The Batcave, 8AM

Batman watched patiently as Zatana began to cast her locator spell. He knew enough to keep quiet, besides, he had his own dark thoughts to consider. "I'm Ready Bruce." Zatana stood in front of a holographic map of Gotham city, raised her arms and began to chant. Mystic energy flowed from her to the two fingers, then shot directly to the map. Bruce rose and stared in horror as the spell indicated at least 20 different locations.

Slumping down, head in his hands he asked, "Are they, I mean, did the spell work?" Puzzled Zatana looked at the map. "Yes, it worked. But, this doesn't mean they are dismembered, so don't panic, yet."

Bruce looked up at the map again. "How could the Joker do this? Foil a tracking spell?" Zatana knelt down in front of Bruce and took his hands in hers. "Bruce, it could be pieces of their hair, pieces of skin, anything that is part of them would reflect in the spell. He must have known after 3 weeks of trying to find him, at this point you would resort to a spell. That's why he sent you the fingers, to drive you that way and to see the results of what he had done. Give me some time, I can create a new one that will find the largest piece of mass." Wrapping her arms around Bruce she gave him a quick hug. Returning the hug briefly, stiffly, Bruce stood up. "I need to contact the League, give them a heads up about friends and family being in danger."

Bruce walked over to his computer, and flopped down in his chair. He paused, hand hovering over the button that would initiate League communication protocol. Breathing deep, he pressed down on it. Nearly instantly, Diana's face appeared on the monitor. "Bruce, I was about to…Hera! What's wrong?"

"Diana, I need to issue a League alert. The Joker has taken Batgirl, Nightwing, and Lois Lane. He, knows. Knows who I am. There is no telling what else he has learned."

"Oh Bruce, no." Looking over her shoulder Diana turned back to the monitor. "Bruce, we were about to call you. Wally and Artemis, they are gone. Kidnapped from school this morning. They knew who they were, were ready for a speedster and an archer. Could the Joker have contacted others? Sometimes, one piece of the puzzle fits, and the rest becomes clear. Finding out your identity could have been the cascading piece that unravels the League as a whole."

Feeling the crushing weight of total defeat on his shoulders, Bruce stood up. "It's possible Diana. At this point, I think probable. No Leaguers, or members of offshoot teams need to be out of uniform, and alone. At least not until we find the Joker, learn who he told, and put an end to this. Get J'onn to monitor social media, scan for any and all instances of Leaguers and associates, and make sure none of this information goes viral. Tell Kaldur to get the team together now, and keep them under wraps. Send Canary, Green Arrow, and Red Tornado down to keep an eye on them. They can research from computers, but no field work." Diana nodded. "Do you need help Bruce? Do you need me?"

"The fewer risk, the less targets. If I fail, contact Alfred or Gordon, they will have what information I have and continue the fight for me."

Diana looked down, then back up. "Take care Bruce."

Zatana walked up, placing her hand on Bruce's shoulder. "Wally, Artemis, Dick, Barb and Lois. There is no connection other than being associated with the League."

Standing up, pulling his cowl back over his face he turned to Zatana. "I am going to be hitting the streets, looking and listening for anything. Work on that spell some more, and when it works, call me." Zatana nodded, smiling.

Gotham City, somewhere 9AM June 1

"Wakey wakey children" cackled a maniacal voice, crackling with static. Wally raised his head and looked around. His eyes met those of Dick Grayson first. "Dick? Where are we?"

Dick shook his head. "Not sure, we were unconscious when they brought us in."

"Us?"

"Batgirl and myself. She is over there. I…I don't think she is going to make it. The Joker carved out her ovaries and sent them to her dad."

Gagging back the bile that was rising in his throat Wally turned his head the best he could. He could barely see Artemis crumpled in the corner, and another figure next to her. "How did they get you Wally? Who got you?" Wally shook his head, trying to remember. "Two goons. They were ready for us, knew who we were. Is this a hit on the Team?"

Dick paused, then shook his head. "No, the Joker is trying to break Batman. Or Superman. The woman over there beside Artemis? That's Lois Lane." Wally turned and looked, his eyes growing huge. "Is he insane? How did he find out about us? Our secret identities?" Dick frowned, "Not sure, he claimed he always knew who Batman was, but only recently did he decide the real way to attack him was through his friends and team mates. I don't understand the entire Superman angle, but it can't be good."

"Of course it can't be good, unless you are me of course. Hahahahaha. If Bats chickens out, I know for sure I can push the man of steels buttons."

Wally and Dick jerked in surprise as the Joker walked out of the shadows. How did he get down here that fast, they thought. "Ole Bats is a little slow in responding, so I think, I think I will send him some encouragements." Walking over to Wally, with an evil grin spreading across his face, he drew his blood stained knife. "Better hope ole Dick here or Babs doesn't have anything contagious. Not that you will care much in a couple of minutes." With a purely hysterical laugh, the Joker rolled Wally over, binding him flat on the ground. "Let's see how fast you can be, with no hamstring boy."

Wally screamed in agony as the Joker hacked and slashed his way through his pants, then into his skin. Vaguely he heard Dick and Artemis scream his name, then the pain took over and he passed out. Upon awakening the Joker was in front of him, holding up two long muscles. "Good, you are awake for this." Turning to Artemis the Joker brandished his knife. "Admittedly, I don't work out much, so I don't know which muscles would pull back a bowstring." Hand on his chin the Joker looked at Artemis. "I guess I am going on a treasure hunt!" Leaping on Artemis he plunged the knife into her shoulder and carved the muscle from her shoulder, down to her triceps. "Hahahaha" he cackled, dancing around. "Now, how to get the best rise from Bats. I guess the muscles, and this video will be enough." Laughing the Joker spun around the bodies. Suddenly, he stopped mid-spin. "I almost forgot. Ms. Lane. The beautiful reporter who has a face for TV, but works at a newspaper. Let's make the face fit the job, shall we?" Eyes filled with terror, flicking back and forth between the knife coated in blood, and the camera in the other hand, she began to shake with fear.

As the Joker began to work on Lois, in the shadows stood a small figure. Harley was appalled. Sure, they had killed before, but it had a humorous twinge to it. This, this was madness. Brutality. Insanity. Eyes filled with pity looked over at Barbara Gordon. Her ovaries. The one thing to really destroy a woman, remove her ovaries. With a shudder she realized he could just as easily turn on her. Setting her jaw, she made up her mind, turned and crept out.

The Joker paused in mid slice and turned to face the shadows. "Lenny, Bruno, follow her. Abduct whoever she meets, leave her there alone. Mess her up if you want." Grinning the Joker returned to his work.

Wayne Manor- 9:30am June 1

"Good Heavens! What are you doing here!" Alfred screamed as he reached for a sword cane. "Wait, Jeeves, wait!" cried Harley as she held her hands up. "I'm alone, and I need to see Bruce immediately."

"You pulled that on Lois and it worked, too bad it will not work twice," threatened Alfred. "Doh, it worked jus fine, yar Bruno?" "Yar Lenny". Harley gasped in shock as Lenny and Bruno appeared in the driveway behind her. "Thanks for leading us here Harley, saved us some time tracking the ole coot down." Harley pushed Alfred and yelled "Run!". Launching herself forward she planted both feet on Bruno's shoulders, then flipped backwards, kicking him in the lower jaw. Before she landed she felt a crippling pain across her back. Lenny stood over her, holding a crowbar. "Bitch" was the last word she heard as the crowbar came slamming down across her head.

Alfred watched in horror as Harley took a crowbar to the back, then the head. The gentleman inside wished to help, the realist knew he stood no chance, and Batman's butler knew this could be the chance Bruce needed. Reaching into his pocket, he activated a small device that would alert Bruce to his position. Running out into the yard he yelled "wait, leave her alone, I will go with you." Bruno stood shakily to his feet, then launched a wicked right hand across Alfred's jaw. "Damn right you will Jeeves."

Miles away, in Gotham, Batman paused for a moment, and reached into his belt for a handheld GPS. The beeping in his cowl indicated Alfred had initiated his emergency tracking device. That could only mean the Joker, or somebody came after him. Bruce observed the dot for a few moments, then heading back to his car. Maybe now, he would get some answers.

The Batcave 10:30AM June 1st

Barry Allen sped through the entrance of the cave yelling hysterically for Batman. "Bruce! Batman! Alfred!" In seconds he had covered the entire cave, ending up near the computer. A flashing light on the computer caught his attention, so he pushed it. Instantly the computer began replaying the scene from upstairs, showing Harleys beating and Alfred's abduction. The Flash was upstairs and at Harley's side in an instant, checking for a pulse. Touching his fingers to the side of his head he activated his comm-link. "Flash to Watchtower, come in Watchtower."

"Flash, this is Diana, did you find him?" "Nothing Diana, but I need an emergency transport for two, direct to the med bay." A tingling sensation surrounded him as he was teleported miles above to the Watchtower, directly to a med station. Laying Harley down he looked around as 2 doctors rushed forward. "She was beaten pretty bad, barely alive, but she might know something that will help us." "We will do our best Flash. Prep for surgery!"

Flash walked out and nearly collided with Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter. "Flash, is that who I think it is?" Diana gasped? "And you brought her here, with all that is going on?"

Flash held up his hands "Yes, its Harley. She showed up at Bruce's house, and his butler answered the door. She was followed and beaten pretty badly. Alfred went out to help and they knocked him out and left. She may know where the Joker is." J'onn looked down, eyes glowing faintly green. "She is too deep in a coma, and too wracked with pain for me to read her mind right now."

Diana nodded. "Any luck with Bruce?" Flash shook his head. "No, nothing. Any luck here?" Diana shook her head. "No. He is comm silent and has turned off anything we could use to track him with." Flash shook his head. "We really need him right now. Did you tell Green Arrow?" Diana nodded. "We showed him the video and a picture of the muscle. He broke down pretty bad, then got furious." Reaching out a hand, Diana touched Barry on the shoulder. "How are you holding up? Not only the video about Wally and Artemis, but the fact that they know who you are as well?" Flash shook his head. "I could care less if that freak told the world who I am, but this? First Dick and Barbara, now Wally and Artemis. And don't forget, he has Lois as well."

"Bridge to all League members. Please tune into a local monitor for an emergency broadcast from earth."

Barry zipped over to the closest monitor and turned it on. The Joker was staring back at them. "Greetings fellow citizens, aliens, and psychopaths. I interrupt your lives, to change them. Haaahahahaha. I am quite disappointed with your news media, why, after everything I have done the past 12 hours, and nary a peep on the news about me. Of course, it could be because the award winning Lois Lane has been occupied." The camera flipped over to show Lois, and Barry retched, while Diana gasped. "Track that signal, find the root origination point, now!" Diana bellowed into a microphone. Forcing herself to look at the monitor, she saw Lois swaying on her feet, one eye gouged out, both sides of her lips carved up into a gruesome grin, and several teeth missing. Her nose had been sewn shut, forcing her to breath out of her mouth, which also showed her tongue swollen and perforated with holes.

"Now, here is the plan. I want Superman, or Clark Kent, either will do, to come interview me and write down my side of the story. I want the world to know how I am this way, because of Batman. They have twelve hours to make contact, or bodies, will begin to pile up." At that, the screen went blank. Diana punched the comm button. "Did you get a trace?" "No ma'am, it was buffered and routed too many times. We did record it for Superman, there might have been a message in it framed so only he could see it."

Looking around at each other, they wondered what to do, or how to reach Superman.

Gotham City, Abandoned movie theatre, Noon- June 1

Batman checked his GPS again, verifying this was the place. The dot had not moved in 30 minutes. Which was either good, or bad. His hand hovered over his League transponder, and he momentarily thought about breaking silence, but decided his best bet was to get in, get it over with, and call for clean-up. He couldn't be bothered with noises or distractions at this point. He launched a wire over, and slid across to the roof. Locating an access door, he picked the lock and went in, landing on the rafters. A groan caused him to spin around, and what he saw broke his heart. Dick was tied across the rafters, in some sort of web roping, primarily across his upper body. His shirt was missing, and carved into his chest was a mockery of Superman's "S" shield, with a "J" instead. Inserted into his navel, was the tracking device. "Bruce, Bruce, you didn't think it would be that easy, did you? I know how you think, how those around you think. Now, here is your moral quandary. Your ward, your son, tied up like a pig in a smoker. Save him, or save your friends daughter. Admittedly, it would be more profitable to save Dick, ole Babs here doesn't look like she has much time to live." A spotlight turned on, showing Barbara hanging upside down, with what appeared to be a rope between her waist, and continuing to the ground. The Joker laughed again and two flames appeared under two separate ropes. "Is the flame going to spring the trap? Or is it a distraction? I know you are thinking of sacrificing them to find me, but rest assured, I am nowhere near. Hahahahahaaaaa"

Batman looked over at the ropes, but they were too much of a mess to tell which rope did what. His only hope was to put out the candles, and evaluate it in a second. Call in League help. With careful aim he threw a bat-a-rang at both candles, extinguishing them. The second the flames went out, he heard a click, and a whoosh as a knife swept out, cutting a single rope. In horror he watched as a large skid fell to the ground from above. Dick screamed, straining and Bruce realized the skid was attached to one arm, and the webbing was holding his body immobile. The battle lasted only a second, then Dicks arm was ripped from its socket with a wrenching pop, and a gushing of blood. Another scream rent the air, and Barbara was bent upwards, and a hook emerged from her back, severing her spinal column. Batman heard a yell, and realized it was himself. With no hesitation he leapt to Dicks side, and stuffed part of his cape in the wound to staunch the blood loss. He fired another wire towards Barbara, wrapping it around the cable holding her up, and reeled her in. "Batman to Watchtower, emergency transport to hospital bay, two patients with massive trauma." A slight distortion of air, and they were gone, with only laughter behind in their place,