Chapter Thirty-Eight

Wayne Manor

Gotham City

United States

16:51 – Eastern Standard Time

March 17, 2007

Alfred was tightening a loose screw on a cupboard door in the kitchen when the doorbell rang. This immediately put him on alert, as one would have to get through the gate or over the fence to reach the door. The fact that someone was able to ring the almost unused doorbell meant one of two things. Firstly, it was someone who had access to the gate code, or two it was an unwanted visitor.

The bell rang once more as Alfred moved to the adjacent room so that he could see who it was on the security monitor. As he reached the bottom of the stairs, the phone rang. He moved over to it cautiously and picked it up.

"Good afternoon, this is the Wayne residence, Alfred Speaking," he said in his usual demeanour, despite feeling a little on edge.

"It's Barbara," a familiar voice said. "It's me at the door, sorry if-"

Alfred put the phone down and almost ran to the door. He pulled it open and smiled at her.

"So good to see you, Miss Gordon. It had been too long."

"It's Barbara or Babs to you, you know that," she said smiling.

"Of course Miss Barbara, please come in."

She looked past him. "He's not in is he?"

"Not at the moment."

"Good, because it's you I came to visit."

"Why, is there something the matter?" Alfred asked with concern.

"Oh no, nothing's wrong. I just thought I'd pay a visit to a friend I've been missing. Considering who you spend all your time with, I haven't had much of a chance to see you."

"I do wish you would forgive Master Bruce. He hasn't been quite the same after what happened to Master Tim."

"Neither have I, Alfred."

"Come on in," he said again. She did so and he closed the door behind her. "Would you like a cup of tea or coffee."

She smiled again. "I've missed your cups of tea," she said. "You know just how to make them. Must be an English thing."

"Of course," he said as they moved over to the kitchen. "Tea and crumpets at five sharp, it's the English way."

"Is it really?" she asked sceptically. "Or is that just some stereotype?"

"Of course, it's a stereotype. A true Englishman has tea and crumpets whenever he likes."

Barbara chuckled. "How I've missed you and your sense of humour."

"And how I have missed yours as well," he answered as he put the kettle on.

Barbara sat down on a stool at the breakfast nook. "So, how have you been?"

"Quite busy Miss Barbara. Keeping this house in order is a full-time job."

"He should really be hiring more help, he can't expect you to do it all at your age," Barbara complained.

"His mind is elsewhere and I enjoy what I do," Alfred said.

"At your age, it should be other people looking after you, not the other way around. This place would be an absolute mess if you weren't here to clean up after him."

"Now, now. Let's not talk about Master Bruce while he's not here to defend himself," Alfred said as he poured the now boiled water into the teapot and covered it with a tea cosey. "Now, what news have you brought?"

"Well Kara's back," the redhead began.

"I heard she was back from the future," Alfred commented as he sat opposite her. "You must be delighted that she's returned."

"I am, and she's visited a couple of times. Unfortunately, I also had a falling out with Dick."

"Oh dear, what about?"

"He found out about me and Bruce. He was upset and I can understand why. We kept it a pretty good secret."

"Master Bruce likes to keep things that way," Alfred said. "He is a master of it in fact."

"Yeah, but it extended to people who were close to us. I mean does Diana even know? I'm a bit scared of what will happen when she finds out."

"I'm sure Master Bruce will be fine."

"It's not him I'm worried about," Barbara said.

"I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about either," Alfred assured her. He stood up and pulled off the tea cosey, before pouring the tea into two cups. He placed one on a coaster in front of Barbara, the other he kept in his hands as he sat back down.

"Something else I've been thinking about is changing department in the force. Or at least requesting it. Sure, I enjoy being an analyst, at least most of the time, but I miss the streets, y'know. I feel I can do more good as a beat-cop, taking on the criminals head-on."

Alfred took a sip of his drink, before speaking. "I did wonder if you would tire of being stuck in an office. You are a very athletic young woman who likes to be out there, not stuck staring at a computer screen."

Their conversation was interrupted by a second ring of the doorbell.

"Now this is quite odd," Alfred commented. "Two visitors bypassing the gate not only in one day but within twenty minutes of each other. Most irregular."

"Want me to check it out?" Barbara asked.

"Firstly, we should check to see who it is on the security monitor."

The two stood up and made their way to the security room which was set up with several monitors that watched the grounds.

Stood at the door was a man that appeared in his late fifties, perhaps sixties.

"Recognise him?" Barbara asked him.

"No," Alfred said. "I do not."

The man turned and looked right at the camera. "It is me, John Jones," he said, the camera's speakers picking up his voice.

"That's a bit creepy," Barbara commented.

"I wonder if it is the Martian?" Alfred pondered aloud.

"Wanna go check?"

"With caution, yes," Alfred replied.

The two of them made their way to the front door, where Alfred opened it, Barbara stood close by just in case the person wasn't friendly.

The man tipped his head, then looked at Barbara before turning back to Alfred. "Hello Alfred, we have met before. I was wondering if Bruce was in, I need to speak with him."

"Sorry, but Master Bruce isn't here. May I ask where it was we last met? I am struggling to recall?"

"Here in this very house. I was differently attired."

"I'm afraid I'm not sure if I remember."

"We were discussing the future of a business partner who had betrayed the company. She opted to quit at the time instead of hearing our verdict."

Alfred put the pieces together. It was the martian. "Ah, I see. Come on in Mister Jones."

The man who Alfred now knew was J'onn J'onzz stepped inside. Alfred closed the door behind them.

"It is quite alright for you to drop the disguise. This is Miss Barbara Gordon, she knows all about Bruce."

The Martian morphed into his usual form.

"Neat," Barbara commented. "And we've met before, but I was dressed as Batgirl at the time."

J'onn gestured with a tip of the head. "I sensed that I had met you before. Apologies for the disguise, I was unable to move about in my usual form. And when I sensed someone else in the house, I was unsure whether they were aware of Bruce and Batman being the same entity, so I decided to play it safe."

Barbara nodded in understanding. "Last I heard you had been taken into custody. Did they let you go?"

"Yes, and I was brought to Gotham by King Faraday and Amanda Waller.

"Waller?" Barbara repeated with surprise. "She's probably up to something."

"Indeed," J'onn agreed. "She is somehow involved in all of this. She and Faraday are heading up to Metropolis where they will apparently be present during our talks with the United Nations."

That took her by surprise. "You're talking with the UN?"

"On the nineteenth of this month," he informed them. "Which is only two days from now."

"Where did they have you holed up?" Barbara inquired.

"I believe it was in Maryland."

"That's quite the trip," Alfred said. "You should take a seat Mister Jones, I'll fetch you a nice hot cup of tea."

"I appreciate the offer, however, I must be getting back up to the Watchtower and then back home to my wife in China."

"She must be worried sick," Alfred said. "I will take you down into the cave where you can call for your teleporter, however, you should know that the rock in the cave does not play nice with your device. I do believe that Master Bruce keeps a few spare communicators down there, so perhaps you could take one of those with you."

"I am aware of the issues with the rock," J'onn said. "I will take the communicator and head into the nearby woodlands and be retrieved from there."

"Very good, sir," Alfred said. "Follow me, I'll show you to the cave."

They headed down and Alfred retrieved a small communicator, passing it to J'onn.

"Thank you," the Martian said. "I shall take my leave."

"Of course Mister Jones." They all headed back up out of the cave and to the front door. J'onzz turned back into full human form, before turning back to them.

"I shall see you another time hopefully," J'onn said.

Alfred opened the door. "I do hope you come over for tea sometime. I did find our conversations the last time you were here most stimulating and enlightening."

J'onn nodded before he left. Alfred closed the door and turned back to Barbara. "Now, where were we?"

"Actually, I should probably be heading off as well," she said.

"That is a shame," Alfred said in reply.

She gave him a quick hug and peck on the cheek. "You should come visit me sometime. I really miss you, Alfred."

"You know where to find me," Alfred told her.

"I know, but I don't want to run into Bruce. Besides, you know where I live."

"That I do, Miss Barbara."

Alfred opened the door once more and she stepped outside and they exchanged a wave before he closed the door shut and returned to what he had been doing before her visit, which was tightening the screws on the cupboard door in the kitchen.

Watchtower II

Earth Orbit

17:32 – Station Time (EST)

March 17, 2007

J'onn J'onzz stepped off the platform and was greeted unexpectedly by Argo.

"Good to see you out of there," Kara said. "I take it you'll be heading down to China before long."

He nodded in affirmation. "That is correct, though I was expecting some of the other founders."

"They're busy with something, well Flash, Shayera and Batman are all busy with something up here, Superman's patrolling Metropolis and Wonder Woman is off in Gateway City. As for Green Lantern, I have no idea what he's doing."

"I see. Then perhaps I should head straight home to Shanghai," J'onn said.

"There's a reason I came here to see you," Kara said.

It took a moment for him to realise what she was referring to, which reminded him about the events that had led up to his arrest. "Back in the Metro Tower during the Gordanian attack, Galatea turned up saying that she had seen a vision or something."

Kara scratched the corner of her mouth. "That's what I came to see you about. It's been getting worse. I think I had a dream earlier that was a memory of coming out of her tank."

"Tank?"

"A tank full of water. It drained and I saw Doctor Hamilton. It was strange."

"Where is she now?"

"Gone. Last I heard so had Pauline Lester and Hamilton."

"So finding a way of blocking it will have to wait for the time being," J'onn surmised. "When was your last vision?"

"It wasn't last night, but it was within the last couple of days."

J'onn gestured to her and she followed as they moved off to the corner of the room. He held out his hands to either side of her head and his eyes began to glow red. After a moment, he lowered them again.

"It is worse than it was the last time I checked. We may have to seek a mechanical remedy before a more permanent fix can be found."

"Mechanical?"

"A device to block the connection."

"I'm not wearing some goofy contraption on my head."

"You might have to. I suggest we work with Mister Terrific later. However, right now I want to go home and see my wife."

"I understand," Kara accepted. "Send my love."

"I will," J'onn said as he moved back over to the teleporter platform. A few moments later he had given the instruction and he had been sent down to Shanghai.

Kara meanwhile decided to head back to the Kent farm. Earlier she had been called away suddenly to help in Jump City and hadn't gone back yet. She too stepped onto the platform and a few moments later she was whisked away in the energy beam.

18:52 – Station Time (EST)

Flash was sat tapping his foot at supersonic speed. He was feeling impatient and really hoped Batman and Zatanna would hurry up and find something. He wanted to find Giganta and he wasn't doing that sat here.

"What's up with him?"

Shayera looked over to see Shebang step into the room with Omen, who had her red hood pulled over her head, obscuring her face.

"He's just antsy about something," Shayera who was sat at the table with him in the station's cafeteria.

"Yeah, what's that?"

"None of your business," Flash snapped at them completely out of character.

"Woah, sorry," Shebang said in surprise. "I won't pry if it's personal."

"Forgive him, he's just got something on his mind," Shayera told them. "So what can I help you two with?"

"Apart from us being prisoners up here, there's nothing much to do," Shebang responded.

Shayera slowly shook her head. "You're not prisoners," she said. "You can leave if you want."

"But there's not really any place to go right now," Shebang answered. "I suppose we could go back to the Titan's lair, but erm-" She paused glancing at Omen. "No offence, but you aren't a good conversationalist and being stuck in the lair with you would drive me crazy."

"That's fine," Omen replied stoically.

Flash stood up sharply. "Listen, Shay, I need some time alone if you'll excuse me."

He quickly moved off, leaving the three women sat at the table.

"He seems really upset," Shebang commented.

"He is," Shayera responded. She stood up. "I'm going to check on him, see if he's alright."

Shayera left the cafeteria on the hunt for Wally. She found him stood by the large window that was angled down towards Earth. This was her own favourite place to stand and think as the view was the best on the station. It seemed that Flash felt the same.

He glanced at her before casting his gaze back down to the blue planet.

"She's down there somewhere."

She stood beside him in silence.

"Thoughts are going through my mind at a trillion miles a millisecond," he continued. "I keep wondering if this is a ploy, but then dismiss it only to come back to it. But then there's the drag marks and the dropped phone."

"What does your heart tell you?" she asked him, keeping her gaze on the Earth.

"It tells me that I love her and that she's in trouble."

"With Batman on the case, we'll find her."

"Yeah, but I'm worried about the fallout. I'm worried about what Diana, John and Superman will say."

"Not J'onn?"

"I think he'll understand the complexity of it better than the others. Superman's like me, I tend to see things as good or bad and ignore the grey in-between, which is why I think he'll be disappointed."

"You respect Superman."

"A lot," Flash answered. "Sure the Flash name is older, but he's been through more. He came back from having his name completely destroyed. Most would turn to the wrong side of the law in that situation, but he didn't. He fought and became a hero again."

"I know what that's like."

"Yes, you do," Flash agreed. "And I never stopped believing in you."

"I know Flash and it means a lot."

"So does you being here. You really are like a big sister to me."

"And like a big sister, I'm here to look out for my little brother."

"I hope you like Giganta when you meet her," he said, watching the Earth roll by beneath them. "I think you will. She's not the same person when she's not trying to stomp and crush you, y'know what I mean?"

"I'll take your word for it."

Shayera put her arm around him, giving him some emotional support as the two of them stood there watching the Earth in silence.

Museum of Antiquities

Gateway City

United States

17:28 – Pacific Standard Time

March 17, 2007

Cassie Sandsmark waved to Gary, one of the many security officers at the museum. He smiled at her. "You know girls your age don't usually spend so much time in a museum."

"I'm looking for mom, where is she?"

"In the back," Gary responded. "Some kid didn't tie his shoelace, tripped and put his hand through a painting."

"Dumbass," Cassie said.

Gary chuckled. "Well, you're here just in time. The doors are closing in the next minute or so."

"Not many people here," Cassie noted.

"It was a quiet day."

Cassie moved off towards the door to the side that read "Staff Only". She said a friendly "Hello," to Jocelyne another guard as she stepped through, only to bump into Helena, her mother.

"Hey Cass, what're you doing here?"

"Been to the mall with Kati and decided to drop in and hang until you were done."

"That'll be a few hours," Helena told her daughter, as she stepped onto the museum floor with Cassie close on her heels.

Helena then stopped and regarded her daughter. "You've been to the mall?" she asked her, her brow raised.

"Yeah."

Helena looked at her daughter's hands. "I don't see any shopping bags."

"I didn't buy anything."

"You went to the mall and didn't buy anything? I'm shocked," Helena mocked.

"Shut-up Mom,"

They approached the museum Registrar, who turned to them.

"Is everyone out Gerrold?" Helena asked him.

"They are."

"Good, we can close up for the night. Today has not been a good day."

"The painting?" Gerrold asked.

Helena nodded, running her hand through her long blonde hair. "It was on loan as well. I'm sure this will have a negative effect on our insurance."

"Ouch," Gerrold commented.

"More than an ouch, it's a damn scream of agony is what it is."

"I'm sure we'll recover."

"Yeah, but I'm the one who's gonna get it in the neck. I'm responsible for this place and every artefact, painting and exhibit within its walls. Anything and everything that goes wrong and it's my head." Helena let out a frustrated sigh.

Her day only got worse when there was the sound of a loud bang and the shattering of glass.

The three of them turned to look towards the front of the museum. To see the glass doors had been smashed. The guards drew their guns while Helena and Cassie stared in surprise.

"What on Earth?" Helena said out loud.

A group of women walked in, all dressed in unconventional clothing, except one well-built blonde who was in a t-shirt and jeans and another one who looked like a bipedal cat who appeared not to be wearing anything. The group of six women was led by a blonde that was wearing a white outfit and golden bracelets. To her left was a woman with red fiery hair, which literally looked like it might be on fire. Then there was the women dressed as a ninja with a sword and finally the recognisable Catwoman.

The security officers on the floor, Gary, Jocelyne and the older man, Barker, moved cautiously towards them, guns drawn.

The leader smiled. "Deal with them."

That's when everything went to hell.

Updated December 2017