Chapter Sixteen

New Brighton

Central City

United States

18:56 – Central Standard Time

March 14, 2007

Wally West twisted the key in the lock before pushing the door open. Upon entering, he heard the distinct sound of the television. He closed and locked the door behind him quickly, then moved further into the apartment, seeing Giganta curled up on the couch asleep.

He stood there and stared for a few moments, a wide smile on his face. It had been a busy day for him and coming home to see her looking so adorable on the couch eased off some of the tension he had been feeling. Especially the headache that had been the whole ordeal regarding Pauline Lester, Hamilton and Galatea.

He picked up the remote and switched the TV off, before making his way over to the kitchen and making himself a dozen sandwiches, which he promptly began stuffing into his face.

Giganta stirred on the couch. She sat up and turned around to look at him. "Hey, you're back," she said with a warm smile.

"Yeah, I am," he said between mouthfuls.

"I watched the thing you were doing on the TV."

"What thing?" Wally asked with a frown.

"The induction of new members at your Metro Tower. I'm guessing the black-haired flying chick wasn't part of it."

He shook his head while finishing off the last sandwiches. Once fully devoured, he answered properly, "That was the Cadmus clone."

Giganta was fully awake now. "Wow, she got that close?"

"Yeah."

"At least she didn't zap your knee again."

Out of instinct, Wally rubbed the knee which she had practically crippled just seven days ago. "It's healed and I haven't had any more complaints."

"That's good to know."

"So, what have you been up to?" Wally asked her.

"Oh, I got in contact with some modelling agencies. But they want photographs."

"We'll go out sometime this week and grab some," Wally suggested.

"Just me and you?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah, sure. By the river," he said. Before adding, "Just don't create any more mini tsunami's this time, okay?"

She grinned at him. "You enjoyed it, admit it."

"Yeah, but it might mess up the camera," he said.

"What kind of camera do you have?"

"It's a digital one," he said, moving over to a drawer in a cabinet. He pulled it open and looked inside. "I think it needs new batteries, though," he said as he perused through the drawers.

Finally, he found it. He pulled the camera out and showed it to her. "Got a sixty megabyte SD card too as well as its internal memory."

"Great," she said enthusiastically.

"Though personally," Wally began, "I think you're too good to be just some model. You could do some real good in the world."

"That might be true," she agreed, "but I want to at least give it a shot. See how it goes."

"I think you'll do great," he encouraged. "You can do anything you put your mind to. I'm sure of it."

"Thanks."

Wally was about to say something else when the communicator he still had in his ear began to beep with a general alert. He cringed knowing that she wouldn't be at all happy about it.

"Aww crap," he mumbled.

Giganta frowned. "What is it?"

"I'm getting a general alert," he said. "That means all available heroes have to report in."

"Do you have to?" she moaned.

"I'm a hero," he explained.

Giganta wasn't convinced. "Seems like too much hard work," she said. "Can't you just call in sick?"

"Sorry babe, but this might be important."

"Fine, go," she said, deeply disappointed. She turned her back to him and reached for the remote, switching the TV back on.

"Don't be mad at me," he pleaded.

"Why shouldn't I be?" she questioned, not looking away from the TV screen. "You've been gone all day and five minutes after getting home, you're off again."

"I'm sorry. The hero's life is tough."

"I guess that explains why most of you seem to be single," she mused.

"I'll make it up to you, I promise."

She looked around with a wan smile. "Make sure you do."

Flash said nothing as he headed into the bedroom for some privacy.

Upon calling for more information on the general alert, he was told to report to the Metro Tower.

With a final goodbye to Giganta, he departed.

Park Ridge

Gotham City

United States

20:04 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

Kara and Barbara had finished watching the movie, 'Princess Bride' and were now having a game of scrabble when something began to beep in Kara's ear.

"Huh?" she muttered a moment before realising what it was.

"What's wrong?" Barbara asked as Kara rose up sharply.

"General alert from the league. I'm going to have to report in."

"Is it serious?"

"General alert means all heroes are needed, so yes."

Kara activated her communicator and received an automated voice telling her to report to the Metro Tower.

She sighed. "I have to go, sorry."

"We'll just have to reschedule our game of Scrabble for another night," Barbara said.

"Yeah. Sorry, Babs."

"It's fine, Kara."

"I'll see you soon," she said as she promptly left.

Five minutes later she was flying to Metropolis.

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

20:01 – Station Time (EST) - A Few Minutes Earlier

March 14, 2007

Shayera Hol was stood at her favourite window, staring down at Earth when she saw a strange glow in the distance. A moment later the alarm sounded.

She began to move down the hallway, keeping her eyes on the glow, until she arrived at the elevator. Once inside, she promptly headed up to the main deck, where all the heroes currently on the station would congregate.

The Elevator slowed to a stop. The doors opened and Superman stepped inside.

"Know what's going on?"

Before she could respond, Mister Terrific's voice came over the speakers in the elevator."This is a general alert. Five hyperspace exit points have formed and at any moment ships will be emerging from them. I have no idea who they are or their intent."

Superman looked surprised. "You think someone's come looking for our guests?"

"We'll find out soon enough," Shayera said, as the elevator slowed and the doors opened.

They all stepped out onto the main deck. Every hero currently on the station was there, including the founders, minus J'onn, who was back in China, Batman who was in Metropolis and Flash who had headed back to Central City for the night.

The founders headed up to the nest, where Terrific was. They entered, just as the first ship exited into orbit, prompting an expletive from Shayera.

Wonder Woman frowned. "I take it you know what kind of ship that is."

"Yes," Shayera said.

"So do we," Lantern said. "We attacked a ship like that before, but back then it had been a ruse."

"We need to prepare," Shayera blurted out.

"For what?" Superman asked.

Shayera watched the screens intently as four other ships emerged. "For the Gordanian invasion," she said.

The lead vessel banked and began to head towards the Watchtower, it's massive form moving slowly like a predator getting ready to pounce.

"I think we're about to see if those deflectors we installed will work," Lantern said.

"What kind of ship is the lead vessel?" Superman asked Shayera.

She answered, "It's a heavy dreadnought, built specifically for their war against us. It's a fortress and can engage small fleets all on its own."

"That's not good," Wonder Woman commented.

"No, it's not. There may be only five ships, but with that dreadnought, it's more than we can deal with."

Wonder Woman folded her arms. "We could do with the fusion gun being operational about now," she commented.

"We can't do anything about that right now," Superman said. "With the deflectors up, we can't use the teleporters to bring the part we need up."

"What about a Javelin?" Wonder Woman asked.

"We'd have to still lower the deflectors," Shayera said.

"They haven't fired yet," Lantern observed.

"No," Terrific agreed, "But they are sending us a message."

"What kind of message?" Superman asked.

"An audio message. It's clear of any viruses, or unknown data packages, so we should be safe to receive."

"Let's hear it, then," Lantern said.

Terrific pressed a few buttons on the console.

A deep, almost animal sounding voice came over the speakers. "You will hand over the two Tamaraneans or your station and the surface of your planet will both be destroyed."

"They'll do it," Shayera warned.

"We can't just hand them over," Wonder Woman stressed. "Why do they want them anyway?"

All eyes fell on Shayera. "The Gordanians do have a connection with the Psions and Citadel, but I'm not sure what kind of connection."

"How do you know they're connected?" Superman asked her.

"They were mentioned in intelligence we acquired during the war, along with the Vega System and the Tamaraneans."

"So could the Gordanians be doing their dirty work?" Wonder Woman wondered out loud.

Lantern grunted. "Maybe we should find out," he said. "Also, how do they know they're here on the Watchtower?"

"Good point," Superman said.

"They might not," Shayera said. "But we are the most advanced thing in orbit, so they probably made an assumption."

Superman stepped forward next to Terrific and nodded. The super-genius flicked a switch and nodded, understanding that he wasnted to speak with them.

"This is the Justice League," Superman began. "You have no authority in this star system. Please vacate the Sol system and send a petition to the United Nations about your request."

Terrific closed the channel with a frown. "A petition?"

Superman rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry, I couldn't think of what to say on the fly."

Terrific sighed. "Well, it looks like we're gonna get a live test of our deflectors. The lead ship is charging their main gun."

All eyes fell back to Shayera. "What kind of punch does a Gordanian ship's main weapon pack?" Lantern asked her.

"In the range of our BFG, but while it doesn't knock out all their power, their gun does overheat. The beam also has a sustainable fire of up to fifteen seconds."

Everyone then looked to Terrific. "Well," the genius began, "the deflectors on the station were designed to withstand a direct hit from our own energy cannon. But not fifteen seconds of it."

Shayera folded her arms. "In retrospect, disarming our gun was a bad idea."

"I said that very same thing moments ago," Wonder Woman commented.

"Yes, it was," Lantern said, as he headed out of the room.

"Where're you going?" Wonder Woman demanded.

"I'm going to try and put an extra shield up outside the station."

"Too late, they're firing," Terrific warned, before hitting the station's intercom. "All hands brace for impact."

Not a moment later, the deck lurched from under them and they were thrown through the air, the lights flickering on and off. The station continued to shudder and buck until there was another lurch, the deck rushing back up at them.

Superman and Wonder Woman left huge cracks and indentations in the deck, while the others were thrown like rag-dolls.

Then the lights went out.

Metro Tower

Metropolis

United States

20:06 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

Flash arrived at the outskirts of Metropolis, then not a moment later he arrived at the Metro Tower and then, not even a second after, he was standing in the Metro's observation nest, all in the blink of an eye. He was slightly out of breath having just run half-way across the country, though otherwise, he was fine.

"What's the situation?" he asked John Henry Irons, also known as Steel, who was currently on duty along with a few non-hero league personnel.

"Five ships just entered orbit with the Watchtower."

"That's not good. Have they done anything yet?"

"Not sure," he said.

Flash looked at the screen which currently showed the Watchtower and a slowly approaching ship with a mean looking gun on it.

Then it fired.

The beam struck the station's shields hard, creating a blue hue that surrounded the Watchtower. It struck with such force, that it began to list to one side. Then, after ten seconds, the beam broke through the deflectors and struck part of the station's upper ring, then ceased.

Flash watched in horror as the part struck broke off and began to slowly drift away, leaving a mass of debris.

Irons began to get to work. "I'm sending all planet-side Javelins to the Watchtower to help evacuate if needed," he told him. "J'onn is also on his way. Batman and a team just set off in a defence Javelin a few moments before you arrived."

"Will you be staying here?" Flash asked him.

"I'd love to help, but right now, the best place for me is here."

"Hold on," Flash said pointing to the screen. "The smaller ships look like they're sending shuttles to the Watchtower."

"A boarding party," Steel fumed. "Change of plan. We're filling those Javelins with heroes to repel the aliens."

"I'll get going," Flash said. As he turned, J'onn stepped in "Just in time," the speedster said.

"What is happening?" J'onn requested.

"Alien ships have entered orbit and have fired on the Watchtower," Irons told him.

"Now they're sending boarding parties," Flash added.

"Go," J'onn told them. "I'll take over and coordinate from down here."

"That'll be difficult," Irons said.

"How come?"

"We're being jammed. We can't communicate with the Watchtower."

"I'll try and sort it out. You two must hurry."

"Okay, we're on our way," Irons said as both he and Flash hurried out of the monitor room, Irons stopping off only to pick up his 'Steel' suit.

J'onn quickly found that Irons was right about being jammed. There was a blanket in orbit he couldn't break through and they were now even starting to lose the image of what was going on. Nevertheless, he would keep trying.

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

20:10 – Station Time (EST)

March 14, 2007

Lantern helped Mister Terrific to his feet, who promptly thanked him, before running a full system check on the station.

The lights had come back on and Terrific confirmed that main power was still operational.

Then the bad news came. "There're Gordanian shuttles heading right for us. Current speed, they'll be here in ten minutes," Terrific informed the others. "The teleporters are off-line as are the deflectors."

"Inform everyone on the station we're having some uninvited guests," Superman said as he started for the exit. "Come on, we have invaders to repel."

The voice of Mister Terrific echoed through the intra-station speakers, "All hands, prepare to defend against Gordanian boarding parties."

"The fight is on," Shayera mused unhappily. She had hoped to never see a Gordanian ever again, let alone have to fight them.

Midtown

Metropolis

United States

20:12 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

"Tea," Emil said through the bedroom door. "Zatanna's gone, just left. There was some kind of emergency."

Galatea who had been sat on the edge of the bed reading a book she had found, put it aside and stood up. "Good. I didn't like her."

"What were you reading?"

"Just some book I found," she told him obtusely.

"What was it about?"

She smiled slyly. "You don't want to know. It was one of Pauline's books that she probably reads on a lonely night if you know what I mean."

He pulled a face, deciding he probably didn't want to know what it was about. "I'm thinking of using this opportunity for us to leave," Emil told her, focusing back on why he had come to talk to her in the first place. "While they're busy with whatever it is they're doing."

Galatea shrugged. "If you honestly want to run away, then fine. I don't see how it changes anything, though."

"Tea, I want to make a future for you, but we can't do that here. We need to leave."

"So me and you on the run for our lives once again," Galatea commented. "Not the glamorous life is it."

Pauline spoke up. "Actually, I'll be coming with you."

"That a good idea?" Galatea asked her father, cautiously. She still didn't trust her.

"We can't leave her, not now. The league will never truly trust her ever again."

"Can we trust her?" she asked seriously.

"She risked prison to help us," Emil said. "I trust her."

"I don't."

"Tea."

"No Dad! She didn't tell us she worked for the league when she should have done," she pointed out.

"Yes, I should," Pauline said, speaking up. "I'm sorry I didn't."

"Come on Tea," Emil said softly. "There's no point in arguing. We need to pack and go. We don't know how long it'll be before they've dealt with their emergency. We might only have a short window."

"Fine, whatever," Galatea said, folding her arms.

Like Galatea, Pauline honestly didn't really want to leave, but for different reasons. She knew that Emil was dead set on it. If they vanished, the league would probably blame her and hand her over to the authorities for aiding a convict, unless she told them where they'd gone. Or at least, that's what she believed would happen. Truthfully, she didn't know, nor did she really want to find out. Pauline had never felt so terrified in her life as when she was stood in front of the league founders. She never wanted to repeat that feeling, ever.

"I'll go pack," she told the others.

"Hurry up," Galatea said.

Javelin-S4

Metro Tower

Metropolis

United States

20:14 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

"You're cleared to fly this, right?" Speedy asked Argo as he fastened the buckle as he sat in the seat behind her.

"It has been ten years since I flew something so primitive," she replied with a smirk. "Been flying ships with a lot more performance than this thing has, but I'll adapt."

"You're not flying," Green Arrow told her, as he stepped up with Black Canary. "Up and out."

Kara was about to protest but decided against it and simply moved out of the way as he sat in the pilot's seat, Canary taking her place in the co-pilots seat.

"I feel better already," Speedy said.

"We going?" Zatanna said as she took her seat behind Speedy.

"Depends if everyone's here?" Arrow said.

"Just Booster Gold, Gypsy and Sand," Zatanna told him as the three in question entered the cabin and took their seats, including Skeets, Booster's small robot which hovered near over his right shoulder.

"We're ready," Kara said as she buckled herself in.

"We have to wait for Javelin-S2 to take off," Arrow said. "Then we have a clear flight path." He turned to face the rest. "Mission is simple. We stop the Gordanians from swarming the Watchtower."

"And who stops their battleships?" Booster Gold questioned.

"We'll figure that out later," Canary said. She then added, "Javelin-S2 is clear."

"J'onn's confirmed," Arrow said, as their Javelin began to rise up out of the roof of the Metro Tower on the large elevator.

A moment later, they were shooting off into the sky.

Javelin-A3

Earth Orbit – Near Watchtower

20:15 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

The original plan that Batman had formulated in his head, was to offer armed support for the Watchtower as a deterrent for whoever came out of hyperspace. Now, they were firing warning shots at the approaching boarding shuttles.

It had little effect. They maintained course and even shot back, forcing Batman to take evasive action.

"I'm gonna be sick!" Plastic Man complained as he lurched about in his seat.

Batman ignored him as he turned to the third occupant of the smaller, faster armed Javelin. "We might have to start shooting them down."

"You sure you wanna do that?" the black-clad ex-prizefighter known as Wildcat asked. "I know how you are with that kinda thing."

"Try and strike their environmental systems. Maybe we can force them to start turning around."

Wildcat shook his head, looking completely lost. "Look, I barely know how to operate this thing. All I know how to do, is point and shoot. Anything else is askin' too much."

"You wanna swap?" Plastic Man asked.

"Like you'd be able to do any better, kid," Wildcat mumbled.

Batman banked the ship hard, avoiding more incoming fire.

"Keep it steady. It's hard to aim when we're weavin' about all over," Wildcat complained.

Batman silently cursed at himself for not waiting and simply picking the closest two leaguers in the Javelin bay. His modified plan after the large ship had fired was to simply act as an escort for the possible evacuation of the Watchtower. He had felt that time was of the essence, thus why he had ended up picking the two worst people for this particular task instead of waiting.

"Get the Javelin's scanners to find their environmental system and get the targeting computer to lock onto it," Batman told Wildcat.

"And how do I do that?"

"The computer attempts to isolate specific systems automatically," Batman informed him as he dodged more incoming fire.

"Gonna be sick!" Plastic Man threatened once more.

"You can cycle through available targets."

"Oh right. I gotcha. Yeah, I think I got it." Wildcat pressed a few keys. "Right, their life support system is targeted."

"Damage that on each shuttle and some of them might just turn around."

"And the others?"

"Most likely continue on to the Watchtower and hope they make it before they suffocate."

"Killin's not our style, Batman."

"No, but I'm giving them a chance to turn around. Besides at their current speed they'll still make it to the Watchtower."

"If ya say so, Bats."

"Fire when you're ready."

"Firing," Wildcat informed, as twin lasers shot out of the front of the Javelin, striking one of the shuttles, then another.

Even Batman could tell that there were just to many shuttles for them to be really a threat, but one of the shuttles did turn around and start to head back.

Then the Javelin was struck by a lucky hit.

Midtown

Metropolis

United States

20:17 – Eastern Standard Time

March 14, 2007

Both Galatea and Emil were waiting for Pauline to finish packing. She was currently in her bedroom, while 'father' and 'daughter' were both in the main room, becoming more impatient.

Deciding she wanted to know what was taking so long, Galatea began towards the bedroom, hearing what sounded like talking.

She moved closer, standing outside the closed door and listened.

"Yeah, okay. I'll see you both in a bit. And thanks, it means a lot."

In an instant, she had torn the door clean off of its hinges as she rushed over to the woman, grabbing the phone out of her hand and crushing it.

"Who were you talking too!?" Galatea demanded.

Pauline backed away in fright. "I-I was talking to my dad," she told her.

"Why?"

"He's letting me borrow a rental car. My dad owns a rental business. We're meeting him and my brother outside the city."

"Is that the truth?" the clone demanded.

Emil stepped into the bedroom. "What the hell is going on in here!?" he demanded.

"She was calling someone," Galatea accused.

"My dad," Pauline repeated. "We won't get far using my car, so I'm borrowing a rental."

Emil looked from Pauline to Galatea, then back again. "That's good thinking," he said finally. "But how long do you think it will take for the league to figure it out and question your father?"

"It doesn't matter. It'll give us a head start," she assured them.

Emil looked at her cautiously. "I wasn't calling the league," Pauline said firmly. "If Tea here hadn't crushed my phone, I would have been able to show you who I was calling."

Emil rested his hand on Galatea's shoulder. "I trust her," he said.

Tea looked back at Pauline with a deep scowl. "I hope your trust is well placed."

Updated December 2017