Here we are. I know there are some of who skipped to this moment, but I strongly suggest to read the preceding arc.
DCAU Timeline wise, the start of this arc is set between the flashbacks of Old Wounds and the events of Sins of the Father. It takes place five months after the events of the TBNA/STAS crossover World's Finest.
Dialogue in Thanagarian is represented in italics.
January 2nd, 1999
Midway, MI
Earth
The first thing Shayera registered was the intense cold that greeted her. As the light faded around her, she shivered as she caught glimpse of a seemingly barren, white landscape with an dark, amber sky overhead.
Snow. While the Kur'iol Province did get snow, it was only a dusting that would melt in an few hours in comparison to some of the eastern provinces. She remembered when she was posted in the outpost in the Thuldaid Province seeing the foot of snow on the ground from the warm, regulated outpost above.
"Maybe someone should have been more insistent that we come in the Wingmen Corps uniform," Corporal Andar said from beside her as she lifted one of her feet. The bottom of her red boots caked in the snow.
"As if I were the one to know about what weather would greet us, Katar," Shayera snapped back, irritated that he would seem to expect her to know what weather they'd be greeted with. "I'm clueless just as you were."
She also used it as an opportunity to use his alias. Or else her cover would be compromised should she slip up around others.
"In any case, we should find somewhere to stay for the night," Andar suggested. "Even if we see still see snow by morning, it might be warmer then."
He takes off and Shayera follows suit. The landscape spans below them as they glide through the air. The snow never seems to end yard after yard. Miles away to their right appeared to be a black mass. A body of water or something.
The pair must have been flying for a few minutes when Shayera sees what looks like civilization up ahead. With lights – both still and moving – visible from where she they were flying. Perhaps they could find something there.
Shayera is the first to dip downward to touch down, with Andar following suit not too long after. Touching down in the corner of an intersection. Watching as vehicles pass and turn. Seeing some of the lights turn off in some of the buildings.
As she dips lower, Shayera gazes at the buildings to her left. Having learned what humans do with their money through the Absorbacron, these had to be financial institutions of some kind. With names like Range Bank, Flagstar Bank, and Fifth Third. Leave it to humans to have an insecure system for their currencies.
Though to be fair, Earth was a younger planet than Thanagar. So they have yet to have one centralized system for all their money like Thanagar or any other planet she had been to.
Shayera happens to turn her head to see a group of men exiting one of the banks below. Their dark attire and the bags they carry indicated that they were doing what anyone shouldn't be doing. Bringing her back to her thoughts about their insecure methods for currency.
Andar notices the scene too.
"Should we go after them?" Andar suggested, as the culprit's vehicle drives off. "After all, we are supposed to be former Wingmen."
He had a point. There was a role to play, and it would be off color for a Wingman to observe crime and not do anything about it. Truth be told, it would be unusual for a Thanagarian to greet someone new without there being a fight.
Yet, there should be one exception, especially after seeing how her Commanders Hol and Thal handled criminals in their time on Earth.
"Right, only we can't use capital force on them," she reminds him as she grabs the handle of her mace, and takes the lead.
The two of them pursue the vehicle from an alleyway to the main road. Hovering lower as they got closer. Shayera could feel the blood pumping in her hands as one of the culprit sticks his torso from the car and she turns the mace around in her hands to deflect the ammunition.
She didn't want to know whether humans still used metal as ammunition.
"You keep tailing them, Shayera," Andar calls out. "I'll take them from the front."
Shayera nods before he takes off to the sky. The perps having her eyes on her, and moving each time they shoot. She wondered when they were going to start running out of bullets when she sees Andar descend towards the front of the vehicle.
Watching as he brings his mace to the front of the car.
She's prepared when the occupants get out of the car. The mook swings his fist clumsily at her. Giving time for Shayera to duck and punch him in undercut of his stomach.
"I suppose your parents didn't tell you to not to take what is yours," she tells him as he bends over in agony. In her peripheral, she could see Andar knock down a second one in the time for his first opponent to hit the ground.
In the time it took for her to rub her knuckles, she could register the sound of sirens before seeing two white and black vehicles pull up. Their police force, based on her research. Oh, great. This evening was going to be fun.
However, if she expected more trouble, it was the opposite.
"Great work, Hawks," one of the responding Earth officers thanks them as the crooks were being loaded to one of their cruisers. From her periphery, she could see two more people swooping down and talking to the cops. "We only were just notified by Range Bank's alarm, and we still would have been pursuing them. You saved us the time."
"Thank you, officer," Andar acknowledged. "If you'll excuse us…"
"Hello, there," one of the new visitors speaks up and Shayera gets a good look at them. "Sparrow Hawk and I were here to see if we could help. Well, seems you beat us to it."
The first one had a uniform like Andar's absent the insignia on his chestplate and black trousers instead of green. His gold, metallic wings glinting in the streetlights.
His companion wore bronze and black armor, though her dark brown wings were more akin to Shayera and Andar's own wings. Her blonde hair coming down in waves from her silver helmet. However, it was the girl's sea green eyes that she noticed.
They reminded her so much of Corla.
"Hawkman, Hawkgirl," says the cop that spoke with them. Shayera feels the blood rush to her face. Girl? With all the patronizing connotations it comes with it? "This is –"
"Woman," Shayera corrects. She refuses to be patronized in this manner. "I haven't been a girl for quite some time. I'm a woman. Hawkwoman."
Commander Thal might not have had a problem with it during her time down here, but Shayera sure did.
"Alright then," the cop acknowledges. "Hawkman, Hawkwoman, this is Golden Eagle and Sparrow Hawk. They help us out here, though we pretty much leave anything that is more than we can chew to them. Aside from the Doom Patrol, that is."
"Pleasure to meet you," Andar says as they shake their hands. "Truthfully, the two of us are on an time crunch, so if you can excuse us…"
"Time crunch as in, we don't want to stand out here in the cold," Sparrow Hawk tells him. "Maybe the four of us can continue this conversation somewhere warm."
"Well, there are some questions we have to ask," Golden Eagle continues. "Nothing bad. Just to break the ice a bit."
"Oh, good evening, Chief," the orderly acknowledges as Niles Caulder wheels himself on fifth floor of Midway General's east wing. "Is there anything we can do?"
"I am here to see one of your recent patients." He hands her the note he was given this morning. "There is another person expecting to see me as well."
"Um, yes, Chief. He just got here before you did, and he asked if we could let you in. Right this way."
Batman was not hard to find. The sight of the back of his pointy-eared cowl and his cape was enough to find the observation room.
"Evening, Chief," Batman greets, still gazing at the observation window.
"Evening, Batman." Niles wheels next to him. "I got your message. Anything you learned so far?"
"Nothing different than the first one who was admitted here for mysterious hysteria," Batman replied. "Their toxicology report indicates a foreign substance, and even if I have yet to confirm it, there's little doubt as to what it is."
Niles Caulder didn't have to be a Gotham native to understand that Joker Toxin was the specialty of it's namesake.
"If you truly believe he's here…." Niles deduced.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Batman deduces. "He had a stint in Metropolis back in September. Either it's to do one of his antics without me there to stop him or to see if he can get me to follow him out of Gotham, we need to be very careful at how we go about this. It might be best to collaborate with Golden Eagle and Silver Swallow on this."
"This wouldn't be the first time we'd work with the two of them," Niles agreed. "Oh, and Silver Swallow has been reportedly working separately from Golden Eagle at times. She's Sparrow Hawk now."
"I see." Batman pauses, as if pondering on something. "With rogues like theirs, I'm surprised the two of you agree to operate in the same city. Though yours might post a challenge to them."
"We tend to give each other space when we do our operations. Sometimes we work together when need be. Additionally, Golden Eagle and Sparrow Hawk have been operating in Midway longer than we have, Batman," Niles points out to him. "In the time we've been here, we have only been active since last year."
Back when Niles thought that they weren't ready to step into the world outside the Manor. When he had wanted them to leave Midway after Jane convinced them to go on that reckless venture into town, Cliff wanted to stay. And looking back, leaving would have been an mistake.
Batman nods in understanding. "See if there is anything I have missed, and if I don't catch Golden Eagle tonight, I should meet with him in Doom Manor along with the rest of you tomorrow evening."
"That has been a popular theory going around after they seemed to have vanished from the face of the Earth. There was this other one that they have gone to Russia to work with their Soviet bosses or some nonsense like that."
Golden Eagle had seemed to choose a more welcoming setting. One where one would come to eat, except it was nothing like the mess canteen she was used to have her meals. Though humans would have their own word for this establishment.
Nobody else was here. Apparently this establishment wasn't open to the public at this time of night. Except that the owner seemed to allow them in for a cup of coffee.
Shayera scoffs. "Shouldn't expect anything less of a government who wanted them to unmask themselves and reveal their identities along with the rest of the Justice Society for the betterment of the country or something like that." She picks up the fragile looking cup by the handle and cautiously takes a sip.
Its smooth richness reminded her of Illorian coffee. Except it didn't taste as strong.
"Of course, they would go back to Thanagar," Andar made known. "They wouldn't go to some nation they had no ties with. Especially one that went against everything they stood for."
"They were more paranoid in the fifties then the eighties." Sparrow Hawk takes a sip from her cup. "So much make a movie about workers standing up to their corrupt bosses, they peg it as communist. That aside, your dad was a true badass for standing up to McCarthy like that. It wasn't their right to know who they were."
"Golden Eagle. Sparrow Hawk."
A new voice fills the room before anyone could so much reply. Shayera turns to see a man in an gray and black garb enter the room, though darkness would have better suited his black, pointy eared cowl.
"Oh, joy," Sparrow Hawk mutters. "Mr. Broody McBroodson is here."
"I never thought I would see you outside of Gotham, Batman," Golden Eagle said as if in acknowledgment.
Batman moves his ice cold, blue gaze to Shayera and Andar. "I figured you were patrolling this part of the city, but I can see what has been keeping you occupied from patrols."
"Actually, Sparrow and I were responding to a police presence a few blocks away," Golden Eagle replies. "Except that everything had already been taken care of. This is Katar and Shayera Hol. Their parents were the second Hawkman and Hawkgirl of Midway."
"Our father was chairman of the Justice Society of America," Shayera added. "He and mother flew with the Blackhawks during World War II."
Batman narrows his eyes as he assesses the two of them. "Fascinating story," he says, making it clear that he doesn't quite believe them. That he was skeptical. Shayera had a feeling it might be a while before they could get his trust. And she had a feeling that she was going to need to earn his trust.
However, she would be more worried if everyone they met trusted her and Andar right away.
"When you don't have your hands full with these two, I'd like an word with the two of you," Batman finishes before sweeping away.
"Don't take it personally," Sparrow Hawk chimes in. "He's always frosty to each new person he meets."
"I'd be more worried if he trusted us without question," Shayera pointed out. "We could have nefarious intentions as far as he knew."
"People were skeptical when our parents came to Earth," Andar pitched in. "With all your troubles against Hitler at the time."
Not that their intentions weren't actually nefarious. They were after all sent here to see if Earth could protect themselves against the Gordanians, though so far there was a lot to be desired. However, it would draw more suspicion if she tried too hard to insist that there was no reason to distrust them.
Hro would say that feigning patience gets the best results. And the best way to get trust she was going to have to feign patience in order to get it. Even if time might not be on their side depending on when the Gordanians would get to Earth's star system.
Sparrow Hawk was charged with taking them to the lodgings they'd be staying for the night. "The vocabulary for it was hotel," she explained. "Some people go there when they have vacation or because they have work. Or they have no place to live. The one I'm taking you is family owned. Not as expensive as Hilton but not as cheap as Motel Six."
The three of them land in front of a two story building bearing the sign featuring an bearded man with an horned helmet and the words Viking Inn and Suites. Guests can have breakfast in Annie's Pizza. Pet Friendly in black letters on an glowing white sign underneath.
There wasn't too much difficulty in getting them checked in. Apparently an Edmond Parker had made the reservation for them ten minutes ago. "Oh, and Edmond Parker told me to give you these."
The receptionist shows them two pairs of beige coats. Even if they needed them, they were going to need certain alterations to be able to put their wings through.
Stepping into the hotel room, it was larger than the Academy dorms for the Senior Cadets and the standard officer's accommodations. Though the sleeping area of a Commander's quarters on a Command Ship can fit into this room.
Even if some of the information about Earth provided by Hal Jordan's memories from the Absorbacron, Shayera and Andar did allow Sharon to go over some of the appliances and contraptions in the hotel room, like the microwave, mini fridge, and coffee maker. Regarding the first one, they had something similar in the standard officer's quarters on Thanagar. Where one can punch a couple buttons and out comes their meal.
And then the television and the remote that goes with it.
"Why all the channels?" Shayera asked as she looked at the pamphlet with numbers and letters next to it.
"So you don't have television on Thanagar?" Sparrow Hawk asks them.
"We do, except all we get is newscasts," Andar answered. "Two hours in the morning and two hours at night. That's all that one needs, really."
"Four hours a day?" Sparrow seems to be raising an eyebrow. "I was told that in the old days, people would watch an hour news, but times have changed. People like to be updated on what's going on. Besides, what if you are out and about and something happens?"
As seen through Hal Jordan's and her mother's memories of Earth, they obviously had a different culture that even during war, they had the time to do leisurely activities. Then again, a lot of the humans were noncombatants. Whereas on Thanagar, the non-combatants only made-up ten percent of the Thanagarian population.
"It's just that our culture is different than yours," Shayera made known. "The majority of us just don't have all that time for ourselves."
"I get that." Sparrow Hawk nodded. "All the planets are not going to be the same. Well, is there anything else you need?"
"No, we're good," Andar answers with a friendly smile. One that Shayera was certain he wouldn't have given her if there wasn't a role he had to play. Though she could see a sort of intensity in his eyes.
The same sort of intensity when he looks at Corla.
"We don't need anything," Shayera answers in turn, hoping Sparrow didn't notice his intensity.
However, seeing her cheeks blush indicated that she did.
"Well, then." Sparrow takes a deep breath, as if to clear her head. "Someone should be with you tomorrow to help you find someplace more permanent. There's an envelope on the table that has something to help you with your needs. I should see the two of you soon."
Right after closing the door behind her. "I thought it wasn't going to leave. Pretty eyes for a dog, though," Andar vocalized.
When you are half-human yourself, Shayera thinks as she reminds him, "I doubt this would be the last time we'll see her, Corporal. Also, I would like it if you refrained from referring to humans as its, and that is an order. We may be partners on this mission, but I hold more rank than you."
"Don't remind me, Lieutenant," he scoffs, putting his hands on his helmet. "Also, if this is an team effort, pulling rank is an moot option."
Had it been any other circumstances, she would have scolded him. That he wasn't supposed to reveal his face to anyone else but family, close friends, and their life partner. However, this was supposed to be a deep infiltration. To not only infiltrate among the Earth's heroes but among their civilians as well.
She also had to be unmasked on certain occasions on some scout missions. For a concealed face would have made her stand out. Shayera grits her teeth as she removes her helmet, and without it she felt naked and vulnerable.
"I was able to procure some stuff before we left." Shayera opens one of her pockets and takes out the wing clips. Setting them on the table. "This is supposed to be an deep infiltration, so we could use them."
Shayera watches as Andar picks one of them up. He had a red scar on the right side of his face. As if his face met with the sharp end of the blade.
"Why does it have to be a deep infiltration anyway?" he asks. "We're already degrading ourselves as it is. I am degrading myself as it is." He snorts. "It's already bad enough that I am half a dog, as it is."
"It is what it is," she tells him. Shayera excuses herself to the washroom. Exhaling deeply as she sits down on the edge of their washtubs.
Her hand trembling and blood pumping as she takes out Hro's atlas from one of her pockets. Opening it to see that projection of Thanagar, it's two moons, and the Polaris star. Feeling that homesickness seeded into her stomach.
Truthfully, the moment she landed on Earth, she was already missing Thanagar. Except it started to sink in as she sat in a foreign space gazing at a projection of her home.
"Have you gotten that all taken care of?" Batman asks them as they stand on the roof of the Midway Crossing Mall.
"Yeah." Edmond Parker scratched his neck. "Arranged them to stay at a hotel for the first couple of nights before they'll go somewhere permanent."
And after then, probably talk some more with them. To learn more about the children of the duo who had taken in his father. Had taught him everything he needed to know, and in turn his father had passed down the Thanagarian ways of combat.
"The Hol siblings aside, mind if you cut to the chase, Batman?" Sharon had asked him.
"I've met with the Chief in the hospital this evening." Batman reaches under his cape and hands him a folder. "There's been a second case in the hospital of mysterious hysteria."
Mysterious hysteria. He remembered the first time someone had been admitted to Midway General for hysteria. How their heart gave out afterwards. That toxicology found an mysterious chemical in his system.
It was clear who had an MO like this.
"Batman, we dealt with Mr. Nobody once even without the help of Chief's Doom Patrol," he reminds Batman. "We probably could handle the Joker without you."
"Tell that to Superman," Batman counters. "The Joker can prove to be a lot more than one can chew even to those more powerful than me. You are going to need my help, and I feel that more likely it's going to be a combined effort of the two of you, the Doom Patrol, and myself."
"Perhaps our new Thanagarian friends can help as well," Sharon suggested.
"After they seemed to have been here for a couple hours?" Batman demands skeptically. "We only know what they have told us."
"I doubt they wouldn't hesitate to help," Edmond suggested. "After all, they managed to stop bank robbers from fleeing without so much being asked. Besides, we could use an plus with Sparrow Hawk traveling out of town soon."
Batman seemed to raise his eyebrow in response. As if he was weighing his options. "Alright, but only because they might wind up getting roped into this. I hope your trust in them is warranted, Eagle. See if you can find a way to tell them to meet us at Doom Manor this time tomorrow evening."
The two winged heroes watch as he walks away from them. "I will see you tomorrow morning at Ethon Enterprises, Edmond," he bids, and without another word, he grapples to the building next to them.