A/N: Presenting, chapter two of my story! I hope you all enjoy it. Remember to review and if you really liked it, favorite it!

IsaacCLark: Yeah, characters are going to be a little difficult to handle, now with a much larger cast. I have a really nice story planned out though, so I hope you enjoy the ride!

anon: Wow, what a review! I'm flattered that you wrote that long of a review for my story. The points you make are really well thought out, and I will try to respond the best way I can. I'm guessing you really can see the Armageddon state from the side of its creators. If you think about how much damage heroes like Batman have done (property damage, blatantly disregarding the law, battery, and assault) it really isn't a surprise that the regular people are bound to retaliate. They don't want the personal vendettas of heroes and villains to hurt or alter society. In a way, though; isn't Armageddon state altering society? But doesn't a faulty society need to be altered? If so, then how? These are some of the questions that I intend to answer by the end of this story. I hope you continue to read!

Chapter 2: Scattered

Batman knelt on the edge of a large clock tower, overlooking Armageddon State. He stared out into the dark streets, taking scans of the city schematics to help his search for the rest of the League. While he did so, Artemis sat with her head rested against her hand, practically dying with boredom.

"C'mon Batman, shouldn't we be out there looking for them?" she grumbled, plucking at her bowstring aimlessly.

Batman didn't even look at her, rather just responded, "Preparation is key in missions like these. I don't know what's out there and how powerful they are, but at least I will have the landscape as an advantage once I meet them."

Artemis sighed, "But we've been up here for hours, shouldn't we at least start?"

"Searching this whole facility would take months, and we don't have that kind of time. So the only thing to do is to deduce the most possible locations that they may be hiding."

"You really are big on researching before a job, aren't you?" she laughed, pulling an arrow out of her quiver and twirling it in her hands.

Batman didn't give her an answer, shutting her out and focusing solely on the mission. There wasn't any time to be distracted; they were too far behind. He had no idea what Identity was planning and where anyone was; he was essentially in the dark.

"Not gonna answer?" Artemis said, furrowing her eyebrows, "that's fine. I didn't expect you to. Let me give you a hint then so we can hurry this up."

This caught Batman's attention. "You had a lead and didn't tell me?"

Artemis stood up straight and crossed her arms, giving him an annoyed look; "Well you were so busy with standing heroically next to the light of the moon. I felt bad interrupting that."

Batman glared at her, slightly angered that she had wasted his time. Artemis simply rolled her eyes and told him, "The prisoners have been whispering about an underground tournament. The problem is, I have no idea where or when this is happening."

"Do you know whose sponsoring it?"

Artemis thought for a bit, and then answered, "yeah, I think the one I heard it from was wearing some kind of black and white outfit. All his friends were wearing that same type of outfit also."

"Osprey," growled Batman, clenching his fists angrily. Of course that egotistical, greed driven, sorry excuse for a man was behind a savage prison tournament.

"Osprey? You think he's behind it?"

"This is just his type of game," Batman explained, "He loves to flex his muscles and show how much power he has. In this case, he's showing everyone that he can force people into fighting for his amusement."

"Oh Gotham, how I've missed you," Artemis chuckled sarcastically

Batman had done little research on the blonde archer, but after one look he knew she was from Gotham. People who had lived in Gotham had a certain way about them, an aura of distrust and uneasiness that always followed them. In other cities, those types of feelings may have been frowned upon or seen as anti social. In Gotham, it was those instincts that kept you alive. Artemis' eyes were clouded, her true self-hidden under layers of sarcasm and anger. She almost reminded Batman of himself.

Batman turned off his scanner and looked up to the sky. He water run down his cowl onto his chin as a storm began to stir in Armageddon State. The air was becoming more humid as the storm progressed rapidly, almost as if it was chasing them off the high clocktower.

"So where do we start?" she asked him, stringing a rope arrow on her bow.

"We'll start by asking the locals. Do you know where Osprey has situated himself?"

"All the black and white goons go to this club down the road. We could check that place out," Artemis suggested.

Batman nodded and stood up straight. Spreading his cape, he took a deep breath and jumped off. It took a second or two for the cape to catch the air, but after a small jolt, he was gliding smoothly. The fringe of his black makeshift wings whipped in the wind as he flew over the city. Artemis followed soon after, using her rope arrow as a zip line.

As he flew over the masses, he cast a terrifying shadow over them. Prisoners, no matter how big or small, began yelling in fear and scattering. Batman used his visor to scan over the streets to find the club where Osprey was most likely residing.

As he glided, he called Eve over the communicator, "Oracle, I need you to create a list of all League members so we can keep track of who we've found and who we haven't."

"Sure thing Mr. Wayne, I'll…"

Flash's voice suddenly interrupted over the intercom, "Hello? Bats, you there?"

Batman groaned, "Flash, this line is reserved for Oracle and I only, you do not have permission to be on here."

"Sorry buddy, but the Justice League communicators are out of commission and this is the only way to keep in touch."

"Sorry for the interruption Mr. Wayne," Eve told him, sounding equally as annoyed, "as I said before, I'll get on it."

Batman suddenly spotted a club called the XXX Canary. It was a bird themed strip club, just the kind of 'classy' establishment that Osprey would run.

Straightening himself, he grabbed the tips of his cape and began a controlled decent towards the street. Artemis soon followed, repelling down the side of the strip club.

"Wow, I never would have thought to look here after his father's taste in style," Artemis said as the two walked towards the entrance.

"Samuel Cobblepot hates his father. He sees Penguin as shameful and hideous, and wants nothing to do with him. The one thing they share is their greed, their lust, and their insatiable taste for blood and crime," Batman told her.

The two approached the bouncer, who was preoccupied with smoking and checking some sort of list. Right as they were about to walk in, the man held his arm out and said, "Hold on bub, are you on the list?"

"Probably not," Batman answered

The man was still looking at the list, not even paying attention to whom he was talking. "Well then buddy, you aren't getting in, are you?"

Batman growled angrily, "Let us pass and I won't hurt you."

The bouncer chuckled and began to turn around, "Hah, as if you could hurt…"

He stopped and dropped the clipboard on the ground when he saw Artemis and a very pissed off Batman standing in front of him.

"You wanna try that again?" Artemis threatened, holding her bow up to his face.

The bouncer swallowed nervously and motioned towards the door. "Right this way."

The two entered the club, shoving past the assorted filth that inhabited the place. Batman was disgusted to see that people were being allowed to live like this. Left and right, different prisoners were getting mugged, stabbed, or both. There was no order, no law, only chaos. It was despicable.

"This place is disgusting," Artemis scoffed, eyeing the multiple dancers and drunkards angrily.

Batman didn't give a response, rather looked around the room for anyone who could be connected to Osprey. Unfortunately, he didn't see Osprey anywhere. Someone over at the bar caught his eye though. It was one of the thugs he had seen at the docks during one of Osprey's operations last week, talking it up with some poor woman.

Batman slowly approached him as prisoners began to stumble and run out of his way. The man didn't notice Batman until the dark knight was right next to him, so close that he could feel his angry breaths on the back of his neck.

"Hey, do you mi…" the man's eyes went wide in fear as he stammered, "B-batman? You're in here to?"

Batman grabbed him violently by the collar and held him up effortlessly. In a deep, threatening voice, Batman asked, "Where's Osprey?"

"Look man, I don't know. The boss don't talk to me, I'm just a muscle!"

Batman slammed his back against the wall with a crash, "That's not what I wanted to hear! Where is Osprey?"

"D-don't take it up with me man! I swear I don't know anything! His lieutenant, that's who you want! Please don't hurt me…"

Batman sneered angrily and threw the man across the bar, knocking over all the drinks on the table. Artemis stepped over the broken glass as she followed him, a little intimidated by his fury.

The two vigilantes pushed the criminals aside as they made their way to the back room, where whomever running the joint most likely resided. They finally came across a door that had a yellow star on it and was labeled 'manager'.

Artemis stopped in front of it, "So are we going to knock or…"

Suddenly from behind the door, they could hear a woman screaming for help. Artemis thought she recognized the voice, but wasn't able to think about it for a second before Batman kicked down the door.

Inside was a man who was just in his underwear holding a poor woman down. Batman hated nothing more then those who took advantage of the defenseless. This man was nothing but scum.

Batman grabbed the man by his neck and yanked him off the girl, throwing him into the side of the wall. Artemis went over to tend to the woman while Batman lunged at the lieutenant.

"You and I have not gotten off on the right foot," Batman snarled, pinning him to the ground.

"Batman! What do you want?" the man spat as he tried to struggle free from the dark knight's grip.

He cringed as Batman was about to bring his fist down on his gut, when suddenly Batman heard Artemis yell, "Batman! It was Wonder Woman!"

Batman turned his head and saw Cassie Sandsmark with the collar around her neck and heavy shackles around her hands and feet. She had bruises and cuts all over her; she looked in terrible shape.

The lieutenant wailed, "I'm sorry! Please, I'll tell you what you want to know!"

Batman grabbed him by the neck and pulled him to his feet. He then unleashed a powerful left hook to the crook's liver, causing him to double over in sheer pain.

"Where's Osprey?! Where is he hiding?"

"He's at the old stadium preparing for his tournament! See, I told you what you want, now you can let me go, right?"

Batman picked him up again and growled, "No."

Propping the man's arm up against a table, Batman slammed his elbow into it, breaking his arm almost instantaneously.

The lieutenant screamed in agony, holding his bicep as he lay on the ground.

Batman spat next to him, "You may want to see a doctor about that."

Artemis put her arm around Cassie as the three left the club. Batman could hear Cassie's silent whimpers. What had they done to her?

"Batman, what are we going to do?" Artemis asked

"We need to take Cassie back to Wally," he answered as they escorted the injured Wonder Woman through the streets, "and then we will find Osprey and make him squeal."

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Batman held Cassie in his arms as he walked up the stairs of the apartment, followed closely by Artemis. Wonder Woman was in need of immediate medical attention, and fast. Her powers were being suppressed, so her super healing did not take any affect.

Artemis ran over and opened the door for the two. Batman walked through, careful not to hit Cassie's head on the doorframe, and placed her on the dining room table. Eve quickly rose from the couch she was sitting on when she saw them, holding her hand over her mouth in disbelief.

"Eve, get the medical kit," Batman commanded as he cleared the table so they could better work on her wounds.

Eve nodded and ran into the other room. A toilet flushed and Wally walked out of the bathroom. When he saw Cassie injured on the table, he ran over and demanded, "What happened? Who did this to her?"

"Osprey's men," Batman answered as he pulled a couple pain pills from his belt and put them on the table top, "they brutalized her and practically enslaved her. She was probably jumped and overwhelmed without her powers, even with her training."

"Jesus…" muttered Flash

Eve came back with a first aid kit and placed it on the table. She cracked it open and pulled out stitches, bandages, and other necessary items. Batman lifted up Cassie's head and gave her some of pain medications before Eve began to go to work. The Flash turned away while Eve stitched her up, as he was a bit squeamish when it came to open wounds. Eve stayed silent and worked quickly, trying to clean and close the deeper cuts first, and then bandage up the smaller ones.

Cassandra began gaining consciousness as the procedure. Her eyes fluttered open and then quickly widened with fear.

"What happened…" she asked as she began to sit up.

Batman quickly restrained her before she opened up the stitches, "Lie down Cassie, we're trying to fix your wounds. If you just stay still, we will be done in a bit.

"Batman? What happened? How did they capture you?"

"They didn't," he answered, "They captured Christian Wayne."

"Wait, do they know who you are?'

"No, they captured Christian Wayne because he was opposed to Armageddon State," Batman half lied.

Cassie sighed with relief as Eve finished up her last stitch and rapped her last cut.

Eve backed up and pulled off her gloves, "There, you should be fine Ms. Sandsmark."

"Thank you so much Eve," Cassie said, sitting upright slowly and rubbing her head.

"Well I've developed quite the hands for these procedures ever since Mr. Wayne picked up his new hobby."

Wonder Woman smiled and stood up from the table. Artemis helped her over to the couch, where she sat down and began tugging at the collar.

"Cassandra, I need to know if you heard anything about the whereabouts."

Cassie sighed and put her hands on her temple. She tried to wrack her brain and remember what had happened before, but she been drugged and beaten for most of it.

"My memory's a little hazy. I-I was captured and kept by those bastards that follow the Osprey," she answered angrily

"What did they say they were going to do to you?" Batman asked, kneeling down in front of her.

"They said… unspeakable things. They told me after that, they were going to make me fight my other friends to the death… Oh God, Conner! Have you found him?"

Batman shook his head, "As of now, this is all we have. We have no idea where the rest are, but we now have confirmation that at least one will be at that tournament."

"You get some rest Cass, Batman and I will handle this for now," Artemis told her, patting Wonder Woman on the shoulder reassuringly.

Wonder Woman nodded, "Just make sure you find them before these bastards get to them. These collars take any advantage we have over the unruly masses. Even with our superior training, we can only take so many at once."

Wonder Woman lay sideways and fell asleep after a bit, trying to recover her energy just in case she needed to fight. Batman motioned for the group to follow him into a different room, where they began planning.

"The event is going to happen tomorrow night in the abandon stadium," Batman told them as he pulled up a holographic map of the area, "Osprey is definitely going to be there. Originally, the plan was to pull the others out, but now I'm going to take him down."

"So how are we supposed to take him down, there will be hundreds of his gang there," Artemis said

"Easy, we sneak up and grab him from behind."

"Mr. Wayne, it will be quite difficult to sneak up on him if he's out in the open."

"We'll find a way, for now we need to prepare. I'm going to be in the room across from here. Don't disturb me."

Batman walked out without saying a word with Eve close behind, leaving Artemis and Flash.

"You know, I think he's growing on me," Wally joked, putting his arm around the blonde archer.

"He's the same as the first," Artemis sighed, "just as angry and just as broken."

"Don't worry about him babe. He's been gone for a long time."

Artemis sat down and pulled some whiskey from out of their cabinet, popping the top and taking a swig. She offered it to Flash, who politely declined.

"I don't think it's a good idea to drink right now," he told her, "I mean, we need to be at our top condition if we're going to make this plan work."

Artemis laughed bitterly, "What plan? You saw Cassie! Who's to say the same hasn't happened to everyone. This place is hell, we fight for justice and we get sent to hell."

Flash pulled her into a tight embrace and whispered in her ear, "We'll find a way to escape, I promise. We will expose this horrible place, especially after what it's done to us."

"I just hope we can," she whimpered.

Artemis always put on a strong front, but she knew inside that she was scared. She had always sworn to herself that she would never get locked up, especially after what happened to her mother. Yet, here she was in a maximum-security facility where they had been left to die. It was a cruel irony. Her friends were lost and might never be found.

Meanwhile, Batman was in the other room designing a strategy. Eve stood silently beside him. Batman felt stress that he almost never felt. The lives of the people who were the closest to a family that he had were in danger. The only other time he had felt this way was when the Joker first appeared and captured part of the team, the ones that meant the most to him. The ones he had delivered right into that psychopath's hands.

Now, Identity new his secret and he knew nothing about the man other then an unrecognizable face. He remembered at one point, Identity had told him a story about a young politician who had everything taken away from him. Why was he doing this? What was the league he spoke of?

The most horrible thing of all is that he had put Eve in danger, an innocent person.

"Mr. Wayne, are you alright?" Eve asked softly

Batman clenched his fists angrily and turned towards her. "I'm sorry Eve. It's my fault you got involved. I put you in direct danger because of my actions."

Eve shook her head and told him, "I'm the Oracle remember? It's not like I wasn't involved. Mr. Wayne, I made my choice to stand with you in your fight because I think it's right. I expected some danger along the way, but I also expect it to be worth it."

It was Eve's expected reaction. He knew she believed in his cause just as much as he did, and would put her life on the line for others. Eve was a rare and noble character.

"So Mr. Wayne, what's the plan?"

Batman pulled out a large piece of paper and a marker Kara had once jokingly named 'the bat marker'. He drew a rough sketch of the stadium and then turned to her.

"We need to create a large enough distraction in the middle so we can pull Samuel Cobblepot off to the side. I still haven't thought up of what that distraction might be."

"So are you going to extract Cobblepot?"

Batman shook his head, and answered, "It's my plan. I'll create the distraction while Artemis grabs him. I won't let anyone but me get in danger for a plan like this."

"Of course," Eve sighed, as she copied the plan down on a sheet of paper and clipped it to her board, "would you like to present it to the team or shall I have the honor?"

"Do whatever you wish. For now, I'd like some time alone."

Eve nodded obediently and left Batman in his dark room. Right when the door closed behind her, he flipped the table over in anger. Slamming his foot down, he broke it in half, yelling angrily. He looked down at the mess he had made as he breathed heavily, his chest moving up and down.

"I was stupid," he muttered to himself, "I was stupid and careless. I walked right into Luthor's trap…"

A/N: I hope you all liked the chapter! Remember to leave a review or a favorite!