Nightwing and Robin are sparring in the Batcave, with Nightwing having bested Robin.

"What did you do wrong?" Nightwing asked.

"Legs," Robin answered.

"Yes. Legs. You keep aiming for that killer blow, you're trying to hurt me - which I'm trying not to take personally, by the way - but it's not all about the body and head. Your opponent has sticky-outy bits that are easier to reach." Nightwing briefly turns his back on Damian. "Not only does your opponent have sticky-outy bits, they also may have had some bad circumstances that led them to a point where you're fighting them. Some criminals deserve a second chance. Second chances are harder with a severe brain injury. Get ready. We'll go again."

The younger man throws one of his kali sticks at Nightwing's head - only for Superman to suddenly appear and catch it. "That's not very sporting, Damian," he said.

"How-?" said Robin shocked.

"It's okay, Superman," Nightwing said unfazed. "I knew it was coming. He tries it all the time."

"You can't just...appear! Seriously. A bit of warning."

"Is he in?" asked Superman.

"Yeah, he's on the computer," Nightwing asked.

"He's even broodier than usual," Damian warned.

"Well, your father is the master of brooding. But he still needs to practice."

Superman starts to head down further into the cave.

"Hey, Superman. I wanted to say thanks," Damian called. "Now that the Joker's gone, everything just feels safer, you know?"

"Dick, could you take Damian and give us some privacy?" Superman asked.

"Sure...are you okay?" Nightwing said confused.

"I'll manage."

XXX

Superman confronts Batman at the Batcomputer.

"Damian isn't used to people just appearing in front of him," Batman started.

"Where were you?" Superman asked demanding. "My parents were taken. Where were you?"

"I was doing what needed to be done."

"My parents. You of all people..."

"You have to stop what you're doing."

"I have to stop what?" Superman asked shocked. "Stop saving lives? Stop bringing dictators to justice?"

"You're scaring them," Batman inquired.

"GOOD!" Superman lashed out. He rips off the Dark Knight's cowl. "They should be scared. They should be too scared to press the button. They should be too scared to pull the trigger. They should be too scared to hurt each other. You taught me that."

"Clark. I-"

"You'd do exactly what I'm doing if you were me - if you could do what I can."

"You killed a man, Clark."

"I did! And every time you let that madman live, how many more did you condemn? Did you even feel responsible? Did you even feel guilty?"

"Every time," Batman admitted. "But we don't get to choose who dies."

"One death. To save millions. One. Death."

"It always starts with one."

xxx

That's how justification works.

But once you justify something once-

-you can do it again and again.

It becomes easier.

Right and wrong blur

The scene shifts to a whaling operation off the coast of Japan, where an enraged Aquaman is consoling an injured whale.

"Fear. Pain."

"You..." he growled infuriated.

He tips the ship over to save the whales.

"MAYDAY! MAYDAY!" said a crewmen sending a distress call.

XXX

"...fleet under attack...Japanese fishers...ship sinking..."

Cyborg intercepts it. "Watchtower to all flyers," he called. "We're getting a whole lot of chatter online. A Japanese fleet is coming under attack in the Southern Ocean. I'm transmitting the coordinates. There are people in the water. Ships are going down. We need a rescue team."

XXX

"I'm on my way," said Green Lantern.

"SHAZAM!" shouted Billy Batson.

"What part of 'World-Wide Ceasefire' are these countries having trouble understanding?" Wonder Woman asked.

"Um...from the sound of it-"

XXX

-it's not a country.

Aquaman rises from the seas with an Atlantean fleet. "TAKE THEM DOWN!" he commanded.

He dents the hull with a single punch and threatens a crewmen who fell overboard.

"Please. I have a family," the crewmen begged for life.

"Are you asking for compassion?" Aquaman shouted. "That whale you just killed had a family too. Its children were already slaughtered, lying on the deck of your mothership. Are you asking me for mercy?"

"Your majesty!" Wonder Woman appeased. "I'm going to have to ask you to stop this attack."

"You don't get to ask that of me, Diana."

"We have called for-"

"I know what you and Superman have called for! But the oceans do not answer your calls. I am the king of the sea and I will protect it."

"I don't want to fight you," Wonder Woman said calmly.

"Then don't. Leave here. Don't look for trouble in the deep. Confine your arrogant crusade to land."

"You are a good king, Arthur. Let us pull these sailors out of the water and then we will end this situation with words. There is no reason for us to- NAARGH!"

As she began to approach him, she was shot in the face by one of the soldiers.

"WHO DID THAT?" Aquaman shouted angrily.

"Your majesty, she was reaching for you," said the soldier. "I thought-"

"No. You didn't. If you had thought, you would have realized it's a bad idea to piss of an Amazon!" He goes to check on Diana. "Diana, are you-?"

"SHUT UP!" she shouted infuriated. She backhands Aquaman aside. "I am so sick of words."

She and the rest of the League advance on Arthur's forces.

Next time: World War Sea!