BATMAN/WONDER WOMAN: THE SANCTUARY OF PARADISE

PART I: SEEDS OF RETRIBUTION

It has come to this.

The civil war on Apokalips had given the Justice League reason to believe that it's neighboring star

systems were in danger. J'onn and Batman determined through intelligence that one of the rival factions was preparing to leave Apokalips to invade one of the closer planets.

Superman led a team of original League members along with a few of the newer members to Apokalips. Our mission was to prevent the faction from leaving Apokalips for another planet. We opened a boomtube to an area where the faction was supposed to have gathered a small fleet. Our intelligence indicated to us that the rogue faction was already preparing to depart from Apokalips

We were wrong.

Darkseid had reemerged on Apokalips, already reunited the rival factions back into his own army. We were ambushed the moment we exited the boomtube, already taking casualties.

The massive battle that took place on Apokalips had weakened the stronger of the League members as the rest began to fall. The only founding member of the league who stood behind was Batman. The rest of the founding members along with the more powerful of the new members were needed for the mission.

Then Superman was captured.

For no longer than a few hours, Superman had been held captive before he returned to the battle ground. Our fading hopes were lifted when he showed himself again, however there was something different. He did not…look the same. Superman hovered over the battleground, not attacking any of Darkseid's minions. He seemed to have been waiting. What came next was the epitome of our worse fears:

Superman attacked us.

Darkseid's plot did not only employ the use of our ally against us. He was able to create clones of Superman, none as perfect as the original himself, but deadly enough to destroy the majority of the Justice League. We fought as best as we could, but we quickly became overwhelmed.

I radioed the Watchtower to warn them of the new threat, detailing to Batman of how our comrades were falling at a tremendous rate.

Batman quickly attempted to seek outside assistance from both New Genesis and the Green Lantern Corps. However, both declined to assist us since we went against intergalactic policy by deliberately interfering with the power struggle on Apokalips. Batman argued, as we had before, that if the Justice League did not take action, the devastation that would have occurred on Apokalips would no doubt have a ripple effect onto its neighboring systems.

Even the Green Lantern Corps refused to assist their own in John Stewart for playing a major role in the Justice League interference.

We had lost our allies.

I was able to fight along side the last of the League members on Apokalips when Barda came to our aid. Her husband Mr. Miracle had already been killed during the battle, however he left behind a plan to rescue as many of the League members off of their homeworld as possible.

When Barta had located me, I was one of the last three members along with Shayera and Supergirl. We fought side by side, ready to fight till our final breaths.

During our last stand, Supergirl at the hands of two of the Superman clones. Shayera's true warrior spirit had shined as she pressed harder after the fall of her comrade. She single handedly dispatched ten Parademons within five seconds of Supergirl's death.

As Barda arrived, we were being swarmed by countless Parademons. Barta immediately opened a boomtube behind us that lead directly to the Watchtower for us to retreat. Shayera was quickly killed as one of the clones flew behind her and snapped her neck.

In all of my life, I had never seen so many I've cared for fall in a single battle. I thanked Hera for giving me the strength to withstand the horror that filled my heart and the will to not concede in battle.

Barda tried to prevent me from staying to share the same fate as my comrades, telling me that I had to return to my home and prepare for what is surely to come. But I refused to leave the planet and pushed her aside to administer retribution to as many of Darkseid's minions as I could.

Like a rain that suddenly stops without warning, the forces of Apokalips halted. The flood of Darkseid's minions in front of Barda and I slowly began to part. They make way for Darkseid and their returning general.

Superman.

"How could you do this, Kal?" I should have known better than to ask.

Superman was under the control of Darkseid. Last time under his will, Superman destroyed much of Metropolis without mercy. If not for him overcoming his control, he would have caused much more. A cold gaze emitted from his eyes as I stared at him in a rage.

The man I knew was gone.

However in the heat of my anger, I foolishly continued to banter.

"What could Darkseid have to possibly off…?"

My unfinished question was answered as Superman sent a powerful concentration of heat vision through Barta's eyes.

She fell limp to the ground as the holes where here eyes once rested now were charred. Smoke emitted from her ears, nose and mouth as I stood in horror of what Superman had done.

"I offer you this, Amazon", Darkseid dared to speak. "Surrender yourself to us or suffer a fate worse than any of your Justice League companions."

My answer came as I picked up Barta's war axe and charged Darkseid ready to end his life. I immediately felt a thunderous blow strike me in my jaw, easily fracturing it. I fell to the ground as Superman stood over me in his new uniform of red and black. The S on his chest and been altered to a black outline with the inside portions of it red. His suit was a dark red tone that was reminiscent of the terrain of Apokalips. His cape was a pitch black, like an aura of death that followed him willingly.

Superman reached down with one hand and lifted me by my throat. He brought me to his eyes as they began to glow red, ready to end my life. I tried to struggle, but the fatigue mixed with the blow I took and his strength made it nearly impossible.

I looked into his eyes to see the monster that had become of my good friend. I tried to place my last thoughts away as I focused on my home.

"Mother, I…I'm sorry"

My last words were barely audible as Superman's grip tightened around my neck. I felt my arms begin to lose their grip around his arms, ready to go limp. Hera did not hear my silent plea for more strength.

Perhaps that was my time…

Then, I heard his voice.

"Diana!"

Superman's eyes stop glowing as he and Darkseid look to the still opened boomtube. The voice of my comrade shouts orders to another comrade as they come through the boomtube. Batman and Captain Atom arrive wasting no time.

"Bat…" I struggle through Superman's grip.

Captain Atom fires two energy blasts, each heading for the overlords of Apokalips. Superman releases his grip as he was struck near his eyes, Darkseid the same. Batman used the moment to attack the stunned Superman by breaking a vile over Superman's face. Superman screamed in pain as he fell to the ground clutching his face. I feel Batman put his arms around me as he firmly spoke to me.

"Can you walk?"

I can barely answer as he quickly assessed the situation. I felt him pick me up and sling me over his shoulder. He began to run when I heard him say something else.

"Atom move!"

As Batman raced for the boomtube, I could hear Darkseid's anger rise with his voice.

"You will all burn…"

The next thing I hear is a powerful energy blast and Captain Atom's scream of agony. Batman and I returned to the Watchtower as the boomtube closes in time before we hear Captain Atom detonate on the battle field of Apokalips.

---

"Diana…"

I hear a voice call me, it's distant but it's there.

"We have to get moving…"

I begin to open my eyes as Batman hovers over me. I hear the engines of a Javelin behind me as I realize I'm in his cave. Sitting up, I see that it was not a Javelin, but two of Batman's planes, his normal one and a larger plane. They were indeed ready for takeoff on two of the landing platforms inside of the cave. The larger of the two planes looks like a transport vessel.

"Why are we here?" I ask.

"The Watchtower and everyone inside were destroyed", Batman says to me. "We're leaving."

I look to see Nightwing and Batgirl scrambling as they load both planes with cargo. They both have looks of fear and anger on their faces, but neither as bad as Batman's.

"How did this happen?"

"Darkseid's fleet appeared in Earth's orbit from a boomtube", Batman said. "The shield of the Watchtower gave almost everyone an opportunity to evacuate, but we were attacked by the clones of Superman. They breached the hull and began killing everyone inside. I was able to…stop one of them and evacuate you off the Watchtower before it was destroyed."

The look on his face shows he did far more than he ever intended to do as the Batman.

"Has there been any contact from anyone?" I ask quickly changing the subject

"No."

Then I notice that my jaw is no longer injured. I could not have been out that long. I also notice something strapped to my arm.

"How did my…?"

"It's a Mother Box", Batman says as he sees me expecting my jaw. "She healed your wounds."

The Mother Box is something I remember from our mission to New Genesis. Orion and most of the warriors from New Genesis wore these living computers. I then notice that Batman, Nightwing and Batgirl are equipped with Mother Boxes themselves.

"How did you get these?"

"Our last trip to New Genesis", he said stepping back. "I don't have time to explain. Dick and Barbara are getting ready. We have to go. "

I do not know Batman's protégés very well, but I was aware of two other people who are usually at his side.

They are not here.

"Where are Alfred and Tim?"

Batman stares at me for a moment, obviously struggling with what to say. He simply turns his back and heads for one of the planes.

"Let's go."

Batman grabs a case to take aboard his plane. There are other cases piled in front of the cargo plane. They look as though they store some type of equipment, slightly similar to the containers used on the Watchtower. I notice that a few very large ones have yet to be loaded. Seeing everyone's hurried pace, I quickly stand up and fly toward the larger cases. I land in front of one that stands at least four feet taller than me, looks to be just as wide.

"What are in these cases?"

"These are all emergency kits ready for evacuation if I ever had to relocate", Batman said coming out of the plane. "A main computer, lab equipment, rations, weapons, etc."

I lift the large case with ease and quickly carry it into the plane. My feet clang against the metal ramp as I hear Batgirl behind me.

"Put it over here, Diana" I hear Batgirl say.

Batman obviously designed this plane for transporting this equipment. The ground has indentations that are perfect matches for each of the cases they have been loading. I walk this large case over to the indention Batgirl directed me to, carefully placing it in its spot. As I set it in, a metal latch came from the wall behind it and secured it.

"The magnet on the bottom sets it in place and sends a signal to lock it in", Batgirl said securing another case. "Can you get the other four?"

"Of course", I say to her.

I quickly fly out of the plane to retrieve the other cases. It was easy to tell that Batgirl was struggling terribly with what was on her mind. The dire situation that faces us all is enough to make her react as she does, even more so.

The walls of the cave begin to violently shake as the security alarms sounds. Batman quickly runs out of the cargo plane and runs to the main computer in the cave. He is quickly striking the keys as more tremors cause rock and debris to fall from the cave's ceiling. I use pick up my pace as I load the second case.

"Dick, Barbara", I hear Batman shout as I fly the next case into the cargo plane. "Get ready for takeoff!"

"Roger", I hear Nightwing say.

As I come out of the cargo plane, Nightwing and Batgirl climb into the smaller of the two aircrafts. Batman is still working as a large rock from the roof crashes down onto the giant dinosaur that once stood in the cave. The dust fills the cave as I load the third of the last cases.

Batman finishes working on the computer as another thunderous tremor drops more debris onto the ground. The empty display cases where his costumes once stood began to open, parting down the middle and revealing a hallway behind them. Batman runs from the computer and enters the hallway as an opening in the ground exposes itself. From the opening, a large container is lifted from the underneath. The container looked like a box that would be too heavy for Batman to lift by himself.

After loading the last case, I fly towards him.

"What is this?" I asked Batman as he worked on a keyboard in front of the large container.

"Our best chance", he says as the case opens.

What comes out is something I knew he always had. I just did not know how much exactly. The green glow emanating from the case's contents cause me to half-close my eyes for a moment. Batman checks the contents and closes up the case once again.

"Fifty-four pounds will be more than enough", he says as he looks at me. "Would you mind…?"

He gets up quickly and heads back for the plane. I pick up the case and fly it towards the ship as well. I enter the cargo hold, already moving to secure the case. Batman walks in behind me and makes for the cockpit. I hear the engines roar as I assume the co-pilot's chair. The ceiling of the cave begins to collapse, destroying everything that Batman had built.

The look on his face showed no signs of loss, only calm and a sense of preservation.

"Seismic readings are getting stronger", Batman said over the com-link. "You two take off, we're right behind…"

The smaller aircraft lifts from the platform, rotating to exit the cave. As Nightwing and Batgirl exit the hangar area, the floor of the cave erupts. Rocks and debris fill the space, making it almost impossible to see. The dust clears in time to allow us to see the cause of the tremors. Emerging from the hole is the dark leader of Darkseid's army: Superman.

I will not allow Superman to stop Batman and those he cares for.

"You must go", I tried to say as I unfastened my safety belt. "I will stay and…"

Without missing a beat, Batman hits a button on the console that had been flashing since I sat down. I could see a far wall open as Superman appeared to smile at us. What demented pleasure Superman thought he was going to enjoy was suddenly halted as the entire cave was filled with red light. Bright red lights emitted from countless lamps strategically placed around the entire cave.

Superman looked around enraged as he turned his attention back to us.

"Simulated Kryptonian red sun", Batman simply said as the plane lifted off of the ground.

I see Superman want to make a move for us, but is slowed by the light.

"Will it kill him?" I ask.

"If that doesn't, then something else will get its chance."

A laser blast that came from opening in the far wall hits Superman in his back, followed by a quick blur that strikes at him and pins him to the ground.

"Let's go."

The plane lifted off the ground and exited the opening of the cave as I look at Batman dumbfounded.

"Was that a...?"

Batman piloted towards the sky calmly as answered.

"One of the Superman androids developed by S.T.A.R. Labs", Batman said. "They were commissioned to stand in for Superman if he were ever off world. I built a model based on their designs and modified it a bit."

I look at the monitor on the console to see Superman battle his android doppelganger, which is wearing his original colors.

Batman continues to pilot as I look up from the monitor. We see the other plane Nightwing and Batgirl are piloting as the radar picks up heat signatures from behind us.

"We've got incoming", Batman says as his face scowls. "Nightwing get ready to teleport."

The heat signatures were getting closer to our position over Gotham's waters. We now fly over Gotham City and I am horrified as it now lies in ruins. The feeling that overtook me was strong, but not as strong as the feeling I knew rested inside of my dear friend.

Batman is punching in coordinates into his navigation system when I look to him again.

"Bruce, where are we going?"

"We're going to need all of the help we can", Batman said. "Darkseid has already launched an attack on Atlantis, so we can't go there to regroup."

The destination is obvious to me now.

"We have to go to Themiscrya."