Seven At Midnight (Seven Drabbles)

Copyright October 2005 by BillA1

Disclaimer: The characters Batman, Green Lantern, Hawkgirl, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Superman & Flash and their respective secret identities are all owned by DC Comics. This story is intended for my own pleasure and is not for profit. It has been posted to this site for others to read. Places and characters not own by DC Comics are my own creation. This story is based on characters from Justice League: The Animated Series.

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Preface

These seven drabbles pick up on a thought or a theme from six existing works of mine. Titles of the existing works are in parenthesis. Enjoy, because somewhere on this planet, at the top of the hour, it's midnight.

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DIANA (CHILDREN OF COCYTUS - A Justice Lords Story)

It wasn't about the rules; it was about doing what's right.

It was about keeping the faith with her sisters and her adopted League family. It was about conversing with her gods.

That was all that mattered.

Eons ago, she'd learned to fight, to kill, to mourn the loss of a fallen warrior and to savior the sweet taste of living to fight another day.

Now she fought daily not to give in to heredity, not to be her father's daughter. Tomorrow, she'd battle again, but her survival wasn't assured.

But today she'd won and that was all that mattered.

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WALLY (The Space Between)

"Did you say thirty-seven sugars?" Beatriz asked.

Wally nodded.

She translated to the stunned waitress his request for coffee with cream and sugar.

She'd chosen this outdoor café in Rio for them to meet. But, frankly, he would have gone anywhere to spend time with her.

Over the years, he'd thought he was in love with Shayera and later Kara. But he'd never told them how he felt and they moved on, not knowing his true feelings.

He wouldn't make that mistake with Fire.

Beatriz would know how he felt, as many times as she could stand to hear it.

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BRUCE (The Secret Star)

Gotham would always need a protector. Gordon told him that. The city had come to depend on him being there.

It wasn't Batman the city had come to depend on, it was vigilantism. Organized law enforcement wasn't enough anymore. Costumed crusaders were expected to do the work the city needed; expected to clean up the city's messes. And if that vigilante was lost... well, there'd be another to take his place.

He was an expendable, interchangeable commodity to be tossed away when he'd served his purpose.

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CLARK (IMPACT! - A Justice Lords Story)

The interview had lasted much longer than he expected, but he'd gotten a terrific story. A smile crossed his face as he realized that Lois would be green with envy.

He'd gotten an exclusive interview with the newly deposed dictator of Pulmania. His article would be printed in tomorrow's Daily Planet, hours before the dictator would be executed for crimes against humanity.

Of course, Clark would have to edit the interview extensively to ensure that it met the Planet's high journalistic standards.

And, of course, to remove the inference that the dictator was overthrown because he opposed the Justice Lords.

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SHAYERA (Living With Shadows)

She'd gotten up to look at Paran's helmet as she'd done every night since J'onn had the personal effects they'd found on that ship moved to her quarters.

Paran had tried to kill her.

She'd fail.

But other Thanagarians or their agents would try and eventually succeed. The Great Traitor of Thanagar would meet the fate of all traitors: death.

There'd be no trial. No courtroom to plead her case for betraying her Homeworld.

Without warning, one day, she'd be assassinated and the traitor's debt would be considered collected.

Her destiny was known.

Her future was clear.

She had none.

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J'ONN (The Space Between)

The humans had tortured him for years before he was released by the Kryptonian.

The Amazon looked human, but wasn't. This demigoddess would do whatever it took to protect her island.

The Thanagarian was afraid of him, having seen what he could do to her species, so she was circumspect around him.

The remaining three humans didn't matter. They were unimportant to include Batman with his "secret" weapon to take down the Martian, if necessary.

J'onn shook his head.

These thoughts were destructive and not useful. These people were his friends.

But why did they insist on protecting the humans?

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JOHN (In Search of Spirit Voices)

Sleep wouldn't come, but it often evaded him now. He lay alone in his bed. There were so many things on his mind. He'd seen his future and knew he would be the father of a superhero.

Chronos had showed him his destiny. But Katma had chastised him for not using his ring and confirming his future.

He'd taken her advice.

He saw what he needed to see.

He ringed the image of a man and a twelve year old boy crying over a woman's fresh grave. He cursed Katma's name.

It was better to have doubts than to know.

END