JLA Official Correspondence

As of Tuesday, September 17, all members who are either unpowered or whose powers rely on the use of artificial means shall be switched to Limited Reserve Status and be utilized only in times of a level Omega crisis.

This does not apply to members whose artificial powers are cosmic, futuristic (technology at least 100 yrs more advanced than Earth's), magical, or other-dimensional in origin. Also, any devices that change a members physical attributes (height, weight, etc.) will be considered a power, as well as any devices that produce a forcefield able to repel buckshot fired at 200 mph. Also, full-body armor is acceptable.

Super-weaknesses like only being able to see in darkness will not be considered powers.

All members whose status is affected by this policy change are required to attend a meeting on September 16th to exchange their comlinks for Reserve ones and turn in their codecards.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Founding Members:

Superman, Green Lantern, Flash, J'onn J'onzz, Wonder Woman, and Shayera Hol

*********

"I told you to get out," Batman was being surprisingly calm.

"We decided to collect your com and codecard in person," Superman said.

"I still have the ring, Kal-el. It's right in that vault."

"You won't use kryptonite on me."

"We humans are prone to burst of emotion," Batman sneered.

"I meant that I'd stop you before you got there, if I had to."

"Because you're so powerful," Batman snatched the comlink from his ear, and the codecard that granted access to the watchtower from his belt.

"Thank you, Bruce," Diana held out her hand for the devices.

Batman smashed them under the heel of one black boot.

Superman glanced down and melted the remains into a puddle of burnt metal. "That works too."

"Get. Out," Bruce said. "Get out now. I don't ever want to see your faces again."

Diana looked sad, but she followed the others, then paused. She tossed a temporary coded card to him. "If you want to come to the meeting…"

He didn't turn around. They let themselves out.

**********************

September 17, 4:00 PM --

The anger that permeated the room was giving J'onn a headache.

"Please form an orderly line to turn in your comlinks," Superman was trying to shout over the din.

Green Arrow got up on top of a table. "You kidnapped me and forced me to join your little club. Now your kicking me out because I'm not a meta? Am I missing something?"

A cheer went up. More people started yelling.

"Please!" Diana, ever the diplomat, "We are not trying to be discriminatory."

"Wow," Blue Beetle said. "So this is just an accident?"

"That's not what I…" the noise drowned her out.

The crowd was becoming a mob. GL tried to say something, but not even Flash, who stood two fee t away, could hear him over the din.

Someone from the back of the room gave an ear-piercing whistle. Everyone feel silent.

Batman stood alone by the door. "No, let them talk."

"They kicked you out too," Wildcat said. "And you're on their side?"

"Did you see my signature on that memo?" Batman asked. I just want to hear them dig their own graves. And then I want to shovel the dirt on top of them. Unfortunately, that won't happen here."

"So…?" Green arrow said.

Batman just gave an evil smile. "Do as they say."

Everyone stared for a minute. Then Vigilante, who was standing closest to batman, smirked ever so slightly, walked to the front of the room, and handed in his badge and codecard.

One by one, the others did the same thing, and then filed out without speaking.

"Don't bother to thank me," Batman said, leaving last. He took a small amount of pleasure from the fact that Superman looked a tad ashamed.

****************

They agreed to gather in a an abandoned Gotham warehouse an hour after the meeting.

"Can't believe this," Blue Beetle said. "Booster's allowed to stay, but those high and mighty pains-in-the-ass won't let me?"

"They kicked Bats out," Vigilante replied in a hushed whisper. "And he and Superman are supposedly pretty close."

"Well, he's the one who called us here, so he'd better show up soon," Green Arrow paced back and forth.

"I'm here," they all stopped cold.

Batman perched on top of a pile of boxes.

"Care to tell us why?" Huntress asked.

"I'm not going to pretend this is about revenge," Batman said. "Both them and us are working toward the same goal, and I won't sabotage their efforts so long as they're doing good. It is, however, about knocking certain metas off their sky-high horses."

Gangbuster cheered. Batman silenced him with a look.

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Green Arrow asked.

"The anti-JLA," Batman was working very hard to keep the evil-genius grin off his face.