Chapter Twenty-Five
Wayne Manor
Gotham City
United States
19:03 – Eastern Standard Time
March 15, 2007
Nightwing had barely spoken to Batman on the way to Gotham. When he had, it was simply to answer questions that Batman had on the cult. Truth was, that Nightwing knew very little. He had only discovered their existence because he had been following some of the members due to the way they were dressed in their strange hooded robes. When they finally arrived back at the cave, the Dark Knight went straight to his computer, while Nightwing headed upstairs to talk to Alfred.
That's when he made what might have been an irrational decision. He went to his old room and removed his outfit, putting on a t-shirt and jeans that were still there in the closet. Then he left it behind along with his league communicator and headed out of the door.
Now he was sat out front behind the wheel of his car, wondering what it was he wanted in life. The life as a vigilante had long since grown stale. He had told himself that it was his life, that it was what he was meant to do. Every single night he forced himself back out there onto the streets and every morning he came home to that empty bed in the empty apartment. He just didn't know who he was, not anymore. It was like he was going through a mid-life crisis only a decade-and-a-half early.
Richard Grayson rested his head on the steering wheel for several moments before he sat up straight. He twisted the key in the ignition and listened to the V8 roar into life. Fixing up the car had given him a respite from what had become his life. But it had been all too brief and now it was done and he almost wanted to drive it into a ditch, or take a hammer to the engine so that he could fix it back up again.
Slowly he shook the thought out of his head and switched on the headlights before he drove down the long driveway, slowing for the gates as they automatically opened. After what he believed could be the final time, he glanced back at the manor and drove off down the country road.
Was he running away? The thought was something that had been plaguing his mind ever since the Batwing had taken off. He knew he had come to the decision rather quickly but he had also come to the decision to join the Justice League rather quickly too. That had been a mistake.
His life had never truly been his. He had been born into the circus and then when his parents died, he had lived a short while as a lonely rich-kid before he had discovered the truth behind Bruce Wayne and Batman. That's when he stopped being just a kid and became Robin. That had been the biggest mistake of his life. That had been when he began to live in the shadow of the Bat. Even when he had left and headed up to New York, he never truly left Batman's shadow. He, Roy Harper, Karen Beecher and Lilith Clay had Started the Titans, though he had never officially been part of the team, not as far as the media was concerned. They just knew Speedy, Bumblebee and Omen.
In another life maybe his role in the Titans could have been bigger. He wished it could have been, but it just didn't feel right. To him, the team didn't gel quite right. Again, maybe in another life, the team was different and maybe it would have worked out.
As far as he knew, the Titans these days consisted of an entirely different team. He hadn't kept up with them, nor had he really cared to.
He was pulled out of his thoughts as a figure stepped out in front of him. He barely had the chance to react as he pulled the wheel to the right. The car fishtailed, the rear end striking the pedestrian. The car was knocked the other way, disorienting him as the car spun before finally coming to a stop.
"What the Hell!" he uttered as he quickly climbed out of the car.
Laying there on the road was what looked like a red-haired woman. It was hard to tell in the darkness of twilight.
"Crap," he said as he began to run over to her, fearing that she was dead.
To his surprise, she slowly rose to her feet, before turning to him with glowing angry green eyes. He recognised her.
"Starfire?" he questioned.
"Why did you strike me with your land craft?" she demanded.
"You stepped out in front of me," he said, not wanting to get any closer to the clearly angry alien. "I tried to avoid you but it was too late."
"You clearly did not try hard enough. Your vehicle still hit me."
He felt suddenly flush with anger. "Cars can't stop on a dime, y'know."
"If they cannot stop quickly then they are unsafe to operate," she said accusingly.
"Yeah, they kinda are unsafe," he admitted, though he didn't like it. He decided the best thing to do was to just try and apologise even if it wasn't his fault. "Look, I didn't mean to hit you I'm sorry. I tried to go around you, but the tires lost traction and I skidded."
Her features softened. "I forgive you. I myself am also to blame. I should have anticipated that this planet had unsafe primitive land vehicles. I will not make the same mistake again."
He took a slow step forward. "I'm glad you're okay," he offered, hoping she wasn't going to blast him.
The two stood there in silence for a few moments before he realised something. "Hold on, how come you're here? How did you find me?"
"I followed your air vehicle."
That surprised him. "You did? How come Batman didn't detect you?"
"The magical woman Zatanna put a spell on me so I would be invisible to the Bat Man's scanning devices. It will have worn off by now."
Dick clenched his jaw. Typical Zee, he thought.
"Do not be mad at her Nightwing. I told her that I wanted to say goodbye to you. She thought it was sweet and helped me."
"You don't intend on saying goodbye, though, do you," he realised.
"No. I wish to stay here on this planet. I believe the Justice League will be forced to send me home, so I have come to you."
"Me?" he asked in surprise. "Why me?"
"You are a warrior, more so than the others in the Justice League."
"How so?" he asked confused.
"You fight even though you have no abilities."
"Not anymore," he said.
"What do you mean? You have abilities now?"
"No, it's not that. I'm giving it up. I can't live my life in his shadow any longer."
"Shadow? I do not understand. Are you saying you do not wish to be a warrior?"
"I don't know what I want anymore." He turned away from her and made his way back to his car, pausing briefly to look at the large dent in the rear left side of the car. He rubbed it and let out a quiet expletive before he climbed back inside and rested his head against the wheel. He knew that it was about time that he lived his life. As the first Robin and as Nightwing, he had served the people and he had done it to the best of his abilities. As with he had done with Robin, it was time to put Nightwing to bed. At least for now.
The interior light turned on as the passenger door opened. He looked over to see the Tamaranean clumsily climb inside.
"What are you doing?"
"I am sitting in your dangerous land vehicle," she said simply with a soft smile.
"Um yeah, I can see that. What I meant is why?"
"I wish to come with you."
"Look, I'm not looking for a friend or companion."
"Well I am," she said. "And I find you very interesting Nightwing."
"It's Richard."
"What is Richard?"
"My name, my real name. My birth name."
"I thought it was Nightwing?"
"That's just my hero name."
"I see. That is why you introduced yourself as Richard to Inza," she accepted. "Well Richard, we should continue on?"
"No, we shouldn't. You're getting out of my car."
She folded her arms adamantly and looked forward out of the windscreen with a frown on her face.
Richard got back out of the car and moved around the front then opened the passenger door. "Out."
"You will have to make me."
He leaned forward and gripped her arm and tried to pull her out. She didn't budge.
"Just get out. I'm not interested in having a new friend or anything else."
"The way you kept staring at me when we were up on your space station, I would say otherwise."
He felt his face warm up. "Okay you're attractive I'll admit that," he said, feeling more angry at himself for blushing than embarrassed. "There's nothing between us. We just met."
"Then let us get to know each other better."
"I'm not-" He was interrupted as she grabbed him and pulled him down, her lips meeting his. His eyes closed and put his arms around her almost on instinct.
She then released him. "Strange the effect simple lip contact has on you."
This time he did feel embarrassed. It wasn't something he often felt, not since he had been a young teen. He didn't get like this with women. He was always cool and confident. What was it about this alien woman that was so different?
Starfire looked at him with a triumphant smirk. "Admit it to yourself, Richard."
He focused back on to her. "Admit what?" he asked in annoyance.
"That you like me."
He didn't say anything. He just stared at her for several moments before he stood back up and pushed the car door closed. He then moved around to the driver's side and climbed in.
He looked at her and she looked back with a curious expression. "Put your seatbelt on," he told her.
"My what?"
Nightwing grabbed his own seatbelt and fastened it.
"What does it do?"
"These 'land vehicles' are dangerous remember?" he said. "Safety first."
She grabbed her own seatbelt and tried to fasten it, but failed. "It does not work."
He leaned over and fastened it for her. "There you go."
"Does this mean I can come with you?"
"For now. But I'm sure Batman and the league are going to be looking for you. And what about your brother?"
"I have already said goodbye."
"You should have gone with him," he told her, casting his eyes out of the windshield. "You'd be better off going home."
"No, I wouldn't. They gave me away, sacrificed me so that Tamaran wouldn't be conquered. They sold me to a life of servitude. I was detained, then sold to the Gordanians as a slave. I then escaped only to be captured by the Psions and tortured. I will never go back."
Dick stared at her for a few moments and she stared back with her bright green eyes. He could see it now. Beneath her bright sunny exterior, there was a darkness. Perhaps it was a shield to protect herself from the things she had experienced. He had seen the underbelly of the two worst cities in America. He knew of some of the horrors that people had endured. If she had gone through only half of what he had witnessed, then she had been through hell.
A green bolt of energy formed in her hand. "The only good thing that came from my time with the Psions," she said, looking down at it. "I do not know how they did it. All I know was that the experiments hurt. They made me want to tear my own skin off because it hurt so much."
He rested his hand on her shoulder, attempting to comfort her. The green energy faded away and she looked at him, tears in her eyes.
"Come on, don't cry," he said, genuinely feeling sorry for her. "You're safe now."
She wiped the tears from her eyes and nodded. He offered a smile, which she returned, albeit with sorrow still in her eyes.
"Let's go," he said, putting the car into gear and releasing the parking brake.
Not long after, they were on the freeway, heading past Gotham on their way to Blüdhaven.
Watchtower II
Earth Orbit
19:55 – Station Time (EST)
March 15, 2007
Superman stepped off of the teleporter pad where he was greeted by Batman.
"Anything happened while I was at work?" the man in blue and red asked feeling tired.
The man in black and grey answered. "Terrific has spoken to Faraday, our liaison to the US. He says that the UN has requested our presence on the nineteenth of this month."
"Where will it take place?"
"Don't know yet. Though it has been requested that Diana's mother Hippolyta go as the representative of Themyscira."
Wonder Woman stepped into the large room at that moment. "Which is why I'm heading down there. I need to speak with mother about this. Their request is unusual." She moved over to the control console. "Please excuse me," she said to the operator, who stepped aside.
"You know how to operate that?" the civilian operator asked.
She glared at him, which made him back away. "I do. And before you ask, only I know the exact coordinates and only I can input them. If anyone else tried then you would end up dropping into the ocean."
"Really?" the guy asked sceptically. "Not to be rude, but coordinates are coordinates. The island can't just disappear just because someone else inputs them." He looked at Batman. "Right?"
"Magic is a strange thing," Batman said simply. "Ancient magic is even stranger."
Wonder Woman stepped over onto the platform. "You may send me down. Do not change anything.
The operator stepped back behind the teleporter controls and frowned. "These coordinates don't make sense."
"Just send me down."
"Okay," he said activating it. A moment later she was gone.
Batman walked up to the operator, Superman close behind. "If you want to keep your job, don't question a founder," Batman warned.
The man nodded, clearly unsettled. "Yessir."
Batman turned back to Superman as they both left the large room. "The date with the United Nations is not the only news I have."
"Oh?" Superman asked intrigued. "What else?"
"Fate gave me a vial of blood."
"Whose blood?"
"I don't know. All I know is that it's half human, half something else and that it's connected to a demon cult that Nightwing broke up recently. I've looked into it. Those that were arrested disappeared from prison last night without a trace."
"Do you know anything else?" Superman asked.
"Yes, the cults name."
"Which is?"
"The Church of Blood."
Themyscira
Mid-Afternoon
While it had been getting rather late on the Watchtower, here it was still the afternoon. Themyscira lay outside of time in a way, its people ageless in both culture and in population.
Diana headed straight for the palace, stopping only to greet those that greeted her. It was always good to be back home amongst her fellow sisters. Here there was a lot less stress and everything moved at a slower more methodical pace.
She walked up the steps, passing the guards and headed straight to her mother's throne.
"Ah Diana," her mother, Queen Hippolyta greeted. "It is quite fortuitous that you came. What brings you here?"
Diana bowed before addressing her. "I am here because the United Nations have requested your presence in four days."
"You are already our ambassador," Hippolyta reminded her. "Why not ask you instead? Why do they require my presence?"
"I do not know, Mother," Diana said. "What I do know is that it will most likely focus on the Justice League and its future."
"Oh, why is that?"
"Recent events caused by an external enemy from beyond this world, have resulted in many of my fellow warriors of justice to be arrested by the United States authorities. It is our belief that the United States and also the United Nations wishes to control us to some degree. The UN, however, despite having a lot of nations under its banner is not a particularly powerful entity, not from what I have seen at least. I am unsure what it is they wish to accomplish. As for the States, they are very powerful and have a lot of resources to make our lives in the Justice League quite unpleasant."
"Typical," the queen said with disdain. "Control that in which you do not understand. It is older than Themyscira and older than the Amazons. It is as old as the Gods themselves. No matter where in history, those that have no power, or only the illusion of power want to control that which does." Hippolyta rose up from her chair. "But enough of that, there is something else I want to discuss with you."
"Yes, you said it was fortuitous that I came?" Diana questioned.
Hippolyta smiled. "I did. Magala has seen something. A young woman in Man's world, someone who may be of great importance. Go see her where she resides in seclusion and she will tell you more."
"Yes mother, I shall see to it."
"Excellent. I would very much like it if you also stayed on the island and joined me for supper tonight."
"It would be a pleasure, Mother."
"Now get going. It is quite the trek to Magala's hermitage."
Diana bowed one last time before she turned and left. It was a good thirty-minute hike to where Magala lived, which wasn't any distance at all for an Amazon, especially one capable of flight. Still, Diana was going to walk the distance, as she wanted to be able to embrace the island as much as she could while she was here.
She headed out of the ancient city and moved into the forest beyond.
Avalon Heights
Blüdhaven
United States
20:16 – Local Time
March 15, 2007
Richard unlocked the door to his apartment and the two of them stepped inside. Luckily no one had seen them enter, which was fine with him. The lack of people wandering around after half seven in the evening was one of the reasons he liked this particular apartment building.
"Is this where you live?" Starfire asked as he pushed the door too behind him and she peered into the gigantic apartment.
He nodded. "The place has three bedrooms and two bathrooms. One of the bedrooms I converted into a computer centre, the other is empty if you want to use it."
"You are very-" She paused as though thinking for the right word. "You are very kind," she said finally.
"Only to the good guys," he said with a smirk. "You should see what I do to those that break the law." He looked away. "Well, that's in the past now." He took a long glance around the place. It had served him well over the last few years but now he felt that he needed to get away from Blüdhaven, away from Gotham, away from the east coast in general.
He moved further inside and sat on the couch in front of the large TV. Starfire hovered over and perched herself next to him.
"Comfortable," she commented.
He leaned back and stared up at the wall where it met the ceiling. He then glanced at Starfire who sat there looking at him as though she was expecting something from him.
She was going to be trouble, he knew it. He had absolutely no clue as to what he was supposed to do. He had grown so used to only having himself for company when alone in his apartment, that an extra person being here made him feel uncomfortable.
"You want something to drink?" he asked her awkwardly.
She nodded. "Yes, I would like that very much."
"Anything in particular?"
"I will try anything. I am curious as to what your beverages are like."
"I only have clear, flavoured water or fruit juices."
"As I said, I will try anything. If I do not like it I will tell you."
"Okay, I'll get you some flavoured mineral water." He stood up and made his way over to the large refrigerator. He pulled out a large bottle of the water and then retrieved two glasses. He filled them, then put the bottle back away and returned, passing one of the glasses to Starfire. Not five seconds later the glass exploded in her hand, sending water and shards of glass everywhere.
After letting out a shriek and jumping to her feet, she turned to him with an apologetic expression. "I am sorry. I did not realise that the receptacle would be so brittle."
"It's okay, I should have warned you," he said as he moved off to get a dustpan.
She moved back as he swept up all the shards he could find. He then grabbed a towel and began to mop it up. Her alien strength was proving to be a nuisance. Not only had he been unable to remove her from his car, now she was crushing things.
After drying the floor and couch as much as he was going to be able with the towel, he looked back over to his guest. "I'll get you another."
"I do not want to be a burden."
"It's fine," he said as he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a smaller bottle that he usually took with him on his morning runs. "This isn't brittle, but it's very squeezy so be careful or it'll go everywhere."
He opened the lid and then passed it to her. She took it, holding it carefully. He then retrieved his own glass of flavoured water and sat down before standing back up off of the damp couch. He grabbed some paper towels from the kitchen area and wiped it down while Starfire watched from the side.
After drying off the leather couch, the two sat down and drank their drinks in silence. Once they were finished, he took the bottle off of her and put it in the box he put all the recyclable plastic in and rinsed his glass, putting it on the side.
"I'll show you your room."
She followed him across the main room of the apartment to a door. He pushed it open and switched on the light. While no one rarely ever slept in here, Richard liked to keep it clean so that it didn't get musty or dusty.
"It is very nice," she said moving past him. "I thank you for your hospitality."
"You're welcome," he said with a smile. "You don't have to go to bed now, though. I'll be up for the next few hours."
"I am tired," she told him.
"Okay." He looked at the basic clothing she wore. The frayed plain white shirt and white pants that she had probably gotten on the Watchtower. "We'll have to get you some new clothes at some point," he told her.
She smiled. "That would be nice."
"Goodnight," he said as he stepped out of the room and closed the door.
Richard moved over to the couch and sat down. He switched the TV on and turned the volume down low as not to disturb his guest. Having the orange alien drop into his life was a complication he could do without. But for some reason, he didn't really mind as much as he thought he should. He flipped through a few channels before he decided to go to bed himself. The last two days had been fairly tiring and he needed sleep.
He pulled off his t-shirt and jeans then switched off the light and climbed into bed.
Themyscira
Late-Afternoon
Diana stepped through into the cave where Magala lived, the smell of incense growing stronger and the sunlight growing dimmer the deeper she went.
The darkness then began to brighten as she passed torches that lined the narrowing cave. Finally, she stepped into an opening, a large lighted sconce lay in the centre, illuminating the small room of rock.
Magala sat in her chair, seemingly oblivious to her. Diana stepped towards her.
"Magala, it is I, Diana," she greeted.
The dark-skinned woman looked up at her. "Ahh, it is good you have come. The Gods must have directed you here."
Diana shook her head. "No, I came for other reasons."
"Still, I am sure the Gods had a hand in it."
"Queen Hippolyta told me that you needed to see me?"
The forever aged robed woman climbed out of her chair and walked slowly over to the flaming sconce in the middle of the room. She held out a closed fist then turned her palm skywards. Sand began to filter through the cracks between her fingers and fall into the fire.
"Listen closely, for what I am to tell you is important. You must look for the mark of the sands," she told her. "A young woman in the world of man will soon go through a trial that she never expected. She resides in the Gateway to the Pacific where an archer of Man's Titans once resided."
"Titans of Man?" Diana inquired.
"The one of the bee, the one of the arrows, the one that can both see the future and into people's minds and the dark bird who seeks change. These four created the Titans of Man."
Diana had absolutely no idea what Magala was even talking about. "You're going to have to be more clear," she urged. "If this is important, then I need to know where this young woman is. The only gate to the Pacific I know is the Golden Gate in the city of San Francisco. Is that where I need to look?"
"The city you speak of is not the Gateway to the Pacific."
"Then I do not understand?"
"Find where the female archer of Man's Titans comes from and you shall find the mark of the sands. She holds a great hidden power within her. One she does not know. Her trial will be in a place that holds much of our own history. The outcome of her trial will reveal a latent power within her and will decide whether she follows the light or the darkness."
Magala shuffled back over to her chair and sat back down in it. "I have told you all that I am able. The rest is up to you."
"I need more," Diana urged. "I cannot go on what you have told me alone. I need to know what it is I need to do?"
Magala looked up at her with her dark brown eyes. "Seek out the founder of Man's Titans. The one who is the dark bird. He shall help you as the dark bat cannot."
"Dark bat? You mean Batman? Why won't he be able to help me?"
"Great trials are ahead of you. Right now there is a weakness in you and in those you call friends and comrades. To face these trials, you must become strong, even if it means trusting those you once saw as enemies."
"You are being very obtuse."
Magala smiled. "It is not for me to tell you what you must do. I am here to give you the clues. It is up to you to figure them out. Seek out the dark bird, the one who seeks to separate himself from the wings of the night. He will help you."
"And if I cannot find him?"
"Then seek the one with the golden skin. She will lead you to him."
The woman closed her eyes and her head dropped as she drifted off to sleep.
Diana let out a frustrated sigh. There was nothing more she could do. She would return to the palace and remain till after supper. Then she would leave to find this dark bird.
First, however, she would try and find some answers from Batman. Magala had said that he would be unable to help her, but she still had to try.
Updated December 2017