Are you guys still there?
...I'll assume you are.
Alright, everyone, to better help myself work with the passage of time in this story, I've now incorporated a time system, as I have with a few of my other stories. All chapters before this one have been changed with it; the first chapter starts off on the date that the game itself was released.
Also, I was made aware of the discrepancies dealing with characters in regards to age. Wally was originally presented as Kid Flash while Dick (both supposed to be relatively the same age, starting as Teen Titans since the beginning) is Nightwing and grown. After that being pointed out, I've did some rewriting again, changing some bits in the first four chapters. As of now, there are now two teams of younger heroes: the Titans, made up of the first generation Titans and all from ages 21-3, and Young Justice, the younger of the two led by 17 year old Tim Drake. The rosters are as follows:
Titans (Based in Titans Tower, NY): Nightwing (Dick Grayson), Supergirl (Kara Kent), Troia (Donna Troy), Starfire (Koriand'r), Cyborg (Victor Stone), Raven (Rachel Roth), Beast Boy (Garfield Logan), Flash II (Wally West), Tempest (Garth).
Young Justice (Based in Happy Harbor Secret Sanctuary, Rhode Island): Red Robin (Tim Drake), Superboy (Connor Kent), Kid Flash (Bart Allen), Static (Virgil Hawkins), Wonder Girl (Cassie Sandmark), Batgirl (Cassandra Cain), Robin (Damian Wayne), Miss Martian (M'ggan), Arrowette (Cissie King-Jones).
Alright, with that out of the way...on with the story!
Disclaimer: All recognized characters are trademarked property of DC.
Chapter 7: Year One: Confrontations and Eye Openers
*Team War Room, Titans Tower, New York Harbor, USA*
1:33 PM EST, 24 May 2013
"...which is what Jason and Tim are thinking could lead to some retaliation from the Demon. Probably some of the heavy kind, with how much Talia has allowed the organization to grow."
Nightwing stopped talking, nodding at Cyborg. Victor returned the action as he brought up more holographic images and data feeds above the conference table. The full roster of the Titans-Nightwing, Supergirl, Troia, Flash II, Beast Boy, Cyborg, Starfire, Raven and Tempest-was assembled in the Titans War Room on Dick's call. It had been a full two weeks since the Justice League's battle against Atlantis, and the Titans hadn't seen much action as a team since. Dick had called them together now, though, due to recent conversations he had with Red Hood and Red Robin, concerning Talia al Ghul's meeting with Batman. While she had not made any explicit threat to the Dark Knight at all, they didn't trust her and want to prepare in case of retaliation. Dick had agreed.
"Now, Oracle has begun searching and tracking for transactions and movements of Demon strongholds," Dick continued. "She's also been following the communication channels that we're aware of. And since Talia left the Manor, there has been an uptake and steady increase on all fronts. Whatever happened between Bruce and her, whatever she tried to offer him, it seems that it's prompted an eventual offensive on the Demon's part."
"I'm guessing that part of their...I'll call it a fallout," Donna mused, "was due in part to Bruce being with Diana now."
"Do we know how, if she does, this retaliation could come about?" Kory asked, raptly focused on the subject.
"No, we don't," Dick continued. "The Demon, especially at its height when Ra's was the big guy in charge, was a force to be reckoned with. The Clan was always on its toes with them, because Ra's and the Demon was always somewhat unpredictable, which was highlighted most in my opinion during the 'Babel' crisis. And with Ra's gone and Talia in charge, it's all the more unpredictable. Talia was always somewhat of a wild card. With her affections for Bruce rejected since he's with Diana and whatever else happened in that meeting, that'll probably make her even more unpredictable. She may have not given a direct threat, but we can't be too careful."
"I agree," Kory nodded. "We cannot let anything threaten the goals that Batman is trying to accomplish, the help that he is trying to bring to the world."
Supergirl noticed Tempest's eye twitch and his heart beat slightly faster.
"...am I the only one who thinks it's still weird to hear Batman called 'Bruce?'" Wally interjected.
"Nope," Beast Boy replied. "I'm not used to it at all."
Dick rolled his eyes, but he wouldn't exactly disagree with their statements.
Discussions continued, many of the team saying something here and there. Donna, while paying attention to the conversation, was also observant of all that was around her as well. For instance, she was quick to notice that Starfire was the teammate most attentive to the issue Dick had brought up. And while it was maybe a bit petty, it irked her. It was no secret to Donna that the Tamaranean was attracted to Dick (he had been Kory's first kiss, in fact), a fact that put strain on their friendship. Donna could tell Kory was just waiting for the first opportunity to steal Dick from her. Kory was quick to pledge her support for Dick and Bruce, and their new crusade; Donna had an inkling that that was partly to try and win him over. Kory had been sneaking herself closer to Dick these last several weeks, since after Batman announced his proclamation to the world; it was all Donna could do to keep ahead of the Tamaranean.
Donna also noticed that Kara was silent through the entire meeting. Not once had the Kryptonian said anything since the meeting began. She was paying attention, of course, but Donna could see that Kara seemed somewhat apprehensive of Dick, eying him with what looked like concern and worry, mixed with caution. That confused the young Amazon.
And then Donna also noticed that Tempest hadn't said anything in the meeting at all, either. Usually, that wasn't much of a big deal. What stuck out, however, was the look of rage and anger on his face. While his hands were folded and covering his mouth as he elbows rest on the table, Garth's expression of anger was burning brightly...and Donna noticed it was directed solely at Starfire.
A detail that Kory also noticed. She was completely focused on the topic at hand...and perhaps a bit on Dick, as well. She would admit that she had been attracted to Dick since she met him all those years ago when the Teen Titans first formed. She found him strong-willed, sharp and quite attractive, only three qualities she liked about it (hell, he was her first kiss). While she respected the fact that Dick and Donna were a couple, she would be lying if she said she wasn't waiting for the first chance to claim him as her own. She would always be subtle in trying to be alone with Dick, doing her best to make him see she was much better for him. Now, as he was in suffering and trying to make the best out of the nuking of Gotham, Kory was adamant in her support for him, and the Clan as well. She did agree with the reasoning of Batman and his team, and felt it was the best step to be made; the fact that she could get closer to Dick was an added benefit. As such, she was dedicated in putting her all into this new mission, and as such in helping Nightwing prepare for a possible retaliatory attack from Talia al Ghul against his family.
But while focused on the task at hand, Kory was aware of Garth's glares at her. He had been doing so since before the meeting began. The Atlantean had refused to acknowledge her presence verbally, and had flat out ignored her when she greeted him upon his arrival. And yet, he refused to keep his eyes off her during the whole, and Kory had begun to find it irritating. Very irritating.
"Well, that's pretty much it," Nightwing said with finality after 10 minutes, Cyborg shutting down the holographs. "Meeting adjourned, guys...unless there's anything else any of you want to discuss?"
"Yes," Kory said. She slowly stood from her seat, her eyes glowing slightly as she turned towards Tempest, a look of annoyance on her face. "I want to know, Garth, if there is a problem here between you and I."
The rest of the team, minus Kara, then turned to Garth, looks of surprise and curiosity on their faces.
"I don't know," Tempest replied after a few moments of silence. He also slowly arose from his seat, but in contrast to Starfire, his own expression of anger and suppressed rage unchanged. Garth kept his eyes solely on the Tamaranean. "Do we have a problem between us, Koriand'r?"
"I would like to think not. There is no ill will between us, as far as I am concerned."
If anything, that only served to make Garth even more enraged. "Well, if we did," the young Atlantean retorted with a snarl, "should I expect to be sent into the skies and thrown into the desert to die as well?"
At that, a heavy silence immediately slammed into the room. The rest of the Titans' eyes widened in shock at Garth's words. They turned back to Kory, who recoiled ever so slightly in shock at Garth's words, before her eyes narrowed and her teeth clenched in a very angered frown.
"...oh, shit," Logan muttered.
Dick quickly tried to calm the tensions. "Garth-"
"No," Garth interrupted with a glare, turning his attention to the team leader. "You have no place to speak here. You have no say in this. Not after what happened, after what you are allowing to happen." Turning back to Starfire, whose face was a mixture of shock and anger, Garth continued to press, "Well, Koriand'r? Are you going to answer me?"
"...How dare you?" the Tamaranean hissed, her fists clenched. "The League and I try to protect the world from invasion, from who knows what potential disasters, and you have the audacity to try and spin this-?!"
"Try to spin it?! YOU RIPPED MY HOME FROM THE SEAS!"
"BECAUSE YOUR PEOPLE ATTEMPTED TO WAGE WAR ON US!"
"MY PEOPLE'S ARMY AND KING TRIED TO PROTECT OUR KINGDOM!"
"BY INVADING HUMANITY'S CITIES?! THEIR NATIONS!?
"AND THAT GAVE YOU THE RIGHT TO THREATEN THE LIVES OF MILLIONS OF ATLANTEANS!?"
"TO PROTECT BILLIONS THAT YOUR PEOPLE-!"
"THEY HAD NOTHING TO DO-!"
"BOTH OF YOU, ENOUGH!"
The two Titans were silenced as all eyes turned to Nightwing. He had removed his domino mask, revealing his tired eyes. He glared at the two Titans as the rest of the team, particularly Kara and Donna, waited for what he would say. Several tense moments passed until Dick heaved a sigh mixed with frustration and anger as he settled his glare at the Atlantean.
"Garth," Dick began, "I can understand the anger you're feeling right now-"
"No, you do not," Garth bit back.
"We can argue about that another time, but my point is this: you might be angry about what Bruce did, what the League did and what Starfire helped them do. I get it. But, first of all, what's done is done. It happened, and there's nothing more to be said about it. Second of all, Bruce did what he had to do to protect the world and humanity from what Aquaman, your mentor, wanted to do. In case you forgot, he tried to invade the surface world."
"Are you arrogant enough to ignore the reason that led to-?!"
"Oh, I know, Garth. Aquaman attacked a whaling ship fleet. He tried to kill the crews of the ships; hundreds of men. The League and Titans had to stop him, and when they did, he tried to hurt them and he threatened the world. Bruce did what he needed to do to stop his aggression. Your mentor started the whole thing, and Bruce had to shut him down. If you're too arrogant and self-absorbed to see that, then I don't know what to tell you. What happened was necessary to stop Aquaman and to protect the world. Suck it up and deal with it."
Garth's eyes widened in shock before he narrowed them in rage, his teeth and fists clenched. Thick tension filled the room as many of the other Titans nervously anticipated a reaction, either verbal or physical. Garth was a very vocal member of the team, and he wasn't one to take something like this sitting down. And it was obvious that Garth was going to reply, if his expression was anything to go by.
"Are you serious?"
All eyes turned towards Donna.
"What?" Dick asked, blinking in surprise.
"Are you really going to just accept that logic? Just go with that explanation?" The young Amazon narrowed her eyes at her boyfriend, a scowl on her face. "'Do what was necessary?' Atlantis was RAISED FROM THE SEA. You endangered millions of lives when that happened, when Atlantis was thrown into the Sahara. What kind of heroes are we if we willingly risk millions, or allow millions to be risked?! "
"It was necessary, Donna," Kory countered before Dick could reply. "Aquaman was threatening the world and all of mankind. They wouldn't listen to reason, and so we had to demonstrate a show of force. That we are willing to do what is necessary to protect the world."
"And how does that make us better than them?!" Kara replied, standing up as well as she came to Donna's defense. "We're supposed to be better than the bad guys, Kory. Better than those we fight against, which means-"
"Orin was trying to protect our kingdom, and you compare him to the evil we fight on a constant basis?!" Garth interrupted, his eyes widening in rage and shock as he now turned to Kara. "Aquaman is no 'bad guy,' Kara."
"I know that, Garth, and I'm not saying that. I'm making the point that regardless of who we fight in whatever scenario, we supposed to be better. We're superheroes, and we're supposed to be the better people. We're supposed to fight for everyone in danger, protect the innocent; that's what we stand for, that's what we promised ourselves to do. Atlantis' civilian population was innocent, uninvolved in the conflict."
"And they weren't hurt, Kara," the Tamaranean retorted, crossing her arms. "We made sure-"
"And that justifies what happened?! What Batman and the League did?! What YOU did, Kory?!"
"That was an essential war crime!" Donna added. "It violated international laws, laws of war! It's clear as day, no war crimes against innocent civilians between the warring sides. Hera, it's written in the Geneva Conventions; you know, that thing that the vast majority of the world abides by?! What countries across the planet abide by, what the United Nations authorizes and what the League and Titans are bound by?!"
"Technically, we don't collaborate with the United Nations as the Justice League does," Raven said, speaking for the first time since the heated argument began. "The Titans are a team completely independent from all organizations like them. So, technically, we aren't bound to the Geneva Conventions or any other internationals law as such."
"So you're saying that you need to be bound by laws to keep yourselves from committing these kinds of acts?!" Garth retorted hotly. "To use basic ethical and moral thoughts?!"
"Dick," Donna said as she turned to her boyfriend and team leader. "You can't honestly think that what they did was the best course of action. This goes against everything we stand for, what we fight for."
"What were we supposed to do, Donna?" Dick replied with a frown. "Aquaman was literally holding the world hostage. He wasn't going to back down. Bruce had to meet him head on, threaten that which Aquaman couldn't bear to see hurt. He pushed, so he pushed back. He had to see that Bruce isn't one to be pushed around, that we're just as willing as he was."
"So we go to that level? You always said that we had to be better. This is not you holding to that conviction."
"She's right," Garfield said, standing up as well. "They're both right. Dick, I feel for Batman and the rest of you guys, I really do. And what you guys are trying to do is cool, but they're right. What happened with Atlantis was way over the line, that was way too extreme. That wasn't us; it isn't us."
"BB, we did what we had to do," Victor replied with a frown. "It's not like we had a lot of options."
"So we just go and hit innocent civilians? Attack and threaten them for no reason? We really couldn't think of anything else to do?"
"It was no different than Hiroshima and Nagasaki in World War II," Raven said. "Aquaman and his armies refused to stand down. They demonstrated a show of power. We had to give them a stronger show of power. We did, and they surrendered."
"Batman handled it the best he could, Donna," Wally also added. "I mean, it's Batman. He's always got, like, three backup plans for his backup plans. He wasn't about to kill all of Atlantis just to make Aquaman stop. He was making a point, showing how willing his is, his commitment behind all of this, what he's doing. Batman's always planning ahead, always knows how to control the situation. He'd never kill an entire kingdom, an entire population, just to make a point."
"The same Batman that killed Lex Luthor, you mean."
The team's eyes widened at Donna's remark. Dick snapped his head towards her, his face a mixture of shock and rage. "Luthor destroyed Gotham, Donna," he muttered in a dangerous tone. "He killed more than seven million people."
"And Batman sunk to his level when he broke the one rule he always abided by, that he pushed on you, the rest of the Clan and the League itself."
Silence echoed in the Titans war room. Dick and Donna glared at each other, the first Robin shocked at what his girlfriend had said, the former Wonder Girl angry with him taking on this new mindset. Kory also glared at the young Amazon, with Kara glaring at her and Dick; Logan looked at Victor, Wally and Rachel in surprise and shock, Garth glaring at all the Titans who agreed with the attack on his home.
"I can't," Donna said at last, shaking her head. "What Batman is doing, what the team is now going for, what you're doing, Dick...this goes against everything I believe in."
"Donna, we're trying to save lives," Dick replied. "We're protecting the world, stop more another Gotham from happening."
"At what cost? This is madness, not rationality. Hera, Dick, we threatened the lives of millions and you're not even batting an eyelash. And the rest of you-Rachel, Victor...Wally? I can't believe that you're going along with this. I'm not seeing protection...I'm seeing the start of oppression. And if the Titans are going to follow this path, then I want no part of this."
"Neither do I," Kara agreed with a resolute tone. "This is too much of a slippery slope for us to be flirting with. There's a reason superheroes stay out of this kind of thing. It's why JLI failed, remember? I won't be a part of this."
"Of course, you wouldn't," Kory huffed, crossing her arms. "Wherever Superman goes, his little cousin goes too, right?"
"Like you and Nightwing?"
Kory clenched her teeth in anger, her fists clenched as her eyes began glowing slightly. Kara's eyes glowed red in response. Dick then placed his hand on Kory's shoulder, turning her attention from Kara to him. The action only fueled Donna's anger, if only slightly.
"If this is what the Titans are doing now, I want nothing to do with it," Kara continued, her eyes returning to her normal shade of blue. She turned to Donna, who met her gaze and nodded. With that, the two powerhouses turned and walked off, leaving the Titans War Room and heading towards the tower's teleports, not looking back.
Beast Boy stared after them, his thoughts racing for several moments before he also followed.
With an angry roar of power, Tempest soon grabbed his chair and ripped it out of the floor, throwing it towards the opposite wall. The metal echoed throughout the room as it hit the hard wall, leaving more than a sizeable dent in the material. As the chair sank to the ground and landed with a loud metallic thud, the Atlantean followed Donna, Kara and Logan out the room. Dick, Kory, Wally, Rachel and Victor could only watch as the team split in two, Garth's words echoing as he left the room forever.
"Consider that my resignation from the Titans."
*Justice League Watchtower. Outside Earth's Atmosphere*
0922 GMT, 24 May 2013
"Wonder Woman?"
Diana turned away from the Monitor Womb screens, the mighty form of Shazam hesitantly approaching her. Apart from Vixen, the Amazon Princess was the only one there. "Hello, Shazam," she greeted with a smile. Noting the uneasy air around Earth's Mightiest Mortal, she continued, "Is something wrong?"
"I...well, I guess so, yeah," Shazam replied as he removed his caped hood. "I've been thinking about what we've been doing these last few weeks, about how we've been going about the things we're doing and getting involved in."
"What about it?"
"I've been going around Fawcett, as Billy, asking people about their opinions on what we're doing. If they think and believe what we're doing is right or wrong."
"Outreach to the public is always a good idea," Vixen commented from her seat, her attention split between the monitor screens and the conversation behind her. "Smart move on your part, kid."
Diana smiled at the remark before returning her attention to Shazam. "Mari's right; that was a good move on your part. You've made me curious now; what is their perception of what we're doing now?"
"I've had a wide variety of answers, actually," Shazam answered. "Some think that we're actually not doing enough, still. That we should address more social issues like poverty and hunger. Some think that it's about time that we've started being more proactive instead of just reactive. A number think we should hurry with the international stuff we're doing and start fixing political corruption, corporate corruption, that kind of thing. There are those who seem uneasy, but it seems that they're still adjusting to the way we're going about things now. A few are scared, too, which I guess is expected. There was this one guy who thinks we might be spying on him in the shower from up here."
Mari burst into a fit of laughter at that, Diana unable to hide her own grin and chuckle. Shazam smirked at that; that had been his own reaction once he was well enough away from the man who had said that.
"Well, irrational fears aside," Diana smiled, "it seems that at least Fawcett citizens are more than ok with our new dedication."
"The majority of people I've asked do look like they think that, yeah," Shazam nodded. It was then, though, that he frowned. "But there was this one woman I spoke to in a park. She was one of the last I interviewed. And what she said...it really stuck to me, and really made me think."
"What did she say?"
"She said she lived in a country where people took power, where they started with having the same intentions that we have right now. Noble choices, ideals and goals. She came to America to escape what they ended up becoming, to find freedom and a new life, something she ended up being denied when their leaders became oppressors. And she looks at us, and sees our noble intentions...and sees it happening all over again. Except it could become worldwide, and there would be no escape from what we could do."
"Hmm, tough words," Mari mused from her chair after several moments. Shazam's words had brought a small silence into the Monitor Womb.
"They were," Shazam sighed. "And it made me remember something Black Adam once told me in one of our fights. He said that I could end up like him one day. That I'm no different than he is; that I'm only one choice away from being like him. I could rule, bring peace...but be feared. We could all be feared by the people we protect."
"But you have to know that we'd never do such a thing," Diana said. "We're trying to make the world a better place for everyone. Bring real peace to humanity, not what Adam would call it; be better heroes than we were yesterday. You know that, right?"
Shazam was silent for several moments before answering, "When I transform, take on the essence of Shazam, I gain...I have the Wisdom of Solomon. I can see the necessity to address the flaws of the world, and the ease we have to do it. And I can see that you, Batman and his Clan are doing this for the greater good. You've mobilized in ways that we've never done before, worked in whole new ways. If you continue this path, you theoretically could easily bring real peace on Earth."
While Diana agreed with Shazam's logic wholeheartedly, she couldn't help but arch and eyebrow at something he had said in particular. "What do you mean, 'theoretically?'"
"I may have the Wisdom of Solomon as Shazam, but I'm also still just a 12 year old kid in reality, Wonder Woman. As Billy, as me...the real me, I don't have that kind of luxury. All I can do is see the world from my own perspective, see everything we've done so far in my own eyes. So I asked myself what I saw without the Wisdom of Solomon, what I saw as just 12-year old Billy Batson from Fawcett City through all this."
Diana nodded slowly, and only once. "...And?"
"...I held Aquaman's throat in my hand. I saw the need in his eyes to do whatever was necessary to protect his kingdom and his people. I can imagine the fear of the Atlanteans after what you and Batman did. I saw the fear in that crazy guy who thinks we spy on him. I saw the worry that woman's eyes at what we may become...what it's starting to look like we're becoming."
Diana blinked in surprise. "Starting to look like?"
"...Diana, does it seem sometimes that...are we kind of going a little too extreme with how we're confronting all these problems?" Shazam asked, concern written on his face.
"Shazam, what we've been doing...what we're doing is finally bringing peace to the world," Diana readily answered, crossing her arms. "Establishing real peace. We're fighting for a better and safer tomorrow."
"Are you sure, Diana?" Shazam asked with a frown. "I mean, what we did to Atlantis? I don't think the Atlanteans feel safe after you, J'onn and the others took their city and dumped it in the middle of the Sahara Desert."
"I will admit," Diana said after several moments, "that there have been a few unpleasant things that have taken place. But more lives have been saved in these last few weeks than ever before."
"At what price, though?"
"What do you mean, at what price?"
"Diana, people are afraid of us. And our actions aren't exactly calming their fears."
"Our actions have been nothing but for the people. We're their protectors; that's what we've been doing, protecting them, giving them hope!"
"Well, apparently we're not doing a good enough job! This is a problem, Diana, and one we need to think about and address accordingly if people are thinking this way."
"They're wrong in their thinking. Shazam, we are doing everything we can to better their lives. Stopping Iraq from bombing Kuwait, stopping Bailya bombing their own their own civilians. The peace we've brought to India and Pakistan, the Korean Peninsula and starting in Colombia. How can you think what we're doing is a threat to the world?!"
"How were the citizens of Atlantis a threat to the world, Wonder Woman?! How was ripping Atlantis from the seas a move for peace?! We literally shook their world! With all the wisdom of Athena, do you honestly believe that was best choice to make?!"
"We did it to protect mankind," Diana snapped, pointing at the windows around the Monitor Womb, to where the Earth stood brilliant amidst the cosmic vastness. "You saw Arthur, Shazam, you saw his rage. You saw his armies and what they were ready to do. What we did may have been unsettling, but sometimes we have to unsettling things. The whole of our world was threatened, and we had to do something to make Arthur stand down. What would you have had us do?!"
"I want to fight for this world as much as you do, Wonder Woman, as much as Batman," Shazam said resolutely. "But I'm not going to do it by bullying the world into submission. I won't allow myself to become something we fight against all the time."
A flash of anger came onto Diana's face. This was the most recent of times when Bruce was being accused of reducing himself to the level of those he was fighting, removing from power. It irked her and infuriated her; she couldn't understand why more and more people were coming to this conclusion, and it angered her greatly. Why couldn't they see the good he was accomplishing and striving for? She was up to her limit with this, and she had enough of it. "If you don't agree with what we're doing, Shazam, you can always leave at any time."
"...you know, I think I will."
Diana blinked in surprise. Mari turned around, also surprised.
"I admire the goals you and Batman are striving for, but I don't agree with the methods you're using to achieve them. I won't compromise my morals and beliefs if it makes me turn into something I'm sworn to protect people against. And if the League is going down this path, if you and Batman are going to go down this path and not have a problem with it...then I want nothing to do with it. I quit."
Diana couldn't react as she watched Earth's Mightiest Mortal take flight, heading down over the rails of the Monitor Womb down to where the teleporter pads were. He could feel Diana and Vixen's eyes on him as he punched in the Fawcett City coordinates. As the teleporter hummed to life and began glowing, Shazam spared a final glance to the two heroines, but particularly at Diana.
"I hope you realize soon what kind of path you're going down...for all our sakes."
And with that, Billy Batson, Shazam, Earth's Mightiest Mortal, disappeared into a brilliant burst of light from the Watchtower.
Several moments of stunned silence followed.
"In all honesty," Vixen said suddenly, turning her chair around to face the Amazon. "He's kind of right in a way. We may have good intentions, but people could easily start to get pretty uncomfortable with our actions. Remember, the Justice League is arguably the most powerful entity on the planet. We have god-level beings on the team like you, Superman and Manhunter. Hell, the original seven used to be referred to as a pantheon of heroes."
"We use our power to protect the world and all that reside in it," Diana said with a frown, placing her hands on her hips. "We always have."
"I know, and I'm not arguing that. But don't you ever ask, 'what if?' People can get afraid because of that possibility. Remember the Crime Syndicate? That could easily be us. We could easily become oppressors, and in all honesty, who could stop the Justice League if we ever decided to assert our superiority over the Earth? We should be accountable. That's what Batman always says, right? I mean, that's why he had those contingencies for League members. Sure, maybe we could be mind-controlled by Despero or something...or we could just decide to do things our own way. It's a thin line, after all."
Diana looked at Mari for several seconds before lowering her gaze to the ground, several thoughts storming in her head.
"I'm just saying," Mari said as she also turned back to the monitor screens, "don't we have a responsibility to the people we're trying to protect? To calm their fears, assure them that we're doing this for them?"
*Industrial District, Star City, Washington, USA*
10:34 PM PST, 24 May 2013
Oliver Queen, after everything that had happened since the destruction of Gotham almost a month ago, was concerned.
"Hey, Pretty Bird."
The thug's breath was slammed out of him as Dinah's foot connected with his stomach, sending him flying into the alley dumpster. The remaining nine thugs clutched their weapons even tighter as they began to try and surround the blonde Gotham vigilante.
"Kind of busy here, Arrow," Black Canary replied as she narrowed her eyes, her gloved fists clenched as the thugs charged her all at once.
"I can tell," Oliver noted as Dinah gracefully flipped over several of the thugs, landing behind them before shooting her fist out. Green Arrow sat calmly atop the warehouse garage, the truck full of guns all but forgotten. His bow in hand, Oliver followed his lover's moves with interest. "...you've been busy the whole night, ever since you came into town. You could've told me you were showing up tonight. I would've laid out the welcome wagon for you, the whole nine yards."
"Got caught up with stuff as soon as I arrived," Dinah replied as she blocked a thug's blow, ramming her knee into his stomach. With uncanny agility, the blonde easily avoided another thug's bat swing, grabbing the first thug and throwing him into the second. "Which reminds me, you really ought to get to dealing with the Waterfront; the mafia activity is heavy down there."
"Hmm, been meaning to check up over there these last few weeks."
"You're welcome." Dinah unleashed her Canary Cry, sending several of the thugs flying into the warehouse wall, unconscious. She quickly dodged another blow from one of the remaining thugs, striking with a snap kick into his jaw. "So, you planning to sit there and look pretty all night, or you going to come down here and help me out?"
"You look like you have it all taken care of," Ollie replied with a smirk, noting the seven unconscious thugs on the alley floor. "Besides, I always love watching you getting down and dirty."
"Flattery gets you nowhere, Arrow," Dinah smirked as she jump kicked the last of the thugs as he made to bum rush her. Landing a truly painful blow to his face, the thug landed on the alley floor several feet away, unconscious with several teeth knocked out and a colorful bruise to match. Dinah did a quick mental count, assured that she had dealt with all the thugs accordingly.
THONK! POW!
"AHH!"
Black Canary turned with a jolt, ready to fight once more, but found she didn't need to. Several feet away, one of the thugs slumped onto the floor, a revolver landing with a slide several feet away. A boxing glove arrow lay on the floor next to the thug, whose face began to show signs of more heavy bruising. And Green Arrow leapt down into the alley with a grin, bow in hand and a glint in his eyes.
"Didn't I tell you?" Oliver smirked as he picked up the arrow, a hint of pride and arrogance in his voice. "I told you it'd be useful."
"Whatever," Dinah replied with a role of her eyes. The two heroes then quickly got to work, tying up the unconscious thugs. Leaving them next the truck, they observed their work for a moment before Dinah spoke again. "Heard from Roy recently?"
"I did," Oliver nodded. "Been in Florida since Red Hood went back to the Clan. Tying up something down south, didn't mention what exactly. Said he'd be back by the end of the month, probably. Might even go visit the old gang in New York."
"That's nice," the blonde woman said as she flecked what looked like some drool from her glove. Probably from one of the thugs she'd hit in the head. She took a bit of pride in that. She turned back to Ollie, only to be surprised by his look of concern. "Oliver? What's wrong?"
"Pretty Bird...Dinah?" Oliver asked as he looked at her. "What are you doing?"
A look of slight confusion found itself on Dinah's face. "...I'm fighting crime, like I always do."
"No, Dinah...I mean, what are you doing with Batman and the Clan?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean with everything that's been going on this past month."
"What, you mean stopping wars and bringing hope to desperate people? People who've been living in fear their whole lives? Stopping brutal dictators and leaders?"
"I think you know that's not what I mean, Dinah. You're scaring people, and you're swimming in dangerous waters."
Dinah blinked, surprised at Oliver's words, before her eyes slowly narrowed. Oliver met her gaze, crossing his arms as he glared. They stood in silence for several moments before they heard the distant sirens of police cars, growing closer by the second. Within less than two minutes, at least five squad cars rushed onto the scene, officers quickly securing the thugs and calling in Star CSI to process the scene and guns as they secured the scene.
Black Canary and Green Arrow were nowhere to be seen.
If one were to look, the pair could be found less than ten minutes later, standing on a Queen Industries warehouse in the Star City Shipping District, just alongside the city's coastline. The two stood silently in the night, staring out to sea.
Dinah was the first to speak, and her tone wasn't all that much pleasant. "...you don't agree with what Bruce is doing."
Green Arrow was silent for a moment before replying. "I agree with what he wants to do, what his overall goal is. It's noble, I'll give him that. But not with how he's doing, with what he's done already." The Emerald Archer turned to his lover. "He's on a slippery slope, Dinah; you all are."
Dinah stared at him with surprise before narrowing her eyes. "What do you mean, 'a slippery slope?' Aren't you seeing what he's doing, what we're all doing? Oliver, we've stopped so many conflicts, saved so many lives! We've worked our asses off to protect people, to save so many people-!"
"You're meddling in things that you have no business meddling with!"
"Excuse me? No business?! There are people across the planet who are suffering! Saudi Arabia is mercilessly bombing Yemeni civilians; scores of people are dying in South Sudan; terrorist groups are killing people across the Middle East! Israel is oppressing the Palestinians!"
"I know, and that's horrible, but if we keep going into these conflicts with complete disregard, where do we stop? Where do we draw the line?! Or do you just go on and stick your nose in every incident in the world?!"
"You're being ridiculous. You're twisting the mission; we're not going everywhere just to go, but to where we're needed."
"And what requires you to go in there? On whose authority? Dinah, there are governments and the like for a reason-"
"And half the time, they're ineffectual!"
"And so that just gives us the right to barge in there and do things our way?!" Oliver retorted angrily. "Who are we to force our ways onto a population, to force ourselves into conflicts that we have no reason to be in, that we have nothing to do with?!"
"If lives are threatened, then we have every reason to be involved," Dinah snapped back, crossing her arms. "We took an oath to protect the innocent, to protect those who can't protect themselves. You want us to stand idly by while they suffer?!"
"I'm not saying that, but there are proper ways to do that. Going through international channels, proper communications...not forcing yourselves into the situation! What does that tell the rest of the world?!"
"It tells them that we aren't afraid to do what is necessary to protect the world from all threats."
"And how far is 'as necessary?' Does murder fall into that category? Are you telling me that now that Bats broke his rule, you're all perfectly fine with killing if it's convenient?!"
"What the fuck is wrong with you?!" Dinah yelled, anger in her veins. "Bruce killed Luthor because he destroyed Gotham, everything and everyone in it!"
"And Atlantis?!" Oliver shot back. "What was that about?! What was the justification for Bruce having Diana, J'onn and the rest of them doing what they did?!"
"In case you missed it, Aquaman sent his armies to invade the world."
"Yeah, I was there watching it happen. That doesn't answer the question."
"Yes, it does. He was threatening the world, so we had to match that power."
"We're in the fucking Justice League! Manhunter helped Superman move the fucking moon once! Captain Atom is a living nuclear bomb! Guy literally has the most powerful weapon in the damn universe on his fucking fingertips! How much more force did you need?! That doesn't justify almost destroying Atlantis!"
"We didn't destroy Atlantis-!"
"Would you be ok with it if they were?! If that really was Batman's intention, would you be ok with it?!"
Silence. Dinah froze, hesitation striking her as she held her tongue. Her body tensed slightly as a storm of thoughts brew in her mind as she turned her gaze away from Ollie and out to sea.
Oliver's eyes widened under his domino mask. "Dinah…" he muttered in shock, unable to believe what he was seeing and hearing, or rather…lack of hearing. "Dinah...are you willing to cross that line now if it's an option?
Dinah was silent for several long moments before sighing. "If I have to…" she muttered, slowly turning to her lover, "...then I have to do what's necessary to protect people."
"...then where do you draw the line? Where do to place the goal post? How far do you stretch that kind of justification?"
A heavy silence fell between the two as they held each other's gaze. Oliver couldn't believe what he was hearing. As far as he was concerned, heroes and vigilantes lived by a certain code, one where they tried to honor the people, regardless of where on the side of the law they landed. They were an arm of justice that, while not at all affiliated with the systems established, acted as a sort of extension of them in a way. They reached where the regular system couldn't, but never stepped out of boundaries that were just known to be uncrossable. They fought for the people, yes, but they still weren't the voice of the people, not like their leaders were. As such, as Oliver believed, they had no authority to carry out in the name of the people any actions that their leaders were chosen to take. And Batman, since Gotham's destruction, was skating along those boundaries very dangerously...or at least, he had been. Now, he had crossed it completely, those boundaries now a blur to him, and his Clan. Even some of the Justice League members.
And he couldn't stand by them if they were willing to go that distance...any of them.
Any of them.
"...Leave."
Dinah blinked. His tone sounded…it sounded so… "Ollie?"
"Leave, Dinah. Get out of Star City. If that's the mentality you have now, I'm not going to put the risk of unnecessary death on my people, even if it seems they deserve it. You have no right to judge them in that capacity." Oliver forced himself to look away as he turned and walked off to the edge of the warehouse, readying his bow and a rope arrow. Steeling himself as he took aim at another warehouse, he added, "I want you gone by midnight. If you're not...I'll kick you out myself."
"Ollie…" Dinah tried to ask, her voice hitching in her voice. Oliver froze for a moment at that. The blonde woman continued, sensing what seemed to be the true meaning behind his words. "Are...are you...are we…"
Oliver Queen refused to look at Dinah as he steeled himself once more. His ideals wouldn't, couldn't be compromised...for anyone.
"...Unless you change that new mentality, you're not welcome in Star City."
And with that, Green Arrow shot his rope arrow and swung off, running across the roofs of the Shipping District and deeper into his city, leaving Black Canary behind on that warehouse rooftop alone with her thoughts.
*Parliament House Plaza, Melbourne, Australia*
5:34 PM AEST, 27 May 2013
"Their anger and determination is great," J'onn mused, his eyes glowing as he scanned the minds of the crowds below. "Their hostility to our actions and ambitions burn intensely within them, as well as before them."
Katar Hol glanced at the Martian, himself floating in the air beside him. "Was that an attempt at a joke?"
"Perhaps."
"Hey, guys," Barry's voice rang through their comms, the Scarlet Speedster standing at the top of the steps of the Melbourne Parliament Building. "How about less joking and more figuring out what to do here?"
The plaza of the Parliament Building was filled with people, almost three hundred protesting. Chants echoed and filled the air, all of them angry...and all of them targeted at Batman, the Batclan and the Justice League. The majority of the protesters held signs and banners with phrases ranging from "We don't want you" to "Not our heroes." The crowds stood in a circle, and within the circle was a burning fire in the shape of the Bat insignia right in the middle.
It wasn't much of a shock; since the League's battle against Atlantis, the world population had begun to grow wary of the heroes, especially after seeing such power used to raise the underwater kingdom. In the two weeks that had passed since then, global opinions towards the Justice League and, in fact, many superheroes, had fallen. In regards to Batman and the Batclan, in particular, public opinion had begun falling as well. While they had been working to implement change across the world, their methods had been called into question by the media and by many others across the world. While Atlantis had been a prominent example, other cited instances included the Clan's recent overthrow of the Egyptian dictatorship and their increasing involvement in the continuous conflicts in Kasnia.
While many saw this as just actions by the Clan and their League supporters, others saw it as higher powers threatening their ways of life.
Flash, Hawkman and the Martian Manhunter had come to Melbourne, Australia to address the nation's Parliament in regards to the nation's current government shutdown, one of a caliber not seen since 1975. Funding budgets and government policies were heated argued amongst both the Australian House and Senate, forcing all other votes for bills and the like to grind to a halt. Before another drastic action from the powers above could be taken as done back in '75, Batman had sent the three Leaguers to force the two Parliament branches into agreement.
Needless to say, the two hours hadn't been all that pleasant for the Australian Parliament.
Upon learning that the three Leaguers were speaking to Parliament, however, citizens across Melbourne quickly rallied themselves in protest against the Justice League and the Batman. Australia had relatively stayed away from global conflicts and incidents over the last half century. Many of the nation's population saw this as a threat to their peace. They would have none of it, especially to their government, despite its current problems.
"We should address this now," Barry said to his teammates through his comm. "Before it gets out of hand. Alleviate their fears and concerns; we need to assure them that they have nothing to worry about."
"I do not believe they will listen so easily," J'onn mused, staring at the crowds.
"Well, we can't just let them think we're taking over the world or something."
"If they can't see it, then it's their own fault, Flash," Hawkman retorted. The Thanagarian then flew lower, closer to the crowds before he yelled out, getting the attention of all the protesters. "I will only say this once, citizens of Melbourne: cease your petty protests and return to your homes now, or we will force you to return!"
"Wait, what?" Barry muttered in surprise as the crowds seemed to only get louder and angrier. Force the people to return? They couldn't do that; they had no right to tell these people to leave. And Hawkman was threatening force if they didn't?
"Yeah, that's not going to happen."
All eyes in the plaza turned to the young man who yelled his response to the Thanagarian. He was a tall blonde who appeared to be in his early to mid-twenties. He wore a long brown trench coat, with what appeared to be yellow armored boots, as well as thick black gloves. The young man had replied with a tone of confidence and authority, his walk reflecting this as he glared at the Leaguers, something Flash, Hawkman and Manhunter were quick to notice.
"Excuse me?" Katar called to the man, eyes narrowed under his mask as he gripped his battle axe tighter.
"You heard me, mate," the man replied with the same tone of authority. He did not stop walking until he was just next to the burning Bat symbol. His eyes were trained on the two flying aliens, a refusal to back down burning in them. "You think that just because you all have some special powers and fly above our heads like some kind of gods, you can just come here and scowl at us and tell us what to do? And in our own country, our own homelands?!"
With that, the young man tore his trench coat, earning gasps and murmurs of shock from the crowds of protesters. The man was wearing black and golden armor with matching gauntlets. In the middle of his armor's chest, a power blaster glowed with powerful energy. Barry found himself in surprise by the sight before him. The Australian then rose into the until he was level with Katar and J'onn.
"We have a right to protest in our own country," the young man said in anger as the power blaster on his chest began glowing even brighter with power. "I'm going to have to ask you to return to your homes!"
And with a yell, the newly arrived metahuman unleashed a powerful blast of energy at J'onn and Katar. The Thanagarian barely evaded the blast, Manhunter twisting his body to avoid being hit. The blast kept going before it hit several of the support pillars of the Parliament Building.
"CLEAR THE AREA, NOW!" Flash yelled as the crowds began screaming in fear, panicking and running in various directions as they dropped their signs and banners. Running down the Parliament stairs, he focused himself on getting civilians to safety. He was confident that Katar and J'onn could handle themselves, but even as he reached the crowds, something compelled him to look up, to witness the fight above him.
Above, the Australian metahuman continued his energy barrage, attempting to hit Katar and J'onn. With a roar, Katar charged at the man, axe at the ready. Reacting quickly, the Australian fired his blasts again towards the incoming alien, and successfully landed a hit, sending Katar flying and crashing into the Parliament steps. Not stopping, the young man continued his energy blast for several more seconds before stopping. A crater now stood where Hawkman had crashed, smoke and fine dust billowing from it. For a moment, the young metahuman thought he had defeated the Leaguer.
Until Hawkman's silhouette appeared in the smoke. With a powerful flap of his wings, he dispersed the smoke surrounding him, revealing his body only slightly bruised and burned, his armor hissing with energy burns, his axe tightly gripped in his hand.
...and a look of unadulterated fury on his face.
The young Australian faltered for a second at the rage of the Thanagarian. That was all the time needed for the Martian Manhunter to slam into him. Grabbing him by the arm, J'onn punched him into the skies. Yelling in slight fear, the young man somehow managed to right himself in midair. Panic slowly filled him as he saw the large dent now in his armor, courtesy of the Martian. He quickly shot forth another blast of powerful energy, only to be met by J'onn's Martian vision countering it. The two exploded onto each other on impact, thick smoke filling the air above the plaza. J'onn acted quickly, sending a psychic shock into the man's mind. The Australian screamed in pain, grabbing his head in anguish.
Hawkman, however, wasn't willing to let him get away so easily. With a roar, he took to the skies and struck the young man in the chest with his battle axe. The Thanagarian had easily managed to destroy the power generator in his armor, which began crackling violently with the vibrant energy. Desperate, the young man tried to fire another blast at Hawkman; he never got the chance as a phased Martian Manhunter stuck his arm into his chest, sending him into more screams of pain.
Then, before the young man could try to react in any way, Katar and J'onn then grabbed him by the shoulders and with a roar, slammed him into the plaza grounds below.
Flash's eyes widened as stone bricks erupted into the air, a small crater forming around where the man crashed. Time seemed to slow down as Barry could just faintly hear the cracking snaps of the man's spine and vertebrae. His mind screamed at him to act, telling him each time another crack snapped that he could act in more than ten ways to stop what was happening. And yet...he stood there, frozen at the sight before him.
Barry knew, though, that he was already crippled for life, before the young could even register then pain.
Stunned silence overtook the plaza and the crowds. Both alien Leaguers stood above the now broken young man, his whimpering and agonizing sounds of pain loud as his arms and legs spasmed every few seconds. He couldn't feel any movement in his upper body, could just barely feel his limbs.
J'onn's eyes glowed, and the whimpering young man's eyes rolled into the back of his head. His body ceased spasming and went limp, the man seemingly succumbing to unconsciousness.
The crowds were muttering and whispering in fear, all eyes on the two Leaguers and their...their victim.
"DISPEEEERSE!" the Thanagarian roared, his axe glistening in the sun and his wings outstretched.
At once, the crowds began yelling in fear as they fled the Parliamentary plaza, their signs and banners forgotten on the ground. It wasn't long before only the three Leaguers remained in the plaza, with the broken young man at the feet of the two aliens.
Barry then raced over to the young man, bending down next to him. His eyes were wide with shock and horror. "What...what did you do him?" Barry muttered in shock.
"I telepathically induced him into a coma," the Martian replied. "It would be agonizing for him to be conscious and in constant pain."
"And that's supposed to make up for what you two did?! You two broke his back! His entire spine is shattered, goddammit!"
"The fool brought it upon himself," Katar snapped dismissively. "We gave a clear order, and he instead attacked us. He should've known better."
"Are you serious?! What the fuck is wrong with you, Katar?!"
Katar looked at the speedster with an angered frown. "I did what was needed."
"Perhaps we were a bit excessive, Flash," Manhunter mused. "However, this man attacked us without provocation. We had warned him and the rest of the consequences, and he acted recklessly in response. We had no choice."
Barry couldn't believe it. The manner that these two brushed off their hand in crippling this young man was astounding, astonishing and outright unnerving. J'onn appeared less impassive from their action, but he still justified what he did because of the actions of this young metahuman, who didn't even do anything worth what had happened. And now the people of Australia had seen the Justice League to something horrifying. What kind of message what sent? What kind of people where they for doing this?
What kind of heroes were they?
"I'm getting him help," Barry said as he stood up. "I'm getting an ambulance. Don't move him." And before J'onn or Katar could say anything else, the Scarlet Speedster zoomed off in search of help. Only seconds passed, though, before his League comm chirped to life.
"So we're breaking up civilian protests in foreign countries now, are we?"
"Superman?" Flash couldn't help but cringe at the tone of the Man of Steel's voice. It rang with disappointment. "How did you-how did you know-?"
"The protest was being broadcasted on several international news networks," Clark's voice replied. "The world saw what J'onn and Katar did to that kid. The fight just went viral online."
"My god...Supes, I didn't-look, I had no idea-"
"Barry…" Barry could hear the Kryptonian's sigh. "What's done...is done. Right now, just don't worry about getting an ambulance; several have already arrived on scene. The kid's getting medical attention, and hopefully they can do something for him. That's not the reason I contacted you, though. Barry, I need you to go to the Advanced Sciences and Genetic Testing Laboratory in Canberra."
"The Australian capital?" By now, the Scarlet Speedster had stopped running, unsure of where in Melbourne he was. "Why do you want me over there?"
"Seeing for yourself would be better than me explaining it to you. Long story short, though? It's because I know I can still make you see what's really going on, and that you can see that you're on the wrong side of this whole ordeal. You'll be expected there, don't worry."
Barry hesitated for a moment before answering. "...Alright, I'll head there now. Should be there in a few moments." And sure enough, less than a minute later, Barry found himself entering the Canberra city limits. Moments later, Barry had managed to find the genetics lab in the southern part of the city. Tentatively, Barry entered the lab, taking in the sight of the large reception area. The Scarlet Speedster stood there uncomfortably, looking around at the various people walking around. He was expected to arrive, like Superman said, right?
"Oh, hello, Flash!"
Barry turned to see a raven-haired woman approaching him from the reception desk. She wore a lab coat with a green shirt underneath, as well as a kind smile. "Um, hello miss," he replied. "I was told you'd be expecting me?"
"Yes, yes," the woman nodded as she gestured for Barry to follow her, taking him deeper into the laboratory. "I honestly can't believe this; I was really surprised when I got the call that you were coming. It's awesome to meet you." As she continued to speak, the forensic scientist in Barry couldn't help but be in awe at all the equipment and technology in the lab. It was very advanced stuff, in his mind. He couldn't help but wonder just what advances in science these scientists were doing down here, how far this Doctor Norris had gone.
Her voice quickly knocked him back into reality. "So, I was told you were interested in knowing about our newest test subject, the kid?"
"Uh...the kid?" Barry asked, unable to keep his eyebrow from arching.
"Yes," Doctor Norris replied as she motioned for a poster on a wall near some of the lab equipment. "Mitchell Davies, or as he likes to call himself, Galaxor."
Barry froze. The image on the poster was of the young metahuman that Manhunter and Hawkman.
"He picked that name himself. I think he made it up, it probably just sounded cool to him. In my opinion, he could've chosen a better name. But, we didn't pick him for our projects because of his creative spark...or lack thereof, actually."
"...why did you pick him?" Barry managed to ask, unable to look away from the poster.
"He was physically at his prime, never asked too many questions, but me personally? Because of his willingness to be a hero, to do something that could make a difference in the world." Doctor Norris continued walking, and Barry managed to tear his eyes away from the poster and follow. "Unfortunately, Mitchell isn't here right now," she continued, not noticing Barry's cringe as she led him to the dormitory wing, and one dorm in particular. "This is where he stays, at least until our work is done. Now brace yourself...he's a bit of a fan boy."
"A fan…?" Barry's question died on his lips as he entered the room. A gasp escaped him as he was hit by the sight of memorabilia, all on the Justice League. Several posters of heroes ranging from Hal Jordan to Red Tornado and the League Trinity. Pictures of some of the League's most titanic battles such as against Starro and the invasion of Heaven. Action figures stood on his drawer top, each of iconic Leaguers.
But one thing caught Barry's attention the most. Barry found himself walking over to Mitchell's bed, where a large poster hung over the headboard. It was a picture of Barry himself, the Flash, and a younger Davie Mitchell shaking hands and smiling for the camera.
In Barry's handwriting near the top of the picture, it read, "Mitchell, anyone can be a hero. Flash."
Barry couldn't move. "I...I don't remember this picture," he finally managed to say.
"I don't blame you, really," Doctor Norris replied as she took out a smartphone, one of her coworkers calling her. "You must meet hundreds of people each day, being the Flash and a member of the Justice League. It'd be easily for them all to blur together; it's not that uncommon, really."
While the doctor spoke on the phone, Barry's eyes were glued to the poster. The young Mitchell Davies stared back at it, his smile vibrant and full of life, and his eyes glowing with excitement and joy at meeting the Flash, one of his heroes.
Barry's heart broke.
"Let me ask you, Barry," Superman's voice said on the comm. "How do you think Mitchell felt in that moment, when his heroes broke him?"
*5000 ft above Coast City. United States*
6:56 AM PST, 27 May 2013
Hal Jordan sighed to himself again, the umpteenth time in the last ten minutes.
The Green Lantern was currently floating several thousand feet above the earning morning Coast City skyline. He hadn't used his Power Ring much during the last month. He hadn't left the city at all, staying mostly at the Ferris Aircraft Facility, where Mercy Graves was hidden from the rest of the world. That had been a shocking surprise for Carol when she first saw the woman, but she had accepted Hal's logic and explanation as to why Luthor's right hand woman was staying in her facility.
Hal could only sigh. He counted himself lucky that Bruce had yet to locate Mercy Graves. The former aide to Luthor had spent the last month at Ferris Aircraft Facilities, true to Hal's word. He had kept her hidden there, certain that once she left his sight, she would be found by the Batclan. Hal felt that Mercy would suffer a similar fate that Luthor had at Batman's hands. He had not killed again since that day, but Bruce had crossed that line. Hal wouldn't past him to do it again. But Hal couldn't watch Mercy forever, he knew that. He had an idea, one that he would need to run by with Superman, though...
Until then, though, Mercy stayed under his watch. Just one of many changes, after all.
A lot of things had changed over the course of the last month, ever since Luthor had nuked Gotham City. Batman and his Clan had definitely come a very long way since then. Unfortunately, Hal didn't believe it was going to be for the better. Bruce's actions and motivations appeared at face value to be beneficial to the world, but in fact, Hal saw it as making the world situation more unstable with each passing day. What shocked him the most was the fact that various members of the Justice League had followed right behind him. Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Hawkman, Captain Atom were only some of the ones that had quickly and readily elected to join him on Bruce's new crusade. They were involved in things they had never been involved with before. They barged into politics and government, wars and the like.
As a Green Lantern, he had been involved in his own fair share of interference with these kinds of things. But never on the scale such as this. And that was why Hal was so unnerved by Bruce's new crusade. Where was he going to stop? How far was he going to go to implement this justice he promised? And how would he keep it? What lengths would he go to keep it?
It was vastly different than what he did as a member of the Corps. With the power and authority bestowed upon them, the Green Lantern Corps did interfere with many worlds, yes, but only to defend those worlds. To protect civilizations and empires, to show a difference where it was needed. But they didn't try to mold events and situations into what they believed was fit for those they protected. They left such things to those worlds and empires, to the civilizations. They were only a force of protection, not one of forceful change. They didn't interfere with the structures of world, because it was not their place. That was what the Guardians taught them.
And yet, one Lantern didn't seem too keen on following that teaching.
Hal suddenly heard a familiar sound; the slight shrill of Green Lantern ring energy. Turning around, he was welcomed with the sight of his fellow Green Lantern Guy Gardner approaching him. Within several moments, the red headed Lantern was floating right before his predecessor.
"Hal, where've you been?"
"Hello to you to, Guy," Hal replied with an arched eyebrow, crossing his arms
Guy rolled his eyes. "Hello, Hal, is everything good? How's Carol? How's Coast City? Yeah, Tora and I are still keeping our distance, the usual stuff."
Hal couldn't help but smirk. "Still keeping distance?"
"Eh, you know how it goes with us."
"You're hopeless, you know that?"
"You're one to talk; Carol still doesn't have a ring on her finger."
"She has a Star Sapphire Ring; I'd say that's way better."
"...alright, you got me there," Guy grinned as he shrugged in defeat. "So, what's this about, Hal? There a situation the Corps need us? The Guardians switching us out for Kyle and John already? League business?"
"No, none of that," Hal replied, his small smile disappearing. "I want to talk to you about something. About everything, really; everything that's been going on since Gotham. One thing in particular."
"Sure, I guess," Guy replied with the barest hint of surprise and uncertainty. "What's on your mind?"
"Atlantis."
Guy blinked. "Atlantis?" Hal's silence was answer enough. "...Alright. Atlantis."
"What the hell were you thinking? Guy, you could've killed those people, all those Atlanteans. You threatened all those lives, millions upon millions of them, unnecessarily."
"It was a hard decision, Hal, I understand that. Believe me, I wasn't comfortable with what I did, what we all did. But there was nothing else we could've done. You didn't see Aquaman, man; the guy was going insane. The entire world was in danger. Batman made the best decision he could."
"Batman made the decision," Hal echoed. "I'm seeing a lot of that lately, Batman making all these decisions."
Guy arched an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"I'm saying, who is Batman to be making all these decisions? Who gave him that kind of authority? It wasn't the United Nations, or any government. It definitely wasn't the Justice League, since we don't have that kind of authority over the world."
"With the things that he's been doing, does he really need any authority? I mean, this is all pretty good stuff; ending oppressive governments, bringing peace between countries, righting all the wrongs of the world. If anything, the world should be welcoming what he's doing, what we're all doing."
"And who are we to decide what we're doing is right or not?" Hal asked. "Just because we have the power to change so much, doesn't mean that we necessarily should, Guy."
"Isn't that we're supposed to do, as Green Lanterns?" Guy asked in response. "For us to get involved when necessary, when we see everything going to hell? Aren't we supposed to make a difference?"
"A difference, yes. But not pushing events to fit our own desires and visions. Worlds and civilizations are supposed to be allowed to follow their own path, without any interference from us. We as Green Lanterns are here to protect them, defend them-!"
"So you're saying that it's defending them when we let innocent people die?! When people are subjugated to the horrors that we're supposed to fight?! 'No evil shall escape my sight.' Remember that, Hal? You're saying that we should just let all the crap on Earth slide?!"
"That isn't what I'm saying and you know that!" Hal retorted. "We fight evil wherever we see it, but this isn't fighting evil! This is disrupting the stability of civilization across the entire planet! That isn't in your power or mine to go-!"
"Don't you tell me what's not in my power!" Guy snapped in anger, his eyes glowing a bright green. "I had every right to do so! From the minute I was granted this ring and this power, I was granted the authority to do what I did! When I was designated the Green Lantern of Space Sector 2814, I was charged by the Guardians to protect every planet within it. That includes Earth. I did my duty; Earth was threatened, and I acted accordingly. Did I like it? No. But I had to think of humanity's sake."
"And so you ignored the sake of the Atlanteans? Guy, they all into our Space Sector too, remember? Those were innocent lives, Guy!"
"I know that! You don't think I remember that every single day since then!? I wish we had an alternative, but nothing else would've made Aquaman stop what he was doing! We had to do what we needed to do, Hal!"
"And what if it came to killing them, wiping out their entire species?! If it was for the greater good for humanity, would you have crossed that line?!"
"...Are you really asking me that, Hal?!"
"Yes, because it's a line we can't cross. We may been granted authority during the war with the Sinestro Corps, and we may still have that authority even now, but the Green Lanterns do not kill."
"And I didn't," Guy snarled. "You know I hate killing. And I don't do it unless absolutely necessary, you know that. And I wouldn't have killed the Atlanteans."
"You may have well done so," Hal retorted. "Batman may have made the decision to let them rot in the Sahara. And even though he didn't, you all almost crossed that line, Guy. You almost crossed that line unnecessarily."
"Well, at least I was there to actually do something! Hell, in fact, where the fuck where you all this time?!" Guy said in an accusatory tone, pointing at Hal. "You pretty much vanished after Luthor nuked Gotham! It's been an entire month since anyone's seen you. We've been busting our asses trying to make the world better and safer. Where were you?! What have you been doing all this time?!"
"I was otherwise occupied. I've been in Coast City; I have a secret identity, remember? I've been with Carol and-..."
"And?" Guy pressed, noting Hal's sudden hesitation.
"Nothing," Hal said quickly, rising some suspicion in Guy's mind. "The point is, I've been busy with things at Ferris and in Coast City."
"Too busy to try and help us do what's right? Not even to check the rest of 2814?"
"You know as well as I do that the Sector has been pretty peaceful. The only this remotely needed any Corps interference was an uprising in Zerbon, and the local population easily handled it. Because it was an issue that they could handle on their own."
"And you think that can apply to the shit on Earth?" Guy couldn't help but scoff at that. "Because we've been doing such a fantastic job so far."
"It may not be perfect," Hal replied, "but it's theirs. We just protect them when they're in danger."
"Y'know, that's the problem right there," Guy sneered, pointing at Hal. "The problem Batman figured out. Reacting; that's what we limit ourselves to. That's why Gotham happened, because all we do is react. We react when the big shit happens, but we never prepare for when more happens. All that shit that we're dealing with now-the poverty, oppression and the like? We're stopping them now so that worse doesn't come later on. We are trying to fix this world by addressing the problems we already have instead of just waiting for everything to come flying at us. And you can't see that, Hal, then maybe you're not the greatest Green Lantern ever like they all say."
"And how long until being proactive turns into a mess that you can't get out of?" Hal asked. "Guy, there is a reason we don't get involved in things like this. It's too complicated, there's too many variables in play. And what guarantee is there that what you're doing will last?! You can't just expect everything to just fall and stay into place, Guy! Despite you might think, despite what we can do, you can't just will peace into existence. What do you think you'll do, maintain your presence to ensure that it lasts!?"
"...if that's what it takes, then I'll do what I have to do."
"People won't like it," Hal no said as he crossed his arms. "They already don't, I've seen it. They think things are fine as they are."
"Change always started with people thinking things were better off as they were," Guy replied. "It takes someone to come along and show them otherwise." Guy then turned his head slightly, his hand going for his comm. "There's a terrorist attack in Pakistan; some extremists attacked a girls school. Intel just came in on planned attacks on two others. If you'll excuse me, oh great Lantern, I'm going to handle it and prevent the others from being attacked. No evil and all that, y'know?"
And with that, Guy took off with an emerald glow trailing behind him. Within seconds, he was only a spec in the distance, leaving Hal to his thoughts, the entire conversation replaying in the minds of the test pilot.
"Goddammit, Guy," Hal sighed after several moments. "What are you getting yourself into?"
*Fortress of Solitude, North Pole. Northern Arctic*
0012 GMT 27 May 2013
Clark wasn't sure what to say, or what to ask.
"..."
His mouth opened once more, for the fifth time, only for him to close it again. No words could come to mind. He could think of nothing to even say, let alone ask.
"Kal?"
Clark finally sighed, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. "I just...I just don't know…"
Standing in front of the Man of Steel was a holographic projection of Jor-El, Clark's Kryptonian father. Over the years, Clark had grown to be grateful for the fact that his Kryptonian father had copied his consciousness into the Kryptonian crystal from which the Fortress had grown from. There were many instances where Clark had come to Jor-El in moments of need, to find counsel he couldn't find anywhere else, not even with Jonathan and Martha Kent. This was one of those moments.
"Father," Clark finally managed to breathe. "Am...is it possible that I'm in the wrong?"
"How do you mean, my son?" Jor-El asked patiently, a look of calm understanding on his face.
"Everything that Bruce is doing; he promised the world new change, better change...a path to peace. He, his family and even members of the League have gone to great lengths to promote it. All this time, I've been trying to make him stop. Am I wrong to do that? After what he's done so far?"
"The Batman would shape humanity into what he sees fit, into how he believes it should be. He is wrong in this, Kal-El, you know that. Humanity must determine their own path."
"Humanity is flawed, though," Clark sighed. "I see their faults every day, everything wrong with them." Several moments passed before the Kryptonian allowed a small smile to appear. "But then I also see everything good about them, too. The good in them, the potential they have. Mankind can do so much, father, and in all honesty? I feel proud to be able to see them grow, to become what they will. Knowing that I will be there for them in their times of need, and that I'll be a part of that growth."
"So you do not regret your life here? You do not wish I had never sent you here?"
"Rao, no," Clark sighed. "I can't imagine my life anywhere else except here on Earth. I...I've come to love it, love the people here. I met the love of my life here. Earth is my home, father. I've fought for it and for everyone on it for so many years." After a small silence, though, Clark sighed again. "And now...everything I've fought for is being threatened. By the one man I always thought would help me fight."
"He has allowed the darkness he has always controlled and mastered to control him. His heart is fueled by his rage now, a rage like never before."
"He believes there is no other choice, that this is what needs to be done."
"There is always a choice, and you know that, Kal-El.
"Yes," Clark nodded. "Bruce has made his."
"And what is yours?" Jor-El asked.
"He's changed since Luthor destroyed Gotham, since Alfred died. He's on a path of vengeance, a crusade to change the world. And I don't see how it'll be for the better." Clark sighed yet again as he ran his hand through his hair. "And I can't, in good conscious, just stand by and let Bruce unleash his rage onto this world."
Jor-El smiled softly and nodded. "You are a hero to mankind, Kal-El. I know that you will do what is right for the people of Earth. You will do what is right, what is needed. Though the Batman is your greatest ally and friend, my son, it is because of that that you must oppose him, show his that he is in the wrong."
"...and if the people don't see it that way?
"Have faith, Kal-El. I never could've foreseen it, but you have become Earth's greatest champion, their protector and hero. They have faith in you, believe in you. They will see your cause, and there will be those who will join you. If what you say of mankind is true, then there are many who will fight alongside you.
Clark was silent for a moment, staring at the projection of his father before looking away with a grimace.
"What is it, Kal-El?"
"...Fight," Clark muttered after a long silence. "I can't bear the thought of fighting my own friends, my teammates...my family. And yet...I feel that's only inevitable."
*Nullarbor Plains, Australia*
7:34 AM AEST, 28 May 2013
The Nullarbor Eyre Highway.
Stretching across the Australian Nullarbor Plains from Norseman to West Augusta, it ran for almost 2000 miles across the southernmost part of Australia. Virtually nothing surrounded it; save for the occasional car or road trains, the highway is almost always deserted. A well-known portion of the highway, the 90 Mile Strait was known as the world's longest and straightest stretch of road. If one were to run the length of it, one would only have to avoid the occasional kangaroo and emu flock.
It was the longest road in the world.
Paradise and nirvana for a speedster.
And yet, paradise and nirvana were the farthest things from the mind and thoughts of Barry Allen, the Flash, the Fastest Man.
He had run across the Eyre all night, with the sun just now rising behind him. And yet, it was as if Hawkman and Martian Manhunter had attacked Davies only moments ago.
Barry now found himself standing in the middle of the Strait, looking downwards. At his feet was a corpse, freshly dead. He recognized it, from his many runs on the Eyre, as a red kangaroo. Most definitely killed when a road train or other vehicle struck it, the driver probably going to fast to even notice it. It was just a kangaroo, after all.
Barry didn't see a kangaroo, though.
He saw Mitchell Davies, crippled and barely alive, broken by those sworn to protect him.
Because he wanted to do what his heroes weren't. Because he wanted to protect him home, his people. Protect their liberties and their lives, their human rights. Protect them from those who sought to take them away.
"How do you think he felt...when his idols broke him?"
Barry collapsed onto his knees, his hands slowly covering his head. Everything that happened finally came crashing down upon him in brutal realization. What Batman was doing, what the League was now starting to do...everything. Most of all, what the world was seeing them become.
He couldn't go along with it anymore. Not after this. This is too much...they were supposed to be heroes, protecting the people, not breaking them. Not oppressing and threatening them. Not threatening an entire people. They were supposed to be their protectors. Their Justice League. This wasn't what they were supposed to stand for, what he stand for.
He didn't know how much time had passed as he knelt there, the memories replaying over and over again in his mind, the broken image of a crippled young man scarring it.
Barry didn't move when the telltale sound of a teleport hummed behind him. He gave no indication that he heard the new arrival walking towards him, sand and loose gravel crunching under their feet. He registered the shadow now next to him, one of a winged feminine body, but didn't react. Save for a slight breeze around them, silence echoed across the desert plains around them for a long minute.
The new arrival then placed a hand on Barry's shoulder. "Barry?"
"Shayera…" Barry slowly turned to look up at the Thanagarian. "...what the hell are we doing?"
And well, that's all the introspection we'll be doing for now. More and more, sides are being chosen, even if not openly so. Relationships and friendships are being torn. Vastly different opinions here, soon to settle into the two warring camps. How did you guys like it? All thoughts are welcome, so please remember to leave those reviews and whatnot!
And now, since Arkham was destroyed in the nuking of Gotham in this continuity, and since all but five Bat villains are dead…
Next: The Battle of Strykers' Island.
...someone's gonna die...
I'll try to have the next chapter out much faster, so tune in for it!
Until next time, readers.
