"It wasn't a 'near fall', it was more of a...feigned swoon." He chuckled lightly, leaning his head out of the open window. Even with his enhanced hearing and sight, their assailants had blended back into the fold of Metropolis like they were shadows. He knew someone who was awfully good at that trick...maybe he had some experience with these kinds of attackers? Maybe even knew who they were? 
"Let's see if we can't get our favorite grumpy Bat to do some recon for us. Maybe he can come up with a way to reverse the effect of whatever was coating their blades. It shouldn't take him longer than a hour, right?" It was then that Clark heard it. A soft whisper, a delicate wind that floated past his ear. There were words in the whisper, garbled and hopeless, but if he just strained hard enough...

Nothing. 

He shook his head. Probably nothing. 
"Let's get moving, then. Here's hoping we can make sure none of your other sisters have to fall today." 

____________

The carnage. Everywhere. 

As Clark's feet touched down on the shores of Themyscira, his senses were buffeted by the coppery smell of blood, the choking aroma of billowing smoke and the faint gasps of the mortally wounded who knew their time was running out faster than they could control. It was humbling to see such a proud race seemingly decimated in one stroke, to se-

"DIANA!" Up ahead, a blonde haired girl with her once elegantly white tunic stained with crimson matter sprinted towards them. Upon reaching the duo, she looked to Clark, brow furrowed.
"Who...who are you?" 
"A friend who's willing to help." The girl's gaze went from the oddly costumed man to a much more familiar sight.
"Diana, there are..are..so few of us left. I'm so glad you came back. There are more of them coming through one of the portals..."
"Portals?" Clark looked to Diana, his turn to be mystified. 
"Yes, the portals." She seemed to scoff at his ignorance as she continued:
"We tried to route them off, but...but we couldn't. They have blades that cut through flesh like I've never seen. I had to run, you know, I couldn't..." Tears welled up in her eyes as Clark asked:
"Where are the 'portals' you set up?"