"Ok... so, no one is going to mention how the world went to shit in the last years?" Wally asked as both new and previous Young Justice League teams met up in the Watchtower, while the Justice League is having their own meeting.
"Not only Earth but Mars as well," Megan mentioned. "War seems to be brewing there, between the tribes, then suddenly there are anti-racism seminars and a new constitution was being signed, giving white martian's protection and security."
"Not to mention, how the League of Shadows just disappeared!" Artemis exclaimed, cuddling beside her redhead husband. "My father, Cain, Deathstroke, Lady Shiva, and the Al Ghuls all dead! Hell, all the League was massacred! Bodies dropping dead all over the globe! My sister even decided to join a superhero team, galloping all over the world when she is not home being a mom and wife. What the hell?!"
"For that, I am eternally grateful," Will commented. "Lian finally got her mom back."
"However, it still stands the fact that Cadmus, D.E.O, Checkmate, A.R.G.U.S, Leviathan, Spyral, and The Light all went to war trying to gain the territories The Shadows used to possess. "Conner grunted, crossing his arms over his chest, "They tore each other apart... surprisingly with not much collateral damage."
"Yes! Granny, The Furies, The Brain, Luthor, all the Savages... DEAD!" Beast Boy exclaimed. "Who could have done all of this?"
"To be fair, we don't even know if they killed The Shadows on purpose," Dick tried to placate his friends. "Zantana did sense demonic necromancy magic on them. And Dr. Fate confirmed that they worshipped a demon, who suddenly was exorcised."
"No demon means that the powers of The Pit no longer work," Tim theorized. "Also, the other deaths were done by the villains. By greed and pride. I know that many won't like me saying this, but good riddance. The world is better without them."
"Thanks to them, we discovered various new clones in the form of Arion and Orm. We were able to catch Black Manta and Oceanmaster." Kaldur agreed, hesitantly. "We were able to find the crown of Arion and move forward into a new chapter of unity under High King Mera's guidance."
WE also benefitted by merging LexCorp, thought Tim, being the businessman he was. Their cloning technology helped our scientists invent a 3D printer decades ahead of the medicine of today. Soon the organ donor shortage should be fixed. And we got a brand new sister. Everyone loves Cass.
"Tell that to Markkovia!" Cassie accused them. "They were saved, but whoever is planning this mayhem almost condemned them all!"
Everyone flinches at the reminder, A couple of years ago, a meta-human trafficking ring began to form. Its biggest location was Markovia, the other places were raided and stopped by The Renegades, a group of vigilantes that were mostly formed by previous villains, who got reformed. Like Cheshire, Ravanger, Poison Ivy, Harley Quinn, and their newest member, Red Hood. However, Markovia's ring was too big and had the backing of the Royal Family. The whole issue would be resolved a few months later with the fall of The Light. However, Waller grew concerned about the power of the other shadow organizations, and their on the growing meta-human army, a source she wanted to explote alone. So, she decided to strike Markovia with a nuke. Luckily, the lost princess Tara, known as Terra when she works alongside The Renegades, and the future queen of Markovia Violet, or Halo another member of The Renegades, were able to stop it by combining their power. Maybe, Waller thought she could get away with it, as she had done so many times before... however, this time Delphi exposed her. She was sent to Markovia, where she was executed by King Brion, aka Geo-Force, and had all her intelligence agencies dismantled.
"Not really..." Barbara, aka Batgirl, commented, leaning against her ex-boyfriend, Nightwing. "Markovia turned from the largest meta-human trafficking ring to the safe haven for all meta-humans. Every single corrupt politician was sent to prison and new laws and procedures for the protection and rights of all super-beings were in place only a couple of months later. Not to mention, half a year later the nuke accident, an Accord was signed by over 150 countries in the ONU, recognizing and giving security to everyone super. All those countries are looking at Markovia's example to follow."
"You think it was planned?" Pedrita inquired.
"I say that while the nuke might not have been in Delphi's plans, they used it to its best." Barbara corrected. "No matter how outraged the civilians were at this whole situation, even making allusions to the Nazis, no way so many countries would have moved so fast to create and sign an Accord that it's as close to perfect as humanly possible."
"Lately, there's a lot of movements and seminars for human rights, with all those ONGs popping out all over the continents," Cyborg replied. "The Birds Society in America, The Pantheon in Europe, The Amazon's Heart in Africa, The Order in Asia, and The Tasmanian's Monster Oceania. They..."
"When did they start popping around? Where did the money come from? Those properties they use as headquarters, what did they use to be?" Barbara shot back.
Cyborg did his tech-thing and gave a startled gasp: "They were created around all the chaos, the money came from The Light, Leviathan, Spyral, Cadmus, and Lex Luthor's black accounts. Also, from all those villains killed in the cross-fire. The properties were previous safe houses owned by those associations."
"There goes the idea of Delphi doing this for the money," Wally sighed.
"What about The Shadow's money and safe houses?" Artemis demanded to know.
Cyborg's eye shone but replied with a shocked sigh: "I've got nothing."
"Bat thinks that it's the way they are paying for The Renegades," Tim pitched in.
"So, they are going it for the power?" Conner inquired to no one in particular.
"Politicians, judges, ambassadors, agents, cops, even social workers in high positions replaced by people with the same political agenda as the ONGs and Mamrkovia. I wouldn't be surprised if the Intelligence Agencies created to fill the gaps of this Intelligence War are filled with Delphi's people." Megan commented. "Every single member of these associations that were trialed had media coverage and the lawyers were completely prepared for it. No deals whatsoever. No one slipped through the cracks. When I read the minds of the journalists and lawyers, I found that they each found a packet in their houses, filled with all the information they needed. Whoever is Delphi they are meticulous."
"If it's power they want, how is this helping them gain it?" Kaldur questioned. "The ONGs are not linked in any way, they do not belong to anyone, and no one knows who established them. Not even the employees. The people that replaced those corrupted have no idea who is giving them the intel packets and have no obligations to follow Delphi's plans. They are not forced or blackmailed, they do so out of their own free will."
"Have any of you thought that Delphi is one of us? That they are simply trying to help make the world better?" Will interrupted them, receiving a lot of incredulous looks. "Don't look at me like that! They are doing more for this world than all of us combined! All the biggest and evilest secret organizations are gone, without them killing anyone. Corruption is at its lowest! They got the supers recognized by the law and got them rights, for crying out loud! Delphi simply does things a little different, they do not punch their way to victory, because like with the missions The Renegades go to, busting shadow organizations, trafficking rings, and cults, it needs more finesse." Will sighed, relaxing as he saw them start to understand his point of view. "They decided that fighting does not work anymore, and decided to heal the world. For me I just say to let them be, they are doing a great job."
"But what will stop them from trying for world domination next?" Cassie exclaimed.
"Well, have they really forced anyone into anything?" Pedrita commented, looking not like a heroine but like a queen who had signed the Accords. "The only illegal thing they've done was hacking, and some money laundry to create ONGs. All Delphi has done was show what our world truly looked like and give us ideas on how to improve it. We simply decided to follow them. Even The Renegades were pardoned by the law and their hero work does not only endear them to the civilians but also serves as community service. All sanctioned by the ONU."
"With Atlantis, they did the same, gave King Orin the intel and left it in our hands how to proceed," Kaldur agreed.
"Even the Justice League breaks more laws than Delphi," Beast Boy joked, but his joke fell short.
"Since when did we stop trying to help and decided that we know best and tried to impose our sense of justice in the world?" Morgan asked horrified, realizing like the others that there's a different way to do things now.
"Does Delphi need to be the one watched? Or is it us?" Dick asked to the room grimly.
No one noticed Cyborg transmitting the whole meeting or his smile.
-Meanwhile in the Justice League Meeting-
"The Renegades added four new members," Captain Marvel announced. "Raven, Arsenal, Corvus, and SomeBody. We only have intel on SomeBody, her name is Maya Ducard, and her father used to be the mercenary NoBody. He died in the collateral damage of the Intelligence War. She now wears his invisible armor. Though, no one is privy oof this information other than us. As she possesses no previous record of wrongdoings, she did not need to hand in her identity to the ONU. I've got to give it to them though, they do know how to have a great time!" That comment got him chuckles from Barry and Hal.
"More tools for Delphi," Batman growled.
"Don't say that B," Clark scolded him. "The Young Justice have good points," he said, as they had all spied into their meeting. "The Renegades and Delphi have behaved better than us since the beginning... and have made more good than us as well, Even if the world does not know it."
"Especially because the world does not know it," Diana cut in. "They do not do this for the glory or for the recognition, but because it is right."
"Not to mention that unlike us they've been legally recognized since the beginning," added Hawkgirl.
"Their ranks are filled with psychos and killers!" Oliver snapped, still bitter that his son chose to follow and join that team.
"Two members that killed because that's what they were trained to do since birth, they were never given a chance and now they are working hard to gain one. A woman who was raped and abused to the point of insanity, but now is moving on and trying to do better. And finally, a meta-human who no one ever thought to check for psychological imbalance from her body turning from human to mostly plant!" This last part Dinah said glaring at Batman. "If anything it makes them more relatable to both public and criminals. They do not feel crushed by the pressure of the morals we try to impose on them!"
"They kill!" Bruce growled.
"They worked for the ONU, unlike us who work alongside them. They've got permission to kill if necessary. Or are you now going to tell the police they are not allowed to kill? To carry their guns and protect themselves?" barry snapped at him, gaining various startled looks. "I'm getting tired of you shit Bats! I do not kill because that's my prerogative, but I've never tried to impose it on others or judged them for it. Or do you judge Commissioner Gordon as well? He is a cop, I'm sure you know he has killed before."
"That's different!" Batman growled, giving Barry the bat-glare.
Normally it would scare him, but this time it only made The Flash angrier.
"How?! they work with the government! Every single death and mission is revised by a Pannel in the ONU. They are more legal than us! They never even crossed borders illegally since their forming under the Accord, which Blue there does daily! No matter how good the intentions are, it's still a crime!" Barry screamed in frustration. "Their work is delicate, not simply dealing with rogues, but the worst of this world! Cults, trafficking wings, mafias, the sort! Even reconstruction and environmental disasters, thanks to the power of Geo-Force, Terra, and Poison Ivy. Australia and the Amazon especially adore them! I would think you would be the one who would relate to them the most Bats! Tell me why should they and Delphi be hunted down? Why should it not be you?!" Everyone was now silently watching Barry in shock. "Delphi was the one to inform me in advance about the Reach and Black Beetle, the one that unintentionally saved Wally. They've done more for this world than you. So, get off your high horse when you can't even fix a city in the decades you've been active. Fix Gotham before starting to judge someone who is making leaps fixing the world in only a few years."
No one said a word. They could not believe such cruel words had left the lovable Barry Allen's lips. However, they could all silently agree with him. Delphi and The Renegades are doing better and more lawful work than them. Bruce, on the other hand, was silently fuming. How dare him?! After all the work he has done! After following his moral code and not killing the Joker! After... Jason...
"Is it the killing that truly bothers you? or the fact that they entered Gotham City and are hailed as their heroes?" Hall asked, with a mocking smirk, as always supporting his best friend.
If possible the air turned colder. A few months ago the USA representative in the ONU asked The Renegades to deal with Gotham's infestation. WE, The Wayne Foundation, and The Birds Society are trying to aid that city, and they are making leaps. However, the infrastructure destruction and their rogues are keeping the situation stuck. Or that's what they told the public, the fact that the Fear Gas and Joker Gas terrify the government was also an important fact. Some in the government wanted to use it but were cautious after Waller destroyed their reputation in the country and worldwide. The others that just wanted them gone, decided to strike while the iron was still hot and eliminate them. As they knew Bats don't kill they called in The Renegades. With the ONU's orders, the Justice League and Batman could not interfere, and with two Gothamites in the team, they were better received by the city. However, as always, they "discovered" a secret organization. So, as the rest dismantled the Court of Owls and killed Talon, Red Hood shot Scarecrow, Black Mask, Two-Face, and Doll Maker dead. What caught everyone's attention and raised Batman's hackles is how he killed the Joker... beaten to a pulp by a crowbar.
Delphi erased all intel of the Fear Gas and Joker Gas, and Harley burned all the paper trail. Information packets were given to the right lawyers as the Court of Owls' members were trailed outside of Gotham City (fearing the corruption would get them released) and their fortunes were donated to the Wayne Foundation and The Bird Society. They were all given medals and the keys to the city. There's even a mural of them in Crime Alley.
Batman suddenly pushed himself out of his chair and stalked out of the meeting room and back to Gotham City, his Colony following close behind. Not once noticing a special magical recording artifact in Captain Marvel's possession nor his secret smile.