Chapter 59: Whatever It Takes

"TAKE LIVES," Superman yelled. "HOW COULD YOU EVEN THINK ABOUT DOING THAT!"

"Take a wild guess," Orion glared.

"Our kinds are being hunted, two of our friends have already just barely escaped death, an illegal agency is after us, and there is nothing legally that can be done against them," Melinda shouted. "Take you pick on which reason is the best."

"We don't want to go that far, almost no ghosts and mystics ever do," Danny said. "But we do anything to keep each other safe."

"They will come after us, again and again, until someone puts a stop to them," White says. "Once and for all."

"You can't be serious," Canary gasped.

"Dead serious," Danny glared. "Pardon the pun."

The mystics, Nightwing, and Blue Beetle all face-palmed. Phantom could just not help himself when it came to puns.

"You can't do anything against the Guys In White," Alya shouted. "What else can the rest of us do other than defend ourselves when no one else can."

"We appreciate the help, we really do, but you have no way to help this time," Lena said.

"Our sacred grounds have been defiled, our friends have been attacked, our homes are in chaos, our families are in danger," Mason says. "It is our duty to protect what we hold dear, and we will."

"If those psycho conspiracy theorists have done all this just against us, how long do you think before they go after you," Ethan crossed his arms. "You have just about six members of the league that use, or are a part of, magic. It is only a matter of time before they try to attack the Atlanteans or Amazons."

"We have mermaid and amazon friends, and we'd never want to see them hurt," Krinos told them. "The league has Dr. Fate, Wonder Woman, Captain Marvel, the Hawks, and Aquaman. All are magical in one way or another."

The league members were stunned. The mystics and Phantom were all standing strong and proud for themselves. But there was still the issue of them potentially taking lives.

"We know that they're a threat and you are angry, but don't stoop to their level and turn into killers," Green Arrow told them. "You'll just become what the monsters they've been calling you."

"It's not like we haven't taken lives before," Erica smirked. "I take pleasure in draining those that attack my friends."

"Myself and Mason have also taken lives," Juliet says. "We had to fight in one of the battles for Camelot about 500 years ago. And in war, it's kill or be killed."

"I don't know about any of you, but i'd rather be the 'kill' and not the 'killed," Caitlin put her hand on her hip. "After all, I was the one that killed Justin Claybourne."

"That was YOU," Green Arrow yelled. "PROMETHEUS BLAMED ME FOR THAT AND YOU JUST VANISHED AND LET ME TAKE THE BLAME."

"I had every right to kill him," Caitlin shot back. "His illegal and dangerous drugs killed my sister when they reacted badly to her were-cat physique. As those in the were-creature committee say, 'an eye for an eye, a life for a life."

"Taking lives is still a bit extreme," Martian Manhunter said. "You are all some of the most powerful people we know, it you are also very honorable in nature. Do you think there is any honor in taking the lives of those you know do not stand a chance against you."

"What choice do we have," Jack joined in. "I may be the new guy, here, but I've known these guys for a long time. They, we, would never go to these measures unless it was absolutely necessary."

"Taking lives is our 'last resort' action," Danny said. "While myself and Gold Siren have never taken lives..."

"Unless you count demons, trolls, imps, and one very smelly ogre," White says under his breath.

"...We will do anything that can keep our family safe," Danny finished.

"Growing up with the Fentons, we had nothing," White took over. "Only our sister and best friends cared for us. We spent every Christmas, birthday, Easter, Valentine's Day, and even normal days all alone. We had no one. Our real parents were dead, our older brother was taken from us. We had NOTHING. You stand there and tell us how to take care of our family when you have NO IDEA what it is like for us. Years of hatred, abuse, and anger all pointed at us just because of who we are. Until you know what it's like to be tormented and experimented on because of who you are, what right do you have over us and our kinds."

The league members all took a step back, away from the seriously passed off siren. Just looking into the eyes of the mystics would have most of them cowering in fear. Erica alone seemed ready to start taking heads off, though she always looked like she wanted to that.

"We will defend those we love with everything we have," Alain says. "If that means there will be the spilling of Guys In White blood, so be it."

"I know I won't care," Sarah said. "I may mostly drain animals, or rob blood banks, but no one threatens my friends and gets away with it."

"If you are so willing to kill, you do know that we will have to stop you," Tornado tells them.

"You can try," Alya growled. "Most of us could take down your entire league without even trying. I highly doubt anything has changed since the last time any mystic has taken down a league member."

"The only person that could stand even the smallest of chances would be Dr. Fat," Krinos said. "But as a fellow elemental lord, I can tell you that he'd lose against the likes of us."

"And let us remind you that it was your sidekicks that had been working with them the entire time to take down magic," Caitlin snapped.

"I wonder how those two are faring in Wonderland," Ethan smirked.

"Ten bucks says the Queen of Hearts has already gone 'off with their heads," Lena evilly laughed.

The adults stood there, gobsmacked. This was not the same people they were before. Siren's kind heart, Lena's pure soul, Phantom's sarcastic and playful nature, Alya's honorable spirit. They now all seemed so cold and unforgiving. The team was completely torn. On one side, they knew that the league could not do anything a part from beating up the Guys In White agents. On the other side, killing is a line that they never want to cross.

Nightwing and Beetle stared at the twins. Beetle couldn't tell if he was proud or terrified of his boyfriend. Nightwing had to admit to himself that they had a point. Looking at Cavalier's amulet, he'd never want anything to happen to him, even if he was a titan from another world.

"Everybody just calm down," Ma'gann said. "Before this gets out of hand."

"I think it's a little late for that, sis," Gar tells his adoptive sister.

"Are you guys really serious about this," Roy asked the mystics.

"Your precious league can't help us, so we will help ourselves," Danny crossed his arms. "We always have, and we always will."

Red Arrow looked at the bow in his hand. The moment he held it in his hand, pulled back one of its silver arrows, fired, it just felt right to him.

"I've known you two for a long time," he said to the twins. "I know you would never even consider this type of length unless you had no other choice. If you will have me, i'd like to join you."

Green Arrow froze, with his jaw hitting the floor, as his former protégé joined the mystics.

"Hm, maybe Nightwing isn't the only guardian on the team," Lena smirked.

Nightwing went over to his brothers.

"Are you two sure," he asked them. "This is a line you can never, ever, uncross."

"We'd never even give it a second thought unless we had no other choice," Danny told him.

Nightwing simply nodded, joining them as well. One by one, the rest of the team also joined the mystics. Beetle went over and took Siren's hand.

"You sure about joining us," White asked him. "Most heroes never even think about this."

"If you believe this is the only way, i'm with you," Jaime says, the two then kissing.

"Checkmate, Justice League," Danny said.

The members all tried to make a move on them, but Gold Siren was a lot faster than them. He pushed his hands down, causing the entire room to shake. The whole mountain was having its own personal earthquake. The league members were thrown into the floor. By the time the shaking stopped, and they looked up, every mystic and team member had completely vanished.

"We need to find them," Canary shouted.

But looking at Batman, he was different than the other leaguers.

"They had a point," he thought to himself. "They all believe they have no other choice, and we'll need to give them one."