"So these mercenaries are the ones responsible for the Kents' abduction?" Wonder Woman asked from several rooftops away. It looked like the mercenaries had gathered together around a table with a nearby fire that was burning and lighting them up. "What are they doing?"
"Celebrating." Batman answered with a grunt.
"They are celebrating…" Supergirl growled out.
"Like I said before. There is no point in-"
"We should catch them and force them to tell us what they know." Wonder Woman decided.
"This is Gotham. We should follow his lead." Green Lantern pointed out. He could already tell that both Wonder Woman and Supergirl were ready to jump into action. Hawkgirl was ready to back them up. But he knew better than to just jump into this. Especially since this was Batman's territory, this is Gotham.
"Like I was saying. This was just to confirm. There is no point in- and she's off." Batman stopped as he watched Supergirl fly off. "Don't-" He stopped as Wonder Woman jumped to the next roof.
"Back her up." Wonder Woman ordered as she jumped from roof to roof.
Batman sighed as Hawkgirl flew off next and then Green Lantern followed them. "Sorry, but I have to back them up."
Batman grunted while Damien walked up next to him. "I thought your friends listened to you."
"They should know better. This is Gotham. Besides… that mercenary group gained a new member recently. We should stop them before someone ends up dead." He pulled out a grappling hook and disappeared into the shadows followed moments later by Robin.
Wonder Woman frowned as she watched Supergirl fly off with the leader that Batman pointed out. She was in too much of a rush. She landed on the roof and unsheathed her sword. She had brought all her weapons this time around. "Tell us what we want to know!" She demanded.
"I mean… Do you want to know how to cook a steak or something?" One of the men asked with a chuckle. "You are going to have to be far more specific."
Wonder Woman frowned and went to respond when a shadowy figure landed in front of them. Followed by Robin. "Maybe you should stop. I told you before to listen to me. But now I am telling you that you will listen to me or we are going to have problems."
Wonder Woman scoffed, "I won't listen to a bunch of criminals. They will fear my-"
Bang! Crash!
A woman in a sweater and jeans body slammed her while her red hair waved. Her large great axe followed behind her. She jumped off the roof going in the direction of Wonder Woman.
"What was-" Green Lantern started.
"Come on! We need to back her up- argh!" Hawkgirl flapped her wings and flew slightly up. Intending to assist Wonder Woman when she was suddenly wrapped in thorny vines that dug into her wings and skin. "Damn!"
Green Lantern's ring started glowing. "Stop." Batman said one word and Green Lantern looked at him. "I was trying to explain this earlier, but as far as the government and law is concerned. The mercenaries here have done nothing wrong."
Green Lantern lowered to the ground. Looking at the mercenaries who were all slightly armed. Then he heard Hawkgirl's grunt of pain. Batman then turned and looked toward Supergirl who was flying upwards some distance away while holding the mercenaries leader, Ricardo Bell.
"Supergirl, intimidation tactics do not work on him. Do not bother." Batman told him. "No. Get back here. There is no point in- damnit." He cursed as they watched her fly up farther into the sky. He shook his head and looked to Ivy. "Can you release her so she can go get them?" He asked Ivy.
"No." Ivy answered, "give it a moment."
They could hear a loud whistle and saw two bodies falling out of the sky. Ivy sighed and they watched as a tree in a park grew over sized and then vines grew out of it and formed a shape. Catching both Rico and Supergirl. "They are on the ground and Rico is on his way back."
"Now we just need to get Wonder Woman." Batman sighed as he looked in the direction they flew. He could see the docks far in the distance and saw a crate fly into the air and then get split in half. "Or we could just start without her."
—--------------------
Diana grunted in pain as she pulled herself out of the crater in the ground. She blinked and felt a liquid coming from her brow. She reached up and saw she was bleeding slightly. She gritted her teeth and climbed to her feet.
She held her sword to the side and pulled the shield off her back as she looked at the direction she came from. She watched as a figure jumped from a roof and landed on a shipping container opposite her. There were not many lights but she could see the outline of a woman with a greataxe.
Diana looked and pointed her sword at the woman, "I do not know who you are. But get out of my way." Then there was a slight flashing as the lights in the dockyard flashed on. They were on before she landed but when she hit the ground they seemed to have gone out for some reason. "By the gods… Artemis of Bana-Mighdall, what are you doing here?"
"I joined up with the mercenary group you were threatening. The gods suggested I come here and I listened." Artemis answered as she spun her axe and rested the head on the shipping container. "Now get ready for a fight Princess." The last word was said with disgust.
Diana got in a fighting stance. "Why are you doing this? I saved you from Tartarus!"
"After your mother had a hand in sending me there." Artemis answered as she spit on the ground. "Or did you think I would never learn that I was merely raised to the status of Wonder Woman to only act as your stand-in for the death you were fated for."
Diana shook her head, "no you are wrong! My mother-"
"Was given an Oracle that Wonder Woman would die. So she sought a replacement to take her place. Now ready yourself Princess Diana!" Artemis crouched slightly and then jumped up with her great axe. Ready to split the earth and Diana with her first strike.