I do not own Superman/Clark Kent/Kal El, Batman/Bruce Wayne, J'onn J'onzz/Martian Manhunter, Lucius Fox, or Amanda Waller. DC does. Please enjoy this story for free.

Batcave Midnight Eleven years after the Deaths of the Waynes

Lucius in the cave frowned before turning up a radio frequency the cave was picking up. J'onn strode up behind him. They both froze as Lucius listened to the transmission and J'onn listened to his mind.

Metropolis Minutes After Scene in Batcave

Superman once more floated over Metropolis watching the cars on the streets, pedestrians on the sidewalks, and now and then turning his head to watch the boats on the sea beyond. Then he heard Clark Kent's phone. He didn't bother changing into civilian clothing before answering it this time. Seconds after he put the receiver to his ear, his eyes widened.

Gotham City Almost a Quarter After Midnight Eleven Years After the Deaths of the Waynes

Batman's eyes also widened as he listened to Lucius' voice over the radio in the batmobile. He then pointed his vehicle to Gotham Harbor. He pulled off the streets and into the otherwise empty tunnel passages beneath the city. After that, he made sure he spoke back over the channel. "Lucius have Alfred watch the cameras set up in and around the Manor. This could be a coincidence, but with a certain matter being so close to completion ... let's not risk it."

He heard Lucius' voice calling out. "Here that Mister Pennyworth?" Then, "He's going."

Batman gave a nod though no one was there to see it. "Good, keep on the line and keep giving me updates. You said Superman was already on his way?"

"He should be, I told him and then thought I heard the phone land after a hard fall."

Ship Miles Off Gotham's Coast Line After Midnight Eleven Years After Waynes' Deaths

Cages were unlocked. Then the conscious guards herded hysterical women out of the hold and onto the deck. Once there, they realized no one had made sure there were enough lifeboats for the crew, guards, and cargo. As the crew got those they did have into position, the men in charge of the operation gathered into a well-armed and alarmed knot nearby. One yelled. "I'm not gonna die here!"

Another shouted back into his face. "You want to be shot onshore for losing our boss' investment?"

The other snarled, "At least I won't drown!"

A third screamed, "We just need to decide who we're gonna take!"

The one most afraid of the who they answered to onshore had his attention caught by the crew hanging the final lifeboat into position. ""Without the boat, they're not of any more use to the boss."

Another turned squinted eyes in the same direction. "And now they got those into place, they aren't valuable to us anymore either."

As the boat was put into place above the sea, one of the sailors turned to those who'd hired them. His eyes bugged out as bullets riddling his body. Some turned as like bullets flew into them. Some sank down with their backs still turned toward their shooters. As the sailors lay bleeding out at their feet, the mobsters turned back to the women on the middle of the deck, who were screaming and crouching down. The mob lieutenant pointed to them. "Get the best of the best on with us! Leave the rest!"

Minutes later Miles Off Gotham's Shoreline

Superman sped to the red glowing dot on the surface of the water ahead. Less than a second later, he froze. His mouth dropped open as his telescopic vision took the scene in more fully. Smaller boats were already moving away from the burning ship. The lifeboats already yards away held rough looking men in now grimy suits holding guns. Outnumbering them on the same small ships sat sobbing women with greasy hair, stained clothing, and red eyes.

Still on the much larger burning and sinking ship left behind were more such women standing, sitting, or kneeling as they wailed, screamed or slumped in despair. Lying on the deck were the dead bodies of men sailors by their clothing and the callouses on their hands Superman could see with his x-ray vision. He caught himself shaking his head either in denial or to clear it. Then, he sped up again to hover near the side of the doomed craft.

At the sight of him, some of the women left behind rushed the sides of the ship. Superman floated down toward them holding out his arms and hands. "Whoa! Whoa!"

His shout caught even more of the women's attention making them look up. They and those who'd already noticed him began to point and shout his direction. "Superman!"

Clark gave a sigh of relief. Good, they recognize me. True, sometimes things got embarrassing, but being famous could be helpful at times like these.

The women on deck began sobbing and reaching up toward him crying for help in a language he only recognized a few words of. He pressed his lips together. He couldn't carry more than a few at a time. Though the ship wasn't going down very fast, he feared the speed he'd have to go to get them all to shore a few at a time would hurt them. And they were coughing from the fumes as well. He could do something about that.

He floated over to one side and blew on the plumes of smoke smelling of gasoline. Some of the iciness of his breath left a frost on the metal as the flames were blown out, smothered by water droplets turned to ice, or at least smothered by that and debris that finished falling apart and down atop them. His head came up and eyes lit up as another idea hit him.

He zipped down beside the ship, disappearing from the women's sight, and causing their cries of excitement and hope to turn to ones of despair. This ripped at his heart, but he stayed his course. Nearing the side of the boat and surface of the water, he took a much deeper breath and blew out causing not a frost, but a thick layer of ice to form around the boat. Some of it, on the hottest parts surrounding the epicenter of the explosion, began to melt right away. However, the boat did stop sinking … for a few moments anyway.

He rose back up into the air to let the victims see he hadn't abandoned them. Then he took in the slightly changed situation. The women's wide-eyed terror seemed to have turned to awe. Their mouths were open in smaller "Os" with less sound coming out. He also now noticed one of the sailors was still breathing, barely. His x-ray vision showed him something that made his eyes widen again. He found a certain place he thought could take it and punched a hole into the deck to go below. He came back out carrying an unconscious man, which he placed on deck, then went back and also brought out a woman with a twisted ankle. The two men needed medical aid faster than the others, but the women were now mobbing him as he knelt to put one of their number, incapable of standing on her feet, down among them. Some were grabbing and pulling at his clothing, particularly his cape. How to even entangle himself to fly any to safety, and would such a flight hurt the most fragile and close to death more? Then, his sharp ears caught the sound of an engine. He turned his head to see a black speedboat nearing the side of the ship. He pointed toward it. "More help!"

Some of the women loosened their grip on him. He used the opportunity to release the grip of the others gently, but quickly and then fly to the unconscious man before scooping him up and flying him to meet the boat. The small craft stopped. Then its top opened. His black-cowled and caped friend stood up in it. "What do you need?"

Superman lowered himself to stand on the boat and hand the unconscious man to Batman who took and guided him down into the boat. The Caped Crusader growled, "It's Samson."

Superman's blue eyes glanced up at him. "You'll still help him though?"

"Of course."

"At least, the way he looks, I don't think he was the one shooting the sailors."

Before Batman could reply, he looked up from setting Samson down to feel the stiff breeze announcing Superman's exit. However, moments later, while examining the bruise on Samson's forehead, he felt another slap of wind announcing Superman's return. Even as he turned, he heard him talking.

"This one is still breathing. He needs immediate medical attention." Batman saw his friend holding a bloody and wheezing body and helped him set it gently down on the floor of his craft too there was barely room left for him to move between them. He went deeper into his boat anyway to pick up an advanced medical emergency aid. "I'm not sure this ship can handle anymore. Are there lifeboats?"

"No, others already left in them."

"Looks like you stopped the ship's sinking. How much longer can you keep that up?"

"Not long, maybe, but I think I can turn parts of what's left of the ship into a raft, maybe even toe it to shore with the chains onboard."

Batman switched to Kryptonian as he knelt down beside the wheezing, bleeding sailor. After all, he planned to save his life. "Don't completely exhaust your strength. It's hours till sunrise."

"I'll try not to, but I gotta do what I gotta here: same as you."

Batman nodded while opening the kit.

Superman nodded back and then flew again to the ship where the women were calling for him. Batman frowned as he pulled out gauze and looked back to his patient. J'onn … please be back on Mars, when I return to the cave.

. . .

Amanda Waller listened through here set of headphones. "We have confirmed sightings of Superman 'and' Batman on the scene. And they're both heavily involved in the situation." She looked to the men sitting at a complicated board beside her. "Jam all transmissions to and from the area. Then, move in on the manor."

What do you think now?

God bless

ScribeofHeroes