Chapter 1

I sat in the co-pilot's seat watching as Diana handled the Javelin. She was in the final learning stages of learning to pilot the craft, and she would be ready for a solo flight soon. She was a quick study, and an eager student. Her questions were well thought and she took constructive criticism well. This doesn't surprise me a life time of training tends to temper one.

The rescue mission to Vega Prime we are returning from had been short, but it was a good learning aid for her. She had handled herself well, even if the miners were crude. Her presence was a little distracting; she hung around me a lot, much to the Flash's dismay. They say the little things in life make it worth living, and anything to put a bug in West's craw and curb his incessant flirt with her.

In the rear of the Javelin I can hear the Flash and the Green Lantern trying to teach the Martian how to play Texas Hold'em poker. He was having difficulties with the concept of bluffing, even though he would rival me with his poker face. I think he has a problem with the dishonesty of bluffing.

As we approach the Watchtower, I prod Diana, making sure she watches the thrusters as she slows to make the entrance to the hanger. She smoothly glides the vessel into the hanger, and gently sets it on the deck.

"Nice landing Diana," I said unbuckling myself from the chair. It was a far better landing than Dick ever pulled off. I had to replace the landing struts twice before retiring that Batwing.

"A compliment from the Batman, it must chilly in Tartarus." She said with a warm smile. I try to keep my eyes from lingering on her luscious lips, thankful for the lens on my cowl. I treat her with a slight smirk as we head towards the ramp. "So I'll see you tomorrow afternoon for our sparring session?"

"I've been gone to long and may be busy," I said gruffly as I make my way to the Batwing parked across the hanger. "But I will let you know." I said over my shoulder. As I crawl up the ladder to the Batwing and strap myself in, I start up the engines. I see her exiting the hanger talking with West. She laughs out loud, laying a hand on his shoulder as the door slide closed.

I close the canopy and launch out into space. It takes a few minutes to get into proper orientation to enter the atmosphere, but it gives me a few minutes to myself. Normally I would be plotting my patrol route for the evening, and any evidence that needed going over, but all I could think about was Diana. The way her laughter rang out, and the way her smile lit up any room. Damn it, get a grip, there's a job to be done, stop thinking about her. I reign in my thoughts, and ease the Batwing through the rough atmosphere and point the craft towards Gotham.

Several hours of patrolling puts my mind back in the game. The moon is bright and full, giving a good view of Gotham from the roof of Wayne Towers. It's before 2 AM and I have interrupted two attempted robberies, prevented two muggings, and managed to speak with an informant about a large shipment of cocaine one of the crime families is trying to move.

A scream from a block over tears me from my reverie. I launch myself off the roof, shooting a grapple towards the building. At the apex of my swing I disengage the cable, execute a mid-air somersault and land on the roof. Below I hear the woman begging, and the growl of an animal, and then her scream rings out into the night again.

I drop off the roof, using the cape to slow my decent, and drop behind the largest wolf I had ever seen. It turns on me and launches itself at me. It's faster than I expected, and hit me in the chest. We crash into the wall; stars explode across my vision as my head cracks against the brick. I slam my elbows down on its ears, dragging the razor sharp edges of my gauntlets across its head. It howls out and before jumping backwards I launch several bat-a-rangs at it. Two strike it, and I hear it yelp out.

Its moving towards me again, I manage to roll to the left, but fire erupts across my back as it drags it claw down my back. I kick off the wall slamming the razor sharp bat-a-rang into its shoulder. Again it howls out in pain. It swipes at me with its paw again, but I'm able to dodge it.

As I turn to re-engage it, its on top of me, I feel its teeth sink into my right shoulder. The pain is excruciating, and the edges of my vision start to swim in black. I slam the electrified bat-a-rang that found its way into my hand into its head, enveloping us both in high voltage electricity.

Every muscle in my body tightens to the point that I feel my teeth are about to shatter. The bat-a-rang runs out of juice and my muscles release themselves. The wolf-creature lets go of and disappears into the night.

I pull myself into a seated position, my right arm is numb. I reach back into a pouch on my belt and pull out a package of clotting agent. My vision swims and I feel myself falling again, but something holds me up and takes the package from my fumbling fingers. The woman.

"Okay?" I try to say, but it comes out as a croak.

"Thank you," she said pouring the clotting agent on the wound. "When I moved here, they said you were a myth."

Some myth, lying here in a dark alley, going to die like my parents. I thought to myself. She uses her jacket to cover the wound and goes out into the street trying to flag some one down. Using the wall, I get onto my knees, and pull out a grapple. I fire the grapple to the left most building and the grapple drags me into the air. I manage to hold on long enough to get to the roof. Once there I activate my com-link.

"Alfred," is all I'm able to get out before the darkness at the edge of my vision closes in.