The Wayne Legacy: Knightmare
By BetterInTexas
Chapter 33:
Wayne Manor
“I need to go, Diana.” Bruce told her.
“Why? Are you insane?” Diana asked. “A.R.G.U.S., Gotham City PD, and our own people are on scene. What do you plan to do? The chances of you being seen are astronomically high!”
Bruce waved off her concern and moved toward the elevator, with Diana following and Kara sliding in before the door closed.
“Bruce, what do you think you are going to do?” Diana asked again.
“I know how to be invisible, and you know it. I’m going to watch from a distance.” Bruce explained. “If things go to hell, I can strike unseen should he run in any chaos he may cause. Neither of us want him to escape.”
“It’s taken care of.” Diana insisted, thinking of grabbing him and rendering him unconscious as he exited the elevator.
Bruce stopped and looked at her carefully. “What is taken care of?”
“Crane! He is surrounded! You can’t go into the station without letting the world know there is a lunatic, dressed like a bat, in Gotham!” Diana exclaimed, shading her true meaning so as not to upset him.
“Diana is right, Bruce. Let law enforcement handle this. There are just too many people involved.” His little sister agreed.
Bruce turned to Kara and shook his head.
“I’ll be okay, Kara.” Looking at his twin, he stated, “I’m leaving. I’m taking the suit and my Benz.”
“Bruce, if you are seen…” Kara tried again.
He gripped her shoulders, squeezing reassuringly. “I won’t be, Kara. Trust me.”
The two sisters were concerned for different reasons as he walked out the front door. Diana was frustrated and Kara worried. They went back to the library where Diana asked Kara to go back to the basement with Alfred, Steve and Babs. Kara could sense Diana’s mood, so she agreed, wanting to closely monitor the situation with Barbara anyway who was anxious because of her dad’s involvement despite the red-head’s efforts to hide her concern.
Hippolyta walked into the room as soon as Bruce was away.
Seeing Diana was alone, the former Amazon Queen asked carefully, “Do you want me to ensure he does not leave? I can do it almost painlessly. He will only have a headache for a few days.”
Diana sighed. “Crane has seen Bruce in costume. He will figure out who Batman is. He will know Bruce had a suit that could survive an explosion at near point-blank range and only one person in Gotham can make tech like that. I can’t allow Crane to talk to anyone.”
“So, this monster won’t be arrested?” Hippolyta stated, understanding Diana’s true meaning.
Diana shook her head slightly. “I have assurances from people who need my approval that he will not survive the night. Bruce will not be happy. That’s why I don’t want him there. He may do something idiotic like try to save Crane’s life… him and his damn self-righteous morals.”
“It is the privilege of those without responsibility to make their own rules. It is left to you to make the hard decisions.” Hippolyta replied knowingly, having similar experiences over her very long life. “Has it always been this way?”
“I wonder how we can coexist at times.” Diana admitted, sighing. “I didn’t enjoy ordering this man’s death, no matter how evil he is, but he crossed a line when he took a shot at Kara. I want him dead for that one act alone, but I must also protect Bruce. I will do whatever is necessary to protect this family.
“If Crane were to escape later and kill someone, Bruce can say it wasn’t his right to take a life because of his code. He wouldn’t feel responsible for the innocent life lost because he let the man live. I couldn’t live with that. Cronus wasn’t killed by Zeus and look what happened. He crashed my birthday and killed many gods and Amazons.
“This man knows Kara made that suit Bruce wears so it is necessary for my family’s safety, for our secrets to stay secret, that he dies. I don’t have the luxury of Bruce’s code. All I can do is hope he doesn’t get in the way.”
Hippolyta could easily see her daughter’s conflict but was proud that Diana didn’t hesitate to do what was necessary.
Hippolyta placed a hand on her shoulder, Diana’s eyes meeting hers. “I wish I could take credit for the amazing leader and warrior you have become. Thomas Wayne made you so strong… and so wise. It is good that you do not take death lightly.
“So, do you want me to go to this scene and ensure all goes well and Bruce does not interfere? Alfred showed me how to drive the black car with four hundred imaginary horses under the hood. I can almost manage to stay on one side of the yellow line, though he has to remind me which side I am supposed to stay on.”
Diana chuckled. “No, it’s fine. It will play out as it is meant to. I only hope Bruce knows how foolish it would to be seen.”
Outside Union Station
Despite there being a known terrorist inside a crowded train station, the area surrounding it was quiet. Gotham PD and A.R.G.U.S. had moved into the area quickly, but without sirens so as not to alert Crane.
Montoya stood by Gordon as did Blake.
“How sure are we that the target is Crane?” Montoya asked.
“My daughter said a little over eighty percent certain.” Gordon replied. “Of course, he has used decoys before. One of those damn idiots even killed himself pretending to be Crane in New York.”
“Any chance we can get a closer look?” Emilia Harcourt asked.
“Without attracting attention?” Gordon questioned, thinking the problem through. “He is going to notice and may start spraying his toxin everywhere.”
“I’ll go in.” Blake said. “I’ll change clothes…”
Emilia raised her hand. “No way. How long have you been a cop?”
“How long have you been the top boss of a secret black ops agency?” he retorted. “You can’t send your guys in. Both the men and women have ‘fed’ written all over them. Diggle is known, Montoya has been all over the TV with the Parlow press conferences. He won’t know me.”
“You think you don’t look like a cop, Blake?” Montoya asked. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a hair out of place on your perfectly coiffed scalp. You would think you and Bruce Wayne spend most of your time together styling your hair.”
“Okay…” Blake started… “That’s a good one, but I’m still the best shot at identifying him.”
“What about Bullock? Nobody would mistake him for a cop.” Montoya offered.
“No!” Gordon, Blake and Harcourt said at the same time.
“C’mon, Commissioner… put me in, coach.” Blake offered again. “Put a wire on me. I’ll sit across from him, verify it’s him and see if there are any canisters in easy reach and then I am out of there. I’ll even mess up my hair.”
“Do it.” Gordon decided, giving in, seeing no better option. “Get in, verify it’s him, see if there are other extremely nervous crazies in the place and then get out. You know you can’t take a gun. If he gets you, we can’t run the risk of you having a weapon.”
“No problem.” Blake assured him, turning and running down the nearest alley.
Five minutes later, he was back wearing a ball cap, oversized hooded sweatshirt, torn jeans and very new basketball sneakers with his uniform, gun and duty belt in his arms.
“Where the hell did you get those clothes?” Gordon asked.
“I paid a kid around the corner a couple hundred bucks. I expect to be reimbursed.” Blake told him. “I also promised he wouldn’t be picked up for running home in his boxers. Somebody want to wire me up?”
Ten minutes later, John Blake, hood over his head, walked into the station. He did his best to act natural and walked up to a drug dealer.
“Listen up, I need you to act like you are selling me drugs.”
The man raised an eyebrow. “You a…”
Blake grabbed his elbow and squeezed tightly. “Yes, I’m a cop. I don’t need you to actually sell me drugs, I just need you to act like you are handing me something.”
“I’m not a dealer, man.”
Blake rolled his eyes. “I’m not here to bust you, I just need you to play along. See the man behind me sitting at the bench against the wall?… Don’t look! Play it cool. Is he watching us?”
The confused dealer began looking around the station. “Yeah… but he is checking the whole place out. Am I working with the police now? Am I deputized or something? Does that give me a get out of jail free card?”
“How about the next time I see you, I’ll give you a twenty second head start before I chase you down.” Blake offered, sounding sincere.
“Deal. So how you want to play this?”
“Give me a bag.”
“What do you want? I got coke, meth, mollies…”
“An empty bag, you idiot!”
The dealer nodded, placed his hand in his pocket and looked around the station. He slipped an empty baggy to Blake.
“Now what?”
“You got a gun?”
“Yeah. We gonna pop somebody?”
“I need you to wait outside. I’m going to cuff this guy, but I need you in front in case he gives me the slip.”
“There aren’t other cops out there, are there?”
Blake shook his head. “Of course not. Why do you think I am working with you? You got this?”
“I’m with you, man.”
The dealer looked around and walked casually towards the exit.
“I’m assuming you guys are going to bag him when he walks out. Try to keep it quiet. I’m moving in.” he told those listening in.
Blake walked casually around the place, examining faces, identifying other criminals, ordinary citizens, and any possibly insane or at least highly agitated people, reporting quietly on what he saw so law enforcement agents could mark those individuals to minimize the danger if things got out of hand.
Gradually, he turned his back to Crane’s line of sight, leaned in a corner, in plain sight of their supposed target and pulled out the bag, turning his back to the crowd.
After pretending to snort something from the small baggie, Blake walked to the bench in front of Crane and sat across from him, doing his best to feign the drugged-out relaxation most addicts had who were high.
“You’ve never used drugs in your life.” Crane suddenly said.
“You talking to me, buddy?”
Crane smirked. “If you snorted something you should be tweaking right now, not relaxing.”
“You a cop or something?” Blake asked.
Crane laughed and met his eyes.
“I know you from the news, right?” Blake said, his signal to law enforcement that it was Crane. “You that fed that took a shot at the blonde Wayne girl. Crane, right? Why you messing with her? She’s hot.”
Crane smiled. “You know I didn’t take the shot, Officer Blake, I was just the catalyst. If you play dumb much longer, I am going to believe you actually are an idiot.”
Crane’s immediate recognition of him left Blake off-balance, not believing the man would have any knowledge as to who he was.
“You think I’m a cop?” Blake asked, slurring his voice, hoping to throw the man off.
Crane laughed at the attempt. “Don’t take me for a fool. I understand you and Kara Wayne have somewhat of a personal link. You are Gotham City Police Officer John Blake. You were in that article about her that had the lovely photo and if the rumor mill is right, you are going to be her date to Diana Wayne’s wedding. Let me be the first to congratulate you.”
Blake shook his head, giving up the pretense. “Amazing. Psychotic terrorist and mad scientist and you still read the trash columns.”
“Tell me, are you the one who wore her suit and survived?” Crane asked.
Blake paused. “She has never bought me a suit and I’ve been a survivor for a long time, Dr. Crazy.”
Crane cocked his head. “You are too short… so it must be the man who disappeared…”
Blake stood up and interrupted him, having an idea of where this was going and aware his interactions were being monitored. “Okay, Crane, you are going to keep your hands where I can see them. You reach for anything I will crush your damn throat.”
“Why would I reach for anything?” Crane said, showing his hands. “I have nothing on me.”
Crane looked to the high ceiling… the ceiling that was covering hundreds of people in the station.
“You thought I didn’t know I would be found? You thought I would take on the might of Gotham PD, Wayne Security and the feds, with a can of aerosol?” Crane asked, his eyes gleaming maniacally. “I’ve been preparing for this for a while, long before I took my shot at your girlfriend. I even did some unnoticed work a couple weeks ago, improving the fire sprinkler system in this very building.
“Did you know a small amount of a chemical compound can mix with water and become a large cloud of particulates just from the interaction? It takes less than a small thermos of my fear toxin to cover this entire station.”
Blake looked around at the crowd, then looked at the ceiling. “He’s got cannisters in the sprinkler system! He is going to douse this place. Move in!”
“I really need to check the time.” Crane said.
Crane raised his arm to look at his watch and pressed a button on the side. The fire alarm went off and the sprinkler system kicked on. Before the water could reach the floor, a purple haze covered the area.
Blake turned to grab him and took a concentrated dose of fear toxin from the hidden cannister Crane had pulled out of the pocket of his hoodie.
Crane put his mask on and ran to the tracks as Gotham City PD came in through the front and other officers came in from the other entrances.
Gordon led his masked officers into pandemonium. They had underestimated Crane, believing he had only been in Gotham for a few days at most. Instead, he had planned this attack weeks in advance.
The people in the station were losing their minds. Guns were being pulled by criminals; shots were being fired. Innocents were screaming about monsters and fighting each other.
“Stun the ones with the guns. Kill them if you must. Bring everyone in.” Gordon shouted into the coms. “Who has eyes on Crane? Blake?”
Montoya had moved her way into the crowd, doing her best to find Crane. She knew approximately where Blake had been and thought that would be a good place to start. Instead of Crane, she found Blake with wide eyes, swinging at everyone who closed in on him.
“Blake! Calm down. Where did Crane go?” Montoya asked, shouting over the chaos occurring around them.
Blake focused on her and rage filled his features. “Not again. Stay away from her! You aren’t touching her this time!”
He raised his fists to strike her. She dodged and tried to fight back, only for him to sweep her leg and kick at her. She rolled away and reached for her taser.
Before she could fire it, Bullock hit Blake in the back of the head with a fire extinguisher sending him to the ground unconscious.
“Yes! I’ve been wanting to do that since I met him!” Bullock said, the smile obvious even behind his gas mask.
“Bullock, focus!” Montoya yelled, her voice somewhat muffled by her own mask. “Pull him out of this mess and make sure you didn’t crack his skull. Next time, let me handle him. I need to find Crane.”
Bullock groaned and punched a man who neared him. He grunted as he picked Blake up and tossed him over his shoulder, then walked out quickly.
Outside, Crane dropped his mask, running through the trains, jumping tracks using box cars to hide himself and found the opening in the fence he had cut weeks ago. He had more traps to set up, more presents to deliver around the city… restaurants, hospitals, local bars, anywhere there were a number of people gathered. The train station was only his opening act. He had promised Diana Wayne a big Halloween and he would give it to her.
He felt more alive than ever… exhilarated. He had dosed hundreds who were likely killing each other now or being killed by law enforcement.
Once he reached the open streets, he felt he had gotten away. Sirens from fire trucks, more police cars and ambulances filled the air three blocks away, but he walked down the sidewalk briskly, yet calmly.
A police car had passed him but as he hoped, all focus was on the train station.
He planned to walk a mile from the scene and steal a car, then return to his hideout.
He made it two more blocks before the hair stood up on the back of his neck.
He was being watched.
Crane looked at the rooftops, seeing nothing, hearing nothing, but the night seemed more ominous now.
“I know you are there!” he shouted.
He heard nothing, no movement not even the whisper of a breeze. It was as if the darkness had frozen everything in place.
He took off, running rather than walking. He avoided alleys and stayed on the sidewalk. As he passed one alley, a rope shot out from the darkness, wrapping around his knees, pulling him off his feet into the darkness.
He screamed, gripping the asphalt futilely as he was being pulled towards the nightmare he had tried to end twice.
Then the pulling stopped, and the Batman stood above him, barely visible in the darkness, his eyes giving off a faint glow.
“How did you survive?” Crane squeaked out.
“Who was the man who died in your place?” Batman asked, voice low.
“Just a poor soul who knew I could make the voices stop if he did as told.” Crane said, a little calmer now. “What about you? What voices do you hear, Batman?”
“The loudest one is telling me to beat you to death. I’m going to ignore it and just hurt you badly, leave you for the police to find. This time, I’ll make sure to break your legs so you can’t run.” Batman told him.
“You do that,” Crane said, laughing. “It will make quite a story when I scream to the world about who you really are… Bruce Wayne .
“You disappear for six years, only to return, wearing a suit that resembles a bat. A suit no doubt made by your genius little sister… all so you can fight bad guys on the streets.”
Batman smirked. “Bruce Wayne? I am sure there are multitudes of guards who will attest Bruce Wayne was at Wayne Manor all night. By all means, talk. It might help you with an insanity plea.”
Crane unwrapped the wire from his knees and stood up. He pulled the same cannister he used on Blake but before he could raise it, a powerful kick knocked it from his hand, shattering his wrist.
“No more gas for you, Crane. It’s over.”
“It’s just beginning for you, Bruce. I’m sure you can pay off your guards to not say anything, but they will still know. A word from me and people start asking questions, look closer into where you were and what you were doing while you were gone. All it takes is one reporter asking the right questions to bring down the entire Wayne Empire.” Crane said knowingly, cradling his broken hand to his chest as he continued his professional analysis of the Batman.
“The brother who dresses like a bat… terrorizes the streets, embarrasses Diana Wayne, makes her and her sister a target of, not only terrorists, but international crime syndicates. That was you who the Russians were rambling on about, the giant bat.
“And Kara Wayne… the little blonde genius… providing equipment and weapons for her brother to beat up criminals… to become illegally involved in criminal investigations all while assaulting citizens without law enforcement authority.
“I wanted to hurt Diana Wayne, but I couldn’t be sure. I thought she may have an army of mercenaries dressed like you, but she doesn’t. It’s just her brother… still traumatized from mommy and daddy dying while he stood between them, frozen in fear, ears ringing from the gun shots. Unmoving. Weak .”
Batman yelled in anger and grabbed Crane, pulling him close to his body and pressing the blades of his forearm to his throat. Crane swallowed hard, his fear obvious, sweat dripping down his face as he waited to see what Batman would do.
When he made no further move, Crane smiled, “I thought so. I’ve given a lot of thought to the Wayne family. That’s when I worked out that, psychologically, it could only be you. You can’t do it though. If you could kill me, you would have already. Go ahead. Run those blades that can easily cut chains over my throat. I’m a direct threat to your family.
“Not only that, I nearly killed your old friend, Rachel Dawes… stabbed her in the gut, twice. Diana may have hated her, wanted her dead, but I saw your panic. You were terrified for her. I’m going to be in her nightmares for the rest of her life.
“Despite the pain I have caused, the bodies I am responsible for, you can’t kill me because you are a weak coward who hides behind a mask.”
Bruce yelled in frustration and threw him to the ground. Crane scrambled back to gain distance and slowly stood up while Bruce fought to regain his breath.
Crane cackled hysterically in his madness. “You are pathetic. All the destruction I am going to bring to your family, and you are incapable of doing what I know your twin sister would gladly do in your place. Yet you are too much of a coward…”
Crane never got to finish the sentence. An arrow struck his heart, followed by another that pierced his eye socket, embedding itself directly into his brain.
The man dropped dead at the Batman’s feet.
Batman looked at Crane’s body in shock, trying to make sense of what he had seen. He had heard no one. No one was near him when he arrived, and he was certain no one was behind him.
He turned and began scanning the area nearby, those places within reach of an archer.
He found nothing.
He stood over Crane’s body and used his night vision and visor targeting system to figure out the trajectory, realizing quickly it did come from a rooftop, not the ground. He retracted his line from the ground and grappled to the top of the nearest roof. He used infrared and found nothing moving suspiciously and no one was on any nearby rooftops.
He thought of pursuing in the direction the shot must have come from, but the nearest roof in that direction seemed too far off for two killing shots that precise. He had a hard time believing the skill it would take to be so accurate. Talia was an expert with a bow but even she would have difficulty with a shot from any of the possible angles.
But could it have been Talia? He had not heard from her in months, not since she left abruptly before the Cronus battle. Was she protecting his identity?
No one was close enough to have heard his discussion with Crane, of that, he was sure.
While he was contemplating all these things, he heard a vehicle moving at high speed through the streets and a van stopped in the alley where Crane’s body lay. A blonde he knew to be Emilia Harcourt, A.R.G.U.S. Director, and an agent he knew was John Diggle’s ex-wife, hopped out of the front with two agents exiting the back of the van.
From his vantage point, he could easily hear their conversation.
“Shoot him through the arrow holes. Use silencers. Make it precise. We are going to take custody of the body, but I want no questions.” Harcourt ordered.
Bruce watched from the roof as one of the agents pulled the arrows out of Crane and shot twice through the existing wounds.
“It’s a good thing you had your man watching.” Michaels told her. “I wasn’t aware we had other assets in the area.”
“You didn’t need to be aware of this asset.” Harcourt informed her. “I’m not Waller but that doesn’t mean I like to be challenged. You knew what you needed to know.
“The situation at the train station is contained. Gordon needs to make a statement to the press that Crane is dead to calm the public. If anyone asked you about how he died, and they shouldn’t, send them my way.
“Do we understand each other, Agent Michaels?”
Lyla nodded. “Perfectly, Director.”
Bruce watched the group of feds drive off with Crane’s body. He understood what happened or at least he thought he did. He knew Diana was involved but had she taken the shot herself? She was good with every weapon she had ever taken in hand, but a bow didn’t seem her style.
No, this was a uniquely skilled hitman, who no doubt worked for this A.R.G.U.S. and Diana had ordered this shady agency to kill Crane, no matter what.
He moved to a nearby rooftop and looked around, making sure he wasn’t seen. Normally he had a good awareness of everything around him, but the invisible archer had him doubting his observational abilities.
He finally changed and was soon on his way home. His twin greeted him at the front door. He motioned towards the sitting room to the right and she followed. Dropping the large box containing his suit, he poured himself a drink then handed her the bottle and took a seat.
“How bad?” he asked.
“Six dead.” She answered, taking a large drink from the bottle. “It could have been hundreds, Bruce. Blake took a concentrated dose from Crane. He had to be knocked out before he hurt someone. He is in the hospital.”
Bruce shook his head, downed his drink and leaned forward, resting his head on his hands.
“I had him.” Bruce said, almost mumbling. “You were right. He knew who I was. He would have caused our family trouble… I should have killed him. It would have been so easy, no challenge at all. I had my blades to his throat, but… I couldn’t do it. I wanted to… but I couldn’t. I was so scared.”
Diana raised an eyebrow, confused. “You were scared? Of what?”
Bruce looked up at her and she was shocked to see tears in his eyes. “Diana, I am not scared of killing. I’m scared that if I start, I will never stop. I’m scared that there will be no difference between me and the scum I hunt. I know what I am doing is dangerous and not just for me, but for our family if I’m found out. But I’m also scared of a life without Batman. I don’t think there is a difference between my two sides anymore. What am I supposed to do?”
Diana was taken aback at her brother’s raw emotional distress. It was something that, through her gifts, she was able to feel deep in her soul. She had been right about Bruce’s code holding him back, but she had completely misunderstood his reasonings for why he held himself to it.
Thinking on what he said, she sighed, finishing the bottle in one go then stood to grab another bottle from the shelf and took a seat next to her brother.
“I wish I had an answer for you, Bruce, but the truth is… I don’t know.” She admitted softly. “What I do know is I don’t want you to kill… I have never wanted that for you. You have placed rules on yourself, and I understand now why you won’t kill. I had thought it was perhaps a moral objection.
“I also know how easy it is to fall into that very dark, very deep hole. I do my best to think of other outcomes where I don’t have to kill or arrange a death. But still, after it is done, I wonder if I really did think through all the options. I lay awake some nights wondering if I am just a legitimate businesswoman whose practices aren’t very different than the criminal mobs I hated so much.”
“What do you come up with?” he asked.
“Nothing. I just make peace with myself, believe I have done the best I can do to protect my family and company, then keep going.”
“Aren’t you tired?” Bruce asked, sounding defeated.
“Of what specifically?”
“Of everything.” Bruce elaborated. “How do you do it, Diana? I am so tired. I’ve been tired since Mom and Dad were murdered. It seems no matter how much I rest, how well I take care of myself, I am always tired in my soul.”
Diana understood exactly what he meant. She constantly felt the weight of everything she had been through over the years. Everything they had all been through. Even at her best, the feelings of loss, the feelings of anger Gertrude pointed out she carried with her, the hatred and the determination to make the world to her liking, weighed her down.
“Yes, I suppose I am. But I rely on family. I rely on Kara. I know as long as she is fighting, as long as she carries on, I have no excuse not to. You remember when she was eight? What she said over and over when she was so sick?”
Bruce shivered, never wanting to think about that year. He never said a word to Diana, but he expected Kara to die. She weighed next to nothing, she was always tired, never wanted to eat or get out of bed. The treatments were more extreme, and she was close to death over a several week span. Yet she always said, she just had to make it one more day .
“One more day. Just make it one more day.” He said quietly.
“That’s what we have to do.” Diana said softly, reaching over and taking his hand comfortingly in hers.
Bruce nodded, squeezing her hand. “I need to check on Blake. You and Kara want to tag along?”
Diana shook her head. “We will be there when Dig returns. He is so paranoid right now he wouldn’t even like me taking her out of the manor without him. Considering he was shot protecting her, I will respect his wishes.”
Bruce stood and walked to the door before he stopped, turning back to her. “The archer… was he one of yours or the government’s?”
“The government’s, at my request. I thought it would be a sniper.” She admitted.
Bruce nodded. “I was with Crane when he died. Whoever it was, he no doubt saw Batman.”
“Was he close enough to hear?” she asked, concerned.
Bruce shook his head.
“Then we will be fine.” She assured him. “If it becomes a problem, I will deal with it. Go to the hospital and see your friend. Then try to get some sleep tonight, okay?”
Bruce smiled sadly at her and walked out.
Diana’s phone rang and she saw it was the front gate. “Yes?”
“Director Harcourt is here to see you, Miss Wayne.” One of the front gate guards told her.
“Tell her to park in front of the main house. I will meet her at the door.”
“Harcourt?” Steve guessed, walking into the room. He had come up to get food for those in the basement, saw Bruce leaving and wanted to check on her.
Diana nodded. “Call General Lane and explain that Crane has been killed resisting arrest and the armored Air Cav unit patrolling over Wayne Manor is no longer needed. Give him my thanks and assure him I will contact him tomorrow. Would you do that for me?”
“Are you asking me as your fiancé or as your military liaison officer?” Steve asked playfully.
Diana shrugged, her expression smug. “Both do what I say in bed so either works.”
Diana went to wait for Emilia outside the front door. She watched as the woman exited her SUV, smiling brightly when she saw the waiting CEO.
To Emilia’s surprise, Diana hugged her.
“I was hoping you would have a chance to come by tonight.” Diana told her. “Let’s speak in the sitting room.”
The two entered the room where the twins just had their heavy discussion. Diana hoped this one was more optimistic as she directed Athena to soundproof the room. Metal shudders came down and a device on the ceiling turned on, bathing the room with a low frequency sound designed to blow out all bugs and listening devices.
“Nice.” Harcourt admitted.
“Kara likes it very quiet when she is reading or writing a book and I like an area that is absolutely private in my home.” Diana explained. “Would you like a glass of wine? I also have various liquors of all types, even teas or water if you prefer.”
“Yes, wine please, any will do though I prefer reds.”
Diana laughed. “It has been one of those nights. Have a seat.”
Emilia sat in an armchair and Diana sat in the other, placing a glass of a special vintage red cabernet on the small table between them along with a glass of scotch for herself.
“Excellent job tonight.” Diana told her, very pleased with the outcome. “Your man was as good as promised. Crane was more prepared than I thought. Athena was showing me CCTV footage of the incident. I was afraid he would get away in the chaos.”
Emilia shook her head and took a drink, enjoying the smooth, flavorful red. “He would have. My guy was told to keep to the rooftops and watch everything. I told you, he was good.”
“You did. I want you to know I appreciate the work you have done. As I suspected when we first met, you are very special. I believe this world can be a wonderful place. It just needs to be handled correctly. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“Absolutely.” Emilia affirmed.
Diana smiled fondly. “I recruit people who will be loyal, give them very important positions where we can work with each other to make the most difference.
“My Vice President, Samantha Arias, is one such person. I know I can count on her. She is brilliant, loyal, excellent at what she does and passionate about making the world a better place. I see the same characteristics in you.
“I need good people in places of power, to change this world for the better. I have Congressmen, Senators, Generals, Intelligence Directors, politicians overseas and highly placed agents. I have business leaders worldwide who will do as I wish. But I also have a special team… true friends I can always count on, an inner circle if you will. A group of confidantes who can make hard choices.
“You impressed me tonight.”
“Thank you.” Emilia said sincerely, intently focused on every word Diana said.
“No, I mean you truly impressed me. You showed me you are more than an asset.” Diana explained. “I told you I needed this man dead. You didn’t ask why. You just made it happen. You went the extra mile, showed up at the scene to make sure it went as planned. You are loyal and I reward loyalty, I don’t take it for granted. I don’t take friendship for granted.”
Emilia’s heart was racing. This was exactly what she had wanted. She knew pleasing Diana was the key to keeping her job, but what Diana was implying was so much more.
Everyone knew about Diana’s rumored inner circle. Andrew Garcia, Congressman Bradley Milton, General Samuel Lane, Samantha Arias, and others who stayed out of the limelight but benefitted from her friendship. The conspiracy theorists would say it was a new world order or some illuminati group. The truth was, it simply meant you were one of the few she trusted completely. Once you were in, you were made, so long as you didn’t betray her.
“You are going to go far.” Diana promised. “As of now, you are the most important Intelligence Agency Director in all branches. Your position is now above all those I told to appoint you.
“I love my friends, I protect them, and I make their dreams come true. You stick with me, Emilia, and you will be written about in history books one day. You are smart, ambitious, patriotic, beautiful, able to make the hard choices. There is no limit to what we can do together.”
The hairs on Emilia’s arms rose and her entire body tingled. Those were the words she wanted to hear.
When she started this job, she had two choices. She could play the stooge to the other intelligence directors by pleasing Diana and report to those directors the CEO’s every request, striving to impress them; or she could latch onto Diana and trust she could become one of her chosen few, ultimately being given more power than any in the boys’ club who believed she owed them.
The idea that Diana had handpicked her for the position of A.R.G.U.S. Director was a shock, but she took it in stride, another piece of information that filled her with pride.
The two sipped their drinks without speaking, content to relax after such an eventful night. Diana got up and brought the bottles back, filling both glasses with their choice of adult beverage.
“I am a bit curious.” Diana said after she settled back in her seat. “Who is he? Our mystery bowman?”
Emilia stopped sipping and drained her glass, then poured another. She had hoped Diana wouldn’t want to know, not sure how she would respond. She also knew she wouldn’t dare keep it from the woman now that she had everything she wanted.
She sat back, deciding to start the story at the beginning. “Once Waller was dead, I started digging into her black ops’ projects, the ones so black only she knew of them. A couple of years ago, A.R.G.U.S. satellites picked up unusual activity on an island in the South China Sea.
“The satellite monitored seismic events from submarine detectors on the ocean floor planted by China. There were explosions and when a spy satellite took a closer look, there were bodies on the beach and evidence of gunfire, along with an old, World War II submarine sunk in shallow water and a burning vessel that appeared to be for research of some sort.”
“She sent a team to check.” Diana guessed.
“Yes, and they found a man floating on a board in the sea near the island. Apparently, he had been stranded there for two years and had quite a story to tell. The team notified Waller and, upon learning his identity, she flew out and interviewed him herself.”
Diana stiffened in shock, immediately realizing the timing and the location matched up with the disappearance and supposed death of another notorious scion of Star City.
“Oliver Queen.” Diana said quietly.
Harcourt let out a breath, glad Diana realized it on her own and she wouldn’t have to wait for a reaction when she said it.
“Waller listened to his story and realized his time on the island had made him into quite the killer. He was particularly good with a bow and hand-to-hand fighting. The island had been filled with mercenaries. Most were dead by his hand.”
“It sounds like Oliver Queen had to grow up quickly.” Diana replied, impressed with Queen’s survival instincts. “Why is he still presumed dead?”
Harcourt sighed. “His skills were so good that Waller saw an opportunity, told him if he tried to return home, she would kill his family. He would remain dead and work for her.”
Diana’s anger spiked out of nowhere but subsided quickly. “I’m so glad that bitch is dead.”
Emilia nodded, “When I found out, I contacted him in Hong Kong where he was stationed. I flew to meet him and explained that Waller was dead, and he was free.”
Diana raised an eyebrow. “That was months ago. He didn’t want to go home?”
Harcourt shook her head. “Something happened on that island. Before he arrived in Hong Kong, Waller had sent him back in search of something. She didn’t even write down what it was, and he didn’t volunteer information. Whatever happened, he is angry at a Russian gangster and wants him dead.
“I contacted him again and offered to get him into Russia under the radar if he did this job for us. He could have declined but it would have made his personal mission much more difficult, so we agreed to help each other.”
“Could you give me a way to contact him?” Diana asked. “I would like to thank him personally.”
Emilia wrote Oliver’s contact number on a slip of paper and handed it to Diana. The two parted ways an hour later. Diana ensured one of her guards drove a very relaxed Emilia to her hotel, another following in her SUV, so Emilia would have her own vehicle waiting for her the next morning.
She then stepped out into the front garden and dialed the number she had been given.
“Yes?” A wary voice answered on the other end.
“Oliver, this is Diana Wayne.”
There was silence for a few moments and Diana wondered if he would hang up.
“How can I help you, Miss Wayne?”
“I wanted to thank you for the favor you did tonight. It was very appreciated.” She told him, meaning every word. “While in the course of doing me this favor, did you see anything… strange?”
Oliver was quiet once more. Diana knew he must have seen Batman with Crane. There was no way he could have missed him.
“I didn’t see anything that was my business. Even if I had, I keep secrets, just as I am sure you can keep my secrets, Miss Wayne.” Oliver said, making her a promise even as he asked for hers.
“I won’t say anything to your family or anyone else. I hold many secrets and they stay secret. I do hope you will consider coming home to your family one day. I have come to know Tommy and I know he misses you greatly.” She told him.
Oliver sighed. “I have a reckoning to take care of… then… I do have business to take care of in Star City. I will return as soon as I am done in Russia, though I’m not sure how without raising questions I don’t want to answer.”
Diana knew exactly how to help him. “I assume my number came up on your phone. Keep it. When the time is right, call me. I can arrange for you to return to the island clandestinely. I will then ensure a boat of some sort passes the island and rescues you.”
“I appreciate that, Miss Wayne.”
“Please, call me Diana. I would really like to meet in person one day, so take care of yourself, Oliver.”
“I look forward to that day. Goodbye, Diana. Thank you.”
Memorial Hospital, the next morning
John Blake woke, but kept his eyes closed. His head felt split in two. He couldn’t remember what happened or how he got home the night before.
He heard the beeping of a machine and realized he was in a hospital.
He slowly opened his eyes then squinted, the light hurting them.
He slowly became aware of a warm, soft hand in his. He opened his eyes once again and saw Kara sitting next to his bed, holding his hand.
“Hey there.” He said softly, voice cracking.
“Hi. You had me worried.” She told him.
“What happened?”
“What do you remember?”
Blake tried hard to focus, and the events started coming back to him in pieces.
“Crane… I remember talking to him and not much else. Wait, he messed with the sprinkler system. Oh god, did it go off? It went off, right?”
Kara nodded. “It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but it wasn’t great. Do you remember what happened to you?”
Blake thought as hard as possible. “Not really?”
“I’ll tell you. First, I need to know if you hurt anywhere beside your head?”
Blake relaxed and focused on his body. Everything beside his head felt okay. He felt sluggish but was in no pain.
“I think I am good.”
Kara smiled sweetly. “That’s good.”
She then began punching his arms and shoulders while yelling. “You idiot! You went in without a vest, without a gas mask, walked right up to that lunatic and were sprayed in the face! You went nuts and had to be knocked out! You have a concussion and were exposed to a mind-altering drug! How can you be so stupid?!”
“Stop hitting me!” he pleaded, trying to roll away but limited by the size of the bed and the raised bedrails.
“I’m not going to stop hitting you until you stop being such an idiot!” She shouted at him.
Blake grabbed her wrists and pulled her close, kissing her.
Kara relaxed and calmed down, returning the kiss.
She suddenly pulled back. “No! You cannot kiss me every time I am mad at you. It won’t work!”
“It seems like it works.” He told her playfully.
“It doesn’t… maybe. Try again.”
Kara relaxed, kissing him gently.
She pulled back and brushed his cheek. “You haven’t even taken me on a proper date, and you are trying to get killed before that can happen.”
Blake shook his head. “I promise, no risk-taking until we have had a date.”
Kara laid her head on his chest. “You really scared me. Dig came home and I got him to bring me here so I could check on you and he could finally get checked out. They’ve got him on an IV drip for antibiotics. I have an army outside this room, Diana and Steve are somewhere around here, Bruce was here too but left a short time ago. I haven’t slept. I’ve been sitting here wondering if you were going to have amnesia or more brain damage than you already have.”
Blake smiled at her words, appreciating the obvious care she had for him, glad to know his affection was returned.
“So, I got knocked out, huh? How did that happen? I run into a wall or something while I was freaking out?” He asked.
“No. Detective Bullock knocked you out with a fire extinguisher.” Kara told him.
Blake closed his eyes and groaned. “It had to be him, didn’t it? So, what were you doing before you came here? Why didn’t you get any sleep?”
“I was watching over you.” Kara said, as if it should be obvious.
“Watching me?”
Kara nodded. “I had Athena bring up your vitals and doctor’s notes and watched the hallway cam outside your room.”
Blake leaned up and kissed her once more. “Still angry?”
“I have a feeling I’m always going to be a little angry at you.” She replied.
Blake rolled his eyes. “Did they get Crane?”
“A.R.G.U.S. agents killed him while he was escaping. It was a tragedy. We are all so sad. I hope they throw his body into a landfill.” She said, her tone filled with much sarcasm.
Blake snorted. “Can’t say I’m surprised. After he tried to kill you, I would have killed him if I had a shot. Turns out, it’s a good thing I didn’t take a gun in there.”
Kara’s face darkened.
Seeing that look, he began speaking rapidly. “I admit, I should have taken my mask, but it was in the car, and I was in a hurry, and I knew he didn’t use guns, so I didn’t see he point in putting on a vest when I was in a hurry, and I’ll never do it again if you promise not to hit me.”
He raised his hands to protect himself in case she decided to punch him again.
Instead, Kara smiled and sat down, then texted Diana to bring her coffee. She could relax now that she was sure he was okay.
“You okay? Really okay?” Blake asked, obviously concerned. “This has been a lot. Can’t have you getting sick, you know.”
Kara smiled but it was not as easy as normal. “I’m just tired. This idiot guy, who drives me crazy, kept me up all night worrying.”
Before Blake could respond, there was a commotion at the door.
“C’mon, man, we are cops. Let us in.” Blake heard Aaron Cash say.
“Miss Wayne is in there so no one goes in.” A deep voice said. “Do I look like I give a damn if you are a cop?”
“Jackson, it’s okay. Let them in.” Kara called out.
“You can’t take weapons inside the room.” Jackson told the officers.
A chorus of unhappy mumbles preceded the eventual collection of their weapons. With the previous night’s events, Kara’s security contingent was not messing around even if she had given her permission for the police officers to enter the room.
The guards reluctantly stepped aside and multiple cops from his station house walked in. Montoya was in front, next to Cash. She tossed a stuffed bear to Blake.
“You’ll do anything to get her attention, huh, rookie?” Montoya smirked.
Kara sat back in her chair while numerous police officers came in and greeted him. Then Bullock rubbed his head, causing him to wince in pain.
“You did a good thing last night, kid. Thanks for giving me an excuse to bash your skull in. Seriously, Miss Wayne, you could do better than this rat.” Bullock told Kara with a sly grin on his face.
Kara rolled her eyes.
“By the way, you don’t have a future in undercover work.” Cash added. “There are already pics on the internet of Kara entering the hospital and rumors she is visiting her ‘hero cop boyfriend’ who was injured during the train station attack. They got ahold of your police academy graduation photo. You look like you’re ten.”
Blake groaned but Kara squeezed his hand. “Don’t worry about it. You were never going to work undercover anyway. The press is going to write their garbage. Ignore them.”
“I know you hate that.” Blake said.
Kara smiled. “Seriously, after the last twenty-four hours, gutter press spreading rumors are nothing. Gotham got attacked and Gotham came through. I think we are all pretty lucky.”
“Here, here!” Bullock shouted.
“And after Blake gets out and we all have a chance to recover, we are having a party at the manor and everyone in here is invited.” Kara called out, eliciting cheers from the officers.
“Even Bullock?” Blake asked.
Kara looked at Bullock and winked. “Absolutely. He got to do something I have wanted to do so many times. He must tell me all about it.”
Kara watched as Blake asked questions about the attack and his friends answered.
The past twenty-four hours had been a nightmare. She had been shot at, seen Dig shot, been frightened and then found out Blake had been injured and was being rushed to the hospital.
One thing Kara would take away from this ordeal was to take nothing for granted. She wouldn’t rush things, but she wasn’t going to hold herself back any longer. She wasn’t going to deny her feelings for the man laughing with his fellow officers, no matter how crazy he drove her.
It didn’t matter that her biological mother was a murdering psycho, or what would happen if the world found out. She would be happy, the rest of the world be damned.
It would also be a good time to relax. The Crane situation was over, and they had good things to look forward to: the holidays, an upcoming wedding then… who knew what was next?
For now, the worst had happened. Her family and friends had weathered the storm, coming out safe on the other side.
Bella MacLeod's Twilight Fanfiction 
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