Chapter 28: The Knight

Bruce watched as the paratroopers fought one another. All fifty of them had been given the pill and so far it seemed as if his predictions had been right. Those who were certain of what they were doing were benefitting completely from the effects of the pill, whilst those who hesitated or showed signs of concern were struggling. Soon enough the strong would be detected and the weak would be removed. They would need that if they were to enforce the will of the League on the people. Bruce was not naïve he knew that they couldn't remove all the prejudices of humanity through being kind. They would need to scare people, give them something to fear and then give them the League as the gap between chaos and order. He didn't like what they would have to do to get there, but he knew if he was around then Diana's more brutish methods wouldn't work.

"How long were you working on that pill?" A voice to his right asked. Bruce turned and saw Barry standing there, his mask off.

"For around three weeks. After what happened at Arkham I thought that we would need to get something like this done." Bruce responded.

"I've been wondering about that." Barry said. "If we'd both been there, then Oliver wouldn't have been knocked on his arse and the Shining Knight wouldn't be a prisoner."

"Indeed." Bruce said. He'd had a similar thought, but he knew that thinking on the past did no good, not now anyway. "What can I do for you, Barry?" He asked instead.

Barry looked surprised at that, it always amused him when the fastest man in the world couldn't answer quick enough. Eventually though Barry spoke. "Are you sure we're doing the right thing? With these super soldiers, and with everything else."

"You have doubts." Bruce said, it was not a question. "That is understandable. But tell me something Barry, when Iris was gone, when she was missing how did you feel?" Bruce felt bad about playing this card, but it needed to be used.

"I felt angry and terrified. I was terrified I was going to lose her." Barry replied softly.

"And what would you do to stop that from happening again?" Bruce asked.

"Anything. I never want Iris to go through that again, I do not want anyone to have to go through that ever again." Barry said.

"Then do you see why this is necessary. Why using Antiochus and Yu Huang is necessary? The people need order and stability, their governments aren't giving it to them, so we will. You've seen the protests demanding more action from us. We cannot be everywhere at once, well, actually maybe you can, but we know what impact making time remnants has on you, therefore we need super soldiers to help create the sense that the people are safe. That the League cares. These men you see before you are here voluntarily, they wanted to come here. They are not like Lord's creations, doing this against their will." Bruce said.

"But how do we keep it like that?" Barry asked. "How do we stop ourselves from becoming like the others? Power hungry and repressive?"

"We remind ourselves what we have to protect and what we have to lose." Bruce said, thinking of Selena and Damian, Dick and Tim and Barbara. "We remember what it is we are fighting for."

Barry seemed reassured by that, though when he replied there was still a hint of doubt in his mind. "And what about Clark? When he fought before, it was always for the people but especially Lois, now Lois is gone, what's going to remind him that he's just as human as us?"

Bruce appreciated the question, he'd spent a long time thinking about an answer to that as well, and that was why when he replied he did so calmly. "Us. We will remind him what he is fighting for."

Barry nodded. "I need go check on Iris." With that the Flash was gone. Bruce remained where he was for a few moments, he saw Lieutenant Colonel Fordman put down a woman and then he turned around and walked back into the Hall proper. He made his way to his room within the Hall, locked the door and switched on the screen. On cue, he got a Skype call. He lifted his cowl and smiled at the face on screen. "Selena."

"Hey handsome." Selena replied with a smile.

"How are things?" He asked.

"Good. Damian's finally doing all that homework you gave him, and Dick's been keeping the place tidy. Alfred's doing well as well. How are you?" Selena asked.

Bruce grunted. "Well enough. Things are going as well as I had thought they would." He wanted to tell her about the pill, but decided against it. Even with Selena there was a limit with how much he wanted to tell her.

"Are there any doubts?" Selena asked, and Bruce knew she wasn't asking about anyone else but him.

"I…" Bruce began, even after all this time he still found it hard to talk about his concerns and feelings. "I feel like I know why we're doing what we're doing and why it's the right thing to do. But there's something in the back of my head that keeps expressing doubt."

"Good." Selena said.

"Good?" Bruce asked surprised.

"Yes, it means that you've not gone completely into Batman mode and Bruce Wayne is still around. I know that you're doing what you think is best for the world, but you also need to remember that people are fickle things. One moment they'll be cheering you, the next they'll be against you. You have to give them reason to understand that you're not infallible." Selena said.

Bruce mused on that and found he agreed with her. "So, what do you suggest?"

"Keep doing what you're doing, Bruce, you're good it. You'll keep that big old man of steel human and you'll keep the amazon away from power. I trust you. And when you're doing playing world leader you can come home." Selena said, a glint in her eyes.

Bruce grinned. "I look forward to that."

"Now, I hate to dash, but I do have to go. I promised Barbara we'd go for a walk." Selena said.

Bruce smiled. "Go for it."

"Speak soon." Selena said blowing him a kiss.

Bruce caught it and said. "See you soon." The call ended and he sighed. He missed her, he really did.