Fic: Rainbow’s Freedom (Justice Arc) (13/61)
Title: Rainbow’s Freedom (Justice Arc) (13/61)
Author: BradyGirl_12
Pairings/Characters: (this chapter): Kara Zor-El, Clark/Bruce, Alfred, Dick
Series Notes: In the 23rd century, Earth is a technologically-advanced society that practices the ancient institution of slavery. Clark begins training under the Bat and secrets are uncovered as the Abolitionist Movement makes rapid progress with old and new methods. Can Freedom outrace rumors of War as the Galactic Empire rushes headlong to a new future?
The entire series can be found here.
Genres: AU, Drama, Slavefic
Rating: (this chapter): PG-13
Warnings: None
Spoilers: None
Summary: Kara visits Wayne Manor.
Date Of Completion (First Draft): March 17, 2011
Date Of Posting: May 4, 2012
Disclaimer: I don’t own ‘em, DC does, more’s the pity.
Word Count: 1881
Feedback welcome and appreciated.
Author’s Note: The magnificent story cover is by the wonderfully-talented ctbn60. Thanks so much, luv! :)
And, lo,
The Great Savior
Has been suckled
And wrapped
In shackles
And love,
Safe
And protected
By the One
Who was Destined
To shelter him
When he was
At his most
Vulnerable.
But now
It is time
For the Great Savior
To lead his people
To the Promised Land,
His Shining Sword
In hand
Of the House Of The Star,
As Freedom’s Rainbow
Glitters and sparkles,
Rising from the ashes
Of the Day of Reckoning.
Psalm 67,
Song Of The Savior
"The Book Of Rao"
Pre-Modern Krypton
XIII
THE GREAT SAVIOR
Kara walked briskly along Harborview Road. She could have taken a taxi but preferred to walk. Her powers gave her the stamina to walk for miles without tiring.
The day was gray, cold and windy. Not a problem for her, and it allowed her to observe things at her own pace. Cabbies were interesting people to talk to, but she preferred to be alone with her thoughts today.
She had heard rumors that Wonder Woman was going to openly affiliate with the National Abolitionist Society, and if she worked this right, she could urge the powerful aristocrat she was going to meet today to speak out even more.
Kara was confident of her persuasive powers. She had learned that Human males were extremely susceptible to female charms. She had used that knowledge to her advantage on more than one occasion.
Martha Kent had called and made an introduction for her to the Prince of Gotham. Satisfied, Kara had donned a powder-blue shirt, skirt, and retro cardigan sweater. She wore matching flats and a string of pearls, her blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, and wore minimal make-up, a sapphire ring on her finger. She had researched what a young college girl would currently wear, and this 20th century retro look was ‘all the rage’. Amused, Kara had dressed appropriately, but was still confident that her sexuality could successfully carry the day.
It puzzled and amused her that a dichotomy existed in this society about sex. On the one hand, sex slaves were common among the upper classes that could afford them, and there were brothels of all types, some catering to the wealthy, others to the middle class, and still others for the working class. Marriages and living arrangements were of all kinds: opposite-sex, same-sex, ménage a trois, and group marriages/arrangements.
Yet for all the displays of naked slaves and erotic movies and other entertainments, the culture could be surprisingly suppressed. The current fashion in college students’ clothes came straight out of the 1950s and 1960s, or at least the early part of the latter decade. Young women, apparently, were supposed to be lady-like and act with decorum while wild frat parties with sex slaves were openly advertised on campus. The women did get around it by renting their own sex slaves, since sex with a slave ‘didn’t count’.
Kara found it all very puzzling, but she supposed it had to do with the influence of conservative religions here on Earth. While sex was all around them, many of the major churches frowned upon carnal acts of any kind. Slaves were considered filth, the tempters of good, decent freemen-and-women. Absurd, of course, but many people seemed to believe it. Even her beloved Krypton had suffered from some of this puritanical thinking.
She shook her head. Such thinking was illogical and fueled by moralistic nonsense. At least the hedonists of the Galaxy were honest about their desires. Too often moralists were hypocrites, eager to tell others how to live their lives while secretly doing what they preached against.
Kara decided to enjoy the walk, anticipation building up in her the closer she got to Wayne Manor. The cold did not bother her, but she was intrigued by the leafless trees. The once-colorful landscape was now bleak with grays and browns as the only trees with vegetation were firs and spruces. Dead leaves curling brown littered the ground and blew across the road.
Preparations were in full swing for the American holiday of Thanksgiving. She admired the concept of the holiday but wondered at people who gave thanks for their abundance and freedom while their slaves served the great feast.
What did slaves have to be thankful for? That they were not tortured and killed by sadistic Masters? Ridiculous!
Kara could see the tall spires and turrets of Wayne Manor rising above the trees in the distance. She quickened her pace, eager to meet the Prince of Gotham.
& & & & & &
“Is our guest all right?”
Clark closed the clock as he turned to face Bruce. Pulling down his hood, he answered, “She’s fine. Probably in need of some sunlight, but she’s less skittish.”
“Good.” Bruce glanced at the clock. “That college student that Martha recommended should be here any minute. You’d better get changed and help Alfred and Dick in the gardens.”
“Right.” Clark gave Bruce a quick kiss and walked away with a saucy glint in his eyes.
Smiling, Bruce shook his head. He sat at his desk and worked as he waited for his visitor.
& & & & & &
Kara rang the doorbell, impressed despite herself at the grandeur of the Manor. Down at the front gates she had given her name through a speaker. There was no guard box but she knew that she was being watched by electronic and Human eyes. She had briskly walked up the long, winding driveway and now stood on the portico, listening to the precise footsteps heading her way. The door opened and a dignified butler said, “Ah, Ms. Danvers. Come right in.”
“Thank you…”
“Alfred.”
“Thank you, Alfred.” She smelled the mouth-watering aroma of apple pie baking.
“Master Bruce is awaiting you in the library. This way, please.”
Kara followed Alfred down the hall, glancing back at the enormous chandelier in the foyer. The wealth of ages resided here. She was in the right place.
Alfred ushered her into the library, her attention immediately drawn to the aristocratic man seated behind the massive oak desk.
“Master Bruce, Ms. Linda Danvers.”
Bruce Wayne rose with a polite smile. “Thank you, Alfred. Hello, Ms. Danvers.” He stretched out his hand as Alfred retreated.
Kara shook his hand. He was devastatingly handsome with his black hair and piercing, dark-blue eyes. He was broad-shouldered and appeared in excellent shape. She suspected that those eyes missed nothing.
She smiled demurely. “Thank you for seeing me, Mr. Wayne.”
“A pleasure, Ms. Danvers. Have a seat.”
Kara took the chair in front of Bruce’s desk while he sat behind it. She took out an e-pad and stylus, crossing her legs.
“Martha said that you’re writing an article for your college paper.”
Kara nodded. “That’s right, The Wheelock Whistler.” She noted his amused smile at the name. “I’m very interested in the work of the N.A.S.”
“Admirable.” Bruce steepled his fingers. “So, are you a budding Abolitionist or just interested intellectually in the Movement?”
“Oh, I’m definitely interested as a believer in the Cause. What brought you into the Movement?”
“I observed my slaves and knew that they deserved freedom just like us who were born free. Slavery is a terribly oppressive system, for slave and Master.”
“Master?” Kara’s eyebrow rose. How dare he say the pigs who exploited slaves suffered, too?
“Yes.” Bruce was calm as he explained. “Slavery doesn’t allow Masters freedom of choice in the issue. There are many Masters and Mistresses who would free their slaves but can’t under the present system.”
“Ah.” Kara was still not buying the explanation completely, but remembered that she had to be charming. “That makes sense.”
“Slavery is constrictive in more ways than one.”
“Yes.” Kara smiled. “But I’ve heard how wonderfully you treat your slaves.” She inwardly seethed but was sure that she was successfully hiding her feelings.
“I do my best.”
“You have a very small Household: a butler, a Squire, and a pleasure slave.”
“It works for us.”
“That’s good.” She changed tack. “So I hear that Wonder Woman will be affiliating herself with the Society.”
Alfred appeared with a tray. “Tea, Ms. Danvers?”
“Delighted, Alfred, thank you.” She noticed what was on the plate he handed her. “Chocolate chip cookies! Mmm.”
Bruce laughed. “Alfred is my finest diplomat.”
Kara genuinely laughed. “He seems indispensable.”
“He is.”
“And your other slaves?”
“Very much so.”
Kara could sense the reluctance of Bruce to go any further on the topic of his Household, so she smoothly returned to the subject of Wonder Woman.
“Is it merely a rumor or an actuality about the Amazon?”
“Well, you’d have to ask the officers of the N.A.S. that.”
“Would you approve of a such a move?”
“Of course. Wonder Woman is an inspirational figure. She can do the Cause much good.”
“Yes, I can see that. I was in Boston and saw her up close.”
Bruce smiled. “She’s pretty impressive, isn’t she?”
Kara agreed to that. The Amazon was genuine in her support of the Cause, of that she was certain. “She is unique.”
“Oh, yes.” Bruce picked up the antique letter opener. “She can remind people of what we once were as a nation, call us to return to that greatness.”
“What exactly do you mean?”
“Our heritage.” Bruce leaned forward, the glint of passion in his dark eyes. “Once upon a time we were a country that valued freedom. We had slavery but were beginning to realize that it was wrong.”
“Oh, yes.” Kara quickly recalled her Earth history.
“But we lost our way,” Bruce sighed as he leaned back.
Kara merely nodded but thought that Bruce was understating things quite a bit.
“But things are starting to get better now. People are starting to wake up.”
“Yes, a very good thing.”
Bruce’s phone rang. "Excuse me a moment; I have to take this."
Kara nodded, enjoying the warm chocolate chip cookies. She rose from her chair as Bruce continued to talk, gazing out the window at the formal gardens.
Her interest perked up as she saw the Wayne slaves walking toward the gardens. Alfred was leading the young Squire, and the Prize followed, his face partially obscured by a pair of dark glasses.
Alfred pointed out some flowerbeds and the other two slaves set to work, using rakes that they had carried with them. She watched the two of them, Alfred snipping some red and yellow chrysanthemums and placing them in a basket. He headed back to the house. The other slaves talked and then the Squire nodded, running back to the house.
The smell of something good cooking wafted down the hall. She tried to identify it.
The Prize took off his glasses to rub his eyes and Kara saw his profile. Shock coursed through her. “Uncle Jor-El,” she whispered, then shook her head. “No, of course not. It must be …oh, Kal-El!”
Bruce hung up. “Sorry about that. Mmm, I smell the hamburger stuffing cooking. It’s a marvelous recipe…” He stopped as Kara turned toward him with her blue eyes blazing.
“You! How dare you!”
Startled, Bruce had no chance to react as Kara super-sped behind the desk and grabbed him by the neck as she lifted him up out of his chair. He gasped, struggling for breath as she raged, “How dare you enslave the Sal-Vor of Krypton!”
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