Bruce paced back and forth in front of the dark-skinned Thanagarian – Chey-Ara – currently occupying his computer chair. Not once did he look away from her. He was feeling…irked. Today was not his day…or night…or whatever. It was 3 a.m., and he had a board meeting in 4 hours. Maybe I should cancel. "What should we do with her?" the chatty birdman asked. Bruce shot a glare in the male Thanagarian's – Carter – direction.
"We aren't going to do anything," Bruce replied, emphasizing the we. "You are going to leave, and J'ohnn is going to wipe your memory."
"What!" Carter exclaimed, taking a step back from both Batman and the Martian. "What if I promise never to show up unannounced?" Bruce said nothing. "C'mon. I swear, I won't tell anyone about the Batcave," Carter begged.
"I'll take care of him when we leave here," J'ohnn said. "But what about her?"
"Are you able to read her mind?" Bruce asked.
"Her mind is not as powerful as Hawkgirl's, but it will still take several minutes."
Chey-Ara rolled her eyes. "I know the vipera name is Shayera," she growled. "No need to use her alias or whatever."
Carter started at that. "Listen, you little-" he began, but Bruce held up a gloved hand, silencing the angry hawk man. "Can you please show him the exit?" Bruce asked J'ohnn.
"Certainly," J'honn stepped up. "Mr. Carter, if you would."
"C'mon, guys!" he exclaimed once again. "I'm part of this, too. I can help."
"You already have," J'ohnn said. "And I thank you for the assist. But for now, please come with me." Carter opened his mouth to protest once more, but the Martian Manhunter cut him off. "Do not make me make you," J'ohnn said. "I will." Carter turned to follow J'ohnn out of the cave, all the while mumbling, leaving Batman alone with the small, scowling Thanagarian.
Batman sighed. He needed to figure out what he was going to do with this…scout. He couldn't leave her here. She would be tracked. "This is gonna be a long day," Batman muttered. First, he was going to have to wake Shayera. Her presence may be necessary.
"Aahh!" Shayera shrieked in terror. Her arms and legs flailed as she plummeted to the earth. Her breath came in short pants as she screamed for anyone to catch her. Life flashed before her eyes as the pavement grew ever closer. Covering her face with her arms in a futile effort to brace for impact, Shayera – Shot up in bed mid-scream as her body shook violently. "Shayera!" Shayera fought against whatever had her arms pinned. "Shayera! Shayera! It's me! It's Bruce!" Shayera stopped, gasping for air while desperately taking in her surroundings. She wasn't falling. She was safe in bed. Shayera slowed her racing heart as Bruce released his hold on her upper arms. Shayera could see Alfred, Jason, and Tim slowly exit the room from the corner of her eye. "You're okay," Bruce comforted her.
"What…?" Shayera tried to get her bearings. Bruce sat as Batman sans scowl. He must have just returned from patrol. "I…what's happening?"
"I was coming to wake you. We have a visitor from Thanagar."
"We have…what!"
"What do you mean she was caught?" Lieutenant Issi growled at the bounty hunter. Judging from her attire, Lobo guessed he had interrupted the lieutenant's bedtime…or bed play with a mate.
"Okay," Lobo sighed heavily. "I came across your wingless friend. Turns out a shapeshifter had been mimicking her scent. A Martian. The little, dark bird came to help me, but the Martian captured the little bird." Issi swore. "Also," Lobo continued, "there's another hawk here on Earth. And I don't mean the one I'm hunting. I mean a full-grown male hawk. Wings and masks."
"I will look into it. Anything else?" Issi demanded.
"Now that I know the Martian's scent, locating Hawkgirl should be easier. I can trace the little bird's scent. They probably took her to wherever they are hiding Shayera."
"Then why are you wasting your time calling me? Go get her!"
"Easy, Your Highness," Lobo mocked. "That Martian packs a punch. I took a few hits. I need at least a few hours to recuperate. After that, I'll get you your prize."
"This is your last shot. The next time you contact me, it better be good news."
Lobo furrowed his brow. "I don't take too kindly to threats," he said.
"And I do not take too kindly to incompetent bounty hunters wasting my time! So, unless you want to feel the wrath of the entire Thanagar army, capture Shayera, and bring her to me. You have a week!"
"Hey, that was not-" but Issi canceled the connection.
Lobo released a string of curse words in about ten languages before accosting an innocent garbage container sitting in an alley. He really, really hated Thanagarians. He couldn't wait for this job to be over.
Shayera once again found herself in a lift, at Justice League headquarters, with Batman. She didn't dwell too much on how uncomfortable she was; other things were on her mind – the whole situation with Thanagar, her feelings for the Dark Knight standing beside her, nightmares about falling to her death, the billionaire vigilante standing beside her. "Uh," she groaned, rubbing her eyes with the palms of her hands. Batman cleared his throat. "I don't want to talk about it," Shayera answered his unspoken question.
"Hmm," was his reply.
"I'm fine."
"Hm."
"It's fine. Just a bad dream." Silence. "I'm fine. Let's just get this over with," Shayera said as the lift doors opened.
Batman and Shayera stepped out of the lift simultaneously. A shudder worked its way up Shayera's back. Nearly seven months ago, her wings were torn from her back. The hair on her arms stood up as many of the younger leaguers stared at her in confusion, shock, curiosity, or hatred. Shayera kept her eyes forward. They couldn't hurt her any more than she already had been hurt.
"Shayera!" Batman and Shayera stopped walking.
"Oof!" Shayera exclaimed as she felt a body out of nowhere crash into hers, nearly knocking her off balance. "Ow."
"Easy, Flash," Batman said.
"Hey, Flash," Shayera said to the redheaded speedster hugging her.
"You look way better than when I last saw you," he said, holding her at arm's length. "Your cheeks have even gotten chubbier," he said, squeezing one of them. "Isn't that right, Bats? Look." Batman cleared his throat in response as Flash continued. "You look great, Shay. Like, your hair has its bounce and shine back. It was really dull and lifeless when I last saw you." Shayera subconsciously touched her hair. Had she looked that bad? She had been avoiding mirrors as of late. She honestly had no idea what she looked like these past few weeks.
"We're here to see the Thanagarian," Batman said as he walked.
"Ahh. That little girl is stubborn," Flash fell into step with Shayera and Batman. "She hasn't uttered a single word since J'ohnn brought her in. I mean, she hasn't asked for food or water or to go to the bathroom. You guys do go to the bathroom, right?" Flash asked Shayera.
"Yes, Flash, we go to the bathroom," Shayera responded incredulously.
"Just wondering," he replied with a shrug. "I don't recall ever seeing you go to the bathroom."
Shayera knew - she just knew - Bruce had to be rolling his eyes underneath his cowl. "Flash," Shayera said, "what…why….just because you don't see – I can't deal with you right now."
"I'm just saying," Flash said as they all three entered a room. It looked like the average interrogation room you would see at a police precinct, save for a few differences. The room was separated by one-way glass. One side was where the actual questioning took place, walls made of material; even Superman would have a hard time flying through.
The other side had monitors and different AI tech built into the walls. These computers read micro-expressions and body language in real-time with 99.99% accuracy. This side of the interrogation room was big enough for 20 people to stand comfortably.
Shayera expected the room to be empty, but that was too much to hope for. Superman, Wonder Woman, and Green Lantern stood in the dark room, staring at the screen and monitors. But all three turned to look at her when she walked in. Superman looked uneasy; Wonder Woman looked enraged; and Green Lantern looked indifferently at her. Shayera looked away. She deserved whatever animosity was being sent her way. "What is she doing here?" Wonder Woman demanded with a sneer on her perfectly carved face.
"Diana," Superman stated calmly, "we talked about this."
"We aren't arguing about this again," Batman interrupted the two. "Do you recognize that Thanagarian in there?" he asked Shayera. Shayera turned to look at the dark-skinned, maskless Thanagarian who was glaring at J'ohnn – her current interrogator. Shayera recognized her instantly. "I do," she turned to look at Batman. "Her name is Chey-Ara. I was once her CO."
"Great," Wonder Woman muttered, "another person she directly betrayed."
"You know, you don't have to be here," Flash pointed out to the Amazon. Wonder Woman scowled back at him.
"Think she might talk to you?" Batman asked Shayera, ignoring Flash and Wonder Woman.
"I can certainly try," Shayera said. She walked to the door connecting the two rooms.
"We'll be watching and listening in here," Batman said in reassurance.
"So don't try anything," Wonder Woman sneered. Shayera ignored her and walked into the room.
J'ohnn and the Thanagarian immediately turned to her. Judging from Chey-Ara's expression, she recognized her. "It is good to see you up and about, Shayera," J'ohnn gave a very tiny smile. "Would you like me to leave or stay?"
"I don't have a preference," Shayera answered, feeling a bit uneasy.
"I'll leave," he stood up from the chair before phasing through the floor.
Shayera sat in the now vacant chair and stared at the girl she had once trained. They held each other's gaze for a few minutes before Chey-Ara spoke up in Thanagarian. "I barely recognize you without your wings. What's it like?"
"It takes some getting used to," Shayera answered, "and in English."
Chey-Ara rolled her eyes before looking past Shayera's shoulder at her own reflection. "They're listening and watching on the other side of that glass, aren't they?"
"Yes," Shayera saw no point lying to the scout, "but that's more for me."
"Right," Chey-Ara smirked, "you're a traitor in their eyes. What's that like," Chey-Ara's bright blue eyes bore into Shayera's green ones, "knowing that no one in the universe wants you?"
"I wouldn't say the universe," Shayera muttered.
"Your family disowned you. You officially no longer exist on Thanagar. Your birth records have been completely eradicated. I was invited to the place where you grew up. There are absolutely no pictures of you anywhere. Your room has been burnt down and sealed shut. General Hro no longer has two children. He only has one, and that is Lieutenant Issi." Shayera said nothing. The reality of her situation once again setting in. "All of those medals, all of those awards, have been given to Issi. Your name has been wiped off every plaque. You do not exist anymore on Thanagar. The name 'Sha-yera' is no longer allowed. I'm surprised they allowed me to keep my name as it sounds so close to yours."
"Why are you telling me all of this?" Shayera asked, trying to hide her annoyance…and her pain.
"Because I want to know if it was worth it?" Chey-Ara cocked her head to the side, studying the woman who was once her CO. "You saved Earth, but what do you have to show for it? Earth hates you; you lost your wings, your family, and your identity; you are no longer a Thanagarian, and you are not human. What are you?" Shayera pursed her lips together. She had been asking herself that very same question as of late. "You saved a bunch of weak, measly humans. And for what? They slaughtered your character. Your so-called teammates served you up on a platter to Lieutenant Issi. They may not have literally torn the wings from your back, but they might as well have. They did not stop it from happening."
"It was the right thing to do," Shayera spoke, "betraying Thanagar, saving Earth. It was the right thing to do."
"For whom?" Chey-Ara countered. "They all had lives they got to return to. You returned to nothing. You became insignificant. You could be standing before your parents right now, and they would look right through you. You're dead to everyone, but even the dead get funerals and memorials. You were there one day and gone the next."
"Can you just tell them what they want to know?" Shayera sighed heavily. She refused to show weakness….or tears.
"I just wanted to see you - Thanagar's pride and joy," Chey-Ara mocked. "The next great leader of Thanagar, with wings given to her by the gods. It would have been better if you had been dishonorably discharged from the military or disowned by your family. At least then, you could work your way back into their good graces." Shayera stared silently at the young hawk in front of her, showing no emotion. "You guys know what I know," Chey-Ara looked away with a sniff, "Lobo is hunting you. He is supposed to return you to Thanagar. There you will be given to the Gordanians."
"Do you know what they'll do to me?" Shayera asked Chey-Ara. "The Gordanians?"
"Horrific experiments. Rape you. Beat you. Torture you," Chey-Ara said with no more than a shoulder shrug. "Your father is the one that negotiated the agreement with the Gordanians. Your sister is in charge of making sure everything goes smoothly. You know the Gordanians – they have always wanted to dissect a Thanagarian. So General Hro, your father, asked if he handed them a Thangarian, would the Gordanians leave Thanagar alone? It is an exchange. You for peace. That's the endgame here. The Gordanians get you, leaving Thanagar alone for a period."
"I figured that part out already," Shayera muttered. "What happens when the Gordanians finish with me?" Shayera asked, already knowing the answer. She just needed the League to hear.
Chey-Ara smirked, "Do you think there will be much of you left?" Shayera pursed her lips. "I'm ready to talk to one of those heroes now," Chey-Ara motioned with her head. Shayera stiffly stood to her feet, turned, and walked out of the room without another word or glance back.
Entering the dark room where her ex-colleagues stood, Shayera was surprised by the silence and uncomfortable looks on their faces. Tears began to pool. "Shay," Flash stepped forward.
"She's willing to talk to one of you," Shayera stopped him in a shaky voice.
"Shay," Flash said, his voice thick with emotion.
"I'll be in the hall if you need me," she said, briskly walking past Batman and Flash. She would not cry in front of them. Any of them.
