The founding members sat around a circular table in the conference room. "Lobo has been successfully taken care of," Superman said.
"That guy is so weird," Flash said. "How is he so good at what he does?"
"Did you see his face when he saw those dolphins?" Green Lantern shuddered. "Lobo smiling."
"The image will never leave my head," Flash said.
"Back to the business at hand," Batman said, steering the meeting in the right direction.
"Right," Superman agreed. "We have the Thanagarians, the Gordanians, and the Thenagarian currently occupying one of our guest quarters." Putting it mildly, Shri was on house arrest. She wasn't allowed to leave her room unless absolutely necessary, and she always had to be accompanied by a leaguer.
"Who should we focus on next?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Shri is not a threat at the moment," the Martian Manhunter said. "I still believe she can be swayed to our side. I am still working on her."
"You're working on her?" Flash waggled his eyebrows at the Martian who stared blankly at the speedster in return.
"I agree with J'ohnn," the Green Lantern stated, ignoring Flash. "The Thanagarians and Gordanians are who we need to concern ourselves with."
"Also, there's someone else I would like to bring in," Batman said, "he's not a threat. And he could be of some help."
"Is he a friend?" Superman asked.
"He's an ally. His name Carter Hall."
"The hawkman?" the Martian Manhunter asked. "Yes, I think he will be of much help."
"Okay," Superman said in agreement. "Anything else to discuss?"
"I have something I would like to discuss," Flash said standing to his feet. Everyone remained silent, all eyes on him. "I would like to discuss the reinstatement of Shayera as a league member." Everyone froze. Shayera, who'd been silent the entire time, stood up to speak. "No, no, no," Shayera said. "We don't need to do that."
"No, Shayera," Flash said. "Let me. This is getting ridiculous. The way the younger members talk about her – "
"Flash," Shayera said, thoroughly embarrassed.
"She's an outcast because she betrayed us," Wonder Woman leaned forward.
"But did she?" Flash said, "think about it…what would we have done in her position?"
"It does not matter," Wonder Woman stood up menacingly, "we weren't in her position."
"Hey!" Shayera yelled, getting everyone's attention. All eyes turned to her. "I did not want this. I did not put him up to this at all. I didn't want any of this. I didn't want anyone to get involved." She thrust her fingers in her hair and began pacing. "I was perfectly fine alone, in that mountain. I was fine! I didn't want to come back! I can't…I'm sorry…I need…" she plopped back down in her chair and buried her face in her hands.
"Well, I think you deserve to be here, Shayera" Flash said looking at her.
"How can she possibly help us," Wonder Woman said, leaping to her feet, "she doesn't have her wings! She has nothing to offer! She deserves everything that's happened to her! She is absolutely no use to us without her wings!" Wonder Woman breathed heavily after her rant, taking her seat. She then looked up to see surprise looks on the faces of her colleagues, except for Batman…and Martian Manhunter (his face never changed). Shayera was looking down. An awkwardness settled in the room, while Wonder Woman sat down, putting her head in her hands. Shayera didn't know what to do. She didn't want to leave, but she didn't want to stay. "That was cold, Wonder Woman," Green Lantern said. Flash glared at Wonder Woman - hard. He looked ready to attack. "You know what, princess," Flash sneered. "I would rather have her here than you."
"Of course you would," Wonder Woman said, "You lovesick –"
"ENOUGH!" Superman's voice roared. "Flash," he said, "now is not the time to talk about this. There is too much going on. We will discuss this after we figure out what to do with the Thanagarians and Gordanians." Flash nodded. "And Wonder Woman," he paused, "we'll talk later." She looked away from him in anger. "It is 6:00 a.m. Some of us need to get to work or sleep. Let's reconvene tomorrow." All of the members piled out the room, all but Shayera. She stayed right where she was. These past few months, she had been living in an ignorant bliss. Living in a comfortable manor, recovering. Getting used to the comfortable life Bruce had provided her thus far. But today was a wakeup call. She didn't belong here. She didn't belong anywhere. And this flirtatious thing with Bruce…what was she doing? She couldn't let her heart get involved. They needed to deal with her crazy family and the Gordanians and then she needed to disappear…for good. Maybe steal a Thanagarian ship. Yes, she thought, that is what she needed to do. She pulled her fingers through her hair and stood up. She walked out of the conference room and ran into, what she thought, was a brick wall. Turns out it was Batman. "You ready to go?" he asked. She nodded, slowly. He turned and she followed.
"Aaaaaaahhhhhhh!" Issi screamed in a hot rage as she pummeled her sparring partner.
"What now?" Katar asked as he came strolling into the gym. Issi stopped and turned to face her husband. She wiped the sweat from her face and moved the black hair from her eyes. She pointed her sparring sword, which was a real sword, at Katar and said, "Lobo turned on us!"
"What?" Katar asked, his anger beginning to grow.
"He received an offer he just couldn't refuse," Issi growled, kicking the sparring partner who had yet to pick herself up off the floor.
"What did they offer him?" Katar asked.
"A chance to hang out with some Space Dolphins."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"You heard me," Issi threw her weapon on the ground before stepping over the unconscious female.
"He gave up Nth metal to hang out with Space Dolphins?"
"Yes."
"The Gordanians are expecting – "
"I know what the Gordanians are expecting!" Issi said in a rage as she swore. "Forget Lobo. We're going to have to get Shayera ourselves."
"The Justice League – "
"A war with the Justice League or a never-ending war with the Gordanians – pick one." Katar was silent for a moment. Only a moment. "We should ask General Trogaar to send a few men," Katar said. "If they get to her first," he continued, "they can have her alive. If we get to her first, they'll receive a dead, wingless, female bird."