Blessing In Disguise

Fourteen

A few hours later, when sunset is rapidly approaching and I've lost sense of the actual time, we're in a rental car. Damian is sporting a bruise from slipping down part of the Play place's tunnels, and he, along with the other young boy, is asleep in the back of the car. We plan to only drive it as far as we need to. I have no doubt that we're going to be tracked with it.

Dick is driving. We plan to go as far as he can manage, heading on a freeway that heads northeast. Towards Kansas for a backup, but if we decide we don't need it we'll head toward our original destination. Star City, USA, where Green Arrow, Artemis, and salvation await.

Dick called both the Kent farm and the Queen estate, to tell them what happened. Kara, upon picking up the phone, offered to pick us up, but Dick reminded her that it would draw too much attention to the spot, and in turn, to her. We're going to drive.

It's a northward journey. Around one or two am, Dick decides to swap with me. We make a stop at a rest area somewhere in western Oklahoma and I get behind the wheel. Soon, my only conscious companion joins the others in dreaming.

I get us into Kansas, and by dawn we're near to the Kent property. Dick awakens, and we begin discussing our options when they attack.

Eight ninjas. I stop the car, and they rip the passenger door open. I leap out, armed with fists and a vengeance, and Dick rushes to get to Tim's oversized bag. Its contents? Weaponry.

The two young boys wake in the middle of the fight, not that I am surprised, but I know they realize why the plane had to land. Why we made our detour and tried, so hard, to avoid the subject. Even when they start fighting alongside us, it appears that we're going to be defeated. I guess four boys are no match for trained assassins. Especially if one isn't even in double digits yet and half-starved from weeks on the streets, with the latter disaster affecting a second boy as well.

Our saviors come in their red-caped, blue-suited glory, when we start to fail. First I see her blonde hair, new blue outfit, and bold fight taking out two of the enemies without a struggle. Then, I see Superman himself, forcing a few of the others to the ground. It takes mere minutes for them to succeed.

Damian is awestruck even after I whisper "superpowers." Dick and Tim start thanking them instantly, and my little companion leaps behind the eldest Robin to avoid their eyes. Kara shakes my hand, a smile on her face, and says. "We could hear you fighting it out. Thought we'd make sure you were okay and offer help. Looks like we did okay, hmm?"

"You're like gods," I tell her. "Thanks."

"It was nothing. Oh, this must be Damian," she says brightly, noticing the mostly hidden preteen. I introduce them. Soon after, we're on the Kents' front porch, enjoying some of the famous Martha Kent apple pie, and discussing options.

Well, most of us are discussing options, anyway. Damian's begging for, and receiving, a second slice of pie.

It's not a long stop, but we do spend most of the day on the farm. Damian falls in love with the cat and Dick promises to ask Bruce for one when we get home. I make a mental note to pitch in on that argument.

After dinner, we drop the rental car at a local place and the Supers take us to our new form of transportation: a cargo train. We've been cleared to hitch a ride, and it's been kept a secret between Superman and the train company owner. We can get to a second safe haven in Keystone and Central cities, where Flash and Impulse are waiting.

I think we're gonna be okay.