The Shadow Order
Chapter 03: Matter of Trust
Gotham City, January 1st 2015
Everyone in Gotham City was celebrating the New Year. In the center of Gotham City, the newly form Shadow Order was making use of an abandon warzone shelter and the forgotten tunnels that created an under city of the gloomy city.
Talia knew about this after her run in with Batman. The good thing about this, was no one was every using under city. The bad news was there was mold, weeds, roaches, rats all over the place.
It took them some time to get rid of them, and Harry doubt they would truly rid of them. However he was sure they could keep them at bay. He had the men slowly clean the area to drive them away and destroy their nest.
That was nearly three months ago, and things were looking up. The area was clean and well enough for them to stay in. However Harry wanted to find a better place to set up shop. He remind everyone that it was only temporary.
Harry sighs as he Talia left to find Batman. It was two hours ago, and according to Talia, he was a hard man to find.
Harry sighs as he leans back and began to wonder how to strike back at Vandal Savage. The truth was, Vandal Savage had many bases of operations and there was no Intel on where he was. However, Ra's al Ghul was a smart man who knew the shadow games well. The one thing he did, was keep tabs on Vandal Savage's known associates.
Looking throw the files, he saw several names that were on the top of the list.
Slade Wilson, Aka Deathstroke. Was serving as Vandal Savage's right hand. While another name, Alexander 'Lex' Luthor was serving as Savage's left hand. Harry leans back and tried to figure out his enemies, move.
The one thing he was thankful for, was Ron who made him play chess and other strategy games countless times. This allowed him to think carefully.
If Vandal Savage was as old as Talia claimed, then there was no doubt he had resources under his disposal.
He types the computer to look at the other associates of Vandal Savage.
Besides Deathstroke and Lex Luthor; there was Queen Bee, Black Manta, Klarion, Black Mask and someone or something called the Brain. There was even a cult that was known as the Cobra Cult working with Vandal Savage.
Harry paused and realized with just thirty men, he couldn't hope to win a war with Savage. Harry look deeper and after scanning the war history between the two, believed he may have found a lead to help the playing fields. Two people who Vandal Savage betrayed and nearly had killed were seeking revenge.
Their names were Cheshire and Sportsmaster.
Harry was sure Talia could recruit them to join him. However he needed more allies.
Harry sighs as wonder what Talia was doing.
Justice League Safe house, Gotham City
"Alright team, here is your assignment. There have been heavy trafficking going on and we don't have any Intel on who is moving what. You are to go in, find out who is moving the cargo and what the cargo is. This is a deep shadow operation so don't be spotted." Batman said to the Young Justice.
"You know beloved, you have a way with words." Talia said as she walks in the light. Superman and Wonder Woman turns around and looked surprise to see Talia al Ghul walking towards them.
Batman held his hands up in front of Superman who was ready to leap at Talia.
"Talia, what are you doing here?" Batman said. The team took a defensive stance and kept a close eye on Talia.
"Relax beloved, I'm not here to pick a fight with you." Talia said.
"New outfit, what happen to the old one?" Batman asks.
"I would love to catch up with you beloved, but I'm here under orders." Talia replied.
"What does Ra's want now?" Batman asks.
Talia looks down and Batman was surprise to see Talia was looking a bit sad at the mention of her father.
"My father is dead." Talia said in a soft voice that sounded like it pain her to say those words.
Batman eyes open wide behind his mask and he took a step back to take in what was just said.
"Are you sure? He always seemed…"
"Invisible? Like you?" Talia said as she smiled at the thought.
"Then you haven't seen my x-rays."
"Maybe you can show them to me some time." Talia said with a smile.
"Who sent you here if it wasn't Ra's?" Batman said getting back to the point.
"My father's successor. As you know, he wanted you to succeed him. But you refused. You were once his best and most prized student." Talia said.
"Wait, you trained with the League of Shadows?" Nightwing said in shocked. Even Superman and Wonder Woman looked shock as did the team.
"That was a long time ago, when I was lost on my path. Ra's taught me to be who I am, but I didn't become what he wanted me to be." Batman said.
"Yes, we found someone new just ten months ago. He has, an amazing talent. His skills could possibly rival your own. If not, he could be better than yours. Even in terms of intelligence." Talia said.
"What does he want?"
"He's asking to meet with you. He would have come himself, but he feared a fight would have broken out if he attempted to approach you. If you accept, we'll meet you at the place under the moonlight."
"That place." Batman said as if he understood the cryptic talk.
"Yes, he will allow you to bring one or two people with you, but no more. I will be there as well. Also, no masks. He will come unmask, and hopes you will as well. There is much he wants to talk to you about." Talia said.
"Why should we trust you?" Superman asks.
"I can tell you about the shipment you are attempting to track." Talia said with a smile.
Everyone look taken back and stares at Talia.
"I'll meet with him. However I want one more question answer before you go." Batman said.
"Ask away my love."
"Why do you follow him?"
Talia look taken back by this question.
"Perhaps because he is pure. He can stand in the darkness and all the evil can be thrown at him. Yet he can remain pure in his heart. He is a lot like you beloved. However, he isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. He just knows when to cross the line, and when not to. I guess, he is an honest knight." Talia said.
Batman narrows his eyes.
"I can meet with him in an hour. I trust during the meeting you'll tell me about the shipment."
"I will." Talia said. She steps backwards into the shadows and disappears.
"She's good. She is just as quiet as you Bats." Superman said.
"So you didn't hear her." Batman said.
"No, she knows how to mask herself well." Superman said.
"Ra's al Ghul has truly train her well." Batman said.
"What of the team?" Wonder Woman asks.
"They will be on standby for the time being. You two will come with me to the meeting to see about this new leader of the League of Shadows."
One Hour Later – Wayne Tower
Batman, Superman and Wonder Woman all stood on the rooftop and Wayne Tower and was looking down upon the city. Batman was eying the somewhat peaceful city and wonder just how much progress he really was making.
Batman suddenly moves his head up but he didn't turn around.
"I take it if you wanted to take me out you would have." Batman said.
"If I wanted to, yes." Harry said.
The three Justice League members turn to see four people standing there. Talia al Ghul and a young man stood there unmasked. But there was also two figure standing there with a faceguard and a hood over their face. Making any means of identification impossible.
Harry walks forward and makes a motion to shake Batman's hand.
"I'm Harry Potter." Harry said. Batman hesitated but slowly shakes Harry's hand.
"Bruce Wayne." Batman said as he removes his mask.
"I know, Talia told me." Harry said.
"I thought she did." Bruce Wayne said. He was looking at Talia who didn't even look guilty at what she did.
"I know you have questions so I'll get to the point. Ra's al Ghul was killed by a man called Deathstroke and his mercenaries."
"Deathstroke, he's a tough man to handle." Bruce Wayne said.
"So you know him." Harry said.
"I've clash with him many times. He is one opponent I cannot truly take down without help. The last time we fought, I need the help of Nightwing, Batgirl and Robin just to drive him away." Batman said.
"The problem isn't Deathstroke. The problem is the one pulling Deathstroke's strings." Harry said. He pulls out a small disk and pushes a button. The image of Vandal Savage appeared.
"Savage." Wayne said in disgust.
"So you know of him." Harry said.
"He's been a target of the Justice League for years. But we've never been able to find him." Bruce Wayne replied.
"I'm going to shed some light you may not be aware of. Even if you are, please don't interrupt me." Harry said. Bruce Wayne nods his head allowing Harry to continue. "It seems Vandal Savage and Ra's al Ghul have been having a shadow war with each other. About three months ago, Deathstroke lead an attack on Ra's al Ghul's compound and killed many members of the League of Shadow's. We are down to only having thirty members. In other words, the League of Shadows lost the war to Savage."
Batman look taken back.
"If the League of Shadow lost the war, then why tell me this?" Bruce Wayne asks.
"Talia told me, Ra's wanted me to succeed him. The truth is, I cannot become what he wanted me to be. However, he did help me forge my path. In that, I will honor him. The League of Shadow's is dead. We are the Shadow Order." Harry said.
"You have an angle. You wouldn't be telling me all this without trying to ask me something." Bruce Wayne said. He narrowed his eyes as he looks at Harry.
"Ra's al Ghul failure will not be my failure. However, the truth of the matter is simple. I have very little men to continue to wage war. I have also discovered that Vandal Savage has been recruiting, and he's been recruiting heavily." Harry stops talking and pressing another button on his holographic imaginer. The names and imagine of several people appeared.
"I can only assume he's assembling an army to take on the world." Harry said.
"Those are some serious player." Wonder Woman said.
"The only reason why I can think he had Ra's al Ghul killed was because the League of Shadow's stood in his way. However, with the League all but destroy it could mean he is assembling his forces to take on the Justice League."
"If he is, then why hasn't he attacked yet?" Bruce Wayne asks.
"My guess is, time. He has recruited some heavy players to fight for him. However, he could be after something else as well. Or he could be finding a way to overpower the Justice League." Harry said.
"What do you have in mind?" Bruce Wayne asks.
"Simple, you may not like this, but I'm asking for an alliance. In a way to join forces when the time comes to face Vandal Savage." Harry said.
"Why should we have this alliance? From what I understand, you don't hesitate to take life." Bruce Wayne said with narrow eyes.
"It's because of the simple fact that you need us just as much as we need you. I'm not asking you to change your moral code, but I do not want you questioning ours. I'm not like Ra's al Ghul. I will never harm the lives of the innocent. However the wicked that do evil things without redemption, they must be removed, before they turn the world into a sea of blood." Harry said.
Bruce Wayne grins his teeth as he stares at Harry.
"Think about it careful before you let your personal judgment decide. My order and I can get into places the League doesn't know about. We can provide vital intelligence to the League. We can be in places you can't. Yes we will remove bad apples from the garden of the world, but I rather see the garden clean then let a psychotic cut down the tree in the garden. You weren't even aware of Vandal Savage skim until I brought it to your attention. How well do you think you would do without us to get the Intel you need?"
Bruce Wayne stares at Harry who stares back just as equally hard.
"Fine, what are the terms of your deal?"
"I only have a couple of agreements. One, you don't question or methods our actions. In return we will cooperate with your Justice League and team on things that are happening. Two, as I'm low on men, I have to ask if I can borrow some of your people to work for me."
"What?" Superman said in what sounded like a protest.
"You can say they can act as mediators between the Shadow Order and the Justice League. I do not want someone from the Justice League, I want someone from the team. Also, they must volunteer for the assignment. You can't assign it to them."
"Anything else?" Bruce Wayne asks as he narrows his eyes dangerously at Harry.
"Yes there is. I am sadly, at a place without headquarters. We have set up shop in the underground, but I rather have a better hide out than the sewers." Harry said.
"If I do this for you, will you promise me one thing?" Bruce Wayne said.
"Depends what you ask." Harry replies.
"It's clear I can't stop you from killing people. So I'm going to ask you to keep the bloodshed to a minimum."
Harry smiles at Bruce Wayne.
"You have nothing to fear, unlike Ra's al Ghul who expected his soldiers to follow just orders, I have built my Shadow Order base on a belief."
"That is?" Superman asks.
"It's a Creed we follow. Never harm the lives of the innocent. Never compromise the brotherhood direct or indirectly. Been unseen yet see all." Harry said.
Bruce Wayne narrows his eyes and looks closely at Harry.
"Very well, I will speak to the team. Also as for the place for your operations. I know the perfect place." Bruce Wayne said.
"I have time." Harry said.
Bruce Wayne took them to a large clock tower in the middle of town. He showed them a hidden passage in the clock tower and a room that was well hidden.
"I created this place in case I need eyes over the city. I've never used it, but I believe it could of use some day. This place could also serve as a meeting place between the League and your Order." Batman said.
"It will do." Harry replies.
Author Notes: Much like Young Justice t.v. show, Vandal Savage has created the Light. Only Ra's al Ghul isn't apart of it since he's dead. Instead Black Mask will be taking his spot.
Here's a list of the seven leaders of the Light.
Light 01 - Vandal Savage. Founder and Leader of the Light.
Light 02 - Alexander 'Lex' Luthor. Acting Second-In-Command, LexCorps CEO and Businessman.
Light 03 - Roman Sionis aka The Black Mask. Gotham City Kingpin of Crime
Light 04 - Zazzala aka Queen Bee. Leader of the villain faction the H.I.V.E.
Light 05 - David ? aka Black Manta. International Terrorist
Light 06 - Malcolm Merlyn aka Dark Archer. International Terrorist
Light 07 - Klarion Bleak aka Klarion. Inter-dimensional Demon and Lord of Chaos.