Chapter Three

Bre-El

Hundreds of voices collectively buzzed in Bre's ears. All together it was like white noise as long as she did not focus on any one voice. Large groups made Bre's skin crawl. It was easier to talk to someone one on one than it was to add something of value to a group conversation. She lost count of the amount of times someone started to talk over her whenever she tried to speak. After a while, she allowed her eyes to glaze over.

Turning her gaze toward the wall of windows, she watched the waxing quarter moon rise. This was torture. Spending two years in a spaceship traveling to Krypton felt shorter than this night. Then again, Thom was her only company during that trip.

Laughter several feet away caused her to shift her attention. Thom stood in the center of a large group of their colleagues. Several individuals broke off from a nearby group to listen to him tell his story. It always amazed Bre how people gravitated toward him. It was like he was their own personal sun.

The last couple at their table got up and moved toward Thom, leaving Bre to sit alone. Nodding to herself, she got up while smoothing down her hunter green ball gown. Her brother tossed her a wink as she picked up her glass. Bre gave him a smirk before heading to the bar. As she crossed the room her eye caught something strange floating down in front of her. Reaching out, a single snowflake fell on her gloved hand.

Bre's brows knitted together as she glanced up at the open skylight. There were barely any clouds passing above. She turned her gaze back toward the bar. Temperature was one thing that she could never get a good read on. No one appeared to be out of sorts about the temperature in the room. Even so, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was not quite right.

Continuing onward to the bar, she found an empty stool next to two groups of gentlemen. No one paid her any attention as she sat. Leaning forward, she raised her hand to the bartender to wave him over

"...now don't be that way. Humor me, Bruce. One drink, that is all I'm asking for." Out of the corner of her eye, Bre noticed one of the men to her right also flagged the bartender.

The bartender stuffed several bills from the top of the bar into his pants' pocket. He gave a nod to the gentleman who gave him the tip before making his way over to them. Before Bre could say anything, he passed her to assist the elderly gentleman first.

"Bruce, what do you want?" He placed his hand on the younger man's back.

"A club soda." There was a stiffness about him that made him appear like he rather be somewhere else.

"You, my dear?" The elderly man nodded in Bre's direction.

Bre looked around, and not seeing any other woman, pointed to herself. "Me?"

He nodded with a slight smirk on his lips.

"Oh, tonic water." Alcohol didn't affect her, so she never saw the point in drinking it. Besides, most drinks were overpriced and were watered down anyway. There were so many better things worth spending her money on, alcohol wasn't one of them.

"Three Gin and Tonics." He ordered before handing over his credit card. The bartender didn't even acknowledge that they wanted different drinks.

"Polkowski…" The younger man started sounding somewhat annoyed.

"No, I said one drink. A club soda isn't a real drink." Disdain filled Polkowski's voice. He turned his gaze toward her, "neither is tonic water, Dr. Royal." He gave her a pointed look. "You're far too young to look like you'd rather get a lobotomy than be here."

Heat crawled up her skin, likely causing her skin to turn red. She had no idea that anyone outside of her shift knew who she was. But the name Polkowski was familiar to her. He was one of the members of the staff that were being honored. "Getting a lobotomy would be a bit too dramatic." The bartender placed a glass in front of her. Picking it up, she gave him a nod. "Thank you." The younger man turned his attention toward her causing her to stop and momentarily stare at him. Her heartbeat picked up as realization dawned on her. Of course, her face had to be as red as her hair right now. Not knowing what else to do she added as she forced her gaze to shift back to Dr. Polkowski, "and congratulations."

He picked up his glass and clicked hers, "you are most welcomed."

Bruce Wayne stared at her for another moment. He then picked up his glass and adding his own congratulations. "To a career well spent, and many years of retirement to enjoy." He clicked his glass with Dr. Polkowski before turning back toward her to click glasses. Bre-El's eyes met his once more before the sound of gulping caused her to shift them back to Dr. Polkowski.

The elderly man chugged down that drink like a frat boy during spring break. Slamming it down like a shot glass, he whipped his mouth with his sleeve. "Well, go on." He encouraged us.

As Bruce brought his glass to his lips, she did the same. The taste of the drink was not something she cared for, so she attempted to finish it in one breath as well. Wincing, she placed the empty glass on the bar. She turned her attention back to Bruce and Dr. Polkowski. Bruce's glass appeared untouched.

"Well done! I did not think you had that in you." Dr. Polkowski smirked, then motioned for the bartender to get her another round.

Bre raised a single bare shoulder, "I'm following your lead." An attempt was made to smile, but it came across as another wince.

As Dr. Polkowski spoke to the bartender again, Bre turned her attention to the back of the bar as her vision shifted. Layers of steel and concrete evaporated in front of her under her x-ray vision. The Gotham City out - line solidified as she made a concentrated effort to get her sight under control. In the distance, the Bat Signal appeared above the city skyline. Seconds passed as she continued to refocus her vision. Looking back down at the bar sat another full glass.

"This was good. Thank you, Polkowski. If you would excuse me." Bruce placed down an empty glass that had a bit of lipstick on the side. He gave her a nod before moving away.

Bruce

"Saved by the Bat signal." Damien stated in Bruce's earpiece. "Should I go to meet with Gordan for you?" He asked even though he already knew the answer.

Bruce gave his father's closest friend a one last pat on the shoulder. Using his sleight of hand, he managed to switch glasses with the female doctor who joined them. A slight twinge filled his chest as he almost felt guilty for switching glasses with her. And based upon the look she gave him; she knew what he did.

Avoiding her intelligent lavender gaze, he quickly moved away. It took a bit of effort, but he pushed her to the back of his mind. He would not think about her drinking too much. She was an adult. But still... he needed to keep his goal in the front of his mind. As his luck would have it, the bar was near an adjacent hallway that led to an exit. Bruce pulled out his cell phone. Texting Alfred, he notified him about which exit to meet him by. If anyone happened looked his way, he appeared like he was trying to find somewhere quiet to talk on the phone. Bruce brought his phone to his ear; he addressed Damien's question. "Keep an eye on things here. I'll let you know where to go once I know more."

"Don't take too long or you'll miss the mass exodus of drunken doctors trying to give each other CPR." A seriousness with an edge of sarcasm filled his voice.

"Drunken doctors make for easy targets."

"Right, I'm sure there are hordes of thugs waiting to mug them."

Biting his tongue, Bruce did not want to encourage his son further. Each time Damien opened his mouth, he projected his feelings. He still had a long way to go before Bruce could completely trust him. His son's early years had not been ideal. Damien often came off as entitled, but deep-down Bruce knew he was a scared kid who felt abandoned by his mother.

Having Damien in his life made Bruce feel even more grateful for Alfred. Bruce's mother and father were positive influences in his early years. Yet, everything that happened after they died had turned out the way they did because of Alfred. He wasn't even blood. That meant something to him. Not even his uncle could be bothered to raise him. As far as he knew, he didn't even try to contest his parents' will. That used to cause a bitter taste in his mouth, hence why he was able to understand Damien's feelings. But now, Bruce was glad that his uncle kept his distance. If he hadn't, he wouldn't be the man he was today.

Bruce made his way out the door, Alfred pulled up as Bruce finished walking down the stairs. He opened the passenger door, without Alfred's help and then into the back seat. Bruce undid his tie. "Any updates?"

Alfred placed the town car into drive. He moved around several parked black SUVs and vans. "None that I am aware of, Master Wayne. Miss. Gordon hasn't found anything on the web. Nor has she reported anything unusual from the police scanners. Whatever the Commissioner needs to say to you, isn't available through our usual channels."

Bre-El

Staring down at that drink, Bre wanted to ignore it. Two seats down, Dr. Polkowski got his second drink, and left without another word. Bre thought that was a bit strange. Only moments ago, he included her in on a toast, and now he was leaving without saying anything.

Her gaze followed him as he made his way toward the grand staircase, but her view was blocked by the shifting crowd.

The bartender slid another glass in front of her, before moving on to someone else. She sighed, as much as she tried to blend in with humans, their actions continued to confuse her. Sipping her disgusting drink, she turned her thoughts momentarily inward.

A large boned woman flopped herself on the stool next to Bre. Signaling to the bartender she shivered as she said, "get me something to warm me up. It's colder than an ice cube in an igloo." The woman turned her gaze upon her, "aren't you freezing?" A visible shiver vibrated across her body, "buy why should they all care?" She motioned toward the gentleman at the bar, "they're all wearing many layers while we're half naked!"

Not knowing what to say, Bre reminded herself to play along with the woman's rant. "It's so unfair." She nodded as she downed the rest of her drink.

"Wow, slow down there, Tiger!" The woman leaned against her, as she snaked her arm around Bre's shoulder. "Us girls must stick together. Take a stand against the Patriarchy! Complain about the temperature with me, or we could go find some place to warm up together?"

Several heads turned in their direction. Bre picked up the third glass and frowned. The memory of seeing the snowflake earlier pushed to the front of her mind. "You're right about the temperature, maybe I should ask the Emcee to close the skylights." She untangled herself from the woman. "I'll go do that right now." Sliding off the stool, Bre quickly left the bar. Perhaps she was moving too fast, but at that moment she did not care. As she wove her way through the crowd, several snowflakes were floating through the air.

Pulling her phone out of her clutch with her free hand, she brought it to her ear. "Thom, something isn't right." Bre glanced up at the skylight only to find frost moving across the glass surface. Moving in the direction of her brother, Bre noticed that frost was now moving across the wall of windows. Large snowflakes showered the crowd. People all around her stopped in their tracks and stared. It was difficult to move past those around her without pushing her way past them.

Confused voices of those around her made it difficult for Bre to focus on anyone. A feedback crack blasted from the speakers. Everyone grabbed their ears while they hunched over.

"Hello, Gotham General Hospital medical staff!" A loud cheerleader-like voice filled the room as it broke the noise coming from the crowd. "Why don't you all sit down, and chill out for a moment?" A blast of ice came from the orchestra stage along the far side of the room. It streaked across the room hitting the center of one of the tables, turning it and everything on it into a block of ice.