Chapter 34: Epilogue

ONE YEAR LATER

"What's that?" Batman asked Wonder Woman.

She was sitting on the couch in the Watchtower lounge, a spiral notebook in her hand. There was a sketch on it that she had been staring at intently.

"Oh, it's just a doodle that Flash had made," she said solemnly.

She handed the book to Batman and he eyed it for a few seconds. It seemed to be a drawing of a woman in Flash's costume. The bust was oversized and the heels were too high… typical Wally.

"He made this a long time ago," she explained. "It was right after some annoying television person had made a comment about my armor. He drew this up to show me what I would look like as Mrs. Flash."

Batman handed it back.

"I think you'd look good in a red body suit."

She looked back at the drawing, with a little more interest.

"Actually," she admitted, taking a sip of her iced mocha, "I rather like the idea. I don't like the mask and I think I'd remove the sleeves… maybe even cut my hair… but it's a good look."

Her voice trailed off and her eyes grew even sadder.

Batman sat next to her and gently placed his hand on her knee.

"I miss him, too," he said quietly. "We all do. But we'll find him."

The two heroes sat silently for a moment, thinking of their missing comrade. Before long, they were both summoned to the Monitor Womb.

Superman and J'onn were watching several monitors, each showing various news outlets. The theme of each station was the same; the President of the United States was addressing Congress and pressing for a declaration of war.

"I still don't see how that man was elected," Superman was saying as Wonder Woman and Batman entered. "I should have stopped it."

"You allowed the people to speak," J'onn tried to console his colleague.

"The people were fooled!" Clark spat back. "They didn't know what they were doing."

"I didn't vote for him," Batman admitted as he and Diana stopped to watch the coverage.

"I'm glad you're here," J'onn told them. "Things have gotten much worse. President Luthor has supplied the Congress with selected forms of evidence that suggest that meta-powered humans, and us in particular, are a clear and present danger to the United States. He is also trying to convince other leaders throughout the world to join him in his fight."

Superman's clenched fists grew tighter.

"He has called," J'onn continued, "for us to send a representative to address these accusations in an open session of the Congress. I believe the three of you should accept the…"

He was cutoff by a break in the news. One by one, each monitor switched over to live coverage on the steps of the Capitol Building in Washington, DC. There, under a blood-stained tarp, lay a body. The red arm and boot sticking out from under the covers was clearly recognizable.

"Flash!" Batman whispered.

Diana's hand shot up to her mouth.

Clark turned and stormed out of the room.

THE END