Matthew Gemm: Thanks

Killian Rainey: Indeed

Chapter 49: Gathering Allies, Making Moves

(The White House, the next day)

Superman & his squad are talking about Nightwing and his team's message in a private room.

"I am worried about what this message will cause…mass panic…vigilantism…chaos all together." Superman stated.

"True…if such things occur, law enforcement shall have difficulty trying to calm it…that's if vigilantes don't mess things up." Captain Atom said.

The Flash rubbed his chin, thinking.

"What is it Barry?" Superman asked.

"Perhaps we take a page from their play book." The Scarlet Speedster replied.

"We do you mean?" Plastic Man asked.

The Flash grinned, chuckling.

(Red Hood's hideout, about an hour later)

The group are doing various things: Garfield, Jaime, Virgil, and Bart are playing video games, Barbara & Dick are sparring, Jason is polishing his weapons, and Gabriel & Wolf are checking the news from Jason's spy equipment.

'Hopefully they got the message. We're gonna need all the help we can get.' Gabriel sighed in his mind.

Wolf could see the shifter's doubt and whined slightly.

"I'm worried Wolf…I don't know if I should forward to the battle to come…there are so many things that are in the mix of this…I'm getting a migraine from just thinking all about it." The shapeshifter replied.

Suddenly the spyware caught wind of something. Gabriel & Wolf listened for a few minutes, and their eyes widened in shock.

"Guys! Everyone get to the TV! The White House and their boy scouts are responding to our call to arms!" The shifter called out.

"But we were…" Jaime started to say.

"It's important." Gabriel interjected.

'Jaime, I believe he has a point. This is important.' The scarab telepathically stated.

The rest of the group gathered around the television. On screen appeared the president, and his little Boy Scout team.

"In response to the message of hate by those vigilante criminals, we are asking those of the former League and their special ops team to side with us to capture and imprison these fugitives." The president stated.

Gabriel growled as his eyes glew brighter and more of his teeth slowly changed into fangs.

"Easy…" Virgil said as he put a hand on the shifter's shoulder.

Gabriel turned his growing furious gaze to Virgil, who stepped back in shock until the shifter's stare softened.

"For those who join us will be able to continue all former activities along with Superman and his team. For those who don't, but don't join the criminal vigilantes shall receive no punishments yet shall not be permitted to return to their 'hero' activities. But for those who are foolish enough to side with these criminals, shall receive the same punishment as them." The president continued.

Gabriel's sharp nails transformed into claws.

"This is a final warning and offer: Join the true heroes…or stay out of this." The president said.

The broadcast then ended.

"We've got work to do." Dick and Jason grunted in unison.

The others nodded.

(Star City)

Oliver Queen and Dinah Lance are in Queen's penthouse talking about the broadcasts in the last two days.

"We can't just stand here and do nothing Ollie." Dinah argued.

"I'd rather do nothing than face the Boy Scouts and the government. Besides, I'm hesitant about siding with Gabriel & the others." Ollie replied.

"I understand what you're saying, but what the Light and the government is wrong. We can't stand for this." Dinah replied.

"Well it is truly your all's choice." A familiar voice said.

The two gasped and turned to see Dark Beast walking out of the shadows of the penthouse.

"Gabriel…how the hell did you get in here?" Oliver asked.

"A fly doesn't really have many problems with security." The shapeshifter replied.

"Indeed…so…you're here to recruit us?" Dinah asked.

"I can't force you to do anything you don't want to do…but I've been listening to your conversation…you have doubts about your current status in this conflict. I can't choose this for you…but you must choose…if we are unable to stop them…the universe shall be the Light's empire." Gabriel answered.

"You have a weird way of asking us for help." Oliver said.

"I just don't want you to do anything that you don't want to…but we do need you. Anyone who joins us is welcome…I just hope we can stop them…for since Superman and his group, and the government most likely as well will stand with the Light…I just hope you wish to help us." Gabriel said.

He walks over to them, and hands them a folded piece of paper.

"There are the coordinates you to meet us…we plan to attack the Light's main base…this is outside of it. It's your choice." Gabriel said.

He then walked back into the shadows, and slowly Dinah & Oliver watched the pair of glowing green eyes disappear.

"Man that's creepy. Even more than Batman's antics." Oliver said, literally shivering.

"Yeah, he's a dark character…even more than Batman, I'll agree with you there. But he knows the group isn't invincible. With an army, and who knows sides with the government…and the Light…" Dinah replied.

The two looked at each other, doubt in their eyes.

(Atlantis)

Aquaman, Aqualad, and Lagoon Boy are patrolling the outside of the city.

"The surface world is in true chaos my king. I have not participated in the what occurs, but I've gone up to see what is going on." Aqualad stated.

"I know how you feel Kaldur. But we cannot interfere, for if we do. Atlantis shall be in conflict with the American government." Aquaman replied.

"My king, both the government and Nightwing's group have called for help to defeat the other." Lagoon Boy stated.

"What?" Aquaman gasped.

"They're correct." A familiar voice stated.

The three turned to see Superman before them.

"What do you want, Superman?" Aquaman asked.

"I'm need your help to defeat the Nightwing's group. No doubt that there will be some among the former League and the team to join them." The Kryptonian answered.

"Why?" Lagoon Boy growled.

"Because, the president of the United States has told me to inform you that the American government will find if Atlantis doesn't help defeat the vigilantes…they shall find it suspicious to not allying with the country that has stuck its neck out for it in the many situations that have found the city of Atlantis and its people to be called into question by the United Nations. If you do help us, it will be make your alliance with not only the United States…but the United Nations ironclad." Superman responded.

"I see…" Aquaman sighed.

"My king?..." Aqualad and Lagoon Boy gasped.

"What's it going to be Aquaman?" Superman asked.

(Chicago)

A tall black man and a younger black girl are having dinner in the man's apartment.

"I guess you've seen the news Uncle John?" The girl asked.

"Yes…I'm not sure of what to do…I don't feel good about the situation." The man replied.

"No kidding. How do you feel about us?" A voice said, chuckling partially.

"Funny Gar. You always were positive in such situations." The girl sighed, as she turned around.

Beast Boy sat on the couch in the apartment. The man and girl changed into Martian Manhunter and Miss Martian.

'You're here about the team's call to arms? Gar…I don't know what to tell you…' Megan sighed telepathically.

'I agree with my niece. This situation is very complicated Garfield. I cannot assure you of what we can do.' Manhunter added telepathically.

'Guys! We need you! You guys have always been there for me! You're some of the only family we have left! I know I'm asking a lot, and I don't want to put you through this…but we can't let the Light win! They're more powerful than ever! Now they have that army they desired!' BB argued.

'No…with that…' Megan gasped.

'They shall have their fighting force to take control of the planet, and the cosmos itself as well.' Manhunter added.

(Palto Alto)

Artemis is reading one of her textbooks as she works on some homework for one of her classes. Then she suddenly pulls out her crossbow and aims it behind her.

"What do you want?" She growled.

"Easy...it's just me." Nightwing said.

"Oh…sorry…" She said as she put away the crossbow.

"We need your help." Nightwing said.

"I figured…I've been paying attention to the news these last few months…" She replied.

"Yeah…the Light and their allies have been wreaking havoc. Sportsmaster is among them, and thriving." Nightwing replied.

"He is huh?" She grunted.

Nightwing nodded. Then Artemis put on her Tigress mask.

"It was that easy? Hehe." Nightwing chuckled.

"Oh yeah…I still owe dear old dad a lot of grief…plus…I've been itching to break something for months…you know…besides my punching bag." She said, then motioned her hand to a punching bag that had been beaten all to hell and is lying on the floor.

"Glad to have you on the team." Nightwing chuckled.

(Coast City)

A caucasian man is flirting with an attractive redhead woman at a hot dog stand.

"Fuck off." The redhead woman snarled as she walked off.

The man grunted in disappointment, then walked into an alley to eat the hotdog he ordered. As he ate, he heard something to his side.

"I saw that Hal, no luck?" Captain Atom chuckled.

"Funny…I still operate for the Guardians…but not here…don't worry." Hal replied, then continued to eat his hot dog.

"Perhaps you could still operate here. It would be beneficial to have you by our side. Relations with the Guardians would be good for the Earth…well even better if we had another voice to add to the bond." Captain Atom stated.

"Hmm?" Hal grunted.

Nathaniel chuckled and grinned.

(The White House)

Superman & his squad met in their own conference room.

"So…have you gathered everyone?" Superman asked.

"Not everyone…some had sided with them. They left notes…they had left." The Flash replied.

The others nodded in agreement.

"*Sighs* I wish we could've avoided this…but we do have some by our side…right?" The Kryptonian replied.

The others nodded.

"Then we know the rest of the plan…I can't believe we're doing this…But we must do this…for true justice…we need to show this world who the true heroes are…perhaps then…things can change…for the better." Superman stated.

(Washington D.C., outside an E.I. factory)

The factory is huge, a building easily bigger than any factory that any other company had. Outside at either end are two groups. They quickly entered the factory, which is completely empty except for the catwalks above. One side stood Nightwing's group and the other is Superman's group. The windows along the sides of the building give the full moon's lunar gaze entrance into the building which expands to the floor level.

"…This is your final warning: surrender!" Superman ordered.

"No." Dark Beast growled in response.

To be continued…