There were days when he would wake up and wonder if he were living in some alternate reality. Sometimes nothing made sense, and everything made sense. It was a confusing thing to have to feel, over and over again. He'd read the news reports and see how poverty was being ended, how food was being distributed, but then he'd hear of the UN meeting, of governments passing acts that were detrimental, and he'd wonder if there would be a war at some point. The League was already divided would another war be something that they'd be able to take? Who would they side with? Who would he side with? He didn't know and it was really worrying him.
The Hall of Justice was filled to the brim. Diana, Cyborg, Damian, Shazam, Hal, Wally, Raven, Hawkman, Black Adam and countless others were all present. The last time they had all been here had been when there had been the threat of an invasion from Steppenwolf. That had passed, but now there was something just as serious. Diana was the one who spoke first. "We all know why we're here. Clark is in Britain and will be for the time being, he sends his regards. As long as Clark is away, it is up to us to ensure that the events that have been set in motion, that the peace that we've all worked so hard to achieve does not fall away. That starts now. Katar, Adam, we are thankful for your presence here, we know that you both have your own kingdoms to rule. And as such, we would like to hear from you first."
Katar was Pharaoh of Egypt, and it was rumoured one of the founding Gods of Egyptian mythology alongside his wife Shaera, and Adam was one of their descendants, or a cousin. Barry was never sure, but he knew they were thousands of years old, millions of years old in Katar's case. And as such it seemed his seniority meant he would be the one to speak first. "Thank you Diana." Katar and Diana didn't get on, why that was Barry didn't know and he didn't think he'd ever find out. "Egypt agrees with what Clark is doing. We firmly believe that the governments of the world have not done enough to bring prosperity and peace to the world. We know that in Egypt there are some things that need to be changed and we are working toward that. As long as Clark respects our boundaries we shall support him."
Adam spoke then. "Kandhaq also respects what Kal El is doing. We have served for generations to protect the people of Kandhaq from the obscenities that have plagued the modern world. As such we shall work with Kal El to ensure that things are secure and peaceful. We do not wish for a war, and we do not think that the world would benefit from such a thing either."
Diana nodded. "Thank you both for speaking so candidly. Barry, what reports do you have for us?"
Barry took a breath, he'd been asked to do some reconnaissance work, and whilst he had no problem with that, the thing he had issue with was who he'd been asked to do the work on. The US government, the Canadian government and the German governments were all good governments, there were things he found questionable about their policies, but by and large he respected them. and yet he'd spied on them and gathered information on them. He took a breath. "Chancellor Sofia has been meeting with her ministers regularly since the Israeli situation, and has passed several measures through the Bundestag meant to increase her own defensive powers. They are strengthening the armed forces and have manned the borders with increased patrols." He took another breath. "They have also started passing secret measures which limit the things that people of Germany can criticise. These include the government, their measures to help refugees and their allowance of certain acts from certain religious groups." That had horrified him when he'd learned of it. he took another breath then said. "The Canadian government has done what it believes best, opened its doors to the Muslims who are fleeing the Middle East for fear of persecution from King Victor." He'd not seen anything in any of the Canadian government's papers that supported this supposition. "They are also doing similar things to the German government and restricting just what can and cannot be said and criticised."
"As for the US government, President Matthews has been meeting with the armed forces. It appears they are divided. Some support what Clark is doing and wish to openly support him, whilst other branches condemn what he is doing and will support whatever the President says they are to do." Barry paused then, unsure of whether to say this next bit. "They also seem to be preparing for a potential war with Great Britain. It seems that since the fire at the palace and in London as a whole, the Secretary of State feels that the British have become more aggressive and are acting against the American people's interest. She also feels that the League is compromised. Therefore, she is preparing a team of other heroes and some villains to handle us." Barry said.
"So, she is preparing for war?" Diana asked.
"It would seem so yes. I noticed that she wrote down that she'd met with Batman and discussed several things during that meeting." Barry replied. He couldn't believe that Bruce would meet with such a person. The Secretary of State was a horrible person. She was determined to advance her own career at any cost and didn't care who got left behind. He'd spent more time having to clean up her messes in Central City than he had to anyone else's.
"I see." Diana replied. "And what course of action would you suggest?"
"I would say that maybe we should try and speak with Batman, to get him to see what is happening right under his nose. I do not think he would serve the government if he knew just what they were planning. I also think we need to find the Joker." Barry said. He didn't mention the Thinker, he was looking for that man himself.
Diana snorted. "I do not think you understand just how far gone Batman is. If he is meeting with this Secretary of State, then he is too gone to ever consider sitting down and discussing things. Besides there are others within his side who would not wish to sit down and talk. Dinah for one."
"I think Dinah would be willing to talk if we could simply get her to see that we are not trying to stand against what she stands for, but are rather trying to handle things the way we ought to." Barry replied. "After all we have journalists on our side, and yet we are not using them to help put our message across. I can understand Clark not thinking about it being too preoccupied helping his son, but Diana, you've got to understand how this looks." Barry took a breath then continued. "Clark gave a speech and since then more blood has been spilled, and there has been nothing from us. We have to be different to the governments', we cannot remain silent. We must speak out. And if we have to, we must meet with King Victor."
Katar interjected then. "I've spoken with King Victor and my sources in Israel report that the reports coming from Canada and Germany are lies. These people who are fleeing are doing so because they do not want to stay in a land where the Jewish people view their leader as the messiah. He is already building the Temple; they will be worried that he will do other things. I think we can keep Victor out of this."
"That still doesn't remove the need for open communication with the people though." Barry replied.
"Pah, the people know what we are doing. They are not so stupid as to believe we are the same as the governments of the world. We are not trying to interfere with their daily lives, we are not regulating their speech, we are merely fighting to make sure they can have a safe home and not feel threatened." Diana responded.
"Yes they might know that on some level, but Diana, you have to remember people have other things that take up most of their time. They're not going to be thinking so much about details of something. They're simply going to be thinking of the big details the ones that catch their eye." Barry said. "Which is why I think we must ensure that they know what our angle is, from the press."
"Barry is right." Hal said. "You can't allow this to go unchecked Diana. This has to be done and it has to be done now. I've already got two messages from the Guardians summoning me to Oa. I can't hold them off for longer."
Barry shivered slightly at that. The guardians were some of the most powerful beings in the multiverse, if they were going to get involved in Earth, then things were going to be even more complicated. Diana sighed. "Very well, I shall speak with Iris and other reporters. And Hal you may go and speak with the Guardians. Reassure them that Kal is not doing anything that might be considered broken within their system of laws. Now the rest of you may go, I've got things to discuss with Katar and Adam." Barry got up and sped off to his part of the hall, grabbed his things and sped off again. Using the time, he had to run, to think. So much was happening he wasn't sure if he was ever going to process it.
He kept running until he got to his old room. He stood and stared at it. then sped away, the memories of that night were still there burned into his memory he didn't need to revisit the house to hear his mother's screams. He kept going, running had always helped clear his head. He stopped by Joe's house, but his foster father was out, he turned and ran on. He stopped outside Central City News and watched for a moment as Iris walked down the hall, then he kept running. Where he was going, he didn't know but he just wanted to run.
Eventually as he always knew he would, he ended up in his office, looking over the old case files. Trying to find something anything that would prove his dad's innocence. It had been almost two decades since the incident had happened, but he was determined to prove his dad was innocent. Even if his dad had given up, and Joe had given up, Barry would never give up. He read through the reports, the knife, the body, his dad covered in blood. He could see how anyone would think his dad was guilty, his dad's prints were on the knife, supposedly, but the forensics had been lost shortly after the case had been closed. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Who are you?" He asked aloud, he needed to know who this being was. who the yellow flash of light had been.
He closed his eyes and remembered. A dark night, he'd been unable to sleep, his mum had sung a lullaby to him, the same song she'd sung to him as a baby, and he'd been out like a light. Then he'd woken up and heard screaming and wind, he'd run down, and seen bolts of right and bolts of yellow. Then there had been a figure before him and he'd appeared in the middle of the road. The yellow must have been a speedster, but how he didn't know. There had been two speedsters alive at that time and Jay had said he'd not been around then, and Max, well Max's light was blue. God this was so frustrating. He banged his hands on the table and looked out of the window and nearly had a heart attack. There on the other side was a figure dressed in yellow with glowing red eyes. the figure sneered and sped away. Barry didn't think he just ran after it.