The television played some shitty nineties music, or was it music from today? Barry didn't know, he'd not really listened to anything on T.V. for a long time. There just wasn't much time, between working at CCPD and trying to find out who had murdered his mom as well as being part of the Justice League. It was all a bit trying really, and now they were doing this whole intervening in other people's business thing. Yeah, the fact he had a spare day off to spend with Iris was something he wasn't going to question.
Speaking of Iris, his girlfriend sat down next to him and asked. "How are you doing Bear?"
Barry sighed, there had been bruises from the thing in Israel which were only beginning to heal, he didn't know that the Israeli government had metas locked up. That had horrified him. "I'm alright. What about you? How's work going?" It had been a while since they'd done this. Just the two of them, nothing else.
Iris sighed dramatically. "Well my editor wants another three stories on the situation in Israel before long. It appears that King Victor is rebuilding the Temple of Solomon and that he's also preparing a whole host of agrarian reforms to bring Israel into the future. Plus, there are all of those metas that the league found that need reporting on as well."
Barry crinkled his brows then. "Do the metas really need reporting on? They spent twenty years locked in cells by a democratically elected government, being used as weapons to keep the Israeli people in line. I don't think they want so much attention." He knew for a fact that one of them, Veronica Dale had had a promising career as an environmental lawyer before she'd been kidnapped. "I can't believe the US government knew about this as well." Documents had been brought before the League by Bruce-Barry still wasn't sure how the man felt about all of this- which revealed the US government had signed off on this. All of this done during Mrs Duvall's husband's time as President.
"But can't you see Bear, that's exactly why this story needs to be told. So many people see metas as gods and as these beings who are so far above anything else. They don't see them as people. And with everything that's going on with the League, I think it would do everyone some good to remember that whilst yes, these people have powers, they are still people." Iris replied.
Barry suspected why Iris was being so adamant about this. "Did you push for this story to be included, or was it your editor?"
Iris shifted at his side and when she looked at him, it was with that look that always turned his insides to goo. "Well, I mean I might have pushed for it. But she agreed to it. She wants the metas and the League portrayed in a good light as well."
"Really?" Barry asked, he'd met Iris's editor, she'd hated The Flash and other metas then, and from what he knew she still did. "What changed?"
"You saved her son." Iris said.
"When?" Barry asked.
"When you were in Israel. There were lots of young men and women who were being threatened by the regime there. When you removed the government, you stopped her son from being put to death. He'd been arrested for handing out pro Palestine leaflets." Iris replied. "So after that her tone changed."
"I see." Barry replied, he wasn't sure how to feel about that, he still wasn't sure how he felt about everything that the League was now doing. Some of it still felt a bit off. cautiously he asked. "How do you feel about what the League is doing?"
"I think some of it needed to be done. None of the governments were doing anything about Isis, and now they're gone and Al Qaeda and other organisations like them have gone into hiding. Al Hudda belonged to Atlantis and always had. Israel, that's more complicated I think. King Victor seems to be doing a good job of it so far, but one can't be sure of how long that will continue." Iris said. "I just worry that there might come a time where someone in the League might think to take it beyond the current remit. Into territory that perhaps isn't safe."
"Like what?" Barry asked, he knew the concerns Bruce had had, and he shared some of them.
"Like telling people what to do with their lives. Like removing all governments. Think about it Bear, you guys have the powers of gods in you. Who could stop you? Superman can't be killed by anything other than Kryptonite, and there's little of that around. Diana can't be killed whatsoever. Nor can Arthur, or you or anyone really. These things are quite terrifying when you think about it. Humanity only developed as it did when the gods left the world." Iris replied.
"So you think we're going to hold humanity back, if we get more involved?" Barry asked.
"No deliberately, but at some point, someone has got to ask, where do you stop? Where does it become enough? How do you judge when it is okay to stop and say, yes the world is as safe as we can make it? I think Clark in his desire to make everything okay for his son, will not see that. And I don't think Diana will either. I think it will go on and on until someone dies." Iris replied fear in her voice.
"Why do you say that?" Barry asked pulling Iris closer.
"Because Clark and Bruce will never let the other get too far, but they will both try and keep the world firmly within their world view. And Clark has more motivation, he has a son. And Jonathan is everything to him." Iris replied.
"What do you think I should do?" Barry asked.
"What you think is right. When the time comes, as it will, promise me you will do whatever it takes to stay alive." Iris said looking at him now.
Barry swallowed then nodded. "I promise."
He looked into Iris's eyes and she his, they moved to meet one another, but before they could kiss, his comms crackled to life. "Watchtower to all members of the League, we've got a situation."
Barry pulled back shooting Iris an apologetic look. "This is Flash, what's happening?"
"Flash, we need you to get to Metropolis as quickly as possible. Superman and Wonder Woman are there, but they need your help."
"On my way." Barry replied. "Send me the co-ordinates."
"Sent."
Barry kissed Iris then changed into his costume, he sped out of the house, looking at the co-ordinates. "Watchtower, why are Superman and Wonder Woman at a diner?"
"Jonathan Kent Junior is missing, he was last seen with Caitlin Snow, they're questioning her." Watchtower replied.
"Okay." Barry replied, he knew Caitlin Snow, she was a smart girl, Wells liked her a lot, and so did he. He sped up and arrived a few moments later in the diner. "Superman, Wonder Woman, how can I help?"
Clark looked at him. "Scan the perimeter, tell me what you see."
Barry nodded, then sped off, he ran around the area three times, and then returned. "Nothing, just people going about their business as usual."
Diana spoke then. "Ms Snow here says that she and Jonathan were having a quiet coffee when they both saw what happened to the Daily Planet, then Jonathan heard an explosion and he went off."
"Did he say where he went?" Barry asked, he got the impression Diana was being extra hard on Caitlin, but why he didn't know.
"No, he just said he had to go." Caitlin said.
"Okay." Barry replied. He looked at Clark, and Clark nodded.
"Go, see what you can find."
Barry nodded and sped off, he ran through the city, finding nothing, the Daily Planet was shaken but fine otherwise. The places Jonathan might have gone, such as the farm, or the house were fine. Everything was fine. He returned to the diner. "Nothing. I don't know where he's gone."
Clark growled in frustration, he turned to Caitlin and said. "You can go, Caitlin, but keep your phone with you." Snow nodded and hurried out of the diner. There was silence for a time, as they all thought about where Jonathan could be. There was panic growing in Clark, Barry could see that by the way his face was tight, and his hands were tensing and untensing. "Oliver, do you have anything?"
Oliver came crackling over the comms. "Yes, I've got a fire down third street in Star City, which the fire services are putting out now, but I found one of these clown people. They talked, and they talked a lot."
"What did they talk about?" Clark demanded.
Clown people, that meant the Joker? If so, where was Bruce, why wasn't he involved?
"They mentioned that their boss had been given a big contract by some shady businessman. They don't know the details, but they know that he got Mirror Master involved." Oliver said. "I'm sending Watchtower more info."
"Thanks." Clark said. He turned to look at Barry.
"I know where the Rogues will be." Barry said. "Follow me." He sped off, looking up once or twice to make sure that Clark and Diana were following, he didn't want them going off on their own.
The bar where the Rogues met was plain, brown, slightly decrepit, he'd been here maybe twice before, both times to meet Leonard Snart. This time he pushed the door open and strode right up to Snart. "Where is he?" Clark and Diana landed shortly after him and stood behind him.
Snart looked at them and said. "He's gone. He got a big contract and he took that mad man with him. They're hiding somewhere, I'm not sure where, but they are hiding."
"Where would he go Snart? He's got a little boy." Barry said, appealing to Snart trying to make him see.
Snart sighed. "Try the Western glades."
Barry was about to say something to Clark when he heard the whoosh and he knew his friend had gone. Barry looked at Snart and said. "Thanks."
Snart nodded. "Be careful, Barry. There are things happening here that are beyond comprehension."
Barry nodded then sped off, he followed the path, and arrived at the Glades just as Clark and Diana were breaking down doors, Cyborg and Raven were there as well helping, as was Oliver. Bruce was still curiously absent. Hal was there as well, Barry nodded to him. And then a figure appeared, dressed in yellow, red lightning bolts on his suit. Barry felt a flash of memory, something from a distant past. "You." He said as he heard his mother scream.
"Hello Flash." The voice said, before disappearing.
"Barry we need your help." Oliver called out.
Barry blinked then moved to where his friends were, he quickly moved the debris and the wreckage, but found himself confronted by more wreckage. He moved that as well, and when that was gone, instead of finding something proper, he found. "Shit."
"Superman!" came a bellowing roar, as a fist connected with his face sending him flying. He got back up and found Clark fighting a monstrosity, horns, black as night and red eyes.
Another figure appeared. "Flash." The figure disappeared and then Grodd was there, moving toward him. Barry moved in and out, dancing between the gorilla, taking shots when he could, careful to not get too close lest the beast's mind control work. Grodd was brought down eventually, and when Barry looked up he saw Clark pushing through toward a door, the monsters were defeated. The door opened, and they raced through it. All of them, Clark, Barry, Diana, Oliver, Ray. They all raced through that open door, and found their way blocked by another door. This one was ripped open, and Clark fell back, kryptonite lined the walls and the door itself. As Diana took care of Clark, a gunshot was heard, then another, and a scream that chilled the bones rang out.