DISCLAIMERS/NOTES

1. This is a fan fiction based on characters owned by DC Comics. I DO NOT OWN THEM. This is just for fun.

2. My continuity branches off after the end of Season 1. So the last episode to occur was the two-part "The Savage Time". No Season 2. No JL Unlimited.

PART 8

"Something's wrong."

Superman and Diana and looked at Batman. "What is it," Superman asked.

Batman frowned. "J'onn's communicator has been deactivated quicker than expected. He must have been caught by surprise. He wasn't supposed to be captured so quickly."

Diana froze. Their numbers were dwindling evenmore. Although J'onn's capture WAS planned, it was hoped it would not be so rapid.

"I doubt he had time to investigate the hideout," said Batman. "I hoped he'd have scoped the place out before being caught. I'm going to have to go in."

Diana's eyes widened. The thought of Batman going into a place housing several highly dangerous criminals, alone, was more than she could bear. "You're not going in there," she said sternly.

Batman glared at her. "Don't worry. You two will back me up. You'll go into the main complex and keep the Gang busy for as long as you can. I'm going to be scoping the place out, see if I can find anything."

"Batman," Diana pleaded, "you can't go alone. You're hurt… please…"

He turned away from her. "I'm fine," he said gruffly. "Besides, like I said, you'll be keeping them busy. And if the Gang can take out four of our people… well, Superman will need you more than I will."

Superman raised an eyebrow at that remark, but Batman apparently ignored it. "Remember, strike hard and strike fast. Keep them on their toes. They'll outnumber you, so keep your wits. And, above all else…" he paused. "Expect the unexpected."

"What will you be doing, oh fearless leader?" the Man of Steel asked.

"I'm going to see if I can find anything than can help us. See if I can find the others; find out what's keeping them held and just how many rogues are there. There might be more than just the ones you encounter."

"Finding our people should be easy with the second communicator you gave J'onn," said Superman.

"Exactly," Batman said. "With luck, they won't think of searching him for more than one."

Diana watched as Batman put away his tracking device. She noticed him flinch as his shoulder moved. It hurt her immensely to see him in pain; she could barely hold herself back from demanding that he not go into the hideout. But she knew it was pointless: once the Dark Knight had made a decision, there was no talking him out of it.

"Superman, you know what to do," Batman said. Superman nodded and breathed in deeply. He then blew his breath out as hard as he could, and the gust of wind flew the dirt away from the ground, revealing concrete plating. Batman went upto a plate that had a lock and began picking it. After a couple of minutes, he unlocked the plate and removed it, revealing an entranceway into the hideout.

"You enter through the passageway J'onn drilled," said Batman. "I'll meet up with you later."

"Call us if you need help," said Superman.

Batman stared at them for a moment, silent. Eventually he said, flatly, "Right."

He entered the small passageway and began climbing down. Before he disappeared, Diana said, "Batman, please… be careful."

He looked at her for a moment, and his face softened slightly. "You too," he said quietly. He then disappeared down the passageway.

Diana wondered if it would be the last time she would see him.

/

Luthor looked down on his holding pit as the four Justice Leaguers sat uncomfortably, breathing in the tranquillising gas. He smiled; how easy it had been. He looked at the latest captive, the Martian. Arguably the second most powerful member of the team, brought down by a single shot of his "secret weapon".

Yes, it had been easy… too easy. As he looked at the Martian, he sensed all was not right. He walked onto the glass ceiling of the pit and stared at him. "How are you feeling, Martian?" he asked.

J'onn slowly lifted his head, but remained silent. Luthor continued. "Tell me where you're friends are. Tell me where they are, and… I'll let you go."

J'onn glared at him.

"No, I didn't think you'd go for that," Luthor said. "How about this – you tell me their weaknesses, and I'll release those other three as well as you." He motioned towards Green Lantern, Flash and Hawkgirl.

When he was met with more silence, Luthor continued. "Or maybe it's something else you want. Money? Jewels?" His eyes widened. "Power?"

J'onn remained silent.

"How about it, Martian? You're very powerful, but you feel lonely on Earth, don't you? You feel empty. What if I helped you gain what you want: acceptance? I can help you. I still have contacts. I can get you whatever you want. I can make you the post powerful… man… in the world. You can have it all. You will not be afraid to show your face in public. The public will be afraid of YOU. You'll no longer have to hide yourself away. And of course, your friends will go free."

J'onn stared at him. "I'm intrigued."

Luthor smiled. "Really?"

J'onn spoke slowly. "I'm intrigued… how you became such a successful businessman, with drivel like that."

Luthor winced, but before he could respond, the earth around him was rocked by a gigantic explosion. He darted his head and heard shouting and commotion a few rooms away. He ran out of the pit room, arriving at the main area of the hideout.

Superman and the other female Leaguer had arrived.

The Injustice Gang were caught completely unawares. Luthor rolled his eyes. Did they ever listen to him?

"What are you waiting for?" he shouted, "Stop them!" The Gang heard his order, and attempted to get their bearings together. They began dodging attacks and reaching for their weapons.

Luthor watched as the battle commenced. The Shade enveloped the heroes in blackness, confusing them and sending them crashing into the walls. They recovered quickly, however, and split up, the Kryptonian taking on Shade, Copperhead and Solomon Grundy, and the woman going after the Joker, Star Sapphire and the Prankster.

Superman took Copperhead out with one punch, but was again distracted by the Shade's darkness. However, the Man of Steel apparently used his superhearing to zero in on the villain's position, as he knocked him down and grabbed his wand. As he snapped the object in half, Superman turned and saw Grundy charging towards him. The two collided and flew back into the wall, crashing through it into the solid underground earth.

Meanwhile, the darkhaired woman in red, blue and gold dodged Star Sapphire's energy blasts, dived down and picked Prankster up by his jacket. She then threw him into Sapphire, sending them both to the ground in a heap. Turning her attention to the Joker, she flew down and approached the clown.

Joker appeared scared, but then threw a doll over at her. However, she caught it and, in one fluid motion, threw it back to him. Joker's face fell in horror, before the doll exploded two feet away from him, sending him flying backwards. He crashed into a wall, out cold.

The woman noticed Luthor and strode upto him. Luthor began stepping back, but was confident as he saw Harley Quinn creep behind the woman.

The darkhaired woman fell with a thud as Harley smacked her with the ten-pound mallet. She stood over her, preparing to attack again, but a rumbling noise caught Harley's attention.

Grundy smashed through the wall back into the hideout and crashed into the opposite side. He then slid down, senseless. Superman flew through the hole in the wall and landed on the ground, a little shaken, but otherwise alright.

He saw Harley standing over his female teammate and moved towards her. However, he was interrupted by an energy blast in his ribs. He fell to his knees, his face in agony.

Superman slowly turned his head in the direction of the energy blast.

"Meet my 'secret weapon', Superman," Luthor said.

A figure walked into the room, holding a smoking energy rifle. Superman blinked as he recognised the person.

He whispered his name.

"Deadshot…"

He then collapsed on the floor, unconscious.

The darkhaired woman pushed Harley aside and flew towards Deadshot. Before the hitman could react, she punched him into a wall. She turned to face the Injustice Gang… and saw that she was outnumbered.

Grundy was slowly getting to his feet; Star Sapphire and Prankster had picked themselves up; Harley had returned to her feet; and Luthor was standing with a pistol in his hand.

The woman in red, blue and gold turned and began flying down the hallway. Luthor took aim, and fired an energy blast.

It caught her on the side of the leg, causing her to she lose balance. She flew blind, crashing through a wall. On the other side was a massive cavern. She fell, unable to control her flight, down into the abyss.

"What happened?" asked Harley.

"This nuclear fallout shelter was built near a huge underground cavern," said Luthor. "The abyss goes on for several thousand feet. That shot I hit her with should knock her silly enough so that she won't be able to concentrate enough to fly, and the fall will kill even her." He looked at the mess then turned to Deadshot. "Well done," he said.

"Hey, you get what you pay for," Deadshot said. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go get a drink." He turned and left for the kitchen.

Luthor looked down at Superman. "Take him to the special cell." Grundy heaved Superman up over his shoulder then walked out the room towards the pit.

Luthor looked at Sapphire and Prankster. "Clean up this mess," he ordered. Sapphire and Prankster looked disgusted, but Luthor walked off before they could say anything.

TO BE CONTINUED