Chapter 42: Strategy 1: Moral Crusade
Strategy 1: Transform your war into a crusade. Create an atmosphere of fighting for something nobleāa cause or a need. Respect your troops.
Gotham City, Wayne Industries
"Are you coming?"
Talia looked up from her desk computer. The ever-smiling, too plump and cheery Sasha stood on the other side of her desk, with, of course, a smile on her chubby cheeseburger face and a diet soda in her hand.
Talia plastered on a fake smile. The one she used when she had to speak to one of the annoying Wayne Industries' employees, especially ones like Sasha who was a bubbly, I-eat-salads-and-drink-diet-sodas-at-work-but-gorg e-my-body-with-fried chicken-and-fries at home. The blonde was one of Diana's accountants. To Talia's eternal frustration, Sasha had decided it was her personal responsibility to befriend the new staffer. And, months later, the woman still hadn't gotten a clue that no one would willingly befriend a low self-esteem, math geek with "glandular issues."
"What are you talking about, Sasha?"
She smiled down at Talia, which, admittedly, was the only pretty thing about the woman. "Haven't you heard?"
Clearly Talia had not. Why did people insist on asking stupid questions when the answer was painfully obvious? "No, so why don't you just tell me?"
"I swear, once you get on that computer, it's like you don't have time for anything else. I've never seen a more focused, more dedicated Executive Assistant. Diana is lucky to have you."
Now that garnered Sasha Donovan a genuine smile from Talia. Luthor had initially doubted her ability to spy on Diana Wayne without getting caught. His lack of faith had chafed. But she'd proven him wrong, had used her months at Wayne Industries to gather important organization secrets, with Diana none the wiser.
Talia nearly laughed at how easy her duplicity had actually been. Diana wasn't nearly as bright and perceptive as people, like Sasha, thought she was. And Bruce had the gall to leave me for her. What a fool. He got exactly what he deserved.
And the Wayne computer had become Talia's best friend. Early on in her employ, she'd managed to learn Diana's private username and password. As owner and CEO, Diana had access to all Wayne Industries' records, meaning, in turn, so did Talia. She had to always be careful, though, logging on during times when Diana was out of the office and she had unfettered access to her desktop computer. Someone like Victor Stone could easily, if so inclined, track the virtual footprints back to Talia. Yet he, or someone else, would have to first suspect her, which no one did. Blind, too trusting idiots.
"Anyway," Sasha took an indelicate gulp of her canned soda, "Dr. Wayne has called a press conference." She glanced at the clock on the wall behind Talia. "It should begin any minute now. She sent an email to everyone inviting us to watch live or from our desks."
Talia hadn't received an email, or at least she didn't think she had. And why in the world would Diana call a press conference? Hell, the woman hadn't been in the office for two weeks. Talia knew she would be in today, however, since she held her board meetings like clockwork. And Talia had learned so much these past two weeks while Diana was out, tending, from what she heard through the grapevine, to Clark Kent.
That was a sore spot for Talia. Kent should've been dead not living in the lap of luxury with Diana at the Wayne Manor. Sorry, incompetent fool. How hard can it be to kill a hick writer? Apparently, quite difficult since Clark Kent was still breathing and Solomon Grundy was in jail.
"Where is the press conference being held?"
Finishing off her drink, Sasha tossed the can into the wastebasket beside Talia's desk. "Down stairs. In front of the building. We're all going."
For the first time in half an hour, Talia noticed she hadn't heard the normal clacking of heels going to and from the bank of elevators, or the mumbling chatter of employees lowering their voices when they passed their boss's outer office. Besides Sasha and Talia, she didn't think anyone else was on the executive floor.
"So, umm, are you coming, Talia?"
Talia stood. She was most definitely going. If Diana was giving an impromptu press conference, she didn't want to miss whatever Diana thought was so important to pull her people from their work. Besides, Luthor would already be upset that Talia hadn't known about the event and given him notice.
Three minutes later, Talia was standing in front of Wayne Industries behind a mob of employees, everyone vying for a spot that would grant them a visual of the diva herself, Diana Wayne.
Moving people aside with elbows and hands, Talia pushed her way forward until she'd eked out a space to the far right where she had a nearly unobstructed view of a horde of lights, flashing bulbs, cameras, reporters, and the everyday Gotham citizen who'd stopped to gawk at all the activity in front of the thirty-story Wayne Building. And in front of at least twenty microphones was the queen bitch herself.
Diana wore a classic, black sheath dress, sleeveless with a thin black belt. Black hair straight and down her back, high heels, and silver dangling earrings gave Diana the image of being both serious and chic. The business skirt and blouse she'd seen Diana wearing when she'd blown into her office in search of a file, this morning, thirty minutes late for her board meeting, were gone. Which, Talia thought with annoyed envy, was a good idea since Diana had appeared as nothing short of a woman who'd just been well fucked. Still, Talia didn't like this, not one tiny bit. Suddenly, she was on edge. A feeling Talia al Ghul detested.
Pulling out her cell phone, Talia sent a single text. DW is giving a press conference. Check any local news station.
When Talia lifted her head from the phone, she'd noticed everyone had stilled and gone silent. There had to be a good two hundred people in front of the building yet Talia could hear nothing but the random car whizzing by. Even the gregarious Sasha, who, to Talia's surprise, was now standing beside her, was quiet - gray eyes sharp and focused on the woman who'd just begun to speak.
Diana's voice, cool and confident, wafted over the sea of onlookers, a hypnotic cadence that seemed to have all in its grip. All except Talia, who never understood people's fascination and attraction to Diana Wayne. Yet there was something about how she effortlessly captured the crowd's attention. Something undeniable and powerful, a feat that even the pompous Lex Luthor couldn't quite manage as he desperately sought to maneuver his way in the governorship.
But Diana had that something. And it was that indescribable part of her that most worried Talia. Humanitarians were like that, galvanizing the masses when others, not even leaders of governments, could get them to move as a collective, committed force without the normal inducements of god, glory, or gold.
And that was Diana Wayne. Talia knew, as she watched the woman, waiting to hear about whatever bleeding heart issue she was about to embroil her company in.
"The fight for justice against corruption is never easy," Diana began. "It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self, our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe the price we pay is well worth holding onto our dignity."
The crowd erupted into cheers and applause.
Talia snorted. Diana hadn't even gotten to the heart of her message and the ass kissing fools were already cheering her on, adding to her massive ego.
"The Justice League is a people's league, a people's movement for justice. It belongs to you, the ignored, the oppressed, the proud, the brave. Know that you hold the power to introduce peace into moments of violent decadence. At this very moment we are in a fight for our lives, our very existence and the just society we want and deserve. There are enemies out there who have and will continue to violate the peace and sanctity of all we hold dear unless we show them we are not afraid."
The crowd fairly vibrated around Talia, electrical pulses of suppressed energy. She looked to her left, spied Sasha. Enraptured. Sasha was enraptured, her eyes glowing with a heat Talia knew to be hope.
And she was surrounded by Wayne employees who now looked exactly as Sasha did. It made Talia uncomfortable, the vibe dangerous because it was focused, localized. This wasn't the speech she'd expected from Diana. The undercurrent was not at all conducive to a simple humanitarian effort on the part of a woman who had more money than god.
"Are we afraid?" Diana asked, her voice thrumming with passion.
The crowd responded with a resounding, "No!"
"Will we be cowed?"
"No!"
"Will we stand up?"
"Yes."
"Will we be moved?"
"No!"
"No, we will not be moved. No longer. We will no longer tolerate the predators among us. They have fed on our carcasses long enough."
Diana lifted an object from where it was on the podium. Talia watched as Diana raised her arm, showing what appeared to be an eight and a half by eleven sheet of paper.
Talia swore. From this angle, she couldn't see what Diana held in front of her.
"This man is wanted by the FBI for crimes against humanity. For crimes against the people, people like you, people like me. He's also wanted by other governments, chaos and corruption, a deadly combination that must be routed from our midst." Diana reached down then showed another piece of paper to the crowd.
Dammit, what in the hell was going on up there? Talia needed to see, needed to know. Ignoring the huffs and complaints, she pushed her way through the crowd, circling and bullying until she found the western steps to the building and descended. Diana was still talking, still displaying the papers to the crowd.
Finally, Talia reached the bottom of the steps. She could now look up at Diana instead of viewing her from the back. A few tall men still blocked most of Diana but at least Talia was in position to see the Jumbotron. An outrageously expensive large-screen television perched several feet below the name of the building.
Skirting to her left, just a bit, Talia raised one hand over her eyes, shielding them from the glare of the sun. Leaning forward and squinting, Talia finally saw what Diana held in her hands.
She gasped, colored, and then hastily glanced around. No one was looking at her. No, everyone's eyes were glued to the images before them. Images of Ra's al Ghul and the League of Assassins.
"Ra's al Ghul is a blight on society. The lowest kind of criminal and mastermind," Diana said, holding his picture aloft for the whole world to see.
Cameras snapped, from professional photographers and cell phone users alike.
Talia's phone vibrated. Yanking it from her pocket, she read the message. What in the hell is this? We need to talk.
Yeah, they did, but Talia would be damned if she went to Luthor while he was in a snit. The man was liable to do anything. And while she hated to admit it, Talia was a little afraid of him. But it was her father, not her lover who was being skewered alive by Diana Wayne.
"He and his League of Assassins are responsible for countless deaths around the world, which is why they are on the FBI's Most Wanted list. But the FBI isn't everywhere. They aren't where you are. They don't know what you know, see what you see, hear what you hear. Somewhere, out there, where these men and women are hiding, is a Justice Leaguer who has seen them. You have seen them, you just didn't know it."
Diana made sure the picture of Talia's friends, even her sister, was facing the eyes of the cameras. It made Talia sick. Her image could've been there with the others, a target on her back. Which, Talia thought with renewed venom for Bruce's widow, was exactly what Diana had just put on her father's and the League's backs.
"They live among you, hiding in plain sight. If you have seen them, if you know them, please, I beg of you, do not confront them. At exactly midnight Eastern Standard Time, the Justice League of America and the Justice League International websites will go live. The pictures of these killers will be posted. Look at them, carefully, print and post, if you must."
Diana lowered her hands, placing the pictures back on the podium. Then she lifted her eyes, beseeching yet commanding.
"The hope of a secure and livable world lies with disciplined nonconformists who are dedicated to justice, peace, and unity. So I ask of you, my friends, my brothers and sisters in peace and justice, don't let the vile few corrupt, control, and harm the many. Let us know where they live, where they work, where they play. Use the websites. All tips are anonymous. If we work together, we will rid your neighborhoods of the parasites who feed off of your fears and innocence."
The vibrations from the crowd crackled now, the tension and energy a tsunami of emotions ready to be unleashed and set free. They were all with Diana, maggots with too much idealism and not enough sense of self-preservation.
Talia had to get out of there. Diana had created a mob mentality that was being televised country and worldwide. Not that she had asked them to do anything physical. She hadn't. But she had energized the masses into a single-minded moral crusade, which, in some respects, was worse.
Talia turned . . . and ran smack into Donna Prince. Donna made one too many Prince women, in her opinion. Talia hated the monthly board meetings. During those few days, she had to smile and play the meek Executive Assistant even more because Donna and Hippolyta Prince always seemed to take special note of her. Their eyes were far more scrutinizing and discerning than Diana's. It had been clear to Talia, from day one, that Donna did not like her.
That was fine, because the feeling was most assuredly mutual.
"Where are you going, Talia? Aren't you going to listen to my sister finish her speech? It's quite good so far, don't you think?"
No, she did not think it was good. And she had no interest in listening to Diana set the populace against her father and sister as if they were witches to be hunted, strung up, and burned at the stake.
Donna looped her arm in Talia's and turned her back around. She gritted her teeth, forced to listen to the closing of Diana's wretched speech.
"Let us unite in this most noble of endeavors. Let us embark on this moral crusade together, because unity is a tremendous strength that grows through sharing together, praying together, suffering together, and working together."
Diana gestured to a pendant that hung from her neck. One of the cameras zoomed in on the jewelry. Curiosity got the better of Talia and she lifted her eyes once more to the Jumbotron. There, hanging from a gold necklace were two letters: JL. Justice League. Damn her to hell.
Then red, black, yellow, and green balloons, which Talia hadn't noticed before, were released. They blanketed the sky, everyone's gazes going to them. The eyes of the cameras included.
The awestruck crowd gasped when the first balloon popped, then another, and another still, until all the balloons were bursting. And from the explosion of balloons came a shower of JL pendants, raining down on the people below.
The crowd raised hands and caught the pendants. There had to be hundreds of them. Everywhere. They're everywhere.
One fell on Talia's shoulder, her hair, beside her feet. Donna plucked the one from her hair, gave Talia a smile she didn't know whether to believe, and then attached the pendant to Talia's shirt.
Talia fought the frown and the overwhelming urge to smack the hell out of Donna Prince.
"Now you're an official member of the Justice League." Donna raised her arm, a charm bracelet hung from it. The letters JL dangled between a star and a crescent moon. "So am I. I guess that makes us sisters, of sorts."
The hell if it did.
Talia bit her tongue sure she drew blood.
Donna looped her arm in Talia's again then said confidentially, "Between you and me, my sister takes this Justice League business way too seriously."
They began walking, passing Wayne employees scrambling for the suddenly covetous gold JL pendants. Their admiration and blind faith in Diana Wayne was nearly as revolting as the woman herself, yet not as horrible as the conversation she'd expected to have with her father. And she knew he would be calling her, very, very soon.
"But you know Diana; once she sinks her teeth into something she's more Pit Bull than businesswoman." Donna shrugged, clearly not understanding the gravity of her words. "Ra's al Ghul is a piece of work, though. You know, a real scum of the earth. And did you catch the crazy ass whiskers on the guy and his clothing?" Donna laughed. "I mean, who in the hell wears a cape with a suit?" More laughter.
Talia yanked her arm from Donna's, done with the entire conversation. She wouldn't stand by and let some spoiled, airhead brat disrespect her father. Ra's damn sure would never make Father of the Year but family was family, and the Prince wench was way out of line.
"Anyway," Donna said, oblivious to Talia's growing anger, "I'm sure he'll be caught in no time. If he's not careful, one of those vigilante type guys will save some government a lot of money and simply kill the cretin. No trial. No fuss. No muss."
Donna brushed her hands together, as if she were dislodging dirt from her palms, a satisfied gleam in her eyes.
The crowd was now dispersing, most returning to Wayne Industries, others continuing on to wherever they had been going when they'd decided to stop, jumping on Diana Wayne's fuckin' Justice League bandwagon.
Talia said nothing. There were simply no words to express her outrage, her barely bottled rage. But she had to hold it together. If she lost it now, she would be of no use to her father when he most needed her. "Keep your friends close and your enemies closer," he'd told her from childhood. And that's what she had to continue to do. No matter how much it would cost her.
Donna gazed down at Talia, and then said with all the haughtiness of a queen ordering about a peasant girl, "Why are you still out here, Talia? Shouldn't you be back at that little desk of yours, seeing to the needs of your boss? After that speech, I'm sure Diana's parched and would like a drink of water. You do take care of water and coffee runs, don't you, Talia?"
Gritting her teeth, Talia woodenly nodded.
"Good, then when you get upstairs be sure to use one of Diana's crystal glasses for the water. Oh, and make sure you give her the Fiji spring water. That's her favorite. She can't stand tap or Aquafina."
Fists balled, Talia stomped away from the, yes, Prima Donna. And if she weren't mistaken, Talia could've sworn she heard the bitch chuckle.
TO BE CONTINUED
