I do not own either One Piece or Justice League Unlimited.

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Beta read by the wonderful rose7anne101 and MasterQwertster. Make sure to check out their own stories! Also thanks to other readers who have given incredible help, like Kolomte'49, lincoln time, mellra, Drag0n5on, scl04, coalface, Creation Teller, Blackwizard71, and Bkaa19. I know several of you will see your contributions here, even if they will be a surprise ;-)

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Guest Review answers :-D

Hannibal the Bahamut

Yeah sorry for cutting you guys off there, but frankly becoming too much having those super-super-long chapters. So breaking them up more.

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Evil Reviewer

Of course Joker wants to knock over the chess board ;-)

That said, I will say that I am only barely starting to really take this off the path to canon. I do not want this to be one of those stories where the AU divergence or crossover detail only causes a few slight changes to the plot.

. . . I really need a better name for the 'hired help' and 'allied supervillains.' And no, "Divisions" will not work. Open to suggestions! :-D

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BlantonM

Yes a major villain rival has been eliminated. While Grodd's goals may have been subpar, he was pretty much the best at putting together a cohesive team of villains, and he did it without needing (or at least not overtly) his telepathic powers. As you lay out, he would have indeed been a serious threat to the Straw Hats, but I also want to emphasize the rise of Joker to taking that place.

Glad to hear I played it so well with Joker's reveal! :-D

My lips are sealed about Aresia, although I will say she is not going to be influenced in the manner like Pudding to get any personal growth. But yes, oodles and oodles of possibilities!

No worries about story suggestions. I welcome them since frankly this story is as good as it is because of how many great ones I have received, or ones that have sparked whole new plans for what is to come. Your suggestion with Killer Frost *might* be an example . . . Please keep them up! :-D

Plans in place for Dr. Freeze ;-)

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Sanji

Your concerns are noted and appreciated. Now please put down the knife and let me slowly back away . . .

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

Aresia falling for Luffy, Hancock-style, is something I honestly had not considered. After all, there are some major differences between the two ladies, including how Aresia spent years being healed and supported by women who knew and understood what she had gone through—of course the DCAU Amazons also filled her with their own ideology towards men. In contrast, Hancock and her sisters basically shut themselves off from the world, and only really started to heal once Luffy (literally) dropped into their lives.

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

For the Guest who thanked me for reading and responding, it was my sincere pleasure. I appreciate it when people give me suggestions after all. Even if I do not use them, more often than not, the process of thinking about it gives me a different one I can use. Please keep it up! :-D

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Maraderchik

Could say that about other people Luthor has hired in canon, but basically Luthor would be trying to bribe the Straw Hats with more money than they are getting via bank robbing. Yes he is that rich.

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

Frankly speaking, no one would cry if Luffy shoved his fist through Joker's heart. Done right, he can fall in a kneeling position ;-) Of course, that does not guarantee this will actually happen ;-)

Suspect your comment that the metas that are being held as food for Parasite are freed and join the Straw Hats may change with this chapter.

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Legianreader2003

Hope this was not too, too long a wait! Nice to hear the characters are going well! :-D

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

Ah, you want a Deadshot vs. Usopp battle? Intriguing! Although frankly Deadshot would indeed need a boost. Usopp's eyes are frankly far superior given what he pulled off against Sugar, and can probably shrug off any bullets to anywhere barring the brain and heart.

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Jonas

Appreciate hearing that! :-D

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dani1361

Nice to hear you liked the prep chapter! :-)

Yes, looking forward where my writing takes Aresia myself. Feel I will be surprised by it even ;-)

Seeing Luffy beat up on the ape is indeed something to miss, but alas I had to get the story moving more.

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

For the one who went on about how great my version of the Joker is, appreciate hearing that…even if mixed feelings on hearing how well I can write a murderous psychopath ;-P

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Guesswhat

The Secret Society and Legion of Doom are pretty much defunct now, as well as what would have happened. That said, some similar events are still possible if, as you noted, someone tries to form their own group. Alas, the possible candidates are rather slim right now:

Orm is definitely dead, and frankly would have tried to wipe out the surface world again. Aresia, yeah, has pretty much burned all her bridges. A good chunk of the female supervillains are already with Luffy (which does indeed show how few there are), and no guarantee how many of the rest will react to the idea of killing off all the men. Joker . . . even right now people are only following him out of fear, not incentives. He would be hard pressed to keep a massive group like the Legion of Doom under his control without a rebellion of his own. Finally, Luthor is a terrible team player. The Secret Society nearly imploded even without Batman, and he had to keep upping their paycheque. Legion of Doom, he only held the reigns thanks to placing his equivalent of Task Force X/Suicide Squad bombs on his lackies. Whatever you can say about Grodd, the dude was excellent and recruiting and bringing people together (even if telepathic prompts likely factored in to some degree).

Time travel with the Straw Hats would indeed be fun, except the catch is that the future is slowly yet gradually changing because of their presence. No guarantee it will be the same future.

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

Yeees, the League does indeed seem far more hesitant to kill those who appear similar enough to regular Humans. Hypocrisy indeed. Something that honestly I should seriously address in this fic.

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YCG

Hmm, tricky question, but I would say that both Usopp and Luffy are as vulnerable to Fear Toxin. For Luffy, it is more of a hallucinogenic than a true poison, and we have only seen him resistant to various types of poisons. As for Usopp, the Hollow-Hollow Fruit was only useless against those already pessimistic with themselves, and frankly given how readily Usopp scares himself on his own (even now) I can easily see him be overwhelmed by his fears, or at the very least distracted by an onslaught of shifting horrors as he keeps imagining new ones. That said, both Luffy and Usopp DO have the strength of will to overcome it if they recognized what was happening; just like Batman.

As for Joker Venom, Luffy is probably immune to it, like Poison Ivy is. More like an actual poison.

For Sinestro, no he is not a member. Joker is frankly not as good a recruiter as Grodd (addressed in an above Guest Review), and it was unrealistic for him to copy the team perfectly. Moreover, given all the requests and suggestions about Lantern Rings, I decided that IF I was going to do Sinestro, better to do him in another arc where he would get the proper focus. There is too much going on in this arc already.

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Oda

I sincerely doubt that you are actually Eiichiro Oda. If you do end up being him though, I apologize for my blasphemy

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

As you can see, Joker has other plans than going for all the nukes in the world, but you are right that is an unfortunate possibility. The Joker would indeed threaten to kill everyone to make every day, laughing day.

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gwencarson126

Sorry for the delay, I was working on my other fics, and real life through a bunch of stuff at me.

LOL yes it has been quite fun having Luthor believe Luffy is a criminal mastermind! X-D True that Luffy is not simply an idiot and has surprising depth and insight, but yeah when villains and heroes learn the truth…it should be very fun to do! ;-D

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

Planning to finish all my stories, including my poor Naruto: Rise of Uzushiogakure.

Very pleasing to hear I am motivating people to try more One Piece!

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My username is doesthiscountasausername

LOL like your username! X-D

I feel that Joker would be lucky if that is all he suffered if he did something like that . . .

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Whirlybird70

Scarecrow does indeed have a role to play in the future, although he also has some important support ones right now.

Marineford . . . would not be a good place for Luffy to find himself. Heck, it would not be pleasant for anyone for a hundred kilometers if Luffy went berserk over having to relive it . . .

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Fan

Well, I was busy updating stories for which readers were basically asking the same question. Also a lot going on in my personal life.

Glad to know you are enthusiastic for this chapter though :-) Looking forward to hearing your newest thoughts! :-D

Thank you for your Review and Support! :-D

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Guest (please choose name/nickname next time ^^)

(Going to assume you are the same person responsible for this series of Guest Reviews).

Nice to hear how many times you have re-read my fic! :-D But yeah, I have to get around to watching 'Flash' one day myself.

But yes, the Straw Hats have only demonstrated the barest glimmer of what they are capable of. By this point, even Nami and Usopp are probably physically tougher than Batman! O.o

That was a fun scene to write with Luffy in Egypt! X-D

Agreed, Green Lantern in the DCAU does not have any serious sniper accomplishments to his name. Although in the comics he managed to counter-snip across three sectors of space!

If you want to have Luffy tell a good lie, you have to lie to him first and get him to repeat it :-P

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Justice

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Chapter 13: Injustice for All, Part 3

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Previously:

Lex Luthor was arrested after being tricked into giving a confession for his crimes, which allowed the Justice League and regular authorities to begin tearing down his criminal empire. In the process he also discovered he was dying from blood poisoning courtesy of a piece of Kryptonite he had been carrying about for too long. Before he could engineer his own prison break, he was rescued by the Joker, whose mutilation at the hands of Sanji has left him more unhinged and dangerous. He introduced Luthor to the pieces of his plan he had already assembled, including an impressive array of supervillains, a lair, and finally the captive Aresia, the rogue Amazonian who had nearly killed off every male on the planet.

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This chapter is an AU of a DCAU episode by the same name.

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November 5

Lips pulled back in a snarl, powerful shock collar around her neck, Aresia gazed hatefully at her captors.

A twitch from Joker however had her glancing at the video screen showing her five Amazon sisters unconscious and chained to a wall, along with an unknown woman. With that reminder, she dropped her gaze to the floor like a 'good girl.'

Passive and submissive, like all men wanted their women.

!JUSTICE!

Flashback

She was in the USA air force hanger where her plans had been torn to shreds

"So you see," revealed Queen Hippolyta, "for all your hatred of men, it turns out you owe your life to one."

!JUSTICE!

Present

Ruthlessly she clamped down on that traitorous memory. It was not like the Queen knew what the ship's captain had planned for her once they reached land. Certainly she had admitted she had not thought him important enough to mention until that fateful night.

No, Aresia knew the truth as her sister Amazons had taught her over all those years. The stories they had told her of the evils of males, and their role in all the suffering upon Gaea.

(Except of course for the male Gods, who had allowed the Amazons to be blessed with eternal youth, and a paradise.)

!JUSTICE!

Flashback

"Alright," Star Sapphire nervously said, ignoring the downed bodies of Copperhead and the other male supervillains. Dying proof Aresia's allergen worked. "Look. I'm giddy at the idea of a bunch male scumbags I know dying. Really. Like seriously, that's going to be great. It's just, if you kill off all the men, then Humanity's done for! We need them to reproduce!"

Confidently, Aresia walked over to the woman who would become her sister. Just like Hippolyta would have if she were here, she placed a soothing hand on her cheek. "Do not worry, that will not be a problem. If you like the idea of men dying off, you'll love what comes next."

Seeing Star Sapphire's growing confidence, and glancing at Tsukuri's stoic patience, she elaborated.

"Once I was a normal girl from Man's World. Men destroyed my life and left me to die. By the grace of the Gods though, I washed upon the shores of Themyscira, home of the Amazons."

"Like where Wonder Woman's from?" clarified Star Sapphire.

"Precisely. They raised me, taught me, and gave me the same gifts as the rest of them. They taught me how men have corrupted and poisoned this world. Unfortunately," and her genuine regret shone through, "both time and the peaceful life of our paradise has dulled their fire. Isolation keeps them from truly understanding how the world has changed, and become worse. How man's weapons of cruelty had grown over the centuries.

"So it falls to us to correct this!

"We will wipe out mankind, and when the Gods look down upon Humankind and see who remains, they will bless all the woman we've liberated with the strength and eternal youth of the Amazons!"

"Just like you," Star Sapphire slowly said, as the true enormity of it all dawned upon her.

Knowing they would follow her now to finish her Great Work, Aresia smirked. "Exactly. Like. Me. With the world born anew into one where we are all sisters."

!JUSTICE!

Present

Pax Amazonia!

The world would know true peace, and the women who had raised her would hail her as a hero.

The End.

A shadow entered her vision as footsteps approached. "My, my," drawled the bald newcomer. "I see you're starting to regret trying to kill me and half the world."

Gritting her teeth, she kept her tongue.

"Well, we can always discuss that later. After all," he lightly tapped her collar, "there's so many people angry at you out there. Many men were too old and sickly to survive what you did to them, or collapsed in dangerous circumstances without any heroes around, getting themselves and others killed. There's many grieving women who'd like some words with you too."

It would've been worth it, she reminded herself. Remembering the destruction of her homeland. The pirates who had killed what was left of her world. The tales her saviours had raised her on.

"I see you're working on a new and improved variant of Joker Venom for worldwide, airborne dispersal," the man continued, delighting in her silence. "I'll be checking your work by the way. Something to remember."

With those parting words, he turned and left. Behind him, the heavy door slammed shut with finality.

On the screen, she saw the man she knew as Parasite –if only by reputation, and what her captors had told her—approach her Amazonian sisters. They fidgeted in place, yet by their eyes she knew they were not truly aware of what was happening to them. Parasite put one palm on the forehead of Myrto, a beautiful blonde who loved the sea, as fearsome a warrior as any, and even through the haze of drugs she screamed in agony as crackling light played over her body and into her tormenter, along with her power.

Satisfied, Parasite turned to the next one, and Aresia forced herself to look away from the reminder of what would happen if she failed to cooperate.

With all the strength of will of an Amazon, she fought back any traitorous tears. Oh my Queen, Princess Diana, why did you two betray me?

Why are you leaving us here to suffer at their hands?

!JUSTICE!

After that little session, Lex found himself feeling a bit more optimistic about working with the Joker.

Well, 'working with' was stretching it. In the past, the best they had managed was 'tenuous allies,' with it ending in mutual betrayal. As it was, he had only cooperated this long because he knew that refusing Joker's so-called 'offer,' equaled death. Probably a physically torturous, and personally humiliating one.

Out of the corner of his eye he glanced once more at the madman—a madman who had become even more twisted than he would have thought possible. While still wearing his trademark purple suit, his face continued to be frozen into a permanent frown, robbing him of the ability to laugh. A loss to his identity that driven him to greater heights of insanity and violence.

The mutilated corpses near the beginning of the tour of this secret base were a testament to that.

So he would play along for now, and dispose of Joker properly before he decided to unleash an Aresia enhanced Joker Venom globally.

Overall though, despite that dangerous issue, and his own failing health, he was feeling optimistic. So many possibilities for him to take advantage of here!

"Alright," he began. "You don't only need my scientific brilliance, or experience fighting the Justice League, you need me to ensure her own research and development is genuine. Not only to create whatever Joker Venom variant you have in mind, or an improved version of Aresia's earlier allergen, but to ensure that whatever it is can circumvent whatever countermeasures the Straw Hats possess." Because if there was anyone who could anticipate her to such a degree, by all accounts it was Dr. Tony-Tony Chopper. Doubtless his own respectable intellect had led him to create means to prevent a repeat of that fiasco. The equivalent of vaccines and pre-existing antidotes to handle any new concoctions of the one enemy to warrant the Straw Hats going out of their way to personally deal with.

"Precisely! With her newest brand of poisons—"

She uses allergens, silently corrected Lex, irritated at how he had just told the man that. Hmmm, maybe he's ignorant enough of what he wants me to do, for me to find the proper angle there.

"—we'll have the perfect tool necessary to take them out! Although we've got to keep it all hush-hush."

"Oh?" Lex raised an eyebrow in surprise. "I would've thought you were planning to use her as bait for both them and the League. Neither would tolerate letting her running around free." Frowning, "In fact, why hasn't the Justice League put out an alert for her?"

"Because they don't know, silly!"

"What? But Wonder Woman—"

"How's about I start at the beginning? Y'see, there I was preparing for my Halloween jollies, and wearing a hazmat suit to be safe. When all my henchmen start falling down around me, I investigated, and caught up as our honoured guest was being taken away back home with Bird-Brain, Wonder Chumpette, and mommy. While they were preoccupied, I snagged a little tracker inside their ride. They took her to prison, and then the same Javelin later took her to the home of the Amazons. Ol' Batsy must've been still recovering to have missed it, and by now it'll have disintegrated. It was small, so small signal, except I already knew they were around the Mediterranean, and thought it a prudent investment to pop on over to take a look. Got the coordinates, and later decided to pay a little visit. Their jail cells are kept isolated from the goody-goodies, as in on the other side of where everyone else lives, and from what Parasite dragged out of her guards' minds, we've still got about a week or three until their relief toddles along with fresh supplies."

One part of Lex's mind noted how Joker continued to act more like his old self, despite the permanent frown, the more animated he became about his plan to kill the Straw Hats. The rest of him was amazed at the sheer incompetence involved on behalf of the Amazons. Granted, he was proof of how porous American prisons could be, yet they were not that bad! So much for promising to keep an immortal jailed by fellow immortals! If she'd simply been executed for war crimes, I wouldn't be in this mess!

Superman, you sentimental fool, if you truly believed in Justice over making nice to your adoring fans, you'd have killed her on the spot!

"Does . . . your former associate know about this?"
Predictably Joker began ranting again on how he wanted to torture his ex-girlfriend, with the upshot being she was in the dark. Harley Quinn had been running errands at the time in preparation for Halloween.

"Very well," allowed Lex when the maniac ran out of steam. "That said, outside of using Aresia's former guards to empower Parasite, it hardly seems worth the risk of having her around. Even with her countrywomen as hostages, she may still betray us out of fanaticism, if nothing else."

"True, although that's why I wanted Scarecrow onboard. Not only does he keep Parasite's little toys all drugged up so they can't resist him," –for one of the drawbacks of Parasite stealing memories, was that his target could overwhelm him in turn and take over his body— "is to keep up a psychiatric assessment of her. Shock collar seems to work, but I'm not taking chances. A little Fear Toxin laced into her food, observing her behaviour, you know the drill. Heh, she doesn't even know how her guard system was supposed to work, so she thinks the Amazons already know she and others are missing and unable to find them. Every day they don't show up, kills a little more hope. So altogether I'm keeping her so carefully afraid for her people, she'll do whatever we say."

"Diligent of you," complimented Lex. Unfortunately he was still trying to convince Joker that she and her work was expendable, and even a liability to be disposed of. One more push, and if no success, I'll drop it. For now.

"I still don't see why you feel you need her," he smirked with genuine anticipation. "With a team like you've assembled, we're sure to take down the Justice League and Straw Hats!" He was very careful not to say "I."

Joker snorted.

"I beg your pardon," Lex calmly asked, partially insulted, partially concerned he had pushed too far, while also letting slip his ambitions too much.

"You really have no idea who we're messing with, do you?" sighed Joker, his frowning face fitting with the grim words. "The Straw Hats are a lot more powerful than they let on. For example, the profiles the League's been putting out? They think that big burst of fire from when I was taken down was that Volcana. Or maybe some bomb of mine. The kids were too terrified to be good little stoolies, crime scene was too disrupted by amateurs, and I got away fast enough. They think Blackfoot only has enhanced strength, not flaming powers too. Besides, I've been pounded on enough times by Bats that I know when someone's holding back. Not to mention that level of . . . control." His face spasmed in memory. "Sure, maybe Batsy's suspicious, but a control freak like him won't tell people about mere speculations."

Lex thought back over all the reports he had read, the videos he had watched. "You think they're holding back. Hiding their true strength," he thought curiously. "Yes, I can see Luffy pulling off something like that. Why, I bet even his alias is to help us underestimate him. All part of a much grander scheme."

To his surprise, Joker twitched, before leveling a long look on Lex. Slowly he nodded, "Yes of course. That old conniver Mr. Luffy. What a mind," he said with a knowing glint in his eyes.

For some reason it almost seemed like he was being sarcastic.

"Anyways, what my point in all this is, we can't guarantee beating 'em mono-oh-mono. Even with this team. Our own little, hmmm, Injustice League."

"Hence the chemical warfare," conceded Lex. "Infect the male majority of them, while we take out the rest."

"Precisely! Even if it's just the women left healthy again, well, we're sure to take 'em with this kind of muscle."

"Very well."

They walked in silence for a few minutes as Lex turned over details in his mind. Possibilities and opportunities. Some of the other supervillains trailing along were not so reserved.

"So where are we?" asked Star Sapphire. She had pointedly made no reaction to Aresia being a prisoner.

"Oh, something Grodd hollowed out for his own master plan. We all know how that turned out for him."

"Those workshops we saw, I'll need to make some new guns," said Deadshot.

"Go right ahead."

After a few more minutes of their blathering, they split off to take care of business. Or to make space from their new boss. Whatever. With them out of the way, Joker led Lex and Ultra-Humanite to a private lab for them both, inviting them with a grandstanding gesture. "I'm sure you'll find everything you need here to help you, Lexy."

"If not, then I'll just make whatever equipment's necessary," he lightly boasted.

"Good, good." Ultra-Humanite quietly began preparations for his plan to handle Lex's Kryptonite poisoning. Obviously he was eavesdropping, even if Joker said nothing about that.

"Now that they're not around, are you sure it's wise having Aresia's former henchwomen here?"

"Bah, they're of no concern. Well, alright, they would be a concern if they had the spine."

"Ah," nodded Lex. "You have the others keeping an eye on them."

"Well yes, but also I doubt they're going to want to side with the loser. That's why I let them see her on camera in chains and all. They're smart cookies, and more interested in their own skins. Dangle the temptation of being part of the team to kill the Straw Hats and Justice League, along with all the cash they can nab afterwards, and that'll smother any other temptations to be naughty. So long as we keep an eye on 'em, and keep up security on Parasite's pretty batteries, they'll be no trouble at all."

He nodded to indicate he was satisfied. For now. He had not forgotten how Star Sapphire and Tsukuri had been actively complicit in helping Aresia try and kill him, along with the rest of Humanity. There would be a reckoning.

Changing the subject, he projected a sense of interest. "Do you by chance have any blood samples of the Amazonians handy? I would love to study them."

Giving an exaggerated shrug, Joker said, "Of course. Although you'll be disappointed to know only Swimsuit Woman can fly for some reason."

"Curious." Luthor stroked his chin in thought. "Is it because she's royalty?"

"We're going to kill her, why'd you care?" deadpanned the clown.

"Oh, I'm sure you know how the little details can have big consequences," Luthor casually said. Truthfully, it was very possible it was irrelevant, yet you never knew. "Regardless, maybe I can learn something from their genome. Replicate it."

"I confess," Joker slowly nodded, "that would be very . . . very . . . very appreciated. The strength to do whatever I wanted to some of those . . . people. Even sickened by our little biohazardous gifts, even when they're helpless, it'll be hard to actually hurt people that tough. To cut 'em. Like Superman I imagine. Regardless, once they're strapped down, I want to be able to be strong enough to do whatever I want. Because guys and gals like 'em? They think they know what suffering and pain and evil are all about, but I'm going to educate 'em. Slowly. Teach them what the world's really like."

Shrugging, Lex gave a small nod. "Indeed, despite what they've already achieved, they appear rather . . . sentimental overall. Oh, yes, the blue-haired one, Roronoa Zoro, and Miss All-Sunday can be fairly ruthless at times, yet they're in the minority. Not something appreciated by the rest. Otherwise they wouldn't have taken such pains to make the majority of their crimes as victimless as possible. Or," briefly pausing to give Joker a pointed look, "leaving you or those heroes alive to continue pursuing them. Hunting them."

While the Clown Prince's eyes narrowed, his frown twitched so much you knew it was meant to be a smile.

!JUSTICE!

The escape of Lex Luthor from prison had not gone unnoticed. Especially given how many supervillains had gone with him, and the number of corpses left behind.

Batman was the last to the Watchtower, having been held up with a hostage situation back in Gotham, along with a host of other serious crimes. Ignoring the other members of the Justice League, he stormed into the monitor room, and started pulling up surveillance footage from the prison, showcasing the break-in.

"I thought they took down the security cameras?" asked a puzzled Green Lantern.

"This is my own private system," was the terse reply. "I installed them after the interview with Star Sapphire about which villains she believed the Straw Hats had recruited. While we later confirmed that Deadshot and Copperhead had not been accepted, given the degree of loyalty the pirates had already demonstrated for each other, it was possible they would attempt something similar. Or try and recruit from other prisoners. So I installed my own surveillance."

"Again with that going on about them. And aren't you being a little paranoid, Bats?" complained Flash. They all could see he was a little impressed though.

For his own part, Batman ignored the man's blathering. The speedster failed to see how the threat the Straw Hats posed was not just a physical one. Not precisely.

In Gotham, a large part of his success lay in the image of himself he was able to create within the minds of the people, particularly criminals. The 'myth' if you will, that he was Vengeance in the Night for the Innocent. That he could not be beaten. Could not be stopped. They could not escape him. It creeped into their hearts and minds. That sheer terror kept those lowlifes in a state of mild panic. Made them sloppy. Gave him that little edge to win against all odds.

For the Justice League, the myth needed to be that they were heroes, and ones who would always save the day, no matter the odds. Enough to not only ensure that the citizens of the world and governments would endorse what was a team of super-powered individuals, but to also help convince villains they should not even try. Because why bother going to all that effort when you knew the Justice League would win?

The Straw Hats were a threat to this belief. The sheer possibility of being able to defeat the League in combat, including even Superman, was bad enough; the fact remained that in all their clashes so far, the pirates had won. They had gotten their money, and made a clean escape without repercussion. A pattern that more and more people were taking note of.

Worst of all was the fact they did not leave behind as many victims or corpses as traditional villains –which, yes, was appreciated— meant some were romanticizing them as criminals. People like that overlooked the destruction and havoc they always left behind, and he knew the scope of their crimes would only escalate. It always did.

Although they're not the biggest concern right now, he grimly acknowledged.

Aloud all he said was, "This is how I knew Star Sapphire was going to attempt to escape last week, and sent Superman and Green Lantern to head her off. This time I was taken by surprise." Seeing how that little tidbit had taken the wind out of any righteous indignation for now, he turned his attention back to the video footage.

Silently they watched the whole thing, as Batman's system even had audio.

"—most of all, to help me kill those bloody Straw Hats!"

"Well," Flash managed after watching the supervillains walk off-screen, "this isn't good."

"No joke," growled Green Lantern.

"Hera," whispered Diana. While she had not battled with some of those criminals herself, she was well acquainted with their records. As for their leader . . .

For Batman, there were no words for the scope of this disaster. While a part of him wanted to boldly declare he would take the lead on this, he knew it would be suicide.

"This isn't going to be easy, even for us," remarked Superman. Turning to their resident expert, he asked, "Any suggestions of how to find Joker?"

". . . No," and how he hated that hesitation. "Not if he's gone this far out of character. Even at his most insane, there was always some sort of overall pattern to it all; even if only in hindsight. Now though, he's already changed his objective and methodology. He's gone bigger. When we find him, he's going to have to be our priority target. Along with Luthor of course."

Despite their veteran experience, the rest of the League was slightly nervous by what the Dark Knight had both pointedly said and not said. For if the Joker was someone even Batman was wary of facing, it spoke volumes of how dangerous the madman had become.

With one exception.

Heedless of the challenge before them, Superman remained as confident as ever, which tampered down the tiny flickers of concern in the others. Helping them acknowledge the threat so it would be to their advantage, as opposed to a hindrance.

This may very well be the greatest test the League had faced since they had first come together to battle the Imperium, and they would rise to the occasion.

No matter the personal cost, they would protect this world from the madness and evil of men like Joker, and those now following him.

"So what's the plan then?" Superman asked. "Gather more information first?"

"Precisely," nodded Batman. "Whatever Joker's planning, it'll be big, and that'll leave a trail. People going quiet, or making lots of chatter. Getting resources. We'll start by checking our sources. Updating local authorities. We'll also need to see if he's recruiting other supervillains."

"We know the drill," Hawkgirl sharply said, ready to get to work.

"We should work in teams if we're going to risk bumping into that kind of firepower," threw in Green Lantern. With a huff, the Thanagarian went to a computer terminal to begin pulling up other supervillains at large.

"Y'know, we should probably warn the Straw Hats," popped in Flash. "Like, make it public, or at least drop a note at one of those companies we suspect are theirs, to at least give 'em a head's up they're Joker's target."

"And risk them seeking out Joker themselves, and tearing up a city as they fight it out?" snapped Batman. "No."

"But—!"

"No."

"Let's first see what we can find out ourselves," Superman diplomatically interjected. "Hopefully we can sort this out ourselves before it goes any further."

"Fine!" sulked Flash.

"It's possible they'll go hunting anyways," warned J'onn. "They were the ones to mutilate Joker in the first place, and may wish to pre-emptively handle him."

"Nothing we can do about that," grunted Green Lantern. "Let's first worry about what the mass murdering psychopath's doing next."

"What about Joker recruiting more criminals from Gotham?" asked Wonder Woman. The chaos in that city was ongoing despite the help she had been giving, as gangs battled for domination. Batman refused to let any other Leaguers in, and she was only there because she ignored his refusals. It still seemed reasonable for Joker to strike Arkham Asylum to grab more allies though.

"He would have done so already if he was planning to," dismissed the Dark Knight. "Besides, at this point, the majority of supervillains and mob bosses left there would shoot at him, and make enough of a ruckus to tell us where he is." She frowned a little at his acidic tone, yet nodded at the wisdom of his words.

"At least we know it'll be confined to the US, given that's where the Straw Hat's operate," Flash cheerfully pointed out. "Plus, with Shining Knight we've got an even number of people."

"So glad to be of service," the man smiled good-naturedly.

"Enough talking and get to work," growled Batman as he stalked out.

Right behind him, Superman, "Alright, sounds like a plan."

!JUSTICE!

November 8

One activity that Maureen and Volcana particularly enjoyed bonding over was the ancient and sacred art of shopping. Given their respective histories, being able to freely stroll about in public to buy whatever they wanted was a luxury beyond words.

Oh, granted, it was not perfect. Nami was hardly going to give them sacks of cash to spend after all. Although Volcana's pay cheque, and Maureen's allowance, were quite respectable. Also, to throw off any potential pursuit, it was necessary to only do it in cities other than where their base was located. Plus, as a wanted felon, it was necessary for the pyrokinetic to disguise herself.

"That's pretty cool," said Maureen with awe.

"Practice makes perfect," Volcana proudly smiled, adjusting the last hairband. "I can teach you if you want."

A point of pride for her, was her long mane of red hair, stretching down to her ankles. Unfortunately, she had been forced to accept that it was a tad too distinctive, the sort of thing that led people to find her, even during her time as an involuntary government assassin. So she had taken the time to master the Secret Womanly Arts of Hairstyling. Her time imprisoned by Superman on that island had led her to experiment more with braiding her hair, making it her newest preferred method. Now she could compress the whole mass into something much smaller and more manageable, if still artistic, and then cover that up with whatever suited her. Voila!

(Washing the whole mess of it was a painful, if necessary, price to be gorgeous.)

Today's choice of a finishing touch was a turquoise scarf over her head, which went perfectly with the autumn weather. While the sunglasses she put on next were not as seasonal, their rich green tint disguised her red eyes without making it seem obvious, like the dark shades she used to favour, while making it seem like an act of vanity. Well, they did make her look more beautiful, except that was beside the point.

"Hey! Can I come along too?"

Looking around, they saw a beaming Luffy jogging up to them, waving his hand even though they could clearly see him. "You and Mauri are going shopping, yeah?"

"Yep!" chirped Maureen.

"Can I come along too?" repeated Luffy, all but hopping around.

"I thought you were the one who said we had to lay low?" pointed out Volcana, trying to resist his charms. It was like a puppy wanting to go out and play. All bright and innocent. Also, she had a feeling he would be tagging along regardless of what she said.

Deflating at that, he gave a sullen response, "I know. I just want to get out for some fresh air and see some interesting stuff. Besides," —his mega-watt grin was back at full strength— "you and Mauri and can help remind me to keep out of trouble."

"I'm not a babysitter." She diligently did not look at Maureen, who she knew wanted Luffy to come along. Worse, there was good reason too, for while he not the best role model, he did know how to help someone who had been tormented by loneliness for too long. He was friendly, outgoing, and knew just how much physical contact to give to someone who had been touch starved. He always seemed to know just the right time and place to rest an encouraging hand on her shoulder, wrap her up in a hug, and other actions of warmth for someone who not too long ago would have risked freezing him to death for such gestures.

Fortunately —and predictably— the ice user's control of her powers had improved with Chopper's medications, and being allowed to feel safe and comfortable once again.

Succinctly, his wild habits aside, Luffy was good for Maureen.

Or so Volcana would like to believe.

"Awwwww, c'mon," he pressed, hopping from one foot to the next, still smiling ear to ear. "It'll be great! When's the last time it's been just the three of us?"

Despite his sunshine routine, Volcana hesitated. Recent events had been an eye-opener for her regarding her boss. Her . . . friend?

While he was not a danger to her and her charge, intentionally, the fact remained that the mysteries surrounding him and the rest were continuing to grow. Moreover, for all of Luffy's authority, the core members of their gang preferred to keep an eye on him.

Were Zoro, Sanji, Robin, and the rest letting him go with her as a way of demonstrating they trusted her?

"Does anyone else know you're coming along?" she hedged.

"Nah. They were arguing over what sick pig I would do best with, so I left them to it. Besides! It'll be fine!"

Maureen looked at Volcana with a confused look, her nose crunched cutely, and mouthed, "sick pig?" and Volcana only shrugged helplessly, eyeing the still-beaming Luffy. It was probably something to do with food. It was always was with him.

Faced with that wide smile and faith, she could only do the same. As had been happening increasingly lately, there was also a strange warmth in her chest.

Yes, it'll be fine. I doubt they'll even notice we're gone.

!JUSTICE!

It has been remarked that a bored Luffy is a terrifying thing.

An unsupervised and bored Luffy is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. An immutable law of physics. Somehow made worse by the fact he does not go looking to cause chaos, or be malicious about it. It is simply an inevitable consequence.

So obviously, one would assume the rest of the Straw Hats would be keeping their customary close eye on their Captain. Alas, they were all a bit distracted by events going on in the rec room.

Robin and Brook were playing what was probably the most epic game of ping-pong ever. She was currently sporting eight hands, each of them wielding a paddle. In contrast, he only had one, yet the speed and precision of his arms honestly surpassed even Zoro—if not the man's power and skill. Regardless, it was a duel of quality versus quantity as the ball rocketed back and forth between them, while a small audience cheered.

Franky, Chopper, and Usopp were in a lively argument over which Houses the Straw Hats would be sorted into if they went to Hogwarts.

(Hogwarts = Hog + Warts = sick pig = yucky meat.)

Luffy had wandered off after they had concluded he would be a Hufflepuff. Not because they discounted his staggering commitment to his ambition, bravery (although Usopp had argued it was less courage, and more that he literally did not understand fear, so it did not count), or surprising chivalry. It was merely because of how they perceived him as the warm glue that held their nakama together, and treasured his friends so fiercely; ergo, Hufflepuff, and they were confident that was what he would choose if Sorted.

The easiest ones to Sort were Robin and Nami, as both of them were Slytherin to the core, with a touch of Ravenclaw. Nami would have all the ambitious little brats under her complete control, assuming possession of all their assets, while as a side project she would manage the whole school budget—probably even finding the money for better teachers, so as to not waste her tuition fees. Nor would she tolerate Voldemort's attempts to 'poach' her minions! During all of this, obviously Robin would be the puppet-master, pulling strings from the shadows. Although Usopp had argued she may try to go to Hufflepuff to disguise herself as innocent sheep, until he was overruled by the 'Dark Lady' herself, when she briefly paused her game. "I think black and green suit me better," she said with mysterious smile that made everyone but Chopper shiver a little.

(About half an hour had been lost in an argument over whether being proficient in Haki, otherwise known as "ambition," indicated you held strong traits for Slytherin within you, with no conclusive answer.)

Their present argument was a down and dirty one on whether Zoro belonged in Slytherin for his own ambition, or Gryffindor for his reckless need to charge into danger. The man in question was studiously ignoring them, including Franky's impassioned speech that his bravery was merely a reflection of his commitment to his SUPER Man's Dream.

As for Luffy, the debaters assumed he had gone to join the crowd watching the ping-pong game, or entertain himself with the chess game. Not the game of strategy itself of the course, but the show that was the players themselves.

After all, everyone else was crowded around the match going on between Harley and Sanji. They were surprisingly evenly skilled too. While Harley was insane, she was also brilliant enough to use that to her advantage, making bold, seemingly random, high risk plays that could pay off spectacularly. Not to mention the ex-psychiatrist was good at getting into the heads of people, with this game being an excellent example. For example, while usually the pirate's resident tactician would rather gut himself than 'beat' a woman in any manner, this time she had promised him two kisses if he won. Because she wanted a good competition.

(She never specified the kisses would be from Bud and Lou the Hyenas, or where.)

For a prize such as that, Sanji would do everything short of selling his own soul to win!

(Although the only reason selling his soul was not an option was because Nami had forbidden the Straw Hats from doing so.)

!JUSTICE!

[Flashback]

"If anyone's going to be selling any of your souls, it's gonna be me!" declared Nami.

"""NOOOOOOO!""" screamed Luffy, Brook, Chopper, and Usopp all together.

"Tch, that just proves you're a witch," went Zoro.

As he was out of arm's reach, and Sanji was absent (he was informed of this new decree later), she merely stuck her tongue out at him while winking.

"Although," and now the swordsman's expression lit up with interest, "it might be interesting to fight the Devil in Hell."

"Eh," dismissed Luffy, "place's overrated."

"Heh," grinned Grundy. "Good one."

"Huh?"

"Your joke about being in Hell," clarified the zombie. He was proud of his improving sense of humour thanks to Brook.

For a moment Luffy looked confused, before a series of emotions flashed over his face too fast to identify. "I've broken in and out of Hell," he flatly informed them.

The recruited supervillains looked at the man they knew to be incapable of lying, and eyes widened in shock and no small amount of fear. They also caught how the rest of the Straw Hats clamped down on their emotions . . . and failing, as however briefly a haunted look still shone through for them all. Even Sanji had mysteriously appeared.

Needing to be sure, Cheetah carefully asked, "You were in Hell. The actual Hell. Like the whole levels of torment?" She meant 'circles of Hell,' yet was still adjusting.

"That's what I said!" Luffy snapped crossly. "I had to go down there."

Luffy went thoughtful, which was very strange. It made his words weigh more. That was until his words were finally and fully registered.

"YOU— . . . You wanted to get into hell?"

"WHY?"

"HOW?"

"No, why? WHY? JUST WHY!?"

Luffy had a very fierce look in his eyes, tainted with sadness and regret.

"I just had to."

The other villains wanted to demand some kind of explanation, yet not only was there Luffy's expression to consider, each of them suddenly felt a heavy hand on their shoulder's from a Straw Hat standing behind them, and the death glare the other Straw Hats were giving them, made them think better of it.

"It was easier getting in, than getting out," Luffy finally announced.

No one dared even comment about that. The atmosphere was suffocating.

Suddenly he beamed a grin once more. "In fact, that's where I met Jinbe!"

They all could breathe again.

The Earth natives turned to the massive, beastly being. A flicker of sorrow went through his eyes, before a glint of mischief took place. With a solemn nod he confirmed it. "Indeed, and I was most surprised to see him in the deepest pit of it!"

"Yeah! Glad though, 'cause that's how we met!"

"Indeed, that remains a special moment for me."

"I also met Iva-chan there."

Sanji had sudden coughing fit. He didn't even have his cigarette in his mouth; choking on air.

"Who is that?" Cheetah asked dreading the answer.

"He is the Queen of the Okama! Uhm, or is it king? . . . I think it's the Queen. Right, Sanji?"

Sanji's coughing intensified.

"What does he do?"

"He's some kind of miracle worker. Oh, and if you annoy him enough, he can turn you into women! Or into men, and then turn you back again."

"Hell has okama? And they're important there?" whispered Poison Ivy. The man-hater had honestly never given much thought to transsexuals before.

Then a new, potentially horrifying question arose:

Was Sanji originally a woman?

What. The. What. Huh!?

Brain stalled, she nearly missed Volcana's question.

"I have a question. Is the hell hot or cold?"

"What? Why ask that."

"What?! Some say that hell fire will burn you, and some say it'll freeze you, so which is it?"

Luffy answered with shrug "Both. All. There was fire, boiling blood, ice cold, like so cold I almost froze without Iva's help, and there're plants that cut you up, beasts, and . . . the bastard hydra was hard to beat."

"Hydra, as in the serpent-like monster with three heads? That Hydra?"

"Yeah, he was a real pain!"

"Do you think it's too late for me to change my path and become a good law-abiding citizen . . . ?" wondered Clayface mournfully.

"Eh, don't worry," Luffy said with a dismissive gesture. "I'll just break in, and get you out."

That finally stunned the supervillains into complete silence.

The moment stretched on, with no one knowing what else to say. So, feeling bored, their leader declared, "So what's for dinner?"

With that, Luffy skipped off to find Sanji.

The rest of the Straw Hats followed after him, with Nami pausing in passing long enough to delicately close Cheetah's open mouth.

!JUSTICE!

Present

So Sanji stuffed tissues up his nose for every time Harley batted her eyes at him, and committed himself to victory. Chopper gave up on trying to stop him, despite the risk of a repeat of the disaster of meeting the mermaids.

(He had been stockpiling bags of the man's blood since then anyways, to help prevent a repeat. With enough enthusiasm to make Usopp speculate Chopper had become part-vampire during their two year separation—which of course Robin considered adorable.)

Zoro was having fun jeering at Sanji, because he figured win or lose, he would be seeing the chef moaning in despair.

Good times, good times.

!JUSTICE!

It was a long drive to the neighbouring city, and Volcana's will broke down about halfway there.

Luffy and Maureen were in the back, talking about anything from TV shows one minute, to giggling together about Usopp's latest prank against Sanji, and the inevitable retaliation.

"Y'know, Luffy," the older and definitely more mature of the three of them finally said, "if I didn't know better, I'd almost think you guys could be heroes. Like the Justice League."

"Huh," he responded, puzzled. "Why?"

It was a fair question. Indeed, one that she and the other new recruits had danced around in the past regarding the Straw Hats. Except then something would happen, like Robin giving hints to her own bloody history. The kind that would have someone charged with war crimes if they was ever traced back to her.

She had known for a while there was a darkness of sorts in their pasts. The evidence lay in not only scars they bore —and she knew they would have more if not for Chopper's miracle cures— but in the ease with which they slipped into violence. The bloodthirsty expression on Zoro's face at even the mention of possibly fighting strong foes, and the hardess which entered the eyes of the others. The combat training they threw themselves into with sweat and blood. The familiarity and preference in committing crimes.

However, she was inclined to believe it had been circumstances which had pushed them into such lifestyles. Some were born into loving and comfortable lives without any threats to them, and other people . . . were not so fortunate.

Like herself. And like her, the Straw Hats had raised themselves above that, meaning any gestures of pity would be taken as the insult they were.

None of her business either.

Until Clayface had mentioned Blackbeard.

The very mention of that name had raised an incandescent rage in the usually happy-go-lucky, self-proclaimed captain, which had been terrifying in its intensity as it strained against its leash. Moreover, she and the other newbies continued to have no idea of what really triggered it. What was it about 'Blackbeard' which provoked him?

Up to that point, she had thought she had understood Luffy.

While immature, he was good with people. Selfish, yet incredibly kind at the same time without it seeming like a contradiction. More of a selfish desire to see those around him be happy. Dumb . . . yeah, he was an idiot most of the time. Except for how he had been smart enough to surround himself with some pretty bright people. Whimsical, even if he stuck to whatever had caught his fancy.

Strong. Yes, very strong. She suspected it would take her hottest flames to seriously hurt him. Moreover, whether it was because of that power, or something else, people felt compelled to obey him when he was serious and giving out commands. Something that made him stand taller than everyone around him, making them trust he knew the right thing to do.

Definitely a complicated mixture once you really got to know him. Despite this, after a life of having to know exactly what kind of people she was dealing with, Volcana had believed she had gained his measure. Right up until she had seen another side to him when the name of an infamous pirate was uttered.

For all that Luffy wore his emotions openly on his face, it was patently clear there were hidden, dark currents to him.

Dangerous currents.

But . . .

For all that . . .

For all her justifiable concerns, including why she did not want Maureen too involved in their activities . . .

The Straw Hats make Volcana feel safe and warm. She laughs without scorn or malice as she has not since before her parents sold her to the government. Sees them helping Harley and Maureen heal, letting Clayface and Cheetah know the wonder of acceptance, and even prickly Poison Ivy is lightening up when she is supposed to hate all Humans, particularly men. A gang of highly aggressive control freaks on the run from the law and capes, finding themselves able to relax for days on end.

(Before they had all been on their own, and Volcana knew nothing else would have brought them together into being this strange band of friends.)

The type of people who might rob and steal from the banks one moment, and the next rise to the defense of the weak being bullied.

(So long as the injustice was right front of their faces; they would not go seeking it out. They were not angels.)

For crying out loud, she knew they could have found ways to make a legitimate profit other than making wonder medicines, or they could have gouged their prices higher for that matter!

Luffy may be a criminal, but he was also a kind one. The first she had ever met. Which should be impossible, since 'criminal' and 'kind' should not go together, as this was no Robin Hood story. Except with him . . . it felt right.

No, what she was now coming to suspect was the Straw Hats had all been supervillains —or worse— at one point in their lives (even if she had never heard of them before), whom Luffy had sought out and brought together. Helping them reform into people they could be proud of once more. Providing them with a home. Companionship. Family. Which felt in a way, just like what he was doing for her and the other newbies.

Gently guiding and encouraging until they were what she could already see herself, and Cheetah, Poison Ivy, Harley, and all the rest becoming . . .

All of it had been so confusing that it had been one of the reasons she had thrown herself so much into her combat training lately, trying to put the stress aside. Not that it had successfully stopped the thoughts from bouncing around.

"It's just . . ." Volcana hesitated as she tried to find words to suffice without confusing him. "All of you, seem more like the type to protect people, to help them. Not abuse or take advantage of them. Nami acts greedy, and she is, yet I've also seen her slip money to the homeless who are honestly trying to make a living, and don't do drugs. When we were slipping by that apartment window and heard that abusive husband, well, it was probably the angriest I've ever seen Zoro when he went to deal with the man. I don't know why you're all into this theft and secrecy, even if deep down I know a big part of what you're doing is for the sake of each other.

"Honestly, all together, I wouldn't be surprised to see you guys going around as caped heroes. Or vigilantes at worse."

Maureen dutifully nodded, while Luffy seemed to think it over before shrugging (with his thin, thin shoulders she knew hid a strength that could crush steel) and gave a sigh. "We just do what we want to do. We're not heroes though, because we're not giving up our meat. Or our booze. Or gold."

". . . Huh?"

"Heroes are the kind of guys who if they have a bunch of meat will share it with others! I'm not that kind of guy!"

"No, that's not it!" she hotly rebutted. "Heroes are . . ." Words failed her as she trailed off as she tried to elaborate.

What does make a person a hero . . . ?

Taking her silence as an answer, Luffy gave a cheeky grin. "See what I mean? I'll leave that sort of stuff to Superman. He's seems the type to share his meat around."

"Or leave you trapped on an island," she muttered, before clearing her throat. "He still fights to save the planet though. People look up to him."

Unfortunately, she knew there was more to being a hero than only that.

A part of her marveled that a part of her still believed in heroes after everything that had happened to her. The true depravations and cruelties mankind was capable of. When she escaped the life of a government weapon, she had been branded as a villain.

The world was not as black and white as Superman believed.

"Or," she managed to force out, "simply helping people out. Er, guess you don't need powers. It's what actions you take . . .?"

"Well," now Luffy's smile was kinder as he stared at Volcana, carrying a hint of the young man's hidden core of wisdom, "if a hero is measured by protecting people and being someone to be admired, then you'd be a hero too."

A glance in the rear-view mirror at Maureen's adoration and Luffy's naked respect was more than she could stomach. Gulping hard, her eyes swiveled back to fixate on the road ahead.

Volcana was quiet for the rest of the drive, while after a few minutes Maureen and Luffy went back to talking about everything and nothing.

!JUSTICE!

"Surprised you didn't have an aneurysm over taking her queen," mocked Zoro. Indeed, Chopper was clearly observing, clipboard at the ready as he took notes to record the chef's medical condition.

"Shut. It. Mosshead," growled Sanji as he put aside Harley's former chess piece. Although maybe if I asked her for psychiatric counseling because I was 'traumatized' by it? Alone? And then we could—He banished that mental though. It had only been a few days really since she had broken away from the Joker. Let her heal at her own pace.

A rumbling voice carried over the room. "Good, very good, Grundy." Glancing over, they saw the zombie and Jinbe now playing air hockey. "You need to use precise strength to play properly, and can still have fun at it too."

While it was a little funny given how tiny the Fishman's arms were in comparison, Grundy's beaming smile on his pale, cracked face, was a thing of beauty.

By the massive big-screen TV, Usopp was sorting through various films they had 'liberated' at one point or another. "No, not Romeo and Juliet," he finally decided. "Don't get me wrong, I trust you if you say it's a classic."

"It really is," said Clayface. "So what's wrong?"
"The romantic tragedy part. When we're all supposed to be crying, Robin'll be giggling, and that's always all sorts of creepy."

"Ah. Yes."

They sorted through some more, aiming for something they would all enjoy.

(Every pirate film was conspicuously absent.)

"Zombie thriller?" offered Clayface. "I doubt Grundy'd mind."

Shuddering, Usopp shook his head. "No thanks. Brings back bad memories."

"Y'know," commented Cheetah, lounging on a nearby couch, "I know you guys are private about your pasts, but sometimes I wonder if we'd even believe you if you did tell us it all."

Snorting, Usopp shook his head. "You have no idea. Everything from a fish that eats islands to Luffy running around carrying beautiful princesses."

Both Earth natives twitched at that last one. "Should we be worrying about mini-Luffy's running around?" Cheetah cautiously asked. While he had mentioned before there was a woman who wanted to marry him, she was only know struck by the disconcerting possibility there might be more than one woman who felt that way, and there were more, well, Luffy's running around.

"AH HA HA HA HA HA! NO! Don't you worry, even if Luffy knew how to make kids, Sanji'd have strangled him already! Ain't that right . . . Luffy?" The last bit was broken off in a painful whisper as Usopp whirled around.

No Luffy.

A chill racing up and down his spine, he brought up his Observation Haki, and looked around in every direction with his enhanced vision and growing senses. Cheetah and Clayface were clearly curious as he ignored them.

If he ever got around to making a rulebook on being a Straw Hat (which would be filled with a long, long, loooooong list of Things Not To Do), the first rule would be:

Nakama forever.

Rule #2?

Always make sure Luffy's supervised.

Rule #3 was don't leave Luffy supervising the food. Not unless you wanted to starve.

Robotically he drew his slingshot, snatched up a new seed he and Ivy had developed, and fired it at the chessboard.

A tentacle monster of vines burst out and snatched up the game, with Sanji swooping up Harley and pulling her safely aside.

Poison Ivy, Cheetah, Harley, and Clayface's eyes all bugged out as they realized the perverted man had crossed the distance faster than they could process.

Silence fell for a moment as tensions spiked across the room. Robin caught the ping-pong ball out of the air.

"Where's Luffy?" asked Usopp in a dead tone.

All Straw Hat's mobilized themselves to confirm their Captain was missing.

Which, frankly by this point in their adventures, was embarrassing.

As in, bribing and coercing all witnesses to forget about all this so as to not tell anyone how they missed that Luffy was off on his own!

Wait.

"Volcana and Maureen are gone too," declared Zoro, both eyes closed to focus on his Haki.

"But you haven't explored the rest of the base," pointed out Harley, shrugging out of Sanji's unresisting arms.

"No, he's right," said Sanji, which was shocking in itself. "They were planning a shopping trip."

Instantly the facts clicked together.

Nami shoved her hands under her shirt and between her breasts, and after some fidgeting, pulled out a bulky phone and dialed it. "Hello? Volcana?"

"Hello," came back the reply over the speaker phone. "What's up?"

"Where are you!?" Usopp called out, with Franky's little toy easily picking him up.

"In the car of course. Why else would you call the car phone?"

Holding up an imperious hand to her nakama, Nami retook control. "Is Luffy with you?"

"Hey Nami!" Well, that answered that.

"Where are you?"

"We're just pulling up at the mall now."

"Just some shopping," assured Volcana.

"We're aren't having to turn around, are we?" a pleading younger voice broke in, quick enough on the uptake to see where this was going. Even Nami's resolve wavered before it. It was hard to put down the dreams of someone like Maureen. Especially since she was showing the strength to keep on moving despite what life had thrown at her. "Just. . ." she hesitated. "Just don't do anything that'll make the news."

With that said, she hung up before anyone could say something to jinx them all.

"Sooooo, we're not going after them?" clarified Brook.

"If they're already at the mall, it's already too late," groaned Nami into the palms of her hands. "And Volcana will take it as an insult if we run over there."

"Eh, whatever happens, Luffy'll handle it," Zoro grunted. Probably.

"It would take the jet to get there fast enough anyways," pointed out Franky, "which would risk blowing our cover."

"So we stay and wait," Nami outright moaned with dread. "And later tonight we're giving everybody a full lecture on the Rules. Maybe with a test. Essay format."

!JUSTICE!

Despite Nami's parting words, Volcana still felt vindicated by the faith they were showing in her. Oh, granted, Luffy's disguise was not going to win any Oscars. From out of nowhere he had pulled out a fake and oversized white mustache and beard get-up. Large, dark sunglasses, and a fedora of all things he had on top of his signature straw hat, which was hanging from its string on his back.

"Luffy—" she began with a pained voice at the amateur disguise attempt.

"Lucy."

"What?"

"Call me 'Lucy!'"

Well, it was not the worst alias, but still . . . "Do you really think all that will keep people from figuring out who you are?"

He cocked his head as if in thought, before grinning again. "Yep! Worked before!"

She figured there was a story there. She also figured that it involved ludicrous amounts of property damage.

Well, alright, as ridiculous as he appeared, and certain to garner attention, there was no way to recognize him like this. Now it was just a matter of him keeping his big mouth shut, a responsibility she was more than ready to assist with.

With that happy thought, they all walked into the city's large supermall.

As they walked in, they missed the suddenly piercing attention by a man in a drab, grey trench coat as he studied Volcana's face for a second. Without missing a beat he looked away, and humming a pop tune, continued on his way to the parking lot.

He had a phone call to make.

!JUSTICE!

Later

Nami of course had been the one to first push for the idea of helping build Maureen's self-confidence via shopping. Well, more specifically she had flipped through a psychologist textbook for the proper terms, and phrased it as "an outgoing experience with simple, low-risk decisions in quick succession to reaffirm her confidence in her ability to act and chart her own life." While everyone else was trying to figure out what she meant, she, Robin, and Volcana, had slipped out with Maureen for a "practical demonstration."

Really, supposed to be laying low or not, Nami really, really liked shopping. Volcana had to step in a few times to keep her from overwhelming the ice user, with stuff like trying to dress her up in all sorts of outfits the older teen picked out for her.

"Awwwww, I used up my allowanced already," whined Luffy, looking at his empty pouch.

Giggling, Maureen shook her head. "You spent it all on treats, silly! Were they good though?"
"Oh yeah! Except not as good as Sanji's obviously."

"Obviously."

The younger woman only had a few purchases, and not only because they did not want to draw attention with a whole pile of them. She remained fairly frugal at this, even if she was collecting more and more stuff for herself. Although while she had tried to hide it, Volcana knew she had bought a few more picture frames. Collecting pictures of us? Or maybe to give away as presents? Cute.

Maureen's stomach rumbled. Immediately after, Luffy's took the cue to do the same, despite the candy he had been getting as they browsed along.

Glancing at her watch, she realized that yes, time really had flown by. "Time for lunch I guess," she smiled.

"Food! Food! Food!" Luffy eagerly chorused before spinning around to point in a specific direction. "Food court's thataway!"

Giggling some more, Maureen was both amused and impressed. "You always know where the food is, dontcha?"

"Of course! Besides, we still need to fill you up some more."

While Maureen was doing much better, she remained in her early teenage years, and thus her body demanded lots of food. While she was much healthier and well-fed since she had gotten off the streets, even Sanji's miracle recipes could not cure that damage overnight. Fortunately, Chopper was confident his treatments would keep her growth from being stunted.

Sticking out her tongue, "Well I'll just steal from Volcana's tray to help her cut back!"

"Hilarious," deadpanned the older woman. "I'll have you know I'm already back to my old trim self."

"Only because you worked yourself to the bone in the gym. An' don't think I didn't see you fighting to ignore Sanji's usual spread."

"Yep," nodded Luffy. "Cheetah and Harley were doing the same for some weird reason. Oh well, more for us!"

"Yeah!"

Smiling in resignation, Volcana could only shake her head. Although she dared not breathe a word to the other women, creating fire helped burn calories as well; if not fast enough for her satisfaction without regular exercise. "Just you two wait until you're older, and can't eat whatever you want anymore. Then you'll see what I mean."

She burst out laughing at the look of absolute horror plastered over Luffy's expression.

!JUSTICE!

It was a fair-sized food court, with lots to offer. Made sense given how it was basically the only real mall in town.

Luffy loaded up his two trays with Chinese food, heavy on the meats. Maureen got a thick burger and fries, although she was nudged into getting a salad from a neighbouring vendor. The third member of the group chose Chinese as well, skipping on the sauces. She may or may not have also chosen some things she knew Maureen also liked, as an invitation to get a little extra to eat.

Out of habit, Volcana chose one of those tables that had both a booth and chairs. They sat in the booth with its back to the wall so no one could sneak up on them, and providing a view of everyone else. They deposited their purchases in the chairs, although the one opposite Luffy was empty so he could put his feet up on it (Sanji never let him do that). In unspoken agreement, Maureen was maneuvered into the center where they could protect her best.

Fortunately, Luffy showed some discretion, and did not scarf his meal down like usual, taking the time to savour it and eat it at a normal, Human pace. From the happy sounds he made, he obviously enjoyed the food. Although, Volcana suspected he would be content even with squirrels roasted on a skewer, as meat was meat for him, and all good things involved meat and 'nakama.'

Suddenly he cocked his head to the side as if in thought. "Hmmmmmm."

"What's wrong?"

". . . Nothing," he finally said, although he looked a little conflicted. "Maybe."

!JUSTICE!

A sharply dressed man walked up to one of the food vendors, and politely ordered a tray full of food.

He paid in cash, and thanked them for the service, leaving the employees a little happier after their day.

!JUSTICE!

Something caught the corner of Volcana's eye, her stomach dropping as she recognized mall cops calmly yet quietly urging people away from the food court.

"It's fine," Luffy grunted through a stuffed mouth.

Before she could demand an answer, someone stepped in front of their table. "Excuse me, may I sit here?"

Carrying two very full trays of food, was Superman.

Blue suit, red cape, and all.

"Sure," grinned Luffy.

"Thank you." Ignoring the heated glare Volcana was shooting him, while her plastic fork melted in her hand, he gestured at the chair in front of Luffy, who belatedly remembered to take his feet off it. The hero pulled back the chair with his own foot, and sat down in front of her boss. He selected two hot dogs and a drink from the pile, and pushed the rest towards Luffy. "Here. I bought extra 'cause I know from Flash how much you like to eat."

"Thanks!"

!JUSTICE!

Author Notes:

Thanks to David Drake and Sir Terry Pratchett, whose brilliant novels were also very helpful getting through some mental blocks.

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Some changes were made to chapter 9 to flesh out Luffy's thoughts on what is happening to Gotham more.

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In the comics, Myrto the Amazon was at one point one of Hippolyta's personal guard. Said bodyguards were imprisoned when in their fanaticism they tried to kill a baby Diana. Not really relevant to this story –I simply needed a name— yet putting this in for anyone who wondered why she sounded familiar.

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The reference to how Batman's secret (and yes, illegal) surveillance system in the prison is why Star Sapphire was still in there, as opposed to being free for Luthor to recruit in the canon version of this episode.

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Before anyone starts a debate on what House Luffy belongs to at Hogwarts, and goodness knows there are oodles of those on the internet, remember that this is not the opinion of us (semi)objective fans, but the Straw Hats' perception of him. Same for Zoro.

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For those with good memories, yeah Nami's pscyho-babble about shopping is from Schlock Mercenary. Go read it if you are unfamiliar with the webcomic.

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THIS STORY HAS A TVTROPES PAGE!

I AM SO VERY EXCITED AND HONOURED ABOUT IT, AND COLOSSAL THANKS TO DIGIXBOT!

www DOT tvtropes DOT org/pmwiki/pmwiki DOT php/Fanfic/Justice

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Next Chapter: 'Injustice for All, Part 4'

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Please Review, and I will get back to you!