Cole Cash was a monster to most. A psychotic mass murderer. No one believed him when he said he prevented an alien invasion. Or that a separate invasion force disguised themselves as humans. No human anyway. As he sat in his solitary confinement cell, awaiting the death penalty, he would find that he wasn't alone.

Cole was 6'3 and a wall of muscle, though it wasn't quite his, but instead the result of experimentation by the initial invading force. His hair was blond and eyes blue, though this too was the result of experimentation. They used to be brown. His skin had grown pale over the past three years, partially from wearing his mask, and then from incarceration. Though he hadn't left his cell in three months, he hadn't lost any muscle mass.

Suddenly there was a man standing in front of Cole, looking down at him as he laid on his cot. The man was tall and thin, far thinner than a person could be. He was completely hairless, and his eyes were so blue they hurt to look at, while his skin was almost pink. He dressed in a dark green suit which was visually the most human part of him, although he was very much human. Beneath his synthetic skin ran wires over a metal endoskeleton and tubes connected to artificial organs.

"What the hell are you?" Cole asked as he looked past the surface and under the man's skin.

"My name is Henry Bendix," said the man. "I represent the Stormwatch organization."

"No you're not," replied Cole.

"Pardon?"

"I've seen Bendix. He's human. Not… whatever you are."

"Your skills are quite… extensive. Beyond what we first thought. You are correct, I am not technically Bendix. I am a synthetic human made by him in his image. Or rather, a prototype."

"Right… why are you telling me this?"

"We wish to hire you, Mr. Cash. Your ability to identify otherworldly beings disguised as humans is quite… useful to us."

"Fuck you."

"Pardon?"

"I used my power to fight militaries. Helspont's army and the Daemonites. I ain't ratting out ordinary people to the government."

"You misunderstand. We may be funded by the United Nations, but we are far above the Earth government. We represent the best interests of the planet, not just what the government's want."

"Right… okay, say I accept. What happens then?"

"You will be temporarily relocated to a satellite while you are introduced to the system. You will be paid a salary of six hundred thousand dollars a year, or the equivalent if you choose to take residence in a different country. Your existence will be erased from the minds of everyone on Earth, excluding members of our organization, and you will be allowed to start anew as long as you work for us."

"Alright. I'll bite. What's the catch?"

"You will be expected to give your life in order to save the world."

"Eh, that doesn't seem too bad."

"What do you say, Cole Cash? Will you join Stormwatch?"

"What the hell? I'm in."

An empty cell stood with no evidence it had been occupied in the last three months. No one remembered the mass murdering terrorist known as Cole Cash. The dozens of bodies he left behind were attributed to home invasions gone wrong. Six years ago, Cale Cane was hired by Stormwatch to remain on standby. Ten minutes later, he was enlisted.

Amanda Waller walked down the corridor of Detention Center X accompanied by two armed soldiers, with another two guarding each cell. Amanda's short height and fat physique usually made her appear weak to many people, although they wildly misunderstood just how strong she was. When she first started her career her colleagues would not have believed a black woman was one of the smartest people in the world, and on top of that was incredibly strong for a human. She rigorously trained both with weights and hand to hand combat so she would never be forced to rely upon a gun or somebody else. Still, it was useful to have guards when working with dangerous murderers.

She reached the first cell and produced her tablet to pull up the prisoner's information. She swiped the lock bar beneath his name, causing the magnetic bindings on his hands to clasp together as one of his guards opened the cell door, and the other raised her assault rifle to make sure he wouldn't try to escape or kill any of them.

Amanda said, "Floyd Lawton, codename: Deadshot. You've been chosen to be apart of Taskforce X. In exchange for completing this mission, you will be granted one year off your sentence. Do you understand?"

"You say this every time, Waller," Floyd replied. "Answer's same as always."

"It's protocol, you know that Lawton," Amanda said as she continued walking.

The process repeated for each cell they went to. "David Hyde, codename: Black Manta," "Crystal Frost, codename: Killer Frost," "Harvey Dent, codename: Two-Face," "John Doe, codename: Onomatopoeia," "Mercy Kinkaid, codename: Black Spider."

Floyd is 6'1 with a rather lean build compared to many of the inmates at Detention Center X. He was still athletic and somewhat muscular, but his talents never relied upon strength. He has light brown skin and black hair from his Mexican heritage, with a thick beard growing due to his incarceration. His eyes are deep brown and look rather soft for a hardened killer.

David is 5'11 and held a similar build to Floyd but with more upper body muscles. He has light black skin and usually kept completely clean shaven, but now had a small amount of hair on his head and a short beard. His nose was broad, especially compared to his son's, and his eyes were filled with hate for almost everything. Though he was now in his 40's he looked remarkably young, the benefit of his deal with Ocean Master.

Crystal was 5'7 and held skin that was almost pure white. Her eyes were crystal blue and her hair snow white, while even her lips were almost white. Just by standing next to David he felt his body temperature drop. Her features are sharp and wolfish, and she wore a smug smile at all times that drew gazes away from her sadistic eyes.

Harvey stands at exactly six feet tall and is just slightly underweight. Exactly half his face is attractive, with black skin and a deep brown eye. The other half of his face was burned purple by chemicals, leaving behind a white eye and a permeant sneer on that side of his face. While most of his hair is black, a single white streak rested over the left side of his forehead in opposition to his afro.

The only member whose name was unknown to Amanda was labeled John Doe. He stood 6'2 and was abnormally thin. He had fairly generic features with golden blond hair and light blue eyes. His facial features weren't unique in any real way. He didn't even emote that much as he was standing with them. Not until he was wearing his mask.

At the back of the group was Mercy, standing at 5'10 and built like an Olympic gold medalist. Though she never made it to the Olympics before her indoctrination into The League of Shadows, she was more than enough. She had light black skin with curly brown hair and sparkling brown eyes. She was the physically strongest of the group, and the most skilled at hand to hand combat.

Once all were Gathered Amanda turned to them and began their briefing. "You're all being sent to Bludhaven, New Jersey. The mercenary known as Deathstroke The Terminator has been sighted entering the Bludhaven airport earlier this morning. Two-Face, you are to set up an open-ended weapons deal. An additional member of your team, Bane, will meet you posing as a buyer."

"I was wondering when we'd get a heavy hitter," Floyd whispered.

"Can it, Deadshot. It will be your duty to position yourself on a nearby rooftop and take out Deathstroke before he can realize it's a trap. We want him alive, so you're rifle will be loaded with tranquilizers in place of your standard rounds."

"What about the rest of us?" Crystal asked.

"Spider, Frost, you'll be acting as body guards to Two-Face. Manta, you'll pose as another buyer, to arrive after Deathstroke if Deadshot fails. As for Onomatopoeia, you'll stay with Deadshot and ensure he isn't compromised. Does everyone understand the mission?"

"Yes ma'am," they all said in sync.

"Good. Report to the armory and load out."

Once at the armory they each found their own personal loadout already ready. Deadshot wore a crimson red ballistic weave suit with an additional white ballistic vest and a white mask connected to a red eyepiece similar to Batman's lenses. Attached to each wrist were low caliber machine pistols disguised as bracers that fired in response to specific hand motions. Lastly, he was given his signature custom sniper rifle loaded with a single clip of tranquilizer rounds, each bullet filled with elephant tranquilizer.

David was given back his Black Manta suit, one of the most valuable items in their possession. A black synthetic skin covered his body before connecting to the outer layer of black armor that covered almost his entire body without hindering his movements. On his back was a small jet pack designed for giving him jump boosts or making him swim faster. His helmet was large and resembled a diving helmet with a gothic twist. It held two large black lenses that allowed for night and heat vision, as well as the ability to fire a beam of kinetic and electrical energy similar to a laser.

Crystal had the least of any of them, just a simple blue and white costume with white boots. Harvey was given a suit that was white on his right side and black on his left. Along with it came a chest holster beneath his coat where he held a Markovian magnum, and a dollar coin that he put in his pocket.

The John Doe dressed in what many would call fetish gear, dressing head to toe in black leather. Even his duster was leather. The only part of his outfit that wasn't made of leather was the center of his mask was white mesh in three circles that enveloped each other, the largest of which allowed him to see out of. His only weapon was a switchblade which he stashed up his sleeve.

Lastly Mercy dressed in a costume worn by several others. It was a nearly completely black suit and mask, with several pieces of dark grey ballistic weave sewn into it. Stitched onto her mask are a pair of thermal goggles that can be disabled with a button press. Like Crystal she was given no weapons, and like Crystal it was because she didn't need them.

They arrived in Bludhaven three hours later, and it was another hour before all were set in place waiting, including Bane. He stood ten feet tall and was a wall of pure muscle and was an intimidating sight for all of them. He was Mexican with light brown skin and brown eyes hidden behind the red mesh of his otherwise white and black luchador mask. Though it was hard for someone as large as him to find clothing, he wore custom tailored pants and a vest, while a device rested on his back that connected tubes to the sides of his neck to feed him the muscle enhancing drug Venom if he needed it.

The ground team waited at the pier, surrounded by several empty crates. Each minute that passed was filled with tension, all while Bane and Two-Face bartered back and forth over fake weapons. Nearly another hour had past when Deathstroke arrived on a motorcycle, stopping in front of the ground team.

He dressed in an orange and black body suit covered in lightweight matching armor. On his head was a helmet with its left half orange, its right half black. There was no eye hole on the right side, while behind his dark blue eye the ground team could see a cloth mask matching the helmet. On his back he carried a magnetically locked sword, forged by Themyscirans with the intent to kill a god. Over his left breast was a magnum, while two handguns rested at each of his hips. On his left shoulder was a combat knife, and a matching one rested on the left side of his lower back, while a third rose out of his right boot. Lastly was a collapsed staff hanging from the ammo belt on his waist.

"Well, well, well," he said as he looked them over. "Bane, I thought you were in prison."

There is no prison that can hold me," Bane replied, before looking to the ground in shame.

Slade got off his motorcycle and approached them as he said, "Dent, I thought you were in Gotham. Guess everyone needs a fresh start these days, huh?"

"You got that right," Two-Face replied. "I've got plenty of assault rifles and submachine guns. Mostly Russian models, though I have a few shipments of handguns in from Markovia. They don't hold many rounds, but they pack one hell of a punch."

Deadshot's voice filled their ears saying, "I can't get a clear shot, Dent. You're in the way."

As he said this Deathstroke said, "You like games, right Dent?"

Two-Face was taken back by this before asking, "I suppose. I like luck games."

"Well, I've got a game you might be interested in. Mix of luck and skill."

"What is it?"

Deathstroke pulled the knife from his shoulder and said with a smile in his voice, "Five finger fillet," before placing his hand on top of a crate while staring directly into Two-Face's eyes as he began to perfectly stab the blade between his fingers so quickly his hand was just a blur. "This is one of my favorite games to play when I'm bored or waiting for something. It also helps with muscle memory, pain tolerance, and hand eye coordination. For beginners anyway."

"Well, I prefer to keep all my fingers."

"Nonsense, try it," He said as he pulled the knife away from his unscathed hand and flipped it, so he held the blade as he passed it to Two-Face. As Two-Face reached for the knife, Deathstroke grabbed hold of his arm and yanked him forward, stabbing the knife into his back before throwing him at Bane. "Think you can trick me!?" he growled as he drew his sword.

Bane smacked Two-Face out of his way as he stepped forward barking out, "You're too smart for your own good, Slade!"

Deathstroke punched the behemoth in the gut, knocking the air out of him before saying, "Just talented."

Deadshot pulled the trigger as he finally had an opening, aiming for Deathstroke's head. With perfect timing the mercenary turned, causing the bullet to hit Bane in the shoulder and fill him with elephant tranquilizers. "Deadshot, you idiota!" Bane roared.

"Four rounds left," Deadshot replied as he took aim again.

"Really?" Deathstroke sarcastically asked, dodging Black Spider's attacks before he punched her in the jaw. "Be a shame if I," then he spun out of the way as Deadshot fired once more, "Dodged them," he finished.

"How the hell is he doing that!?" Deadshot growled before saying, "Manta, where the hell are you!? Doe, get in and provide backup!"

"Way ahead of you," Onomatopoeia replied as he ran down the fire escape.

"On my way," Black Manta said as he rose out of the pier and onto the dock with his jetpack.

Killer Frost dashed at Deathstroke and attempted to grab his helmet, only for him to jump backwards and cut off the top of her middle three fingers as he turned to block a strike from Black Spider. Frost screamed in pain as she held her gushing finger stumps, before Deathstroke threw Black Spider at her, knocking both to the ground.

Bane stood up behind him, Venom flowing through his veins to increase his muscle mass and pain resistance. Deathstroke turned only to be struck square in the chest by him, sending him back into a recovering Black Spider. Deathstroke was back to his feet almost immediately, running towards Bane as he held his sword to the side. Bane attempted to punch him again, only for Deathstroke to weave under his arm and cut one of his Venom tubes off, spilling the drug onto the pavement.

Bane turned as Deadshot fired once more, aiming at Deathstroke's shoulder. He watched as with impossible reflexes Deathstroke rose his sword upwards, deflecting the bullet back into Bane's forearm. He then jumped onto Bane's shoulders and cut the other tube from his neck before jumping down to fight Black Spider as Bane attempted to stop his Venom from shooting out.

Black Spider attempted to kick Deathstroke in the head only for him to grab her foot before it connected. Thirty feet away Black Manta clenched his fists and braced his body as he unleashed a red optical blast. Deathstroke threw Black Spider to the ground and raised his sword before stabbing doward at her throat. Before the blade could touch her Black Manta's blast hit him, knocking him ten feet away and scorching his armor while his sword fell next to Black Spider.

"Thanks for the assist, Manta," Black Spider said as she picked herself up and claimed Deathstroke's sword for herself.

He nodded to her as he stepped up alongside her, preparing for another blast. Behind Deathstroke, Two-Face rose to his feet, and produced a magnum from within his coat. He stepped forward, as he pulled a coin from his pocket. Deathstroke began to rise as Deadshot set him in his crosshairs and fired. The bullet cracked open the lower half of his helmet and ripped open his mask before embedding in his jaw, releasing the tranquilizer. The sound of the shot startled Two-Face, making him drop his coin, only for Deathstroke to grab it from the air as he rose to his feet, seemingly unaffected by his wound.

He looked down at the coin in his head then turned to Two-Face and said, "Tails. Guess that means you get to live, right?"

Two-Face rose his magnum and fired twice, hitting Deathstroke in the chest and cracking his armor, but failed to pierce it. The Terminator stalked forward, drawing the knife from his back. Once more Two-Face attempted, but this time the gun jammed, producing only a small click.

"Ah, shit," he said to himself.

"Shit is right," Deathstroke replied as he reached him.

Deathstroke grabbed Two-Face's right arm and pulled him forward before stabbing him in the side of the ribs as his face fell over Deathstroke's shoulder and he groaned in pain. Then Deathstroke pulled the knife from his back and pushed him forward, stabbing him in the gut. Deathstroke grabbed the knife in his ribs and ripped it out before taking hold of Two-Face's left arm and pulling it straight, before he stabbed the knife through the bottom of his elbow. Two-Face let out a scream of pain before Deahstroke tore the other knife out of him, causing him to gasp as blood spilled out, and stabbed it into the top of his elbow. Deathstroke then took hold of both knives and pulled them to opposite sides, cutting Two-Face's arm nearly completely off as he screamed in pure agony.

Deathstroke pulled both knives back and prepared to stab Two-Face through the eyes, before his vision turned bright yellow and a word appeared with the accompanying sound effect, "POP!" as Onomatopoeia punched him the back of the head.

"What the hell!?" Deathstroke growled as he spun around, and Two-Face fell to the ground still screaming in pain as he held his severed limb.

Onomatopoeia cocked his head before Deathstroke's vision went bright red and another word appeared along with its sound, "CR-ACK!" as Onomatopoeia punched him in his injured jaw, splitting his helmet open and knocking it off his head.

Deathstroke spit out blood before the bullet fell out of his jaw, the tranquilizer all drained, and the wound slowly healed. "Meta-human, huh?" he asked as he drew the handgun from his chest.

His vision went yellow again, this time he saw, "YANK!" along with a comical sound as Onomatopoeia snatched the gun from his hand. Before he could react, his vision went bubblegum pink and faced the words, "BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!" in quick succession as Onomatopoeia unloaded the clip into his chest.

Deathstroke fell away panting, looking down at the three bullet holes in his chest while his chest armor barely held together. Onomatopoeia tossed the handgun and stepped towards him, almost skipping. Before he could attack again, Deadshot fired, hitting Deathstroke in the weak point of the armor from where Onomatopoeia attacked.

"I'm going to kill… all of you…" Deathstroke panted.

The rest of Taskforce X, except for Deadshot and Two-Face, surrounded Deathstroke. Black-Spider and Bane cracked their knuckles, Killer Frost created an ice dagger in her right hand, Black Manta charged for a blast, and Onomatopoeia cracked his neck to which they all saw white with the words and sounds, "CCCRACK! POP!"

Then they all began to attack Deathstroke, Black Manta firing his blast at point blank rage, Bane hitting him in the head with full force, Black Spider stomping on his gut as Killer Frost stabbed him in his arm while Onomatopoeia laid into him with kicks to the ribs, without any effects.

"Lay off him," Deadshot ordered as he stepped up behind them. He then placed his finger to his earpiece and said, "Waller. This is Deadshot. We've acquired the target, injured, but alive. No casualties, but several injuries. Not sure if Dent will make it."

"Understood, Deadshot," Amanda replied from her office back at Detention Center X. "Try and keep Two-Face alive, we need his mob connections. A helicopter will be there to transport your team and prisoner back to the Detention Center for debriefing."

"Roger, ma'am. Over and out."