Chapter 12: Back into the Swing of Things
“So do you mind explaining where you have been?” Barda asks at the meeting of the League. Sitting around the table are Aquagirl, Warhawk, Micron, Green Lantern and Batman. Terry had flown in after Barda had called him.
Kal who was also sitting at the table arms folded across his chest. “As I said personal business. My private life is not anyone’s concern but my own.”
Barda is trying to stare him down “Then perhaps you’ll explain how there has been a sharp drop in criminal activity that coincides with your disappearance.”
Kal’s face frowns up in confusion “There has?”
“Yes I’ve even noticed it in Gotham.” Terry comments.
Kal smirks “That’ll please Dana.”
Terry rolls his eyes “Just what do you and her talk about behind my back?”
“That would be telling. Although has she forgiven you yet for knowing about what I asked her to buy?”
“Barely.” is Terry’s reply. “Oh by the way I like the new look.”
“Thanks. I decided I needed more colour. I was starting to find all that black depressing.”
Barda slams her fist down on the table “If you two are finished?”
Kal and Terry look at her. “Oh go right ahead.” Kal permits.
Kai decides to intervene before Barda starts a full scale argument “I think what Barda is trying to say in her own way was that we were concerned for your wellbeing.”
“Thank you but as you can see I’m fine.”
Warhawk, Rex Stewart has a question “You haven’t answered Barda’s point if your disappearance and the reduction in crime is a coincidence or not.”
Kal thinks about that. Well with Ares gone there is no-one stirring up conflict and anarchy so it would be quieter at least for a little while. “Well something may have happened that would be the cause of that.”
“Which would be?” Barda asks.
“Well I sort of fought Ares and banished him to the Underworld.”
“And you don’t think we had a right to know about that.” Barda says accusatory.
“Wait. You fought a God?” Rex asks somewhat surprised.
“I was fighting Gods long before you were born Rex.”
“You should have called us. We could have helped you know Kal.” Barda tells him.
“No you couldn’t.” Kal replies.
“You know I am getting sick of your evasiveness.” Barda says in a raised voice.
Kal shakes his head. Here we go. Barda’s temper is about to explode.
“Don’t give me that look Kal.”
“I’m not giving you any look.”
“Yes you are. It’s the stop behaving like a child look. I may point out I am nearly as old as you.”
“Act like it.” Terry mutters under his breath at this display.
“What was that?” Barda asks at Terry’s mutterings.
“I said act like it.” Terry tells her.
“Oh that is it. You are going down Batman.” Barda stands up and so does Terry.
Kai projects a barrier between them “Please control yourselves. Violence will solve nothing.”
Aquagirl, Marina listened intently to everything that was said. Superman’s description of banishing Ares stirs a memory. “The gate to the Underworld is on Themyscira.” she says.
Everyone stops at looks at her. Kal realises he should have known someone would know that. The group’s attention focuses on him. “Yes.” he says.
“Yes what?” Terry asks.
“Yes I was on Themyscira.”
“But that’s impossible. Themyscira has been shut off from the world for 60 years.” Terry reminds everyone.
“It helps if you’re friends with the Queen.”
“I believe we shall require the whole story if we are to fully understand what has occurred.” Kai says.
“Fine. I think you can drop the barrier though.”
Kai drops the barrier between Terry and Barda and Kal retells the whole story of Diana coming to find him and fighting Ares. He finishes it by mentioning Diana’s fight to persuade the Senate to allow Themyscira to rejoin the world.
“So you think she will succeed?” Kai asks after listening to Kal.
“Diana can do anything she wants to. However it will take months so I wouldn’t expect any grand announcements for a while.”
“Is that all?” Barda asks.
Kal looks at her in confusion “Is what all?”
“Is that all that happened?”
“It’s all that is important and relevant.” Kal tells her.
“Kal…” Barda begins but is cut off by Kai. “I believe he has told us everything that is relevant to the situation. We should take advantage of the calm. Ares’ departure has left a vacuum and vacuums are never left empty for long.”
“Kai is right.” Terry says in agreement.
“So are we done?” Rex asks.
“I believe we are.” Kai replies.
Kal stands up “Well I am. You can put me back as a full time member starting immediately.”
“That is great news.” Marina comments.
Kal gives her a smile and walks out the room.
“Why did you cut me off?” Barda asks Kai.
“His personal life is not our concern.” Kai answers.
“It is if it affects us. He’s different than he was even a few days ago.”
“He’s happier. He is less weighed down by his grief.” Marina says. She could tell even from that brief meeting.
“I concur with Marina.” Kai says. “Whatever has happened to him has been to his benefit. We should not intrude further.”
“I agree with that as well.” Terry says.
“Despite the fact he and your wife are conspiring behind your back.” Rex teases in his own way.
Terry frowns under his mask “You are exaggerating. He just stayed for dinner and helped look after Bruce and Barbara one night.”
“When?” Barda asks.
“A few days ago.”
“That was the day he got back.”
“Which is not relevant at all. Barda let it go. If he wants to tell us he’ll tell us.” Terry says. “Now I have to get back to Gotham.” and with that he walks out.
As he travels along a corridor he passes Kal “Finished talking about me yet.” Kal says.
“Since when do you eavesdrop?”
“I can’t exactly turn the super hearing off, I just sort of tune the excess noise out.”
Terry can’t help but smile at that “So back to full time member. Hope you know what you’re letting yourself in for.”
Kal shrugs “Something to do besides my writing. I’ve started that up again by the way.”
“Really. So you met Wonder Woman. What is she like?” Terry asks very interested in hearing about another of his idols.
“I thought Bruce would have mentioned her.”
“He did briefly. You know how little Bruce talked about his personal life.”
“I do. Well she looks exactly the same but that’s immortality for you and she still has that same fire and spirit. That doesn’t seem to change either. Deep down she still cares about the same things she did all those years ago but she has her duty. We all have our duties.”
“Yes we do. So can I ask, how did you rope my wife into helping with your new costume and why does it look like your old costume?”
“Firstly I merely politely asked Dana. Secondly blue and red happen to be my favourite colours and thirdly I missed having a cape.”
“And the black in the shield?”
“A tribute to those I’ve lost. I haven’t forgotten them. I’ll never forget them. They are always in my heart.”
“Good answer.”
“Thank you.”
“What happened to you on Themyscira?” Terry asks flat toned.
“I told you.”
“No what really happened?”
Kal sighs. Sometimes he thinks Terry has too much of Bruce in him “I moved on.” he says with some finality.
Terry can sense from that tone not to push any further. “So planning to visit again any time soon. The kids loved your stories about Bruce.”
“Perhaps. Maybe I’ll tell them some stories about their father next time.”
“Please don’t. I have so little respect from them already.” Terry almost pleads.
Kal laughs at the pleading tone “Don’t worry. I’ll stick to the nice stories, like when you saved me from that star creature that had taken me over.” Of course he had to explain with some difficulty to Lois why he had been so distant to her for months on end. Poor creature. He did fell sorry for it, it was just lonely after all. At least it’s back home now.
“Yes good stick to those stories. Well I really better get back to Gotham. I have a board meeting.” Terry says that with little enthusiasm.
“Regret agreeing to take over Wayne enterprises?” Kal asks.
“Not for a second but come on it’s a board meeting.”
“I thought you had Max handle the day to day running.” Kal says referring to Terry’s best friend.
“I do but I can’t avoid this one. Max would castrate me if I did.”
“In that case have fun.” Kal says as Terry turns to leave.
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Fun! Oh Terry’s having a whole lot of fun as he sits at the board meeting while Max gives an outline of how Wayne Enterprises is performing. How long has he been here? Too long considering it’s now dark outside. His attention is caught by shouts of security outside the door. Now what is this about?
The door is blown off and through the smoke Terry sees someone he never thought he would see again “Blight!”
Blight walks into the room “Well, well Terry McGinnis or is that Wayne these days. I should have seen the resemblance really.”
“What do you want?” Terry asks.
“Oh the usual, revenge, my shares back would also be good.”
“Your shares were liquidated when you and then your son became convicted criminals.” Max steps forward and tells him.
“Ah Miss Gibson. You know you and I don’t have to be adversaries. I admire a good business woman.”
Max scoffs “Don’t even try flattery on me. It doesn’t work, ask Terry.”
“Mr Wayne at work Max.” Terry reminds her.
“That’s Miss Gibson to you.” Max hits back.
“Enough!” Blight yells and summons a ball of radiation. Max knowing full well what Blight is capable of backs up away from him.
“Goodbye Miss Gibson.” Blight says as he throws the ball. It explodes and Max gets thrown though the window.
“Max!” Terry shouts. He can’t do anything though to save her. He turns to glare at Blight.
“Well one down.” Blight comments. “Now for you Mr Wayne.”
Terry narrows his eyes and waits. Blight throws another ball and Terry dodges it. He really wishes he had the suit right now. He’s got to stop Blight and protect the board members and he’s not entirely sure how right at the moment. Another ball of energy from Blight blasts Terry off his feet and Blight stands over him. Terry can feel the radiation pouring off of him.
“Farewell.” Blight says without pity.
“Funny you took the words right out my mouth.”
Terry looks at the sound of the voice “Max!”
So Max is having a perfectly pleasant day. She’s even got Terry to actually turn up at a board meeting when that psychotic Derek Powers shows up. I mean she thought he was dead and then to top that off he blasts her out the window. Now normally Terry swoops in and saves the day but unfortunately because she had gotten him to attend the meeting so he’s up in that room that is very quickly retreating from her. Then suddenly she’s not falling, someone has caught her.
“You know you shouldn’t jump from windows unless you can fly.”
Max focuses on the face “Superman?”
“How are you Miss Gibson?” Kal asks. He was only flying past to check up on Terry and Dana and the children. He actually quite likes spending time with them.
Ok she’s flying with Superman. This counts as one of the highlights of her life. “I’m good but oh Terry. We were attacked by Blight.”
Kal’s voice grows a determined tone “Well I’ll have to deal with that.”
“Wait I have a better idea.” Max says. She has Superman take her to one of the storage rooms where they kept that cell that would siphon off Blight’s energy. This way they can contain him with minimal risk. So Superman flies her back up at Super speed she would like to add. Unbelievably awesome. She sets the cell up and fires the net over Blight. As it starts to drain him he falls to his knees. “Ha. Take that.”
Kal who had watched from the sidelines so to speak laughs at that and flies in and helps Terry up. “You ok Mr Wayne?”
Terry brushes himself down “Yes thank you Superman.”
“I’ve contacted the police. They’re on their way.” he turns his attention to Blight. “You know you shouldn’t waste your life on revenge.”
Blight in a slightly pained tone “Revenge is all I have left.”
“Then I feel sorry for you.”
Kal stays until the police come and take Blight away. Unsurprisingly the board meeting is cancelled and the other members go off home leaving Kal, Max and Terry in the board room.
Max slouches in a chair “Well that was fun.”
“Is she always this cheery?” Kal asks Terry.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Hey stop talking about me like I’m not here.” Max says in protest.
“Right sorry.” Terry says. “See isn’t she exactly as I told you.” Terry says to Kal.
“Wait you talk about me to Superman?” Max sits up and asks somewhat surprised.
“Well he is my friend Max.”
“So I am but I don’t get all the Superman dirt.”
“Dirt?” Kal asks somewhat amused. “What makes you think there is any Miss Gibson?”
Max somewhat embarrassed “Well I mean, that’s not what I meant.” She buries her head in her hands.
“Wow you’ve made her speechless. It’s a miracle.” Terry jokes.
Max shoots Terry a glare.
“Right. Sorry. Moving on. So what brings you to Gotham?” Terry asks Kal.
“I was flying north and thought I would check up on you.”
“North? What’s up north? Except snow and ice.” Max queries.
“Max!” Terry admonishes. “Even Superman has secrets. Just leave it there.”
“Fine, fine.” Max agrees waving her hands in defeat.
Terry’s phone rings. He gets it out his pocket “Hello Dana…yes I’m fine…I know you saw it on the news…yes Max is fine as well…yes I’ll be home soon…I’ll ask…I’ll see you soon…I love you too.” Terry hangs the phone up.
“Dana worried about you.” Max states.
“Yes. She asks if you want to come over for dinner, both of you.”
Max’s eyes widen “Spend dinner with Superman. Me?”
Terry shakes his head “Yes Max you. See what I have to put up with?”
“Aw poor you.” Max says as sarcastically as possible.
Terry turns to Kal “So do you want to come?”
“Sure. I’ll just go and get changed and I’ll meet you at the Manor.”
“Great I’ll tell Dana.”
“And then afterwards I can tell your children all your embarrassing stories.” Kal jokes and then flies off before Terry can say anything.
“Embarrassing stories huh?” Max teases.
Terry frowns at her.
“You know I’ve got a couple of those myself.” Max reminds him.
“Please don’t Max.”
Max stands up “Oh lighten up Terry and by the way what did Superman mean he’s going to get changed?”
“He doesn’t live 24 hours a day in the suit you know.”
“I know that.”
Terry looks at her sceptically.
“Ok I know that now. By the way is that a new costume?”
Terry laughs at that “Yes it is.”
“What’s so funny?” Max asks.
“Oh it’s just there is a story behind that.” Then the laughter stops. “Got me into trouble with Dana.”
“Terry you’re always in trouble with Dana.” Max feels the need to point out.
“Max you are not helping. Come on. I will be in trouble if we’re late.” Terry then walks out with Max following behind barely believing she is actually going to sit at a dinner table with Superman.
On the ride down in the elevator Max feels the need to point something out “Terry?”
“Yes Max.”
“If Superman is your friend and I am your friend, how come you have never introduced us?”
Terry raises an eyebrow “I thought your interests were in the female gender.”
Max hits him on the arm “Not in that sense Terry. Although even I have to say he’s looking good for a man of his age but that’s beside the point. So?”
Terry sighs “I just don’t think an opportune moment came up Max. Really think about it. When has a moment like that came up?”
Max frowned when she couldn’t think of one “I hate it when you’re right.”
Terry smiles smugly “You love me really.”
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Kal flies off north at top speed. He has to say that this day hasn’t gone so badly. He’s more or less gotten back into the swing of things. As soon as his new identity is set up he’ll see about getting the farm back. He’s already made a few discreet inquiries and the current owners do seem willing to sell the house. So in his opinion getting his life back together seems to be going quite well. Of course it’s not complete. It probably won’t be complete until he can be with Diana again. He wonders how she is getting on, what she is doing, if she is managing on her own. He knows it is silly but he can’t help it. He really loves her.
