The Birthday Present
Written by Unoaranya30
Chapter 9
I Can Give You What You Need. I Can Give You What You Want.
Themyscira
The Palace
It was deathly quiet. The looks were of shock and disbelief. As usual, Wally was the first to recover. In a blur of motion he reached the three power rings and tossed them to Hal.
John and Kyle were standing just behind a pillar close to the door where they had entered. They wanted to have a quick and ready exit in case the Queen ordered Hal's execution.
Hal caught the three rings neatly and quickly put on his. He was instantly encased in green energy and clothed in his familiar green, black and white uniform. There was a grin of satisfaction on his face as he looked at the ring on his closed fist. "I'm back." He looked up at those assembled, "She did take my clothes, but we weren't having sex. I promise." He was looking at Diana when he said this.
Some of the shocked looks remained; some were transformed into bewildered ones.
"Hey! Anytime you feel like giving us our rings back would be great!" Kyle hollered from behind the pillar. He wasn't about to endanger himself or his stuff. He'd heard the stories of the queen's sword.
Hal returned John and Kyle's rings to them. The two gave a sigh of relief as they were enveloped in the green energy of their rings and clothed in their familiar costumes.
Shayera shook her head at Hal.
Wally couldn't stop grinning. "So Circe took your clothes but wouldn't have sex with you? That must have been devastating for you. I mean, what a witch!"
"We are glad that you three are still with us. It seems that Circe was intent on killing all of us and you three were the first she attacked," J'onn spoke for all of the League members. "I hope that your rings will cloth you adequately for now."
It was quiet for a moment again. Batman finally broke the silence, "J'onn, are the stationed Amazons, Geo-force, Powergirl, Aquaman, Mera and Jade still with us?"
J'onn closed his eyes as he reached out with his mind, "They are all with us and unharmed," he replied with relief as he opened his eyes.
Batman touched his earpiece, "Paradise team to Watchtower. Operation successful. No casualties. Team will be teleporting home momentarily."
Queen Hippolyta, Phillipus, Diana, Donna, Starfire and Zatanna were all gathered around the throne. Maxima was almost to the room behind the throne that housed the portal. All were staring at Hal; the queen, Phillipus and Diana in disbelief, Zatanna and Donna in amusement, Starfire looked very puzzled, Maxima looked mildly curious.
Once the three Lanterns were again in uniform Maxima continued through the portal. Upon exiting into the embassy she contacted the Watchtower. "I am ready to be teleported on board," she said touching her earpiece.
Watchtower
"Dinah! They're all alive! Everything is fine!" Blue Beetle was shouting with excitement. He was so excited that he shouted it into his open com-link. Everyone heard it.
Dinah gave an audible sigh of relief. She could not imagine a world without those they had thought dead. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she composed herself and touched her earpiece, "Black Canary to all active patrols. Crisis is over, I repeat, Crisis is over. Paradise team is alive and well. Continue patrols until called home."
There were audible cheers throughout the watchtower as well as over the com-links from those on patrol.
Metropolis
Ollie dropped his head in relief. He liked to give the big guns a hard time but he had nothing but respect for them. He could not imagine what life would have been like without the big, blue Boy Scout, the lovely princess, pointy ears, J'onn and crazy Wally. He would no longer have the opportunity to rile Hawkman or Hal or stare at Powergirl's boobs or Zatanna's legs. Life would truly have become bleak.
"What's the matter?"
Ollie looked up, remembering where he was and what he was doing. He thought that this dark haired reporter doll had a very sexy, if slightly bossy, voice. She seemed to be able to pull off the, "I'm sexy" and the "I'm bossy" and the "I'm always in charge" look and attitude very well. She just seemed to meld the three looks and attitudes together seamlessly. It made Ollie wonder if he couldn't change the tone of her voice and the look on her face if he got her into bed.
"Nothing is the matter anymore. Our big guns are alright." Ollie responded.
Lois was shocked, "What do you mean, anymore? They were in danger? You thought they were gone?
"So are we having this interview here? Now?" Ollie teased. This lady sure seemed to be overreacting.
"The Justice League is always in danger, Miss. This time it just seemed a little more scary than usual, but everyone is alright. Why don't you meet me later tonight in the lobby of the Metropolitan and we'll continue this interview?" Ollie went ahead and took the plunge.
Lois was still in shock from the news. So Clark had almost been killed, or close to it. She could tell this man had been worried by the intensity of his reaction to her appearance on the roof and the relief when he had received the positive news. Stepping forward she handed the big, tall, blond Robin Hood her card. "Call this number when you get to the Metropolitan. Let me know how I'll recognize you. I assume you won't be sitting there waiting for me dressed like that. I'll have not much more than an hour to spare, if that, tonight."
Ollie smiled as he looked at her card. She was playing hard to get this Lois Lane. The name sounded familiar. She must be one of the Daily Planet's star reporters. As pretty as she was, he could tell from her posture and her voice that she had gotten to where she was on more than her looks. She would be a tough one to crack. She would want to pretend to be all about business. But he was confident that he would be able to break through that wall. There were very few women he had set out to conquer that he had failed to do so, and none in the last ten years. "That's great, Miss Lane. I'll call you around seven."
Lois smiled briefly and then disappeared back down the stairs.
Maxima was the first to be beamed back up to the Watchtower. She immediately found her way to Black Canary, "I must place the witch's prison in the vault."
Dinah was taken aback at first, "You have Circe?" she asked incredulously.
Maxima showed her the dagger. She held it through the folds of her gown. "This is where she was imprisoned by the goddesses of the Amazons. We are now responsible for her continued imprisonment and so I am honor bound to see that this magical dagger is placed in the vault where it will be safe."
"Of course. Supergirl will go with you." Touching her earpiece she requested that Supergirl accompany Maxima to the vault and that Steel unlock the vault upon their arrival.
Supergirl was more than happy to accompany Maxima. "So what does the dagger look like?" she asked.
"It is beautiful and deadly," Maxima answered as she showed Supergirl the witch's prison.
"Wow. That is lovely and scary. So Circe is in there? That is so freaky," She responded.
They arrived at the vault. The door hissed open as Steel released the lock several floors away. Supergirl and Maxima entered. The vault was a very large room. There were shelves and shelves of artifacts, weapons and other objects considered too dangerous to be left on earth or anywhere else in the universe where they could fall into the wrong hands. Every shelf and containment chamber had a special force shield around it. Only a select few with access could disable the shields. Maxima was fairly new to the League and she did not have such access. Neither did Supergirl for that matter. Steel, however, did.
He disabled the force shield in the center of the room for one of the more heavy duty shelving units. It was like a vault within a vault. The dagger would be kept within a safe made from kryptonian crystals and Thanagarian nth metal. The safe would have a force shield and the shelving unit would have another.
Maxima removed the knife from the folds of her gown. Touching the dagger for the first time with her bare hands, she nicked her finger. She heard a voice in her head and knew instantly that it was the witch. The voice was melodious, sweet and hypnotizing.
"I can give you Superman."