Edward waited patiently for an opening as he watched the quartet argue intensely. It had been five minutes since he asked for their opinions and he had been unable to pick up a single idea from any of them due to their incoherent screeching. Selina and Ivy seemed intent on out-shouting the other and Edward could feel his patience wearing thin as he decided that drastic action was probably needed to settle them down. He snatched an empty mug from the coffee table and launched it forcefully at the small piece of floor between the arguing rogues. The high-pitched smashing noise put an end to the conversation as everyone gasped while their hands flew up to protect their faces from the sharp pieces of shattered mug which scattered across the room.

"What the hell Eddie?" Selina called out as she kicked a small piece of mug away from her foot. Everyone was now giving Edward their full attention as they attempted to work out the source of the outburst.

"You're lucky that none of that hit me." Ivy hissed while Jonathan nodded in agreement as he glared at Edward accusingly.

"Have you all decided to stop acting like children now? Can we actually get some real discussion accomplished?" Ignoring the spiteful looks he was receiving, Edward smiled politely.

"We WERE discussing the situation before your small outburst." Jon frowned.

"No. You were screeching and yelling at each other like a gang of pushy mothers at their childrens' baseball games."

"Have you ever actually been to a baseball game Ed?" Selina countered.

"No. My father wasn't the baseball type. He did have a wicked swing though." He responded with a tight smile while Jon snorted slightly.

"It seems to me," Jon interrupted, "that the best course of action will be to work out which rogues we can depend on to support us and which rogues will need...persuasion."

"Well the five of us are a formidable team to begin with. Harley and Selina are well-trained in combat and if we play our cards right I am sure that we can use Ivys' powers to our advantage. Jon, you should also begin to work on new ways to disperse your toxin since it could be quite valuable." He paused as he realised something. "That said, we really should test whether or not the assassins in the league will actually be susceptible to your toxin. How do you feel about using our new basement guest as a test subject for a while?"

"Oh Edward. You really do spoil me." Jon grinned wickedly. "I would love that."

"Nice to see I can still make you happy."

"And what about you Edward?" Ivy asked suddenly. "You've mentioned all of our skills but what exactly are you bringing to the fight?"

"My incredibly intelligence and planning skills." Edward smirked. "You would all be lost without me. Look, you couldn't even have a simple discussion without my guidance. Plus I have it on good authority that I have a nice ass and that should count for something." Ivy snorted in disagreement but kept her mouth shut. "Who else can we depend on?"

Jon answered instantly. "Jervis. Jervis will help us out."

"True." Edward nodded. "I actually have a very specific role in mind for Jervis concerning our captured assassin. I have no doubt that he will assist us in our fight."

"What about Mistah Freeze?" Harley piped up. "Don't ya think he'd wanna help out since the ninjas tried ta kill Mrs Freeze?"

"She's right." Ivy nodded. "We all know how Freeze is when it comes to Nora and seeking revenge."

"Both are dependable. So far we have Hatter and Freeze, any other suggestions?" Edward threw out to the foursome. He did have some good ideas himself but he felt that it would be better to hear what the others had to offer.

"Dent will help. Ras had his minions steal from him so he would definitely be interested in getting even. Plus I am sure he would not like to be murdered by assassins so..." Jonathan offered wryly.

"Aww Harvey!" Selina purred. "I love working with Harvey. His sudden bursts of unnecessary aggression and constant coin-flipping make for a great working relationship."

"Is that sarcasm dear? We're all have our own little tweaks which we must learn to abide by." Edward smirked. "That said, you do bring up a good point. An army of rogues will be an absolute mess of personality disorders and insanity and I hope we are all prepared to deal with that, if the issue arises that is."

"I am sure I can think of several ways to scare them into obedience." Jonathan grinned viciously.

Edward moved forward to gently pat Jonathans' shoulder. "That's nice dear but not exactly what I had in mind."

"Whatever."

"But Mistah E!" Harley raised her arm as she waited for Edward to nod for her to continue. "We're talking 'bout an army of ninjas and so for we only have like," she paused to count on her fingers, "about eight people. How're we going ta take on an army? They ain't gonna fight fair."

"I know Harley but think about it. Each of the people we've mentioned so far also have the ability to bring others into our fold."

"How?"

"Well, Ivy here," he stopped to indicted to her, "can use her chemical compounds and feminine wiles to ensnare some cannon fodder for us."

"Fine by me." Ivy interrupted.

Ignoring the interruption, Edward continued. "Jervis can also use his mind-control technology to also encourage some new henchmen to sign up for our cause. Dent himself already has a whole network of gang members and bruisers who i'm sure he will be happy to bring into our services."

"But Harley is still right. Even with all the extra cannon fodder there is a very high chance that we will still be greatly outnumbered. You know how large the league is Ed." Selina hummed.

"And that is why we are having this discussion over who would be able to help us. Also I do not think Ras will bring the entie league just to fight us. I don't think he is THAT committed to murdering us. Also, I think now would also be a good time for me to run a very small idea by you all and get some feedback." Edward said innocently.

"What are you thinking Edward?" Came Jonathans' dry voice, he knew that tone very well and it usually meant that Edward was up to something he didn't think would go down well.

"Professor Pyg."

"Hell no." Ivy replied instantly. "That freak needs to stay away from me at all times. He is disgusting."

"I agree with Red! Pyg is just eugh!" Harley cried out as she stuck her tongue out and screwed up her nose in distaste.

"But almost brilliant in his own freaky way." Edward countered. "He also happens to be in possession of an army of his little, admittedly terrifying, doll-people."

"I understand why that would be useful but could we trust Pyg to work with us? He's delusional and self-obsessed." Jonathan asked.

"Again, I don't think he wanted to be murdered by assassins so I think his survival instincts may overcome his particular...obsessions." Edward frowned.

"We can put him on the 'maybe' pile and argue about it later." Selina offered, attempting to be diplomatic about the situation. "Who else do we have?"

"We need some 'heavy hitters'." Ivy said quietly. "Brute strength could be a great advantage to us."

Edward paused while he considered the options. "Bane has been gone for the last month and I have no idea when he is to be expected back. Penguin told me that he has returned to his childhood home which seems odd for a man of Banes' persona but I knew better than to make further enquiries. Killer Croc will probably help us, plus he already owes Jon and I a favour. Waylon can be counted on."

"Yay Crocky!" Harley squealed. "I love Croc, I haven't seen him in aaaaages."

"That's because we live in a nice home and not a sewer Harls." Ivy replied fondly as she looked at her friend.

Edward zoned out of the conversation as he considered the overall strength of the rogues who they had provisionally enlisted into their little war until he heard Selina speak up again. "We need weapons. Very few of us are good at hand-to-hand combat so weapons are going to be a necessity. The league also tend to prefer more old-school weapons like swords and maces. My suggestion would be Ozzie. Of all the mob bosses, he is probably the only one who is going to be interested in helping us."

"Oswald will be our first port of call." Edward agreed. "He's a good friend to several of us and I do think he will provide us with what we need. For a price, probably." He smiled fondly.

"What about Black Mask?" Jonathan enquired. "He counts amongst us masked rogues and he would have a lot to lose." At the mention of Black Mask, Edward had instinctively glanced at Selina and he grimaced internally as he saw her stiffen.

"I'm sorry Selina but Jon is right. We have to at least ask." Edward said soothingly.

"I will not work with the pyschopath who kidnapped my sister, murdered her husband and drove her insane." Selina hissed, her entire body tensing in anger. "The fact that he is somehow even still alive is an absolute miracle."

"Lina, I will not ask you to work with him. We will only ask him to provide arms, no personal involvement. I dislike the man intensely and I do not want him on the battlefield either."

"I swear I will kill him Ed. He had better stay away from me."

"I promise." The room filled with an awkward silence after that little outburst and Ivy decided to be the one to break it.

"Can we organise a meet with both Penguin and Black Mask to see what their stance is?" She asked lazily from her armchair.

"I will do it. I can organise both meetings for tomorrow night at the same time, which will allow us to cover more ground if we split up." Edward spoke loudly. "Jon, you and Selina can go pay Ozzie a visit while Harley, Ivy and I will meet with Sionis." He received a chorus of nods in response and he smirked at his ability to keep them all happy. For the moment.

x-x-x-x-x

The apartment was virtually silent after the women left. Jonathan was standing in the kitchen preparing two mugs of tea for himself and Edward. Much had been discussed throughout the day but the four women had been excellent at helping to suggest fellow rogues who would be inclined to take up arms against Ras and his league. He glanced at Edward, who was seated by the window and watching the hustle and bustle of Gotham going on below him with a curiously odd expression. "Edward?" He asked quietly. "What are you thinking about?"

At the window, Edward did not take his eyes of the long expanse of the town which was stretched out before him. "Just plotting. We have so many pieces on the chessboard that it will be hard to play them all."

"True." Jonathan conceded as he placed the cup down on the table and took the seat across from Edward and followed his gaze out to the city.

"Have we also considered the fact that not all of our masked friends will want to be involved in this little skirmish?" Edward took a sip of the tea and levelled his gaze at Jon.

"It's fight or die." Jon shrugged. "Either they join us or they face the wrath of Ras Al Ghul on their own. It's not a pleasant thought for any individual. I always tell you Edward, fear is the strongest motivator a person has and almost everyone fears death. Their fear will bring them to us."

Edward sighed. "I genuinely hope you are correct Jon."

"I usually am. I also wanted to run a small idea by you." He smirked, mimicking Edwards' earlier phrase.

"I'm listening."

"Well since we are going to be very busy criminals for the foreseeable future I think it would be unhealthy for us to not take some time out for ourselves. All work and no play, as the saying goes. And I also think it is incredibly cruel to keep out guest in the basement down there alone."

"What do you have in mind?"

"I am still incredibly offended by that insufferable Dr Rafferty and his sub-par ideas about who we are individuals."

"You just hate him because he was rude to you."

"Your point being?"

Edward snorted. "Okay Jon. You have convinced me. We'll take a little time out to pay the good Dr Rafferty a personal house call before we cordially invite him to spend a little time in our basement."

"Thank you Edward." Jon raised his mug slightly and clinked it with Edwards' as they sat and watched the darkening skyline.