"Ah, hello guests. Sorry I could not have escorted you here in the... traditional way, but, as you can see, that would not be the best move on my part."

When I awoke, I saw both of my wrists tied to two identical steel cuffs, each one chained to a high, Gothic-Styled ceiling. The same was to be said of my colleagues. The chamber we were held in was great in size and lit by several large lamps, but no windows were in sight. Most likely underground. Several yards in front of me stood Ra's Al Ghul, accompanied by Deathstroke, on a small podium. There were several questions buzzing in my skull, but only one could escape my lips.

"How... how long?"

"I'm sorry?" Ra's asked in a fiendish tone.

"How long has it been since I was last awake? Well? How long?"

"Only a few days. Fifteen, to be exact. I needed to ensure you did not wake up too early. A trip to Central Arabia by mere car and boat is quite extensive. But onto more pressing matters. I must admit, I was shocked I could have missed so many of you. Mrs Quinzel and her little comedian are not very hard too trace, nor are our two business men; Mr Cobblepot and Mr. Sionis. As for Cain, he can be quite stealthy, but Mr. Wilson has proved to be the better of the two."

"Speaking of, Ghul, my job here is done. I'd like to take my pay and be on my way."

"Oh, I wish it was that simple, Wilson." Ra's then pointed to a nearby curtain covering some large object, and two henchmen removed the curtain. Underneath it was a cage, and inside was a man dressed like Deathstroke, but his suit was tattered and maimed. One of the henchmen entered the cage and removed his mask."

"Grant..." Wilson whispered.

"Yes, Grant Wilson. Your son. Now, Mr. Wilson, if you could..." Ra's was interrupted when Slade removed one of his blades from its sheath and put it to Ra's throat.

"Let me just stop you there." Then, before Ra's could blink, Slade shot both henchmen. But he did not put down his pistol. He held it in his hand, quivering, and then shot his son.

"Honestly, Ra's, I expected better from you. I knew how this was going to work. You would hold someone I love, apparently my son, captive, and then use them as bait to make me your personal slave. There was just one question you didn't ask yourself. Did you really think that a man who kills for a living would give a damn about anyone other than himself?"

And with that, Slade walked towards the exit; but not without stopping in front of the captive David Cain. Cain looked up at Slade's mask, and spat on it. Slade quickly responded by whipping Cain in the face with the back of his hand.

"You see Cain, that is why you are weak. You only care about your emotions. There are times to be selfish, in fact that is true most of the time. But you will never understand that, will you?" Cain did not respond, and Slade disappeared into the shadows. Ra's seemed completely unaffected by what had happened; which explains why he didn't draw his sword when Slade threatened him.

"Now you see. Now all of you see!" All of us looked at Ra's who was beginning to approach us. "Now you see why I did what I did. Because of people like him! People who do not care about others, about the greater good, or about our planet! No, they only care about themselves, now you see! And it has directly affected each and every one of you in some way! Penguin, you were such a misunderstood man. People tormented you for your odd looks and strange personality. But inside lies a smart and shrewd man. And you, Sionis, you were intelligent and a good child, and yet your parents and those around found it necessary to torment you? Joker, Harley! Two lovers who are shunned for their ways. Just trying to make others laugh. But why do you torment people for fun? Because that is exactly the same thing every other godforsaken human on this planet does! They twist and twist your soul with cruelty and lies until you become as sick and strange as they are! And you, Cain..."

Cain was now on his knees, gently sobbing to the floor. Ra's walked to him and lifted his head.

"Cain. I am sorry about what happened. I am sorry about Cassandra. But you must realize her death will help usher in a perfect world. As far as I can see, Cassandra is nothing short of a hero; a hero who's sacrifice shall be remembered throughout time. Just remember that Cain. Your daughter is now a hero."

"No' Ra's. It is not like that. She was a sacrifice to your twisted cult that will be the undoing of our race." Ra's put his hand on his sword. "Oh, so now we have lost our freedom of speech? Our freedom of expression? Well go ahead, do it. I've lost my job, my family, and all of my hope. Slade's right. I may not have too much emotion. But that it was makes me human. It is what keeps me from being a monster like him. So go ahead. Do it."

"Cain, I..."

"Do it!!!" Cain lunged from the ground and attacked Ra's, taking advantage of their being so close. Out of self defense, Ra's stabbed and killed Cain.

"You see? Cain cared only about his feelings. He had a complete disregard for everything else. He would not have fit into this world. As for you five, you are free to go. You have shown that you are no threat to me and therefore do not need to be dealt with. However, should you prove yourselves to be a true problem then you will pay the consequences."

As Ra's finished talking and released us from our chains I was left thinking about all I once thought was true. Our government other than a way to control people from being who they are? What is insanity other than people who are so different that they are put away so no one acts as they do? What are good and evil other than a matter of opinion? What is evil?