HOME | DD

Description
After exiting Harleen's building, Bruce went to his car and was outfitted in moments. This model of Lotus he equipped with GPS system and autopilot software. It could be operated remotely as well. Alfred took the controls at that point and navigated the car home, meanwhile Batman went airborne in his urban glider and made his way to the northern part of Gotham and beyond.

About five miles outside the city was Wayne Enterprises Technological Industrial Park, affectionately and jokingly known as “We Tip”. When he arrived he had to sneak in. The irony passed through his thoughts that he had to sneak on to his own property, but Bruce Wayne said “no trespassers without authorization” and that meant Batman too. Bruce had to keep up appearances. Additional instructions included that should Batman be seen, then Fox or Wayne himself should be immediately contacted for instructions.

When he reached the center of the park he went for the roof of a COGEN plant opposite the Cyber Tech R and D building where the break in was reported. When he got there, he was surprised to see someone waiting. He landed and the light and strong tubing of his glider and the thin fabric wings folded up into the size of a medium suitcase which he hid near a roof ventilator. He walked over to the tall waiting figure. Long hair moving slightly in the light, night breeze.

She was tall, muscled and strikingly beautiful. “What took you so long?” Said Diana.

“What are you doing here?” Was his answer.

She turned and wore a slight smile. “Still answering with questions I see.” He did not reply. She sighed a bit and continued. “I'm following a lead related to my own people concerning the Shackles of Hephaestus.”

“Here?” He said, with just a hint of surprise in his deep whispered voice.

“So it seems. And now a break in at your facility. I just arrived a few minutes ago and thought I would do you the courtesy of waiting before crashing the party. John Jonzz alerted me. He heard of the break in from your private alert system, which he appreciates you allowing him to monitor. I was ready to go on my own and almost gave up on you, but now, here you are. So, I'll ask again, why so late.”

He turned to Wonder Woman and eyed her up and down once. She was an amazing example of the female form, human form, really. This night she also carried a black and gold staff. She did not use weapons often, having super human strength and the ability to fly. “Crime is down. At least to the point where the Gotham PD can handle things. Everyone tells me to take some time and enjoy life a bit, so I decided to give it a try.” And he looked away again.

Diana's eyes narrowed as she looked at him and a wry smile crossed her face. “Bruce. Don't tell me you were out on a date?!”

Without looking back at her he replied, “Had to cut it short while she was out of the room. I doubt she'll understand.” He turned to Diana now. “This is why I keep to myself. You let your guard down and trouble creeps in. I have no business getting involved in civilian life that way.”

Her face soured a little and Diana replied. “You don't let yourself get involved that way in anyone's life.” That was a reference to their own brief affair. Quick and hot, but Bruce would not go any further. To him, they worked together too often, but more often worked apart.

Diana, Kal El, Wally, John the Martian and John of the Lantern Corps along with Hawk Girl and a few others had reformed a coalition and were consolidating their assets in one headquarters. They asked Bruce to join, but he would not fully commit. He enjoyed his independence too much and found working with others could often be a burden. Jason Todd was an exception as well as Rick Grayson was in his early days.

Now Rick had his own name as Nightwing and Jason was a late teen starting to come in to his own. Bruce rescued Jason from himself and wanted to see his training through to the end. When the kid was eighteen he could decide for himself what to do.

Bruce, now in his thirties and seemingly set in his ways, was actually becoming more open minded and willing to offer his help to the revamped Guardian Alliance and was even willing to accept some assistance from them. They offered a lot of power and resources, so it made sense. Just the same, having a relationship with someone like Diana could be too distracting. People in their position or those of such extraordinary power did not have normal relationships and now he was regretting the false pretense he was giving to Harleen Quinzel. He had no business bringing his world to hers. It would only endanger her life. Even as Bruce Wayne.

“I'm sorry Diana, but you know how I feel. And because of that, I feel we need to keep our relationship off that level. I don't regret the time we had though. And....I confess I even miss what might have been.” He said all this without looking at her.

At his last comment her head sharply turned to him and her face shone genuine surprise and softened a little. “I think that's the most sincere sentiment I've ever heard from you about our past Bruce. I'll take it, and thank you.” Her gaze, now followed his as they looked down to the entrance of the Cyber Tech Division.

“So tell me about the shackles.” Bruce said.

“Well, you remember that Ares escaped and had them removed by Hades only for Ares to be slain by yours truly.” Her hand making a sweeping gesture to herself. “Ares is currently in servitude to Hades indefinitely, but Hades did not protect the shackles very well. In fact I believe that was on purpose. They went missing from his realm and rumors have cropped up on Earth of someone using the shackles powers to capture and dispatch some minor deities. Additionally one of my own Amazons, Hespira, was tragically found dead in the dumps south of Greater New York. No Amazon should be treated and left that way.” Her demeanor quickly changed as she recounted this tale until she looked like she would smash the building flat. And she probably could.

After calming herself, she continued. “The shackles not only subdue the powers of the gods, but can turn an Amazon into a normal weak mortal, no offense.”

“None taken.” He said. “But what clue led you here?”

“Hespira was wearing a regular office suit and had a security ID for this division of yours under the name of Julie Watts.”

“Hmmm. Julie Watts....I believe I remember that name. She was a new assistant for the new top researcher for the Bio/Cyber division. The top researcher is relatively new also, hired by Lucius Fox's assistant. Her name is Lavinnia...something.”

“Geez Bruce. All these assistants, you used to be more hands on.”

“This is what happens when I listen to people who tell me to “take some time off”, “relax”, “enjoy a vacation”, “go on a date”.

“Hah! So it was a date!” She exclaimed as her eyebrows rose up at the irony. She was sure she was one of many who said such things to Bruce. Not the “go on a date” one, but more like “let's take a vacation together somewhere.” She sometimes forgot the worlds that divided her and Bruce. As Bruce Wayne and Batman, he was so much larger than life that it was easy to forget that he was a mortal and took his business and the protection of his city with the utmost seriousness. She thought about Bruce's grandfather and how proud he'd be. He was so much like him, but she never spoke of how much she really knew his grandfather. She had her own responsibilities to her family and the Amazon women of Themiscyra, but she had considerably more free time than Bruce. And she was an immortal. She carried the blood of the Old Gods in her. The ones on the opposite side of Darkseid's ancestors. The one Earthlings call Zeus is her father. Potentially she could live until the universe itself finally died, unless the unlikely event of Ares escaping Hades and catching her off guard came to pass. Ares was a servant to Hades for now, but she knew his cunning knew no bounds and that someday he would escape. “What intel do you have?” She asked.

He spoke while still observing the building below. His cowl and cape made him look like a gargoyle in the low light. He seemed perfectly at home up on this rooftop. “The silent alarms went off about fifteen minutes ago now and no one or anything has been seen leaving. The building is surrounded. You can see the guards now in place.”

“Yes, I saw them when I arrived.” She said. The average person would see nothing and no one, but these two heroes saw everything. “Well, shall we.”

“Ladies first.” He offered with a hand gesture.

“Wow. Twice in one night. You can still make a woman's heart flutter.” She smiled with a small dose of sarcasm in her voice.

Batman's suit is the Flexxsuit by Xurge 3D, his mask was a freebie from share CG, as is Wonder Woman's body suit. Batman's cape is by Sshodan from Renderosity with some transparency mods by me.

Characters are owned by DC. Batman Created by Bob Kane and Wonderwoman by William Moulton Marston. Reproduced here as entertainment and fan art. Original story line by me, Arthur Dorety.

Description
After exiting Harleen's building, Bruce went to his car and was outfitted in moments. This model of Lotus he equipped with GPS system and autopilot software. It could be operated remotely as well. Alfred took the controls at that point and navigated the car home, meanwhile Batman went airborne in his urban glider and made his way to the northern part of Gotham and beyond.

About five miles outside the city was Wayne Enterprises Technological Industrial Park, affectionately and jokingly known as “We Tip”. When he arrived he had to sneak in. The irony passed through his thoughts that he had to sneak on to his own property, but Bruce Wayne said “no trespassers without authorization” and that meant Batman too. Bruce had to keep up appearances. Additional instructions included that should Batman be seen, then Fox or Wayne himself should be immediately contacted for instructions.

When he reached the center of the park he went for the roof of a COGEN plant opposite the Cyber Tech R and D building where the break in was reported. When he got there, he was surprised to see someone waiting. He landed and the light and strong tubing of his glider and the thin fabric wings folded up into the size of a medium suitcase which he hid near a roof ventilator. He walked over to the tall waiting figure. Long hair moving slightly in the light, night breeze.

She was tall, muscled and strikingly beautiful. “What took you so long?” Said Diana.

“What are you doing here?” Was his answer.

She turned and wore a slight smile. “Still answering with questions I see.” He did not reply. She sighed a bit and continued. “I'm following a lead related to my own people concerning the Shackles of Hephaestus.”

“Here?” He said, with just a hint of surprise in his deep whispered voice.

“So it seems. And now a break in at your facility. I just arrived a few minutes ago and thought I would do you the courtesy of waiting before crashing the party. John Jonzz alerted me. He heard of the break in from your private alert system, which he appreciates you allowing him to monitor. I was ready to go on my own and almost gave up on you, but now, here you are. So, I'll ask again, why so late.”

He turned to Wonder Woman and eyed her up and down once. She was an amazing example of the female form, human form, really. This night she also carried a black and gold staff. She did not use weapons often, having super human strength and the ability to fly. “Crime is down. At least to the point where the Gotham PD can handle things. Everyone tells me to take some time and enjoy life a bit, so I decided to give it a try.” And he looked away again.

Diana's eyes narrowed as she looked at him and a wry smile crossed her face. “Bruce. Don't tell me you were out on a date?!”

Without looking back at her he replied, “Had to cut it short while she was out of the room. I doubt she'll understand.” He turned to Diana now. “This is why I keep to myself. You let your guard down and trouble creeps in. I have no business getting involved in civilian life that way.”

Her face soured a little and Diana replied. “You don't let yourself get involved that way in anyone's life.” That was a reference to their own brief affair. Quick and hot, but Bruce would not go any further. To him, they worked together too often, but more often worked apart.

Diana, Kal El, Wally, John the Martian and John of the Lantern Corps along with Hawk Girl and a few others had reformed a coalition and were consolidating their assets in one headquarters. They asked Bruce to join, but he would not fully commit. He enjoyed his independence too much and found working with others could often be a burden. Jason Todd was an exception as well as Rick Grayson was in his early days.

Now Rick had his own name as Nightwing and Jason was a late teen starting to come in to his own. Bruce rescued Jason from himself and wanted to see his training through to the end. When the kid was eighteen he could decide for himself what to do.

Bruce, now in his thirties and seemingly set in his ways, was actually becoming more open minded and willing to offer his help to the revamped Guardian Alliance and was even willing to accept some assistance from them. They offered a lot of power and resources, so it made sense. Just the same, having a relationship with someone like Diana could be too distracting. People in their position or those of such extraordinary power did not have normal relationships and now he was regretting the false pretense he was giving to Harleen Quinzel. He had no business bringing his world to hers. It would only endanger her life. Even as Bruce Wayne.

“I'm sorry Diana, but you know how I feel. And because of that, I feel we need to keep our relationship off that level. I don't regret the time we had though. And....I confess I even miss what might have been.” He said all this without looking at her.

At his last comment her head sharply turned to him and her face shone genuine surprise and softened a little. “I think that's the most sincere sentiment I've ever heard from you about our past Bruce. I'll take it, and thank you.” Her gaze, now followed his as they looked down to the entrance of the Cyber Tech Division.

“So tell me about the shackles.” Bruce said.

“Well, you remember that Ares escaped and had them removed by Hades only for Ares to be slain by yours truly.” Her hand making a sweeping gesture to herself. “Ares is currently in servitude to Hades indefinitely, but Hades did not protect the shackles very well. In fact I believe that was on purpose. They went missing from his realm and rumors have cropped up on Earth of someone using the shackles powers to capture and dispatch some minor deities. Additionally one of my own Amazons, Hespira, was tragically found dead in the dumps south of Greater New York. No Amazon should be treated and left that way.” Her demeanor quickly changed as she recounted this tale until she looked like she would smash the building flat. And she probably could.

After calming herself, she continued. “The shackles not only subdue the powers of the gods, but can turn an Amazon into a normal weak mortal, no offense.”

“None taken.” He said. “But what clue led you here?”

“Hespira was wearing a regular office suit and had a security ID for this division of yours under the name of Julie Watts.”

“Hmmm. Julie Watts....I believe I remember that name. She was a new assistant for the new top researcher for the Bio/Cyber division. The top researcher is relatively new also, hired by Lucius Fox's assistant. Her name is Lavinnia...something.”

“Geez Bruce. All these assistants, you used to be more hands on.”

“This is what happens when I listen to people who tell me to “take some time off”, “relax”, “enjoy a vacation”, “go on a date”.

“Hah! So it was a date!” She exclaimed as her eyebrows rose up at the irony. She was sure she was one of many who said such things to Bruce. Not the “go on a date” one, but more like “let's take a vacation together somewhere.” She sometimes forgot the worlds that divided her and Bruce. As Bruce Wayne and Batman, he was so much larger than life that it was easy to forget that he was a mortal and took his business and the protection of his city with the utmost seriousness. She thought about Bruce's grandfather and how proud he'd be. He was so much like him, but she never spoke of how much she really knew his grandfather. She had her own responsibilities to her family and the Amazon women of Themiscyra, but she had considerably more free time than Bruce. And she was an immortal. She carried the blood of the Old Gods in her. The ones on the opposite side of Darkseid's ancestors. The one Earthlings call Zeus is her father. Potentially she could live until the universe itself finally died, unless the unlikely event of Ares escaping Hades and catching her off guard came to pass. Ares was a servant to Hades for now, but she knew his cunning knew no bounds and that someday he would escape. “What intel do you have?” She asked.

He spoke while still observing the building below. His cowl and cape made him look like a gargoyle in the low light. He seemed perfectly at home up on this rooftop. “The silent alarms went off about fifteen minutes ago now and no one or anything has been seen leaving. The building is surrounded. You can see the guards now in place.”

“Yes, I saw them when I arrived.” She said. The average person would see nothing and no one, but these two heroes saw everything. “Well, shall we.”

“Ladies first.” He offered with a hand gesture.

“Wow. Twice in one night. You can still make a woman's heart flutter.” She smiled with a small dose of sarcasm in her voice.

Batman's suit is the Flexxsuit by Xurge 3D, his mask was a freebie from share CG, as is Wonder Woman's body suit. Batman's cape is by Sshodan from Renderosity with some transparency mods by me.

Characters are owned by DC. Batman Created by Bob Kane and Wonderwoman by William Moulton Marston. Reproduced here as entertainment and fan art. Original story line by me, Arthur Dorety.