Young Justice: The Dark Equation
Dick Grayson's Point of View
Somewhere Outside of Gotham
Three years ago today, the Justice League died. Scratch that, they were murdered by Darkseid and his para-demons. I lost my father and my mentor but the world lost something much more. With the death of the Justice League and the disappearance of Earth's Green Lanterns, John Stewart and Hal Jordan, Darkseid took over the world. The heroes and villains that weren't murdered by Darkseid have gone into hiding and some have even joined him as commanders and enforcers of his reign.
I am the leader of what is known as 'The Underground'. Back before the world went to hell, we were just called 'Young Justice' but seeing as the League is dead and we aren't so young anymore it didn't make sense. There aren't that many of us but that helps us stay off of the radar as much as possible.
My thoughts are silenced as I hear the unmistakable sound of unnaturally fast footsteps. There was a knock on the door and I say "Come in Wally." The door opened and no one other than Wally West walked inside the room. You see, Wally vanished into the speed-force a little over eight years ago but we thought that he was dead. Four years ago (Before Darkseid) Wally appeared in the area that he vanished from while stopping the MFD with Barry and Bart. He is considerably faster than when he vanished because he was absorbing speed-force while stuck in the tear.
Wally walks up to the desk that I am sitting at and says "Hey boss, you need to come see this." I stand up and walk out with him whilst grabbing my mask and sticking it to my face. We walk out to the debriefing room and go towards the central computer to see Babs sitting in her seat in front of the computer with a picture of Joker on the screen. Once we were standing beside her chair, she clicks the picture and a video started.
In downtown Gotham, there're about a dozen or so men in clown masks throwing Molotov cocktails at apartment buildings and businesses nearby. A brown haired woman runs by and gets a Molotov cocktail thrown at her too. It was gruesome, her screams loud enough to haunt your dreams. After she drops to ground dead, a very distinct laugh is heard as The Joker himself struts by in his violet suit, pulls out a gun and shoots the already dead lady twice. The video ends and Oracle rotates her chair to look at me and asks "What do you want to do?"
I look from Babs to the screen and I know that I can't leave that chaos unchecked. Six years ago, in an attempt to get revenge on the now-dead Commissioner Gordon, Joker showed up to Barbara's house (Unaware that she was Batgirl) and shot her. She has been paralyzed ever since but she is still fighting against evil by being Oracle, superhero tech support. "Have the team meet us here," I say while looking at the screen and staring at the picture of Joker. She nods and speaks into the speaker that connects to the whole base. "Important meeting at the debriefing room. Everyone to debrief immediately."
When she finished on the intercom I leaned down next to her and asked: "Are you okay Babs?" She smiled slightly at the use of her nickname and says "I'm fine Dick." I am not sure if I believe her but I drop it anyway after kissing her on the cheek to cheer her up.
Connor and Kara Kent (along with Krypto) were the first to walk in. After Clark died those three have been inseparable. Connor basically became best friends with her because he had no one left after Clark died, Lois vanished and Black Canary went into hiding somewhere. Not to mention the disappearance of Megan after La'gaan died.
Shortly after that, Roy Harper walked in. Roy ended up finally getting his mind right after meeting and befriending my brother Jason Todd aka Red Hood. Thankfully he no longer sees himself as just a clone and knows that he has to carry on Oliver's legacy being that the original Roy died whilst trying to assassinate Lex Luthor.
Donna Troy walked into the room and I could see that she looked annoyed at something. I also could see that Cassie wasn't with her. "Donna, where's Cassie?" I ask while looking around with the cameras. "Ask Robin. She's with him more than me." She says while dropping onto the couch. I shake my head in disappointment and use the comm channel that Robin and I have in our ear that allows us to contact members of the Bat-family. "Robin, where are you? Drake, you there?" I ask questions like these for about two minutes before someone answers but it's not Tim. "Nightwing? Do you need something?" Cassie asks through Tim's comm. "Yeah, I need you two to get outta bed and get to the debriefing room," I say while checking my watch. "Oh sorry. We'll be there in a moment."
Tim Drake and Cassie Sandsmark walk into the room next with Zatanna behind them. Zatanna looked at me and said, "Sorry, I was in the shower." I nodded and said, "Don't worry about it." I then looked at Tim and Cassie and ask "Why were you two late?" Cassie blushed and Tim smirked and asked: "Do you really want to know?" I just shake my head again and turn back to the screen.
"Play the video Oracle." I say while checking through the mini computer mounted on my wrist for recent Joker sightings. Once the video was finished the group was silent for a moment before Connor asked "Why is Darkseid letting this happen? He's letting Joker cause chaos in his 'Empire'?" I looked at Tim and decided that it was as good a moment as any to test him "Tim, why would Darkseid let Joker cause chaos?" Tim rubbed the back of his neck in thought and said: "By letting Joker and his gang cause mayhem, the people will think that they need Darkseid to keep them relatively safe from people like Joker." I smile and nod while saying "Good job. That's exactly correct, he's making them submit because they think they need him. People that still don't submit to Darkseid or his commanders end up hearing the anti-life equation." I looked at the group to see if there were any questions "Darkseid has spoken the equation over loudspeakers set up throughout the city. How come those three don't hear it?" Zatanna asked while gesturing over to Connor, Kara and Krypto. I picked up an earpiece and showed it to the group "Not only are we outside of the city, but this bunker is soundproofed and Tim and I made these to block out sounds that are a mile out. We're trying to design them to just block out Darkseid but that is not going so well being that we have no way to safely test it."
I was going to tell Connor and Kara more about it but I felt someone tap me on my right shoulder and when I look over I see Wally. "Don't you think we've gone off track a bit?" He asks and I nod. "Joker is based somewhere near the Gotham docks. Search the warehouses near the docks and find them. Joker won't be there most likely but the man who knows where he is will be." Oracle pulled up a picture of a caucasian man with blonde hair with pink streaks in it. I point to the man in the picture and start telling them about him. "Joker's second in command, Lee 'Giggles' Johnson. Thirty years old, had an obsession with The Joker as a child, has murdered at least two dozen people in the last year and he likes poodles. Any questions?" Cassie looked confused and asks "Second in command? Where's Harley Quinn?" "She was arrested along with the Joker five years ago but the people in charge decided that it was best to split them up. Joker was sent to Arkham Asylum and Harley was sent to Belle Reve in Louisiana. The last that I have heard of her was that she's back in the city somewhere."
"How are we supposed to find Giggles? The drones in the sky will shoot ours down and there are too many checkpoints to just drive there. It'd take about ten minutes to drive there and another ten to get back using shortcuts." Tim said while checking a map. Wally laughed and said "Twenty minutes? I can do it in two." I look at Wally because that run will be dangerous, even for him. Especially for him. "You sure about that Wally? I could send Connor with you. Connor, how's your speed coming along?" Connor looks at me and says "I'm pretty fast but he's still faster. We should go through the sewers so we won't be slowed down." Wally nods and they head for the door while picking up two earpieces "Send us the coordinates Oracle. Boss, what're we to do when we find Giggles?" Wally asked while putting on his goggles and specially made tennis shoes. "Bring him back here but don't be seen or at knockout anyone that does. Joker can not know that we're coming for him because he'll just move again."
They were walking out the door when Kara called them back and said: "Hurry back and stay safe." Wally was about to walk out of the door but turned around and said "Hurry back? We'll be back in a flash." And then they were gone.
The group was leaving the room and so was I but then Barbara pulled me back. I look at her confused and ask "What is it? You okay?" She nods her head yes and says "It's not about me. Remember what you had me look into a month ago? About your friend?" My eyes widen excitedly and I nod my head waiting for the news. She turns back to her computer and clicks out of the picture and pulls up the old Star Labs building. "I found him. They're keeping him in Star Labs." She pulled up a picture of my old friend from when I was still a kid. "Cyborg."