkseid.

Finally, came the Bluebird's introduction.

"Last into our fray today, is Nightwing," Superman declared. "He is no stranger, especially to those of Gotham and Blüdhaven. He was once the right-hand hero of Batman. Today, he is very much his own man. He is joining as a reserve, though with hopes it will lead to a full-time commitment to the Justice League."

He stepped forwards, up next to Superman. As with all the others, he pledged the oath and the crowd applauded. He began shaking the hands of the founders, starting with Superman. He worked his way through them until only Shayera and Batman were left.

He shook Shayera's hand, an air of tension between them. It became worse when he shook Batman's hand. "I hope you're proud," the younger man said, venom in his voice.

"In my own way, I am," the Dark Knight replied. "Alfred most certainly is proud of you."

"Tell him he has my thanks and gratitude for everything he's done for me. As for things between us?" Paused, glancing out to the crowd. "I don't know if I'll ever be able to trust you again."

Nightwing turned and stepped beside the other three.

It was time for the press to ask questions.

09:31 – Eastern Standard Time

When the call for questions came, for some reason, Galatea raised her hand. She wasn't quite sure why she did, as it would draw unwanted attention to her, but she did.

As Superman looked around, their eyes locked. He then looked away, asking a dark-haired woman in a skirt.

"Figures," she heard Gleeson mumble. "He always goes for Lane first."

The reporter asked Superman a question while Galatea focused on Supergirl or Argo as she was now known. She had forgotten her hand was still raised, right up until Gleeson elbowed her in the side.

"Superman's calling you out. I hope you have a question ready?"

Galatea looked at him, suddenly feeling very uncomfortable. Whether he knew who she was at that moment, she didn't know. What made things even more awkward, was that she didn't have a question.

She fumbled for a few seconds, before asking, "What's it like to be a hero?"

Galatea closed her eyes as soon as the words had left her mouth. It was the most stupid, asinine question she could have possibly asked.

"Nice question," she heard Gleeson say sarcastically.

She opened her eyes and looked back up to the stage as Superman responded, "Um, well I believe all the heroes present will agree that it is an honour to upload the law and to protect the innocent."

Batman walked up to Superman and whispered something in his ear. There was too much noise around her, for her to understand all of it, but she distinctly heard her name.

Superman stared at her for a moment, before asking for more questions. Batman meanwhile, headed into the Metro Tower.

Suddenly, she felt overly exposed. They knew who she was and she had to get out of there as fast as possible.

She moved forward, knocking over the barrier. Superman instantly tensed up, as did everyone else on stage.

Galatea kicked off the ground and shot up into the sky, gasps coming from the audience and press. She ignored it, as she flew away, hoping no one pursued her.

09:40 – Eastern Standard Time

The induction had come to a premature end. Superman quickly asked for the press to leave, and everyone had promptly headed back inside.

Kara couldn't believe it. Her clone had been in the audience and they hadn't even known. She had been so close it was disconcerting. What if she had taken a hostage? What if she had gone on a rampage?

The question was how did she know about the induction? Had she seen it on the news, or in a newspaper? Or, as Kara feared, had she seen it in a vision through Kara's own eyes?

The check-ups with J'onn were still going on, and as of yesterday, she had been told there was no change. But what if there had been a change, late last night, or this morning?

She knew worrying about it wouldn't do her any good, but she couldn't help it. The thought of having her in her head was scary. There was no way to prevent it if it happened, as unless she also started having dreams of what her clone was doing, she would have no idea.

The truth was, she had put it mostly out of her mind. Seeing her there, had brought all those fears back.

The clone had tried to hide herself in the crowd with dyed hair, but now they knew what her new disguise looked like and they knew she was in the city. Or at least she had been.

The real question, was why she had been there in the first place? She had drawn Clark's eye somehow, probably subconsciously on his part. The other thing she was thinking on was the question, "What's it like to be a hero?"

Was she mocking them, or was there some deeper meaning behind it? She hadn't attacked them, just fled the scene. If she hadn't been called to ask a question, would she have even been discovered?

Right now, she was stood in the hall, outside the Founder's conference room here in the Metro Tower, which wasn't used nearly as much as the one they had up in the Watchtower.

All the founders were inside, except Batman and Green Lantern. She believed that they were discussing the clone, and while she hadn't been told to be here, she was, just in case they called her to ask her about something.

The sound of footsteps drew her attention away from the door. She saw Batman and Lantern walking down the hall, escorting a rather worried looking Pauline Lester, the resident doctor.

Batman glared at the Argoan, making her promptly decide she needed to be elsewhere.

Kara moved off down the corridor while the two heroes and the doctor headed into the conference room.

09:43 – Eastern Standard Time

Pauline Lester stepped into the room and stood at the end of the circular table while Batman and Lantern sat with the other league founders.

To say she was nervous was a colossal understatement. She was positively on the edge of having a panic attack.

"Do you know why you're here?" Superman asked.

She remained silent, keeping her eyes locked on the back wall, not daring to even glance at anyone in the room.

Batman pressed a few keys down on the keypad that lay on the desk in front of him. A holographic image of Galatea showed up in the centre of the table, standing in the crowd with her dyed black hair.

Pauline couldn't help but eye it. Her heart began thumping in her chest.

"You know this woman?" Superman asked.

Pauline didn't answer. She barely dared think, especially with J'onn sat there, staring at her with his deep red eyes.

Batman pressed a button and the image changed to her apartment, Galatea stood by the window next to Emil Hamilton.

"This is your apartment," Green Lantern said.

The image changed showing them all stood near the middle of the room talking to Emil, Galatea now out of sight from the view through the window.

"You want to explain yourself?" Wonder Woman asked.

Pauline remained silent, feeling a drop of sweat run down her face. She had never felt so terrified in her life.

"You're going to have to talk to us," Shayera told her. "We need an explanation."

"Emil's a good man!" she blurted out. "He was a friend in need."

"He's also aiding a woman who's been marked as a wanted felon," Batman pointed out. "A dangerous one at that."

"They wanted to kill her," Pauline said, looking at Batman.

"She reduced a building and critically injured people," Superman pointed out. "She's dangerous."

"She's emotionally and morally stunted," Pauline told him. "But she's not a bad person, not in her heart."

"You sure about that?" Wonder Woman questioned.

"I've talked to her, observed her. Can you say the same?"

"She's dangerous," Superman said. "She could level half the city before we could stop her if she wanted to."

"So could a few of you sat here right now," Pauline said, looking the Man of Steel in the eye. "Tea doesn't need people pursuing her. What she needs is time to understand the world and her place in it, without fearing someone's coming to take her away and hand her over to those that want to murder her."

"She's too dangerous to be allowed to remain wild," Lantern said coldly.

"So you want to capture her, then hand her over to those that would kill her?" she asked incredulously.

"We might not like it, but we're not here to interpret the law, we're here to follow it," Superman said.

"She never even had a trial!" Pauline snapped. "Can't you just look the other way, just this once?" she pleaded. "Can't you forgive and forget?"

"No," Wonder Woman said.

Pauline looked at Superman. "Where would you be without forgiveness?" she asked him, before looking to Shayera. "Where would you be?"

The former Hawkgirl and the Man of Steel exchanged a knowing glance. Superman, because of the events following when he had been brainwashed by Granny Goodness on Apokalypse at the command of Darkseid and had attacked Earth. Shayera, because of the events during the Thanagarian invasion and how she had sided with her people, the invaders, instead of siding with justice.

"She didn't willfully become who she is," Pauline continued. "She was forced into it, programmed and moulded into a killer. I honestly don't believe that is her natural state of being. I think she shares more in common with Kara, than even she would care to admit."

"You know this, how?" Superman demanded, disbelieving.

"Has she killed or harmed anyone since coming to Metropolis?"

"Apart from us being able to link her with an incident just yesterday?" Batman asked. "She committed property damage."

Pauline half-shrugged. "You lot cause property damage all the time."

"Not wilfully," Superman said.

"Just give her a chance. Let her grow as a person. Allow her to see that her life has hope. She has a choice ahead of her. Don't force her to make the wrong one. You're heroes, you save people, so save her."

There was silence. Flash was the first to speak. "I think people deserve second chances," he told the others.

"She needs to be contained," Lantern said. "We cannot afford to have her free, having tantrums in the street. People could be injured or killed."

"I agree," Wonder Woman said.

"We can't just go and capture her," Shayera tried to point out.

"Why not?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Because that could prove disastrous," the Thanagarian said. "I say we observe her. See if what Doctor Lester says is true. If it is, then we approach with an open hand, not with a closed fist and a cage."

Lantern folded his arms. "She's proven dangerous in the past."

"People don't always stay bad," Flash said. "Sometimes they change."

"You're too trusting," Batman commented.

Flash looked to J'onn. "You've been quiet? What do you think?"

"I am unsure. I think it would be best if we conversed privately."

"Agreed," Superman said.

"What happens to me?" Pauline asked them.

"For now, you'll have to be put in a holding cell," Batman said, standing up. "I will be the one taking you there."

"Be easy with her," Superman warned.

"Of course," Batman said, as he stood beside her. "Follow me."

She was led out of the room and down the corridor. She kept her eyes focused on the back of Batman, hoping no one noticed.

Finally, they arrived in the holding cells, that lay in the basement of the tower.

While they were nicer than a cell in a police station, it was still little more than a bed and toilet.

She stepped inside and the door was locked behind her.

Pauline sat on the bed, and held her head in her hands, wondering what would happen to her now. She hated to think that she could face prison time for aiding a felon, but she honestly believed she had made the right choice, regardless of the consequences.

She knew Emil. Everything he did, he did because he thought it would benefit humanity as a whole. That's why he started working at STAR Labs to begin with. To research technologies for the betterment of everyone. He truly cared.

Pauline didn't regret any of it. The only thing she did regret was that she had been found out.

09:51 – Eastern Standard Time

The moment Batman had returned, the seven of them began the discussion on what to do regarding Galatea.

Lantern was the first to speak, "She's dangerous, we can all agree to that."

"Everyone in this room's dangerous," Flash countered.

"But we know how to control ourselves," Batman said.

"Yes," Superman agreed. "We understand the responsibility that comes with our power."

"Then we offer an open hand," Shayera suggested once again. "Treat her like the enemy and she'll behave like the enemy. Isn't that a human adage or something?"

"Yeah, something like that," Flash said. "And I agree. We're heroes. It's our job to save people. Let's save her," he said, echoing what Doctor Lester had said earlier.

"That requires her to want to be saved," Diana pointed out. "She might not want, nor seek our help."

Shayera folded her arms and spoke up, deciding to change tactic, "We wanted the chance to deal with Kara's mind-link issue, didn't we?" she asked, reminding everyone. "Or had we forgotten about that?"

"No," J'onn said, speaking up. "Since I am checking on it daily, I had not forgotten."

"Then this might be our chance to not only sort that out but to also turn a dangerous enemy into a potential ally."

Lantern regarded her. "You've changed," he commented. "You'd once have been the first one to say we should capture and contain."

Shayera locked eyes with him for a moment before he looked away.

"I guess we have some thinking to do," Superman said. "This is a very delicate situation we've found ourselves in."

"No kidding," Flash agreed.

"What do we do with Pauline Lester?" Shayera asked.

"Good question," Superman said. "If we keep her locked up, Doctor Hamilton and Galatea will suspect something when she doesn't return home."

Lantern leant forwards. "And if we let her go home, she'll tell them we know where they are."

"And, so what if she does?" Flash asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Wonder Woman questioned, confused. "If she tells them, they will leave and we'll have lost them."

"What's on your mind?" Shayera asked the speedster, wanting to know if he had an idea.

"Pauline's the perfect person to tell them we know. I say we have her tell them that we're watching them, but will not act unless they break the law."

"We haven't decided we're not bringing them in, yet," Lantern pointed out.

"So let's vote on it," Flash suggested. "I say we observe, but don't antagonise."

J'onn spoke up, "I believe that observation may be our best option at this point. I do not know her personally, nor what she thinks. But I am willing to give her the benefit of the doubt."

"No," Lantern said. "She needs to be contained."

"I disagree," Shayera said. "I believe others deserve another chance. We observe and make a decision based on what we see."

"Of course you do," Wonder Woman said with snark. "Though I don't see us being able to contain her without a fight breaking out which would put many lives at risk, so I agree with Wally. For now."

Superman sighed. "I don't think it's a good idea to come to a consensus right now. It's probably best if we reconvene after putting more thought into it."

"Agreed," Batman said.

"Two hours?" Shayera suggested.

Superman nodded. "We reconvene in two hours."

Updated December 2017