In the upcoming days, I cleaned the lighthouse and took trips to the nearby towns to get to know the planet a bit. Thankfully the WiFi too worked wonderfully at the lighthouse.

I was relieved to find my phone and laptop among other stuff in the bag the aliens had given me.

I had charged my phone and showed Tom my baby girl and my mother. Tom, in turn, dug up some old photographs of Arthur as a kid and his mother, the Queen of Atlantis at her time. She was gorgeous and I was hoping to meet her in person someday before it was my time to leave this planet and get my daughter and mother back.

I had gotten used to a routine at the lighthouse. Tom taught me a lot of sea-related stuff and I happily learned because there was nothing else to do. No job, no family, no other goals. Days seemed to drag on.

Tom and I had become good friends, he reminded me of dad and I often cried when I would get randomly reminded of the world that had ceased to exist.

I missed how things used to be and where I was headed in life. Now I had to begin everything all over again, on whichever planet had got chosen for my family to resume our lives. It was a huge burden.

I was still scared of the ocean, so despite Tom's encouraging words, I rarely went closer to the beach, only taking a walk in the sand on sunny days when the ocean seemed calmer. I still had nightmares. Night sky used to terrify me before but now it was even worse. I missed holding my little girl and kissing her, I missed hugging mom as she told me everything would be alright.

One day as I had just finished making lunch, Tom entered followed by Arthur. I felt a rush of adrenaline through me. I was hoping for good news, I was ready for good news.

I gave them a smile, trying to keep my excitement in check as I said, "Welcome back." To Arthur and then announced, "Lunch is ready. I'll set the table."

"Anna, how about we talk first?" Arthur asked not returning my smile.

I grew a little anxious but nodded nonetheless wiping my hands on my apron and then taking it off to follow Arthur to the balcony.

He was facing the ocean so I could only see his strong back. As soon as I entered the balcony he turned to face me and handed me the TSRS.

I hesitantly took it, not being able to see any sign of it being opened. I looked at him confused and saw sympathy in his eyes.

"I'm sorry. I asked our most well-learned people about both ancient and advanced, symbols and languages but we couldn't find anything that could help us even know what the riddle is or how to open this box, if it even opens."

My heart sank.

I couldn't form any words. I had so much hope for Arthur to bring me closer to my daughter. If the king of Atlantis couldn't figure anything out, how could I even hope to do it on my own?

I took a deep breath, I knew I was about to cry but I didn't want to do it in front of him. So I rushed to my room and locked myself inside. I threw the damned cube to the wall but the obstinate little thing dropped without a scratch.

After an hour, Tom knocked on the door. They had respected my need to be alone and had now come to check on me. It was sweet but I was in a very sour mood. I opened the door to tell Tom off, or maybe just hurt them the way my heart was aching, even though it wasn't either of their fault.

But the look that Tom gave me as I opened the door, I instantly broke down again. He came inside as I hugged him, he patted my head and back just like my father used to do. He let me vent to him and I couldn't be more grateful. I never really had a shoulder to cry on, trying to keep my mother away from my worries so she didn't worry about me.

After about fifteen minutes I cleaned up and brought to the living room to have lunch that I had no appetite for whatsoever.

Arthur sat, quietly waiting for us and I didn't dare look him in the eye. It wasn't his fault but I was bitter. He had tried to help a stranger and even though it didn't work out he deserved thanks, but I was in no mindset to be grateful yet.

Tom served the warmed-up lunch and I began moving my food around my plate, knowing I won't be able to swallow a bite even if I put it in my mouth.

Arthur sighed, "Anna, I am sorry for not being able to help-"

"It's okay, you tried your best. I am grateful, I truly am, but-" I tried to be courageous but he interrupted.

"Will you listen? You ran away without hearing me finish the first time too." He seemed a little annoyed but had a hint of a smile as well and I nodded quietly bowing my head focusing on my plate with a little 'sorry'.

He sighed again and spoke, "I may not have been able to help but I have friends who might. Since you knew about me from your world's comics and movies, do you by any chance know about the justice league?"

I looked up and nodded, I had no idea where he was going with this. Who was he going to give TSRS to try and find answers?

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He nodded and told me his plan, "First of all, you can't stay here."

Tom and I objected simultaneously, "Why not?" Lighthouse had become a home to me and Tom had become a dear friend for the whole month I had been on this planet. Arthur looked at our outburst surprised and then explained, "Because living in a city will give you more options to look for answers."

That did make sense. Staying in the lighthouse, there wasn't much I could do about my situation.

"And also, because I'd rather the whole team not come here every time we get a lead or try to discuss something."

He seemed to be thinking his next words as he took a huge bite and slowly chewed and then chugged down some beer before finally explaining, "I have talked to a few friends in the league. I'll take you to Wayne Manor, it's in Gotham City, you will be able to do more from there than here. Also, most of the league members visit there so finding answers collectively should be more efficient."

As I sat there digesting the facts that I might be living in the Wayne Manor and meeting real justice league superheroes, Arthur told me, "We will leave in an hour. Tom will drive us to the airstrip where Wayne has sent his plane to pick us up. I'll go with you and introduce you and your problem in detail."

"In an hour?" I asked surprised.

"Yes, why? Do you have a lot of packing to do?" He asked, I knew he was making fun of me but I was too focused on a new possibility to find answers.

"Thank you." I smiled at him truly grateful as he looked at me confused, this probably wasn't the reaction he was expecting after the sarcastic joke he had made.

"You didn't have to do anything for me. I don't have anything to repay you and yet you tried to help me before and now are helping me even more. You are a king with your whole kingdom and yet here you are helping-"

"Alright, you say helping one more time and I'm not doing it." He looked at me seriously but the three of us knew he was joking.

In precisely an hour, we were ready to get in the truck towards the airstrip. Despite the joke, Arthur was right, I didn't have much to pack. My only belongings from a lifetime on another planet could all fit in one duffle bag.

We reached the airstrip in an hour to see a plane waiting for us. I had never seen a private plane and now I was going to travel in one. Under different circumstances, I might've had a ride of a lifetime but I felt too pessimistic to enjoy anything.

Arthur and I boarded as a pretty flight attendant took my bag, Arthur didn't bring anything as he didn't plan on staying. We were led to our seats.

As soon as the first flight attendant saw the handsome hunk accompanying me, they poured in one after another to ask us if we needed anything or if we needed water or coffee, or towels. It was funny how hard they were trying to catch his attention.

Maybe in a different scenario, I would be trying too but I had lost my planet, I was recently divorced from a husband who is now dead, not to mention, way out of the Aquaman's league, and also knew the fact that he had already chosen a future queen for Atlantis, a woman he loved. Tom had told me about her once, that she was also an ocean dweller, a gorgeous redheaded woman called Mera. I had seen the Aquaman movie so I could've guessed that much myself.

Finally, we reached the majestic Wayne Manor. It was bigger than I had imagined and way more marvellous, though it did have a gloomy air to it. The famous butler, Alfred received us, and I still couldn't help but feel surprised how similar people looked and acted from when I have seen them in movies as fictional characters.

We sat in a spacious living area that was lavishly decorated, waiting for Bruce Wayne to come home, who as explained by Alfred, had to attend a sudden meeting at his company.

We didn't have to wait long as soon the tall handsome man entered the room, wearing probably a custom-made suit. Once again resemblance to Ben Affleck was uncanny and I was shocked. My mind still trying to process that the DC universe actually did exist and here was with the real Aquaman and Batman in the same room as me.

The men nodded at each other and Arthur introduced us. We all sat and Arthur began explaining things from the beginning as I had done to him when we first met.

The space shuttle was still in the lighthouse basement, which Bruce promised to be brought to his workshop to study and see if it could be fixed.

Bruce was polite and formal, I could see he didn't like Arthur's easy-going, sometimes sarcastic jokes, but it was clear the two men respected each other. I could also easily guess that Bruce wasn't very fond of the idea of my stay there, but he probably had chosen the lesser evil. I knew he didn't fully trust me, and I would have to gain his trust to get real help from him.

I was ready to do whatever was needed to secure help from this planet's superheroes to get my daughter and mother.