Please note that "Green Lantern I" refers to Hal Jordan.
CHAPTER SIX: THE THREAT
The trainees followed the central Justice League members quickly. If the whole Justice League had been threatened, that meant the villain surely had a lot of guts—and possibly a lot of brains—to even think of doing such a thing.
"This doesn't seem right," Supergirl said. "If we were threatened, then this villain must have a lot of power. No other villain would dare to threaten the entire Justice League."
"It's probably a lie," Nightwing told her. "Most villains who are defeated by the League want revenge. They might threaten us just to mess around. This isn't going to last forever, you know."
Batgirl was thinking it all over. She wasn't sure what she was supposed to think. The thought that someone had decided to do such a thing scared her. Even through her costume she felt threatened. She took a swallow and sighed. She saw Wonder Girl look over to her with concern.
"Are you okay, Batgirl?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Batgirl replied. "Just thinking of who would even dare to do this. It's not a very good decision for them." She tried to laugh, but she was unable to do so. "Now let's just get over there and find out who's dared to do this terrible thing."
They entered the control room. A Green Lantern was standing by a monitor along with a beautiful young woman wearing a magician's outfit.
"What is it, Zatanna?" Wonder Woman asked.
"Hal and I were researching something he'd found on one of his missions," she said. "And then, while we were doing so, this came up." She clicked a few keys on the monitor's keyboard, and a warning sign came up. It was flashing red.
"And then we heard this," said Hal. He nodded to Zatanna, who clicked another few keys. The team suddenly saw a message written in red ink. Batgirl blinked a few times before she realized the message was actually a picture of a sign. The message read:
"Justice League, this is your final warning. Surrender, or die."
Batman turned to Black Canary. "Is that all?" he asked.
She shook her head. "No," she said. "Look closer at the picture."
The trainees all did so, and they realized the piece of paper was surrounded by a black shirt. Batgirl nearly gagged as she realized what the red ink truly was: blood. The black shirt belonged to a murder victim, she knew. She nearly fell to her knees, feeling disgusted. Supergirl looked over to her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Who sent this?" Batman asked.
"We're not sure," Zatanna replied. "There's no sign of a signal leading to a hideout. It's been making us feel uneasy."
Batman turned around and began walking out of the control room. "It won't happen," he said. "I've made sure none of this will happen." He exited the control room.
Batgirl wondered what she was supposed to think. She decided to follow him out, but stopped first and said back to Zatanna, "He can be like that, unfortunately. I'm real sorry."
The rest of the trainees followed her out of the control room, much to Batgirl's surprise. "Why are you guy's following me?" she asked.
"We just thought you might want us to," Supergirl replied.
Batgirl sighed. "I'm just going to see Batman," Batgirl told the trainees. "I might not seem like the person he wants to see at the moment, especially because of all that's happened, but I think I'm one of the people who can calm him down whenever he needs to be calmed down."
Then she turned away and began walking at a brisk pace to find Batman. Bruce, what in the name of God is going on in your mind? she thought.
She finally found Batman in the mess hall. He was standing there, surveying all the other Leaguers. Batgirl placed her hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"No," he replied. "You shouldn't be here. None of you should."
"What do you mean?"
"Something bad is going to happen. I can feel it. I don't want any of you around."
"What are you talking about?"
Batman opened his mouth yet again, but he was cut off by a blaring siren. Both he and Batgirl stared at one another, then turned their attention to the large screen on the large wall in front of them. The screen showed only static, but someone could be heard breathing, though the breathing seemed distorted. Soon a very distorted shape appeared.
"Citizens of Earth," the voice said. The voice itself was distorted, and Batgirl couldn't tell who the voice belonged to as a result. "There are many of us here from many different locations on Planet Earth, as well as from around many different universes even. We have come together to destroy those who plan to protect you and save you from whatever we have planned for you. This world is too small for us all, and we must cleanse it of the bad blood that runs through its veins. I believe the Justice League is listening in on this, and if I am correct, then I say this to you: we have sent our soldiers to your own protected cities. You protect those cities to make the citizens believe they are safe. Now it is time to test that. Soon enough your cities will burn. Your people will die. And their blood, instead of running through their veins, will run through the gutters of the rotting cesspool you once believed to be your great, beloved sanctuary. Those locations include Gotham, Metropolis, Star City, Central City, Themyscira, Atlantis, Coast City, Blüdhaven, Fawcett City, Hub City, and Keystone City. Fight us if you wish, but soon this world will fall to us, and it will all fade away. You all will be dead, we'll have won, and we can have our…jollies." A deep, distorted laugh came through. Then the voice returned. "Welcome to Hell."
And the transmission ended.
Batgirl turned to Batman, her baby-blue eyes open wide.
"What do we do?" she asked.
"Follow me," he said. When they turned around, the rest of the trainees and some of the central members of the Justice League were standing there.
"We're in trouble now," said Supergirl. "We need to do something."
"I know," Batman replied. "We will."
"Who do you think it was who sent the message?" Superman asked him. "I mean, I know it was that…Injustice League's leader, but can you think of who would be leading them?"
"I don't know. But we'll find out." And that was the last thing Batman said. Superman only nodded and took over from there.
"If he's sending his…soldiers to those locations, we need to send some of the League there," Superman said. He rubbed his face. "This is getting stressful. Anyway, let's begin." He walked to the balcony overlooking the mess hall. "We've been threatened, and it is time we respond to the threat. Many of you will be sent to the locations mentioned by the speaker of the threat. The founding members of the League will go to their respective locations. Batman will head to Gotham, myself to Metropolis, Wonder Woman to Themyscira, Flash to Central City, Aquaman to Atlantis, Green Lantern I to Coast City. Several of you will accompany them, including the new trainees." He turned to Wonder Woman. "Give them their designations when I tell you to." She nodded. He looked to the trainees. "It's best I tell you who you'll be going with. Robin, you're going to Atlantis with Aquaman. I don't want the same trainees to go with their mentor, in the case of the mentor being captured. I'm sure that won't happen, but we have to be sure. If a mentor is captured, the trainee might know their abilities just as well as their mentor. It helps."
"This sounds like a plausible decision," Aqualad said. "I understand what you are trying to do, and I will follow it." This was followed by nods from the central members and the trainees. Superman smiled and then continued.
"Batgirl, you and Supergirl will travel with Wonder Woman to Themyscira. It's better to send all women there. The last time some of the men of the Justice League set foot on their shores, the Amazons didn't receive it well." A small smile lifted his lips once more. "Wonder Girl, you will follow Hal Jordan, a.k.a. Green Lantern I, to Coast City. Red Arrow, you're going with Flash to Central City. Nightwing, we're sending you with Black Canary to Blüdhaven. I'm not sure if you've been there before."
"I have, actually," Nightwing replied. "I traveled there to become Nightwing. To find somewhere to start anew. So I'm no stranger to it."
"Good. Aqualad, I want you to come with me, and Kid Flash will be going with Green Arrow to Star City." He looked to Batman. "Do you wish to be alone?"
"I'm not," Batman told him. "I have backup there."
Superman at first seemed skeptical, and then remembered the person he was speaking of.
"So, that's it?" Batgirl asked. She smiled. "Well, this'll be fun. Sounds like we're going to see some action." She high-fived Supergirl.
"This isn't a game, Batgirl," Batman told her sternly. "These villains will kill you if you are not careful. We're not sure what we're up against, but I'm sure someone powerful is behind it."
Batgirl nodded, and as he walked away, she felt a little hurt by his words. She hadn't meant it in the way she believed he saw.
"Don't take it personally," Wonder Woman said to her. "I know what you meant. I'll talk to him about it later."
Batgirl nodded.
"It's time to go," Superman told her. "Report back if you see anything."
Wonder Woman and the others nodded, and hurried to get to the teleporter. As she ran alongside Supergirl and Wonder Woman, she wondered just who was behind all this.
Lex Luthor and Joker stood before Scarecrow, who still sat on his throne.
"Did it work?" Scarecrow asked.
"Yes," Lex said. "There's no way it can be traced back to here, thanks to Zoom. He's in his position. Speaking of such matters, I need to return to Metropolis soon."
"I need to return to Gotham, but I'll wait for now," Joker said. "There's some fun to be had tonight, especially when the Bat arrives and gets what's coming to him." He threw back his head and released his trademark laugh.
Scarecrow, however, did not smile. He was ready for what was coming, however. "This will work for us," he said. "I am ready for these events. I want to see just how long it takes for the sidekicks to fall. Once their mentors are gone, it will all be over. Soon we will win this fight. I am sure of it. This is the beginning of the end…for them. As for us, this is just the beginning. The beginning of our reign. As for every city, I must say that this is where you meet your demise. We are strong, for we are Legion."
