Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction

The Wayne Legacy: Rise

By BetterInTexas

Chapter 02:

Wayne Manor

Despite her best effort, Diana barely slept that night. No sedatives had ever worked on her but usually aromatherapy and a stiff bottle bourbon helped. She had downed what would have put a normal person into a drunken coma and barely felt a buzz, lasting only about twenty minutes.

No matter how she tried to wrap her mind around it, she was having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that her brother was back.

For the first time in six years, she knew exactly where Bruce was, waiting at the midtown penthouse for word that he could come to the manor and be reunited with Kara.

Although the manor was his home as well, he didn’t challenge her when she told him she would speak to Kara first. If he had shown up and surprised their younger sister at breakfast, she probably would’ve hit him again. While Kara didn’t need any distractions going into this meeting, Diana was a master at compartmentalizing so she could remain unaffected.

The early morning found the brunette entering the large library that had also served as her father’s study. She walked to the fireplace and slid her left ring finger over a hidden fingerprint scanner on the mantle. A panel to the right of the fireplace slid open, revealing a keypad and optical scanner. Diana dutifully put in a seven digit code and placed her eye in front of a state-of-the-art optical scanner. The bookcase beside the panel slid back revealing an elevator that was the main entrance to the private laboratory Thomas Wayne had installed under the house.

After her parents’ death, it was greatly expanded to include a gym, pool and workshop for Kara. It served as a safe place to treat Kara, to help Diana understand the powers she rapidly gained throughout her life and for her and Bruce to train.

She found Kara on the treadmill, wearing a red sports bra and Nike shorts, long, blonde hair in a pony tail, covered in sweat and running at a brisk pace.

“Morning, Didi.” Kara greeted her older sister and idol whom she had nicknamed ‘DeeDee’ when she was barely a year old.

“Good morning, Bunny. Are you almost done? The meeting is at ten and you need breakfast beforehand.”

Kara rolled her eyes, amused and slightly irritated. At times, Diana was the cool, older sister she wished she could emulate. At others, Diana was the strict mother who wouldn’t let her get away with anything.

“Yeah, I just have a mile to go. Give me five minutes.” Kara told her, keeping her pace while speaking to her sister between breaths. “Speaking of exercising, I wanted to talk to you about possibly competing in a 5K race.”

Diana crossed her arms and stared at her little sister who was focusing on the front of the treadmill, purposefully avoiding looking in her direction.

“Has Eliza approved this?” Diana finally asked, knowing Kara’s personal doctor had not.

Kara slowed the treadmill down before stopping it completely. She turned to Diana fully prepared to make the argument she had hoped to avoid.

“What is the point of all this exercise if I can’t compete? I’m in good enough shape. I can run three miles easily.” the blonde asked, frustration in her voice. Kara knew she had maintain calm. Arguing like a child would get her nowhere with Diana.

“The point of the exercise plan is to keep you healthy. Eliza cleared the additional training against my better judgement with the understanding you would only run inside these walls. A race could weaken your body. It is held in open air in uncontrolled environments with hundreds of unknown people. Your immune system could be compromised by that alone, the balance of your medications completely thrown off. Do you wish to finish the race and go straight to an isolation room for weeks afterward?” Diana asked her.

Kara took a deep breath. “My T cells and white blood cell count have been perfect for two years. I take my medication every morning and night, get treatments each week, and go through my gene therapy once a month without complaint. I get poked, prodded and scanned. I eat the food I am told, sleep when I am told, exercise when I’m told, and work only the hours I am told no matter how much I am needed after hours.

“I don’t want to die, Diana, but I want to live as well. Racing gives me a chance to do that. This is no different than when I swam as a kid. I was in public then. I stopped because of college but a 5K is nothing compared to the distances I swam then.”

“I will concede that point, Kara, but you haven’t been in any type of race since then, and despite being outside, 5K races are crowded. You won’t be in your own lane, plus it will be in open air, harder for your bodyguards to protect you.

“No, Kara, I’m sorry, but it isn’t happening.” Diana told her firmly.

Kara stiffened her jaw and pulled out her final weapon. “You aren’t my mother, Diana. I own a third of our company. I am twenty-one-years-old and make our company billions. I think I can make decisions for myself. I’ll stay in a bubble for a month afterward if that is what it takes but we both know my body is strong. I’ll do what I want.”

Diana raised her hand, growing weary of the argument. “You are right, I’m not Mom, but I promise, she and Dad would have been as opposed to this as I am.

“Have I not always kept you safe? Are you truly not happy? I have told you if you would follow my directions there would be nothing to fear, right?”

Seeing the crestfallen look on her little sister’s face, Diana’s stomach knotted up even more than it already was.

She sighed wearily. “If you truly want this, I will stay out of it. Maybe Mom would have let you. Mom probably would have let you do more than I ever did… given you a better life. I can’t help how I am, how much I worry over you, Kara. I’m sorry.”

Kara dropped her head, feeling guilty about using that argument against her older sister. It was true, Diana wasn’t her mother, but she was the one who took care of her, loved her with all her heart, never abandoned or gave up on her. Diana did everything in her considerable power to give her a great life.

“I’m sorry, Didi. I shouldn’t have said that. I didn’t mean it. I know you keep me safe. I’m just tired of… so much structure I guess.”

Diana did understand. She wanted so badly for Kara to be able to live a more carefree life, to be a normal, healthy young woman. It was her life’s goal to find a way to give her sister that life. Unfortunately, she hasn’t been able to. At least, not yet… and it broke Diana’s heart.

Reaching out, she put her hand under Kara’s chin, gently forcing her head up so she could see her eyes. “You do own a part of our company, Bunny, and it will always be ours, but that has nothing to do with me being against you doing something so dangerous to your health.

“We once thought you would never live outside of a bubble, but you have. Then we thought you would never be able to go to school, but you did. We thought you would never be able to work in an office or take walks outside. Now you are.

“You have beaten those odds and you will continue to do so, but you must have patience. Small steps, remember?

Diana took a deep breath, pushing down her concerns for her sister in light of more pressing matters. “Kara, can we discuss this another time? I promise we will. There is something I need to tell you, something important but I don’t want to tell you until after the meeting. I don’t want you distracted.”

Kara raised an eyebrow, intrigued. She really looked at her sister for the first time this morning and, while the world would see the same gorgeous, confident woman, Kara could tell by her eyes she had not slept much if she’d slept at all.

“You should say yes.” She finally blurted out.

Diana gazed at her sister, confused. “Yes to what? You and this race? I asked if we could talk about this later.”

Kara shook her head. “I’m talking about Steve. He asked you to marry him, didn’t he? You should say yes. He can keep our secrets, Diana. He loves you, he would do anything…”

“That’s not it.” Diana told her. She sighed and closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose, trying to ward off the headache she could feel building behind her eyes. “Forget I said anything. As soon as the meeting is over, the two of us will talk.”

“But…”

“Please.” The older sister pleaded, finally letting her tiredness and stress seep through her normally stoic mask. “Let us get through this meeting, then we will talk.”

Kara recognized the tone and knew Diana was really struggling with something. However, if there was one person she could expect absolutely honesty from, it was her older sister. If Diana wanted to wait until after the meeting, that was fine. Whatever was on her sister’s mind was obviously something big and Kara admitted she did not need any distractions this morning.

The blonde nodded in acquiescence and moved to hug her sister, but Diana stepped back, arms raised. “You are sweaty. Do you think you could shower before we hug?”

Kara rolled her eyes and wrapped Diana’s strong frame in a hug, then rubbed her hair and forehead in her taller sister’s neck, giggling the entire time, just as she had done when she was younger.

“You are incorrigible.” Diana groaned though she returned her sister’s hug, her hand holding Kara’s head to keep her still, but also wanting to keep her close. “Do you plan to wear your contacts today?”

Kara pulled back slowly from the hug and nodded. While she never felt in Diana’s league when it came to beauty, she knew she was pretty. In certain meetings, she enjoyed leaving the glasses and the casual clothes behind and tried to emulate her sister’s fashion style.

“Yes, I was.” Kara said carefully.

Diana sighed, but didn’t object. “Alright, just make sure to run them through the air sanitizer twice. I don’t trust the solution alone. We don’t want an eye infection.

“Now go. Breakfast is in an hour then we leave. I’m driving.”

“You’re driving?” Kara asked, surprised given that Alfred usually drove them. The cars the Waynes owned were not subtle and rarely driven during the daytime.

Diana hesitated. “Alfred will be busy today.”

Seeing Kara’s confused look, Diana changed tactics to divert her sister’s obvious concern. “Tell you what, how about we take the Lambo. I’ll even let you drive if you get a move on.”

Seeing the look on Kara’s face as she squealed in glee and grabbed her, kissing her cheek on the way to the elevator, eased Diana’s troubled soul as few things could. Smiling to herself, she followed her sister to the elevator, her heart a little lighter as she prepared to face her day.

---

Wayne Enterprises Executive Suites – Penthouse

Downtown Gotham

Bruce had woken for the first time in years on a soft mattress covered in satin sheets. He had hoped he could have seen both his sisters last night. The man missed Kara’s bright, warm smile and her hugs. Diana may be his twin in every way that mattered, but Kara was the baby of the family and had always been doted on. Bruce was no exception to her cute charms, and he wondered how she had grown.

He had read up on both of his sisters on the flight to Gotham. Kara and Diana were superstars of the business world. Wayne Enterprises had several government contracts but had also diversified in a manner he never could have imagined.

Kara was considered one of the biggest innovators in the world, perhaps the best, a world class genius and pioneer in many areas. She was responsible for recruiting some of the best talent to Wayne Enterprises. Under her guidance, the company had taken over the smart phone market, computers and tablets, even video games. Last year, the Digital Arts Division had launched the best-selling video game of all time, breaking the previous record of four million copies sold or downloaded by over a million overnight.

In addition to electronics, Wayne Enterprises was the number one name in clean energy, computer security and operating systems, telecommunications satellites among hundreds of other business and many subsidiary companies. Their fossil fuel holdings were still among the top in the world, rivaling some Middle Eastern Countries.

Eliza Danvers medical research department had developed ground breaking treatments, better instruments for diagnosing diseases early and noninvasive surgical procedures. Her work on SCID that had started with Kara, had branched out into innovative Stem Cell and Gene Therapy treatments in a multitude of immunity disorders and cancer treatments.

Kara, along with her scientists and engineers, made the toys and Diana sold them, steamrolling the competition.

In a perfect world, he and Diana would have worked side by side, shadowing their father and learning from him, guiding Kara together.

But the world was not perfect as Bruce found out when he was twelve, his parents blood splattered on him as he stood between them, ears ringing from the close range of the gunshots.

The man wished there had been another way, but to do what he had to do, he simply couldn’t stay. He didn’t have Diana’s strength or her weapons. He only had his body and mind, and neither had not been strong enough. Now he was and his sister did not appear to have any interest in their mission.

Bruce heard the door open, knowing it must be Alfred or his sisters, since only they knew the security code to reach the penthouse in this building. The man threw on a t-shirt and jeans, trying to maintain his calm but really hoping Diana had changed her mind, cancelled whatever meeting this was and brought Kara to him.

It was not Diana nor Kara, or even Alfred. Instead, it was a man with neatly cut, sandy-blonde hair, nearly the same size as Bruce. He wore a blue dress uniform that identified him as a Captain in the Air Force and was carrying a travel bag. The officer stopped when he saw Bruce, both men taking in the other.

“Can I help you?” Bruce finally asked.

The officer’s expression never changed from his steady, disapproving gaze. “Steve Trevor. I’m in town for a meeting. I usually stay at the manor but, with your arrival, I assumed you would be there and thought I would stay here.”

“Stay here? You have the security code? You usually stay at the manor?” Bruce raised an eyebrow, trying to stay calm as he realized this man knew more about him than the reverse. “Who exactly are you, Steve Trevor?”

The officer laughed disdainfully and shook his head. “Maybe if you had been around the past six years you would know, Bruce Wayne. I am, for lack of a better term, Diana’s boyfriend.”

“Boyfriend?” Bruce asked, stunned. Diana had never dated anyone or shown any interest in dating prior to him leaving Gotham. If this man was telling the truth, more had changed than he ever considered.

Steve nodded. “You may be surprised to find out that life went along without you. People have relationships, fall in love… where were you anyway? Hiding on a tropical island? Wandering Europe? Never calling, never sending a postcard, just… nothing. But now, you are here, out of the blue… with no warning whatsoever.

“I am glad you are here in the penthouse at least. I had hoped Diana wouldn’t have sprung you on Kara that late at night. She never would have gotten any sleep.”

Bruce stiffened at the tone of the man’s voice and his overt hostility. Whoever this Steve Trevor was, he spoke of things that were not his business. “I am sure our family reunion is none of your business. Diana asked for an opportunity to tell Kara herself. I plan to meet them both this afternoon. I appreciate your concern for my younger sister.”

“Diana asked you, huh? Diana doesn’t ask, she tells. I’m sure she is glad to know you are alive though. I know Kara will be glad because you bring so much to the family.” Steve said sarcastically, barely holding back a laugh.

Steve moved to pass by him when Bruce grabbed the man by his shoulder. “I would hate for us to get off on the wrong foot, Steve. Perhaps the veiled accusations could stop. If you have something to say, then say it.”

Steve looked Bruce in the eye. “You should have stayed gone. They got over you… they have thrived without you. Kara hasn’t mentioned your name in the three years I have known her. All you can bring into their lives is heartache. How long until you decide you can’t take real life anymore and leave again? While Diana can handle being disappointed by you once more, Kara won’t be able to, leaving Diana to clean up your mess yet again.”

Bruce tightened his grip on Steve’s shoulder, fighting back a scowl. “Mine and my sisters’ relationship is none of your business.”

Steve slowly grabbed Bruce’s hand and pulled it off his shoulder. “Maybe not as they relate to you directly, but make no mistake, Bruce… both of them are my business.

“I was there when Kara was dying. I held her hand whenever Diana passed out from exhaustion and she needed comforting. I gave them all the support I could, holding Diana for hours at a time when Kara was placed into a medically induced coma to give her body a chance to heal. Where the hell were you?

“I have a meeting to prepare for. I’ll make sure to ask Diana where you will be staying tonight so I can stay somewhere else. Unfortunately, I am sure we will be seeing each other again.”

Steve walked past Bruce and placed his bag in one of the guest bedrooms and walked out, not sparing another glance at Bruce who remained standing motionless.

Bruce greatly wished he had something to hit. Instead of taking his frustration out on the wall, he moved back into the room and began doing pushups.

The irritating thing about the whole encounter was Steve was right. It was becoming apparent that he couldn’t bring anything that could improve his sisters lives, but the man was wrong when he thought he would leave them again. Bruce had not dropped off the grid because he couldn’t handle the real world. He dropped off the grid to become a part of it, to turn himself into a weapon that could right the wrongs of the real world.

Bruce couldn’t say that in public of course. No matter how much he wished to stand by Diana’s side, to be a brother she and Kara could be proud of, he knew he had a part to play.

He would be Bruce Wayne, irresponsible playboy with no ambition. He would be the son others would say Thomas and Martha would be ashamed of. He would be the black sheep of the family, the man who took nothing seriously while his sisters carried the burden of his lifestyle and their parents’ legacy.

Others’ opinions didn’t matter to him. Kara and Diana would know the truth. What he did at night was who he would truly be.

He just needed Kara’s help. He could do this without Diana, but in order to cleanse Gotham of the disease criminals were spreading, Bruce would need more than just his skills. He had his own weapons, technological skills he had picked up over the years, but nothing compared to what Kara could make for him.

He wanted dangerous toys, and no one made better toys than his baby sister.

That meant having to convince Diana or go around Diana hoping Kara would help him secretly.

Then again, Kara may slap him as Diana had done the night before. She had as much reason to be angry with him as Diana. Despite what he had been through the past six years, the physical and mental pain he had felt, hearing Diana say that Kara asked for him as she thought she was dying, felt as if his insides had been set on fire.

Kara had every reason to have nothing to do with him. She followed Diana’s lead, idolized her sister. She always had, even as a toddler. She would follow her big sister around the house until Diana had to hide from her, just to get a moment’s peace.

Not that Diana did that often because of the deep love she had for the little blonde ray of sunshine. Diana obsessed over Kara and it became stronger once their parents had died. As a result, Kara did as Diana wanted most of the time without question. If Diana told Kara to stay away from Bruce, he was certain Kara would.

“How many of those do you plan on doing?” Alfred’s voice spoke up. Bruce shook his head, irritated that he had been so lost in his thoughts he had forgotten to be aware of his surroundings.

He did a hand stand then flipped onto his feet. “Good morning, Alfred.”

“Good morning, Master Bruce. Did you sleep well?”

Bruce nodded his head. “I haven’t slept well in a long time, but the mattress was nice and comfortable. I also met Captain Trevor.”

Alfred nodded. “I saw him on his way out. He has as much tact as you, so I am sure the two of you got along splendidly.”

Bruce huffed. “He told me I should stay away from my sisters, that I would bring nothing but heartache to them.”

Alfred moved to the chair in the corner and had a seat. Staring at the younger man, he tilted his head questioningly. “Will you?”

Bruce shook his head, hoping his former guardian would understand. “Alfred, you know why I had to do what I did. All the training we did when I was growing up…”

Alfred held a hand up. “Yes, we trained. But what part of that training involved you disappearing for six years without a word to your loved ones?”

Bruce looked at the floor, not knowing what to say to the man who had been his second father. All he could tell him was the truth. “If I would have said goodbye, I would have never left.”

Alfred let out a sigh and shook his head, obviously wanting to say more but just as obviously choosing not to. He motioned for Bruce to follow him to the kitchen. “I brought you a bacon and egg biscuit from a very quaint little coffee shop that recently opened two blocks away. It’s a family owned business rather than a chain. You don’t see those often nowadays. I assume you still take your coffee with cream and sugar. Eat up and join me in the living room.”

“Sure thing.” Bruce grumbled around a mouthful of biscuit. He had missed simple things like this. “Thanks for selling my shares by the way!”

Alfred turned around and walked closely to the man, his expression one of extreme disappointment. “Diana needed total control of the company, not an absent partner who no one knew was alive or dead. She paid well for them and I have the money waiting for you. Perhaps if you would have told me your plans, I may have acted differently, but I seriously doubt it because my reasons for selling them to her stand.

“Now eat. When you are done, you are going to tell me the truth and you are going to tell me everything.”

---

Wayne Enterprises

Kara and Diana walked toward a seldom used board room on the third sub-level of Wayne Enterprises. Their guests had arrived and were waiting for them just outside the restricted room.

The sisters had met all the men before, but they were accompanied by an unknown, thin, African-American woman who had a smile Diana didn’t need her mysterious golden lasso to know was a lie.

The guests followed the sisters into the lavish, octagonal conference room containing a long mahogany table and chairs in the middle with monitors on all sides. The paneling gave the room an appearance of a log cabin but behind the wood was where the real tech came in.

Though Wayne Enterprises was protected by the best security money could buy and their employees could create, this room took secrecy to another level. It was the only room Diana would speak to members of the military or congressional committees about top secret projects. It was so impenetrable, it could also serve as a fallout shelter.

The four men and one woman sat around the table as Diana took her place at the head with Kara on her right.

Kara leaned over and bumped General Lane’s shoulder who gave her a fond smile in return.

“You are looking lovely as ever.” Lane whispered to her. “I’m not used to seeing you without glasses.”

Kara gave him a half smile. “I’m trying to compete with my sister in the beauty department. Unlike her, I have to work at it.”

The man laughed quietly. “I don’t believe either of you have to work at it. How have you been feeling?”

Kara blushed as she always did when someone asked about her condition. Though the family had tried to keep it a secret for years to protect her privacy, the world eventually discovered that Kara had recurring medical issues.

“I’ve been doing well, staying healthy, keeping in fighting shape. I might give up this business and join one of your special forces’ teams.”

The man smiled fondly but shook his head. “You save more lives doing what you are doing. You should know, your latest generation drone was used in field combat last week. A squadron was pinned down by snipers in some tall buildings. Your smart projectiles were able to lock onto every enemy and deliver simultaneous kill shots without the use of explosive ordinance. Because of that, no buildings were damaged, and no debris or buildings landed on our soldiers or any civilians.”

Kara returned his smile, her thoughts a mix of sadness and pride in response to his words.

“I only wish we lived in a world where they weren’t needed.” she told the general.

He reached over and took her hand. “Maybe together we can make that world one day. What you do is good, Kara… ultimately, your weapons save lives. Never forget that.”

Kara squeezed the man’s hand. “Thank you, Sam. Sometimes I need to be reminded about the good my weapons do and not focus on the death they cause.

“How are Lucy and Lois?”

General Lane moaned. “Lois quit college… again. She took a job last week at the Daily Planet of all places. She wants to be a reporter this time. I’m beginning to wonder if she is ever going to find a career and stick with it. Lucy however…”

Sam Lane’s smile could have lit up the slightly dim room. “Lucy has been accepted into West Point and is starting in the fall. She wants to be a lawyer. She always has been the more driven of the two. Lucy is a lot like you.”

“Good morning, everyone.” Diana called the meeting to order, having shuffled papers around to give Lane and Kara a chance to speak.

Diana had always liked Sam Lane. He and her dad had been friends since Thomas Wayne served as a doctor in the Army and saved Sam’s life in Afghanistan. Though their careers kept them apart after Thomas left the military, Lane did visit two or three times a year at Wayne Manor often during birthday parties for her and Bruce or Kara. He always had the biggest, sweet spot for Kara.

On the other hand, Sam Lane was military, Kara was a genius weapon maker and, while he needed to maintain that close relationship, Diana always got the feeling Sam Lane was genuine. She trusted him and that made him an asset. She had always gone with her gut feelings about people and was rarely if ever wrong.

“I was a bit surprised by the request for a meeting on such short notice but am happy to see our old family friend, General Lane.”

“Not that old, Diana.” Lane mumbled, winking at the older sister.

Diana smiled at him pleasantly and looked over to Congressman Bradley Milton who headed the House Armed Services Committee. “Who is your new friend that you brought to meet us, Congressman Milton?”

The man smiled tightly, and Diana realized he wished his new friend had not accompanied him today. “Thank you for seeing us, Diana. We are joined today by Amanda Waller, Director of an organization called A.R.G.U.S. They are similar to the CIA but conduct very off-book assignments. You already know Captain Rick Flag, Head of SOCOM, unconventional warfare unit. He has been at your product demonstrations, but we thought it might be beneficial for him to be in on this meeting.”

“Greetings to you both. Before we proceed any further, Director Waller will give me a presentation and answer any questions I have on the purpose and scope of her agency.” Diana said in a matter of fact tone.

Waller fixed a glare in her direction. The congressman cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, national security prevents us from speaking about those topics. I can assure you…”

“In this regard, Congressman, your assurances mean nothing. Unless she tells me what I wish to know, she will be escorted out of this meeting.” Diana told the congressman, cutting off his attempt to evade her demand. “I have no interest in sharing my business with those who will not share theirs. I am sure from a corporate security standpoint, you can understand.

“We have had successful business dealings in the past, Congressman. You understand us and our needs and we understand you and yours. I do not understand this woman or her agency. I have no need for either of them, so she will explain, or she will leave.”

A slightly panicked Milton looked across to Lane who shrugged his shoulders.

“She has a point, Congressman.” It was apparent to Diana that General Lane was not a big fan of Waller or her organization given his sour looking expression.

At his words, the woman spoke up, not bothering to hide her irritation. “We have come today with an opportunity for your company, Miss Wayne… one that could give Wayne Enterprises a near monopoly on government defense contracts. Is your curiosity worth losing the money and jobs we can bring?”

Diana bristled, her eyes flashing, poker face now in place. “If you have done your homework, you know that our company does not exist solely as a military contractor. We have several businesses and ventures, hundreds of subsidiaries and lead several technology, medical and energy markets. You seemed to be under the false belief that Wayne Enterprises needs you… we do not.

“You have come to us with a business proposal, and I will always insist on getting to know those I am getting into business with. I know the President, the Cabinet, the Joint Chiefs, the Senate and Congress. I do not know you.”

“And you won’t if you insist on questions about us being answered.” Waller retorted. “You take twenty-two percent profit on all military weapons and software developed for the government. You supply forty percent of all current military contracts. It could be zero percent or one hundred percent. We can take this offer to LuthorCorp, and they would jump on the opportunity at a much lower profit margin than Wayne Enterprises expects.”

Diana leaned back in her chair and crossed her legs, meeting the woman’s eyes, not flinching. “Go ahead. I’ll have Wayne Security escort you out.”

At a predetermined signal, four men moved into the room, making no further action, obviously waiting for Diana’s instructions.

Waller was livid and made no pretense to hide that fact. “You would throw away guaranteed money and jobs for your company for answers to questions about things that neither you nor your sister have the security clearance to be read in on.”

At these words, Diana eyes flashed again as she smiled, still totally at ease. “While it is true, you could take this to LuthorCorp, you haven’t. This means you don’t trust Luthor any more than I do… your intelligence data is telling you he would sell you out to another country if there was money to be made. He may even try to play other countries off against the United States to create an arms race he could profit from. I believe the correct term for this behavior is ‘war profiteering’.

“You are also aware his company is known for shoddy workmanship and his ideas are not innovative. His cyber security and cyber warfare technology is decades behind ours. There are rumors that he has been involved in illegal biological weapons research and human experimentation, rumors, if proven true, could have devastating effects to the United States, not only among our citizens but the world.

“But despite all of those reasons, the main one boils down to that fact that you know Lena Luthor is not Kara Wayne.

“Kara has made your battleships as invisible as your bombers, your attack subs are ghosts, and your armored transports and tanks are impregnable. Her drones are deadlier, quieter and more accurate than anyone ever dreamed of and our satellite technology is advanced beyond what LuthorCorp or even NASA has. The firearms Wayne Enterprises has developed are more reliable and resilient than any assault rifle in the world.

“We have what you need… what you want… and there is nowhere else you can get it.

“So unless you want to be responsible for ruining Congressman Milton’s proposal before it has been made, you will answer my questions about your organization, or you can leave. I am sure Lex can fit you into his schedule.”

Waller stood up quickly with a scowl. “Do you have any idea of who I am?!”

Diana held up a hand to stop the security detail from approaching the woman, but her expression was as cold as her reply. Leaning forward in her chair, she steepled her fingers together, studying the angry woman with a tilt of her head. “I know exactly who you are. You are the director of a black ops agency with an overinflated ego who thinks she has some semblance of power over me.

“You do not. Directors of shady agencies change every day. The CEO and owners of Wayne Enterprises do not. You will not speak to me as a subordinate.

“What you will do is sit down and answer my questions, or you will leave. Those are your choices.”

Looking over at the shaken politician, she said, “Congressman, I have looked past your blatant attempt at persuasion in bringing my friend, Captain Trevor, into this meeting though he has nothing to do with weapons contracts. You approached me and right now, I feel that was a mistake. I do not bow before others, and this woman has disrespected my integrity and the integrity of Wayne Enterprises. As you know from our previous dealings, what is said in this room, stays in this room.”

Milton looked at a furious Waller and shook his head, upset that she had acted like this. Apparently, everything he heard about the woman was true.

Lane was glaring at Waller, obviously ready to physically throw her out.

Captain Trevor was fighting a smile, obviously entertained by how quickly and coldly Waller had been verbally subdued by Diana Wayne.

Rick Flag looked embarrassed.

Kara sat back and watched the battle, a small smile on her face that indicated she would high five her sister if it didn’t break professional decorum. She loved to watch Diana rule the board room.

The heat from Diana’s words simmered in the air until Congressman Milton cleared his throat and spoke up in a subdued tone. “I apologize and can understand your concerns. Your questions will be answered openly by all parties. As far as Captain Trevor, I did not mean for his presence to persuade you or attempt to manipulate you in any way. He volunteered for a potential position that is important to our proposal.”

Diana looked thoughtful for a moment, then nodded and waved her hand towards Milton. “I see. Still, before the proposal, Director Waller will give me the scope of her agency and answer any questions I have concerning what equipment they use.”

Looking to her security detail, Diana thanked them, asking that they return to their post so the meeting could officially get underway.

Waller explained A.R.G.U.S.’s mission to Diana through clenched teeth and barely concealed hate in her voice when she answered the CEO’s questions.

Diana looked at Milton. “Given what I have just been told and this woman’s attitude towards me, the only way I will consider developing weapons for A.R.G.U.S. is for her to be replaced as director. She has no honor, an inflated ego and dubious ethics given her answers to my questions. I am surprised the United States would give someone like her such a position of authority.”

Milton shook his head and looked towards Lane. The General shrugged his shoulders, amusement evident in his eyes, leaving the Congressman to respond.

“I do apologize for her…” Milton started before Diana interrupted.

“She will apologize for herself.” Diana demanded.

Milton looked at Waller, his meaning clear.

In that instant, the surprised woman knew Diana Wayne was more important to the men in this room, all of their bosses, and the country than she was. If she didn’t do as she was told, Milton was going to ruin her career, possibly ending it. Waller had always been in control and earned her place by being ruthless. She was quickly coming to understand that her ruthlessness had backfired on her.

The room was silent, waiting on her.

“I apologize if there…” Waller said, before being cut off by Diana.

“There are no ‘ifs’, Director Waller. You do not come into my Tower, into my boardroom and speak to me with anything less than respect. Apologize… now.”

Waller cleared her throat and met Diana’s eyes. “I apologize for… I apologize.”

The room was tense, waiting for Diana’s response.

Rather than accepting the apology, Diana turned towards Congressman Milton and smiled, relieving those in the room. “Proceed with your proposal, Congressman. You have my attention.”

General Lane cleared his throat, shifting the attention of the room off the obviously sweating Congressman. “We are prepared to offer Wayne Enterprises a ten year contract to become our sole supplier of conventional and sometimes unconventional weapons and defense measures. This would include cyber security, satellite development, missile defense shields, aeronautics, nautical and space defense, basically everything our country needs to protect itself.”

“As part of the deal, the government will pay for and build new facilities dedicated to this cause, as many as needed for research, development and production. The facilities will be given over to Wayne Enterprises ownership and, if the government ever reneges on the contract, they will remain your property. In exchange, Wayne Enterprises will pay for the workers.”

“Profit margin?” Diana asked.

“Sixteen percent off the top.” Milton answered.

Diana leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes for a moment, her mind working through the math. Deciding on her counteroffer, she said, “Twenty percent and I will pay for the facilities myself. I also want a twenty year contract.

“Any weapon, not in violation of the Biological Weapons Convention, will be provided by Wayne Enterprises. We have the right to turn down any project if we deem it impossible or unethical. At that point, the government can find another possible contractor for that weapon only and not be considered in violation.

“It will be taken on good faith that if we say something is impossible, then it is impossible. You may look elsewhere but we all know if Kara can’t build it, then it can’t be built. The NSA cyber security and offensive capabilities will be overhauled by teams led by our employees. The number of employees needed shall be determined by us for the facilities.

“We will be open to government audit but only for military projects. Military officers that have the security clearance will be granted unrestricted access to the facilities.”

Diana looked at Waller. “Black ops agencies will not be allowed to audit our processes, nor will they be allowed on the premises. I don’t trust agencies the American Government refuses to acknowledge. Any information about our dealings they wish to have can go through the military.”

Congressman Milton listened to her proposal and was not surprised. From his past dealings with Diana, she was certainly not going to take the first offer and as she pointed out to Waller, had no reason to. He enjoyed negotiating with her because she was never unreasonable or looking for a way to cheat her customers. She worked for, and delivered, a fair price for everyone involved.

“The land for the facilities will be tax exempt and we will add your profit margins to that exemption. That alone will save you millions. We are expecting to hand over the defense budget to your company. This deal will be worth billions and give you as much power as the President.” Milton reasoned as he sent the ball back into her court. “Eighteen percent.”

Diana looked at her sister, who had a huge smile on her face. She had so many projects she wished to build, to hand over to be used, but the price was often too high.

“Eighteen percent and we set the price. Every product we make has a minimum order of one hundred units. I’m not going to design a hundred million dollar jet and be told only twenty are needed when the price is too high. As I said before, we will open books and itemize expenditures, but we do not do shoddy workmanship.

“We will make proposals and you will accept or deny the order, but you only go through us. If you try to find a lower bidder, you are in breach. We keep the facilities, terminate the contract and you can hope your pilots don’t drop out of the sky while flying LuthorCorp jets.”

The Congressman looked towards General Lane who seemed to approve, judging by the grin on his face. General Lane wanted Wayne Enterprises. He believed in this company, as did the Joint Chiefs and the Armed Services Committee.

“There would be liaison officers at the facilities.” The Congressman added.

“That is acceptable. I suspect by Steve Trevor’s presence that he is one.” Diana said with a knowing smile. “I own the land the Gotham City International Airport sits on as well as the forty square miles to Metropolis. I will build the Aeronautics development and manufacturing facility there. I aim to bring as many jobs as I can to Gotham City.

“Kara’s research and development department, as well as her team leads, will remain in this building. It is more secure than the White House, I assure you, and I will expect military protection for her in addition to our own security. Her R & D teams are vetted and will be given top secret clearances after being cleared by your procedures. Special projects will be on Staten Island. I need to meet with my advisory board, mainly Lucius Fox, legal and contracting.

“This contract will take time, but I am willing to start building the facilities now on a basis of the eighteen percent contract and forfeiture of ten billion if the contract falls through. We can have a good faith contract signed within the week. If the deal falls through, I can always use the space for producing private aircraft and luxury yachts.

“I also want this fast tracked through the House and Senate. Eight months at the latest for a binding contract. Is this possible, Congressman?” Diana asked.

Milton nodded. “It appears your lawyers and ours will have much work to do for the next month.”

Diana shrugged it off. “That is why they get paid so much. The meetings start in two days. Captain Trevor can work out of Wayne Tower with Kara and devise a preliminary product offer sheet as well as coordinate with interested agencies.”

Milton laughed, surprised that she was not making this harder than it needed to be. It was obvious control was slightly more important than price yet the control she asked for was not absolute.

“What gave you the idea that Captain Trevor has agreed to be your liaison officer to the military?” he asked playfully, finally relaxing now that they had a preliminary agreement.

Diana grinned at the man, a glint of mischievousness in her eyes. “Kara’s involvement will mean she spends much less time with her teams in our other interests, so this contract is actually more about her time. You want Kara’s mind. We want eighteen percent, twenty years guaranteed, control of all facilities and I personally want Captain Trevor. He is a dealbreaker. We can write him into the contract if necessary.”

Kara laughed, unable to maintain decorum, watching Diana go from cold, calculating business woman to playful sister in seconds. It was a gift she had. Diana could intimidate a person one second and charm or humor them the next.

“That hurts, Diana. I’m not some piece of property that can be bought and sold.” Steve told her, trying to force a façade of hurt and mostly failing.

“Then why is an Air Force Captain here in a business meeting?” Kara asked, finally unable to stay quiet.

Steve scowled at her then offered her a wink, grinning.

“I believe we have reached an accord, everyone.” Diana stated. “I need to assemble the board and prepare legal. The negotiations and terms begin in two days. I thank you for this opportunity and the faith you have placed in Wayne Enterprises. I know our parents would be proud to know that their company is doing its part in keeping this country safe.”

“Thank you, Diana… Kara.” Milton responded shaking Diana’s hand and reaching for Kara’s before pulling back at a warning glance from Diana.

“It’s been a dream of mine since I designed my first jet to be working with and defending the country we love. It is an opportunity I am grateful for, Congressman.” Kara told him sincerely, smiling.

Once the room cleared, only Steve, Diana and Kara remained.

Now that the business deal was done, the impact of what just happened hit Kara. “You did it, Didi! You always said we would be the sole supplier of the US military and now we are. You actually did it! All the plans you told me about are coming true.”

Diana smiled and hugged Kara tightly. “We did it, Bunny. One more step to making the world a better place and it is because of you. This was all about you, sweetie. I am so, so proud of you.”

Diana let Kara go and Steve brought the blonde in for a hug. Seeing the look on Diana’s face, he let Kara go, smiled, then walked out, knowing it was time for Diana to tell her sister the news.

“What’s going on?” Kara asked. “Steve had a strange look on his face.”

Diana took Kara’s hand and guided them both to a seat. “That thing I needed to tell you about?”

“Yes?”

“Bruce is back. He flew in last night. I wouldn’t let him come to the manor because I didn’t want him to surprise you. He wants to see you this afternoon.”

Kara went completely silent at the news.

Diana hadn’t been sure what her reaction would be, happiness, anger, excitement or possibly all three of those.

What she hadn’t expected was the blank look on Kara’s face.

After a very long, silent moment, Kara replied, “Then I suppose I should see him. I need to give instructions to a couple of my project teams then we can go home.”