Sitting at a large, silver table sat seven of the world's greatest superheroes: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Aquaman, Green Lantern, and Martian Manhunter.
Adjacent to the table was a holographic display of the locations of each boom tube opening, two in Metropolis, one in Gotham, and one in Star City.
"I've this kind of display of force before", Superman began, "Steppenwulf did something similar a few years back before Darkseid first arrived."
"And I we thought we kicked his ass hard enough make him want to stay away from Earth." Green Lantern added.
"Apparently not", Manhunter monotonously replied "perhaps we should approach the matter diplomatically. If Darkseid is unaware of the matter, his cooperation could be a possibility."
"No it's not," Superman retorted sternly, "Darkseid doesn't negotiate. He conquers."
Superman didn't actually hate many things, he's always trying to find the good in everything and everyone, but whenever Darkseid is brought up in discussion, it gets harder and harder to tell the difference between him and Batman.
"Maybe a show of force of our own could convince Steppenwulf, and maybe even Darkseid, that Earth is off limits... for good." Wonder Woman proposed proudly.
"What kind of show of force?" Aquaman asked.
"A one on one duel on neutral ground. He's no match for me!" Wonder Woman announced, again with ample pride.
"That sounds like an easy way to walk into a trap, Diana." The Flash informed her hesitantly.
"Yes, but wouldn't Darkseid see that as cowardice on the part of Steppenwulf?" Wonder Woman said.
Everybody collectively realized that Batman hadn't said a single word. He's usually the strong silent type, yes, but whenever the League strategized, he was always quick to tell them how dumb their plan was.
"Anything to add, Bruce?" Superman asked his friend.
"What?" the Dark Knight responded, seeming to snap back into reality.
Batman had a lot on his mind, his love for Selina, that police officer that died in the attack and how Comissioner Gordon was handling it, how it made his stomach turn that he liked the sound it made when he ripped apart a parademon...
"Sorry... things have been... busy."
"Are you alright?" Manhunter asked.
Batman cleared his throat and readjusted his right gauntlet. The Flash recognized that particular quirk of his as one he enacted when he felt vulnerable, but he'd never point it out, not out of fear, but because Barry had a lot of respect for Bruce as a fellow detective, but he was also proud if him for calling the people he protects his home with his 'family' the same way Barry called his wife Iris and her cousin, Wally, family.
"Don't worry about me," Batman turned his head to Wonder Woman, "your plan to humiliate Steppenwulf could work, but he shouldn't fight you."
Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow.
"Why not me? I'd beat him in under a minute!"
"You're from a tribe of immortal warriors that were believed to be legend for centuries. I'm saying, if you insist this is your preferred course of action, it should be a mortal; someone who's fallible, but powerful enough to beat him"
"Like you?"
"No, I won't be able to. Recent developments in Gotham require my full attention."
He convinced himself that be was referring to the spike in murders reported across Miagani Island. In reality, he was thinking of that wonderfully mysterious creature in purple leather.
"Then who do you have in mind?" Wonder Woman asked, humoring the World's Greatest Detective.
"Captain Marvel."
"Oh, Billy's gonna love this." Arthur commented amusingly.
"Hhmh." Batman chuckled.
The Justice League, aside from Martian Manhunter stared at him.
"Did... did you just... laugh?" Superman asked.
Batman stood up and pulled his cape around his arms.
"No. Give him a call. I'm leaving."
Batman pushed in his chair, and walked toward the large hallway behind him.
He started to feel slighty light headed
"You seem highly distracted. That is very unlike you. I am deeply concerned, Bruce."J'onnzz' soft monotone thundered against his skull.
"Everything's fine, J'onn." Bruce thought, approaching the large entrance to the building.
"So it is. You've began giving off unusually positive telepathic vibrations. I congratulate you on discovering whatever it is that has affected you in such a way."
Batman opened the door and walked out to the parking lot.
"I um... thanks J'onn. Keep it to yourself though for now, alright? Things aren't set in quite stone, yet... I mean... I know what I want...but... it's just personal..."
He walked up to the Batmobile and pressed a button on his gauntlet, unlocking the driver's side hatch.
"I understand. Enjoy the rest of your day, my friend."
Batman got into the car and closed the hatch.
"Likewise... now get out of my head before I start flashing mental images that'll leave you brain dead."
Batman heard him chuckle, then the numbing sensation in the back if his head abruptly stopped.
Batman pushed a button on the dashboard and pulled Bruce Wayne's phone out of a compartment. He pressed and held the power button. While waiting for it to power on, he tapped the screen in the middle of the bat-shaped steering wheel. He looked out the window and saw a teenage boy pointing his camera phone at the idling Batmobile. It made him appreciate the early years when 'The Bat-Man' was just an urban myth that hunted down drug dealers. He remembered when he wore that costume with the black and grey color scheme with that simplistic bat silhouette on the chest, with those short purple gloves.
He felt his hand vibrate, the phone was finally on. He then turned the wheel counter-clockwise and stepped on the gas. The Batmobile sped past the picture-taking pedestrian and down the street.
"Batmobile command. Autopilot. Ryker Heights. 40th Street."
The steering wheel beeped. He let go of the wheel and held up the phone. He pressed the power key, entered his password and opened the messaging app. He began typing.
-I'm picking you up. Put on the suit.
A little bubble appeared with three wiggling dots.
-It's only 4:25. The cat comes out at night.
Batman typed his reply as the Batmobile exited the limits of Metropolis. He typed out his reply and hesitated. After a minute of yelling at himself in his head, he pressed send.
-I'm bringing you to the cave.
The dots popped up again.
-I heard there was a dinosaur and giant penny. If they're not there, I'm stealing your car.
-I'll be there in about a half hour.
Wait, which car?